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Intention

To stay connected as one Church, despite our differences, so that the nation will encounter the good news of Jesus Christ.

Scripture

“… until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.

^“But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head — Christ. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.”

– Ephesians 4:13–16

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

– Proverbs 27:17

Reflection

There is only one Church with Jesus Christ as its head. It’s the universal Church, which spans every denomination, century and nation.

Individual churches are parts of Christ’s body. Anglicans, Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans, Orthodox, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Uniting, other evangelicals, house churches and new networks are all connected to Christ. Each carries something that the others need.

Scripture says that the body grows “according to the proper working of each individual part” and by “being fitted and held together.” My growth depends on you functioning well. Your growth depends on us being connected to each other.

This is where the principle plays out: connection is where truth is uncovered as we sharpen one another. Unity doesn’t mean we pretend there are no disagreements, or that we agree to disagree and then keep our distance. That’s just conflict avoidance.

The harder and more rewarding road is to stay in committed relationship and let our differences do their work on us. Iron sharpens iron only when the two pieces touch.

The goal is “unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son” (Ephesians 4:13). We reach knowledge of the Son together. How? By “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), which assumes that we are close enough to be committed to love. And close enough to move beyond small talk.

We have seen this happen. A generation ago, the gifts of the Spirit divided churches. As recently as 2005, one of the world’s largest mission agencies barred candidates who prayed in tongues.

Then scholars from both traditions opened the Scriptures together. Evangelical scholars such as D. A. Carson, Gordon Fee, Wayne Grudem and Craig Keener argued from the text that the gifts continue. And some committed cessationists changed their view. Others now describe themselves as “open but cautious.” In 2015 that same mission agency reversed its policy.

Today most of the global Church does not hold that the gifts have ceased. And many charismatics are more willing to take a careful look at how the gifts should operate. Brothers and sisters who once kept their distance now pray and serve side by side — and both have been sharpened.

That came from staying at the table together.

Reaching Australia 2033 is a vision to see every Australian encounter the good news of Jesus by Pentecost 2033. That vision will need the same mindset. No one denomination or church will reach this nation.

Awakening to evangelism means awakening to our need for each other. When the body is fitted and held together under its head, the world sees Jesus (John 17:20–23).

Let’s pray for a Church that stays in the room, stays in love and keeps sharpening one another until we all see him clearly.

Video

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are the head of your Church. Forgive us for the times we have pulled away from brothers and sisters because they see things differently. Forgive our pride in thinking our corner holds all the truth.

Join us together again. Give us humility to listen and courage to speak the truth in love. Keep us committed to one another when it is hard. Sharpen us through each other, and bring us into the unity of the faith and the knowledge of you.

Awaken your Church across Australia to love you first and to carry the gospel to every person in this nation. Let the world see your one body and believe. Amen.

Author Bio

Paul Joshua ‘PJ’ Bedwell was a medical doctor. But after being born again and set free from addiction, he now heads up Youth for Christ Australia as the National Director.

PJ is also the ministry director for What’s Normal?, a ten-week video-based curriculum equipping young people to live as disciples of Jesus in a pornographic and hyper-sexualised culture.

He lives with his wife, Mikaela, and young family south of Sydney.

Prayer Points for October 2026

We are praying for the Church to:

1. Awaken to her first love for Jesus (Ephesians 5:14; Revelation 2:4).
2. Awaken to evangelism so that millions will trust in Christ (John 3:16; Proverbs 11:30).
3. Awakento her prophetic voice to the nation (Isaiah 52:1; Matthew 14:4).

We invite you to support this campaign to multiply prayer in Australia for revival and see millions come to faith in Christ. Every donation to the Canberra Declaration helps us promote prayer and make a stand for family, faith, freedom, life, and the good news of God’s love through Jesus Christ.

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