* You can now watch a video of this message at: https://new.livestream.com/rickpina/live.
(Read John 17:13-16)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to teach on “Minimizing Your Humanity and Maximizing Your Divinity.” Last week I introduced you to what I consider to be the actual “Lord’s prayer.” It is a prayer Jesus prayed in John 17. We have covered the first 12 verses. Today we will look at verses 13-16.
Jesus prayed, “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The Father wants you to have joy. In His prayer, Jesus said, “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.” Another translation says, “So that their joy may be full.” The point of this mini-series is to minimize the various aspects of our humanity that keep God from flowing through us. One of major problems we as believers have is fear. Far too many believers allow fear, doubt, worry and unbelief to get a hold of their hearts and minds. Fear is an incapacitating force. It is impossible to be ‘in fear’ and ‘in faith’ at the same time. Fear cancels out your faith. But the good news is that faith also cancels out your fear. So when you choose to live by faith, to believe God, to die to self, and to allow God to flow through you freely, you will have and enjoy the life God birthed you to have. This life is full of joy, peace and divine satisfaction. If you have lost your joy, it is because there is too much of YOU in the way. If you allow God to flow through you, you will have joy, and your joy will be FULL!
2. Reading what God said positions you to hear what He is saying to you today. Said another way, living by the written Word of God is critical to hearing the voice of God. In His prayer, Jesus said to the Father, “I have given them your word.” Jesus’ words have been documented and when we read the written Word of God with an open and believing heart, our mind is instructed, our soul is edified, our spirit is recharged, and our spiritual ears are tuned to the voice of God. This way we can live by what God said (in the Bible), but we can also live by what He is saying to us today (through His Spirit).
3. You do not belong to this world. In His prayer, Jesus said this of us, “The world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do.” Jesus made it clear that He was not of this world and neither are you. But God has not taken you out of the world. Therefore, you must be here for a reason. With that in mind, I will close with a few final thoughts:
a. You are here on assignment and that assignment is to FIND, FOLLOW and FINISH your divine purpose.
b. When you were Born-Again you were literally ‘born from above.’
c. You are now a citizen of heaven living in the world.
d. You are called to serve as an ambassador of the Kingdom of God in the earth.
e. As an ambassador, you have access to all the resources you need to complete your heavenly assignment.
f. The Father did not send you out alone. He came to you Himself, in the form of the Holy Spirit, to live in you to accomplish what He sent you to do.
g. The more collaborate and cooperate with God, the more He will be able to freely operate through you.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for taking the time to teach me about Your best for my life. You want me to joy and for my joy to be full. I admit that there have been times when I have allowed fear, doubt, unbelief and worry to rob me of my joy. But those days are behind me. I declare, right now, that I live by faith and not fear. I have joy and I fret not. I have peace and I do not allow worry to get a hold of my heart. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit lives in me, therefore I have access to divine joy every second of every day. I rejoice in all things. I read Your Word daily Father. Your Word is the ruler by which I judge my decisions. I read what You said and it blesses me. And as I read what You said, with an open and believing heart, my spiritual ears are able to hear what You are saying to me today. I live by Your voice. You lead me in the way I should go. If I am ever frustrated, I know it is because there is too much of ME in the way. I die to self, I crave and listen for Your voice, and I follow You with a believing heart. This way You are able to be glorified through me. I am not of this world, I have been born from above, but You have left me in this world. I am now a citizen of heaven and an ambassador of the Kingdom of God. I take my assignment seriously and I now I cannot complete it on my own. I minimize ME so that You can maximize YOU through me, making the impact in this world You want to make, through me, for Your glory. Not because I am so good, but only because of Your grace! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
