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Some people like to claim Bible verses speak directly to them.

• Genesis 27:3 “Now, take your weapons, your quiver and bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me.”
   – – – Men, tattoo? Or fridge magnet for wife to permit your time…?
• Political Advice from Ecclesiastes 10:2 “A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but the fool’s heart to the left.”
• Advice for morning people from Proverbs 27:14 “Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.”
• Flirtations words from Song of Solomon 4:1-2 “Behold, you are beautiful my love, behold you are beautiful. Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of shorn lambs that have come up from the washing… Your cheeks are like pomegranates… Your neck like the tower built in rows of stone, that on it hang a thousand shields….”
  [It gets a little ‘R-rated’ if I keep reading]
  – – – men, use these pick-up lines at your own risk.
• Matthew 8:24 Jesus was asleep on a boat.
  – – – Thus, message “be like Jesus by taking naps.”
• Acts 20:7 “Paul prolonged his sermon until midnight” SO much so that a teen boy was leaning against a window for fresh air, but he dozed and fell out of the window – and died! Thankfully, Paul stopped preaching to pray for miraculous healing… but, then he went back to preaching 😛   – – – Confirmation for long sermons or approval for falling asleep in church. Either seems potentially harmful 🙂
• For Dads with daughters from Galatians 5:12
  “I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves.”

The Bible is very serious, but because it’s about human life it’s also quite humorous. The reality is that the Bible is like a library with 66 books, and different types of literature. Generally, the Bible is meant to be interpreted literally. Yet, there are types of literature whether poetry or prophetic/apocalyptic that has unique symbols and analogies that require broader analysis. Additionally, to understand meaning one must consider context of passages, as well as realizing how the NT events and the gospel fulfills OT covenants and promises. Thus, whether literarily, contextually, or covenantally, we cannot always equate Bible verses as applicable to us today. Overwhelmingly, the Bible is a book about God that teaches us about humanity. We cannot always force our modern day circumstances, or write ourselves into the Biblical storyline. We know the Bible is binding for believers, but supremely through the life and grace of Jesus Christ.

One Bible passage that believers can assuredly apply, and even see ourselves is in Jesus prayer recorded in John 17.

EXAMINE John 17

John 17 is a lengthy prayer of Jesus on His last days on earth. I have a 10-Day prayer guide for those who want to go deeper in the chapter.[1] For today, my aim is to discern for what Jesus prays, and how that should shape our prayers.

Pray for ourselves (Jn 17:1-5).
¹ When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, ² since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴ I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Jesus knows this is His last night before He would die in excruciating manner. Jesus does what He knows is needed for personal strength, as well as to instruct His followers before He leaves. Jesus gathers His closest friends and prays because prayer was His lifeline.

On his last night before death, Jesus gathers his closest friends to pray together, because prayer was his lifeline.

Illus: Like a scuba diver hundreds of feet beneath the ocean surface, or an astronaut in outerspace, they maintain their lifeline while living outside of their element, so we must maintain our lifeline in prayer to God.

The first portion of this prayer shows Jesus praying:

• lifted up his eyes to heaven
  The Bible describes different postures of prayer: *head bowed, *bended knees, *hands lifted, *eyes upward, *soft whisper and *loud cries or *plentiful tears.
  We should note there’s never a posture of *arms angrily or coldly folded; *ears distracted (with device buds); *heart persistent to its own way.

Here we see Jesus looking into heaven. It reminds me of Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”
Indeed, your physical posture communicates an aspect of your faith.

• Father

Jesus called God “Father” 6x in this chapter (17:1, 5, 11, 21, 24, 25). The fact that Jesus called God, “Abba” reflected a close vitality that unfortunately few know. As a pastor, I see Christians decline praying in public, or even confess they don’t feel like they have a close relationship with God. Yet, Jesus’ life and legacy was for the purpose of drawing us into an adoptive relationship with the Heavenly Father.

2x Jesus calls God, “Father,” add the adjective “Holy” (17:11) or “Righteous” (17:25). Thus, calling God, “Father” means we are approaching Him with reverence (sovereign Lord) and relationship (generous giver of grace – Savior). The combination “Heavenly Father” helps us to remember both reverence and relationship and is compatible with the Lord’s model prayer in Mt 6.

• glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you
  • The word “glory” appears 8x vv.1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 22, 24. Throughout the Gospels the word is used 66x. The word means weight or significant importance; as a verb it means to honor or praise. Glory also signifies God’s presence, power, majesty, and beauty.
  • Glory is one of the prominent themes in the Bible, and what we all chase. Even Jesus’ life originated with glory (Jn 1:14), was surrounded for glory (Mt 17), and was destined for glory through conquering death and ascending to Heaven’s throne (Ph 2:9-10). Throughout Jesus’ life, He sought to bring attention and fame to God – not to political powers, not to religious traditions, not even to the hurts of the world. But, by glorifying God, Jesus offered help, healing, and hope to everyone He encountered.
  • We must also note that God does not share His glory (Isa 42:8; 48:11). Yet, we see throughout the Gospels, that Jesus is full of glory, thus indicating His complete deity. This stands in contrast to Judaism, Islam, or any other world religion.

• Our one prayer and pursuit is the glory of God.
  • Ps 115:1 “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory.”
  • 1Cor 10:31 “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
  • We glorify God by trusting Jesus for eternal life and treasuring Jesus as our Lord.
    • ³ And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴ I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
    • Jesus said, “By this my Father is glorified that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples… If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love… these things I have spoken that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full” (Jn 15:8-11).

