The church of Jesus Christ began on the day of Pentecost (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:47; Acts 1:45; Acts 2:3; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 11:15-16). Pente means five. Pentecost was 50 days after the Passover feast, the same time that Jesus died on the cross. 51 days before the church began Jesus met with His disciples in an upper room for the last supper. This story starts in John 13:1. Jesus washes the disciples feet. Judas leaves them to get ready to betray Jesus. In John chapters 13,14,15 and 16 Jesus is teaching them as they sit in the upper room.

And at the end of this long teaching section in John 17 Jesus prays. Now there are two reasons for His prayer. First, He is reporting that He has finished the job His Father sent Him to do. Look at verse 4, "I have finished the work which You have given Me to do."In fact, eight times in this prayer He says, "I have done what you have asked me to do" (17:6,8,12,14,18,22,26).

But there is a second reason Jesus prayed this prayer. Not only to tell the Father He finished the work. But He asks that the work He started will continue in the church. In John 17 there are nine verses where Jesus makes a request to the Father for the church. Look at verse 20, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word." This is amazing. 2000 years ago Jesus was praying for all of the churches that exist today. He was praying for your church. He was praying for my church. He was praying for all those who would believe in Him after He left; for all those who would become believers through the disciples and through the disciples' disciples, etc. And these disciples were the same ones that 51 days later, on the day of Pentecost, were in the upper room when the church began.

Now in these verses Jesus was praying for six things He wants the church to be. And if we can understand what Jesus wants the church to be then it will be easy for us to know how to find a good church.

1. HE PRAYS THAT YOU AND I AS THE CHURCH WILL SENSE THE GLORY AND PRESENCE OF GOD. As He begins to pray seven times He uses the word "glory" or "glorify" (17:1,4,5,6,7,10,24). Look at verses 4 and 5.

John 17:4-5

"I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was."

The word "glory" in the Greek comes from the word doxon. That's where the word "doxology" comes from - where we sing "praise God from whom all blessings flow." To glorify God means to show the power and greatness and glory of God. If a church is more concerned about glorifying themselves then they are about glorifying God don't join that church. Find a church that glorifies God and encourages you to spend time with God.

2. HE PRAYS THAT YOU AND I AS THE CHURCH WILL FOLLOW THE WORD OF GOD. Look in verses 8,14,15,16,17,19,20. Verse 8 says, "For I have given to them the words which You have given to Me; and they have received them." Look at verse 17,

John 17:17

"Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth."

The Bible is God's word. Every word in this book is completely true. It says that God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit are all one God. It says that Jesus was born of a virgin, rose again from the dead, is the only way to God and will come again to take us to heaven. When you look foe a church - look for a church that believes, teaches and preaches the Bible.

3. HE PRAYS THAT YOU AND I AS THE CHURCH WILL BE UNITED IN THE LOVE OF GOD. Verses 11,12,21,22 and 23 talk about this. Look at verses 20-21,

John 17:20-21

"I do not pray for these alone; but also fro those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are one in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."

If a church is always having big fights and arguments you shouldn't join that church. If a church shows favor to rich people and ignores the poor and handicapped, don't join that church. And in your church don't gossip. Don't get into arguments and fights. Be a peacemaker with all men. It was just before Jesus prayed this prayer that He said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another"(John 13:35).

4. HE PRAYS THAT YOU AND I AS THE CHURCH WILL EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF GOD. In verse 13 He says,

John 17:13

"But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves."

If you do not see a joy in the hearts and on the faces of the members of a church you should think carefully before joining that church. Find a church where the people love God and want to be there.

5. HE PRAYS THAT YOU AND I AS THE CHURCH WILL LIVE A CLEAN AND HOLY LIFE. The Old Testament and Jewish tradition emphasized Israel's separation from and often hatred by the world (17:4). Twice He says, "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world"(17:14,16). And He asks God to

John 17:16

"keep them from the evil one."

Verse 17 says, "Sanctify them." The church is God's people. If you're a real Christian you are God's child. You are an earthling. And you should find a church that encourages and challenges you to live a clean and holy life.

6. HE PRAYS THAT YOU AND I AS THE CHURCH WILL HAVE THE SAME MISSION AS THE FATHER. Verses 2,3,15,17 and 18 talk about this. In verse 18 He says,

John 17:18

"As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."

If a church is really following Jesus they will have the same mission and purpose that Jesus had to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person" (Mark 16:15). Find a church that is involved in evangelism and missions.

What kind of church should you look for? The same kind of church that Jesus prayed for. Jesus prayed for six things. He prayed that we would experience the presence and glory of God. He prayed that we would follow His word, that we would have unity, that we would live clean lives, that we would have the same mission as God has and that we would experience the joy of God.

Do you want to experience the presence of God? Do you want to become a student of the word of God? Do you want to be united in a fellowship of God where there is no fighting with anyone? Do you want to live a clean life? Do you want to go where Jesus went and share the good news? Have you lost the joy of God in your life? Find a good church and help make it a better church.

by Steve Nicholes
LINKS TO . . . Other Bible Messages Genesis Esther Daniel Philippians James Complete Discipleship Topics