KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:6 KJV “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word.”

The Lord prays to the Father and He is not only asking but developing the reasons for which He makes His request. Remember the scriptures call on us to come to the Lord and reason with Him Isaiah 1:18. Reasoning with the Lord in prayer, helps you to see where you might be wrong and the reasons why the Lord must answer you.

In that particular verse, He said He had mentioned the Father’s name to the disciples and that they had kept His words. Please note He did not say He gave them any physical thing, like wealth, or any such thing, but said He gave them the Father’s words. This He said they had kept. All that the Father has for us is wrapped up in His word. The worlds were framed up by the word of God. In the word of God is the wisdom of God. The scriptures say nothing in this life was made without the word. The word is our light in this evil, dark world. You can never be a miserable man and not make a real impact in the lives of men if you choose to keep the word of God.

The Lord called His disciples to make them fishers of men. This was not to take advantage of men but to be light for many in darkness. They were to carry the power of God to heal the many who were in darkness. Apostle Paul presented what the Lord called him to do in the following verse Acts 26:18 KJV” To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”  All these were to be possible because they kept the word of God.  God’s word is God’s most treasured item given to men, cherish it above all things and you will be cherished above every other thing.

THOUGHT: KEEP THE WORD TO BE THE LIGHT IN THIS LIFE.

FURTHER STUDIES

Deu 28:1 KJV ” And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:”

John 14:21 KJV ‘He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:5 KJV” And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

I read a debate between a Christian and one of another faith. The man asked the Christian to give one verse in the scriptures where the Lord Jesus testified of Himself as God. I think our key scripture vividly says so. He prayed and asked the Father to glorify Him with the glory He had with Him, from the beginning, before everything was created. This verse shows that He is one with the Father. Everyone’s status is qualified by the glory He has. The glory could be described as a rank in the military. To have the same rank as another means you are at the same level. There is no superiority of one over the other.

The Lord Jesus, when He came into this life expressed on a number of occasions His dependence on the Father as well as the Father holding the final knowledge and authority over certain things. For example, in Acts 1:7 KJV” And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” He said it was in the Father’s power to decide on that matter. This He said so because He had earlier laid down His reputation, or glory as God, so He could become a man, and suffer death for the sins of all men. Phi 2:6,27 KJV “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” This scripture also explains why He spoke as if He was inferior to the Father on many occasions.

Dear readers our Lord Jesus is God. He existed in eternity past as the word of God. This truth is very important to one’s salvation. If you do not believe that Jesus is God, then you are lost in your sins, because you have not believed in Him for who He is. He saved us with His divine blood. Refusing to accept Him as God makes you reject that divine blood that saves us.

THOUGHT: JESUS BLOOD COULD SAVE US BECAUSE HE IS GOD

FURTHER STUDIES

John 1:14 KJV” And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

1Jn 5:20 KJV” And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:4 KJV “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

In our key scripture, the Lord declared He had finished the work the Father gave Him, and fully glorified the Father. What must one do in order to complete his assignment?

We will take the points in turns.

1. You must have a great sense of fear for God, and so maintain a burden to do and complete your task. 1Cor 9:16 KJV” For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”

2.  Understand there is only a limited time frame and so have a sense of urgency to do God’s work.  John 9:4 The Lord said, “The night is coming when no man can do any work.”

3. Be fully convinced that there is life after here. We would be rewarded or judged for whatever we did in this body. Our life here is what will determine what life hereafter would be.  Heb 9:27 KJV” And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

4. Serve the Lord joyfully and cheerfully. Deut 28:47,48. Joyful service makes you give your best, and the Father is pleased with every cheerful servant.2 Corinth 9:7

5. Serve the Lord Sacrificially. Sacrificing is willingly giving out that which is dear and precious unto you. Sacrifice makes you give out your total effort thereby achieving your best. John 12:24.Jesus gave His life

6.  Serve the Lord lovingly. John 8:29 KJV” And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”  You will always receive the best from the Lord.

 7.  Many have the perception that the church is a place of meeting needs and not a place to give service or fulfill a divine assignment.  Throw away such a mentality, knowing the church is God’s body on the earth to execute what He would have done.

