| DAY 25 “Holy Father,
keep through Your Name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one,
as We are.” John 17: 11
The third desire is preservation
– possibly the strongest force in the human personality. Our keeping in
His name depends on the fourth and fifth desires of Jesus: “… but that
You should keep them from the evil one…” (v 15) and, “… sanctify them by
Your truth…” (v 17). Security comes after victory over powers of darkness
and holiness of life; a setting apart by the Word FROM the world spirit
of deception UNTO the truth,
which is personalized in Jesus Christ our Lord. The word “I pray” in verse
15 really means “I
interrogate with You Father
for the desire that is on our hearts”. These petitions were born in heaven
in the fullness of the Father’s decree.
Holy Ghost prayer speaks
on earth what heaven has spoken. What heaven speaks is the most up-to-date
reality in the universe. The
privilege of prayer is we
enter the divine secrets and become a shareholder in eternity. There can
be no higher privilege this side of heaven.
To be vessels that reflect
His glory we must FIGHT the good fight of faith against the wiles of the
evil one. The Lord assures us we are implicated in the world, but insulated
from evil. How? By the armour of God, by the word of God as a sword, by
the blood of Jesus, by gifts of discernment, by praise, by the authority
of the Name of Jesus… these weapons are given to every believer, but there
are different levels of power and authority.
Joseph overcame the poison
of the enemy, by refusing to give up, by leaving the judgement to God,
and by forgiving Potiphar’s wife
Remember how Joseph was viciously
attacked by Potiphar’s wife, a type of Jezebel. The evil methodology was
ACCUSATION, JEALOUSY, TAKE-OVER,
DEATH. But Joseph was never a martyr to satan’s hate plan, but bruised
the head of the serpent. How? By keeping in union and communion with the
Lord in 14 years of prison. He was kept by the Name… not automatically…
Joseph had to abide for those wonderful gifts to stay intact so they could
be suddenly used in Pharaoh’s court. Joseph overcame the poison of the
enemy, by refusing to give up, by leaving the judgement to God, and by
forgiving Potiphar’s wife. When we come under false accusation and allow
things to fester we go to a lower level. Forgive and put your life into
Father’s hands and you’ll go up to a higher level spiritually.
“Father, please help me
to persevere when the going gets tough, teach me to abide and not to fret,
and give me the grace to forgive and to overcome. Amen”
DAY 26 “Sanctify them
by Your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17: 17
We are separated unto God’s
purpose by the word of the Cross. Galatians 6: 14 tells us the acid test
of being a believer… i.e. that our boast is in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ. We cannot boast in our achievements or heroes or anything that
is in the world. We boast in what Jesus has achieved for us in the Cross,
in the wonderful exchanges He has provided:
1) He was punished,
smitten and stricken by God that we might be forgiven, by His royal pardon
through His holy blood. Think about it. Find Isaiah 53: 4, 5 and 1 Peter
2: 2 and dwell on the scriptures, and meditate like a bee extracting nectar
from a flower.
2) He was wounded, plagued
and the lashes ploughed upon His back that we might be healed and restored
physically, by His stripes. Isaiah 53: 4, 5; Psalm 129: 3; and Matthew
8: 16, 17.
3) He sweat great drops of
blood in the garden of Gethsemane, suffering such mental anguish so we
can be healed mentally. Read Luke 22: 44.
4) He died our death as us
that we might live in His resurrection life. Romans 6: 6 – 8; Hebrews 2:
9.
Now we are at a place
to see that because He died for us we must die out to all that is self.
Just as Jesus died for the entire human race and only some have appropriated
His redemption, so many believers who are positionally crucified to Him
need to experience the sanctifying power of 2 Corinthians 4: 12, “So then
death is working IN us (a present reality, not believing a past fact) but
life IN you.” (Emphasis and bracketed insert mine). This kernel of apostolic
ministry finds few friends today. This word of the Cross sets us apart
for ministry. We are sent into the world the same way as Jesus Himself
(John 17: 18)… i.e. carrying a cross of deliberate self-denial. The cost
of having a glorious ministry is the daily cross. Gifts cost us nothing,
they are by grace… but a ministry with holiness of life is going to cost
us.
When we meditate on the Cross
and the glories of the divine exchange, we begin to see the bigness of
our God. It is like being the thief on the Cross who had such remarkable
spiritual illumination of who Jesus really was. He even saw the return
of our Lord and the kingdom that was to come.
“Lord Jesus show me today
where I have to say no to myself and my own plans. Thank you that my “no”
can become Your resounding “yes”. Amen.
DAY 27 “… that they
all may be one, as You Father are in Me and I in You, that they may also
be one in Us, that the world may BELIEVE that You sent Me.”
John 17: 21
The sixth desire for the
believer and the Godhead is to experience intimacy. Oneness is intimate
relationship, not merely a horizontal unity of churches. The entire prayer
of John 17 is about the Father/Son dynamic. By grace alone we enter in.
