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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conference, Conference With the Father, Part LXV, John 17:15,16 - Lesson 173
Read Verses John 17:14, for review: 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.
Jesus Christ continues his prayer in John 17:15,16: I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Here is a prayer that we ought to remember when the going gets tough.
Jesus Christ prayed not that the Father remove his disciples from the world.
This is also a pattern of prayer for us.
We ought not to pray to be removed out of this world.
We ought not to pray to vacate our place of service because of the difficulty of the service or of the circumstances of the service.
The servant is without right to ask that his service cease.
Jesus Christ knew what the disciples faced as they went out and served him.
In spite of that knowledge he prayed simply that they be kept from the evil.
We are to simply pray for the LORD to preserve us in the world as we serve.
Paul in Phil 1:23,24, understood this when he said: For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
Paul knew his place.
Yes, he desired to be with Christ but he knew God's place for him was a place of service and that service was finished only as God determined.
It is not for the servant to determine when the job is done.
So our master prays to preserve his own as they occupy till he comes.
He asks the Father to keep them from the evil or keep them from the evil one.
Keep them from the author of evil and from evil itself.
There is no victory in isolation from the world so Jesus Christ does not pray that the disciples be isolated from the world but only that they be kept from the evil. |