Send Me
Dangerous Prayers

Below is an automated transcript of this message

Today, we’re concluding our series, entitled “Dangerous Prayers.” We will be digging into John, chapter 17, today. Today, we’ve entitled this particular sermon, “Send me.” We’ve characterized dangerous prayers as opposed to safe prayers.

You might wonder, what are safe prayers? What? They’re the kinds of prayers where we say, Dear Lord, help this day to be a day where I can have clear skin and no zits, clear skies and no clouds and clear roads with no traffic jams. Those are the kinds of safe prayers where I won’t have any trouble, I could be comforted today and all my plans will come to pass. Those are safe prayers.

Dangerous prayers are praying, God, have Your will in me today. God, what do You want me to do? How can I join Your plan? Those are more dangerous because they involve taking us out of our comfort zone. We’re continuing our series today and talking about prayers that we say, Lord, send me.

I wonder how your prayer life is doing. Do you ever pray, Lord, lead me and guide me. Lord, I’m putting You in charge today; would You lead me and guide me today? Would You put the words in my mouth that You want me to say? Would You allow me to take the steps and think the thoughts that You want me to have? Do you ever pray like that? These are “send me” prayers. It’s a prayer where you’re saying, Lord, I want You to be in charge of how today goes.

Now, perhaps you’ve heard of the Lord’s Prayer; the one that begins like this, “Our father, which art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come…” Truthfully speaking, that’s not really the Lord’s prayer. You may be thinking, what, really? That’s the Lord’s teaching prayer or the Lord’s model prayer. If you’ll remember, over in Matthew, chapter six, where the disciples came to Jesus and said, Wow, Lord, You pray better, You pray differently than anyone we’ve ever heard. Would you teach us how to pray like You do? And so, Jesus said, “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…” So He taught them how to pray. If you remember how it concluded, it got down to the end and He says, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” So it ends with a “send off.” Lord, lead me and protect me.

Well, that leads us to what I would call the real Lord’s Prayer. It’s in the Bible. Did you know that it’s one of the longest prayers, if not the longest prayer in the Bible? It’s found in the gospel of John, Chapter 17. This is not a model prayer. This is the Lord praying, and the Lord prayed this prayer on the night before He was crucified as He’s walking along. They’ve left the upper room where they celebrated Passover, what we call the Last Supper. They’re walking and they’ve left Jerusalem. They’ve gone down the hill into the Kidron Valley and are climbing up the Mount of Olives toward the garden of Gethsemane. Chapters 13, 14, 15 and 16 of John is often referred to as the farewell discourses of Jesus, where He’s saying His final things to the disciples before His crucifixion. You’ll remember in chapter 14, He picks up that their hearts are troubled. He’s saying that He’s going to be crucified, and on the third day He’s going to get up. Peter, you’re gonna deny Me three times. So these disciples are a wreck and he says, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; , believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” For three chapters, it’s those kinds of words; words of farewell and of comfort and preparation. They’re walking along; you can picture the disciples as they were walking along with Him. There were eleven of them, because one of them has gone to betray Him. Judas Iscariot has gone off to betray Him. The eleven are with Him; they’re walking along, listening to Him. Maybe, they’re talking among themselves and asking questions.

In John, chapter 17, it kind of looks like Jesus just starts praying out of nowhere. Maybe John elbowed Peter and said, I think He’s praying. He’s not talking to us now. He’s talking to the Father. Jesus begins to pray the most beautiful prayer; so beautiful that Bible commentator Matthew Henry said, “It is the most remarkable prayer following the most full and consoling discourse ever uttered on the earth.”

The prayer was so amazing that the great Scottish preacher, John Knox, was said to have read this prayer daily. It meant this much to him. When he was on his deathbed, his wife asked, “Where do you want me to read?” Knox replied, “Read where I first put my anchor down, in the 17th chapter of John.” This is a prayer that is perhaps the most dangerous prayer in the whole Bible, because in this prayer, we will see that Jesus prayed that we would be sent just as the Father sent Him.

The title of today’s sermon is “Send me.” In John, chapter 17, Jesus prayed that His disciples would be sent into the world just as the Father had sent Him. I believe we can pray a prayer of agreement, agreeing with the prayer of Jesus. Send us just as you sent the Son. As we look at the text today , we’ll see four prayers asking God to send us just as Jesus was sent.

