Today we are live at the 2017 Dan Emmett Music and Arts Festival, but also continue our summer-long series on prayer, inspired by The Battle Plan for Prayer by Alex and Stephen Kendrick.
This week we explore the importance of unity and praying for unity.
Genesis 11 is the story of the Tower of Babel. What do we learn in verses 1-9?
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward,[a] they found a plain in Shinar[b] and settled there. 3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”
8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel[c]—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
We learn that even ungodly people can be powerful in unity…but imagine the power we tap into when we worship the God of the Universe. THIS is why the enemy specializes in sowing seeds of mistrust and disunity. He knows what the alternative is – a powerful opponent.
United prayer is powerful. We need to work to remove bitterness, pride, and selfishness.
John 17 reminds us that Jesus prayed for his people to be unified into one body; God loves and blesses unity. Unity draws attention to Jesus, who died for us and now lives to intercede for us.
When people see unity, they see what? Purpose, love and power. It’s attractive and beautiful. The early church in Acts was devoted to prayer and each other. The unity was so powerful that God’s hand was upon them and they grew.
Acts 2:43 – “everyone was filled with AWE at the many wonders and signs…”
What do we communicate when we are divided?
We communicate pride, selfishness and ignorance. Ephesians 4:1-3
As prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
God’s blessings fall when we dwell together in unity. He moves when we remove our hearts of sin.
Mark 11:24-26 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” [26]
I John 4:20-21 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Unity must dwell in a home for it to flourish – the same goes for the church!
Romans 12:18 reminds us to live peacefully with everyone – but when it’s beyond our influence, we pray. We pray for unity with other believers and that we will not allow Satan to divide us over secondary issues.
We fight back against the enemy by CHOOSING to seek the Lord in humility and unity – remember revival happens with a humble and repentant heart.
What would it look like if churches actually worked together within a city to win the lost? Sharing resources and not caring who gets the credit?
If you want a powerful, unified movement of God among a willing people then you must pray for it and fight for it! Ask the Lord to link you with others who share that mindset.
It’s been done before. Jeremiah 33:3 promises: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
The Chapter 15 Prayer: “Lord, I’ve seen the kind of damage that can result from being in conflict with others, when we’re keeping our distance, especially among fellow believers. I’ve felt the hypocrisy of it all. I’ve kept seeing the same names and faces when convicted about people I struggle to get along with. But it’s hindering me, Lord. In my prayer and in my freedom. Help me take whatever steps necessary to bring healing to any broken relationships. And to desire unity with everyone who claims the name of Christ. So that together, we can work for your kingdom and the glory of your name. Amen.”
Thanks for listening!
-Joe and Lilly
Driving Notes 