WILL THE PRAYER OF JESUS BE ANSWERED?
John 17.

INTRO:

1. The prayer of Jesus found in John 17 is divided into three parts.

A. Jesus' own relationship with the Father.

B. On behalf of His disciples.

C. On behalf of all believers.

1) This is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus.

2. In John 13, Jesus taught the disciples a lesson on humility by washing their feet.

3. In chapter 14, He tells them that His is the way, the truth, and the life.

A. He also tells them that He is going to prepare a place for them and would return and receive them unto Himself. 14:1-3,6.

4. In chapter 15, He talks about Him being the true vine and they being the branches. 15:1-8.

5. In chapter 16, He speaks of going away and sending the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. 16:7-15.

6. Then, beginning in chapter 17, we find Him praying to the Father and saying that "the hour is come." vs. 1.

7. Jesus was at that time expecting the return of Judas and the band that he was leading, to take Him away to be delivered up to the chief priests and scribes.

8. So, with this background in mind, we find Jesus lifting up His voice to His Father in prayer.

A. Take time, just here, to read John 17.

9. But our question in this lesson is, "Will the prayer of Jesus be answered?"

10. The basic portion of the prayer that we are concerned with in this study is found in vss. 11,20,21.

11. In these verses, He prays for unity among those who believe on Him.

A. All departures from unity, have first been departures from the Word of God.

12. So, the question is, "will this portion of His prayer be answered if it is left up to us?"

I. IT WILL BE ANSWERED WHERE MEN RESPECT THE WISHES OF GOD AND HIS SON. Psa. 133:1-3.

A. Where they truly endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Eph. 4:3.

II. IT WILL BE WHERE MEN ARE FOUND TO BE HONEST WHEN HEARING THE GOSPEL. Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3.

A. In the people on Pentecost, and the Eunuch, we find those that heard only ONE gospel sermon preached before obeying. Acts 2 and 8. They were honest.

III. IT WILL BE IF MEN WILL ACCEPT ONLY THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. 2 Jno. 9-11; Matt. 15:8,9; Mk. 7:1-13.

IV. IT WILL BE IF MEN ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP THE IDEA THAT THEY CAN DIRECT THEIR OWN RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS AND THEREBY GUIDE THEMSELVES TO HEAVEN. Jer. 10:23; Isa. 55:8,9; Jno. 8:12-15; 14:6.

V. IT WILL BE IF MEN WILL BE WILLING TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE NO RACIAL OR COLOR BARRIERS, AT LEAST WITH GOD.

A. Take the case of Cornelius, a Gentile among Jews. Acts 10 and 11. Gal. 3:26- 28; Rom. 2:11.

VI. IT WILL BE IF MEN ARE WILLING TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES AS LITTLE CHILDREN BEFORE GOD. Matt. 18:1-4; Mic. 6:8; 1 Pet. 5:6,7.

VII. IT WILL BE IF MEN WILL RECOGNIZE THAT CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN RAISED UP TOGETHER TO SIT TOGETHER IN HEAVENLY PLACES, THE CHURCH. Eph. 2:6; Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:1-4; 1 Cor. 1:10.

VIII. IT WILL IF MEN WILL TRULY BELIEVE IN AND OBEY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Jno. 8:24; 20:30,31; Acts 16:30,31; 5:28,29; Heb. 5:8,9; 1 Sam. 15: 22.

IX. IT WILL IF MEN WILL TRULY SET THEIR HOPE ON HEAVEN WHEN THIS LIFE IS OVER. Titus 1:2; 2 Cor. 5:1; Jno. 14:1-3; 1 Pet. 1:3,4.

CONCLUSION:

1. Yes, the prayer of Jesus will be answered if we desire it to be.

2. No, it will not be answered if we desire to please ourselves and to fulfill our own wishes.

3. Are you willing to help answer the prayer of Jesus in an affirmative way?

By Jim Sasser

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