Praise God, we do have the Holy Spirit to
reveal to us the hidden truths in Jesus’ words. So,
let’s look in John 17 at the last prayer Jesus prayed
for His disciples before He went to the cross. This
prayer is especially important for us. Why? Look
at verse 20. Jesus says, “I’m not praying just for
these in front of Me, but also for everyone who
will believe on Me through their word.” All of us
received Jesus as Lord by the word of one or more
of these disciples—either directly or indirectly.
That means Jesus was praying that prayer for you
and me. So we need to pay close attention to it.

Let’s begin with verse 13. “And now come I to
thee; and these things I speak in the world, that
they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”
Verse 15 says, “I pray not that thou shouldest take
them out of the world, but that thou shouldest
keep them from the evil.” Jesus’ prayer indicates
that we are to live above the evil in the world.
This ties in with what He said earlier—that we
would have tribulation in the world, but to be of
good cheer because He had overcome the world.
Yes, He wants us to live above the evil, above the
trials and tests and tribulations of the world,
though we are constantly surrounded by them.
But how is that possible?

You’ll find the answer in verse 17: “Sanctify
them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” In
today’s English, Jesus is saying, “Separate them
with Your Word.” The Word of God will separate
you from the world. It is your sword. Arm
yourself with it. It will fight a winning fight.

If you’re still not totally convinced you’re a
winner, look at verses 20-21. Jesus says, “Neither
pray I for these alone, but for them also which
shall believe on me through their word; that
they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me,
and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:
that the world may believe that thou hast sent
me.” Did you catch that? Jesus said, “We’re all
going to be one.” The Apostle Paul said the same
thing in 1 Corinthians 6:17. “But he that is joined
unto the Lord is one spirit.” Another translation
says, “But he who is joined to the Lord is one
spirit with Him” (New King James Version).

Kenneth Copeland Ministries