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ACT 1:6-14

1 PETER 4:12-16

JOHN 17:1-11

‘That all may be one’ is the theme for our reflection. It is Jesus’ prayer for his disciples and believers to remain one after He has ascended to Heaven. Oneness is an important phenomenon
among human beings, which has brought about progress in the socio-economic and security of the world. One of the most renowned organizations that exist and have survived on the oneness of countries in the world is the United Nations. In the same manner, Jesus knew the importance of oneness to His disciples even before He physically departed from them; therefore, He dedicated His time to praying for the oneness of His disciples. In our reflection, we shall deliberate on oneness as an important pillar of Christian fellowship. We shall look at the following important facts;

1. Oneness among Christians is the manifestation of the nature of God’s relationship
   with Christ.
2. Oneness means eschewing our differences and fellowshipping for the effective functioning of the church, which is the body of Christ.
3. Oneness enables us to support one another and to endure suffering together as believers.

Firstly, my brothers and sisters in the Lord, one of the ways we can manifest the nature of God’s relationship with Christ is when all believers become one in Christ. There is oneness between God, the Father and Jesus, the Son for which we believers must possess the trait of oneness in our relationship with one another. When we fail to be one as Christian churches and as believers in our congregations then we do not possess the Spirit of God and love in us. Jesus prayed that “…I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” (John 17:11). It goes to reason that where there is division among Christain churches and believers in the same congregation, they cannot be said to be led by Jesus since Jesus and the Father are always one. The Spirit of God surely will manifest among Christian churches and believers who seek oneness, so that the world will truly know that we are sons and daughters of God.

Secondly, without oneness, we can not gather to pray for the effective growth of the church. It takes oneness in Christ to break the divisive barriers of race, gender, class, and age. We all become one big family and disciples in Christ if we remain united. Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, he promised the disciples the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at Jerusalem, after His ascension we are told in Acts 1:12-13 that the disciples and other believers “…returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying,”. What were they doing in the upper room? The upper room represents a place of prayer. Beloved in the Lord, if we are not united but come into the upper room(church) to pray, we do so in total futility. The prayer of believers in the church thrives on the unity of mind, purpose, and the perfect will of God. Act 1:14 tell us that “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” Oneness means both the men and women can pray and work together towards the growth of the church. Both adults, youth, and children can pray and work together for the furtherance of the mission of the church. For example, in some congregations, church groups are not united in the patronage of each other’s programmes and activities, there are divisions on the basis of education amongst the youth, and another sad but factual division is among the rich and the poor in the church. We are being encouraged to draw inspiration from words in Act 1:14 that “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers”. To mention another importance of unity to the growth of the church, Luke tells us in Acts 4:32-33 that “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power, the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” Men, women, youth and children are all essential branches of the church’s ministry. We must respect everyone’s ministry and role in the church and be one in Christ through prayer and the study of the Word of God.

Thirdly, oneness enables us to support one another and endure suffering together as believers. For this reason, Peter admonishes us that “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:13. Without oneness or unity as believers, how can we participate in the suffering of Christ together and become victorious? The church and for that matter Christians will be going through tribulations or suffering on account of Jesus because of the evil and wickedness in the world. Jesus has already told us that “… you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:9-14. Dear friend, with unity, love and through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we shall endure to the end and be rewarded. Jesus has already assured us, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)

In summary, the theme for our reflection is “That they may all be one.” Oneness in Christ is important to us Christians because; it manifests the nature of God’s relationship with Jesus and serves as a perfect example to us, Oneness enables us to fellowship and work together towards the growth of the church, and last but not least, oneness enables us to support one another and to endure suffering together as believers on account of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit empower and sustain us to remain united even as we await the final return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.