What does Papa “J” Say?
Wisdom and prudence share a vitality of “one”. So what good is the wisdom of mankind when over indulgence and caution is tossed aside? Proverbs 8:12
I was thinking (dangerous, I know) this morning of some of the spiritual writers of the past. Watchman Nee, Arthur Pink, A.W. Tozer and Andrew Murray to name a few that I have read. What I remember most about these men is that they were interested in sharing with their readers a deeper relationship with God. I think of another man who may be a better example to explain what I am seeking to accomplish here. George Muller of Bristol was a man of faith who totally relied upon the grace of God to operate several orphanages. He was also the founder of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. He never asked anyone for the funds to operate these homes and the Institution was the raised banner of his total dependence on scriptural knowledge. He relied totally on the grace provision of God to meet his needs. Philippians 4:19. It seems to me that we have moved very far from men like these. Our theology is contemporary, our prayer is shallow, our heart is cold, our ears are itchy. Our understanding of the grace of God is lost in a myriad of failed religious plans based on man's merit and ability to please God apart from a deeper understanding of His unmerited favor. 2 Timothy 4:1-5. All of this Second Epistle of Timothy speaks to this issue.
The Gospel of John
John 17:20-26 It is nice to have someone pray for you isn't it! I know that when things are running smoothly we have a pull from the world that is often the trip wire that causes us to fall flat on our nose. The truth is that there are many believers who are wearing the scar of a skinned nose. If you look into their eyes you will see two very obvious things. One: There will the beam of joy that penetrates you with a sense of peace from the Holy Spirit. Then Two: You will see the pain and suffering of the trials and tests of life in Christ. James 1:2-8 or 2 Peter 1:5-11.
Here we read that Jesus prays for each of us to have the same “oneness” that He shares with His Father. Now, that is awesome and we should be asking the question! Why is this so awesome? To share in the same glory that Jesus shares with His Father is beyond any human experience. To be perfectly one with God almost sounds blasphemous and if Jesus did not say this! Then it would be. To add a little more, this oneness did not begin when Jesus rose from the dead. This oneness has always been eternally existing because the Father, Jesus and the Spirit are ONE!
I would like for us to notice the intensity of this prayer of Jesus. “O righteous Father!” and “I have declared Your Name” As Jesus prays, He is not the least bit fearful of His death, and He has completed faith in His resurrection because the Father has given Him the power to lay down His life and to raise it up again. He is not even fearful that His Father will forget to answer His prayer for you and me. His prayer is like the fervent prayer of a righteous man that avails much, James 5:13-18 and Numbers 11:2. Men and woman who are One with Christ pray like Christ. Are you praying as Jesus prays? Don't answer this question since a yes or no fails the test!
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