The Gospel Of John Chapter 17 Pt. 4 Jesus' Prayer For Faithful Servants and Pure Hearts.

Jesus prayed for the apostolic mission His disciples would assume.

John 17:15-16  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16) They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 

Jesus turned again to pray for His disciples. These men would be regenerated and filled with the Spirit of God on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). 

Jesus prayed that the disciples, soon to be apostles, would remember their mission and remain in the world, but not of the world (John 15:19-20). 

The idea of the disciples not being of the world because Jesus is not of the world, means Jesus prayed for them to have a long and effective ministry. 

Jesus told them the scope of their mission.

Acts 1:7-9  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8)  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9)  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 

Jesus prayed for the apostles to have a productive and fruitful ministry preaching the gospel of Christ. 

The apostolic ministry was to begin in Jerusalem, spread into Samaria, Judea and the uttermost parts of the world. 

However, they were instructed to wait until the Holy Ghost came upon them. Jesus' words reminds us that we cannot serve our Lord or do any worthy work for our Master, in the energy of our flesh. 

Jesus' prayer was fulfilled by the apostles. 

Acts 2:40-41  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41)  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 

This text is the conclusion of Peter's first sermon, after the Holy Spirit came on them at Pentecost. It is a direct answer to Jesus' prayer in John 17. 

3,000 people responded with repentant faith in Jesus Christ, when Peter finished preaching. 

Christians are sanctified by the scriptures. 

John 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 

The first part of Jesus' prayer was negative, in the sense that His disciples would remain unspotted by the world. 

This aspect of Jesus' prayer is positive, asking the Father that the sanctification process begun in them, would come to fruition. 

The word sanctify has two primary meanings.  

First, it signifies to consecrate, to separate from earthly things and common use, in order to dedicate oneself to God and his service.

Second, it signifies to be made holy or pure.  

Jesus prayed so that the disciples might be fully consecrated to the work of the ministry, and separated from all worldly concerns. 

Jesus prayed so that the disciples might be holy, like living patterns of holiness, to those to whom they preached the salvation of God.

What is the sanctifying power of God? 

It comes from hearing and heeding His word. It flows from reading and believing the scriptures. 

The Spirit of God takes the Word of God that we hear and read, and does a mighty work in our hearts. He is going to make us more like Jesus Christ as we grow in our faith. 

The apostles were given much from Jesus Christ. They heard His teaching, saw His miracles and received His one on one instruction for more than 3 years. 

The Bible says to whom much is given, much shall be required. God gives us His own Spirit, and His Word, and expects us to use these for His kingdom purposes. 

The more that a Christian grows in faith and the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the more that God requires us to put our gifts to good use. In other words, we must be fruit producing Christians. 

It is according to the truth of God that pastors, teachers and evangelists are to be set apart to the sacred work. It is from that holy truth, that they must preach the gospel to others. 

Any man centered doctrine which is not drawn from the truth of God, can never save souls. 

God blesses no word but his own, because His word is truth. It is pure and unadulterated truth with no mixture of error. 

The Word sets us free from sin, to love and serve God.

John 8:31-32  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32)  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 

God's truth liberates the heart and soul of man from the Devil's domain. God's truth frees us so that we might love and serve God, instead of loving and serving ourselves. 

The Word converts us to Christ, promotes spiritual growth. 

Psalm 19:7-8  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8)  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 

The ability of the Word of God to sanctify us is on full display in this Psalm. God's Word is perfect and can convert a soul to Jesus Christ. 

God's Word is sure and can fill us with the wisdom and knowledge of the things of God, that we need, in order to live for His glory. 

God's Word fills our hearts with joy, and its purity sheds the light of God into our soul.

The Word purifies us and enables us to obey God. 

1 Peter 1:22-23  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23)  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Peter describes the sanctifying power of God's Word. The truth purifies our soul and shows us how to obey God. 

It fills our hearts with a love for God and others. 

It is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). 

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14)  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Jesus did not restrict His prayer to His disciples. He prayed for all future generations of Christians, who would be saved through the apostolic ministry. 

Jesus prayed for us to separate ourselves from the world, and to dedicate ourselves to loving and serving God. 

Jesus prayed for the scriptures and the Spirit to do an ongoing sanctifying work in our hearts, so that we may live holy and pure lives before God.

Finally, Jesus prayed for the powerful sanctifying work of God's Word to keep working in us, until He calls us home to heaven. 

May we give ourselves wholly to seeking those things which are above, where Christ is seated at the Father's right hand. 

Bob