May 28, 2023
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.” (John 17:20 NLT). Jesus prayed for those that would “ever believe” in Him. That includes us! The prayer found in Matthew 6 that begins “Our Father” is referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer,” but
May 28, 2021
CHRIST’S JOY COMPLETED IN US What is this joy that resides in Christ? Isn’t it the continual, irrepressible joy that He shares in fellowship with the Father? As Jesus prayed in anticipation for His return to the Father, He prayed that we might become one in this same fellowship. And by being one in fellowship
May 28, 2020
THE LORD’S PRAYER FOR BELIEVERS TODAY Jesus prayed for those that would believe in him both present and future. That includes us! The prayer found in Matthew 6 that begins “Our Father” is referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer,” but really it is the Lord’s model prayer. For he gave the prayer as a teaching
May 28, 2018
CHRIST’S JOY NOW AVAILABLE TO US
What is this joy that resides in Christ? Isn’t it the continual, irrepressible joy that He shares in fellowship with the Father? As Jesus prayed in anticipation for His return to the Father, He prayed that we might become one in this same fellowship. And by being one in fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit, we might share in their mutual joy.
The apostle Paul wrote that believers are to “be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18), “walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16), and so bear the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23). One of the chief attributes of this “fruit,” second only to love, is joy. This joy comes from being in union with the Spirit.
The apostle John also wrote about this fellowship of joy. In his first epistle, he wrote, “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete” (1 John 1:3-4).
What is this joy? It is the joy of being in fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit. It is being held in the embrace of the One who made us, died for us and now offers to live in us.
May 28, 2015
This prayer of Jesus found in John 17 should really be called the Lord’s prayer. The prayer that we call the Lord’s Prayer, might better be called the Model prayer because it was given to teach us how to pray. However, the prayer recorded in John 17 gives us an intimate insight as to how Jesus really prayed. In verse 5, we see Christ’s awareness that He was returning to the Father’s presence to share equal glory with Him, the glory which was His even before the world was created. This prayer was offered before Jesus went to the cross, yet He was already looking past it. As Hebrews 12:2 said, we are to be “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
May 28, 2014
Jesus prayed for those that would believe in him both present and future. That includes us! The prayer found in Matthew 6 that begins “Our Father” is referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer,” but really it is the Lord’s model prayer, for he gave the prayer as an example of how to pray. The prayer found here in John 17 is the best insight into the Lord Jesus actually praying. This is how he poured out his heart to the Father. He prayed specifically for us that we would be one with one another and with God. He prayed for our protection from the evil one. He prayed for us to experience his glory. And we know that the Lord Jesus isn’t finished praying for us. He sits at the right of the Father continually interceding for those who belong to him (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25, 1 John 2:1).
May 28, 2012
The night before Jesus was crucified, He prayed not only for the Twelve, but also for all of us who would believe the gospel message.
May 28, 2011
What Jesus prayed for us. “Sanctify” (make holy, set apart) them. Jesus prayed that the Father would cause His Word to set us apart for special use. Holiness is not so much the absence of sin as the presence of God’s special calling and spiritual life within us.