Title: Sanctify me / John 17:17-21
Please make it holy
(John 17:17-21)
The 17th chapter of the Gospel of John is an earnest intercessory prayer that Jesus prayed for those who left him on this earth before he died on the cross. The prayer begins with a call to “Father” as in verse 1. And “Father” appears thirty-nine times until verse 26, when this prayer ends. There is no other place in the Bible to call the Father in such a continuous manner. Why did Jesus keep calling the Father like this? It's not because my father can't hear well, or because he doesn't answer. Because he is a loving father, he continues to call his name in a friendly way. It's because you're so good at answering, and because my father is still alive today and is by my side, I can keep calling his name.
Is God my father?
Think about whether you are my Father who calls out to you like Jesus and is close to you. Are you my father who can brag in front of people and say he's the best? This fact is of paramount importance. God must only be our Father. Not the president, not the chief, not the governor. "My Father," otherwise there is no other relationship.
There will come a time when the father of this earth can no longer be called by his name, but God is my Father who is alive today, now, and forever.
saints,
In the past week, how many times have I called God as my Father, and how many times have the name of Father come out of my mouth? The smaller the number, the more evidence that you are not in a close relationship with God.
Verses 17 to 21 we read today are central to Jesus' prayer, and Jesus does not forget to acknowledge and exalt the Father. Didn't it say, "The word of the Father is the truth"? Everything the Father says is true, true, and true.
Lincoln's father was a shoemaker. The people of the upper classes were displeased that a man who had such a father became president. So, whenever I had the opportunity, I was eager to find fault with Lincoln and criticize him. From the first day of his inauguration, Lincoln was humiliated. At the inauguration ceremony, a senator made this sarcastic remark: "Mr. Lincoln, I've worn the shoes your father made, and I'm sure many of the members here have worn them. But it's amazing that the president came from a low-key family that made shoes like that," Lincoln said. Hearing this, he said, without being offended in the slightest.
"Thanks for reminding me before my inaugural address who my father was who made me who I am today. My father was a shoe artist. His shoes were the best."
Jesus pleaded with us to sanctify us by the words of this Supreme Father.
It is essential for Christians who believe in Jesus to be sanctified.
In general, holiness means a person's appearance or appearance is decent or dignified, but the level of holiness that Jesus wants is a life that is clean and smells good according to God's Word. To put it more simply, it is to become a person with a disposition that resembles Jesus. Therefore, a sanctified life begins within us. It's not about putting something in from the outside. The change made within flows out and the natural result is that holiness.
The deeper the spring water, the better.
Water from a shallow spring is called dry water. The water changes as soon as it rains, all the rainwater just comes in. The taste changes and the color changes. Also, when there is a drought, it dries up immediately. However, springs from the depths are not affected by the weather or conditions outside. It is the truth of God that makes this deep and cool fountain within us. It is the word of God.
It seems that we know a lot of God's Word, and it seems that we know quite a bit, but looking at the facts, we do not. I don't know and understand the words with certainty. It is not becoming a deep spring. So, I believe that true Bible study, that is, to be holy, is to dig deep, cool, and clear springs within me.
So why do we need to be holy?
Because, as verse 18 says, Jesus sends us into the world.
What is the world? Those who do not know God. Those who do not serve God and do not love Him. To these people He sends those who are sanctified by the truth.
Why are you sending us into the world?
Not just putting us in a good, safe place, but sending us back to a world we struggle to escape and want to get out of? It says in verse 20 that the world might believe in Jesus.
We are sending us into the world so that the world can believe this truth that Jesus is the Savior sent by God to this earth.
Only those who are sanctified by the truth can do that. In this world where we are thirsty for something and we live a weary life, only those who have deep and cool springs of truth in their hearts can do it.
How happy would Jesus be when he saw these saints? You may cry because you are so happy. This is because these saints are the people of Jesus who brought the well of joy into this world and are the lamps that light the world. Those who are sanctified by the truth.
The first thing Jesus did when he came to this earth was to sanctify himself. This is because, in order to save and save the people of this earth, you must first be sanctified with the truth. So, he did his best to sanctify himself in the truth. That was the reason why he found a quiet place to pray alone at night after a tiring day. So, the always cool water of life constantly flowed out in Jesus. Therefore, we have the responsibility and duty to keep and preserve ourselves holy. When a lot of people are pouring in at once, it's usually not difficult to get through the crowd and get to the other side. A slight push in force will swept people away in the direction they are going. I don't want to, but the wave of people won't let me go. You need an active force, an active energy to go up against that wave. That power comes not from power, material things, or knowledge, but from holiness. It is the power of freedom, peace, and joy that arises within me who has been sanctified by the Word.
We live together in this world with people who do not believe in Jesus, but we live differently from people in the world who do not choose one way or another in order to eat better, dress better, and live better. We look forward to eternal life and live by exalting and praising God the Father according to Jesus who is the truth. May this life be eternal to you saints.
Father is the best for me.
That is why the Father's words are always true, true, and true. Sanctify us by your word.
We must go out into the world, because only when we become holy can we properly live like the people of Jesus.
Continue this work of sanctifying me with your Word.