Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Tuesday, Oct. 25,

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.— Amen.

John 17 The Great High Priestly Prayer of our Lord!

John 17:6-19 Christ Prays for His Disciples

3 Main Aspects to this Prayer: 1. He prayed that they might be kept, guarded, and unified, vs. 11, 15.

3 Main Aspects to this Prayer: 2. He desired that the disciples might have His joy, vs. 13.

3 Main Aspects to this Prayer: 2. He desired that the disciples might have His joy, vs He requested their sanctification, vs. 17, 19.

The first part of this prayer, vs. 6 – 8, tells us of the fulfilment of the teaching ministry of Jesus Christ.

3 Parts to Vs 6: 1. “I have manifested Your name …..”

PHANEROO in the Aorist, Active, Indicative. “To make visible, to cause to become visible, make clear, to cause to become known.”

Jesus made known God the Father to the disciples by His words and His actions. He made known the reality of God’s nature and character.

In the illumination of God, a little of the Divine nature was known by the works of creation; a little by the Mosaic revelation: …

… but the full manifestation of God, His nature, and His attributes, came only through the revelation of Christ.

God had told Moses to reveal His name, Ex 3:13, 15; and when God revealed His own name, He revealed His character and attributes, Ex 33:19; 34:5, 14. In the future all will know Him, Isa 52:6.

Isa 52:6, “Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore in that day I am the one who is speaking, ‘Here I am’.”

Principles: 1. Jesus made the invisible visible. He revealed invisible God to the disciples.

2. He accomplished this by means of teaching through both His words and His deeds.

3. His entire life was a manifestation of God the Father. He was not only the manifestation of God but He was also the revealer of God the Father during His incarnation.

4. God the Father gave the believer to Christ in eternity past.

a. He made full provision for the eleven disciples and for all believers.

b. He had to make this provision because in the Church Age there is an intensification of the Angelic Conflict.

c. This intensification means every believer is an ambassador representing Christ on the earth; and a priest representing himself before God. Eph 6:20; 1 Peter 2:9

d. Since Christ is absent, He is no longer the target. Therefore Satan makes a target out of every believer.

e. Obviously, not every believer receives the same attention and apparently the targets are lined up this way:

1) The primary target is the believer with an ECS;

1) The primary target is the believer with an ECS; 2) The second targets are the believers who are forming an ECS;

1) The primary target is the believer with an ECS; 2) The second targets are the believers who are forming an ECS; 3) Then come the believers minus the ECS.

Yet, we are literally delivered from the KOSMOS and the deliverance is first brought to our attention by positional truth.

Every believer is in union with Christ. He is on the earth but he is out from the world, Phil 3:20.

Every believer is entered into union with Christ, and that is the break with the KOSMOS.

Positionally all believers have broken with the KOSMOS. Now experientially everything depends upon the erection of an ECS.

1 Peter 2:2, “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.”

2 Peter 3:17-18, “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

Grace Fellowship Church Tuesday, October 25, 2011 Tape # Jesus Prays for His Disciples Jesus Makes Known, the Father’s Name to Man Great High Priestly Prayer, Part 28 John 17:6; Isa 52:6; Eph 6:20; 1 Peter 2:2, 9; 2 Peter 3:17-18 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2011