May it please the Lord to bless
us together this evening as we meditate in his word. Let us
turn to the Gospel of John, chapter 17, and we'll read from verse
11 to 15. The Gospel of John, chapter 17,
and reading from verse 11 to 15. 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. 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. It is a wonderful blessing and
favour for us today that we have such a record of this prayer. To think that God in his wonderful
providence has recorded the prayer of Jesus to his Father just a
few hours literally before he was to pass from this earthly
scene, having completed that great and glorious work that
His Father had given Him to do. And we see in this account, in
this prayer, the wonderful love and concern of the Saviour for
His people, for His flock. And how true it was in those
days, this was spoken to the disciples after He had preached
that very wonderful sermon in those previous chapters 14, 15
and 16 and now he comes and prays to his father and we today are
privileged to have a record of it. Well the whole whole prayer
of course is one prayer and the whole prayer really joins together
and it's really quite difficult to break it up, and as you might
say, sectionalise it, because it really is one complete piece. But nonetheless, there are some
sections which appear to be easier to separate than others, and
it seems that these few verses come into that category. And
so, the Lord speaks, and He says this, And now I am no more in
the world, But of course, at that very moment, he was in the
world. But in reality, he had completed
the work that his father had given him to do. The time was
at hand when he was going to be arrested, and then to be wrongly
judged in the judgment hall, and finally to be crucified upon
that cross at Calvary. And on that cross, to be able
to utter those glorious words, it is finished. The whole work
of redemption was complete. Satan was a vanquished foe. Satan had not been able to conquer,
although no doubt he thought when Jesus died he had. But of
course the Saviour rose from the dead, a conqueror over sin,
death, hell and the grave. And so he says, and now I am
no more in the world, but these are in the world. and that refers
not only to the disciples but really to the whole Church of
God as we are found on the earth in our day as it has been right
down through the ages. We are now in the world and we
need the Lord to be with us. We need the Lord to keep us.
We need the Lord to preserve us and we need the Lord to bless
us. And surely that was and is the
great underlying fact of this wonderful prayer. As the Lord
Jesus says, but these are in the world and I come to thee. Yes, the Lord was, Saviour was
going to go back to that place which he had been in prior to
his coming into this world with his father, who he'd been with
from eternity. Again, it's a mystery that we're
not able to understand in any depth, but we are thankful if
we receive faith, God-given faith, to believe it, so that we know
the Saviour was with the Father before the world was created,
and now He tells us that He will be returning to His Father. And now I'm no more in the world,
but these are in the world, and I come to thee. And now he'd
been with his disciples, and now he says so wonderfully and
gloriously, Holy Father. And it's good for us to recognize
such a statement, realize there is the Lord Jesus Christ speaking
to his Father in such terms, Holy Father. And it's good for
us today to be able to recognise that we come to the Holy Father
who is high and lifted up. We must not come to our Father
who is holy as though he was just one of us, but to be conscious
that he is a Holy Father. We're thankful that through the
intercession of our Saviour We can come into his presence. If it were not for that, we would
not be able to, because we are sinners of the earth. And the
Holy Father cannot look upon sin, but we are viewed through
Christ, that sinless Savior. What a blessing, what a favor
for us unworthy sinners to realize we have this wonderful privilege
And so here we have this statement, Holy Father, and what does Jesus
desire of his Father? Keep through thine own name those
whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are. The Saviour's prayers never fail,
never have, and never will. so as we have this statement,
this wonderful prayer to his father and to our father that
you and I might be kept kept in this world in which we live
in so many things in so many ways as the Apostle Peter declared
kept by the power of God and it is the power of God, it is
the favour of our Father in heaven, to keep us. He knows all about
us. And it's a wonderful thought
to realise, if He is our Father, we are His children. And naturally, as a Father looks
upon His children, looks after His children, and is concerned
about the welfare of His children, so our Heavenly Father looks
upon us. and watches over us and keeps
us it's a great truth isn't it it's a wonderful blessing to
think of that that we as Peter was able to declare kept by the
power of God it is a mighty power it is a prevailing power it's
a power above all that Satan is able to do now he may endeavor
to turn us away He may succeed so far. He may cause us to sometimes
perhaps turn our back upon our God. But he will never finally
succeed. Holy Father, keep through thy
own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one
as we are. That tells us of unity. Unity with God. utterly unworthy
sinners of the earth. Unity with God the Father and
God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It's a wonderful thought,
isn't it? It's a great blessing to enter
into the truth of it and to realise that these words were spoken
not only for the disciples but for every member of the family
of God and therefore what a mercy tonight if it includes you and
me. To think this great blessed Saviour
should pray to His Father on our account, that the Holy Father
might keep us in this evil world in which we live, so that in
due time we shall be presented as holy and spotless through
