Grace Messages

This morning, we continue to look at the REAL Lord’s prayer in John 17. Last week, we looked at the section of the prayer where Jesus prayed from Himself, and this morning, we will start the second section of Jesus’ prayer. This is where He prays for His eleven disciples. In this section of the prayer, Jesus prays for their protection and effectiveness to bring Him glory!

Today, guest speaker Leonard Arambam will explore how we can remain faithful wherever God places us in life. Faithfulness in the Pit Prepares You for the Palace

This morning, we will begin to consider the Lord Jesus' lengthy prayer recorded in John 17. This is the REAL Lord’s prayer. The prayer that is typically known as the “Lord’s Prayer,” would probably be better titled the “Disciples’ Prayer.” This prayer of Jesus reveals His heart and mind about the Triune God, His present disciples, and also His future children (i.e., those of us in the present day). This morning, we will consider Jesus’ prayers for Himself!

Jesus continues His explanation to a confused group of disciples. Last week, He used a perfect everyday life illustration of childbirth, to illustrate that the very thing that was going to cause them sorrow (i.e., His death and departure) would be the very thing that would cause them joy! As a result of Jesus' departure to heaven, the disciples will have a new relationship of nearness and access with the Father. All of this remains true despite their impending failure and abandonment of Jesus during His hour of need. The promise Jesus provides these men, despite their impending abandonment of Him is truly amazing!

We are in the Upper Room Discourse, and Jesus said something that confused the disciples. We find that exchange in verses 16-18. The confusion centered around the phrase “a little while” and Jesus “going to the Father.” In verse 19, Jesus begins to explain what He meant and He does a masterful job of teaching, building bridges from what they know to what they do not know.

This morning, we must remind ourselves again that the Upper Room Discourse are the last words of instruction from Jesus Christ before His death and resurrection. He is giving the disciples, in seed form, the instructional manual for the Church. However, He realizes they cannot possibly receive everything He wants to tell them on this night, and so He tells them that help is on the way. THE Helper, the Holy Spirit, will also guide them in remembering, and learning ALL things that Jesus wanted them to know. These promises are the basis for the New Testament.

We want to consider what undergirds genuine and consistent thankfulness in our day-to-day lives. Life can feel boring and mundane. Every day feels like “Groundhog Day,” where you just repeat the same actions over and over again. Many days, we wonder if we are really accomplishing anything. This morning, we want to look at WHY you can be content and thankful for the routine in life.

Last week Jesus shared how His disciples should respond to a world that will hate them and persecute them. He wanted them to lovingly share the truth about Him, even in the face of intense hatred and persecution! This morning, Jesus lets the disciples "in on” something the Holy Spirit is working on behind the scenes in the lives of unbelievers. He is “shaming” the world in three areas: sin, righteousness, and judgment. However, as we will see, He is not simply trying to make the world feel bad but rather convince and persuade the world of what is true!

Last week Jesus shared an uncomfortable truth with His disciples. The world would hate them and persecute them and really there was nothing they could do about it! They will be hated because the world hates Jesus and does not know the Father. In light of this uncomfortable truth, Jesus will now describe how His disciples should respond. As always, His desired response from the disciples is only possible through divine enablement. Once again, Jesus will mention divine “intake” before He describes desired behavioral “outflow.”

The last two weeks we have slowed down to look closely at a very specific “fruit" that He desires to produce in us and through us: love! In our passage today, Jesus transitions to another relationship that He has yet to mention; the relationship between the world and the believer. The quick summary of this passage is: Do not be surprised! The world hates Jesus and therefore the world will hate you!