8. Always keep in touch with the Holy Spirit in prayer to know what He has for you always. Mark 1:35

THOUGHT: SINCERELY SERVING GOD IS THE ONLY MEANINGFUL WAY TO LIVE

FURTHER STUDIES

Dan 6:3 KJV “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”

John 8:29 KJV” And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:4 KJV “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

Every servant is supposed to have been given a task. It is expected of Him to faithfully execute that task. His ultimate goal as a servant is to finish the task very well, so his master will reward, promote or honour him in a way. The Lord Jesus came into this life to serve, the Father’s will. Doing it was His way of glorifying the Father. When He came to the tail end of His mission He prayed to the Father and said,” I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do”. The Lord made two very important statements. He said He had fully glorified the name of the Father., and he also finished the work given to Him.

When He said He had glorified the name of the Father, it meant He had not only finished the task, but He gave in His all. This also means He did his best. He knew what the Father wanted and gave that to Him. This point is expressed in the following words of the master,” Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work. “John 4:34. The Lord fully executed this course. Apostle Paul also came to the end of His mission and said” I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” 2nd Tim 4:7.

What is the goal of your service? Do not lose sight of the fact that we are all on an assignment to bring glory to our heavenly father, and to finish whatever He has given to us. Your three major resources must be used judiciously. They are:

1. Your time

2. Your strength

3. Your money

Trade these things in such a way that, you would never have cause to regret. The day of reckoning is just close by. Every second that ticks, sends you a second less to your moment to finish. ‘Never finish whiles you are unfinished. ‘Keep the urgency of the task right in your eyes and in your heart. Those who keep the call of God to fulfill His work enter into a covenant of preservation, that makes them go through the full time God has ordained for them.

THOUGHT: A COMMITMENT TO FINISH WELL, ACTUALLY GETS YOU FINISHING WELL.

FURTHER STUDIES

Luk 19:13 KJV” And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”

2 Tim 4:7 KJV “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 17:3 KJV “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

The Lord said in our opening scripture that eternal life is knowing the true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. Many religious groups claim to serve the true God. To some their God cannot be known in a very personal way, He is mighty and so pure that he has no relationship with His followers. To others, their God is objects that could be seen, like the sun, stars or even certain creatures. Others say their minds is the true God.

What qualities should the true God have?

1. The true God should be the creator of heaven and the earth. Gen 1:1, Psalms 148:5 KJV” Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.”

2. The true God must be all-powerful, ever-present, and all-knowing. Gen 35:11, Ps 139:1-7. Psalms 139:16 KJV “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book, all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

3. The true God must be merciful. Deut 4:31

4. The true God should be a God of love. 1 John 4:8

5. The true God should not be worshipped with cultural limitations. The God of the Christians does not have any cultural demands for worship. His people do not have to speak a particular language to talk to Him or wear a particular garment like people must do in Arabic. He can be contacted anywhere. John 4:21,23 KJV” Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

6. The true God is for all men. The God of the Christian is not for the Jews alone, or Europeans, Africans, or Americans. He is for all men. Some claim He is of the Jews. In a few months ago, the Jewish Parliament passed a law making it criminal for anyone to share Christ with a non-Christian. Europeans and Americans are taking the bible from public schools. In spite of all these Christianity remains the most populous religion

The Africans claim God is a European and an American God. The Europeans say He is an imposition on them, yet He dominates every continent.

7. The true God must reveal Himself to men. And the word which is God, became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1 14.

8. The true God should hear the prayers of His people and do great miracles among them. Jeremiah 33:3

9. The true God must work alongside His people and confirm their words with signs and wonders. Mark 16:21, “And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

THOUGHT: GOD IS NOT HIDDEN BUT HAS REVEALED HIMSELF

FURTHER STUDIES

Heb 1:3 KJV “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

Jer 29:11 KJV “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:3 KJV” And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

In this opening scripture, the Lord explains how one receives eternal life in a very simple way, yet very profound. He said eternal life is about knowing the true God and Jesus Christ. One may know a lot about God, and He may hear and read a lot about Him, yet he may not know Him. God is not known by a man’s intellect .1Co 1:21 KJV For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” God can be known by accepting the revelation he has given about Himself.

