John 17 Part II
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 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. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 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.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
"Worship God"
Christ focuses only on God in His prayer. He is consistently referring to how He and the Father are joined and how the Father has given Him this and that and reminding the Father of what has happened and asking for other things to occur so that God the Father might be glorified further. What an example of submissive, focused prayer.
Christ mentions that we are getting to know God through himself as well. We cannot commune with or know God without the access granted through Christ. He himself is beseeching God to allow us communion but only after we know Him. The knowledge of God's love for His Son is a necessary component for Christ to live in us. Without the knowledge of God's love, how can we realize how much He loves us and what a sacrifice it was for God to give His Son to pay for our sins. Amazing!
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Jesus Prayer For Us
John 17
6 “I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus is talking to His heavenly Father about the disciples in vs. 6-19.
He refers to the disciples as "those whom you gave me" and clarifies that they were God's property to give. Christ reminds his heavenly Father that He followed instructions by giving them the words God gave Christ and that not only did they accept what was told them but they also recognized who Christ was. Christ shows concern for His friends in the reality that persecution would definately befall them after His departure from this world. He asks the heavenly Father to protect them by the power of His name. My heart is warmed by this request. Even though Christ and His Father are one, he is compassionate and humble enough to request protection and to acknowledge the absolute divinity held by God the Father. A place that only God can hold and whom only God can be. How amazing an example and how humble a prayer. So reverent, so godly.
He states that the GLORY came to Christ from the disciples. (glory has come to me through them.) What an honor - a truly humble honor for them to have. Christ states that He protected the disciples while here with them and notes that He did not lose even one of them to persecution. The only individual who suffered any type of destruction was Satan while Christ was here on earth. This section is only talking about the disciples and not the world or entire body of believers. Christ references similarities between himself and the disciples as well when He says .."They are not of the world, even as I am not of it." These men were chosen men of God and to me it is amazing to see how their dedication to Christ allowed them the passage of santification, the honor of being able to provide Christ glory and an equality with the Saviour. Christ sanctifies himself so that the disciples may be sanctified. So for the sole purpose of wanting them to be "set apart" He set Himself apart. Another example of His selflessness etched in the permanence of God's Word. Christ was looking out for His followers and wanted them to not only be sanctified but TRULY sanctified.
6 “I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus is talking to His heavenly Father about the disciples in vs. 6-19.
He refers to the disciples as "those whom you gave me" and clarifies that they were God's property to give. Christ reminds his heavenly Father that He followed instructions by giving them the words God gave Christ and that not only did they accept what was told them but they also recognized who Christ was. Christ shows concern for His friends in the reality that persecution would definately befall them after His departure from this world. He asks the heavenly Father to protect them by the power of His name. My heart is warmed by this request. Even though Christ and His Father are one, he is compassionate and humble enough to request protection and to acknowledge the absolute divinity held by God the Father. A place that only God can hold and whom only God can be. How amazing an example and how humble a prayer. So reverent, so godly.
He states that the GLORY came to Christ from the disciples. (glory has come to me through them.) What an honor - a truly humble honor for them to have. Christ states that He protected the disciples while here with them and notes that He did not lose even one of them to persecution. The only individual who suffered any type of destruction was Satan while Christ was here on earth. This section is only talking about the disciples and not the world or entire body of believers. Christ references similarities between himself and the disciples as well when He says .."They are not of the world, even as I am not of it." These men were chosen men of God and to me it is amazing to see how their dedication to Christ allowed them the passage of santification, the honor of being able to provide Christ glory and an equality with the Saviour. Christ sanctifies himself so that the disciples may be sanctified. So for the sole purpose of wanting them to be "set apart" He set Himself apart. Another example of His selflessness etched in the permanence of God's Word. Christ was looking out for His followers and wanted them to not only be sanctified but TRULY sanctified.
Friday, December 12, 2008
The Power of the Spoken Word
James is a great book in the New Testament. I enjoy how honest and forthright he is in his rightings to the church. All the things he speaks about are applicable here and now in today's world just as they were back in New Testament times.
In Chapter 3, James talks about taming the tongue. He says in verse 2 that a man who is never at fault has control over his entire body....that includes the tongue. He talks about the bit in the horses mouth and how it turns the large animal easily and the rudder on a ship, how it steers the massive vessel without any effort.Verse 5 references a spark in a forest and how it can set a whole fire.
Our tongues are truly powerful for being such small muscles. No other body part as nearly the influence. And what powers this small muscle? The brain, the heart, or is it a combination of both?
My mother used to say "Think before you speak! Your mouth moves faster than your brain can process." How true that we don't think about the residual effects of words spoken before we say them. At first it would be considered childlike abandon and then cruel, rude and immature.
Words can build men up, inspire them to succeed, lead them into battle, rule a nation, destroy a relationship, undermine a structure, determine life or death, soothe a soul, trigger a rebellion and so much more. One a one on one level, how do your words affect others? Are they kind words, thoughtful responses, Christ-like inspiration or are they abbrassive, course, undercutting and destructive. It can be simply how you say rather than what you say....anyone who has had a few conversations in their life time would know that.
Our tongues are what put Chrsit on the cross as the masses cried "crucify Him!!" and tongues announced the arrival of the baby Jesus in Bethlehem while shepherds came to Bethlehem searching for Him. Words parted the Red Sea, words sapped Samson's strength, Zechariah was struck dumb from speaking too much until he announced the name of his son...John the Baptist.
