--- A united Prayer ---
Who should we pray for...?
(Written: November 2022)

As joy is robbed from our lives (as we are "sighing and groaning") because of so much suffering in this world, (Eze 9:4) wouldn't you like to just help everyone? Almost every person I talk with has that same feeling. Our inclination is to want to ask God to help every single person find peace. (Luke 10:5-6) Would such a prayer please God? (2 Pet 3:9) What, though, about those individuals actually causing or adding to mankind's suffering? It doesn't seem right to pray for them? That question has plagued me for many years: How can I identify who I should ask God to help? I just found the answer in the words of Jesus Christ, in a prayer he offered to his Father shortly before he died. They are words I have read or listened to probably hundreds of times. And now, all of a sudden, I realize the answer in Jesus's words. In his prayer in John 17, Jesus makes clear by his example who we should ask our Heavenly Father to help! His answer is most of one chapter long, but the reward it gives is immense! We should simply ask our Father to help the same people Jesus prayed for...

John chapter 17: After Jesus finished saying this, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that the Son may give glory to you. (2) For you gave him authority over all people, so that he might give eternal life to all those you gave him. (3) And eternal life means to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent. (4) I have shown your glory on earth; I have finished the work you gave me to do. (5) Father! Give me glory in your presence now, the same glory I had with you before the world was made. (6) "I have made you known to those you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me. They have obeyed your word, (7) and now they know that everything you gave me comes from you. (8) I gave them the message that you gave me, and they received it; they know that it is true that I came from you, and they believe that you sent me. (9) "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those you gave me, for they belong to you. (10) All I have is yours, and all you have is mine; and my glory is shown through them. (11) And now I am coming to you; I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world. Holy Father! Keep them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me, (Rev 19:12-13) so that they may be one just as you and I are one. (12) While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me. I protected them, and not one of them was lost, except the man who was bound to be lost---so that the scripture might come true. (13) And now I am coming to you, and I say these things in the world so that they might have my joy in their hearts in all its fullness. (14) I gave them your message, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. (15) I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but I do ask you to keep them safe from the Evil One. (16) Just as I do not belong to the world, they do not belong to the world. (17) Dedicate them to yourself by means of the truth; your word is truth. (18) I sent them into the world, just as you sent me into the world. (19) And for their sake I dedicate myself to you, in order that they, too, may be truly dedicated to you. (20) "I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their message. (21) I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me. (22) I gave them the same glory you gave me, so that they may be one, just as you and I are one: (23) I in them and you in me, so that they may be completely one, in order that the world may know that you sent me and that you love them as you love me. (24) "Father! You have given them to me, and I want them to be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory, the glory you gave me; for you loved me before the world was made. (25) Righteous Father! The world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you sent me. (26) I made your name known to them, and I will continue to make it known, in order that the love you have for me may be in them, and so that I also may be in them." •

Did you note in verse 9, Jesus indicated we should pray for those individuals given him by his Father. He said we should pray for them because they belong to God... We thus find one thing Jesus does is clearly identify two groups of people. (Luke 16:8) One group is given to Christ by God (we should pray for them because they belong to God). The other group is the rest of the world (who Jesus didn't and we shouldn't pray for). (John 8:24; Mat 25:31-34) Those seem simple words but what do they really mean? Who are those given Jesus by his Father? And importantly for us, are we among them?

Our realization there are people we can't pray for should already have arisen in us because Jesus said a terrible tribulation was coming that should, strangely at first thought, make us happy. We should be happy because Jesus said we can know the tribulation he promised will destroy all the wicked, (Psalm 37:8-11) while God will end it to preserve alive the righteous. (Mat 24:37-39; Mat 24:21-22; Luke 21:28) So, as we now witness that prophesied tribulation destroying the world, (Psa 91:5-8) how can we judge who to pray for while being certain we aren't praying for individuals who are actually among those being destroyed by God. (Isa 2:4; Psa 96:5-13; Mat 25:31-46)

That's important because the Bible does teach a righteous person's prayer has great power before our Father. (James 5:16) The Bible also tells us in Revelation 8:3 & 4:  And another angel arrived and stood at the altar, having a golden incense vessel; and a large quantity of incense was given him to offer it with the prayers of all the holy ones upon the golden altar that was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense ascended from the hand of the angel with the prayers of the holy ones before God. • That scripture helps us realize our prayers can be part of a sweet smelling odor that rises up before our God. Please imagine, then, a united prayer being offered up to the one true God by every righteous person all around the whole earth, as a sweet smelling sacrifice (Eph 5:1-2) both by day and by night! (1 Kings 8:59-60; Psa 42:8) What, though, would such a united prayer look like?

