Jesus Prays for Himself

John 17:1-5, "After Jesus spoke, He looked toward heaven and prayed, 'Father, the time has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. For You granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those You have given Him. Now this is eternal life:  that they may know You, the only true GOD, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent. I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your Presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.' "

"The world is a tremendous battleground where the forces of Satan's power and those under GOD's authority are at war. Satan and his forces are motivated by bitter hatred for Christ and His forces. Jesus prayed for His disciples, including those of us who follow Him today. He prayed that GOD would keep His chosen believers safe from Satan's power, setting His followers apart and making them pure and holy, uniting them through His truth. How do we get eternal life? Jesus tells us clearly; by knowing the Father Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. Eternal life requires entering into a personal relationship with GOD in Jesus Christ. When we admit our sins and turn away from it, Christ's Love lives in us by the Holy Spirit.  Before Jesus came to earth, He was One with GOD. Now at this point in His mission on earth was almost finished, Jesus was asking His Father to restore Him to His original place of honor and authority. Jesus' resurrection and ascension (and Stephen's dying exclamation in Acts 7:56, attest that Jesus did return to His exalted position at the right hand of GOD (where He makes intercession for the saints Romans 8:34)" Bible Commentary explanation.

Do you know Almighty GOD? You can! Romans 3:23, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD" and it continues to say in verse 24-25, "(We) are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ. GOD presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in His blood (shed for the sins of mankind.) But you must accept Him by asking for forgiveness of your sins. With a truthful heart in doing so His Holy Spirit will confirm with you your salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:5, "It is GOD Who...has given us His Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (eternal life with Him.)" Repent of your sin and He will guide your path.   

Jesus Continues Teaching

John 16:29-33, "Then Jesus' disciples said, 'Now we can see that You know all things and that You do not even need to have anyone ask You questions. This makes us believe that You came from GOD.' Jesus answered, 'You believe at last! But a time is coming and has come when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave Me all alone. Yet, I Am not alone, for My Father is with Me. I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. IN THIS WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLES. But, take heart! I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.' "

"In spite of inevitable struggles (we will) not be alone. Jesus does not abandon us to our struggles. If we remember that the ultimate victory has already been won, we can claim the peace of Christ (that passes all understanding of lost mankind) in the most troublesome times." One Day, there will be no more troubles, trials, heartaches, or pain. Our Awesome, Almighty, Creator, Savior, Holy Father GOD has promised to us in Revelation 21:4, "He (GOD) will wipe away every tear from (our) eyes. There will be no more death or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away."

As we venture in this fallen world, hold on to the Truth and righteousness in Christ Jesus. For one Day all these former things will pass away and behold the New Heavens, New Earth, and New Jerusalem will be our Eternal Home with our Awesome, Almighty, Creator, Savior, Holy Father GOD forevermore! Hallelujah!

Jesus Teaches About Using His Name in Prayer

John 16:17-28, "Some of His disciples said to one another, 'What does He mean by saying; in a little while you will see me no more and after a little while you will see me?' Jesus saw that they wanted to ask Him about this, so He said, 'I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. Childbirth is painful to a women, but once the baby is born, she forgets the anguish because of the joy for her child. Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice and NO ONE WILL TAKE AWAY YOUR JOY. You will no longer ask Me anything. I tell you the truth, My Father will give you whatever you ASK IN MY NAME. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete...the Father Himself Loves you because you have loved Me and have believed I came from GOD. I Am leaving the world and going back to the Father.'"

Jesus had to leave for His Holy Spirit to come upon all believers at Pentecost. Through His Holy Spirit we may ask in His Name. His promise is, "Whatsoever you ask in My Name believing, you shall receive." (John 14:14) Now that doesn't mean greedy requests of the flesh! "When Jesus says we can ask for anything, we must remember that our asking must be in His Name; that is, according to GOD's character and will. GOD will not grant requests contrary to His nature or His will. We cannot use His Name as a 'magic formula' to fulfill our selfish desires. If we are sincerely following GOD and seeking to do His will, then our requests will be in line with what He wants and He will grant them." (Commentary on John 14:14)  Be in the will of Almighty GOD and He promises to meet all your needs. Matthew 6:8 Jesus tells us, "...your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." Philippians 4:19 tells us, "My GOD will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." GOD owns it all and He Loves His children! He is not a stingy Creator! He wants His own to have it all. It may not all be filled in this fallen world, but He takes care of His own. Nahum 1:7, "He (GOD) cares for those who trust in Him." If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Savior, trust in Him to forgive your sins and watch His promises come true for you!

Jesus Teaches About the Holy Spirit

John 16:5-16, (Jesus speaking) "Now I Am going to Him Who sent Me, yet none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' Because I say these things you are filled with grief. But, I tell you the truth: It is for your good  I Am going away. Unless I go away, the Holy Spirit will not come  to you. If I go I will send Him to you. When He comes He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin, righteousness and judgment in regard to sin. Because I Am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer, and regard to judgment  because the prince of this world (Satan, the devil) now stands condemned. When the Spirit of Truth comes He will guide you into all truth...He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you. In a little while you will not see Me anymore, and then after a little while you will see Me."

Christ had to leave after His resurrection in order for His Holy Spirit to come and enter each believer and follower of Him.  This first occurred at Pentecost (Acts 2:2-4) "Suddenly a sound like a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit..." Since then each new believer who accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD, the Holy Spirit enters. Ephesians 1:13-14, "Having believed you were marked in Him (Jesus) with a seal, the promise of the Holy Spirit Who is a deposit guaranteeing...redemption of those who are GOD's possession - to the praise of His glory." Follow His Holy Spirit's leading, guiding, and direction of your life with your thoughts, words, and deeds to be to His glory, honor, and praise! And, watch His promises to you be fulfilled even into Eternity with Him forever and ever! Amen!

