TEXT: John 17:12-16
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
We are in a series of messages titled “Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible.” The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have completed 191 messages in this series.
This is message #192 titled, The Profound Prayer that Jesus Prayed, Part 8
In His prayer, Jesus is essentially turning the disciples over to God. He has had them for a time, to teach and train them, and He has kept them well — that is, they have remained faithful up until this point.
Jesus acknowledges that one, Judas, was lost as he was the “son of perdition” who would fulfill the Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would be betrayed by one of His own. Note, however, that Jesus does not say that He lost Judas, rather that Judas WAS lost. Henry Morris said, “‘The son of perdition’ points to character rather than destiny. The expression means that he was characterized by ‘lostness,’ not that he was predestined to be ‘lost.'” Judas was lost by virtue of his own choices, his own struggle with darkness which he apparently lost.
Jesus now begins to elaborate on His previous requests — that the disciples would remain in His joy and that they would be kept from evil in the world. His first request is, “These things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”
The world and the devil will try to tell us that God wants to take joy from our lives. But that is not true. The only true joy that you will ever have in this world is that which comes from Jesus. Jesus lived a life that was characterized by joy; in fact, He called it “my joy.” It may not have always seemed like it, but Jesus was the most joyful individual who ever lived. The reasons why Jesus was so filled with joy is very simple.
First, Jesus never sinned. Sin is a sure joy-killer. The more you sin, the less joy you will have in your life. Sin that is unconfessed and still on your conscience will consistently siphon whatever joy you do have.
Second, Jesus had unbroken fellowship with God. This fellowship existed, not just because He never sinned, but because He maintained regular prayer and communion with His Heavenly Father. If you want more joy in your life, start communicating with God more through prayer, Bible reading, and meditation.
The third reason why Jesus had consistent joy is because He was engaged in ministry. He was constantly serving God by helping others, preaching the Gospel, and teaching the truths of the Kingdom of God. It is a well-documented fact that nothing will give you joy like serving others.
Jesus’ prayer to God is that “my joy might be fulfilled in them [the disciples].” This is His prayer for us today as well. Jesus wants us to have His joy. You might claim that you get joy by other means. But you don’t know joy until you taste the joy of Jesus.
You can have this joy by doing the things that Jesus did. (1) If you are sinning, stop sinning, and confess all unconfessed sins in your life. (2) Maintain consistent communion with God through prayer, Bible reading, and meditation. (3) Start sharing the Gospel and get involved in serving others.
And, remember, that Jesus has prayed and is praying for you.
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Now, if you are with us today, and you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, your first prayer needs to be what we call the Sinner’s Prayer. First, please understand that you are a sinner, just as I am, and that you have broken God’s laws. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. You have done the most important thing in life. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Gospel Light House of Prayer International 