Cultivating a Deeper Prayer Life - A Theology of Prayer

Study 27

Text: John 17

A SPECIAL GLORY IN ONENESS

The theme of "Oneness" was much prayed for. It was something very important and must be prayed for most carefully. Jesus prayed that there may be a special sense of "oneness" among the Disciples. He knew only too well how the lack of oneness could affect their witness for the faith. The world that was already skeptical would be even less inclined to believe, when and if they should see great disunity among believers of the Lord.

As Jesus prayed on, He mentioned something that was most intriguing. Let us consider what He said,

"And the glory which You gave me
I have given them,
That they may be one just as We are One.
I in them, and You in Me;
That the world may know that You have sent Me,
And have loved them as You have loved me"
John 17:22-23

Jesus spoke about having given to His Disciples "glory." This glory was something that He Himself had been given by His Father! What was that glory? Were the Disciples even conscious of this "glory" that Jesus spoke of?

The glory of the Lord was something greatly prized in the Old Testament days. Moses wanted to behold the Lord and His glory (Exodus 33-34). Again and again, the glory of the Lord was manifested to Israel so that they might learn to fear the Lord their God.

The glory of the Lord was depicted as having left the Temple of the Lord, in the days of Ezekiel. What a sad event that was! The glory of the Lord was one of the main themes in the Book of Ezekiel.
The Lord Jesus Himself manifested His glory to three of His Disciples (Matt. 16). To the discerning, the very glory of God was manifested in the Person and Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ when He walked on earth.

THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS NOT LIMITED TO VISIBLE MANIFESTATION

The sad truth is that many people did not know how to discern anything but the obvious manifestations of the glory of God. The glory of the Lord was a very visible thing in the Old Testament days. However, the glory of the Lord was not limited to its visible manifestation. To the wise and discerning, Jesus was Messiah and Lord. Recognition of who He really was must cause one to be aware of the glory that was there, though it would be invisible to others.

Jesus spoke of an "invisible glory" that He had given to His Disciples. This glory was to be found in "Oneness (John 17:22). How few realize, let alone appreciate, that having oneness carries with it, the glory of the Lord.

CULTIVATING A GREATER AWARENESS OF THE GLORY OF ONENESS

Let us pause, take time to meditate on what Jesus said! Then let us be challenged to pray for this spirit of oneness in the Body of Christ.

Ponder over the idea of "glory" and its association with "oneness."
Ponder over the truth that this glory was something that Jesus and His Father shared.
Ponder over what Jesus desired- that His Disciples may be ONE just as He and His Father were ONE!
This level of consciousness and understanding must be sought till there is "perfection" or "full maturity" of comprehension of what it means to achieve this sense of oneness (John 17:23)
This sense of oneness should be obvious to those who are in the world (John 17:23).
The single-most obvious element of this sense of oneness is to be found in the Love of God (John 17:23).

CHALLENGED TO PRAY FOR ONENESS

Sometimes, we do not pray for "oneness" because we are not fully aware of the significance of this teaching. The evil one has sown much discord among believers until they are not able to find that special sense of oneness anymore! This is a sad reality.

We should be deeply challenged to pray earnestly for a greater sense of consciousness and awareness of "oneness." Let us be moved to pray much for "oneness." Let us pray that God's glory to be manifested in our oneness. Let us pray that God's love would fill our hearts and unite us till oneness is perfected.

~ Pastor Charlie Tan ~