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(Read John 17:6-8)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to teach on “Minimizing Your Humanity and Maximizing Your Divinity.” Yesterday I introduced you to what I consider to be the actual “Lord’s prayer.” It is a prayer Jesus prayed in John 17. Since the prayer covers the entire chapter, I told you we will study it in bite-sized chunks. Yesterday we covered verses 1-5. This morning we look at verses 6-8.
Jesus prayed, “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. You are called to reveal God in the earth. In His prayer Jesus said, “I have revealed you… They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.” You are in the earth for a reason. That reason is the purpose God established for you before the world began. When you FIND and begin to FOLLOW your purpose, not only will you accomplish what you are supposed to accomplish, and impact the people and systems of the world you are supposed to impact, but God Himself will be glorified through you. When people look at you they will see the hand of God on your life and they will want to know more about Him. People can’t see God, but they can see you, and when you live your life submitted to God, they will see God in, with and through you!
2. The people in your life belong to God. In His prayer Jesus said, “…the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me.” Jesus appreciated the people He had in His life. He saw them as a gift from the Father and He knew they ultimately belonged to the Father. You are supposed to live the same way. Thank God for your parents, spouse, children, friends, etc. Just never forget that they belong to God, just like you belong to God. Parenting children is great and rewarding, but ultimately the children belong to God and you must trust Him to do, in them, what He has called them to do. Having a spouse is great, and the relationship should be amazing and enjoyable. Just don’t forget that your spouse belongs to God and they have their own assignment. You should never Lord over your spouse, your children, or your friends. Jesus is Lord, so never mistreat, devalue or manipulate the people in your life. They came to you as a gift from God and they still belong to Him. When you keep that in mind, you will treat them with the respect, honor and dignity God expects of you.
3. Everything you have is a gift from God. In His prayer Jesus said, “Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me.” When you die to self and you allow God to give you the words and to perform the work in your life, people will know that everything you have came from Him. The good news for you is that you will have a lot to be thankful for. Divine surrender leads to divine prosperity. When God is free to flow through you, you will experience promotion, increase, preferential treatment, favor, advancement and acceleration in every area of your life, because it will be God working through you and God does not fail. If you are failing, then it is obvious that you are the one doing the work and you are not allowing God to live through you.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your amazing grace, through Your amazing Son, my Lord, Jesus the Christ. In Jesus I see how I am supposed to live. In Jesus I see a man who was completely surrendered to You. In Jesus I see a human who only said what You told Him to say and who only did what You led Him to do. Because of this, You were able to flow through Jesus freely and You were ultimately glorified in the earth. By faith I declare that I live just like Jesus. Not because I deserve it, or because I am worthy, but only because of Your grace. Everything I have came from You. You have blessed me beyond measure. I thank You for all the people You have surrounded me with. I thank You for my parents, spouse, children and friends. I appreciate them. They came from You and they belong to You. I will never devalue, disrespect or disregard them, because they are Yours and I believe You will do, in them, what You planned to do before the foundations of the world. I honor You by honoring them. And lastly Father, I thank You for everything You allow me to experience. As I die to me, and I allow You to live through me, I get to experience promotion, increase, preferential treatment, favor, advancement and acceleration in every area of your life. Not because I am so good, but because You are! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