God loves the world – we are to love each other with the love we receive
from God. The acid test for the Christian is that we love our brothers
and sisters
by laying down our lives.
This Cross-centered agape love draws the world to recognize we have been
with the Master (John 13: 34, 35). This reality of fellowship love is becoming
rare in the body of Christ… but a growing yearning for closeness with our
Lord, which issues out in real identification with one another, is coming.
The books of Gene Edwards and John Eldredge point to our need for real
intimacy on our spiritual journeys through the wasteland of the world.
There is an ANOINTING coming
to strengthen the body of Christ in its hour of desperate need
A good example of this intimacy
being worked out is the mentor relationship between Paul and Timothy. Your
mentor will love you, and discipline you to a higher level of discipleship.
Check out 2 Timothy 1: 15 and 2 Timothy 2: 1.
In the first verse Paul speaks
of total rejection in Asia, including two disciples who proved to be “unreliable
streams”, to use Jeremiah’s phrase. In view of this, Timothy, the ageing
apostle writes, “… be endued with the strength of grace that has its power
in Christ Jesus”. There is an ANOINTING coming to strengthen the body of
Christ in its hour of desperate need. Timothy was undergoing an hour of
desperation: key leaders were leaving the Ephesian church because of persecution
and Timothy was feeling alone. The mentor will always strive to get you
into the ONENESS with Father and Son. Then grace can make you strong.
Then the strong can do exploits.
Then the glory will follow the obeyed word of revelation. To the Corinthian
church Paul appealed for them to have one mind and the same judgement.
It all flows from the counsel of peace between Father and Son. They enjoyed
unity in the eternal relationship where there was always complete agreement,
harmonizing the purpose of God with one another.
“Father, give me the love
and understanding with which to approach my brothers and sisters in Christ,
with an intimacy of care and with prayer. Then the world will believe and
be aware of Your glory. Amen.”
DAY 28 “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…” John 17: 23
The seventh desire of Jesus
is a greater intimacy so that the world may not only believe in the mission
of Jesus, but also know it in their hearts. They know that the SAME love
that the Father loved Jesus with is the love lavished on them.
Much has been said and experienced
of the Father’s heart of love for His children. We will continue to be
amazed at His awesome love all through the ages to come. Paul writing to
the Ephesian church, already strong in faith and love, describes the VAST
treasury of Father’s love… its very dimensions in Ephesians 3: 16 – 19.
We have to be strengthened to grasp the grace of His love.
If we draw near to God He
will draw near to us… His reckless love is SO
WIDE… we cannot
as a true child of God move outside it
LONG… it is all through
the corridors of time from Pentecost into eternity
DEEP… it is completely satisfying
despite any tragedy or tribulation
HIGH… it is experienced
as we access the heavenly places in the Spirit.
We are being made perfect in
one (i.e. oneness of intimacy). We need a big God today… and there is only
one way: that the eyes of our heart be flooded with light into the full
knowledge of Jesus. Worship Him today and ask to be ravished by the relentless
love of God. Motoring down the M5 there comes a point when you see the
Malvern Hills in the distance. They appear small… just a few bumps on the
horizon. As you approach the edge of the hills and look up they appear
much bigger. The nearer you get, the bigger they are. It’s the same with
God. As the body of Christ recaptures a bridal love for Jesus and knows
Him in the depths of our being, HE WILL BE EVERYTHING TO US, FOR US, WITH
US, AND IN US.
True God-centered evangelism
comes out of deep relationship –
the world will believe….
the world will know….
We don’t see results because
we tend to drift away in the strength of our flesh, our minds are so often
imprisoned by our opinions. May the Lord release us into His desires. The
higher we go with God the deeper must be the foundations. Just like skyscrapers.
John 17 is about going deeper
DAY 29 “Father, I
desire that they also, whom You gave Me, may be with Me where I am; that
they may behold My glory…”
John 17: 24
The final desire of this
amazing awesome chapter is a forever determination of the Son. Man must
experience glory… there is nothing
on earth or in heaven so
satisfying. The phrase “where I am” is full of wonder. In John 3: 13 (NKJV)
Jesus, the Son of Man is in two places: on earth speaking with Nicodemus
and in heaven (speaking with Father) simultaneously.The new translations
miss it badly. This secret of dependency upon Father opens up the unseen
supernatural realm to us now. Religion with its false possessive spirit
cannot go there i.e. “you will seek Me, and not find Me: and where I am,
you cannot come”, Jesus told the Pharisees in John 7: 34. “Where is He?”
was the first question of the New Testament. In His earth walk Jesus was
on earth yet vitally in heaven. After the Ascension He is in heaven, yet
through His body, the church, He is on earth. If the religious world cannot
understand or experience this, we disciples can by the Holy Spirit.
This secret of dependency
upon Father opens up the unseen supernatural realm to us now
Jesus spoke to Peter, “Where
I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward….”
