5 things jesus asked the father to do for his DISCIPLES
#1 Jesus prayed that his disciples would know God’s Word. John 17:8 Jesus said, “For I have given to them the words which you have given to Me and they have received them.” As spiritual leaders we want to be able to say this! (John 1:1-3) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made.”
(Gen 1:1) “Then God said, “Let there be light and there was light. In Genesis chapter 1 the words, “God said,” are recorded 9 times. As a result, “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” (Gen 1:31)
In all of our spiritual beginnings there is a Word from God. God has words of life recorded and written down in the Bible so we could find them and not forget what He said. (Jos 1:8) “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in It day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success,”
#2. Jesus prayed that His disciples would be united in love. John 17:11 “Now I am no longer in the world but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are one.” Teamwork makes the dream work!
#3. Jesus prayed that His disciples would experience His joy. John 17:13 “But now I have come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.” Serving the Lord should be the joy of our lives! If you’re not walking in His joy, you need to check where you’re walking!
#4. Jesus prayed that His disciples would reach the world with the Gospel. John 17:18-20 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” (Hab 2:14) “The whole earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” We tend to spend a lot of time talking about building the church. But Jesus taught that if we would focus on reaching the lost, He would build His church!
#5. Jesus prayed that His disciples would see and experience His glory - His manifested presence! John 17:22-24 “And the glory which You gave Me; I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me that the world may know that you have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. 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 before the foundation of the World.”
Jesus firstly prayed for His eleven disciples, and then in John 17:20 He said, “I do not pray for these alone but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.” Wow! That’s you and me! And all who have received Christ as Lord and Saviour!
Yours for Kingdom experience and advancement Dr. George Hill