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THE MASTER IN PRAYER (4)

Date: 
Saturday, March 18, 2023
Bible Meditation: 
John 17: 9-26

“I PRAY FOR THEM. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours – John 17:9

The third key Point about the MASTER IN PRAYER is that JESUS PRAYED FOR PEOPLE, particularly His own: “I PRAY FOR THEM. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 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 (Jh.17: 9-11). In John 17: 1-5 Jesus prayed for Himself: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You...” (1-5). The rest of the chapter, the Lord prayed for His disciples (vv.6-19) and for all Believers (vv.20-24). The Master not only prayed for Himself, but for others.

Jesus prayed for His disciples: For the Father to keep them through His Name; and that they be one as he and the Father are (v.11). He prayed, not for God to take them out of the world, but to “keep them from the evil one” (v.15b). He prayed further to the Father: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth” (v.17).

Jesus prayed for all Believers throughout the ages: “I DO NOT PRAY FOR THESE ALONE, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 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 they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (vv.20-23). He prayed for the Unity and Perfection of Believers and the revelation of God’s Love and Glory in them (vv.24-26).

Jesus prayed for children who were brought to Him: Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and PRAY, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt.19:13). Jesus welcomed children and prayed for them.

Jesus prayed for Simon Peter: At the Last Supper, the Lord revealed that Peter was being targeted by Satan, but would stand by His prayer – But I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Lk.22:32). What great comfort Simon must have found in those words! Jesus expected His prayer to be answered, for He assured Simon that when he returned, he should strengthen his brothers. Jesus foresaw Simon’s fall, but He prayed and expected his restoration!

In essence, Jesus prayed for people; we should too, not only for ourselves. We should pray for: Our family and friends; those in need – the sick, hurting, hungry, suffering, and lonely; and for leaders – civic and spiritual (1Tim.2:1-2). Paul also, apart from praying for the Believers, often asked the churches to pray for him and his ministry (1The.5:25; 2The.3:1). We should also pray for those far from God, especially our loved ones who are not yet following Jesus. Our mission is to help people find and follow Jesus, and bring them into His Fold. That starts by praying for them.

To pray for others is the Jesus Habit! The wonderful reality is that Jesus is still praying for us even from heaven: “It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US” (Rom.8:34b); “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since HE ALWAYS LIVES to MAKE INTERCESSION for them” (Heb.7:25).

Adetokunbo O. Ilesanmi (Meditations)

Prayer: 
Lord, as we learn about the MASTER IN PRAYER, inspire us to PRAY for OTHERS and bring those far from God into Your Fold, in Jesus’ name.
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