John 13: 36. There is always an “afterwards” even for failing Peter… and
for us. Even John the Baptist in prison was getting serious doubts about
the mission of the Master. No Bible-study on the cure for depression was
given by the disciples. In Luke 7: 22 the answer to give him fresh hope
was in the glory, testimonies of supernatural wonder: the blind see, the
lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
the poor have the gospel preached to them.
To bring about miracles Jesus
went deep behind the scenes INTO THE GLORY where there is no death, no
sin or sickness, no curse
How? Because Jesus went deep
behind the scenes INTO THE GLORY where there is no death, no sin or sickness,
no curse. Our Lord and Saviour wants to share His glory with us so we can
minister the supernatural in His name. A real Pentecost gives us
the character to handle
His power and glory
“Father, please give me
a revelation of my position as a Son, raised up into heavenly places in
Your dear Son Jesus. Thank you that Jesus shares His glory with me, help
me to walk in the glory daily, taking up my cross in dependence upon You
dear Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen”.
DAY 30 “… that they
may behold My glory; for you have loved Me before the foundation of the
world.”
John 17: 24
Moses wanted to see His glory:
and the character of God and the name of the Lord passed before him (see
Exodus 33: 18, 19). The disciples glimpsed the glory on the mount of Transfiguration,
and swam in the glory on the day of Pentecost.Jesus prays for the church
today, “… that they may behold My glory.” The consummation of Christ and
His church will be in glory and such intimacy and
agreement is recorded in
Revelation 22: 17,
“And the Spirit
and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who
hears say “Come!” And let
him who thirsts come. And
whoever desires, let him
take the water of life freely.”
To behold the glory of God we
have to keep on drinking in the secret place of worship (see Psalm 27:
4). God is looking for friends who will lay down their lives, find the
revelation He will give, and obey it! (John 15: 13 – 15). Every believer
has the potential to be a friend, beholding His glory. Not everyone can
flow in the Ephesian 4 ministries – but we can all know heart intimacy
with Father. All creation and life across the universe is bracketed by
the glory HE knew before the foundation of the world, and the glory to
come. We are placed in the end-times as a people who love Jesus extravagantly,
and taste “… the good word of God and the powers of the age to come.” (Hebrews
6: 5). Those who behold His glory will be a kingdom of priests – priests
who minister to the Lord and worship; but also kings who know their authority
on the earth.
It’s time to call on the
Lord, and He will answer and show us mighty and inaccessible things we
do not know, says Jeremiah. Inaccessible to our natural mind maybe, but
available to those who carry the glory in their spirits. May God graciously
mature us
into His new and holy designs.
As we behold His glory we will have all we need to be the witnesses He
wants in these dangerous days. William Branham once said his greatest gift
was not healing or the word of knowledge but stepping aside and letting
God step in. Only that humility
will behold His glory.
DAY 31 “… that we
who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.”
Ephesians 1: 12
There is no higher revelation
than Ephesians.
| The width… |
(Ephesians 1: 7, 8) |
|
|
| The length… |
(Ephesians 1: 4) |
of the love and grace |
|
| The depth… |
(Ephesians 1: 10) |
of God amaze us |
|
| The height… |
(Ephesians 1: 3) |
|
|
| |
|
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|
Everyone born of the Spirit
aspires to living to “… the praise of His glory.” The map for true Christian
living is found in Ephesians, the “Everest” of all Scripture. A wonderful
key to the riches of His grace happens to be that harmless looking phrase
“according to”, the real
meaning is, “be dominated by” or “conquered by”; it occurs five times in
the first chapter. Let’s list them in terms of their object:
| C1: 5 |
“according to
the good pleasure of His will” |
SONS |
| C1: 7 |
“according to the riches
of His grace” |
REDEMPTION |
| C1: 9 |
“according to His good pleasure” |
WILL (Mystery) |
| C1: 11 |
“according to the purpose
of Him” |
WILL (Counsel) |
| C1: 19 |
“according to the working
of mighty power” |
RESURRECTION |
| |
|
|
The new creation has no fault,
is fit for purpose of making us sons. The path of grace is an entirely
different lifestyle from what we have known. To enter the will of God,
which is our inheritance that He died to give us, we continue in grace
through faith. Our lives are drawn out on a vast eternal drawing board
before time began. God establishes our life-line in eternity. He now works
all things according to His predetermined will. Our joy is to discover
this inheritance through the Holy Spirit day by day.
We live to the praise of
His glory by discovering the inheritance. Three keys are:
-
As God’s children we have already
obtained the inheritance by virtue of our redeemed position (Ephesians
1: 7, 11).
-
The Holy Spirit is the down
payment of the inheritance, but we need many, many more installments in
order to fulfill our potential in Him (Ephesians 1: 14).
-
The inheritance He has deposited
IN the saints is discovered by revelation of the Spirit of wisdom and revelation
(Ephesians 1: 17, 18).
Meditate on all these things.
Read Ephesians 1 seven times prayerfully. You will hear His voice in the
word of God, and rejoice at so great a salvation.
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