THE LORD'S HEARTFELT PRAYER - PART 4

TUESDAY 04 JULY 2023

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. This is Jesus praying a heartfelt prayer to God. The design of this prayer directs God's full attention to His people, and its a prayer deeply felt in His heart, with a conviction of the certainty that the disciples and all born again Christians truly belong to God and Christ Jesus.

Reference: John 17:14-15 New International Version(NIV) 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. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world (which denotes occupying the earth, with an unimaginable access to long life), but that you protect them from the evil one (which denotes divine protection). Jesus prayed the will of God for them. What is the will of God He prayed for us? Psalm 91:16 which reads, "With long life I will satisfy Him and show Him my salvation" (NIV).

You can see that you have access to long life, with a guaranteed protection. God made it so for those who fear Him, and so, Jesus prayed for us accordingly, but here is the problem: Many born again Christians don't even believe it in their personal walk with God, let alone cultivating its consciousness, yet the Bible is replete with such promises from God. They believe that it's in God's hand to decide, which is equally true for them (Romans 14:8 NLT). As a result, they don't consider the solidified efficacy of this very promise - by taking God at His Word, to the point of engaging with it, just like they do with other promises.

Psalm 82:6 reads, "I said, 'You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes'" (NIV). Why so? It is because we don't even believe that we are gods, let alone accepting the promise of long life. Most Christians think like ordinary men, and for that reason, they have no confidence in the promise of long life. Beloved, let me help you to drive this truth home in a proper manner: If you are in Christ Jesus, you have a delightful and god-like existence on earth, meaning that you have been positioned to enjoy graceful length of life on earth because God said so!

I know that someone is saying in their heart, "What about those good and perfect Christians who experienced premature death?" Well, if they are the only saints that inspire your existence in Christ, then, not even God can convince you of His promise of long life on earth. What about this question: Did you know what they believed, proclaimed and acted upon? For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7 NIV). Why not think about the Christians who believed God for long life and also experienced a full life span on earth?

What about many others believing and experiencing it right now because they are quite conscious of it, thereby living for God and applying the principle heartily? Job 5:26 (NIV) reads, "You will come to the grave in full vigor, like sheaves gathered in season." In other words, you will experience old age and then travel to your grave in full vigor after enjoying long life on earth. This is God's Word not mine; unfortunately, it is more of a personal revelation than of collective understanding, and any born again Christian can walk with God in that direction - with full assurance.

Beloved, the Most high God Himself, whose words and power, no enemy can withstand, said to the righteous that dwells in His shelter or secret place, "With long life I will satisfy him and SHOW him my salvation." The expression, "SHOW him my salvation" is quite significant, meaning that they will not only remain secure in Christ or rest in the shadow of the Almighty, but also, they see the salvation of the Lord. In another way, most times, God will show them how He saves, protects and delivers them from all manner of evil. And He shows them that in various ways because they are mindful partakers of the grace of this promise and are living in harmony with the guidance of the Spirit.

Many a time, He does that through personal revelation, preparing them ahead of time to handle and abort whatever the enemy has planned against them, by His enabling grace. Stay tuned for part 5. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Deuteronomy 5:33; 1 King 3:14; Proverbs 10:27; Isaiah 46:4.

Guided Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have given your Word to those you have chosen in Christ, to succeed in this life by your special grace and Spirit. Thank you for empowering me by your Spirit, to believe and uphold the great and rewarding truth, such as long life and divine protection - a plain promise that positions your people for the continuance and propagation of the gospel till the end of age. As a steady and firm believer, you satisfy me with long life and always show me your salvation, and for this reason, I'm forever grateful, in Jesus' Name, Amen.