Is There Value in a UNITED Cry?
The Angers Bridge was constructed in the early 1800s and used successfully for many years to cross the Maine River in Angers, France. Until April 16, 1850.In the midst of a violent thunderstorm, 486 French soldiers were walking in cadence across the bridge. The combination of the swaying of the bridge in the storm and the powerful resonance created by the lock-step of the soldiers caused the suspension cables to snap, plunging 226 men to their death. To this day, military ranks break cadence when crossing a bridge so as not to risk such a disaster.The Amazing Power of OnenessFrom the beginning of time, God has illustrated that superhuman things can be accomplished when men are moving together in unity. Mere humanistic oneness threatened the direction of the world so much that God created disunity at the scene of the building of the Tower of Babel.
The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them” (Genesis 11:6).
The united, triune God made us in their image (Genesis 1:26). When we are united—either for good or evil—there is an inherent power in our unity. There can be a negative power, as seen in the united disbelief and rebellion of the Israelites that caused their entire nation to wander and die for 40 years in the wilderness:
Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!” (Numbers 14:1-2).
But there can also be an amazing, positive power for good unleashed—as Jesus knew.Jesus’ Final PrayerWe can know a person’s heart by what they pray. We are treated to the extraordinary privilege of hearing Jesus’ greatest prayer for us before His death. His one great burden? For the church to walk in oneness!
I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me (John 17:20-23).
When Christ walked the earth, He moved in perfect unity with the Father. He explained His life by saying that He did nothing on His own initiative, but simply said what He heard His Father saying and did what He saw Him doing (John 5:19).This was so complete that He proclaimed to Philip, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). His oneness with the Father created a conduit for God to be brilliantly displayed.United with ChristThe church is the body of Christ. When we are in sync with our Head, the life, power, and direction of Christ can flow through us in superhuman dimensions. God can be clearly seen.Can you imagine the picture that would be created and the power unleashed if the whole church in a city or nation would move in complete unity with the Father? Jonathan Edwards understood this theologically and practically, and he wrote a famous call to the church prior to the First Great Awakening.An Humble Attempt to Promote Explicit Agreement and Visible Union of God’s People in Extraordinary Prayer for the Revival of Religion and the Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom on Earth had a long name and a short purpose: to unite the church in revival prayer. But it was not just revival for revival’s sake that was the endgame of their intercession.Edwards longed for the reviving of the church so there would follow the rapid expansion of the kingdom, so that God could be known and worshiped. He was convinced biblically that this must begin in a united cry.Edwards understood what would happen if the church would agree together in prayer. And the First Great Awakening that followed validated his theology.OneCryThere is a reason we are joining together in one cry across America. It is based in clear theology and verified by historical illustration.It is the same call that was the precursor to the First Great Awakening. It is a plea for united intercession for the only thing that will save us in this desperate hour: a mighty visitation from God.What would happen if the entire body of Christ in America agreed together about our need for repentance?What would occur if we turned together toward God in humility and fervency?What if we interceded together for His mercy and grace?What if we united in one plea for revival and awakening?We would witness the astounding power of our God, unleashed through spiritual oneness.