Pray for others (Jn 17:6-9, ff)

⁶ “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. ⁸ For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹ I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

One of the mind-blowing aspects of this prayer is that Jesus is not just praying for Himself. Jesus had in view His disciples, but He also had in mind those who would believe upon the gospel message.
²⁰ “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

So, we can be comforted that Jesus loves us enough not just to die for us, but to pray for us. And this is how we can also love others, by praying for them.

We can be comforted that Jesus loves us enough not just to die for us, but to pray for us. And this is how we can also love others, by praying for them.

Reading this prayer, we can observe the things for which Jesus prays for others.

Secure Identity
¹² While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

Jesus said He kept and guarded the disciples, with the latter word (φυλάσσω[2]) being used for military protection. Interestingly, Jesus says He protected all the disciples, but admits one of them was unprotected for the purpose of fulfilling Scripture – that being Judas. The point is that Jesus prayed for the disciples to have their identity and self-understanding based upon His purpose.

Humanity is searching for identity and purpose, and we cannot find ourselves until we lose ourselves (cf. Jn 12:25). We find ourselves when we admit we cannot fix our own problems, and our faith trusts that God is our Savior and source for wisdom, strength, and hope.

Joy
¹³ But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

Jesus prayed for the disciples’ joy. Notedly, joy belongs to Jesus, which He prays would be extended to the disciples. Joy is not found in ourselves or our circumstances. Heb 12:2 says that Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him. In other words, joy is the byproduct of obedience to God.

• Know the evil one wants to steal, kill and destroy your joy (Jn10:10). Yet, God is not stingy with giving joy but gives it in abundant proportions – in His presence is fullness of joy and forever pleasures at His right hand (Ps 16:11).
  
  
• Settle your heart. Slow your mind. Spend time with Jesus and discover true and lasting joy.

Joy is the byproduct of obedience to God.

Sanctification

¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Jesus prays for your sanctification. This may not sound like much, but it means that Jesus is unwilling to give up on you. God will finish what He starts when it comes to your faith (Php 1:6).
Christian sanctification occurs not through escapism of problems but perseverance in truth.
*Right now someone is tempted to go a different direction than God’s design.
*Someone is tempted to give up, as they feel alone and that they’re not worth Jesus’ love and prayers.

DON’T believe the lie. Jesus is sanctifying you with His very own Spirit; and is inside you, not letting go, not giving up, holding on to refine and recover your purpose. May you pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit”
(Ps 51:10-12).

Unity for Mission
²⁰ “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, ²³ I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

One of the last requests on Jesus’ lips to the Father’s ears was a prayer for unity. Just as the Father, Son, and Spirit share incomparable community, Jesus prayed for us to experience vibrant unity. The aim of our unity is not just close connections to tell hilarious inside jokes, or local partners who you can call for help or a ride, or even sincere friends who will bring meals when you’re sick or be there when you need them most. While having community like this is absolutely essential, the greater design for unity in God’s eyes is mission: so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

This type of unity means that we must overcome differences, and work through contrasts and change. It also means when there’s conflict that we confront sin. Many Christians and churches are comfortable talking about peace and harmony without being willing to do what it takes to achieve God’s mandate for maturity. Christian unity is not cheap; it will likely cost long nights, large tears, heaping amounts of humility, and prolific patience. But it’s worth it.

Many Christians and churches are comfortable talking about peace and harmony without being willing to do what it takes to achieve God’s mandate for maturity. Christian unity is not cheap; it will likely cost long nights, large tears, heaping amounts of humility, and prolific patience. But it’s worth it.

Ps 133:1-2 “How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell in unity. It is like precious oil on the head and running down the beard, and the collar of your robes.”

The idea is that God’s blessing runs down from head to toe when there is strived agreement, genuine affection, and unconditional love.

• When it comes to unity, we must be vigilant. Don’t give division a foothold.
• Pray with people. Since prayer is talking to God, it softens your words and strengthens your witness. You realize God’s reputation is at stake more than your own.

APPLY/THINK

Several centuries ago, ancient China wanted to secure its borders from its northern invaders. So, from the 3^rd Century and onward through the 14^th Century, China’s emperors and people built the Great Wall of China to protect the border.
The massive wall stretched for 1,500 miles. It was 12 to 40 feet wide and 20 to 50 feet high. The Great Wall is a feat of engineering and a testament to the historic rulers of China’s empire.

The wall was too high for the enemy to scale, too thick to tear down, and too long to go around. They also posted soldiers at different places. It was built wide enough on the top for chariots to patrol. If they heard of an attack at a distant location, they could easily get to it. They were up high giving them a superior advantage over their enemies. They knew that they had protected their borders sufficiently against all enemies.

But, in the first 100 years of the Great Wall of China, the nation was invaded three times. How?
An enemy bribed the gatekeepers and entered the land undetected.
China’s empire was so busy working to build walls and prideful self-reliance, that they neglected to build their people with integrity.

Church, let us not be so busy on doing God’s work that we fail to be God’s people.

Proverbs 21:2-3 “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice/service.”

Church, let us not be so busy on doing God’s work that we fail to be God’s people.

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[1] https://growinggodlygenerations.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/prayer-encounters-devotional.pdf

[2] https://biblehub.com/greek/5442.htm