United in Faith

We are meant to be united in faith. Jesus prayed to God, “Holy Father, keep them and care for them – all those you have given me – so that they will be united just as we are.” There’s a special truth in the Gospel of John 17. We’ll get to the ascension story regarding Jesus later. Right now, let’s talk about “unity of faith.” Jesus wanted God to keep all of God’s children safe. Jesus also wanted them united just as Jesus and God are united. There are two thoughts in this scripture. The first point is that Jesus wants us united in faith. The second point is that the model for unity of faith is Jesus and God.

Let’s talk about unity of faith. There’s power in being united in faith. Some translations use the term “all together.” The New King James version uses a great phrase “one accord.” If we are of one accord, we can do all things through Jesus Christ. We are united. We belong. We are part of God’s team. We are stronger together.

I was working in the garden on Saturday. The soil was wet and sticking together. I picked up a handful of soil and I realized that the soil is made up of clay, sand, gravel, and organic material like leaves. All of the individual parts of the soil are different, but the parts stick together to hold water and grow beautiful corn and tomatoes. If the clay and the sand did not stick together in one accord, the wind would blow the topsoil away. We would be left with just rocks which could not grow anything to eat.

We are like that topsoil. We are all different, but together we can be used by God to grow. We can accomplish so much more if we stick together in one accord. It is impossible to grow vegetables in hard packed clay. It is also difficult to grow flowers in just sand. It is also hard to grow trees in a pile of leaves or grass clippings. If we mix all of the ingredients together, then we have great conditions for seeds to grow and give life.

The other concept in that Bible verse was that we should be united just as God and Jesus are. I had never thought of being united like God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are three in one. The relationship between God the Father and God the Son is as close as we can possibly get. God takes over for Jesus when Jesus is ascending into heaven. They are the ultimate example of family. God and Jesus are united in faith, belief, and love.


We need to be united in faith as a family. Our parents, our spouse, our children will be so much stronger if we are united in faith. We won’t doubt their love for us and our neighbor. Our family will be the cornerstone for our neighbors and our church. If our family is called to serve God, we will have a mighty team to serve God.

God meant for us to go out two by two to serve him. In Luke 10:1-2, it says “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore to send out workers into the harvest field.”

There are so many reasons why Jesus sent out the people out into the harvest field two by two. If I am weak from typhoid fever or have doubt that God can use me, then you are probably healthy and strong in your faith. At the point that Satan is attacking you, I am strong at that time. We are never weak at the same time. We need to be willing to go out two by two with people that we know, but we also need to go out with people that we’ve never met before who are vastly different from ourselves. We will grow as a people when we serve God together.

We’ve organized a prayer chain for our church. We update the prayer list for those that are in need of prayers. Did you ever wonder why we have a prayer list? We continue with one accord in prayer and supplication for those that are sick or in need of God’s healing. I’ve seen the power of prayer when we are unified when we are praying in one accord.

Prayer is so powerful. I was moved when Pastor Elwood Pack anointed me and everyone at New Hope United Methodist Church prayed for me. I felt your prayers were united in faith for my recovery. We can also be united in faith when we are separated by distance. The key point is that we must be united in one accord. Our church alter is always open to you, please come for prayer at this alter whenever you feel the need to be united in prayer.

We need to be united in faith as a church. The people of New Hope can do so much more if we are of one accord. We are in turn connected to all of the Methodist Churches in the Danville District and the Virginia Conference. We are part of the United Methodist Church. We are united with other churches in Virginia and in turn around the world.

Satan tries to divide a church from within. Satan must not be allowed into a home or a church to divide and conquer. Today, there are churches in this country that need our prayer because men and women of faith are fighting each other inside the church walls instead of being of one accord and united in faith. Let us pray for those churches, church members, and pastors that they are able to find their way back to being united in faith. As Christians, our duty is to fight evil, not each other. We must love God and our neighbor as ourselves.

We also must be united with other Christians of every denomination with a single purpose to share the love of Jesus Christ and to share the gospel of peace. God did not mean for us to worship alone. God meant for our voices to come together to sing praises to him.

