When I look into my prayer journal on what the Lord has spoken to me in the last month and further back, there are times when the He spoke to me through the same Word, a Word given to me repeatedly . Other times, the Lord spoke to me through a connected Word, a Word from different part of the Bible, like placing and joining little pieces of a jigsaw puzzle in their positions. We are truly blessed as believers and children of God, for we are created for His purpose, and that He called us into His Kingdom to share His glory. We are designed to be worshippers of the Almighty God, the Father; through His Son, Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 2:12 says “that you should walk worthy of God, who has called you to His Kingdom and glory”.

When the Lord uses a word in a verse, it is important. If He uses it twice, it is extremely important. If He uses it three times in two verses – you better not ever forget it!

The Lord has now spoken the same Word to me 3 times, all in one month! It is the scripture of Romans 1:18-32 which I shared with you, entitled “Will We Escape the Coming Wrath of God?” after the 2nd time.

In my prayer on September 9th, after receiving the scripture for the 3rd time, I sought the Lord to give me wisdom to understand why He chose to speak to me in this same Scripture yet again. He faithfully spoke to me in reply through John 17:1–26. His revelation has touched me deeply and I want to share that with you.

There are 3 parts in the John 17:1–26 Scripture:

The 1st part is the “Prayer our Lord prayed to God, the Father, for Himself” after sacrament, after He and the disciples had eaten the Passover and the Lord’s Supper.

The 2nd part is the “Prayer our Lord prayed for His Disciples” and

the 3rd is the “Prayer our Lord prayed for all Believers”.

The 1st part of the prayer in John 17:1–5 is an outward expression of the Lord’s deepest desire for the Father’s glory, His power and perfect love for His creation. It also shows us who the true God is, the divine truth and deity of our Lord Jesus Christ and Saviour, the glory of the Son of God, so full of love and humbleness. Our Lord prayed as a priest and is now an offering sacrifice to redeem us from our sins, the author of Salvation and finisher of faith. v3 – 5 says,”And this is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You upon the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now Father, glorify Me with Yourself with the glory which I had with You before the world was”.

The 2nd part of the prayer is for His Disciples, whom the Lord knew by name; the chosen ones, having given them the words which He had received from the Father. By His grace and favour, the elect had received the full blessings of His spiritual seed. They are the sheep of His pasture, His portion and inheritance, to be saved and preserved by Him. v8 – 10 reads, ”For I have given to them the Words which You gave Me, and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from You. And they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I am glorified in them”.

In v14, The Lord tells us in His prayer to the Father, that He has given His Word, that is, His Gospel, to all. However, because unbelieving people are of this world; are under the dominion of worldly sin and are under the influence of evil: they reject His Gospel. They also reject the Lord’s disciples, for His disciples are not of the world, as the Lord is not of the world. What was true then, as the Lord spoke His words for the first time, is still true today.

The Lord prayed to the Father for the faithful ones, to preserve them with the love, glory and full blessings of God; those who are committed to follow Christ and to deliver them from evil. v15 – 19 reads:”I do not pray for You to take them out of the world, but for You to keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Your truth. Your Word is truth. As You have sent Me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world. And I sanctify Myself for their sakes, so that they also might be sanctified in truth”.

The 3rd part of the prayer was intended for “all believers”. The Lord prayed for His church, for those who believe on His name through the preaching of His Word, unified in God, the Father and in Christ Jesus. In v21 – 26, the Lord prayed for unity of Christians who, by His grace, are redeemed by His blood. ”And I have given them the glory which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one, I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that those whom You have given Me, that they may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me, for You have loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, indeed the world has not known You; but I have known You, and these have known that You have sent me. And I made known to them Your name, and will make it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them”.

I believe that the Lord chose to speak to me through the Holy Spirit in John 17:1–26 to remind us that His love for us, His church, is from everlasting to everlasting. His perfect love casts out all fear and even though the Lord allows us to go through sufferings in life, He is there with us and will see us to the end. Do not be discouraged. Even in the most difficult circumstances, we need to be obedient and praise God with thanksgiving for He is doing a new thing in our lives. He has not abandoned us but has promised that He will deliver, heal and restore us. Let us answer God’s calling to be unified as powerful witnesses to His love and glory.

When we have sinned and have backslidden in our ways, God is gracious, compassionate and merciful. He sends the Holy Spirit to guide us. He equips us with the Bible and sends his servants, the apostles; prophets; pastors and teachers to speak to us, to remind us to turn back to Him with an honest heart, to repent of our ways. The Lord is our fountain of all blessings and as we are blessed, let us also be a blessing to those around us.

Let us honour God in truth and in spirit and pray in unity with the Lord.