In The Garden


"Believers Kept"
Osella Clabaugh

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Scripture text:  "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee, Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are." St John 17:11

As parents we watch over our children.  We strive to meet their needs and to keep them safe.  Even when they get older we find that we still try to help them.  We still try to meet their needs.  We try to protect them and to keep them safe from the World.  As adults many of us watch over our parents and try to keep them safe and protect them.  We try to watch them and to make sure that all their needs are being met. 

Well my friend tucked away in the book of St John, there is a chapter that is often read and many messages have been built from it.  BUT the main purpose of this chapter (I believe) is that Jesus wants us to know that God will be watching over us and keeping us.  Verse 11 of that 17 chapter says "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee, Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou has given me, that they may be one, as we are. "  Here we find Jesus praying to the father asking him to watch over those who have come to know him and to guide and protect them.  My friend Jesus loves us and he is going to make sure that if we stay faithful that he will keep us.   This 11th verse tells us that we are kept in the Fathers name. Read that portion of Scripture, O how He loves us.  In verse 12  we read the he will keep us safe and verse 13, guess what it says He will keep us happy, full of joy. Jesus says to God "And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world , that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. In verse 15 Jesus ask God to keep us pure and in 16 to keep us separated from the world.

Then Jesus continues and ask God to Sanctify us and to keep us in active service and in perfect unity until he comes again.  Don't say he was just praying for His disciples.  Yes he was praying for his disciples but read verse 20 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word."   Oh my friend never think you have to make it on your own.  Jesus is there with you and the Father will keep you safe from the attacks of Satan.  The Father will meet your needs just trust him. You will always be loved.   Listen to these words from God's Holy Word as I share with you John 17:9-26  Jesus prayer for you.

"I pray for them:  I pray not for the world, but for them which thou has given me; for they are thine. 
And all mine are thine, and thine are mine and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee, Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. while I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me.  I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled

And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
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. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me; for thou lovedest me before the foundation of the world

O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee, but I have known thee. and these have known that thou hast sent me.  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them and I in them".

That is Jesus' Prayer for you today my friend...

Amen.