I have a Dream...

...That true unity would be achievable across the body of Christ.

It is Biblical... David said: “How good and pleasant it is
 when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133)

I’m in good company; this was a subject close to Jesus’ own heart: “My prayer is that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 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 – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23)

Jesus didn’t pray for ecumenical tolerance, which is what we often achieve and call unity. Rather, Jesus was talking about a unity that is supernatural; The unity of the Church that Jesus prayed for is just as He and the Father are one.

That’s a unity where you can’t tell where one church ends and another begins.

I believe this is God’s mandate for Malmesbury right now.

At our very first Hope church prayer meeting, a member of our new congregation received a prophetic picture; It was the congregations in Malmesbury assembled and marching in formation like roman soldiers with their shields locked together. Locked and marching together we form a solid wall against the enemy’s arrows. Together we can take ground.

And God is placing this call to unity in the hearts of members of other congregations: A member of another church, (someone I’ve never met) recently had a vision; Part of this vision was a crown: God revealed in this vision that the churches are the individual jewels on that crown.

I am convinced that this is a town wide mandate from God. Each church in Malmesbury is a jewel on His crown: That is one crown, different jewels! – One church may be a sapphire, another a ruby, another an emerald or a diamond etc. Each is so valuable and precious and individual but together they are attractive and reflect the light of Jesus in all directions. Isaiah 62:3 “The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see - a splendid crown in the hand of God.”

Did you know there are several species of buttercup? – My daughter’s A-level biology teacher was recently pointing out each one’s unique characteristics. If God didn’t stop at one species of buttercup... why would He want one expression of His Church here on earth? God is creator... he made variety!

Let’s appreciate each other’s expressions of church for their unique qualities – Let’s catch the vision that “God loves allsorts” (as Kings church have so mouthwateringly reminded us recently.) Let’s conclude that God’s variety in churches is so that by all possible

means we might save some! (1 Corinthians 9:22)

The population of the Malmesbury community area in 2011 was 18,750: Enough people to fill more than 10 “Mega churches”!

Jesus’ prayer was that through complete unity of his body - the world will know salvation. So lets join Him in that prayer:

Oh Father God help us become one even as You and the Son are one. Amen!