Look at Peter's response when they throw him in jail because the masses were hearing the Gospel and giving their life to Jesus. They cross examine him about the man that was healed:
Acts 4:8-12 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
11 This is the 'STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.'
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Jesus made this clear in John 14:6
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Why is the Gospel so offensive? Because it speaks of absolute Truth, not relative truth. It is NOT all inclusive like the universalist would have you believe. If it was, why are people imprisoned and killed for preaching The Gospel?
How should we respond when we are told to shut up about it?
Acts 4:17-20 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name."
18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
Also....
What do we need to be praying for? BOLDNESS!
Acts 4:29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
Look how God honored that prayer:
Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
The place shook!
They were filled with the Holy Spirit! (another indicator of the receiving and filling of the Holy Spirit being 2 separate events)
They spoke boldly!
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Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Peter continues the same message
Peter and John heal a lame man and the crowds are amazed. Yea, I guess they were amazed....wouldn't we be amazed if someone we knew was paralyzed from birth and someone heal them with a word? Look what Peter does; he immediately wants to shift the attention off of himself and make sure everyone knows Who gets the glory and by Who's power the man was healed:
Acts 3:12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
After Peter reminds them what they did to The King of kings, he quickly brings them hope by basically saying, "Hey, don't sweat it, you did it in ignorance. Now be ignorant no longer and know how you can be redeemed."
Acts 3:17-19 "Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Just as in the previous chapter, Peter is preaching repetance:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Peter also makes it clear by Who's power repentance comes from in verse 26:
Act 3:26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."
It seems clear as you read Acts 3 that to those who are truly surrendered to Jesus, He gives what we need to turn away from ungodliness.
Acts 3:12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
After Peter reminds them what they did to The King of kings, he quickly brings them hope by basically saying, "Hey, don't sweat it, you did it in ignorance. Now be ignorant no longer and know how you can be redeemed."
Acts 3:17-19 "Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Just as in the previous chapter, Peter is preaching repetance:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Peter also makes it clear by Who's power repentance comes from in verse 26:
Act 3:26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."
It seems clear as you read Acts 3 that to those who are truly surrendered to Jesus, He gives what we need to turn away from ungodliness.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Like John, Like Jesus...Now Peter
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Another indicator that receiving the Holy Spirit and being filled (or baptized) with the Holy Spirit are two different events.
Acts 2:11-13 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"
13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."
This reminds me of what we see today. Although some people see the amazing things God has done in changing people, we still have those that will say they "got all religious" in a mocking fashion, which is typically followed up with the rolling of eyes and a chuckle. None the less, there are those few that give their life to Jesus, fullfilled verse 21:
Acts 2:21 AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.'
Just as we have discussed before; John The Baptist preached repentance and Jesus didn't waste any time preaching repentance, take a look how Peter starts his ministry:
First he reminds them that they killed Jesus, look at verse36:
Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Second:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Third, he makes sure everyone knows that this gift is all inclusive and is entirely a work of God:
Acts 2:39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
Fourth, he pleades with an urgency that only one that is born-again can do:
Act 2:40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
and what happened:
Act 2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
Act 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Another indicator that receiving the Holy Spirit and being filled (or baptized) with the Holy Spirit are two different events.
Acts 2:11-13 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"
13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."
This reminds me of what we see today. Although some people see the amazing things God has done in changing people, we still have those that will say they "got all religious" in a mocking fashion, which is typically followed up with the rolling of eyes and a chuckle. None the less, there are those few that give their life to Jesus, fullfilled verse 21:
Acts 2:21 AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.'
Just as we have discussed before; John The Baptist preached repentance and Jesus didn't waste any time preaching repentance, take a look how Peter starts his ministry:
First he reminds them that they killed Jesus, look at verse36:
Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Second:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Third, he makes sure everyone knows that this gift is all inclusive and is entirely a work of God:
Acts 2:39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
Fourth, he pleades with an urgency that only one that is born-again can do:
Act 2:40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
and what happened:
Act 2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
Act 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Receiving & Baptism...More to The Holy Spirit than we think?
Acts 1:2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,
3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Infallibleness
INFAL'LIBLENESS, n. [from infallible.] The quality of being incapable of error or mistake; entire exemption from liability to error; inerrability. No human being can justly lay claim to infallibility. This is an attribute of God only.
