ONE VOICE!

When John recounted the events of Jesus’ life in his gospel, he recorded a prayer Jesus made that the other gospels chose not to recount. Just before Jesus is arrested in Chapter 17, He makes a heartfelt request to God for all his disciples:

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. 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.

Much later, Paul wrote passionately to the body of believers spread across the world, pleading with them to be of one mind.

Philippians 2:2

^[TPT] I’m asking you, my friends, that you be joined together in perfect unity – with one heart, one passion, and united in one love. Walk together with one harmonious purpose and you will fill my heart with unbounded joy.

^[AMP] Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ].

1 Corinthians 1:10

^[ASV] Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

During prayer at church two weeks ago, something I’d never experienced happened; and it was beautiful to behold while it happened. While we all prayed, one person led the session, and so was more audible through the microphone than anyone else. Suddenly, at some point, I was hearing over 50 people [about the total number of people who were praying] in the room praying the exact same word – the tongue of the person leading was speaking.

I opened my eyes; I was temporarily confused.😅 My eyes were confusingly scoping people’s entire faces😅 I was trying to read people’s lips to be sure my brain wasn’t playing games with me😅 What was going through my mind was that they probably had stopped praying in their own tongues and had joined the leader to recite his. And when I tell you not a single person’s lips were saying the leader’s tongues, I kid not! But I was still hearing 50+ voices praying the exact same word the leader was praying!

I closed my eyes again and continued praying for a while. I figured if I concentrated on my own prayer, the voices would shrink back into only the leader’s.😅 Folks, it wouldn’t!😆 I couldn’t help but grin as broadly as I could behind my mask when I figured out what was happening! It was a glimpse of what happens during corporate prayer! Oh how melodious it was to hear!😍

There’s a principle of dominion that operates naturally when people of like mind undertake any venture together – think about the Tower of Babel! Oh and if the Lord is with them, forget it! They’re unstoppable! The Lord told the people of Israel – ‘one man of you shall chase a thousand…’ [Joshua 23:10].  In Deuteronomy 32:30, He asked them – ‘how should one chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?’

Ever wonder why marriages are one of the most attacked institutions in the Kingdom?

The single most effective seed that bears fruits of unproductivity, lack of impact or dominion is discord! 

How does any ship/car/aircraft make any steady progress when one group is steering west while the other is steering east?

Jesus knew! All hands on deck, all eyes set only on one destination, all efforts geared to steering in one direction and one direction alone!🤯 Imagine the power, the speed!🤯 Jesus knew it would be in this principle that His Church would thrive, that the Church would exhibit enough power to show that the Father indeed sent Him. And before you go imagining some theoretical representation of the ‘Church’, realize that the very body parts of Jesus, constitute you, your believer friends, your family at your church, me, all my believing friends, all believers.

The Church’s power lies in your hand…and in mine. Profound Glory, yet profound Responsibility!

Until next time, remain rooted and in love with the King, friend!

Love,

Rad!💖