JESUS' LAST WORDS
Memorise:
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. .. John 17:11
Read:
John 17:9-26
Message
The last words of a dying man are usually very important and must be given the utmost attention. More importantly, we should pay extra attention to the last words of Jesus before He left the earth because they are extremely important. When my Father in the Lord was about to leave the earth, he sent for me, but unfortunately, I had gone to Akure, a state capital in Western Nigeria, to preach. Up until today, I still wish that I was there to hear what he wanted to tell me at that crucial moment in his life.
In John 3:16, Jesus said that God loves the whole world and sent Him to die for everyone, but when He was saying His last prayers in John 17:9, He said, "I'm not praying for the world, I'm only praying for these people that You have given me." This means that if a fellow is not born again, he or she cannot experience certain benefits of God's love. As a matter of fact, Jesus Christ said that He will deny such a fellow before His Father on the day of judgement (Matthew 10:32-33).
Those of us that are truly born again must also pay close attention to Jesus' last words before His crucifixion and death. In His final prayer before His arrest and crucifixion, He said:
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.John 17:20-21
It is very important to Jesus Christ, the Head of the church, that believers are united. God's glory can only be seen upon the church when there is unity and when Christians are of the same mind. In Psalm 133, the Bible tells us that God's anointing and blessings will flow freely within His church when we are united as brethren. You should not hold grudges or keep malice with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Even though a Christian belongs to another denomination and you have a disagreement, bear in mind that you both belong to God, and all Christians are His children.
Beloved, ensure that you always show love to the Christians around you in spite of your differences. Make up your mind to honour the last words of your Lord and Saviour by striving for unity with other believers (Ephesians 4:1-3).
Bible In One Year:
John 7-8
Hymn:
Ancient Words
Prayer Point:
Father, please help me to honour Your last words by loving all Christians across the world in spite of our differences.
Ancient Words
Chorus:
Ancient words, ever true
Changing me and changing you
We have come with open hearts
Oh, let the antxnt words impart