Prayer Meeting                                     Notes 2000

“That He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him..."

1. Actual conversations with people concerning Eternal Life

a) Nicodemus John 3

b) The Samaritan Woman John 4

2. Special Sign-Miracles (the sign-miracles reflect the glory of the Lord John 2:11)

a) Healing (Man with a 38 year infirmity problem - John 5)

b) Feeding of the 5000 (John 6)

1. It centres in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself John 3:15-18, 36

2. It involves "believing" in the Lord Jesus Christ John 3:15, 16

3. The consequences of "not believing" in Christ is "condemnation" John 3:17-18

1. Eternal Life is compared to life-giving water John 4:14

2. It will gush from the life of the individual who receives this gift of eternal life John 4:14

3. This eternal life is like a fountain of eternal life water John 4:14

1. The hearing and believing of the Word of the Gospel Jesus proclaims brings eternal life John 5:24

2. This eternal life that comes from faith in the Word of the Lord Jesus enables one to stand secure in the Day of Judgment John 5:24

1. The Lord Jesus is the Living Bread from Heaven John 6:35

2. Those who come to the Lord Jesus will not be cast out John 6:37

3. Those who believe in the Lord, will be raised from the dead one day, to enjoy the fullness of eternal life John 6:40

4. The challenge is to feed on the Lord Jesus Christ and LIVE John 6:57-58

5. The words of the Lord Jesus are Spirit and Life John 6:63

John 7

1. Believing in Christ leads to the filling of the Holy Spirit John 7:38

2. The new, eternal life that Jesus gives will be especially empowered by the Spirit of God John 7:39

THE CHALLENGE OF PREACHING / TEACHING ETERNAL LIFE TODAY

1. The shifting of emphasis today from "eternal matters" to the life "here and now"

a) A balance must of course be struck between the "hereafter" and the "here and now"

b) There appears to be more concern about life in the present than eternity

2. Misunderstanding as to the concept of "eternal life"

a) Often associated with life AFTER death

b) The teaching of the Lord Jesus emphasises "eternal life" as something that involves the here and now

3. A deep and prayerful concern about the teaching / preaching of the doctrine of "eternal life"

a) There must be a greater sense of focus on eternal matters

b) There must be a greater emphasis on the following matters associated with the "hereafter"

i) That there will come a day of judgment John 5

ii) That there could be condemnation (note phrase, "resurrection of condemnation" John 5:29)

4. This was the "life's work" of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 4:34; 9:4)

a) There were many other doctrines taught

b) There were many special miracles performed

c) But none could be compared with the "life's work" of pointing people to eternal life