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We are in the concluding verses of John Chapter 17, where Jesus Christ is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Having mentioned briefly that astonishing degree of unity which we witnessed thirty and forty years ago I want to repeat these comments, as some reading this may be totally unaware of what happened over a period of around twenty years.

When I recall what was happening back in the 1970’s and 1980’s it was remarkable. Following that global and universal outpouring of the Holy Spirit, there was inter-communion, at these ‘Charismatic Conferences’ and occasions, as each served and received the bread and the wine. Even in Scotland, we thought we were going to take Scotland for Christ, and then something went wrong.

Protestants, Roman Catholics and Jews each had a taste, or experience of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I know it was real. I was present at the various Conferences, and with the ‘Messianic Jews’ on the banks of the Lake of Galilee.

It was real – so very real. Will there be another outpouring of the Holy Spirit before Jesus Christ returns?

Verse 23 of John Chapter 17 – Jesus is praying that the world may know. Jesus is concerned about unity, for the sake of evangelism and mission.

One day the Father will answer the prayer of Jesus. The unity of the Church of Jesus Christ is the greatest ‘evangelistic tool’ we have not used for well over a thousand years.

Verse 25 – Righteous Father, the world does not know You. Many people know that there is a God, but only a few know Him. And what a wonderful thing it is – to know God – to be on talking terms with our Creator God – to experience His forgiveness and mercy and love and power, and peace – to be absolutely certain that you are forgiven and that you are His – and to have that assurance in your heart – and to feel His peace flowing through you – and to know that no man can take that peace away.

This whole prayer just flows. Do take time to read it and meditate upon its significance.

When we receive eternal life, we then want the Word, and when we receive the Word it strengthens us, and when the world sees strong Christian witness and testimony it responds with hatred, and we have to learn to come to terms with that.

There are many spiritually profound aspects to this intimate prayer of Jesus which we are so privileged to read and understand.

If any man is going to stand on his pride and keep himself apart from any other Christian, he is guilty of working against the very prayer of Christ Himself, and thereby guilty of violating God’s Holy Law. This is serious.

It is sad when the community of peace is at war.

Verse 26 – Those closing words are so beautiful. Righteous Father, and Jesus looks up and away from this world, to the loving Father – “I pray that the love with which you loved me may be in them!”

We would hardly believe that this could possibly be true, if Jesus had not prayed these words.

Ponder what Jesus Christ is praying. “Father, over these 33 years, You have been utterly loyal to me. Father, I pray that You will continue this same quality of loyalty to these My disciples. “Father, this is My prayer. Hear Me.”

Then He is arrested and taken away for a series of illegal trials and crucified.

This too is reality. Following such intense intimate prayer, there is arrest, humiliation, and suffering.

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

A Fish in the Hand