what the Saviour has done in redeeming our soul. These are not words of fantasy. They are words of solemn, gracious
and glorious truth. And they refer to every member
of the Church of God. And so may such words tonight
be applied to our hearts with divine power from on high that
we have the evidence that we are amongst those for whom the
Saviour prayed to His Father. We are amongst those whom the
Father is keeping and watching over day by day, hour by hour,
minute by minute. Well, it's a thought beyond really
our natural comprehension. But true it is, that it is the
very Word of God and the words of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus
Christ, that we might be kept, the Father might keep us, and
that we might therefore be one as the Lord Jesus Christ was
with His Father, united to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. What a consideration
that is. What a great truth it is. And
may we know in our own hearts and have the application of the
power of God into our hearts to make us truly rejoice and
to praise God for his amazing love his amazing mercy his wonderful
grace which has come upon us now all of us need to have the
evidence that such blessings are ours and it's not just some
theory. It's a very real position to
know that the Lord has loved us with an everlasting love and
that Lord Jesus Christ did die for us upon the cross at Calvary
and the Lord Jesus Christ did speak to his Father in these
glorious terms that you and I might be kept and that we might be
then in unity with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Lord says then, Jesus says,
while I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name. You see the Saviour was in the
world, especially in his last three years, when he walked about
and when he was with his disciples, for those years and many others
of course who were converted during that time to realise this
is a true word while I was with them in the world I kept them
in thy name and so he was the blessed saviour who kept them
while he was on the earth and now he prays to his father that
his father would likewise keep his people, preserve them Be
round about them. While I was with them in the
world, I kept them in thy name. And then he tells us who they
are. Those that thou gavest me have I kept. Well, it's a blessing
to know if we are amongst those who have been given to the Saviour. Those for whom the Lord Jesus
Christ died. He gave his life. in order to
redeem them from all their sins. And so we hear him say, those
that thou gavest me have I kept. Not one was lost. Not one was lost. Because we
read these words, and none of them is lost. None of them is
lost. but the son of perdition and
of course we know that that refers to all those who are not saved
those who are lost in particular perhaps Judas Iscariot that one
who appeared outwardly to be a true disciple outwardly to
be a believer but in reality there was no life in his soul
it's a very solemn condition a very solemn character and we
have such a character before us in the Word of God as a warning
as a beacon really to grant we may be continually concerned
that we are not like Judas but we are amongst those who have
been given by the Father unto His Son and have been kept and
will not be lost. Not be lost. Nothing worse is
there than being lost. Nothing worse is there than hearing
the Gospel with our outward ears but never hearing it with our
spiritual ears and to therefore be eternally lost. Not be amongst those for whom
Christ died Not be amongst those who the father gave to his son
to redeem. But eternally lost. Well, our
blessed savior here is speaking about those who are not lost
and none of them is lost. But the son of perdition that
the scripture might be fulfilled. And the fulfilment of the Scripture
is really to confirm that none are lost for whom the Lord Jesus
Christ gave His life. Those for whom He shed His precious
blood. It could not be so. Because Christ,
our blessed Saviour, did not shed His blood in vain. No. It was invaluable blood. It was precious blood. and it
was shed for the true Church of God it wasn't shed for those
who are lost and so may we be thankful tonight if you and I
have the wonderful evidence that the blood of Jesus Christ which
cleanses from all sin it's a great word isn't it from all sin this
blood was shed for us so that we are indeed cleansed. And we are therefore amongst
those whom the Scripture speaks of, whom the Scripture is fulfilled
in the truth, that we are amongst those who are not lost, but those
who have been kept. While I was with them in the
world, I kept them in thy name. Those that thou gavest me, I
have kept. and we might perhaps pause and
just think of that statement see not everybody was given to
the Son there in eternity past there was that wonderful agreement
to save some that wonderful agreement to redeem some that wonderful
agreement to keep some and what a blessing tonight if you and
I have in our hearts the undisputable evidence that we are amongst
those who are redeemed, are amongst those who are being watched over,
are amongst those who are being kept, the Holy Father looking
down from glory upon us as we traverse this world today. Well, how very humbling it should
be to think of Almighty God, the ruler of the universe, graciously
condescending to look upon us, unworthy as we are. And so the Lord Jesus says, and
now come I to thee. Yes, the work was almost complete. and now I come to thee the father
and the son have been separated for those 33 years you often
fail to realize the sacrifice it was of the father to allow
his son to be away for those 33 years because they'd been
together throughout eternity And now the Saviour is saying
to his Father, and now come I to thee. And these things I speak
in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. There is joy in believing. There is joy when the knowledge
of salvation to our souls is granted to us. There is joy,
there must be joy and surely there is praise and there must
be praise as we think of our unworthy condition and yet the
great God in his amazing love has looked upon us and caused
