The power Jesus gives each of us through the Holy Spirit is not something to be taken lightly and that power is made evident at times when we lift up prayers to God and we see Him answer them. May we never just lift a prayer without total belief that God will answer that prayer. We have a very active Lord who listens and understands our hurts and worries and He replaces those with healing and peace. The power of one can best be seen in the unified hearts of those of His church. When we are one with Christ, we are one with each other. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. That whole attitude of unity begins when we have a unified heart and attitude with Jesus...When Jesus prayed for His disciples in John 17, His prayer was for us as disciples as well. Read the following verses and be encouraged to see the prayer of our Savior for us. John 17:20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
This power of one that comes from a oneness with Christ enables us to be able to not only live a life of victory, but see true victories that can only come from God and see them actually happen! This power of One is a power that unifies us with Christ and results in strong unity among believers that is strong and binding. You may notice there is a very unique thing about the fellowship of believers and our love for each other. The unique part of this whole fellowship element is Jesus himself drawing us to HIm and then to each other. If the enemy can get us to forget how close we are to be as believers he will be able to weaken whatever we do. Jesus said in verse 22 of the above passage, "I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one." To be able to be one as Jesus and the Father are one is mind-blowing! You will see that oneness as we serve the Lord together and the effect will be life-changing and eye-opening. We use the word fellowship at times and don't actually understand the power of us being one in the faith. Jesus puts the final nail in this prayer in verse 23 where He says, I am in them and you are in me.
That makes me want to stand up and shout "Here we go!" So, that is exactly what I will do right now. "Here We Go!" You may ask "Where are we going?" Let me take you to the answer in the last half of verse 23. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. The world, wherever we go will see Jesus in our unity as believers and the old Catholic chorus will come to pass. The words of this chorus are as follows. They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love.
Can't you see? All of this stuff makes sense and God is faithful to reveal it to us sometimes a step at a time, but when revealed it draws us just a little closer to God and builds up our faith. Live in this great fellowship with Jesus and thus live a life of fellowship with other disciples who are on their journey of faith per the salvation of our souls. We truly do live in the bond of love and that bond is created by Jesus and Him alone!! Never
underestimate the power of the fellowship of believers, also known as The Church. May we never try to do things on our own and thus stifle the Power of One. It takes us all and together in unity we aren't just strong. We are mighty!! The following story illustrates how much we need others help to do the work of the Lord. It may be the difference between just poking along on or zooming ahead with the vehicle the Lord has given us in the Holy Spirit.
In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.
Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.
Keep in mind. The power has been here the whole time!!
The Pilgrimage continues.....
David Warren
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