Act 1:4-5 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Reading these 2 verses in Acts 1 and the 2 verses below from John 20; clearly the receiving of the Holy Spirit and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit are two seperate events.
John 20:21-22 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Now if you tak a look at verse 8, it seems that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is for those committed to the Great Commission of sharing The Gospel:
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Jesus goes back to Heaven, but leaves no confusion of how He will come back. This is very important for us to know so we do not get deceived by false christs and false prophets:
Acts 1:9-11 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
Matthew 24:30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matthew 26:64 Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Mark 13:26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Mark 14:62 Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
Verse 14 is very interesting. One of only a couple times Jesus' brothers were mentioned they were mocking Him for not showing His works, as you can see in John 7. Now they are praying with the disciples!
Act 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Joh 7:3-5 His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.
4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world."
5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Here's one thing I didn't consider before. There was over a hundred disciples following Jesus from the time of His baptism by John, His arrest, crucifixion and Resurrection!
Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,
Acts 1:21-22 "Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."
3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Infallibleness
INFAL'LIBLENESS, n. [from infallible.] The quality of being incapable of error or mistake; entire exemption from liability to error; inerrability. No human being can justly lay claim to infallibility. This is an attribute of God only.
Act 1:4-5 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Reading these 2 verses in Acts 1 and the 2 verses below from John 20; clearly the receiving of the Holy Spirit and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit are two seperate events.
John 20:21-22 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Now if you tak a look at verse 8, it seems that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is for those committed to the Great Commission of sharing The Gospel:
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Jesus goes back to Heaven, but leaves no confusion of how He will come back. This is very important for us to know so we do not get deceived by false christs and false prophets:
Acts 1:9-11 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
Matthew 24:30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matthew 26:64 Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Mark 13:26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Mark 14:62 Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
Verse 14 is very interesting. One of only a couple times Jesus' brothers were mentioned they were mocking Him for not showing His works, as you can see in John 7. Now they are praying with the disciples!
Act 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Joh 7:3-5 His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.
4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world."
5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Here's one thing I didn't consider before. There was over a hundred disciples following Jesus from the time of His baptism by John, His arrest, crucifixion and Resurrection!
Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,
Acts 1:21-22 "Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Jesus is God!
John 20:19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you."
I'm not sure how many times I have read this verse over the years, but this is the first time I "seen" this:
The disciples were afraid and what is the first thing Jesus wants for them? PEACE. When we have the peace Jesus offers, the peace of knowing you belong to Him, there is no fear. You are perfectly loved by your Lord and Savior and as His Word says, perfect love casts out fear.
1John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
This reminds me so much of those that can ask you a million questions about your faith, yet no matter how well you may answer them, they will not believe. Thomas doesn't say, "I don't know....I'd kind of like to see for myslef." He is not wishy washy at all, he flat out says, "I will not beleive." Some people (like our buddy Ron) are given a dramatic sign that they may believe. Others are not. Only the Lord knows why; maybe it is the condition of their heart when they ask, and although skeptical, their heart is right....I don't know. But we know that in this case Thomas is blessed with his request for a "sign". But Jesus also indicates a special blessing on us who have not been given a "dramatic" sign, yet still believe:
John 20:27-29 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
1Peter 1:8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
Incidentally, Jesus waits 8 days to show Himself to Thomas. You have to think that Thomas wanted to see Jesus "right now"; but as shown many times in Scripture, God's time is not our time.
Another thing that we should notice here is Thomas' response: "My Lord and My God". There are plenty of false religions and false teaching out there that will make many claims about Jesus, but they do not want to call Him God. There is an abundance of verses pointing to the diety of Jesus and this one is as right to the point as you can get. Thomas calls Him, his God and Jesus does not correct him.
I'm not sure how many times I have read this verse over the years, but this is the first time I "seen" this:
The disciples were afraid and what is the first thing Jesus wants for them? PEACE. When we have the peace Jesus offers, the peace of knowing you belong to Him, there is no fear. You are perfectly loved by your Lord and Savior and as His Word says, perfect love casts out fear.