us to realise our lost condition by nature and then to realise
that in reality we are not lost because Christ has saved us from
that lost condition. He delivered us from the wrath
to come, our sins, our vile sins, our evil sins, whatever sin it
was, small or great as we may estimate it, sufficient to cast
us out of His presence eternally. But to think that love was so
great and He came into this world to deliver us and therefore that
work is fulfilled in our souls. My friends, let us not deny God's
work. There is a tendency perhaps to
almost pretend we don't know well there is a change brought
about and that change brought about is as different as light
is from darkness it's quite difficult in this day and age to have a
position of total darkness but it can be so if you go into a
room and all the blinds, the car are pulled and everything
else and the doors are shut and there's no lights around to see
to realise that's perfect darkness but if there's a very small light perhaps a match is struck perhaps
a candle is lit in that dark room that gives an enormous amount
of light surprising amount of light so do not despise what
might appear to be a little light because in reality a little light
is a great light and be very thankful for it if your darkness
has been changed into light and you can align it with these words
a little that a righteous man hath is better than the treasures
of many wicked cast not away your hope the devil will say
it's not worth anything there's nothing in it well he's always
been a liar he always will don't listen to him read the word of
God prove the devil you have in your life in your heart the
evidence this light shining and therefore may it bring forth
joy joy in believing joy in believing there is a joy in believing because
there's the evidence that Almighty God has condescended to bring
into your life and my life that quickening that awakening so
the true light of has shone into our heart, and we have some realisation
of our unworthiness, of our lost condition by nature, and the
wonderful favour that God has looked upon us. And now come I to thee, speaking
the same unto his Father, and these things I speak in the world,
that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. It's a record
that you and I have today of these things. The truth of God,
for our benefit, for our blessing, that our joy, my joy fulfilled
in themselves. Well, we know that the Saviour
rejoices over every sinner that repents. The angels in heaven
do as well. What joy there is. My friends
that joy is translated into our hearts as we realize the Lord
has looked upon us and not dealt with us as our sins deserve. What a blessing tonight if all
of us can look into our hearts and trace out perhaps in very
simple terms the work of God The blessed work of God, the
work of grace is free unmerited favour to bring into our hearts
that light of the gospel, oh the glorious light and it shines
of course in the face of Jesus Christ. 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. The word of God. Thy word. I've spoken sometimes about the
119th Psalm which is of course broken down into a large number
of sections. In each section I think you will
find these words. Thy word. Thy word. And we have thy word in the whole
scriptures and God has given it to us. I've given them thy
word. Isn't it a blessing to think
that we have, we possess God's word not only to read but also
when the Holy Spirit applies his word to our soul and the
effect of that is that when the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts
it's like the Word of God explains it an iron pen writing in the
rock I'm sure you young people can understand that if an iron
pen is used to write on the rock those letters won't be easily
eradicated Because the iron has made a deep scratch impression
on that rock. And so it is with the work of
God in our hearts. It's not something which can
just be rubbed out. It's not something that can be
got rid of. Because it's the work of God.
And what God does is not a temporary thing. What God does is done
forever. Just ponder that. If God has
spoken his word into your heart, it's just like that, an iron
pen on the rock and it will not fade away and it cannot be removed
because it is the work, the blessed work of God. Well tonight, may
you and I have the wonderful evidence that is so that we possess
this great favour I have given them thy word it is God's gift
to us it's not something that we've worked for and have earned
we don't earn it at all all we can bring to our God is our sin
which separates between us and our God but the Lord brings to
us His Word, that Word of salvation, that Word of redemption, that
Word of forgiveness, and how true it is sometimes that God
applies those words, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall
be white as snow, or red like crimson, they shall be as snow. It doesn't matter how bad our
sins may be, how bad our sins may appear, the Lord says come
now and let us reason together God is so gloriously condescending
to come and meet us come to us speak his word into our hearts
and give to us therefore that good hope through his grace that
he has favoured us to speak his word into our hearts I have given
them thy word so that means what it says the whole church of God
have received and will receive the word of God we don't just
travel on and come to the end of our life and know nothing
of God's word to our souls and if tonight you should be in that
position and being honest before God and you cannot find any evidence
of God's Word to your heart, then do plead earnestly that
He will reveal Himself unto you as your great and glorious Saviour
to redeem you from all your sins, give you that grace of repentance
to come before Him in true mourning, and to have the evidence then
that He does speak His Word into your heart, because it is A gift
is an eternal gift. It is a blessing which can never
be removed. Oh, praise God for that. And
so he says, I have given them thy word. And as a result of
that. And the world has hated them.
