THIN SPACE
The Church
With approx 2.5 billion Christians across the globe in 2020, Christianity is the largest religious group worldwide with tens of thousands of different denominations.
Unity within the Church is more important than ever so that God maybe glorified.
“May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15.5-6
The God we serve is a God of unity who desires that His church live in unity and harmony built on the foundation that is Jesus Christ. It is Jesus who draws us together and the power of the Holy Spirit that make our bond stronger.
God calls the church to be a vibrant and powerful one that bears much fruit and the way we do that is by working together in perfect unity, not in perfect doctrine, perfect systems, perfect worship services or perfect leadership. That's why we are likened to a body - because what gets things done is unity in diversity. 1 Corinthians 12:12 says, "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”
'Unity is both a gift from God and a task. The task is to welcome that gift and to make it visible to others.' John O’Toole - National Ecumenical Officer (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales)
In 2016 Pope Francis stressed that it is by growing closer to the person of Christ and conforming ourselves to him – personally and as a community – that we grow closer to others. It’s ‘when we work, pray and serve the needy together, we are already united.’
Christian unity is important because Christ died to secure it.
In Ephesians 2:13-16 Paul writes,
It took the cross to break down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles and to reconcile these two formerly alienated groups into one body in the church. This is the unity Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 12:13: “For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” Christ accomplished this unity on the cross.
Pray
Pray for unity when life feels uncertain:
Dear God, we know that you are with us and you fight for your people. We believe that it’s not by might, nor by power, but by your Spirit, that you make a difference in our world.
Pray for wisdom to set aside differences:
Dear God, we ask that you fill us with your Spirit of love and unity among believers all across this nation and our world. We ask for your help to set aside our differences and look to the greater cause, the cause of Christ.
Pray for the Love we need to work together in unity
Dear God, we pray for our churches, we pray that you would surround every leader with wise counsel, that they would be humble and kind, patient and loving through their actions and words. We pray that their faith in you would be unwavering, strong, resolute, and firm.
Pray for Unity within the church in our Nation and across the world.
Dear God, We pray for your protection. We pray for unity in our land, that in spite of our differences, we would be willing to stand strong together and live out our days with compassion and grace. We ask that no weapon formed against us will prosper, and that you would block any attacks of the enemy.
We pray for your great healing on our land and that you would crush COVID 19. Shine your face on us dear Lord. Give us courage to go into all the world and take the message of the Gospel of peace. We need you just as much now as we ever have before.
Worship
The Blessing UK
At this unique and challenging time in the United Kingdom over 65 churches and movements, representing hundreds of others, have come together online to sing a blessing over our land. Standing together as one, our desire is that this song will fill you with hope and encourage you. But the church is not simply singing a blessing, each day we're looking to practically be a blessing. Many of the churches included in this song have assisted with supplying over 400,000 meals to the most vulnerable and isolated in our nation since COVID-19 lockdown began. This alongside phone calls to the isolated, pharmacy delivery drops and hot meals to the NHS frontline hospital staff.
The UK Blessing — Churches sing 'The Blessing' over the UK - CLICK HERE
So Will I (100 Billion X) - Hillsong Worship - CLICK HERE