If you have your bulletins, I hope you’ll look there. If you’re watching from home, I hope you’ll turn in your bibles to John, chapter 17. We’re going to pick up at verse 13. The prayer actually begins at the very first part of chapter 17, but we’re going to pick up at verse 13 today for the interest of time. John 17:13-26 (ESV) 13 “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 Ihave given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world,so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” This is God’s word. Amen.

We’re looking for four prayers that we can pray. Here’s the first one.

Dear Lord, send me with … 1. Your Protection.

Take note of a few items as we begin looking here. I want you to circle the word, “sent.” You’ll see it there five times in our reading today. The word, “sent,” is found in verses 18 twice, 21, 23, 25; it’s in there five times. Jesus did not ask the Father to take us out of the world, but He did ask the Father to send us into it in the same way that He had sent Him. He sent us.

Then, I want you to notice the word, “keep,” in verse 15. You might circle that word, “keep.” This is the first part of how Jesus prays for us as He sends us. Look at it. He says , 15 “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” He’s saying, Look, they’re of Me and they’re no longer of the world but just as You sent me from Heaven to the world, I send them back into the world. But as I do, I’m aware that the world hates them and so, keep them from the evil one. The word, “keep,” might be translated, “to guard,” “to watch over,” He says to the Father, Protect them. I’m sending them back out. I want you to protect them.

Now, let’s deal with Verse 13 for a moment. As we dig in here, verse 13 has a time phrase. He says, “But now…” “But now ” is a reference to a place in time. He’s speaking of where He’s at in His ministry. At this point, He knows he’s right at that pivotal moment. He has come to an age of being around thirty-three years old in human years. He’s been faithful to the Father, and now He’s about to do the very thing for which He came. He’s about to be crucified for our sins. It’s the night before; he’s had the Last Supper with His disciples. He’s given them final instructions and He’s heading into the garden, where, in just a little bit, as the other three Gospels report, He prays a prayer. He prays, “Not my will, but thine be done. Is there any way this cup could pass from me?” This prayer comes proceeding that. But now, He says, “Now I am coming to you.” Who’s “you?” “You” is the Father. He’s already looking past the cross.

If you go over Hebrews 12: 2 (KJV,) “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame…” He went to the cross, despising the shame. He was looking already across to the goal line, which is our salvation.

He says in verse 13, “But now I am coming to you…” But now I’m coming to you, Father. I’m coming to You. He’s already looking past Friday, Saturday and Sunday. He’s going to have to get through those, but He’s already seeing Himself getting back to the Father. As He’s praying, He begins to pray those things that He cares the most abou. He doesn’t pray at this point, Father, give me the strength to get through tomorrow. No, He’s praying for us. This is our Lord Jesus praying for us as He faces the cross. He says, in verse 13, “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” In other words, I’m praying this prayer in front of My disciples, and I’m inspiring the Holy Spirit right now to make sure John remembers it so he can write it down for the ages so that we can study it today. I’m praying this prayer so that when they see Me go to the cross, their joy will still be fulfilled because they’ll recognize I warned them that this was coming and it’s temporary. I’m going to get up after three days. Jesus prays, “I’m coming to you,” and He’s praying this prayer in front of the disciples. He is not doubting that it is going to happen; He is praying that their joy will be fulfilled. Do you see how He loves us? Do you see how He’s praying for our protection? He’s also praying that their joy will be fulfilled. He cares about your joy, and so, He’s praying for these things.

I want you to notice another word. It’s the word, “world.” You’ll see it twelve times in this passage. Eleven of the twelve times, it refers to the lost world, the fallen world, the world that is alienated and hostile to the cause of Christ. The Gospel of John uses the word, “world,” more than the other three Gospels combined. He recognizes that the world system is not what he’s referring to the earth or the creation. He’s referring, really, to unbelievers that are hostile to the Word of God here. I’ll show you the one time that it’s not in context with that in a minute. Eleven of the twelve times here, it refers to that mass of humanity that’s alienated from God. The Greek word for those of you that love Greek words is κόσμος. It is where we get the word, “cosmos.”

He says this world hates them. I want you to see that as we’re reading here, in verse 14, “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” And so, He’s saying, I need You to protect them, Father. I’ve protected them while I was here, and I’ve only lost one that the scripture might be fulfilled and that’s the son of destruction who was Judas Iscariot. I’ve kept all that You’ve told me to keep. and now, I turn them over to Your care. Lord. You protect them, Father. You protect them.

