Divine Protection
Words are important – it is the primary way we understand one another and relate. We discover what each other wants by our words. Words have power. They can draw us together or separate us.
14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world
What is he talking about?
At the beginning of our study of this amazing prayer, we said there were two guidelines that were going to help us understand it. One was we would take communion each week to remind us this was a very signinficant prayer that we could take personally
The second guideline was to understand Jesus prayer in the context of everything else he has said in the book of John – and so we have been reading through John through the week – I hope you have been participating in those readings.
In the sense of what Jesus is saying here, lets look at some other passages in the book of John regarding this ‘word’ that Jesus has given his followers….
Jesus’ Presence with us. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is trustworthy John 4:50-52 Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.
Jesus has the way of life John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned;
John 5:37-38
And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.
Jesus’ word requires we be willing to live under His authority
John 8:36-37 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word.
Jesus word provides security John 8:51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
John 8:55-56 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.
We are held accountable to Jesus word
John 12:48-49 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.
We are made righteous by his word
John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
To Jesus, His word has power to heal and save from death – his word restores life, not like some incantation, but he knows it is the message of the way of living that restores and brings life, life that is found only in God the Father, and that rejecting his word is going to be disasterous for us. When we live according to his word we find life.
It is like we are on a fast crash course leading to our death and his word redirects our desperate course and leads us to life. and He himself is that word – believing and trusting in Him and doing what he says will lead us to life and restore our joy.
Now Jesus is leaving this world, but his word will remain, He is going to return to the Father, but his message will continue on…
Jesus is praying that the Father will sustain and strengthen his disciples now that he is leaving them to return to God in heaven.
Jesus knows that what he is leaving his disciples to do is going to be dangerous
Jesus disciples are counter-cultural to the world – Christ-likeness is Counter-cultural
His disciples will be Rejected, hated, despised,
As Brown says “The disciples are sent by Jesus into the world, is is for the same purpose for which Jesus was sent into the world – not to change the world but to challenge the world”
Jesus intends his disciples to remain in the world – and remain distinct –
“in the world but not of it”
We are not to run and hide, create our own spiritual bubbles, but engage into culture and be ready to be rejected. Not by all, but many.
So, Jesus prays for his disciples to be protected by the Father – 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one
It is part of the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray…
Matt 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
We need Divine protection – Jesus’ disciples are unable to protect themselves in the ways He knows we need protecting.
God is not Primarily interested in protecting our health, finances, physical well-being – but our souls need his protection From Satan (v14)
- God protects our souls so we can experience joy and peace, love and patience in the midst of great hardships.
- God protective hand allows kindness for our enemies to grow when our enemies are acting like our enemies.
- God protects our goodness and righteousness when the enemy wants to discredit us
- Godly gentleness and humility can be demonstrated in our lives because God himself is protecting these character qualities in us in the midst of insult, when the rest of the world would lash out
God is protecting the qualities of himself – his nature that by His grace He places within us – the fruits of his spirit that he wants to bring out to the world through the lives of His children. We become representatives of what it looks like to be kingdom citizens, and he protects us.
Representing God in this world is an invitation to battle – it sets us up to act like carnal Christians, but that is not what he wants for our lives… we must continually give ourselves to living trusting in his grace.
God’s name will be a refuge – John 17:11 Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name —
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
He keeps us safe because we are of great value to Jesus & Father (worth protecting)
John 10:27-30
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."
He also gives us The Spirit will reveal and remind us of his word & keep secure
John 14:26
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. NIV
When the Father sees His word alive in us, he hangs on to us and he will not let us go. No one can remove us from his protecting grip on our lives. It is not so much your hand he hangs on to but your soul that he never lets go of.
In Matthew 18:12 Jesus tells the story of the shepherd who would leave 99 sheep to go look for
We experience God’s protection when we live in his word and let his word live in us, is found in obedience to the Word - food for our souls / direction for life
Jesus gave them the word – v14
Living the divine revelation to become the essential equipment for their divine protection
We experience His protection when we stay behind his shield of faith – outside of that we are a target to be hit.
Eph 6:16-17
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
We experience God’s protection by living the grace of Christ’s salvation and life
http://bearingfruitthatlasts.blogspot.com/2007/05/spiritual-weapons-for-spiritual-battles.html