I went to Antioch Church of the Brethren on Wednesday to speak about God’s work in Africa. I felt so bad. The headache was so painful that I couldn’t concentrate while I was driving to church. I prayed to God for help. I asked God to give me the words and to ease my pain so that I could preach that night. As soon as my prayer was over, I felt strong and without any pain. The service was powerful. My personal testimony and story about God using me touched people that night.

Jesus knew that his time in this world was coming to an end. He was about to ascend into heaven. He is talking to God the father in his prayer. These words are also for us. Let’s get back to John 17:1-5.

“1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things; he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone in all the earth. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life – to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 4 I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do. 5 And now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.”

Jesus tells us that we can have eternal life if we know the one true God. Jesus Christ gives us eternal life. Jesus also set the example here on earth by doing everything that God told him to do. We also must read God’s word and do everything that we are told to do. We don’t do it to earn our way into heaven. We serve God out of gratitude and thanksgiving that we are God’s people.

John 17:6-10 says “6 I have told these men about you. They were in the world, but then you gave them to me. Actually, they were always yours, and you gave them to me; and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, 8 for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. 9 "My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 And all of them, since they are mine, belong to you; and you have given them back to me, so they are my glory!”

Jesus now tells us to keep the word of God. He also tells us that everything that we have is a gift from God. It frees us when we realize that our life, our home, and our family are gifts from God. We cherish everything about our lives more when we realize that God gives us the gift of today’s blue sky and yesterday’s rain. God gives us the breath in our lungs and the strength in our hands. God gives us the words to speak and our eyes to see the glory of God all around us. Let us accept God’s gift freely today.

In Luke 17:11-16 it says, “11 Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them – all those you have given me – so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I have kept them safe. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. 13 "And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy.14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not. 15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They are not part of this world any more than I am.”

Okay, we are now getting to the “Ascension Sunday.” Jesus knows that he is leaving the world in his physical form and ascending into heaven. Jesus is not concerned about his journey to heaven. Jesus is concerned about us. He wants God to keep us and care for us. Jesus does not want us to become lost or be threatened by evil. We can choose to be part of this worldly life or we can choose an eternal life where we have a temporary place on this earth.

Jesus is not afraid to leave the physical body and ascend into heaven. Jesus cares more about the family that he is leaving behind. Jesus wants us to be safe. Have you met someone who was dying who was not afraid of death? Their only concern was about the family that they would soon leave behind? Jesus is setting a good example for us about leaving this world and going onto heaven. Jesus is certain about his place in heaven. Jesus knows the way to heaven. Jesus is certain about the journey to heaven. We should not be afraid of death. We should be certain about our journey to heaven.

In Luke 17:17-23 it says, “17 Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours. 20 "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. 21 My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father – that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. 22 "I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are – 23 I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one.”

These final verses from Luke 17 are so powerful. Jesus gave himself entirely to God. He taught the words of truth that we now read in our Bible. Jesus prayed for us that we would believe God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, into this world so that we would have eternal life. Jesus also prayed that we would be one with God just as Jesus and God are one. Jesus wants us to be united in faith with God. Isn’t that wonderful? We don’t have to walk in this world alone. We have friends who are united in faith who will join us along the journey of life. The most special friend of all is Jesus Christ who gave us the gift of salvation.

Jesus is very clear. We need to be united with each other in our faith and belief in God. Jesus tells us that we can’t be a part of this world. The world tries to tell us that there is no God. The world tries to tell us that there is no hope or love. We need to put our trust in God.

We are not alone in this world. We do not have to be afraid. We do not have to be at risk of attack from the evil one. We are united in faith. We are united in love. We are united in God’s word. We are united in our service to God to share the love of Jesus Christ. We know that God is with us every step that we take, every word that we speak, and every song that we sing. We are one with each other and one with God. Let’s us go out today and remember that God is united with us in our hearts and that we are united together by the love of Jesus Christ!

The Apostle Paul in Philippians 2:1-4 urges us by saying these words: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (NKJV) being of one accord, of one mind.” We are one people. We are of one accord. Let us go and serve God together with the knowledge that we are God’s people.