He says, “… the world has hated them…” I don’t know if you realize this, but if you’re a believer of Jesus, the world hates you. Why? Because you’re not of the world. I almost named this sermon, “Aliens,” or something like that, because we are not of this world. Literally, in verse 14 and 16, He says it twice. He says in verse 14, “… because they’re not of the world…” “They” is us. “…just as I’m not of the world…” because we’re of Jesus. And then, in verse 16, He says it again, “They’re not of the world, just as I’m not of the world.” He repeats it. Literally in the Greek, it says, “out of this world.” They are out of this world. So I’m just going to look at you and say to you right now, here’s what Jesus says about you; He says, I love you. You guys are out of this world because you’re of me and I’m out of this world. But I’m not praying that you don’t go back into the world. My method of changing the world and getting things right with God is not politics. It’s not a presidential election. It’s not war. It’s not any of these things. My method is the church.

The church is the most powerful institution on planet Earth, and we are the church. Jesus’ method is this; those that are “out of this world” would go back into the world and be sent just as I was sent. Keep them and protect them from the evil one.

Anyone who’s ever said “yes” to any ministry, no matter how big or how small, will recognize that things seem to be going well until they say, “yes.” You may be thinking, Well, that’s not very encouraging. It should be encouraging because it is at that point that Satan actually appear on his radar. People sometimes think that Satan is over there partying on Saturday nights, that he’s over at the bars or other places, having a big time. No, Satan goes to bed early on Saturday night so he can be at church early. He’s interested in keeping Christians from fulfilling the purpose for their lives. The minute that you say, “yes,” to God and you say, “I’m sent; God use me,” you pop up on Satan’s radar. But don’t worry; Jesus has prayed for you. He prays that the Lord will guard them, protect them, keep them, lead them not into temptation but deliver them from evil. This is how the Lord has prayed for us. We’re not of this world. Keep us from the evil one.

Remember how Jesus sent out the twelve in Matthew 10:16? He says, 16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” He recognizes that we are being sent out into difficult places but to not be afraid. The Father is protecting us. He’s keeping us and we know that we can armor up.

One of my favorite things about watching certain movies is the fighting. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but I need some fighting. I don’t know if all men are this way, but I need some adventure. I need a car chase; I need some action. I especially like the part where the hero has to “gear up.” He has to get his armor on, you know? Maybe he has to work out, you know , where you can hear “Rocky” music playing in the background. The actor is running; he’s building up so he can go to war. Or maybe, he’s in a room putting his armor and helmet on.

There is a passage in the Bible about putting on your armor. It says in Ephesians 6:11-17 (ESV) 11 “Put on the whole armor of God, … that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Armor up before you go out.

Lord, keep them. I’m sending them back and I’m not asking You to take them out of the world. They are out of the world because they’re of Me, but I’m sending them back just as You sent Me. I’m sending them. We are like aliens; like strangers in this world, we are not meant for this world any longer. We’re heaven bound.

When I was growing up, I used to hear this song. Maybe some of you that are older might remember such a song. It was called. “Wayfaring Stranger.” “I am a poor wayfaring stranger wandering through this world of woe. There is no sickness, no toil nor danger in that bright world to which I go. I’m going there to see my father. He said he’d meet me when I come. I am just going over Jordan, I am just going over home.” That’s what we are. We’re “out of this world.” We’re here temporarily; it will be like a little “blip” on the timeline. But we will spend eternity with the One who has prayed for us. For now, He sends us back into the world but we are sent and we are protected.

Here’s the second way we can pray:

Dear Lord, send me with … 2. Your Word.

We’re down in verse 17 and following. Take note of this word, “word.” It’s in here three times. It’s in verse 14, verse 17 and verse 20. So, you’re saying, Gary, are you like a word counter? I mean, is that what you dio? Yes, I absolutely am. I’ll study scripture and ask, Okay, What’s this about? Where are the repetitive words, what do these words mean? You may ask me, Why do you tell us to circle words? It’s because I want you to understand something. My authority doesn’t come from me . My authority comes from the Word of God, so you will see where I’m getting whatever point I’m trying to make, It’s not my point, but it’s God’s word.

