Oneness Produces Fruit
Posted on 04 May 2001
by The Good News Lady
John 17:21-22
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:(KJV)
In a bible study on Sunday we were discussing the idea of oneness with Christ and also comparing oneness with Christ with oneness in a marriage and a point was made that oneness produces fruit. I had never thought of that being a ‘truism’ but it is so. Oneness in a marriage, for instance, has partly to do with the physical side of marriage that produces children. Children are the fruit of our bodies, aren’t they? Well, oneness in Christ does the same thing-it produces fruit. Look at the verse 21. Why does Jesus pray for the disciples to be one? So that the world may believe God sent Jesus. And in verse 22, Jesus states that He has given them the glory given Him so that they could be one, just like the Father and the Son are. I am not going to get into an explanation right now explaining what God’s glory is, but suffice it to say, Jesus gave His disciples the glory given to Him by the Father, and the purpose for that was for them to be able to be one with each other and with Jesus. And that very oneness with each other and Jesus would reveal to the world that God the Father sent Jesus.
Have you ever been with a group of Christians that were so united that they all heard the same thing from God? I have, and it is glorious in my mind. Because when you get lots of people together from all different backgrounds -even among Christians-you see different people hearing different things. And that is the case is because God is saying something different to each one and because He is speaking to their individual needs. But in some cases where there is a group wanting to hear from God about how to or what to pray, or they are wanting to understand something and are counting on God to reveal it-- they all hear the same message from God. And you know it is God speaking to them, because in the natural - people don’t hear the same thing at all. But when the unity of the message coming to all in the group, you know that is a supernatural experience. I have been in groups like that and when I am there, I know God is speaking to that group. So you can see how unity is not only supernatural, but reveals that Jesus is truly the Son of God, the Father revealed, the Saviour, the Redeemer, Lord, and King. And that oneness impresses other people-the message comes in loud and clear-and people receive Jesus into their lives. The body of Christ when unified-multiplies itself-produces the fruit-the new believers that come in.
So oneness does indeed produce fruit, both in the natural as well as in the spiritual realm--physical children and spiritual children.
Where in your life are you practicing oneness with God, with your spouse if married, and with the body of Christ? Where in your life are you not practicing that oneness? Check yourself out and then where needed, repent, and continue on with the Lord.
God bless and have a great weekend. Your Good News Lady
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