1John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
This reminds me so much of those that can ask you a million questions about your faith, yet no matter how well you may answer them, they will not believe. Thomas doesn't say, "I don't know....I'd kind of like to see for myslef." He is not wishy washy at all, he flat out says, "I will not beleive." Some people (like our buddy Ron) are given a dramatic sign that they may believe. Others are not. Only the Lord knows why; maybe it is the condition of their heart when they ask, and although skeptical, their heart is right....I don't know. But we know that in this case Thomas is blessed with his request for a "sign". But Jesus also indicates a special blessing on us who have not been given a "dramatic" sign, yet still believe:
John 20:27-29 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
1Peter 1:8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
Incidentally, Jesus waits 8 days to show Himself to Thomas. You have to think that Thomas wanted to see Jesus "right now"; but as shown many times in Scripture, God's time is not our time.
Another thing that we should notice here is Thomas' response: "My Lord and My God". There are plenty of false religions and false teaching out there that will make many claims about Jesus, but they do not want to call Him God. There is an abundance of verses pointing to the diety of Jesus and this one is as right to the point as you can get. Thomas calls Him, his God and Jesus does not correct him.
Monday, November 15, 2010
What was in the cup?
John 18:3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
If they actually thought Jesus was just a man, who openly taught without any bodygaurds or slef-defense weapons of any kind, why did they have such a crowd with weapons?
John 18:6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Isn't that strange? He simply says, "I am He" and they fall down?
John 18:10-11 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"
Jesus uses this same term in Luke 22:
Luke 22:42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
What is in the cup?
It isn't just a beating, afterall is Jesus any less of a man than other men in history that have endured brutality? Look at William Wallace and countless others who have endured for one cause or another. So, it can't be that. Is it the humiliation and disrespect. Many men would rather face physical torture than humiliation and disrespect, but many meek men have endured both. So, what was in the cup that had Jesus sweating blood?
God's Wrath!
Joh 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
Rom 2:5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
If Jesus took what we rightfully deserve, He took God's Wrath. He took it to the last drop, even to the point where for the first time in eternity He felt separation from God. Remember what He said?
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
If they actually thought Jesus was just a man, who openly taught without any bodygaurds or slef-defense weapons of any kind, why did they have such a crowd with weapons?
John 18:6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Isn't that strange? He simply says, "I am He" and they fall down?
John 18:10-11 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"
Jesus uses this same term in Luke 22:
Luke 22:42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
What is in the cup?
It isn't just a beating, afterall is Jesus any less of a man than other men in history that have endured brutality? Look at William Wallace and countless others who have endured for one cause or another. So, it can't be that. Is it the humiliation and disrespect. Many men would rather face physical torture than humiliation and disrespect, but many meek men have endured both. So, what was in the cup that had Jesus sweating blood?
God's Wrath!
Joh 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
Rom 2:5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
If Jesus took what we rightfully deserve, He took God's Wrath. He took it to the last drop, even to the point where for the first time in eternity He felt separation from God. Remember what He said?
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Where do you get joy?
John 17:8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
9 "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
How AWESOME is that!?! If you have given your life to Jesus, He was praying for you. If you are still of this world, He makes it a point to say, He is not praying for you.
Check out a few specifics of His prayer:
1st:
John 17:13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
Where are you getting your joy?
2nd:
John 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
He doesn't pray that we be taken out of the world, even though He wants us to be with Him in Heaven. Why not? Because He has work for us to do. That is why He is praying for our protection from Satan.
3rd:
John 17:20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
Even if the argument is made that in verse 13 Jesus is praying only for the disciples, clearly here He is praying for all of us who believe through their word. However, I think this makes a clear indicator that the work we have to do is to share what Jesus has done in our life that others may believe through our word.
4th:
John 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Jesus wants us with Him in glory!!!!! Those that belong to Him, He wants with Him!!!!
9 "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
How AWESOME is that!?! If you have given your life to Jesus, He was praying for you. If you are still of this world, He makes it a point to say, He is not praying for you.
Check out a few specifics of His prayer:
1st:
John 17:13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
Where are you getting your joy?
2nd:
John 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
He doesn't pray that we be taken out of the world, even though He wants us to be with Him in Heaven. Why not? Because He has work for us to do. That is why He is praying for our protection from Satan.
3rd:
John 17:20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
Even if the argument is made that in verse 13 Jesus is praying only for the disciples, clearly here He is praying for all of us who believe through their word. However, I think this makes a clear indicator that the work we have to do is to share what Jesus has done in our life that others may believe through our word.
4th:
John 17:24 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Jesus wants us with Him in glory!!!!! Those that belong to Him, He wants with Him!!!!
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