Opening Eyes: Oneness

The Forgotten Ingredient of Revival

Return

Welcome back to THE HOLY GO, a newsletter published to teach, equip and empower you to fulfil the Great Commission right where you are!

This week we commence a new series based on the first phase in our Spiritual Formation Framework: Awaken to Love. (Read more on the Awaken to love, Abide in Love, Abound in Love framework here.)

Throughout the series we’ll dig deeper into the OPEN Framework which describes how eyes are opened to the gospel through:

Oneness
Prayer
Evangelism
Neighbour Love

Today we kick off with Oneness!

Equip

Light and Glory

I absolutely love revival history. I love looking back and seeing what God has done in the past. It inspires me to pray that God would do it again!

One thing that has began to stand out to me is how revival and gospel movements often start as non-denominational or even inter-denominationally.

Revival seems to come when we lay aside our labels and logos and simply work together to see His “Kingdom Come!” For example,

• The book of Acts repeatedly demonstrates how united prayer was the catalyst for mission in the early Church.

• The Moravian 100+ year prayer meeting that inspired thousands of missionaries began in a time of repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation.

• The Salvation Army started as a mission to the lost, the last and the least. It was filled with men and women from a variety of different Churches.

• The Pentecostals started under William J. Seymour’s ministry which included those from all traditions, classes and even nationalities at at time where it was foreign to do so.

• Spontaneous prayer was at the centre the Welsh revival. These prayer meetings did not discriminate which Church anyone was from.

Isn’t it fascinating that wherever there seems to be a serious move of God that reshapes the face of the planet, believers in Jesus (of all persuasions) seem to be joining in?

As the Church becomes one, the eyes of the world open to the light and glory of Christ!

The Forgotten Ingredient of Revival

In John 17 we read of Jesus praying that the Church would be one.

“I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 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.” (John 17:20-21)

Did you catch that?

Jesus prayed that we would become one so that the word may believe!

I’ve read a plethora of books and articles on evangelism, I’ve watched sermons and attended trainings on sharing the gospel, but very rarely have I ever heard of “oneness” being described as a key ingredient for evangelism.

In a time when the world is so divisive,
where people cancel each other over any difference,
Jesus is praying that we The Church would be one.

Why Oneness

The key to Oneness is a Kingdom mindset: one that lets us pray together, encourage one another, share resources, partner in mission, and carry one another’s burdens. (Sounds like The Lords prayer doesn’t it? Our Father… Give us, Forgive us, Lead us…)

Unfortunately, The Church has seen unity as joining together… until we disagree.

However Oneness is a commitment to each other despite disagreements. We may have differing theological and practical views, however we are one because we all share in the love of Jesus and love for Jesus.

It requires humility, repentance, and reconciliation.

However, if we are serious about wanting to see the world believe, oneness is a non-negotiable. Oneness must become a top priority.

Therefore,
It’s time to lay aside our labels, logos and egos,
and seek first the Kingdom of God.

Activate

This week’s activation is to take stock of the other believers in your world.

Who are the people who don’t attend your church that you can intentionally pray with, encourage, and partner alongside for the sake of your family, workplace, sporting club, and neighbourhood to come to know Jesus?

Don’t divide over differences.
Unite over Jesus.

Let’s Go!