Our message this morning is taken
from the 17th chapter of John, and this is the Lord's Prayer,
and this will be the sixth part, the sixth message that I brought
from John 17, the Lord's Prayer, Part 6. And as I sat down to
look at this message to prepare for us this morning, I thought
about what a blessing the Lord Jesus Christ has given unto us. To have His heart's desire, His
prayer for us, laid out, poured out before our Father, before
God the Father, for us, and to have us this morning to read
it, to meditate upon it, to study it, to rejoice in it, to have
it here before us, knowing that this is what the Lord prays for
us. What a blessing, what a privilege
we have before us to read and study not only this prayer, but
all the word of God, this God breathed, this God given. Now
we begin today with verse 13. Let's read verse 13. I'm going
to try to work my way down to verse 19. So, not too many verses
to consider this morning, but I'm taking my time and looking
through this prayer very, very carefully. Our Lord prays now. He says, Father, I come to Thee. Come to thee and these things
I speak in the world that they might have my joy my joy fulfilled
in them self now I Come to thee I come to thee I Now, there was
no doubt in the Lord's mind what was going to happen in a day
or so that He would die for our sins according to the Scripture.
There was no doubt in His mind what would happen after they
took Him down from the cross and laid Him in the tomb. There
was no doubt in His mind that He would be raised again the
third day. There was no doubt in His mind
that He would ascend to glory. He said, Father, I come to Thee. He's often said this in this
prayer. Look back at verse 11. And now I'm no more in the world,
but these are in the world. He says, I come to Thee, Holy
Father. Look back one page to John chapter
16 verse 28. He said, I came forth from the
Father, Him being delivered by the determinate counsel of God.
I come forth from the Father in the fullness of time. God
sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem
them that were under the law. I came forth from the Father.
I'm coming to the world. And again, I leave the world
and I go unto the Father. Now, having fulfilled all Scripture
for us, the Apostle, when he writes to the Corinthians, says,
and declared unto them how Christ died for our sin according to
the Scripture, how He was buried, how He was raised again the third
day according to the Scripture, having fulfilled all Scripture,
Many times we read through the Gospels, and this was done, and
that was done, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. The Lord
Jesus Christ fulfilled all Scripture for us as the covenant mediator. Look back at Luke 24. Luke 24. Verse 44, Luke 24, 44. These are the words which I spake
unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be
fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the
prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me. He fulfilled all Scripture
for us. signifying, declaring that He
is the Messiah, that He did everything He did according to the Word
of God, the will of God, purpose of God, having accomplished our
salvation. The Lord speaks of His redeeming
work, although this is before He actually goes to Calvary,
the Lord speaks of His redeeming work in the past tense. I have
finished the work you gave Me to do. Look at verse 4. I have
glorified thee on the earth, I have finished the work." So
certain and so sure that all that God had given him to do
would be completed. He prays here as the work is
really already done. And in the mind and decree and
purpose of God, it is done. Having accomplished redemption
for us, when He by Himself purged our sin, He sat down on the right
hand of God. Having brought in and established
for us a justifying everlasting righteousness, He says, Father,
now I come to Thee. having fulfilled all Scripture,
having put away all sin, having satisfied the work and will and
purpose of God, having brought in for us everlasting righteousness,
now He ascends to glory, seated in the heavenly, having completely,
eternally obtained for us eternal redemption. Listen to this scripture
in Daniel 9, 24. He says, 70 weeks are determined
upon the people, upon the holy city, to finish the transgression,
to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity,
to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and the
prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. The Lord Jesus Christ has
fulfilled everything in Scripture. And having done so, having put
away our sin, having brought in everlasting righteousness,
He ascends to glory in complete and absolute victory. The Lord
Jesus Christ ascends to glory occupies heaven for us with a
complete satisfaction of God's law and justice. He satisfied
every jot and every tittle, every precept, and every penalty of
God's law. He honored. He won the complete
victory over sin. He put away sin by the sacrifice
of himself over Satan. defeated Him, crushed His dominion
over death. He said, I'm He that liveth and
was dead. Behold, I'm alive forevermore. I have the keys of hell and death. And He certainly conquered the
grave. He said, Now, Father, I come to Thee. We studied in