There are obvious problems: Do you believe there is one true God? (James 2:19) For a common and united prayer to be offered by all those faithful among mankind, wouldn't all those prayer givers have to actually know the true God; know who they are praying to? (Eze 8:13-16; 2 Kings 17:16-18) That's where Jesus Christ comes in and what his prayer in John 17 is about: (John 18:37) Jesus made very clear in John 17:3 we do need to know God. He said in John 17:4, that he had finished the work God gave him. Then in verse 6, Jesus explained what that work was, saying he had made his Father's name known to all those individuals whom God gave to Jesus. One thing we want to understand from Jesus's prayer is "what he means" by saying some people "are given to him" by his Father, and how "they belong" to .

Under the Mosaic Law Code, in the 1500 years before the appearance of Christ, there were many sins. (Exo 20:1-17) Since Christ started his preaching work, there seems only one: As John 3:18 and 1 John 5:9-12 and John 16:8-9 (of 5-11) tells us, the sin bringing death is failure to put faith in the son of God. There are, of course, many sinful activities we can be involved in. True faith in Christ, however, implants in us a love for God that takes away or replaces our desire to practice them. (1 Cor 6:9-11) Contrary to Christ's teaching of unity, (John 8:31-32; John 17:20-22; John 17:17) this old world system smacks of disunity and chaos. (Mat 24:23-28; Mark 13:21-23) Nothing is more divisive than the world's varied religions. On TV in just the last couple of days, I saw a Buddhist offer prayer to her God as she crawled up to a large Buddha image on hands and knees, burned incense while offering her prayers to him, and then crawled away backward. As with most other religions, she probably believes her prayers are being offered to the true god. (Exo 20:4-5) I also saw Native American Indians bury an infant boy killed in a car accident, burying him next to a dead horse they had previously buried in preparation. Their activity was also accompanied by prayers to their God. I hear Catholics (who assert Christianity) recite a string of memorized prayers as they run their fingers over the beads in a rosary and see them pray to statues of Mary. (Exo 20:4-5) I hear other Christendom church members go over a string of scriptural references they believe define and prove their faith to be true and real. (Acts 17:29-31) Could all or any of those be considered part of a united prayer; a prayer that is pleasing to the one true God? (Eze 8:13-16; ) According to Jesus, we should all be very careful... (Luke 13:25-27; Mat 7:21-23) Please remember that Jesus made clear everyone alive is (or is being) sorted (Mat 25:31-34) into one of two groups: Those called by his Father and those not. Even Jesus himself couldn't help those who are not first called to him by his Father! (John 6:44; John 6:65) Jesus couldn't help them because there was nothing in them to cause God to draw them to Jesus. And, without that direction of Holy Spirit, they couldn't understand Jesus's words to have faith. (John 8:24) While you must realize you can never judge or even know which group any other person is part of, if you are wise, you can realize and even control which group YOU are in. (Heb 4:12)

This writing presupposes faith in the Bible; or at least a desire to consider if the Bible is God's message to us. (2 Tim 3:16-17) Understanding our relationship with God in the light of the Bible is really really simple, if YOU are sincerely searching: While the Bible contains enough supporting background for us to easily become overwhelmed, in the midst of it all, the Bible clearly explains God is looking all through the earth for every single person sincerely looking for him. (2 Chron 16:9) Every righteously inclined person God finds, He then shows his power in their behalf by directing them to Jesus Christ. (Mark 9:7) Jesus said no one can come to the son without being drawn by his Father. (John 6:44; John 6:65) All persons thus called and chosen by God, are then granted Holy Spirit to be able to hear and get the sense of God's only latter day command: They listen to and are helped to understand the words of God's son. (Mat 17:5) The Bible says of itself it is a tutor to lead us to Christ. (Gal 3:23-26) Do you recognize the power of those few scriptures. If you learn that nucleus of Bible truth, contained in the verses just considered, everything else you learn about the Bible will fit in around and flesh out that basic Bible theme. Knowledge of the scriptures here considered puts everyone who will listen to God (all those who desire to understand God) in the exact same relationship with our Creator: Leaving each of us understanding our need to listen to and learn from his son Jesus Christ. (Mark 9:7) Then, what Jesus came to teach is recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Jesus taught us over and over that our faith in that simple truth means our very life. (Luke 6:19; Mat 9:27‑30; Mat 9:22; Eph 2:8; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42; Acts 14:9; Luke 8:48 of 42‑48; John 7:37‑39; John 19:34)

