BE ALL YOU CAN BE

BE ALL YOU CAN BE

Overview of John Chapter 17, The Lord’s Prayer

In Christ’s prayer, we’re given a glimpse into His concerns for the church.

When someone says that they’re praying for you, doesn’t it make you feel good? It’s nice to know that someone cares enough about your needs to lift them up to the throne of God

1. Jesus prays for Himself, vv. 1-5

2. Jesus prays for disciples, vv. 6-19

3. Jesus prays for His church, vv. 20-26

7 Lessons from Christ’s Prayer

1. Jesus Prayed That We Would Have Eternal Life / John 17:1–3 

2. Jesus Prayed for the Disciples’ Unity / John 17:10–11 

3. Jesus Prayed For Our Safety from the Evil One / John 17:14–15 

4. Jesus Prayed That We Would Be Sanctified in the Truth / John 17:16–19 

5. Jesus Prayed That All Christians Would Be Unified / John 17:20–23 

6. Jesus Prayed That the Church Would See His Glory / John 17:24 

7. Jesus Will Continue to Make God’s Name Known / John 17:26

 John 17:17: Sanctify them through thy truth, through thy word, for thy word is truth; it is true - it is truth itself.

                   I.      Is sanctification a matter of interest to us?

 A.   Moral transformation

 Sanctification in its simplest meaning is the setting apart of a person or a thing from a common to a holy use.

The Bible describes sanctification in terms of godliness, holiness, and righteousness - not primarily victorious living. Sanctification means God-likeness.

Jesus prayed for them was that they might be sanctified; not only kept from evil, but MADE GOOD.

 1 Thess 5:23 NIV

 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 1)      “Confirm the work of sanctification in them, strengthen their faith, purify their desires, empower their devotions.”

 2)      “Carry on that good work in them, and continue it; let the light shine more and more.”

 3)      “Complete it, crown it with the perfection of holiness; sanctify them throughout and to the end.”

 Not to go forward is to go backward; he that is holy must be holy still, more holy still, pressing forward, soaring upward, as those that have not attained.

 The mission they had from him to preach the same doctrine that he preached.

                II.      Are we asking God to begin, carry on, and complete it?

The Bible starts with God in every respect. The Bible is primarily a revelation of God, designed to bring us to a knowledge of God.

The truth that sanctifies is the truth about God himself. There is a tendency to take God for granted and forget about God.

The essence of sin is to forget God. The essence of sanctification is to live consciously under, for, and to the glory of God.

            III.      Are we bringing our souls into close and frequent contact with the truth?

 We tend to start with ourselves and our problems, rather than starting with God. We must start with God, not ourselves.

The condition of sanctification is the opposite of the condition of sin. Sin is self-centeredness, sanctification is God-centeredness.

We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling, meaning reverence and godly fear, not craven fear. Fear of wounding God's holiness, love, purpose, and work in us.

            IV.      Are we remembering the mission for which we are sanctified?

We must see ourselves in God's plan, not start with ourselves. Our greatest need is humility.

Salvation is God's plan, not man's. It originates with God, not us. God's purpose is to separate a people unto himself, zealous for good works.

The truth about God's holiness, justice, righteousness, and judgment must be preached, not just for evangelism but for sanctification.

  CONCLUSION

Sanctification is brought about in the life of the believer by his separating himself deliberately from all that is unclean and unholy, and by presenting, continually and constantly, the members of his body as holy instruments unto God for the accomplishment of His holy purposes.

  The experience of sanctification is not attained through mystical feats, nor through strict legalism, nor mental acumen.

  It matters little whether or not Christianity makes men rich; but it does matter that it make them truer, purer, and more noble.