John 17:20-23

Jesus, prayer for His disciples starts in verse 6 of this chapter but I want to go to verse 20-23 today as I attempt to share what Father has placed on my heart.

John 17:20-23 (NKJV) “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 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. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 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.

John 17:20-23 (AMPC) “Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching,
21 That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me.
22 I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one:
23 I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.

There is a lot of focus today in the body of Christ on prayer. I find it interesting that we have come to the place where we believe that prayer alone will change the world and we will see a great move of God through our many words directed toward Him and His responsibility to do everything that it takes to see Him reach the world if we only pray.
2 Chronicles 7:14 is partially quoted to show us that all we need to do is pray, but that is not what is actually written.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 (AMPC) “If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”

This scripture speaks a lot more that “turn and pray”. It is a lot like John 17:20-23. Both of these scriptures are not taken in their entirety, but read the way we want them to read. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 we forget all the conditions or put those conditions on the lost instead of on ourselves. We first must “humble ourselves” (that is bring ourselves low, into subjection to) The Lord. Then we are to “pray AND seek (to search out, strive after, desire) His face. That would mean that we need to hear from Him, be in His presence, listen. After that, we are to “turn from our wicked ways” (this phrase generally means to retreat back, draw back home again, fetch home, get oneself back, recall, etc). This is an action phrase. It is like “repent” which is to change direction. (not just ask for forgiveness)! THEN HE WILL HEAR! If we do not do all of these requirements it says God will not hear us, nor will He forgive us or heal our land!

We put the conditions on the lost and spend our time praying and worshipping only, instead of realizing that God is talking to His people here! Our lives and living must change for God to take up our prayer, forgive us and heal the land.

So now let us go back to John 17:20-23.

This is Jesus prayer – for us, not just His disciples that walked with Him. He wants ALL to be “one”.

The first thing we do is to believe that “believe” is to simple assent that what is written is true. Yet, to believe, is to “trust in, cling to or adhere to and rely on. And in this case it is HIM that we are to believe in through the words of those He was walking with on the earth. This is an action phrase as is 2 Chronicles. To be “one with the Father and Jesus” takes a life lived in Him. We tend to want to pray, sit behind closed doors, and expect God to do the rest! Yet here as well as in the OT there is action required if we are to be one with HIM. Trust must be shown, clinging must be seen, and relying on has to be lived!

We all want to “be like Jesus” and do Jn. 14:12. Yet, all we think we are required to do is pray and worship! There should be no struggle, no persecution, no cost. It is to be free! (The opportunity to be like Jesus is free but to live it will cost you everything – just like its did His disciples whom He walked the earth with and who started “The Church”).

Prayer without obedience to the condition or commands of the Lord is like going to a well with a bucket that has a hole in it. You lower the bucket into the well and fill it with sweet cool water, drink some of this water yourself, and start for home to give life to others. The problem is that by the time you get home there is no water for anyone else because it leaked out before you could get there. (We have great worship and prayer meetings – that do not affect our communities or work places).
We like verse 22 as it is about carrying His Glory!

We forgot His purpose found in two sections in this passage. Both say basically the same thing, First in v.21, “That the world may BELIEVE, (trust in, cling to and rely on) the fact that You (Father) sent Me (Jesus)”. Second in v.22, “that the world would KNOW (be absolutely aware of, perceive, be resolved) that You have sent Me.”

THAT WILL TAKE OUR LIVING and DYING LIKE JESUS – for others! Living as “one with the Father” is to have His heart’s desire lived out with our every breath.

God is moving and there is a wave coming that will be so amazing. We will see more of Him that any previous generation…

IT will start with His dealing with us, so the world can see the truth. We must find the humility to repent from not being like Jesus, not just ask forgiveness for our unwillingness to carry the responsibility of being Sons and Daughters of God. We keep condemning the world for its liberal ways instead of bringing His presence and saving the lost by being ONE with Father and Jesus in their quest to save, heal, deliver – that is to LOVE the world. Jn.3:15-17.