Verse 10 states that "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing and this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?" We cannot talk nice and church like out of one side of our mouths and then curse the church or take the Lord's name in vain out of the other side. It just doesn't work that way.
So which side of the fence are you on and what words have you used today that have inspired, encouraged, affirmed and loved someone else. Even if it's someone who is hard to love! Jesus did not discriminate about who to love. As a matter of fact, those who were harder to love are the ones He showed love to the most.
In Chapter 3, James talks about taming the tongue. He says in verse 2 that a man who is never at fault has control over his entire body....that includes the tongue. He talks about the bit in the horses mouth and how it turns the large animal easily and the rudder on a ship, how it steers the massive vessel without any effort.Verse 5 references a spark in a forest and how it can set a whole fire.
Our tongues are truly powerful for being such small muscles. No other body part as nearly the influence. And what powers this small muscle? The brain, the heart, or is it a combination of both?
My mother used to say "Think before you speak! Your mouth moves faster than your brain can process." How true that we don't think about the residual effects of words spoken before we say them. At first it would be considered childlike abandon and then cruel, rude and immature.
Words can build men up, inspire them to succeed, lead them into battle, rule a nation, destroy a relationship, undermine a structure, determine life or death, soothe a soul, trigger a rebellion and so much more. One a one on one level, how do your words affect others? Are they kind words, thoughtful responses, Christ-like inspiration or are they abbrassive, course, undercutting and destructive. It can be simply how you say rather than what you say....anyone who has had a few conversations in their life time would know that.
Our tongues are what put Chrsit on the cross as the masses cried "crucify Him!!" and tongues announced the arrival of the baby Jesus in Bethlehem while shepherds came to Bethlehem searching for Him. Words parted the Red Sea, words sapped Samson's strength, Zechariah was struck dumb from speaking too much until he announced the name of his son...John the Baptist.
Verse 10 states that "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing and this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?" We cannot talk nice and church like out of one side of our mouths and then curse the church or take the Lord's name in vain out of the other side. It just doesn't work that way.
So which side of the fence are you on and what words have you used today that have inspired, encouraged, affirmed and loved someone else. Even if it's someone who is hard to love! Jesus did not discriminate about who to love. As a matter of fact, those who were harder to love are the ones He showed love to the most.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
By Your Fruits...
Let's take a walk in my garden. I love that the Scriptures reference the growing and nurturing of things. It gives me so much joy when I garden and have much to enjoy from my efforts. I pick flowers to bring into the house or work, pick fruit and vegetables for my own nourishment as well as friends and family. Also, I enjoy watching the life that lives in my garden. There are insects, birds, spiders, moles and mice, rabbits - just all kinds of things! So as I tend this portion of land which has been made my responsibility, I want to be sure that I am a good steward of the land. I want to have the items in my garden thrive and live a healthy life. When they don't, I feel there is something that I have missed or not done very well. It can certainly be frustrating. One such plant is an Apricot tree. It's been in the ground now for 5 years and looks just beautiful for a dwarf fruit tree. However, it produces nothing! So I ask myself, how long should I wait on this tree to bear fruit? What is the limit of it occupying valuable space in lieu of something I am sure will be more productive? I have fertilized and pruned and watched for disease and insect infestation religiously and still...as if in complete disregard for my love and efforts, this tree relinquishes not even one fruit!
This tree puts me in mind of Luke 13:1-9. Jesus is trying to show the crowd that our heavenly Father will not be patient with us forever. He walks through the garden watching the performance of each plant and evaluating the harvest. Our heavenly Father, also evaluates the performance of the plants (us). They review together the performance of the material and Jesus Christ mediates for us. We must recognize the restraint that it takes for us to be given a second, third or more chance rather than just being cut down for a lack of performance. Some plants perform so slowly it takes more than a lifetime for them to bloom - like the Century Plant. How many of us are on the edge of being a beautiful fruit tree with no fruit? Are you content with staying in one place and at one stage of growth or are you ready to grow and produce fruit? Our Lord wants for you to be fruitful. Ask Him to show you what He wants for you to do. He has a plan for your life and all you need to do is ask Him to show you what the plan is. He will gladly show you and provide the necessary nourishment for you to continue to grow. What a wonderful gift that is.
" All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." Proverbs 14:23
This tree puts me in mind of Luke 13:1-9. Jesus is trying to show the crowd that our heavenly Father will not be patient with us forever. He walks through the garden watching the performance of each plant and evaluating the harvest. Our heavenly Father, also evaluates the performance of the plants (us). They review together the performance of the material and Jesus Christ mediates for us. We must recognize the restraint that it takes for us to be given a second, third or more chance rather than just being cut down for a lack of performance. Some plants perform so slowly it takes more than a lifetime for them to bloom - like the Century Plant. How many of us are on the edge of being a beautiful fruit tree with no fruit? Are you content with staying in one place and at one stage of growth or are you ready to grow and produce fruit? Our Lord wants for you to be fruitful. Ask Him to show you what He wants for you to do. He has a plan for your life and all you need to do is ask Him to show you what the plan is. He will gladly show you and provide the necessary nourishment for you to continue to grow. What a wonderful gift that is.
" All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." Proverbs 14:23
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