From our discussion above, knowing God is to believe His own revelation about Himself. He is the creator of the universe. He is the all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present God. He gave His Son Jesus to give His life as a ransom for the sins of all men. To know Jesus is to believe all that He came to do for humanity. Jesus is the only name under heaven given among men, whereby, they might be saved. Acts 4:12. He is the way the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but by Him. John 14:6. This is a revelation Jesus has made about Himself. To know Jesus means you must believe this truth about Him. Anyone who believes this revelation from Jesus, about Himself would receive eternal life into his life.

A true knowledge of God instills in a man a sense of hatred for sin and also a confidence to face life with an air a Victor. The insecurities that abound around the man who has come to know the Lord do not dictate His affairs, because the Lord is His shepherd. If your life is dominated by fear and an anxious expectation of the future, then you might not know the Lord at all. You may know Him by head, and not by heart. Head knowledge is not the kind of knowledge that brings a person into eternal life. This is the state of a   number of people who claim to know God, yet still love to sin, filled with fear and all kinds of ungodly behaviours.

Now ask a sincere question, do I truly know this true God and His Son Jesus? Please spend some moments alone and humbly accept the truths He has made about Himself.

THOUGHT: SALVATION COMES WHEN WE HUMBLY ACCEPT WHO THE FATHER AND JESUS ARE.

FURTHER STUDIES

Acts 4:12 KJV” Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

John 14:6 KJV” Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 17:1 KJV” These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:”

In our key scripture, the Lord said as the Father glorifies Him, He would intend to glorify the Father. The Lord led His whole life to glorify the Father. The reason for man’s existence is to glorify the Father. We were created to bring Him pleasure. How does God do it? He takes His abode in us to express Himself through us. It was a very big loss to God when man fell from God’s grace into sin. The scripture said, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. God expresses His glory through man as He dwells in man. 1Corinth 3:16 KJV says “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

The Lord had led His life to glorify the Father in every way, He was at the last lap to glorify the Father, at the time He made this prayer. He was about to suffer total shame, total pain, and total rejection. This was the climax of pleasing and bringing glory to the Father. At this point, He was going to bear the sin and sicknesses of the whole world. He was going to be forsaken by the Father because He had become sin. 2nd Corinth 5:21.

Men who were lost to sin and through the obedience of Jesus, would be redeemed. God was indeed to be glorified. God would win His most treasured creatures back home. This was a real glory to God.

 We also glorify God when we submit our wills to Him and live to please Him. The greatest glory to give God is to win many souls for the Lord. John 15:8 KJV” Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so, shall ye be my disciples”. Would you do your life a favour by winning souls unto the Lord?

THOUGHT: GLORIFYING GOD IS THE BEST MEANING YOU CAN GIVE YOUR LIFE

FURTHER STUDIES

John 8:29 KJV” And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

John 15:8 KJV” Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:1 KJV” These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:’

I was once in a meeting in which the speaker for that night prayed and said, “Father glorify me that I may also glorify you” I asked myself what does this man mean by such a statement or prayer? I also think he picked the whole idea from our key scripture. I believe by asking the Father to glorify him meant, God should work miracles to show His approval of him. This is not wrong. It is not proper for any man to ask the Father to glorify him. We do nothing for our glory, but for the Lord to be glorified. If God uses a man to work miracles, it is never a sign of him being glorified. Working miracles reveals God’s glory. God is the one who always confirms the words of men to bring glory to His own name. The Holy Spirit is in you to glorify Jesus.

When we were born again, He glorified us by seating us in Christ far above all principalities and powers. Eph 2:6 KJV “And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”(Read Rom 8:29)

The Lord had come to the end of His ministry on earth and needed to take back His glory as God, so He prayed to the Father as follows.  “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” When He walked the shores of this earth He lived as a man who trusted and depended on the Holy Spirit in all that He said and did.

