Prayer Meeting Notes 2000
A STUDY OF JOHN 17 17 January 2000
“CULTIVATING A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH
GOD”
"Father, the hour has come..." John 17:1
"And now, O Father, glorify Me together with yourself..." John 17:5
"I come to you, Holy Father..." John 17:11
"That they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me..." John 17:21
"Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am..." John 17:24
"O righteous Father..." John 17:25
SIX TIMES... THE LORD JESUS ADDRESSES GOD AS HIS "FATHER"
1 There is an obvious closeness of the Father-Son Relationship in John 17
2. There has been careful cultivation of this Father-Son Relationship
3. Areas in which this closeness of the Father-Son Relation were cultivated:-
(6 natural divisions of this High Priestly Prayer - John 17)
Each portion begins with a reference to the Father
John 17:1-4 Conscious reflection/review of the work that the Father had assigned Him
John 17:5-10 Consciousness of glorifying of the Lord's Name
John 17:11-20 Reflective consciousness of the place of God's Word in ministry
John 17:21-23 Prayer for Oneness
John 17:24 Special Prayer for the Disciples
John 17:25-26 Consciousness of the Love of God
A VITAL CHALLENGE FOR US TODAY - TO CULTIVATE THIS CLOSENESS WITH GOD IN AND THROUGH PRAYER
1. To begin with God as our Father in Heaven - an important starting point not to be taken for granted
2. To commune with God in prayer so often, that "Father" comes forth from our lips naturally and easily (as was the case in the relationship of the Lord Jesus)
3. To be conscious of God - especially of His mission/work for us
4. To spend much time in reflection and review in prayer
CLOSENESS WITH GOD AS FATHER CAN BE LOST FAR MORE EASILY THAN WE CARE TO ADMIT