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Today is Sunday November 07, 2010 and we are continuing our reading through the Bible. Today's message comes from the Book of John, chapters 17-18. In these chapters we will read about, Jesus praying for His people, Jesus being captured, Peter's denial of knowing Jesus, Jesus standing before the chief priest, and Pilate, all Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-7

Today's Message: Not of This World
Prayer is asking God for the things that we are in need of and even the things we desire. Prayer is our only communication with God, while God sees and hears everything that we do and will answer us in many forms, the only way we can communicate with Him is through prayer. “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” - I Timothy 6:17-19.

Our works do not get us saved, but it is what we do after we get saved that God blesses us. Just before Jesus was captured He said a prayer, “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” - John 17:1-5.

Jesus knew the time had come, it was time to finish the mission that God sent Him to earth for, to give eternal life to all who believe in Him. All of God's people are on a mission, we just have to learn what that is and how we are to accomplish it. “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.” - Romans 9:17. Amazingly enough, God uses us to show those who are in the world just how powerful He is. Why? To give Him the glory. Jesus gave Him the glory, we too are to give Him the glory to finish the work He gave us to do. .

Jesus continues His prayer, “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them....I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” - John 17:8-10,14-18.

Now, Jesus is praying for His believers, while He wants everyone to be saved, He is not concerned about those who do not believe in Him, but those who do. He knows that they are going to face the same persecution that He faced and wants God to assure them that He is theirs. We are not of this world, we are of God's world. Praise God! And Jesus prays for us, when we feel all alone and think that no one is there for us, Jesus is there, He is our comfort and never leaves us. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” - II Corinthians 1:3,4.

After Jesus prayed He went to a garden and was captured, “The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said....Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.” - John 18:19-21,28.

Caiaphas is asking Jesus what He and His disciples had been teaching, and just what they stood for. Jesus replies and says, there is nothing secret about what I have done, I declared what I did to the world, and even in the synagogue and temple.” Caiaphas was treating Jesus as if He was ahead of some secret movement, yet Jesus told him outright that He had done nothing in secret. Everything that He declared, He declared it before the world and them. And if they want to know what He taught, go out to the street and ask those that heard Me, they know what I have done for them and they will tell you. It is important as Christians to not be afraid to show that they are Christians. True Christianity is not about the limelight, it's about living life for God and showing it naturally. True Christians are not ashamed to say they believe in and follow Christ. Of course, we all get scared and omit it at times, but God knows our hearts and He is going to take care of us. Remember, we are not of this world, but of God's. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.” - I John 5:4-6. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have a blessed week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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