Bible Study - How to Pray (5) - Praying for Others - Matthew 6:11b and John 17:11-23 - November 11, 2018

Bible Study – How to Pray (5) – Praying for Others – November 11, 2018

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “How to Pray.”

Our focus scripture is Matthew 6:11b and John 17:11-23.

Go to GOD on behalf of others.

JESUS gave us an example. JESUS prayed for HIS disciples and for all who will become Christians through faith in JESUS until judgement day. Have you considered praying forward for those who will come after you? Pray that bad ancestral traits would not carry forward to those in your lineage and the lineage of the spouses or significant others that result in children. Pray for the salvation of all in your ancestral line.

Let’s read Matthew 6:11b and John 17:11-16:

Matthew 6:11b:

11 Give us today our daily bread.

We take another look at “Give us today our daily bread.” GOD provides HIS children their daily needs because they are HIS children through their faith in JESUS and the miracle of Spiritual rebirth into GOD’S family.

There is an additional level of GOD providing “daily bread” to others through Christians. GOD meets our needs and we in-turn are to meet the physical and Spiritual needs of others because of our relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. Christians must keep in mind that we are GOD’S Ambassadors for HIS Kingdom. As such JESUS prayed for every Christian who was and will ever be as we read our next scripture --- JESUS was preparing to complete HIS ultimate purpose upon earth – That is giving HIS physical life upon the cross by the shedding of HIS blood for the remission of sin which would cleanse all who place their faith in HIM. Sin resulted in the penalty of eternal death but the perfect sacrifice obliterated this consequence. How do we know that? GOD raised JESUS from the physically death to the eternally alive. GOD resurrected JESUS to occupy HIS New Glorified Body to be the example to all who place their faith in HIM the type of eternal Glorified Body Christians will have at the second coming of JESUS.

JESUS prayed for every person who will ever become a Christian as we read in our next scripture. JESUS is preparing for HIS final purpose. Tension was likely very high because as we read in 1 Corinthians 2:6-10:

God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 

8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— 

10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 

The indwelling Holy Spirit reveals hidden truth.

JESUS knew that life upon earth as a Christian would not be easy, so HE prayed for all who would become Christians through faith in JESUS. JESUS prayed forward. Every person who reads this lesson will one day pass into eternity either through death or via the rapture. Pray forward for those who will be left behind. You can pray that they will know the truth. What is truth? Let’s explore!

The Gospels – Matthew, Mark and Luke are referred to as the synoptic Gospels because they present information and events that are in general similar. Whereas the Gospel according to the Apostle John is unique. Why? The Gospel according to John reveals the true identity of JESUS as we read in John 1:1-14, that JESUS was truth “The Word” made flesh. John puts it all together for people to be presented “truth” and to receive JESUS as the promised Messiah as written in John 20:30-31:

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 

31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 17 reveals the relationship that JESUS had with GOD, HIS Father and HIS desire for the relationship JESUS desires for every person to have with GOD. JESUS prayed for Himself. If JESUS needed to be in right relationship with GOD, HIS Father, so do Christians as they encounter life upon earth.

JESUS first prayed for Himself. Then HE prayed that GOD would be Glorified as HE approached the purpose of HIS coming to earth as 100% flesh, yet 100% GOD. JESUS’ desire was for GOD, HIS Father, to be Glorified. The purpose of JESUS is stated in John 17:3:

3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 

Why is this vital? Let’s consider John 14:6: 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

Every person must come to GOD by the way of the cross because the shed blood of JESUS is the atonement for our sin.

JESUS prayed for Himself, then HIS disciples and then for all who would accept HIM as their Savior until Judgment Day.

Thus, JESUS prayed forward to include all people who will accept HIM, by faith, as the perfect sacrifice for our sins and in doing so become the Spiritually born-again Children of GOD.

Let’s read John 17:11-16:

11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

Christians are kept by the power of GOD so that they can be in unity with GOD. Unity with GOD for the purpose of revealing truth to others who seek truth. Unity is vital in living the Christian life. Unity with GOD through faith in JESUS equals unity with fellow Christians. How do we measure up when we look around?

12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 

13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 

14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 

JESUS was on mission to pay for the sin of mankind, in full, by HIS death and resurrection. When we place our faith in JESUS we are born into GOD’S family through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth. All Christians become a Son or Daughter of GOD with all the rights and privileges of being GOD’S Child.  As GOD’S Child you are no longer of this world, in essence, you are already in Heaven but GOD has chosen for you to remain upon earth to represent HIM and HIS Kingdom to others.

As such, all Christians are in a war zone. Christians represent truth to a world ruled by Satan who represents lies and untruth. Satan is a deceiver and a liar. All Christians need prayer and JESUS knew it. So HE asked HIS Father and our Father through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth to protect all Christians from the evil one, Satan.

Christians must pray for each other. We need to pray for Spiritual unity and for the physical safety and welfare of each other. Look around and ask GOD to open your Spiritual eyes to see what is taking place upon earth.

Let’s read John 17:17-19:

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 

Truth is powerful. What does knowing and implementing the truth we know do? It sanctifies Christians or sets them aside to effectively and obediently serve GOD, through our faith in JESUS. Why is this necessary? The next verse reveals the why ---

18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 

19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

This is JESUS’ prayer for HIS disciples who will take truth to the world. JESUS gave HIS earthly life to pay, in full, for the penalty for sin. Do you recall 2 Corinthians 5:15-21:

15 And he (JESUS) died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him (JESUS) who died for them and was raised again. 

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 

18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 

19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 

20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

This is truth! GOD made JESUS to take our sin upon Himself, so that we, all who place our faith in HIM have the opportunity to become the righteousness of GOD. The choice is for each person to make. His is a fact! Why? Reconciliation! First, every person must be reconciled to GOD through faith in JESUS. Once we have been reconciled to GOD, then we are called by GOD take the message of reconciliation to others as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Let’s read John 17:20-23:

Jesus Prays for All Believers

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 

21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 

22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 

23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 

26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Truth and unity go together. Their message in verse 20, is the message of truth as experienced and communicated by the disciples of JESUS.

Christians are bonded to GOD and JESUS through GOD’S love. JESUS made the love of GOD known to the world that is ruled by Satan. Satan thought he had won when JESUS was crucified upon the cross. JESUS never forfeited HIS life as GOD in the flesh. But HE willingly gave HIS physical life trusting HIS Father, GOD, to resurrect HIM from the physically dead to live eternally in HIS Glorified Body. The resurrection of JESUS is the guarantee of every Christian that they will spend eternity in Heaven with GOD and JESUS as GOD’S Child. That is truth!

Satan will do all he can to convince you that is a pipe dream. If this is what you think, confess it to GOD and ask HIM to reveal truth to you.

JESUS stated in verse 24 that HE was in the presence of GOD before the creation of the world. Guess who else was in the mind of GOD before the creation of the world? Do you remember? Read Ephesians 1:4-5:

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 

5 he predestined us for adoption to son-ship (or daughter-ship) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 

Every person who has lived or will ever live GOD chose to be HIS Son or Daughter through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth. But there is a “but” --- GOD created every person with the freedom to choose to accept HIS free gift or to reject it. How will you choose? My prayer is that you either have or will choose to accept JESUS as your Savior by faith.

Blessings!!!