Interceding Prayer
John 17 is
an awesome chapter to me. Contextually
it follows the chapters that deal with abiding in Him and the Holy Spirit
coming, which are two great chapters in themselves but this 17 is special to me
because Jesus prays for all believers.
This is but a glimpse into the intercessory role that Christ is getting
ready to take at the right hand of God.
It should be encouraging to us to know that Christ prayed for us and
continues to do that and we now have an example of what that is like in John
17.
There are
also more examples from this passage that Christ gives us. This passage is an example of praying for
God’s Will. Notice in His prayer for us,
it is all about our growth in Him, ability to serve God, and success in GOD’S
KINGDOM. Also it serves as an example to
intercede on the behalf of other Christians and their work in the Kingdom of
God. Do we spend time praying for our
brothers and sisters and their impact for Christ in the world? Do we really spend time praying for missions
in other countries? In our prayer time I
hope we are making time for all the things we should be accomplishing in
prayer, such as worship, thankfulness, repentance, our requests (needs), but
also interceding on the behalf of others as God lays them on our heart.
My challenge
to you! Be praying God will lay people and ministries on your heart so that we
can be praying for the will of God in and through their lives as Christ did for
us.
John 17:20-26 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. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me,
may be with me where I am, to see
my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the
foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world
does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make
it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in
them, and I in them."
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