The High Priestly Prayer (6)
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This morning we are in part 6 of our three week series (yes try and figure that out) in John 17 in what is knows as the High Priestly Prayer.Our focus as we are studying this prayer is to see How Jesus prayed and What Jesus prayed.And as we have studied this prayer one truth that I hope you always remember when it come to prayer is that Jesus always had His starting place on the greatness of our heavenly Father.Like everything in life God must be the starting place and stay the central focus.This is especially true when it comes to prayer and what we are focusing on today.Because Today we look at how Jesus knew we would need God’s protection in a couple areas.This takes us back to a verse we looked at in week three.In that study we looked at what I consider out of all 31,102 verses in the Bible, this has to be on of the top five verses for me. It is
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Why would I say this is one of the top 5 verses?It’s because it is gets to the heart of the gospel and what the result is of a true relationship with God.It’s Eternal Life.Now this is where the important part comes in.Eternal Life is not just about Quantity meaning how long we liveBut it’s also about Quality of Life. How good and fulfilling life will be, Jesus called it the Abundant life.Back when we did the study in church I asked the question: If you could live forever just like you are right now would that be what you would want?Most of you all said no. We want better. That is what this verse is about.It’s about what the better is and how to get it.Here was the big take home from that verse: Your Quality of Life is tied to your knowledge of God.This knowledge of God that Jesus prays for us literally means that you will experience God.Which when you put it all together this means: The more you know or experience God the better Quality of Life you will have.Which brings us to what we will study today.Since the gospel is about getting a better quality of life through knowing and experiencing God why do I struggle so much? Why isn’t it easier?This is that tension: I want that better quality of life, I understand that my quality of life is tied to knowing and experiencing God and I come to church so I can learn how to know or experience God,BUT IT IS STILL SUCH A BATTLE FOR ME?Today when we look at what Jesus prays, we will see two areas He was concerned about and we may find our answer there.Two areas where Jesus knew we would need help in our desire to know God and to experience Him.Keep them in Your Name and keep them from the evil one.Our take home is really to learn both of thEse are such big tasks that only God can help us with them.Let’s read in
And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
As we look deeper into this passage it starts to unfold a lot of truth for us.A lot of the truth ties into verse 3.And this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you sent.That is the gospel AND the good news.We can know and experience God because of what Jesus did. The more we know and experience God the more quality of life we will have.That would should be very easy right?Just know and experience God and life will just get better and better.Well this would be very easy if the moment we got saved and started following Jesus we were either put in some protective bubble where nothing would cause us problemsor if once we gave our life to Christ He would just take us right up to heavenor if there wasn’t a devil we had to deal with.But we don’t get to live in a bubble, don’t get to go right to heaven, we live in a world that hates us the more we follow Christ and there is a devil that causes us problems.So now what? Just try harder? That’s not the answer;Paul said that best in
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.
Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
We could read this, you foolish Baptists or you foolish Christians, who has deceived you.God started this work of salvation in you and do you think you are going to now keep going in your own power and strength?The answer is No. We need God to help us.That’s what Jesus prays for us.His prayer is not, make them strong so that they can go face the devil and face the world.He prays two very specific prayers:Holy Father, #1 Keep them in your name.and #2 Keep them from the evil one.Jesus knows if we want to keep growing in our knowledge of God it depends on us depending on God.That’s what we need to learn today.Last week we looked at the world being a problem.This week we look at how the flesh or our natural desires are a problem and the devil is a problem.God’s help is the answer to both.So let’s start with the first part.Jesus prays: Holy Father Keep them in your name.Once again, Holy Father is Jesus’ understanding of who God is.He is - THE Holy Father.This holy here is not about the purity of God this is about the awesome power and nature of our God.That there is no one and nothing else that compares to Him.He is far greater than anyone or anything else.Jesus is asking Him to keep us growing in our walk and relationship with God.If you want to grow in knowing God which is tied to you having a better Quality of Life we need God’s help.I love the way Warren Wiersbe put it:
Our safety depends on the nature of God, not our own character or conduct.
See that is what the Name of God means.It is about the character of God. He is Loving, He is full of grace and mercy, He is forgiving, He is almighty, He is all powerful, He sees all, He knows all, and can do anything He wants any time He wants.Jesus is praying: keep them focused and dependent on You.That’s it. That is the secret to the Christian life: Depend on our Great and Holy Heavenly Father.The more we do the stronger we become.How do we do this?We are fortunate because in the Old Testament we get some great examples of how people faced the dangers of this world by depending on the Name or character of God.for me None is better than when David fought Goliath.I chose that story because it is one that everyone knows.But you have to really think about what was going on to appreciate it.Basically the Philistines were coming and saying if you can find someone to fight and defeat the giant Goliath then we wont destroy you.Of course everybody knew that it was impossible to defeat him.Why because he was over 3 meters tall. 9.9To visualize that if I stand on this chair and you stand there that is the difference. (I could step on him. He is like an ant)This was an impossible situation.Humanly speaking there was no way.But out comes David.David was not focused on himself being able to fight the giant.But David said in
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
This is what Jesus is praying.If we want to face the battles that we will face in life.They are God size problems and we need Him.David came knowing and trusting in who God was not who He was.Although Goliath was over 3 meters tall God can’t be measured.David knew God and David knew the promises of God and that is what He trusted and of course He got the victory.Jesus is praying we would experience that truth.We need to learn more and more about the greatness of the God that we serve.The more we know and the more we trust Him we stay safe no matter what this world throws at us or even more no matter how much our flesh is week He is strong.Again as Warren Wiersbe said:
Our safety depends on the nature of God, not our own character or conduct.
Our Holy great Father is the key to growing in our knowledge of Him.We just need to keep seeking Him, keep obeying Him and just learn to keep coming to Him when we are struggling in this world and asking Him to help you each day.On Friday I had to ask for His help at least 3 times.One was when I went to fuel station, one was when the bond went to 6 to 1 and 1 was when I fell into some self pity.Then realize, none of this can affect what really matters, my relationship with God. I TRUST HIM. HE HAS PROVEN FAITHFULFinally there is one more area that Jesus prays where we need God’s help.That is Keep them from the evil one.Of course this has to be referring to the devil.Yes he is very real and since our fulfillment and joy as Christian comes from knowing and growing in God.Guess what, he is going to do all he can to try and get you not to grow and know God.He doesn’t want you to have a great life he wants you defeated.But he has one huge problem.His huge problem happens to be our Holy Father.You are not his threat God is.He is Goliath you are David.On your own you have no chance.We are not on our own we have God as our protection.In John’s other letter he wrote and said: greater is He who is in your than he who is in the world.It’s David and Goliath again.We can stand our ground knowing that the devil comes to us with his lies, his temptations, his people that cause us problems, his oppression that comes against us at times.But like David we can say when all this comes:You come at me with your lies, your temptations, your conflicts, your evil thoughts your discouragement and everything elseI come to you depending on my God to get me through this.I know that my God who lives in me is greater than you.And so I refuse to give into your lies about me or what I am missing out on, I refuse to give into your temptations and I will not give up but keep seeking and desiring to grow in my knowledge of God.He has no defense against that.End of story.The day we learn to depend upon God like this the more we will get to know God and since our Quality of Life is dependent on our knowledge of God.We will just keep having a better life throughout all of eternity.Never forget:Our walk and relationship with God depends more on the character of God than anything you do.So spend as much time as you can learning about your Holy Father.