Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

Pastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

DoxologyDoxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Amen.Amen.

John 17John 17

The Great High Priestly The Great High Priestly Prayer of our Lord!Prayer of our Lord!

John 17:6-19John 17:6-19

Christ Prays for His Christ Prays for His DisciplesDisciples..

John 17:9John 17:9

Jesus’ relationship with the Jesus’ relationship with the believer differs from that of believer differs from that of

those from the world.those from the world.

““I keep on praying I keep on praying concerning themconcerning them””

EROTAO in the Present, EROTAO in the Present, Active, Indicative Active, Indicative

It is more conversational in It is more conversational in form and can express a more form and can express a more intimate relation between the intimate relation between the

parties than its counterpart parties than its counterpart AITEO. AITEO.

Jesus always used EROTAO Jesus always used EROTAO in His prayers to the Father, in His prayers to the Father,

John 14:16, whereas the John 14:16, whereas the disciples used AITEO in their disciples used AITEO in their

prayers to God. prayers to God. Mat 6:8; John 14:13-14; 15:7, Mat 6:8; John 14:13-14; 15:7,

16; 16:23-24, 26 16; 16:23-24, 26

This This anticipates the failure of anticipates the failure of the disciples, and fervent the disciples, and fervent prayer is necessary in this prayer is necessary in this

case, and that fervent prayer case, and that fervent prayer comes from the Lord.comes from the Lord.

““I do not pray concerning I do not pray concerning the worldthe world””PrinciplesPrinciples::

1. In John 17:19, Jesus does 1. In John 17:19, Jesus does pray for the world. For future pray for the world. For future believers, that it may believe, believers, that it may believe,

John 17:21. John 17:21.

2. This does not mean He 2. This does not mean He does not care about the does not care about the

unbeliever, God loves the unbeliever, God loves the whole world, John 3:16, whole world, John 3:16,

Christ died for sinners, Rom Christ died for sinners, Rom 5:8, and He prayed for 5:8, and He prayed for sinners, Luke 23:34.sinners, Luke 23:34.

““But concerning those whom But concerning those whom You (You (God the FatherGod the Father) have ) have given to Me (given to Me (Jesus ChristJesus Christ))””

PrinciplesPrinciples::1. Jesus prays for believers 1. Jesus prays for believers only here, who within 24 only here, who within 24

hours will be colossal failures. hours will be colossal failures.

2. You can not give what does 2. You can not give what does not belong to you. not belong to you.

3. When you give, it is always 3. When you give, it is always a manifestation of your a manifestation of your

character. character.

This reflects the high This reflects the high character of God the Father character of God the Father by giving His most valued by giving His most valued

possession (the believer, Eph possession (the believer, Eph 1:14; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9), 1:14; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9),

to His Son.to His Son.

““Because they Because they keep onkeep on being being YoursYours.”.”

PrinciplesPrinciples::1. God’s character and honor 1. God’s character and honor are involved. His honor will are involved. His honor will be advanced by keeping us be advanced by keeping us from the evil one (Satan) vs from the evil one (Satan) vs 15, and by granting us all 15, and by granting us all needful grace, Heb 4:16.needful grace, Heb 4:16.

Heb 4:16, Heb 4:16, “Therefore let us draw near “Therefore let us draw near

with confidence to the throne with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may of grace, so that we may

receive mercy and find grace receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”to help in time of need.”

2. God’s ownership is by both 2. God’s ownership is by both creation and election.creation and election.

Eph 2:10; Col 1:16; Rev 4:11 Eph 2:10; Col 1:16; Rev 4:11 with Mark 13:27; Rom 8:33; with Mark 13:27; Rom 8:33;

Col 3:12; 2 Thes 2:13.Col 3:12; 2 Thes 2:13.

John 17:9, “I keep on John 17:9, “I keep on praying concerning them, I praying concerning them, I do not pray concerning the do not pray concerning the world, but concerning those world, but concerning those whom You (whom You (God the FatherGod the Father) ) have given to Me, because have given to Me, because they they keep onkeep on being Yours.” being Yours.”

PrinciplesPrinciples::1. This prayer is for two things: 1. This prayer is for two things:

a. The disciples’ preservation, a. The disciples’ preservation, “protect them” vs. 11.“protect them” vs. 11.b. Their sanctification, b. Their sanctification, “sanctify them” vs. 17.“sanctify them” vs. 17.

2. In view of their dangers 2. In view of their dangers and trials, Jesus sought the and trials, Jesus sought the protection and blessing of protection and blessing of God for those who would God for those who would begin to build the church.begin to build the church.

3. Jesus, imitates the high 3. Jesus, imitates the high priest on the great Day of priest on the great Day of

Expiation, who, in order to Expiation, who, in order to offer up the grand atonement offer up the grand atonement

for the sins of the people:for the sins of the people:

a. Washed himself and put on a. Washed himself and put on clean linen garments, clean linen garments,

Lev 16:4. Lev 16:4.

Christ imitated this in Christ imitated this in John 13:4. John 13:4.

b. The high priest addressed a b. The high priest addressed a solemn prayer to God:solemn prayer to God:1) For himself, this Christ 1) For himself, this Christ imitates in John 17:1-5.imitates in John 17:1-5.

2) For the sons of Aaron: 2) For the sons of Aaron: our Lord imitates this in our Lord imitates this in praying for His disciples, praying for His disciples,

John 17:9-19. John 17:9-19.

4. Jesus imitates the high 4. Jesus imitates the high priest’s prayer as the True priest’s prayer as the True High Priest so that they be High Priest so that they be

worthy to serve and protected worthy to serve and protected in that service (sanctification in that service (sanctification

and preservation). and preservation).

5. He also prays this prayer, 5. He also prays this prayer, “for the church” John 17:20-“for the church” John 17:20-

24, and after which He returns 24, and after which He returns again to pray for His disciples again to pray for His disciples

in John 17:25-26.in John 17:25-26.

6. Why should God bless 6. Why should God bless them? They were not of the them? They were not of the unbelieving and antagonistic unbelieving and antagonistic world, they have been taken world, they have been taken out of the world, and they out of the world, and they

belonged to God.belonged to God.

7. The petition was not 7. The petition was not offered for men of Satan’s offered for men of Satan’s

Cosmic System, but for those Cosmic System, but for those who were the friends of God, who were the friends of God,

disposed to receive His disposed to receive His blessings.blessings.

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchThursday, November 10, 2011Thursday, November 10, 2011

Tape # 11-126Tape # 11-126

Jesus Prays for His DisciplesJesus Prays for His DisciplesJesus has a Different Relationship with HisJesus has a Different Relationship with His

Disciples than with the World Disciples than with the World Great High Priestly Prayer, Part 34Great High Priestly Prayer, Part 34

John 17:9; Luke 23:34; Heb 4:16John 17:9; Luke 23:34; Heb 4:16

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2011James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2011