the book of Hebrews, our forerunner has entered in for us and is
seated in the heavenlies. Aren't you glad that He says,
Now, Father, I come to Thee. He comes before God to represent
us, having accomplished all salvation for us. Now, look at the next
part of verse 13, And these things I speak in the world, The Lord
Jesus Christ was the preacher of the gospel. He went preaching
and declaring, thus saith the Lord, I speak these things in
the world. The Lord came to declare the
redemptive will of God. The Lord declared the work of
redemption accomplished before He actually died for our sin. All that God has decreed must
come to pass. Calvary has been decreed from
all eternity. The Lord Jesus Christ stood as
a lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Before Adam fell,
the Lord Jesus Christ stood as a surety of the covenant of God's
grace. Calvary is no accident. I speak these things in the world
of redemption accomplished by the will of God, by the purpose
of God. He said in Psalm 33, he spake
and it was done. He commanded and it stood fast. You see, everything he spoke
was according to the will of God, the purpose of God. He said,
I've spoken it. I'll bring it to pass. I purposed
it. I will do it. I come to thee. And these things he speaks in
the world of redemption accomplished, finished, successful. He's not
a defeated, frustrated reformer. He's a victorious, conquering
king. Now watch the last part of verse
13. That they might have my joy. fulfilled in themselves. Joy fulfilled. Now turn back
to chapter 15 and look at this verse here. We've seen this before.
We've seen this statement before. That my joy might be full in
them. John 15, look at verse 11, "...these
things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you,
and that your joy might be full, or fully realized." Again he
repeats this, look at John 16, verse 22, "...and you now therefore
have sorrow, but I'll see you again, and your heart shall rejoice,
and your joy no man and your joy no man will take from you,
that your joy might be full." Now, what kind of joy are we
talking about here? I thought about this scripture
here. Let's turn to Hebrews chapter 12. It's the joy of having fully
accomplished all of God's redeeming purpose, all of God's redeeming
will. Look at Hebrews chapter 12, look
at verse 2. "...looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before
Him..." He had joy set before Him. He endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is set down on the right hand of the throne
of God, having accomplished all of salvation, brought great joy
unto the Lord Jesus Christ." His joy is our joy. having glorified
God in His redemptive purpose, having accomplished all of salvation,
salvation completed. His joy is our joy. We have full,
complete joy in Christ. What does the believer rejoice
in? The Lord Jesus Christ Himself,
His person, who He is, and His work. What does Christ mean to
the believer? What does the Lord Jesus Christ
mean to you? It's said in scripture this way,
what think you of Christ? What do you think of the Lord
Jesus Christ? Well, to the believer, the Lord Jesus Christ is not
something. He's not a fire escape. He's
not an insurance policy. He's not a doormat. To the believer,
the Lord Jesus Christ is everything. Everything. Paul put it this
way in Colossians 3, verse 11, Christ is all, And in all. He's all our joy. He's not some of it. He's not
some of our salvation. He's all of our joy. In Him dwells
all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and in Him we stand complete. Christ is our complete joy of
redemption, joy of salvation. Turn with me to Romans chapter
5. Romans chapter 5. We are the true Israel that rejoiced
in Christ Jesus, have no confidence in the flesh. We rejoice in God
and rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ and we have worshipped
God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ and have no confidence
in the flesh. Look at Romans chapter 5. Look
at verse 8. Romans 5 verse 8. But God commended
His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us. Much more than being now justified
by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if,
when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death
of His Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life,
and not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement, reconciliation
in the Lord Jesus Christ." You see, the Lord Jesus Christ is
everything to the believer. He is our joy. He is our rejoicing. Thanks be unto God who has given
us the victory through the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is our victory. We are on the winning team in
Him. And I like what Simeon said that
day, Christ is our salvation. Our Lord told Simeon, you remember
the old man in the temple? God said that you will not die
until you've seen the Lord's Christ. You remember that? And
they brought in the babe, the Lord Jesus, eight days old to
be circumcised according to the law. And Simeon picked that babe
up in his arms and said, Lord, let me depart in peace. mine
eyes have seen thy salvation." You see, his whole hope of salvation
was in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. That was his joy!
