Jesus prays for unity among His disciples both those present and those to come.   How He wanted us to become one as He and the Father were One in mind, heart, faith, and will.  Is it possible for us, as his disciples, to come into the unity for which He prayed and what would be the result of that “coming into unity”?

John 17:1-26

1          After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

2          For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.

3          Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

4          I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

5          And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

6          "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.

7          Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.

8          For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

9          I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.

10        All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.

11        I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-- the name you gave me-- so that they may be one as we are one.

12        While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

13        "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

14        I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

15        My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

16        They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

17            Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

18        As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

19        For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

20        "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,

21        that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

22        I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:

23        I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24            "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25            "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.

26        I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (NIV)

What a profound statement Jesus made here!  What grace and love and benediction!  That we could be one with Him and the Father, as they are one! 

V.20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, V. 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

How can we become one with Him and the father and how can Jesus come to live in us?  We see the answer to this in

John 17:1-3

1.      After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.  2. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.  3. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

John 3:16-18

16.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  17.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  18. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (NIV)

These verses tell us that we are to believe in the one true God and on Jesus, His son, who has been given authority from the Father over us; that He not only came from Heaven but that He was sent by the Father to bring salvation (eternal life) to the world of men who would believe and accept His teachings about God and His Kingdom! 

Eternal life!  Unending, forever living, timeless, unchanging, time immortal, everlasting, undying, never-ending, perpetual, endless, ceaseless, timeless, interminable, continuous, uninterrupted, permanent, continual, constant, security, peace, happiness, the very life of God Himself and of His Christ, Jesus!   Think of it!  It boggles the mind! 

God’s gift to us!  Sealed forever in His life, His blood and His cross!  Salvation full and free!  Only Believe!    So we become one with the Father and His Son, Jesus through faith in God and His Son which the Father sent to give salvation to all who would believe in Him and His Father.  In them, through Him, we become one with the Great God who created our universe and we live, move and have our being—all in Him!  This then is unity in Him!

But how can we come into unity with each other?  This is the question that the Church has struggled with from the first!  In the Church, we find all manner of dis-unity!  We find all of these in the Church: distrustfulness, disturbances, suspicions, doubting, skepticism, wariness, disbelieving, cynicisms, contemptuousness, detracting, laziness, hopelessness, disbelieving, disharmony, rather than the unity for which Jesus prayed. 

Why?  One would answer, “it is man’s nature!”  Yet, have not our natures been changed?  If so, then why is the Church still in dis-unity?  It is because we do not believe the prayer that Jesus prayed for us to come into unity.  Many feel that this is impossible for the Church in this world and is reserved for the next.  This is not true or the Lord would not have prayed for it.  He knew what was possible for us even if we do not!  So it is possible for us to come into unity in the here and now!  All we have to do is believe that it is possible!  Where is your faith?  Do you believe Jesus or what man has to say?  “All things are possible to those who believe.” Mark 9:23

You are in the Kingdom when you accept the King of the Kingdom, Jesus our Lord and Commander!  What kind of soldier are you?  Are you in unity with your Commander-in-Chief as well as the other units in the Army?  Are you working with the others in this Army of the King; or are you complaining and in rebellion to your commander as well as to the Commander of all, the Lord of Hosts?  Are you working together with others in your congregation and city (pastor, prophet, teacher, evangelist, etc. as one body; or have you decided just to stay in your bunk today and let others carry out the work planned for today?  Are you entering into service today, on extended leave; or are you AWOL?

Do you have faith in the War plan as outlined by your leaders and the Manual; or do you believe you are defeated before you begin?  Are you prepared and ready in mind and body as well as eager to enter into the battle that is raging all about you?  Do you have confidence in the Leaders and in your Commander?  Have you not only studied the manual; but also practiced until you are proficient with your weapons?  Do you have all the armor that has been issued and do you know how to apply it correctly?   Do you have faith in yourself, your training, and the other members of you Unit?

If not,

repent and start now to correct these things!  The time is short and the battle is already raging and the victory is slipping from your grasp! 

Believe!  “All things are possible to those who believe.” Mark 9:23

The Kingdom is here and the battle is joined. 

Study the manual! 

Pray until you gain confidence in yourself, your Unit of the Body, your Commander and His Host, and in the plan that has been set before you! 

Put on the whole armor given to you:

Eph 6:13-18

13. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  14. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15. and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  16. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  17. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  18. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (NIV)

Prepare for the Battle both in mind, body, and by knowing the Plan as it its laid out for you in your Unit!

Be assured of Victory!  Read the back of the Book to see that you indeed are the victor both now and forever!

John 17:1-26

11. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-- the name you gave me-- so that they may be one as we are one.  12. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.  13. "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.  14. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  15. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  16. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. (NIV)

Go forth at His command and bring forth that Victory with the Host of Heaven at your side!

Go everywhere!  Go into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in!

Luke 14:23

23.       And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (KJV)

Too long you have waited in hesitation for someone else to take the lead!  Stop waiting and step out and go!  You are the leader, in your life, home and in following your Unit as they follow the King! 

The Lost are waiting—hanging in the balance!  Do you really love God and the lost as you proclaim?  Then Go!!!  Not just go; but Charge!!!

The Battle rages fast and furious, it is true; but the best defense is a great and effective offense!!!  The results are really up to YOU!!!

FORWARD!!!    CHARGE!!!