Circle the word, “word.” You’ll see in verse 17, where He says this, “Sanctify them in the truth.” sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth.” He’s using the word, “truth,” as a verb, speaking of God’s word, as synonymous. He’s saying, “Your word is truth.” Now I don’t know what somebody told you about the word of God. I don’t know what somebody else thinks about it, but I know what Jesus thinks about it. I know what He said in that intimate moment when He’s praying to His father. He prays that His Father’s word is truth, and it will sanctify the hearer that will hear it. This is what He’s saying. I believe what Jesus says about God’s word. He says, “It’s the truth,” and He says, “It will sanctify you now.” The word sanctify means “to make holy and pure.” It can also mean “to set apart for a special purpose.” You’ll see the word, “sanctify,” here a couple of times, and then, you’ll see the word, “consecrate.” When He says, “consecrate,” He refers to Himself. Twice, He says, “that were to be sanctified by the truth,” which is His word.

But then, in verse 19, He says, 19 “And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” This seems strange on first reading, because why would the Holy One, the sinless One, Jesus, need to be consecrated or sanctified? It’s the same word, really. It’s just showing a different aspect of its meaning. Isn’t He perfect? Here’s what it means. He is saying “for their sake;” whose sake? His followers, His disciples, us, for the believers. For their sake. I’m going to consecrate myself. In other words, “to be set apart for a special purpose.”

What was His special purpose? What was His reason for coming to the world? He came to die. He came to the cross. The cross was not an accident. He was headed for the cross. From the time He was sent, he came to die in our place. Here’s what it says, “And for their sake I consecrate myself that they also may be sanctified.” In other words, our sanctification is only made possible because of His consecration. Because He went to the cross, He made it possible for us to be made clean and to be made holy. He goes to the cross. He calls it His consecration. In other words, he’s fulfilling that for which He was set apart.

He says that in the same way I have sent you and I want this word to sanctify you to make you clean. It will have this effect on you. The word of God is like an antibacterial kind of soap, except it’s anti-sin. The way you apply it to yourself is by hearing it, believing in it and then repenting of the places where it convicts you and then you give it to the Lord. Because Jesus has consecrated Himself, in other words, He’s already pre-paid your account, you’re already forgiven. Then the cleansing comes as you surrender to the word.

Now, if you just think for a second about what’s going on in the room right now and what’s going on at home online if you’re watching, it’s really kind of a crazy thing if you think about it. There’s this guy up front, waving his arms and shouting at you right now. You’re sitting there listening to him and you think that’s what preaching is. It’s kind of strange. Paul said, “by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” In a way, it’s kind of strange, unless you understand that the word of God sanctifies us. That is what’s happening right now, at this very moment; the word of God is washing over you. As I’ve told you before I’m the newspaper boy that throws the gospel up on your front yard. Right now, I am the Lord’s servant, getting the water in the tub ready for you and getting the soap in there. He wants to cleanse you so that the word of God sanctifies you and makes you holy.

I want to read a couple of passages; this one is one that I usually use in marriage counseling. The metaphor here is that Christ is the husband and the church is His bride. I want you to hear it that way. Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV) 25 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” The reason for the centrality of preaching the word in our churches is that we believe that what Christ prayed is true and that we are to be sanctified and made holy by the word.

How does this happen? It has to be preached. It has to be taught. It has to be studied. It has to be applied. Romans 10:14-15 (ESV) 14 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Preaching has become central to the church. It becomes central, not just to this preacher, but to you as a proclaimer of the word, because the word has a double impact on you. First, it cleanses you and sanctifies you. Secondly, it fills you so you become a receptacle of it; it’s on your lips. It’s even on your social media account rather than that other stuff you’ve been writing recently. It’s on your Facebook and your Twitter feed or your instagram. It begins to “salt” your vocabulary because it’s changing you. It’s coming out of you because the word of God is cleansing you. You have credibility. When people hear you talk about Jesus, they see the change in your life. You’re not a hypocrite; then, they hear you. Whereas if it’s not having a sanctifying effect on you, probably you should keep your mouth shut for a little while. What did he say? Yeah, I said that. You sometimes are out there and you say, “ Have a good day, ” and you finally mentioned Jesus. One the other days of the week, you’re not doing so well . It might be better to let the word sanctify you before you start talking about things. Sometimes we get that out of order. Become sanctified by the word and then be filled with the word and share the word with others. Are you praying, Lord, as I go out as you send me, protect me and sanctify me by your word.

Here’s the third prayer.

Dear Lord, send me with … 3. Your oneness.

Oneness. I’m not sure that’s a word. I might have made that word up, but I’m trying to work out something here. Send me with your oneness with Your unity. Send me with Your unity Circle the word, “one.” It’s in there four times, in verses 21, 22 twice and 23. It’s in this passage four times. Jesus prays that we might be one. He sends us out. Then, He says that you’re not in this world. You’ve been changed and you are being changed by the word of God and I pray that you would be unified.

