This morning we continue our series entitled, “The Power of Fellowship.” This week we are going to look at the prayer Jesus prayed for us. This is truly “The Lord’s Prayer”. In this prayer Jesus prayed for us to be ONE, as He and the Father were ONE.
The prayer is quite long, so I will give you portions of it. Here we go:
(From John 17:6-26)
Jesus said: “I pray for them now. I am not praying for the people in the world. But I am praying for these people you gave me, because they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And my glory is seen in them…
I will not stay in the world, but these followers of mine are still in the world. Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of your name—the name you gave me. Then they will be one, just as you and I are one…
I am coming to you now. But I pray these things while I am still in the world. I say all this so that these followers can have the true happiness that I have. I want them to be completely happy. I have given them your teaching. And the world has hated them, because they don’t belong to the world, just as I don’t belong to the world…
I pray not only for these followers but also for those who will believe in me because of their teaching. Father, I pray that all who believe in me can be one. You are in me and I am in you. I pray that they can also be one in us. Then the world will believe that you sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me. I gave them this glory so that they can be one, just as you and I are one. I will be in them, and you will be in me. So they will be completely one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you loved them just as you loved me…”
So what does this mean for you today? Since I am introducing this to you today, I will share a few high level thoughts.
1. When Jesus prayed for us in John 17, He prayed that we would be like Him. Jesus left heaven and came to this planet to show us what heaven is like. The goal is to bring heaven to earth. Now that Jesus is gone, we are called and commanded to continue what He started. As Jesus is, so are we in this world (1 Jn 4:17).
2. When Jesus prayed for us in John 17, He made it clear that He was IN this world, but He was not OF this world. He was living in this world and He did not conform to it. He refused to be influenced by the ways of this world. Jesus was here to be a divine influencer on this planet. He came to change the world, not to be changed by it. Guess what? You have the same mandate. When you have true and intimate fellowship with God, and your fellowship with God spills over into your fellowship with other humans, people will look at you and see Jesus. When they come in contact with you, they will come in contact with God. When they spend time with you, they will get a glimpse of what heaven is like. That’s the goal. However, this will not happen if you live like the world. If the world cannot see anything different in you; if what they see in you they can see in everyone else; if you are as selfish, self-centered, and self-seeking as everyone else, then you are failing to fulfill your assignment. You are not putting heaven on display. You have conformed to this world. But if you accept your divine assignment, you refuse to live like the world, you develop your intimacy with God, and you walk in God’s love with others, you will become the man/woman you are called to be.
3. When Jesus prayed for us in John 17, He prayed for us to be happy. He said, “I say all this so that these followers can have the true happiness that I have. I want them to be completely happy.” The sad truth is that many people in the world today are not happy. People are struggling with depression, self-hate, low self-esteem, and general discontent. As believers, we are called to show them another way. Fellowshipping with God and man are so critical, because if we do both, we will live an amazing life. When your relationship with God is solid and you have thriving relationships with other people, you get to enjoy the life God has given you. But when you are disconnected from God and others, it’s hard to be truly happy. My prayer for you is that you focus on the two things Jesus told us to focus on: loving God and loving man. When your upward relationship with God is right, and your outward relationships with others are intact, not only will you be happy, but God will use you to be a world-changer. People will be drawn to you and changed by the anointing on your life. All because you love God, you love yourself, and you allow that love to be extended towards others. May your open your heart to God’s love and may you be completely happy this week!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, You have called me to change the world and not be changed by it. I am IN this world, but I am not OF it. I was born into this world, but I was Born-Again. I am born from above. I have Your Spirit living inside of me. Holy Spirit gives me the words and performs the work through me every day. Living this way, I get to show the world what heaven is like. I get to experience heaven-on-earth daily. I love You, I love myself, and I love others. I am completely happy, healthy and whole! As enter this day as a world-changer, atmosphere-setter, and living inspiration! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
