Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Paul Email - 21Sept2013- John 17 (Sanctification)

How you doin? It's hard to believe that God could out do yesterday, but we read John 17 this morning. Grab a box of tissues. COME ON!!!!!!!
The first 5 verses are titled, "Jesus Prays for Himself".  "I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (17:4-5) WOW!!!!!!! Jesus' authority never ceases to amaze me. His accepting it as a man blows me away. Father God knew us before the world began as well. COME ON!!!!!!! He's that BIG. DIG IT!!!!!!! I feel like I'm just working my way back to the beginning. Like any great story, the end goes back to the beginning. SAY WORD!!!!!!!
Verses 6-19 are titled, "Jesus Prays for His Disciples". Don't forget that we are disciples or we should be disciples (followers of Jesus). Jesus qualifies us in a huge way in this prayer. "For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them." (17:8) Accepting the word of God glorifies Jesus. "All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them." (17:10) COME ON!!!!!!! What a thought that my accepting God's word glorifies the one who saved me. SAY WORD!!!!!!! Jesus goes on to pray for our protection. Jesus prays for us to have the full measure of His joy in us... "so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them." (17:13) I want the full measure of Jesus' joy. I'll take that impartation. Verses 15-19 get me the most. 17:17, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." I've come to love the sanctification process. My Bible's definition of sanctify is, "to cleanse or set apart for sacred use; to declare or make holy". COME ON!!!!!!!  Here comes the "Sonny", "For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified." WOW!!!!!!! I'll take that. Just put your hands out in front of you with your palms up while reading John 17 and just receive what Jesus is offering. COME ON!!!!!!!
Verses 20-26 are titled, "Jesus Prays for Future Believers". This really applies to us based on verse 20. I believe that this prayer is the most powerful impartation we as believers can receive. Jesus prays, "May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me". (17:21) DIG IT!!!!!!! "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." (17:22-23) This is a gift. I need to accept this gift and believe it's for me. The word "brought" indicates a process. This doesn't happen over night. I need to follow Him. I welcome this process.  “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory,...". (17:24) Jesus wants us, He's not stuck with us. He wants us to live from where he's at... Heaven. COME ON!!!!!!! Father God's love and Jesus' love for me is overwhelming. SAY WORD!!!!!!! Here comes the bomb.  “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.” (17:25-26) I'll take ALL of that. The word "continue" points out again the process. Just receive that word today. I believe you should be making a ruckus right about now. I know Jesus is causing a ruckus in me. I want the fullness of Jesus in me. COME ON!!!!!!! Jesus is praying this prayer on that side of the cross. We are reading it on this side of the cross. This prayer of Jesus' has been answered on this side. SAY WORD!!!!!!! His acts on the cross (death, resurrection, and ascension) reconciles us to the Father.  I love being free. I love being loved by God. Enjoy your sanctification process today.
PS I asked Stacey to share part of her journal entree:
 v22 "I have given THEM the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one."  WOW!  This word 'glory' in my Strongs Dictionary is the same word as used in v5... (It is also the same word as Matt 6:13 in the Lord's prayer "Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the GLORY forever").  Strong's GLORY:  His attributes and power as revealed through creation.  His everlasting power and divinity.  What he essentially IS and DOES as exhibited in whatever way He revels himself.  Now we carry that!!!  Wow. Now that's a good word! 

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