Cultivating a Deeper Prayer Life - A Theology of Prayer

Study 20

Text: John 17

"I DO NOT PRAY THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE THEM OUT OF THE WORLD..." John 17:15

Have you ever prayed that God would take you out of this world, because life sometimes seems so hard? This was NOT the kind of prayer that Jesus offered on behalf of His Disciples!

He specifically stated that He was not praying that His Disciples would be taken out of the world, even though He anticipated that the world would hate them. Jesus Himself was hated by "the world." In His case, His enemies were people who had professed faith in God, but had nursed a deep hatred for Him.

He did not pray that He would be taken from the world. Neither would He pray that His Disciples would be spared from the hatred of the world!

NO ESCAPIST MENTALITY

Sometimes, Christians are blamed erroneously for being "escapists." This prayer statement of the Lord Jesus would dispel any allegation that Christianity is nothing but escapism. An escapist mentality would have chosen to pray for death as a means to flee from possible persecution!

What would be resolved or accomplished if an escapist mentality had been adopted?

It would have shown that Christ and His teachings are not strong enough to stand up against violently opposing viewpoints.
Nothing positive and good would have been accomplished if His Disciples were given the easy way out.

"BUT THAT YOU SHOULD KEEP THEM FROM THE EVIL ONE..." John 17:15

Jesus was aware that the ultimate enemy was not "flesh and blood." The ultimate enemy was "the evil one" himself. Yes, the world would hate His Disciples, but the fuel for their hatred came from none other than Satan.

How would the Disciples fare when attacked by the evil one? Jesus' answer was PRAYER! He believed that His prayer was efficacious. He believed that His Father would indeed keep His beloved Disciples from the power of the evil one.

What does it mean to be "kept from the evil one?" How wonderful it is to keep these thoughts in mind. Let us just bear in mind two thoughts!

It does not mean that we would not falter and stumble. The Disciples fled Jesus when He was captured and sentenced. They failed Him miserably. However, they all came back, except for Judas who hanged himself. The Disciples were kept by the power of God indeed. They returned to the Lord and became even stronger in their faith than ever before.
It does not mean that we would not suffer. The Book of Acts records the fact that believers went to jail and some were even martyred. However, the faith and fervour of all true believers were intact. The suffering that they had to endure made them even sturdier believers.

LET US PRAY FOR THE LORD TO KEEP US

Let us not take for granted the fact that we need the Lord's special keeping. Let us not make the mistake of relying on our own strength, or experience or wisdom. Let us be deeply challenged to humbly seek the Lord to keep us in His grace.

There are many ways in which the evil one can hurt us. He can cause people to become disheartened and discouraged in their faith and walk with God. He can cause people to doubt God when they go through tough times.

We can overcome all that the evil one may hurl at us. However, we can be strong only in so far as we keep close to the Lord, and we cry out to Him in humble prayer.

Let us be encouraged by what Peter wrote to Christians in the first century who were persecuted and scattered from their native homeland because of the hatred of the world. He wrote to remind his readers that their faith was merely being tested. They were being kept by the power of God (Cf. 1 Peter 1).

Let us also be deeply challenged to pray for believers who are undergoing great suffering in countries that are openly hostile to Christianity. May the Lord keep His children in His special care.

~ Pastor Charlie Tan ~