We read in Colossians chapter 1, Christ in you is the hope
of glory. What is the Lord Jesus Christ
to the believer? He's everything. That they might
have my joy fulfilled in them. Now look back at John 17, look
at verse 14. I have This is another one of those
statements where it says, what the Lord has done, I have given
unto them thy word, thy truth, I have. And the world, that is
for the most part, the religious world, the inhabitants of this
world, they've hated them, hated the apostles. Because, he said,
they're not of the world, even as I am not of the world. The
Lord, He said, I've given them thy word. Now, think of what
He could have given. He could have given them dominion
and power over all things, being Lord. He could have given them
earthly kingdom. He could have given them gold
mines, diamond mines. He could have given all those
things, temporal things, but those things are all perishing.
He gave them eternal things. He said, heaven and earth's gonna
pass away, my word. it will never pass away. The
Lord gave them that special treasure, that precious gift, the very
Word of God, or God's Gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ, as God's
prophet, turn back to John chapter 12, I've given up the Word of
God, and they have received the Word of God. Look at John chapter
12, verse 49. For I have not spoken of myself,
but my Father which sent me, he gave me commandment, what
I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment
is life everlasting. Whatsoever I speak therefore,
even as the Father said unto me, so I speak exactly what God
gave me to speak." The Lord Jesus Christ is not only our Great
High Priest to represent us before God, He is not only our King
to rule and reign over us as King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
but the Lord Jesus Christ is God's prophet to reveal unto
us the way of salvation, the will of salvation, the testimony
of God concerning salvation. in the Lord Jesus Christ. He's
given unto us the very Word of God and revealed unto us the
way of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ as God's prophet. He is that prophet. Sin of God. To tell us the truth about God. God who is holy. God who is sovereign. God who does not change. God
who is eternal. He was sin of God to tell us
the truth about ourselves, who we are. There is none righteous,
no, not one. All of our righteousnesses are
as filthy rags. Man in his best state is altogether
vanity. He has come to tell us the truth
about who God is and who we are. We're sinners. We're sinners
in need of a Savior. And He has come to declare unto
us the way of salvation. You remember what He said in
John 14, I am the way? I am the truth, I am the life,
no man comes to the Father but by and through me." He said,
I've given unto them the gospel, I've given unto them the good
news of the gospel concerning the kingdom of God and Look what
it says there. The world received them with
open arms. They were just willing and ready
to hear that message of salvation by God's grace. They were just
chomping at the bit ready to hear that message. That's not
what it says. And the world had hated them. Why did they hate them? They
hated the message. That message reflects back to
God who gave that message. Man by nature is not in love
with God, he hates God. What is man's natural response
to the good news of the gospel? He says here, the world hated
them and their message. The carnal minded enmity against
God. The apostles were highly esteemed
among the church, appreciated by the church, and among believers. Gospel ministers today are appreciated
by the Lord's people, aren't they? The Lord's church. But
not among the world of unbelievers. They hate the true and living
God. And they hate those who preach the gospel of God concerning
the Lord Jesus Christ. And you know why? Let's see if
we can find out why. Turn back to John 15. John 15 verse 19. If you were
of the world, the world would love his own. But because you're
not of this world, I have chosen you out of the world. I've chosen
you. I've elected you out of the world.
Therefore the world, they hate you. They hate you. Remember
the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than
his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you. If they have kept my sayings,
they'll keep yours too. Not to believe it, but to persecute
you. But all these things will they
do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not Him that
sent me. If I had not come and spoken
unto them, they had not had sin. But now they have no covering
for their sin. He that hated Me hateth my Father
also." The world hated them because they hated God. They hated the
message that declared who God is. Now, look back here in John
17, verse 14, the last part of verse 14. Because, he says, they
are not of the world. I'm not of the world. He said,
they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Now,
he repeats this. Look down at verse 16. They are
not of this world. Now, he's talking about his elect.
