This week we look at Christ’s High Priestly Prayer. It’s the longest example in Scripture of Christ’s actual words while praying. In it, we’ll see Him pray for Himself, and then intercede for His disciples and all believers throughout the church age.
Here are the notes and audio files:
Audio: John17.mp3
Notes: John17.pdf
In John 16 Jesus reinforces some things He’s touched on before with His disciples, highlighting just how important these topics will be for all of His followers. Some points He will emphasize will be: the persecution of believers, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the fact that He is departing to go to His Father and the concept of our praying to the Father in Jesus’ name.
Audio: John16.mp3
Notes: John16.pdf
The next little statement conveying a big truth is this one:
“This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop [literally, “overseer”], he desires a good work.” – 1 Timothy 3:1 (NKJV)
A man can desire to go into ministry for either right or wrong reasons. The man who desires the position of leadership within the body of Christ should desire the position because he desires the work. The work is good.
Notice that the “position” is not the thing that’s good, but the “work”. The overseer may dislike the position at times, but he needs to stay committed to the work. He may not get the results he hoped for, but he needs to do the work. He will certainly fall short of the standards some people set for him, but the work remains good so he needs to do it. He may personally fall far short of the standards he sets for himself, but he still needs to devote himself to the work – because it is good.
Preaching, teaching, counseling, comforting, correcting, directing and protecting God’s people – all these things come under the work of the overseer and much, much more besides. And he’ll need to be a man of prayer and a student of the Scriptures before all of that. The man who becomes an overseer will never be bored again.
In this week’s chapter Jesus uses the illustration of the vine and the branches, which explains our complete dependence upon Him and our need to abide in Him. He’ll also tell us more about His love and our need to love one another. This is in contrast to the hatred of the world, which we will experience just as He did. Finally Christ will remind us of the coming of the Holy Spirit, our much needed Helper as we eagerly wait for Him.
Audio: John15.mp3
Notes: John15.pdf
Central Reflections 