Tag: John 17

John 17:21 (KJV)
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.

            Jesus continued to pray the believers asking for a unity of believers the same unity that his father and he shared. Jesus said himself that the world would know his followers by the love they showed each other.

By demonstrating this love we can show the world what a Christian looks like and how we act. Not through our power but through the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.

If we fight and gossip among ourselves the witness of the church is lost and we will not be the force in the world that Jesus prayed for. We will be useless in the battle to share the gospel.

Dear Lord: Give me the opportunity to share your love among the brethren. Keep from the trap of idle gossip and remove me from the battles within the church. Let me stand boldly for the cause of Christ.

In Jesus name I pray amen. 

 

John 17:20 (KJV)
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

 

The son of God, Jesus himself, prayed for each and every believer. Each and every person who would come to know him as their Lord and savior through the recorded words of his disciples, regardless of their station in life, even in the good times and the bad.

The words of Jesus are written in the Bible and each book in the New Testament is written to give a path to an everlasting belief in Jesus as our lord and savior.

Today the same words will continue to draw men to the father so that God can soften their hearts, place them under conviction and another soul can be saved for eternity.

 

Dear Lord: I thank you for sending your son so that I could be forgiven and obtain eternal life. The very son of God that would pray for me so I could continue the work, of sharing your word with the world. Give me the wisdom and strength to continue this work.

In Jesus name I pray amen.

 

 

John 17:14-16 (KJV)
I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
^  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

            Jesus had invested three years teaching the disciples the word of God. Jesus also knew the world hated the truth, the true word of God. The world knew the disciples were different they were not of the world but had a home elsewhere. They were just passing through this world to their heavenly home.

Jesus did not want the disciples taken out of the world. Jesus knew they needed to stay to continue the work he had started. But he wanted them to be kept safe while they were in this world.

As believers we need to be thankful the disciples were left in the world. The disciples had the opportunity through the power of the Holy Spirit to begin the church, the bride of Christ that we help to keep pure and always ready for the bridegroom.

Dear Lord: I am ever thankful that you left your disciples in this world to start your church, protected so they could be a living example for me to follow. Knowing that I am not of this world but that you will always be with me while I am here and for this I am ever great full.

In Jesus name I pray amen.

 

John 17:11-12 (KJV)
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
^  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

 

Jesus prayed that the disciples that would remain in the world after his death and resurrection. That they would remain together with the same closeness that Jesus and his father shared.

When Jesus was in the world he kept the disciples together in God’s name. Jesus lost none of the disciples except Judas who betrayed him. This betrayal was necessary to fulfill the scripture.

The disciples would remain together and begin the church the bride of Christ. Today we must continue to live by their example showing a unity of believers to a lost and dying world. Protecting each other and loosing none of brothers or sisters to the evil one.

Dear lord: Give me the strength and wisdom to help my fellow believers. So I may have the closeness to them that I have with you. So as a group we can go forward and complete the great commission.

In Jesus name I pray amen.

 

John 17:6-8 (KJV)
^  I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
^  Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
^  For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

 

Next Jesus asks God to preserve the ones that were given to him. The men that he had called to follow him during his three year ministry, the men Jesus would invest most of his life in. Training them in the ways of God and teaching them the gospel so they could continue after he had returned to the father.

Today can mature Christians follow the same example? Teaching a select few believers instead of the masses, sharing the wisdom that God has given them. So these individuals can go out and do the same thing in the future. By each of us investing our time wisely a new generation of believers they will be grounded in their faith and they will continue the process.

 

Dear lord: Place young Christians in our path so that we will opportunities to share the wisdom and knowledge that has come from you. So the church, the bride of Christ, will continue to grow and be pure for Jesus’ return.

In Jesus Name I pray amen.

 

John 17:2-3 (KJV)
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

            Jesus had been given power over all flesh, every man, women, and child. He can give eternal to whoever his father gives to him. Each individual must be drawn by the father before he can know the son. Once he knows the son then he can receive eternal life.