He's talking about his church. He's talking about his redeemed.
They are not of this world, even, even as I'm not of this world. I've got to be honest with you,
I wrestled with that statement. I looked at that statement a
long time and the Lord, it's not vain repetition here, He
repeats it twice. Believers are not of this world. Now, I thought about this. We're
born into this world. We live in this world. We make
our livelihood in this world. We live among people, the inhabitants
of this world. But by His grace, we are not
a product of this ungodly, unbelieving, rebellious world. We have been
delivered. from the kingdom of darkness
and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son. Remember what
we read a moment ago? He said, I have chosen you out
of the world. I have chosen you out of the
world. Turn over here to Revelation
chapter 5. Revelation chapter 5. He said, I've redeemed you out
of the world. I've chosen you out of the world,
therefore the world hated you. Look at Revelation 5 verse 9,
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book,
to open the seals thereof, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed
us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, tongue, people,
and nation, and hast made us unto our God kings and priests,
and we shall reign on this earth." His grace has made us to differ. We are in this world, but my
friend, by His grace, He has chosen us out of this world. We've been made partakers of
a divine nature by His grace, by the exceeding great and precious
promises revealed in the Gospel. We are made new creatures in
Christ Jesus and reconciled unto God. We are looking for a new
heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. He said,
because you're not of this world even as I am not of the world. We have a different standing.
than the inhabitants of this world. How does a believer stand
before God? How does a believer stand before
God? How do you stand before God?
I heard someone on the radio ask that question the other day.
How do you stand before God? How do you stand? He was talking
about how much works you have, how much righteousness you have.
How do you stand? My one answer is this. We stand in Christ. How do you stand before God?
In the Lord Jesus Christ, accepted in the Beloved. There's no condemnation
to those who are in Christ Jesus. As He is, even so are we in this
world. That's what it says in 1 John
4. As He is, so are we in this world. He's the chosen of God. He's the elect of God. He's chosen
us out of this world. He's made us to differ. You see
what he's saying here? We have a different standing.
We stand in Christ Jesus. We have a different master. We're
no longer servants of the flesh. We serve the Lord's Christ. We've
been made willing, loving, bond servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. Saul of Tarsus, when he was put
on his face in the dust before God, you remember what he said?
Lord, what will you have me to do? Willingly, lovingly ready
to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah, you remember what he
said to the Lord? The Lord said, whom shall I send?
Who will go for us? And Isaiah said, here am I, here
am I Lord, send me, send me. You see, He's made us to differ.
He's chosen us out of this world. We have different aims, we have
different desires, we have different goals, we have different ambitions. What is a believer's ambition
and goal? His glory. His glory. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto
us, but unto Thy name do we give glory for Thy mercy and for Thy
truth's sake. We have a different citizenship.
Our citizenship is from heaven, from whence we look for the Lord
Jesus our Savior. We have a different destiny.
Don't we? Predestinated to be conformed
to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, we are not of
this world even as He is not of this world. He's chosen us
out of this world. He has redeemed us out of this
world and made us new creatures in Christ Jesus. Now, His sovereign
grace has made us different. By the grace of God, we can say
with the Apostle Paul, by the grace of God, I am what I am.
We read in Ephesians chapter two, everything we are by nature,
children of wrath, even as others, without God, without hope, and
without Christ. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great
love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sin, hath
quickened us together with Christ Jesus. The world hates them,
because they're not of this world, even as I am not of this world,
chosen and redeemed by His grace. Now look at verse 15. I pray
not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but thou
shouldest keep them from the evil one. The apostles, when
they were converted and regenerated and made new creatures in Christ,
were not taken to glory immediately upon their salvation. They had
a work to do. They had a ministry to perform.
Notice what it says down in verse 20. He mentions this, "...neither
pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe
on me through their word." Now turn over here, let me give you
an example of that. Turn over here to Philippians
chapter 1. The apostles had a ministry to perform. They had a gospel
to be preached, and the Lord preserved them in the preaching
of that gospel, in the ministry that He had given to them. Look
at Philippians chapter 1, verse 21. For me to live is Christ,
and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this
is the fruit of my labor. Yet what shall I choose? I know
not. For I am in a strait between two, having a desire to depart
and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to
abide in the flesh is more needful for you." The Lord Jesus Christ,
that dying thief, the day he believed and the day he died,
the Lord took him to glory. But when these apostles were
made apostles, sent and chose them God, given gifts to preach
and minister the gospel, they were given a ministry to fulfill
here. They must go and preach the gospel. Somebody has to hear it. His
sheep have to hear it. And they will. And they will
believe the gospel. They had a ministry to fulfill,
they had many sermons to preach, and they were left here until
their ministry was completed and over. He said, go into all
the world and preach the gospel to every creature. And notice
this, the Lord says, Don't take them out of the world, not right
now, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil, and keep
them from the evil one. The Lord our God prays for our
protection as the Good Shepherd, He watches over His flock. Thanks be unto our faithful God
who keeps us, who protects us, who intercedes for us, who will
not let us go. We're kept by the power of God
through faith in Christ Jesus. He is able to keep us from falling
and to present us faultless before the presence of God's glory with
exceeding joy. Father, I pray that you'll keep
them. Keep them. Believers in the Lord
Jesus Christ cannot perish. Can they? He says, my sheep hear
my voice, I know them and I give unto them eternal life. Believers
in Christ cannot perish no more than the Lord Jesus Christ can
stop being one with the Father. You see, we're one with Him.
He is the head, we are the body, we're in Him. We're one in Him
and He keeps us from the evil one. Satan is called the accuser
of the brethren. He is cast out. Christ has crushed
His dominion and His influence in every believer's heart. Let
me show you an example of this. Turn over here to Luke 22. How the Lord keeps us and preserves
us. In Luke 22, He says, I will be
their God and they shall be My people. And I will make an everlasting
covenant with them. I will not turn away from them
to do them good. I put my fear in their hearts,
and they shall not depart from me." Look what he says here now. I'll give you an example of this
in Luke 22, verse 31. Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath
desired to have you, that he may sift you like wheat. But
I prayed for thee that thy faith fail not." When you're converted,
when you're truly turned and strengthened, you strengthen
your brethren, telling them that we're kept by the power of God. You remember our Lord prayed
in Matthew 16, I will build my church, I will build my church
and the gates of hell shall not prevail. against the Lord's church. He keeps us by His power. Now,
He repeats what He says in verse 16 from verse 14. They are not
of the world even as I am not of the world. Chosen out of the
world. Now look at verse 17. Verse 17
and let's consider verse 19 together. Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. The Word of God is quick and
powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. Thy Word is truth. Now
look at verse 19. And for their sakes I sanctify
myself, that they also might be truly sanctified through the
truth. The truth. God doesn't use lies
to teach the truth, does He? He sanctifies us with the truth,
the truth. The Lord Jesus Christ praises
for all those given unto Him, that they be truly and completely
sanctified in Christ Jesus. Now I want you to turn and read
this verse with me. Over in the book of Hebrews,
you remember from our study? In Hebrews chapter 2 verse 11,
turn over there. sanctify them, set them apart,
make them holy, make them righteous through the truth. Look what
it says here, Hebrews 2 verse 11, For both he that sanctifieth,
and they who are sanctified, are all of one, for which cause
he is not ashamed to call them brethren. He that sanctifieth,
and those who are sanctified, they're all one. In Christ we
are holy as He is. He is our, but of Him are you
in Christ, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification, and redemption." He is our holiness. He is our
sanctification. Christ Himself, He is the truth
that sanctifies us. We're holy only in Him. We're set apart in that covenant
of grace. set apart unto the glory of God."
Now, we see in Scripture, I've given this to you before, I'm
going to give it to you again, we see the work of God the Father,
we see the work of God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in the
sanctifying work of God in the believer's life. We won't turn
and read the Scripture, but in Jude 1, verse 1, we're sanctified,
that is, set apart by God the Father in the eternal election
of grace, as God has chosen us in Him before the foundation
of the world. He chose us and set us apart.