 One may ask, why did the Lord have to ask the Father to glorify Him, since it was obvious that the Father would glorify Him? He said this prayer to the hearing of His disciples for one main reason.

This prayer clearly establishes the fact that He is God. The Lord knew very well that His deity would be greatly contended by many, yet it was a very important truth for everyone who seeks to follow Him to accept.

Everyone who reads this prayer will cease to have any doubts about His deity.

THOUGHT: JESUS IS GOĎ, AND ALL MEN MUST KNOW IT.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Tim 3:16 KJV “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

Titus 2:13 KJV “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:33 KJV “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Peace is an indispensable virtue that makes living worthwhile. The word peace means not to be scattered, but to be one whole. Anyone without peace is not one, or better still, he is not with himself.

Many are sadly not with themselves. Peace can only come from the prince of peace. The Lord said, His words to them were intended to give them peace because so long as they are in this world, they would have tribulations. The Lord added that they should be of good cheer because He had overcome the world.

What is the power of peace? It is faith in the word of God. Faith in God is the answer to all anxieties and stresses of this life. Faith comes by receiving the word of God. Rom 10:17. Faith turns your attention from yourself unto the power of God. Rom 5:1 KJV “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Peace with God is that which gives us that right standing and the access to partake of all that He is, and has. There is the peace of God which is the power of God that holds a man against the many challenges in this life. This kind of peace is not given by anything or person in this life. Philippians 4:6&7 teaches us not to be anxious about anything, but in everything with prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving let us make our requests known to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The Lord assured us not to be moved by the certain tribulation in the world. Satan the arch-enemy of God is at the heels of all men to make a mess of them. The Lord says He has overcome Him. Satan is not a factor in your peace equation. Your response to the word of God and its terms is the real determinant of your peace. His word says He would keep you in perfect peace if your mind stayed on the Lord because you trust in Him.  It is a trust of your mind, heart, and whole being to the Lord that secures your peace. The word of God is your real power for peace. Do not attend to the words of the enemy. Satan and his demons are opportunistic liars. Your life would go into turmoil if you believe in an iota of their words. Empty yourself of every word of that liar. He is a murderer, but his weapon to destroy is his lies. Stay with the words of the Lord which is your true source and power for your peace.

THOUGHT: A HEART FULL OF GOD’S WORD, AND EMPTY OF SATAN’S WORDS, IS A HEART FULL OF PEACE

CONFESSIONS

God’s word is my delight day and night. His word fills my mouth and my heart. I live above every threat of Satan. My mind and heart are at peace, and my life keeps shining every day.

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 37:37 KJV” Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.”

Isaiah 26:3 KJV “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:31 KJV Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?

After the disciples had expressed their understanding and appreciation for all that the Lord Jesus had been telling them lately, the Lord also asked them, Do you now believe? These men had been with Jesus and seen all the magnificent miracles, yet they had doubts in their minds. There are many professing believers, yet in the event of certain oppositions, they tend to express doubt. The Lord added in the following verse, Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.”

The Lord meant in the above verse that these men would be leaving Him. Why would they leave Him to His fate at the last moment? These men had an understanding about who Jesus was yet they could not keep faith with Him at the trying moments. What kind of believer are you? Are you very energetic when everything is fine but start complaining when the situation is adverse? They had come to a clear understanding of who Jesus was, yet they had not taken a decision to stand for Him till the end. Believing is an act of a person’s will.

We believe with our hearts and not with our minds. The mind can easily accept a thing or believe something, yet it will not commit the whole being to it. This is called mental assent. This is where many are deceived into thinking they believe yet nothing changes about them. True faith is never afraid to commit. True faith is seen in positive action, showing absolute reliance on what God has said. Truly, believing is an individual act. No one believes for another in certain matters. As the disciples had to stand for the master individually when He was attacked. No one could act for his neighbour in that very hour. Ask the Lord for the inner strength to fully trust Him, in all situations.

THOUGHT: FAITH IS NEVER FROM THE MIND, BUT A DECISION OF THE HEART

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 10:10 KJV” For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Matt 14:29 KJV” And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.”