One Heart - Be Oneنموونە

BE ONE!

“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19 NIV

The Israelites in the Old Testament struggled to stay faithful to God. They repeatedly strayed from God and participated in the detestable idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations. God was patient and sent prophet after prophet to call them to repentance. They did not repent. God had to execute judgment on them for the sake of His holy name. Their disobedience caused God's Name to be ridiculed by the pagan nations. In the midst of the judgment, He promised redemption. He would make a new covenant with them: do a heart transplant by removing the old stony heart and give them a new heart of flesh, an undivided, singular heart. He would also give them a new spirit. (Jer.31:31-34)

The new covenant began on that glorious day of Pentecost when the Spirit of God was poured out. Those who believed in the good news of Jesus Christ were born again, filled by the Spirit of God, and received one heart, one soul (mind and emotions), one body by the one Spirit, filled with one hope, one faith, one baptism of the Spirit, having one Lord, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Act.4:31-32; 1 Cor.12:13; Eph.4:4-6).

Each day, we will pray through the different aspects of becoming one. First becoming one with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Secondly, becoming one with our brothers and sisters in the Body of Jesus Christ, the Church. Thirdly, our role as peacemakers in the world around us. Daily prayer points focus first on our own individual lives (ME), then on the Church (US), and then on the world (THEM).

As you pray through the different topics this week, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into the truth concerning your own heart to bring conviction, ask for forgiveness or extend forgiveness as necessary, and empower you to reconcile and bring healing and restoration to others. If emotions should surface during your prayer, try to identify these emotions and ask the Lord to show you the incident(s) that caused you to have these emotions. This is usually where healing can occur through confession or forgiveness. If you are reminded of specific people who were involved in these incidents and you have the opportunity to personally speak to them to ask for forgiveness or to forgive, please try to do so at the first opportunity in a face-to-face meeting or via telephone.

PRAYER POINTS

ME: Have you ever contemplated the length, breadth, height, and depth of the salvation of God accomplished through His Son and the Holy Spirit? Submit yourself again to this heart transplant, trusting God to do you everything that He promised: to enable you to become one body, one heart, one mind, one soul, and one faith with believers from any race, nation, colour, or background.

US: Pray that the work of the Holy Spirit will overcome the denominational and doctrinal differences in and amongst us. Pray that the Lord will bind us together in true unity and restoration. Pray that He will open our eyes to collectively see the pain and wounds around us. Ask the Lord to root out pride from our hearts and replace it with the Holy Spirit's fruit of humility and compassion. Let us bow down with humble hearts filled with repentance.

THEM: Ask the Lord for forgiveness for our disobedience, which caused His name to be ridiculed by unbelievers. If you know any people who were hurt or disappointed in God because of your or other Christians' behavior, ask them for their forgiveness.

Remember your scripture memory of John 17.

"Reconciliation is the physical demonstration that God is at work in the world. Any fool can put people at odds. Only God – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all – can bring those opposed to one another together as sisters and brothers. When we lose reconciliation, we lose the purposes of Jesus." – Sean Palmer.