Jesus Warns About the World's Hatred

John 15:18-27, "If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. You do not belong to the world, for I have called you out of the world. That is why the world hates you...If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. They will treat you this way because of My Name, for they do not know the One Who sent Me...they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father as well. They have seen these miracles, yet they have hate both for Me and My Father. This is to fulfill what is written in their Law. They hated Me without reason. When the Counselor (Holy Spirit) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, He, the Spirit of truth will testify for you who have been with Me from the beginning."

Upon salvation, the Holy Spirit enters and testifies to you the salvation of Jesus Christ. Those who do not know salvation hate those who testify to this truth because they don't have the truth of the Holy Spirit testifying in them. Come to Christ Jesus in admitting you are a sinner and ask for His salvation and the Holy Spirit's truth will testify to you as well and you will not any longer be a part of the world's hate. 

Jesus is the True Vine

John 15:1-17, "I Am the true Vine and My Father is the Gardner. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit while every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes so that it will be more fruitful...I Am the Vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch thrown away and withers. Such branches are picked up and thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My Words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. This is to My Father's glory that you bear much fruit...If you obey My commands, you will remain in My Love...Love each other as I have Loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command...You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name. This is My command: Love each other." 

1. Bear fruit. What does that mean? Those who have the salvation of our LORD spread His good news of salvation that is eternal. We share that by our words about Jesus' salvation for mankind. We share that by how we live our lives for Christ. We share that by our joy of what He has promised in His Word; eternal life with our Awesome, Almighty, Creator, Savior, Holy Father GOD forevermore!

2. Accepting His "pruning" of our lives to be more like Him. This pruning includes ridding ourselves of sinful habits we had before we came to His salvation; lying, gossiping, drunkenness, sexual immorality, stealing, killing...sin. You may say, I don't do any of these. His Word tells us, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD." (Romans 3:23) As we are "pruned" we become more like Jesus to carry on His Word of salvation.
3. Jesus chooses us. (Verse 16, "You did not choose Me, but I have chosen you.") Ephesians 1:4-5 shares, "For He chose us  in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In Love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will." Have you realized your salvation in Jesus Christ? His gift of eternal life comes by you realizing you are a sinner and can do nothing by yourself to change that. Let Christ change it for you by accepting Him paying your penalty of sin upon the cross. He has already done it and all you need do is come to Him in repentance and His Holy Spirit will verify to you your salvation in Him. Hallelujah!

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

John 14:15-31, "If you love Me (Jesus), you will obey what I command. I will ask My Father and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and is in you...On that day you will realize I Am in My Father and you are in Me and I Am in you. Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be Loved by My Father, and I too will Love him and show myself to him.' Then Judas (not Iscariot) said, 'But, LORD, why do You intent to show Yourself to us and not the world?' Jesus replied, 'He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. The Counselor, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My Name will teach you all things and will remind you everything I have said. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. I Am going away and I Am coming back to you. I o exactly what My Father has commanded Me to do.' 

The word,Trinity, is not found in the Bible, but the concept is. GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy Spirit is Who Christians call the Trinity; GOD in three persons. Just as we have been made in the image of GOD, we each have an individual personality (our individual dispositions and attitudes). We each have a body of flesh. We each have a spiritual nature (which is dead until made alive by salvation in Jesus Christ). GOD the Father's personality is pure and hates sin. Jesus is GOD in the flesh to be the penalty for mankind's sins. He was perfect without sin, yet became sin for us by taking all our sins upon Him while on the Cross. The Holy Spirit is GOD Who enters every believing Christian who has accepted His dying for our sins. Are you three different individuals? NO! We cannot separate ourselves as GOD can. Death will separate the body and spirit.  Praise our Awesome, Almighty, Creator, Savior, Holy Father GOD we will be resurrected with a new Body that will be eternal like Jesus' Body was, is, and forever will be. What a change is coming!!! Those knowing the LORD Jesus GOD will never know sin again! He will wipe every tear from our eyes.

The significance of 3

GOD: 1. Father 2. Son (Jesus) 3. Holy Spirit

Mankind: 1. Personality 2. Body of flesh 3. Spirit (dead until brought alive through salvation in Jesus Christ.)

There is coming: 1. New Heaven 2. New Earth 

3. New Jerusalem 

Final judgments: 1. Fallen Angels - banished to the Lake of Fire forever 2. Judgment Seat of Christ - Christians for rewards 3. The Great White Throne Judgment - the unbelievers to receive eternal judgment and then banished to the Lake of Fire.

Significance of 2

The Son 2. Jesus Christ is the only Way to Heaven 2. Man's body is to be changed to be like Christ's Body at the Rapture 2. The old earth (and heavens) will pass away and the New Earth be the dwelling place of Almighty GOD and His Chosen from all ages 2. Judgment Seat of Christ will reward Christians for eternity in Heaven with Almighty GOD.

Significance of 1

1. GOD the Father has always existed, there is no other! He will abide with His chosen forever.

1. Man will have new personalities that will be nothing like this fallen world's sinful attitudes.

1. Heaven will come to the New Earth and GOD will be our GOD for eternity.

1. GOD's heavenly angels will be our servants.

Do you know Jesus as you Savior? It's very simple. 1. GOD is perfect. Admit you are a sinner. 2. Truthfully ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins. 3. His Holy Spirit will enter and you will begin to change your ways by His leading.

Don't wait for no one is guaranteed their next breath!