Guess Who’s Praying for You?
How are you today? I pray you are blessed and highly favored. It was so good to be home this past Sunday and see so many of you, our family. It’s always great to go, but it’s even better to come home! We had an incredible 30 days seeing God do amazing things in Africa, but we are very excited to begin a new school year and believe it will be our best year yet.
Friend, can I remind you of something so incredible? JESUS IS PRAYING FOR YOU AND ME! Isn’t that an amazing thought? Look at John 17:20-26.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that 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. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I 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. 26I 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.”
And what is He praying? U-N-I-T-Y. As a matter of fact, He is praying for unity, for our eternal destiny, and that we would see His glory. Let’s look at these key areas that affect our earthly life and our heavenly reward.
Unity is vital to any relationship. Unity in a marriage speaks of the power of covenant. Unity in a corporate setting brings dreams and visions to pass. Unity in the church is how people know we are Christians. Unity brings the commanded blessing (Psalm 133) and answered prayer (Matt 18:19). If we don’t have unity, we can’t clearly communicate the power of the gospel. Jesus was well aware of the importance of unity. In fact, “the boys” (disciples) left him at the place of prayer at a time when Jesus probably could have used a bit of moral support!
Our eternally destiny was, and is of great importance to our Lord. The Bible tells us in 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. The reason we must walk in unity is that it is the single element that sets us apart from the world. As members of the Family of God, unity is key and is the mark of our testimony. And it is what draws the lost to Christ.
Lastly, Jesus prayed that we might see the Glory of God made manifest. One interesting note is that under the old covenant, God’s glory was not able to be seen by man. (Exod. 3:6). But Corinthians tells us that, under the new covenant that the Spirit filled life is more glorious! (2 Cor. 3:6-8)
And Isa 40:5 says, “And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it”.
What an awesome promise! For if we see His glory, we can be partakers of His glory. And if we are partakers of His glory, we can also show forth His glory, displaying His power, faithfulness and goodness to others who desperately need Him.
And the only way we walk in unity, destiny, and seeing His glory is by walking in His love. My prayer this week for each one of you is that you not just “know” his love but that you might experience His love, just as Paul prayed in Eph. 3:17- 19 (AMP) which says—
17May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,
18That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];
19[That you may really come] to know [practically, [e]through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses [f]mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] [g]unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and [h]become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!
As we agree in prayer this week, let’s ask the Lord:
1 for unity and the commanded blessing in our homes, our businesses, our church/ministries
2 for our eternal destiny to be founded on Him and through Him as we reach out to win others
3 the glory of God would be in us and upon us and we would be the image of Christ in our world
4 students and schools would be abundantly blessed as they begin a new year
5 a harvest of souls this week
6 wisdom, grace, and mercy in all our decisions
7 supernatural health and wealth
This coming Sunday is very special in the life of the church. Our very first, “PROMOTION SUNDAY” happens with many of our young students moving into new seasons in their lives. We as a church believe it is important to celebrate accomplishments and so this Sunday, we will be celebrating with those “promoting” into upper grades. Also, we are beginning a new Equip class for 4th-6th grades that is very exciting. With the huge success of our first VBS and the addition of students, new families, and teachers, CWC is postured for great growth and success. Make your plans now to join us this coming Sunday. In addition, Ps Joe will be sharing a very important message, “The Blessing of Partnership” which I know will be vital to all as we move forward in unity, in destiny, in glory and in love.
Have a blessed week and join us for prayer this Wed night @ 6:30. It will change your life!
Much love,
Ps Joe and Becky and the team