So we can know and worship the one true God and Jesus Christ his son not only in this life but for eternity in the life here after.

As Christians we must continue to share the Gospel. Being God’s witness in the world so the world can here and understand the gospel. But as believers in the one true God and his son we must remember we can only share the gospel. God is the one who changes men’s hearts. We can do nothing in our own power but can do anything in God’s power.

Dear Lord: Give me the wisdom and insight to be able to share your word. So that I can help to complete the great commission to share the gospel with the entire world. So each and every individual can hear about the one true God.

In Jesus name I pray amen.

 

John 17:1 (KJV)
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

          Just before crossing the brook Cedron and entering the garden where he would be betrayed Jesus prayed. This prayer is usually referred to as the high priestly prayer or the Lord’s Prayer.

Jesus showed the intimate relationship he had with God by referring to God as his father. Jesus’s next request was to be glorified. If this was his only request it would be petty and self-indulgent. But the reason was to glorify God. So, the actual request was ‘glorify me so I may glorify you’.

How many of us wish to be center stage basking in the glory of our accomplishments? Showing world what we have accomplished under our own power. Conveniently forgetting we have no power apart from God.

We need remember to give credit to God each and every time we are glorified. In our own prayers we can ask the father to be glorified. But when we ask we need to ask our actions will glorify God.

Dear Lord: Give me opportunities to be glorified, so that my life may glorify you. So, that I can be living proof of your love and power in this world.

In Jesus name, I pray amen.

            What a wonderful month it has been we have celebrated Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. More importantly we have looked at one of the most important prayers in Bible for all believers.

            We have learned it is acceptable to pray ourselves as Jesus first prayed for himself. Praying for ourselves is an important part aspect of prayer it gives us an opportunity to ask that our needs be fulfilled not for earthly possessions but for the wisdom, courage, and strength to be able to worship god and proclaim the Gospel.

            Secondly we must pray for the ones closest to us. The friends and family that we have almost daily contact with. The ones that we love and care for most.

 The last is the rest of the world not only those who believe but also those that are still lost. We need to pray that all believers can feel the same joy and confidence in their salvation that we find in ours and that all nonbelievers will have the opportunity to hear the gospel.

Dear Lord:

            Give me an opportunity to share the gospel with not only boldness but with clarity of mind that only you can provide. Give me the strength to love those closest to me so they can see you in me. Allow me to share in any way possible the saving of lost and dying world.

In Jesus name I pray amen

 

John 17:25-26 (KJV)

O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

            Jesus closes his prayer with an important and all encompassing truth. That as he is one with God we will be one with him and every believer will have the intimate relationship that Jesus has with the father. Not just for a fleeting moment but for all of eternity.

            The eternal bond between the saints and God can never be lost or taken away. We have the assurance that we will pass through the grave and into the presence of Jesus himself for all eternity. This bond is strengthened here on earth by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That still small voice that can be heard as we pray.

Dear Lord:

            Thank you for providing with an eternal companion that protects and guides me in the world. Giving me the guidance I need to fulfill each and every task that you have placed before me. Give me the same love that you share with the father that I may share it with the world and be able to share the gospel as people can see you in me.

In Jesus name I pray amen.

 

John 17:24 (KJV)

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

        Jesus had been with his father for all time. Beside him in glory since before the earth was formed. Now Jesus was praying that all who the father had given to him would see him in all his glory.

            The prayer here is not just for the original twelve disciples or the few who saw Jesus walk the earth and listened to his teaching. But all who would hear the gospel and be drawn by God to believe in Jesus as their lord and savior.

            What a great request for every believer that Jesus would intercede for each of us as sinners that we would have the opportunity to see him in all his glory as he sits at the right hand of the father. What a great and glorious day that will be.

Dear Lord:

            Thank you for praying to your father that I may have an opportunity not only to be forgiven for my sins but to see you in all your glory. Give me the opportunity to share the gospel as God draws more to you. So they too will the greatness of being in your presence and seeing you in your glory.

In Jesus name I pray amen