What are some things we can choose to learn from considering this prayer by Jesus? In addition to hearing what Jesus requested from  his  our Father, Jesus teaches us the following:

There is something wonderful the Bible teaches about God's name that has brought me great comfort for many years. It is in large part why I work to make God's name known to you... Wise King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 18:10, "The name of is a strong tower and into it the righteous runs and receives protection." • That scripture brought me comfort during many years I didn't even know better than to use "LORD" or "Yahweh" or "Jehovah" to represent the God of our Creation. Now that I have come to appreciate our Father's Name is   יהוה  , I feel compelled not only to use the proper name of God, but in light of the prayer by Jesus in John 17:6 and 17:11 and 17:26 above, to join Jesus in his work of making our Father's Name known. Born a Jew, Jesus would certainly have used his Father's proper Hebrew Name. is the name Jesus made known to his followers, but maybe not to the world. Again, though, we don't have to try and pick who we should make God's name known to. We just tell everyone. Those called by God will hear, and those not drawn to Christ by our Father's spirit will hear what we say as foolishness and think us silly. (1 Cor 1:18-25) It's all good...

So then, to summarize, who can YOU pray for in any attempt to offer a united prayer? That has long bothered me while I have seen and experienced so much suffering in this world. Who among them can I pray for. After all these years, and having read that above prayer by Jesus many many times, it turns out it's easy! Just pray the same or similar words Jesus used in his prayer. In John 17, verse 9, Jesus said he prayed for those given him by his Father, but not for the rest of the world... We simply do likewise. Pray for all those called to Christ by our Father. Simply pray for God's will to be done. That sets you completely free of any need to imagine you are judge of who is righteous or unrighteous. It sets you free of feeling some need to pray for people that are, or even may be, whether purposely or ignorantly, fighters actually against God. (Acts 5:38-40 of 27-40) Praying for God to bless and protect all those He has given to Jesus, is a prayer all followers of Christ can join in praying. They are, in fact, already joined in that prayer. And, all those prayers together rise up before as a sweet smelling odor of sacrifice, both by day and by night. Setting ourselves free of taking part in religious sectarian judgments over others allows us to simply listen to Christ, (John 8:31-32) and in doing so learn how to be able to define and know your own heart. (John 6:28-29; Heb 4:11-13 & Heb 4:14-5:10) It's perfect!

Please note as you give thought to your own prayers, Proverbs 15:8 tells us: "The sacrifice of the wicked ones is something detestable to , but the prayer of the upright ones is a pleasure to him." • The only way you can be certain your prayers are upright, is if you are actually listening to and following the example of Jesus Christ. (Pro 21:2; 1 Sam 16:7; Pro 24:12; Jer 17:10; Pro 30:12) I, for example, am convinced I am doing my best to help you; but, even as I say that, I'm aware I'm just an imperfect man trying to learn for myself. Until just a few years ago, for example, I would have used Pro 18:10 to tell you to seek God's protection by using the name of The LORD, or Yahweh, or Jehovah. I have now learned to tell you to seek refuge in the name of . Some will tell you that all means the same thing. I don't think so! You must choose for yourself, of course. Everyone else you know is just like me, at best, in that sense of just learning what is really truth! Jesus, however, is perfect and knows exactly what you should know. (John 12:49) Read the Gospel recordings of the words of Christ: Make the choice to sit at his feet and listen to him! (Mark 3:31-35) See you soon, then, in paradise... (Psa 37:10-11; Psa 37:29; Isa 11:1-12)


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