RUSSELL SANDERS
7-28-2020
OUR LORD’S PRAYER – JOHN 17
LESSON 20 – vs. 18, 20
In John 17:18 (KJV) Jesus prays,
“As Thou (Father) hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.”
Father God sent Jesus not just into the physical world, but into the world system dominated by Satan. He was sent to preach the gospel (good news) of the kingdom of heaven and to bring salvation to the souls of mankind.
He then speaks that He has sent, or “commissioned” them to do the same. They are to remain behind for the purpose of preaching and teaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven and to lead souls to salvation. They were to teach everything they had seen and heard from Him.
He gave them that specific commission in Matthew 28:19,
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…”.
On the day of His ascension back to heaven, He reinforced those instructions (Acts 1:8) saying,
“…ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem
(home)
, and in all Judaea
(your state or province)
and in Samaria
(surrounding states or provinces)
and unto the uttermost part of the earth
(foreign nations
).”
That is our mandate.
Verse 20 says,
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.”
His prayer clearly states that this is not just for those who followed Him during His time on earth, but for everyone who believes on Him through their teaching of the Word throughout the generations of time.
Peter’s sermon reaffirms that it is for every future generation (Acts 2:3),
“for the promise (and instruction) is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are (yet) afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall (ever) call.”
This prayer of our Lord in John chapter 17 is for every follower of Jesus Christ. It applies to you, every verse of it. Study it. Read it over and over. Stop and meditate on specific verses. As you meditate on them, Holy Spirit will increase the Word to you.
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