world doesn't like Christians it doesn't like Christians because
it doesn't like the Savior it doesn't like the Savior because
the devil influences them in that way and so don't be surprised
in fact rather expect to be hated but the consolation is if the
Lord has given you and me his word then we can rejoice in that
And the Lord will give us grace and strength to sustain us. And
the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even
as I am not of the world. It really means this, that either
you and I are united to Christ or you and I are united to the
world. And if you and I are united to
Christ, then we have an eternal inheritance in glory. If we are united to the devil,
we have an eternity in hell. So let us be concerned that we
have the evidence that we are like the Saviour, not of the
world. It doesn't mean to say we are
not to live in the world. The Lord comes very clearly and
tells us we are to be in the world live in the world and not
be of the world and to recognise the support and strength and
help of our blessed God with us and so because they are not
of the world even as I am not of the world and we only have
to read about the Saviour's life don't we as He was on the earth
He wasn't received only by those who were called by grace. The devil's supporters did all
they could to destroy the Saviour. They brought many lies against
him, many wrong statements, but you see it didn't affect the
Blessed Lord's work on the earth. He fulfilled all that his Father
gave him to do. Yes, there was much opposition. Yes, there was much difficulty.
And yes, there will be for us, you and me, today. It's no different,
is it? As it was in the days of the
Saviour and also, of course, the time when the Apostles were
on the earth and we have that wonderful statement of the Apostle
Paul when he wrote to the Philippians And he tells us, Yea, doubtless,
and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and do countenance but done that I may win Christ
and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is
of the law. You see, he wasn't now looking
to his own righteousness. He was at one time, he thought
he was a very noble Pharisee and he was relying on his own
righteousness which is of the law but now he says but that
which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which
is of God by faith and we know that faith is the gift of God
and then he says that I may know him and the power of his resurrection
and then we come to this and the fellowship of his sufferings
be made conformable unto his death. So we can therefore conclude
from that that the Lord suffered greatly and the Apostle Paul
recognised the blessing it was to be favoured with fellowship
with his sufferings. And so he says, even as I am
not of the world. And then the Lord says, I pray
not thou shouldest take them out of the world. Sometimes,
you see, we might be tempted to think, well, I want to get
out of this world. I can't face it any longer. And
I just want to get rid of all the difficulties. Well, that
may be so. But the Lord has placed his people
in the world as his witnesses. And we are therefore to walk
in this world. The Lord has a time when he will
take us out of this world. And we should not therefore argue
with God about this. But we should wait patiently
for His appearing, for His time, when He will come and take us
out of this world to be with Him which is far better and that
eternally. And so He says, I pray not that
thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest
keep them from the evil. comes back to what we read really
in the 11th verse where we commenced 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 who thou hast given me that they
may be one as we are and now he comes and says that I pray
not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that
thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Well, to think that
the blessed Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, prayed to his Father
for his people, for the disciples and for his people, that we might
be kept from the evil. It should be an encouragement
to us as we battle on through life with many things to tempt
us many things to perplex us and yet to realize that these
words that we read are very true that Jesus has prayed and Jesus
does pray for such unworthy sinners of the earth and to think that
therefore it's only through his sin atoning death you and I will
receive the blessing of eternal life. And one day, through his
grace, through his wonderful love, through his great mercy,
we will find ourselves at home. At home, in heaven. This world
is not the rest of the people of God. There is a rest that
remaineth for the people of God. There is a rest to which the
Church of God are journeying and one day, by God's grace,
if we trace out the work of God in our hearts, if we rejoice
in such words as this today, to think that we shall be united
with the Trinity in glory and with a whole household of faith,
no one left behind. When Israel came out of Egypt,
we read there was not a hoof left behind. My friends, there
will be no believer left behind. Everyone will be received into
glory and that for eternity. What a blessing it is. What a
good prospect it is for us. And may we therefore be very
thankful tonight that we have such a record of this wonderful
High Priestly Prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, to His
Father in Heaven and to believe that it was true then and it's
true today as it has a gracious application to us. And may we
therefore go on our way rejoicing and thankful to know and have
that evidence that it is well with our soul. Amen.