In this message we discover the assurance that we can have in prayer as we learn to pray in line with God's will. As Jesus models it for us in this prayer we find guidance for how to live and how to pray as God's people.
Discovering Jesus in the Gospel of John pt 41
Jesus Prays for All Believers
John 17:20-26
03/07/2011
1) Jesus’ prayer is for our instruction
a) Bruce Almighty? One of the many blunders Bruce made as he attempted to do God’s job better than God does, was to set up an autoreply to answer every prayer “yes”. Since most of our prayers are selfish, unwise or both, the result was a disaster! Of course God does not answer “yes” to every prayer, yet the Bible says we can be confident that He will always say “yes” when we pray in accordance with His character and will. How can we be confident to do that? By paying attention to the prayers of Scripture for our instruction.
b) Personal Story – the principles we will discuss today have been an enormous help for us as we’ve prayed for our friend who has suffered a massive heart attack this week.
c) Jesus is teaching us in this passage how to pray and how to live. We know that Jesus prayed in complete agreement with the Father’s will; and so we know that the Father is pleased to grant everything that Jesus prays for. (If you’re not confident of that, re-read John 15 & 16!)
d) That’s why I am certain that God will grant everything I prayed for earlier in our service, because everything I prayed for comes straight from the Bible which is His revealed will.
e) Do you want to be confident in prayer? Learn to pray the Bible! When you get the prayer updates and as you pray through the church directory; as you pray for people in your life and other things God brings to your attention – pray what the Bible teaches you to pray and be confident that you will have it.
f) Can I ask for things the Bible doesn’t specify? Absolutely! But keep in mind biblical models and principles to line your prayers up with. They keep our priorities and perspective right so that we can be in tune with God’s character and will.
g) Resources
i) Lockyer’s “All the prayers of the Bible”.
ii) Just read through your New Testament and highlight the prayers it contains. (O.T. prayers are great examples too, but you need to remember to consider how Jesus’ ministry affects the content of those prayers.)
2) Jesus’ prayer for all believers is a continuation of His prayer for the Apostles (v.20a).
a) “not for them alone” – we are included in the previous prayer, most clearly in vv13-19
b) Don’t neglect to pray this prayer for each other – it is essential!
3) The foundation of our unity with each other and the first Apostles is faith in Jesus Christ (v.20b)
a) “those who will believe in me through their message” – this is clear teaching from Jesus about who belongs to Him – those who believe in Him according to the true gospel message which was delivered to us by the Apostles.
b) That’s why we need to be clear about where authority comes from in all matters of faith and conduct.
c) Matthew 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.
d) Galatians 1:6-9
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! [1]
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! [1]
e) It doesn’t matter who’s doing it or what signs are supporting it – anything other than the true gospel is a deception of the devil and unable to provide eternal life.
f) I have dear brothers and sisters in Christ with whom I disagree with on certain points of doctrine, but we are united in our faith in Jesus Christ.
g) One of my regular highlights is to gather for prayer with ministry colleagues from the surrounding area. I love these guys and I love praying with them – our differences are no barrier to that. We might not work together closely on certain things, but we can on others.
h) Please don’t ever fall into the trap of beating up on other parts of the body. Speak truth in love, but make sure that it’s coming from genuine love and not fear or pride!
i) As long as we hold to the one true gospel, we are one in Christ.
4) The experience of unity – connection not conformity (vv21-23a)
a) How does the world produce a sense of unity among a group? Through conformity. There’s enormous pressure to conform to ways of dress, speech, interests, possessions and so on. Birds of a feather flock together!
b) How does God produce unity in the Church? Jesus tells us right here!
c) Keep in mind the teaching of Jesus to His disciples just a few moments earlier on – the image of the vine and the branches. That’s what He’s referring to here – that we may be connected to Him like a branch is connected in to a vine. It’s obvious that there is only one vine with many branches, because they are all connected to Jesus, and through Jesus to each other.
d) Another way to think of this is to imagine the body that we read about in 1 Corinthians 12:12
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
e) There is only one Head that controls the body, but there are many different parts that have different functions. What matters is not that all the parts are the same, that would be a disaster! What matters is that we are all connected to the Head, who is Christ.
f) The image of the body work at all levels of Christian community. The universal Church is one body with different parts. The regional Church is one body with different parts. Each local congregation is one body with many parts. Every ministry team is one body with many parts. The simple message is that we work in unity under the direction of Christ. That’s how people see God in us. That’s how God is glorified – not in us all being the same but in us all having the same love. Connection, not conformity.
5) The effect of unity – witness to the world (v.23b)
a) So that the world may know that Jesus has come as our Saviour.
b) So that the world may know that love God has for us is the same love that He has within Himself between Father, Son and Spirit. Wow! Think about that for a minute!
6) Ultimate Unity – being home with God (v24-26)
a) Jesus wants us to be with Him!
b) Think about it – of course that’s what’s best for us.
c) The only reason He leaves us in the world for a time is to give us the opportunity to share the message of salvation.
Romans 10:14-15
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Romans 10:14-15
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
d) How does this affect your prayer life and your priorities in life?
7) Conclusion – The Prayer of Jesus answered in you
a) Live it! Be aware of how God is at work in you to answer it.
b) Pray it! Use it as your model.
[1]All Scriptures from The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids
