Temple Baptist Church - 7-24-2024
John 17:14-15
Introduction: The Lord’s Prayer.
A. Tonight, I want to look at the Lord Jesus’ Third Petition in His prayer to God the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane just prior to going to the cross of Calvary.
B. His Third Petition is for the Protection of His Children. Notice with me the reasons for their need for divine protection:
C. Verse 14. “I have given them thy word.” Here, we find the “passing of the torch.” Heretofore, Christ had given the saints of God the Word of God.
D. In His physical absence, His children have been given the responsibility of carrying the Gospel to a lost and dying world.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
E. Having said all this, we need to understand that the world hates and tries to destroy us while Satan also hates us and seeks those whom he may devour!
1. Satan is not our friend! Satan is God’s enemy and also our enemy. He is still walking about seeking whom he may devour. This tells me 2 things:
a) There are those who “may be devoured” that are God’s children. Satan will “eat your lunch!!!" Get out of the will of God and He just may give Satan a little more liberty with you by raising or moving the “hedge” that protects you!
b) Seeking because there are those who Satan cannot “eat their lunch!” Stay in the will of God and remain behind the “hedge” of God.
2. Satan hates God’s people “lest the light of the glorious gospel” be preached.
a) We are the Salt that gives the world Savor!
b) We are the Light that gives the world Liberty!
2 Corinthians 4:3-5 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Romans 10:14-17 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Our responsibility is to share the Word of God) (15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Psalms 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
(Published – To announce, to preach, to tell, and in our day to print! Published actually does not mean printing but with the technology we have today, it is an essential tool of evangelism.)
F. The world hates the children of God because they are not “of the world.”
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
John 15:18-20 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (19) If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
John 17:14-15 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. (15) I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. (Not just evil in general, but “the” evil!)
G. There are several things that I believe that we need to be divinely protected from:
1. Protection from Self - 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. (10) And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bles s me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. (I continue to believe that the greatest enemy that I have is me! I need God’s help to conquer my flesh and ask Him often to help me.)
2. Protection from Sin - Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Notice that it “from evil”, not “the evil.” Sin is rampant in these last perilous days. It continually affects us in three ways: the lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and the pride of life.)
1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
3. Protection from Satan - 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
2 Timothy 4:17-18 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (18) And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
4. Protection from wicked and unreasonable men - 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: (2) And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. (3) But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
5. Protection from taking wrong Steps - Psalms 121:7-8 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. (8) The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
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