Cultivating a Deeper Prayer Life - A Theology of Prayer

Study 23

Text: John 17

"AS YOU SENT ME INTO THE WORLD…" John 17:18

The Lord Jesus was ever conscious of His Mission in life. This sense of consciousness was so real that it affected every aspect of His life.

He was conscious of the fact that the Father had sent Him into the world. This consciousness was very well reflected in the Gospel of John. Let us take time to appreciate this wonderful sense of consciousness that Jesus had throughout His life. We would do well to develop a deep sense of consciousness of our Mission on earth.

Jesus' consciousness of His Mission on earth involved a deep understanding that He came to die as the Lamb of God. That consciousness of His hour of death was oft repeated, though the language He employed must have been vague to the uninitiated.

1. Right from the very beginning of His ministry, when Jesus cleansed the Temple at Jerusalem, He expressed awareness of His Mission, and His death.

"Destroy this Temple (reference to His body),
and in three days I will raise it up( reference to His resurrection)"
John 2:19

2. Jesus spoke of being "SENT" by His Father on numerous occasions. Being "sent" is another way of expressing consciousness of His Mission on earth.

"For God did not send His Son into then world
to condemn the world, but that the world
might be saved through Him"
John 3:17

3. The sense of Mission sustained Jesus marvelously. When His Disciples urged Him to take a break for a meal, He said,

"My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me,
and to finish His work"
John 4:34

4. This sense of being sent on a Mission continued to be felt throughout His ministry. On another occasion, while in ministry, He said,

"I must work the works of Him who sent Me
while it is day; the night comes when no one
can work."
John 9:4

Jesus' sense of Mission entered into His prayer life. What a sense of Mission He had! What a prayer He must have made in that consciousness of being sent by His Father! How our prayer life would improve when we have developed a similar sense of Mission in our life!

"I ALSO HAVE SENT THEM INTO THE WORLD…" John 17:18
Jesus had His Disciples in mind as He breathed this prayer to His Father! He who had been so conscious of being sent, had also taught His Disciples that they too were being sent into the world.
Jesus taught His Disciples that they too were being sent in the following ways:-

1. A Call to Follow Jesus
He had called them to first "Follow Him" John 1:43

2. A Challenge to Truly Believe in Him

The Disciples had to learn how to truly believe in Him John 2:11
"And His Disciples believed in Him"

3. Growing a Deep Trust in the Scriptures and in His Word

They had to grow a deep faith in the Word that Jesus taught.
"His Disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed in the Scriptures and the Word that Jesus had said" John 2:22

4. Jesus taught His Disciples through His life's Example
"Then He appointed Twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach…" Mark 3:14

CULTIVATING A DEEPER PRAYER LIFE THROUGH UNDERSTANDING GOD'S MISSION FOR US
A deeper prayer life can be cultivated. When we begin to understand and appreciate that the Lord has given us a work to do for Him, we will be able to begin to cultivate a deeper prayer life!
Let us take time to ponder over what the Lord has called us to do for Him.

1. We are still challenged to be conscious that we are called to live as His Disciples

2. We are to develop consciousness that we are to be His witnesses

3. We are to develop a consciousness of the fact that we are called to serve Him

May our consciousness of being sent by God drive us to seek Him in a deeper prayer life!
It is a sad fact that many have not been able to develop a deeper prayer life because they are just not conscious of their being SENT by God into the world as His servants!

~ Pastor Charlie Tan ~