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Plainly Speaking
with Karl J. Forehand
The
Prayer of the Overcomer
by Karl J. Forehand
It was the evening of April 6, A.D. 30, around midnight. Jesus has just give a farewell address to
the disciples. As He is on the way to
the Garden, he stops (probably at the Temple court) to pray for himself, the
disciples and us.
Some
considers this prayer the greatest prayer ever. One writer calls it the “Holy of the Holies” of the Gospel
record. It is prefaced by a single
verse in chapter 16 which says:
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the
world." (John 16:33)
Because of this, the prayer is also
sometimes called the “Prayer of the Overcomer.” Jesus did not consider Himself a victim. The cross was very intentional. Jesus had finished the work assigned to
Him, He was about to defeat sin by becoming the sacrificial lamb. Jesus had overcome the world by His
sinless life and obedience to God’s plan.
He was not surprised by the cross – He was preparing for it. He was an overcomer.
Are we supposed to be overcomers?
Do not be
overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Romans 12:21)
The goal of the overcome is to overcome
evil. An overcomer is not necessarily
someone that makes a lot of money. An
overcomer is not necessarily someone that succeeds in their career or
succeeds in any way that the world deems honorable. The overcomer primarily overcomes one thing – SIN. It is possible to succeed financially,
occupationally and relationally; but still not overcome the one thing Jesus
overcame – SIN.
Why can we overcome?
You are from God,
little children, and have overcome them;
because greater is He
who is in you than he who is in the world.
(I John 4:4)
The reason we can overcome is because our
God is greater that the god of this world.
We don’t ovecome because we are superior to the world. We don’t overcome because we have found
the best procedure to conquer the world.
We overcome because the One that is in us is greater.
Jesus told each of the seven church in
Revelation “To Him who overcomes…”
Who can overcome?
For whatever is born
of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the
world-- our faith. And who is the one
who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of
God? (1 John 5:4-5)
The one
that overcomes is the one born of God.
The one that overcomes is the one that believes in Jesus Christ.
We are not
whipped. We shouldn’t be people that
gather in holy huddles and talk about how the Devil is so tough. We should be overcomers.
A common
theme develop in this prayer. It is
this thought: “God’s Word imparted and believed changes everything.” God’s Word was spoken first through the prophets. Then the Word became incarnate and dwelt
among us. Jesus quoted scripture; but
also brought the Word to us in his life and the words He spoke. After his death and resurrection, the Word
was recorded. When the Word of God is
delivered to us and believed, it changes everything – it makes us overcomers.
What Jesus Prayed for us…
1. Protect
them
"I am coming to
you now, but I say these things while I am still in
the world, so that
they may have the full measure of my joy
within them. I have given them your word and the world
has
hated them, for they
are not of the world any more than I am of
the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of
the world
but that you protect
them from the evil one. (John 17:13-15)
How do we
have the full measure of joy? We must
realize we WILL have trials and then overcome the sin in our lives. How do we do that?
"And they overcame him
(Satan) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of
their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death. "For this reason, rejoice, O heavens
and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil
has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time."
We find the
fullness of joy when we realize the world has trials and tribulations; but
our testimony is that we will overcome sin, even to the point of dying for
it. In other words, we get committed
to it. Satan can’t stand against
that.
Jesus
prays that we would be protected from evil.
The more you do for God, the more Satan will tempt and attack
you. You need God’s protection from
evil to be an overcomer.
God’s
Word imparted and believed protects us.
2.
Sanctify them
"Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
To sanctify means to set apart. Believers are set apart positionally from
the moment of their new birth. We are
raised up and seated with Christ (Eph. 2:6).
We are heirs of God and joint heirs of Christ (Rom. 8:17).
We are also in the process of being set
apart experientially. What does that
mean? It means that God loves you the
way you are; and He loves you too much to leave you the way you are. As we go through the trials and
tribulations of the world, we are being perfected. Perfected by what? By
the truth. What is truth? His Word is truth.
God’s Word imparted and believed sanctifies us.
3.
Glorify them
"And the glory which Thou hast given Me I
have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; (John 17:22)
Glory is the radiance or brilliance of God. One day, we will be fully glorified. This means two things:
our physical bodies will be made perfect and we will be able to see
God in all His brilliance. “For now
we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then
I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known.” (1 Cor.
13:12).
I believe the process of
glorification can begin now? Although
we live in this “tent” of a mortal body, we CAN begin to see God more as He
really is. We can also begin to
reflect the glory of the Lord in our lives.
Jesus gave us that glory.
Jesus wishes that His glory be seen (John 17:24).
The Word imparted and believed
glorifies us.
4. Complete them
and I have made Thy name known to them, and will
make it known; that the love wherewith Thou didst love Me may be in
them, and I in them." (John
17:26)
Love is not just a sentimental emotion.
When we accept God’s love and love others, showing our love back to
God, we become complete. After all,
Jesus summarized the commandments into love.
God’s love makes us complete when His love is in us.
God’s Word imparted and believed
completes us.
Are you an overcomer? Jesus prayed that you would be.
Karl J. Forehand, 2002
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