Focal scripture: John 17:22-23 NIV
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one;
I 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.”
The Church that our lord Jesus is seen praying for here in the above scripture is my focus today.
This Church has dwelt comfortably in PARTIAL UNITY for too long…
for over two thousand years, enjoying, “I am of Paul…”, “I am of Apollos…” partial unity.
So much have been accomplished under this partial unity administration of the grace of God. Big denominations, Cathedrals, Hospitals, universities and even cities have been built.
Communities and nations have been impacted and developed under this partial dispensation of the grace of God.
Some have greatly benefitted from this ‘part by part unity’ that they don’t seem to need the other parts of the Body of Christ.
We hear things like,
we don’t need you..!
We don’t need any Church to achieve our purpose.
We are the fastest growing church and we are the richest church…
Though so much has been achieved with partial Church Unity there remains still so much more to do for the Lord.
We can not proceed to do the GREATER works of God in this third millennium that has started to count,
UNLESS WE MOVE FROM PARTIAL CHURCH UNITY TO COMPLETE CHURCH UNITY.
This complete Church Unity is what Jesus our Lord actually prayed for as seen in our focal scripture or text above.
“May they be brought into COMPLETE UNITY…”
Very soon, they that have benefitted from the partial unity, Or Isolationism and denominationalism syndrome of;
me, myself and I empire and ministry will be proven to be in error or immature as the case may be.
For as the Body is one and has many parts, so is the Body of Christ…
The part called eye can not say to the part called hand, i don’t have need of you…
1 Corinthians 12:12-21
I have also inferred in another place…, the part called, “I am of Paul”, can not say I don’t need they of the part called; “I am of Peter…”
1 Corinthians 3:3-5,
1 Corinthians 1:12-13
There is a place in Christ where all the parts of the Body fitly fit into one another together like jigsaw puzzle to grow and form ONE completely whole body of Christ. ONE HOLY NATION HOUSE OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.Ephesians 4:15-16
Ephesians 4:11-14
This is the place we must come up to now,
if we must fulfill our calling as one Holy Nation of the new covenant.
If we must Disciple all Nations, heal the nations and lend to Nations, reign on earth as king-priests or kingdom of priests as a testimonial of the Gospel of the kingdom to all the world.
CHURCHNATION PLATFORM IS THAT PLACE.
BELIEVE!
© Dr. Immanuel Stone Ikpe
Apostle of Church Unity.