Look at what it says in verse 20 because I don’t want to miss this. This is really key. It begins with one of those “I do not ask” phrases. “I do not ask for these only…” “These only” were the disciples in the first century that Jesus was leading; the disciples and those that were following him. I do not just pray for them, but also for those who will believe in me through the Word. Okay, so here’s what He’s saying, There will be disciples coming to faith in Jesus who are not alive yet. But they will believe, because you will be sent and you will preach. And then, the next generation will believe and then they will be sent, and so on and so forth. Until today, you here and now. Here’s what I want you to get. Here’s Jesus 2000 years ago, the night before He goes to the cross and He’s thinking of you. He’s praying for you. That’s what He’s doing right here. Here he is, getting ready to go the cross the night before and He’s praying for the disciples. He’s praying for all of those who will believe when they hear Your word. They’re going to be sharing the word of God.

Here’s God’s plan. The church. He doesn’t have a “Plan B.” What’s the church? It’s not the building. It’s not the steeple. It’s the people, right? The church is sent. We are otherworldly; we are out of this world but we are sent back into the world. We’re protected, were filled with the word of God and sanctified by the word of God. We’re to be at one.

In verse 21, he begins with what’s called a “purpose clause, that those that believe through the generations may all be one just as you are one. And so, that means, in verse 21, that I’m one and so are you that believe with the gospel writer of this gospel. I’m one with John. I’m one with Peter. I’m one with Paul and with the others who went and laid the foundation. And more than that, I’m one with you and you are one with me. In other words, we’re unified. We are one body with one head, Jesus Christ.

He goes on to say that they are not all of His flock; there are more coming. I don’t think they even had a clue what was coming. The disciples turned the world upside down. He says , in verse 21, “…just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” I don’t know if I can get my head around this. Here’s Jesus praying that all believers would be one and only that they would be in me as I am in you and you are in me. He invites us into the unity of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. He prays that the Lord make them one with us, just as we are one.

In case you think He’s finished, He is not. He gives a purpose for this that might be surprising. In Verse 21, there’s another “purpose clause;” “…that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” The “purpose clause” is “so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” He says it twice , 22 “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

One of the proofs to the lost world that Jesus is real and that we belong to Him is that we are at one with one another and at one with God. Our oneness is an attraction to a lost and dying world. The opposite would be when we gossip, when we backbite and when we’re hypocrites; the world will not hear our witness.

Friend, are you “sideways” with somebody today? Is there somebody in your life that you’re not reconciled to? Be careful, Jesus is praying for you. He’s praying that you would be one with one another and one with Him and the Father. It’s that oneness that gives us the platform that the world is looking for.

Are you watching the news today? Do you know what the news is? It’s a money making endeavor. It makes money by stirring up trouble. Nobody tunes in to watch something about a puppy. They tune in and watch 24 hours of this stuff, which we didn’t used to be able to do. They can do it now because it stirs up trouble and the world is interested in divisions and trouble. But if someone comes along and there’s unity, it creates an attraction that’s otherworldly. It’s out of this world. Jesus is saying, “Lord make them one just as we are one.” One of the marks of this is that we would have His glory, that we would have His love and glory. It’s like a synonym for beauty. It’s that which can be seen and shared. What’s the glory of the church? It’s that we follow Jesus and that we’re united in love.

Look what he says in John 13:34-35 (ESV) 34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” I’ve never seen so much division in the church as I’ve seen in recent days. The divisions in the world have crept into the church. It’s supposed to go the other way. The oneness of the church is supposed to impact the world, not the other way around.

Here’s what Paul said to the church at Corinth, which was having some problems with division. I Corinthians 1:9-10 (ESV) 9 “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” Would you pray please pray for the unity of the church?

Jesus said that the gates of Hades cannot prevail against the church. But the church can prevail against the church. One of the ways that this happens is through disunity. Lord, we pray a dangerous prayer today; Lord, protect us. Lord, sanctifies with Your word. Lord, make us one just as You and the Father are one.

Here’s the fourth prayer.

Dear Lord, send me with … 4. Your Name.

