Those Who Believe Through Their Word | John 17:18-20

A Faithful Congregation is a Prayerful Congregation
Those Who Believe Through Their Word
John 17:18-20


As You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. For their sake I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word.      -Jesus, John 17:18-20
 
 Those Sent Christ Sent
Jesus sent His disciples into the world.  He had revealed the truth to them.  He called them, lived with them, protected them, showed miracles to them, and sent them.  Jesus had spent His final evening before going to the cross with them.  Soon they would despair at Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, but that despair would become joy at Jesus’ resurrection and the Spirit’s indwelling.  Called and empowered, the disciples would go to the world and share the truth about Jesus.  He sent them.  Praise be to Jesus for sending his disciples.  
 
 
Those Who Believe Through Their Word  
The disciples were sent.  Those sent made disciples.  Those disciples made more disciples.  Those disciples made more and more disciples.  Finally, the process of disciples making disciples reached us.  We became disciples.  Everyone who is a disciple of Jesus traces their faith lineage to those Jesus sent (the 12 plus Paul).  There are disciples around the world today because of the call for disciples to make disciples of all nations.
 
 
Those Christ Sends
Just as Jesus sent His disciples into the world, Jesus still sends His disciples into the world.  The night before Jesus died, He prayed not only for His disciples, but for all those who would believe through their word.  How remarkable it is that Jesus prayed for us!  How remarkable it is that He remains to intercede for us now!  Today, we often call those sent into the world missionaries.  This weekend we have a remarkable opportunity to connect with our GCC missionaries.  Representatives from the missions Glendale supports will be here Sunday so we can connect with them in person and in prayer.  One of our missionaries will even preach the Sunday sermon.  In addition to that, we have the opportunity to connect with Lifeline Christian Mission this Saturday and help to pack 50,000 meals to be sent around the world to those in need.  Please click the link to sign up to help.  https://subsplash.com/glendalechristianchurch/lb/ev/+wpkbg69  
 
Prayer Prompt
Dear Jesus, thank You for calling, empowering, and sending the disciples into the world. Thank You for praying for us all those years ago.  Thank You for those who shared the truth with us and thank You for sending us into the world to make disciples.  Thank You also for the missionaries and missions we support as a congregation.  We are grateful to support those who work around the world and around us to spread your good news.  
 
We pray that the meal pack this Saturday would be a tremendous success and that many hungry people would receive a nutritious and delicious meal in Your name.  We also pray Connecting to Missions even this Sunday.  Please get all our missions/missionary representatives here safely and please inspire more of our congregation to join them in prayer.  Please also prompt some of our congregation to travel to where our missions and missionaries serve so we can see first-hand their work and better partner with them.  
 
Jesus, thank You for establishing this worldwide connection of disciples.  May we do our part and help make disciples of all nations.  We love You, Yahweh, but please don’t just take our word for it, but see it in our actions.  Amen.
 
Let our faithfulness in prayer mirror Yahweh’s faithfulness!
 
-FW, CC, SL,
Andrew

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