So we're sanctified by God choosing us unto salvation. Secondly,
we're sanctified by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. His
blood cleanses us from all our sin. We studied in Hebrews 10,
by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body
of Jesus Christ once for all. How are we sanctified? Set apart
by God in that eternal covenant of grace. Sanctified, that is
washed, cleansed, and justified by the redeeming blood of the
Lord Jesus Christ. And then thirdly, we're sanctified
by the work of the Holy Spirit within us. This is an inward
work. This is a heart work that's done
by the Holy Spirit in conviction and regeneration, making us new
creatures in Christ Jesus and giving us a new holy and divine
nature that wasn't there before. That's what happens in regeneration.
The old man is still the old man, but He implants within us
and imparts unto us a new nature, like unto His nature, a holy
nature that cannot sin. We are sanctified in the Lord
Jesus Christ. Now look at verse 19, John 17,
19. And for their sake, for their sake, For all the elect's sake,
I sanctify myself. I set myself apart that they
might also be sanctified or truly sanctified by the truth. The truth, the truth, the truth.
The Lord Jesus Christ is set apart from all eternity as a
surety, as the Savior, as a sacrifice for our sin. We're taught to
pray to forgive one another, love one another, even as God,
for Christ's sake, has forgiven us. My friend, this is the truth
that really sets us free from the bondage of sin. We're no
longer going about to establish a righteousness of our own. We've
been set at liberty in Christ Jesus. This is the truth that
sets us free. Our Lord said this, turn back
at John chapter 8. Turn back to John chapter 8.
Look at verse 31. John 8, 31. Then the Lord said
to those Jews, if you continue in my word, then are you my disciples,
and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free. If the Son therefore shall make
you free, verse 36, you shall be free indeed. stands fast in
that liberty wherewith Christ has set you free. This is the
truth that sanctifies us, that liberates us from the bondage
of sin, from the curse of the law. The Lord Jesus has redeemed
us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Now, in closing, look at verse
18. As thou hast sent me into the
world, even so have I sent them into this world. Our Lord has ordained the preaching
of the gospel to the calling out of His covenant people. The last instruction the Lord
gave unto His church, recorded in Mark 16, He said, Go into
all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. That is our business here. Preaching
Christ. Preaching the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul, when he writes
to young Timothy, said, I charge thee before God and the Lord
Jesus Christ to preach the Word. What do our young people need
in this life? They don't need more electronic
gadgets, do they? They've got enough of them. Well,
what do they need? What do we do for our young people?
Entertain them? No, we preach the Gospel to them.
The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is the good news unto
salvation. Let us therefore never despise
the means that God has ordained to call out His people. It pleased
God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Let
us always make much of the preaching of the Word. Now I didn't say
let us always make much of the preacher. We have this treasure
in an earthen vessel, that the excellency may be of God, the
power may be of God. But let us always make much of
the preaching of the Word, the preaching of Christ. The Apostle
put it this way, we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the
Lord, and ourselves your servant for His sake. Look at verse 18
again, As thou hast sent me into the world, Sovereignly on purpose,
even so have I also sent them." I've sent them. Now think about
this. What a blessing it is to have
a minister of the gospel, a preacher of the gospel sent to you. That's a blessing. That's from
God. It's the gift of God. No greater
blessing the Lord can send a city, a town, a community, a congregation
than a God-called, God-sent preacher of the gospel. Think about it. He said, as the Lord God Almighty
has sent me, even so have I sent them, that they might hear the
gospel, that they might believe the gospel. Those, look at verse 20, neither
pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe
on me through their word, through their preaching. The apostle writes this, woe
is unto me if I preach not the gospel. I take that personally. Woe is unto me if I compromise
the gospel. Woe is unto me if I preach not
the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. But also we can turn
that around and put it upon you. Woe is unto you if the gospel
is preached and you ignore it and you don't receive it. Woe
is unto you. What a blessing the Lord has
given unto us to have this prayer.