Go down to verse 26; you’ll see the He refers to “name.” He says, 26 “I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” That’s what we’re talking about. If you want to cause a quiet to come over a talkative group at work or somewhere else, just say the name, Jesus. Say it without cursing. Say Jesus like He’s your Lord; say it like it’s not a byword, but it’s your life word. You’ll hear a pin drop in the room all of a sudden. That name has power. We are those who carry His name like a banner. It’s appropriate that this is the fourth prayer because if we are sent and we have to be protected and we are sent, being cleaned up by His word and we are sent as unified together. But what are we sent with? We are sent with the Name. We are sent with the name of Jesus.

Notice how he prays in verse 24, “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” He desires to have you with Him. That has some emotion to it. It’s not just “I want” but “I desire that they also whom you have given me may be with me where I am.” He says “to see my glory that you have given me.” In other words, I want them to fully experience all that I have and all that I am. This is our destination. We’re here on earth temporarily, and while we’re here, we are sent. Jesus wants them to know the love that You have for Me before the foundation of the world.

Now, I told you I would give you an example of where the world here is not as defined as it is earlier. In eleven of the twelve times here it was the fallen world. But here, He refers to the created world. This is not the fallen world, but He is saying before the foundation of all creation. Before God said, “Let there be light,” Jesus was already with the Father In a loving relationship of oneness. He is inviting us. Look at this, “Father, I desire that they also. whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” In other words, there never was a time when Christ was not. He is the son of God. He is God. He is divine. When He came as a child, He left heaven. He was already present before creation. There never was a time when He was not. He was back there with the Father, and now He’s inviting us into that family. This is the most amazing prayer that He’s praying right here. He’s saying, Father, I want to show them the glory I have with you. I desire them with me. Oh, I like that Lord. Can I pray the last prayer of the Bible, “Even so, come quickly…” But yet, there’s one more You want to reach, isn’t there, Lord? So who am I who might ask that, “Even so, Lord…” You come whenever the Father sends you, because when the time comes and He calls, he desires that we would be with Him. That’s so awesome. That’s so wonderful. That’s why when we go out and talk about what we believe, that’s why our banner is Jesus. That’s why we talk about that Name.

It says in Acts 4:11-12 (NLT) For Jesus is the one …There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. Jesus is the one. There is salvation in no one else. God has given no other Name under heaven by which we must be saved. That Name means God’s salvation. His name means salvation. That’s the name that we are given in Romans 3:22 (NLT) “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.”

Have you done that? Have you trusted Jesus for your salvation? There’s no other name. When you talk to others, do you talk about Jesus, your Lord? You are sent with that name. Romans 10:9 (ESV) “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The name is Jesus; that’s our name that we carry. That’s the one that we’re at one with. We are sent.

In the Old Testament, there was a prophet named Isaiah, and when he was called, he had a vision of God’s throne room. And as he was stepping into the throne room, he overheard the angelic host singing, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts.” As the Lord spoke, it was like thunder and the ground shook. He heard the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” Isaiah said, “Here am I, Lord send me.”

Have you ever said that? Who’s he calling? Well, I feel like He called you. I’m pretty sure He called you. Yeah, but you know, I don’t know about me, You know, I want the Jesus thing, but I don’t know about the calling thing. Jesus prayed, He said it five times, “Father, I am sending them as you sent me.” Are you one of them? Are you out of this world for Jesus? Then, would you say, Here I am, send me. Let’s pray.

Lord, thank You for your word today. Thank you for this dangerous prayer that You prayed for even us . Lord, I pray, first, for the one that would say, Here I am, Lord. I know you died for me. I confess my sin to you and I repent, which means I turn away from my sinful life. And I turned my life over to you. I believe that you died on the cross for my sin that you were raised from the grave that you live today. Lord Jesus. Forgive me and make me a child of God. I want to follow you. If you’re praying that prayer, believing, the Bible says He will save you and make you a child of God. He will make you one of His own. He has prayed for you even before you were born. He prayed for you. He died for you. Maybe you are already a believer. But you’re in a place right now. You really haven’t surrendered your whole life to Him. You believe in Him. You trust Him. But you’re still hanging on to some parts of your life that you’ve never really fully submitted to say, Here I am, Lord, send me. Would you do it right now? Some of you know what it means. He sent you to a place and you’re afraid to go there but He sent you. He didn’t call you out of the world. But he sent you back into the world. You’re still in the world. Would you say, Lord, send me. I trust You. Protect me. Sanctify me by Your word. Make me one with You, Lord. Help me carry the banner of Jesus. I pray in Christ’s name. Amen.