John 17
A Father's Prayer for His Children
Conclusion

John 17:23,26
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one;
and that the world may know that thou hast sent me,
and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me,
be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me:
for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee:
but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it:
that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
As we finish this study regarding how Jesus prayed for His own 'children' as His final prayer, we should remind ourselves once more that we, as fathers, can look to Jesus' prayer as our example to open our fatherly eyes regarding our own children.

A good way to preach on Fathers Day, amen?

We see over and over that Jesus has what He has only because of His Father - and that is to be used as a witness, and example and a testimony to the world.  We then see that Jesus wants to give to His 'children' all that His Father has given to Him.


Do we want our children ...

To be like the children of darkness?
There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes!  and their eyelids are lifted up.
There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives,
to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
Proverbs 30:11-14

To be like their dads were in their unsaved days?
 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation;
a generation that set not their heart aright,
and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
Psalm 78:8

To live a shortened life?
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Ephesians 6:1-3

Rebel against dad's nurturing and admonition of the Lord (Eph 6:4)?
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken,
I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
Isaiah 1:2

An adult that has forsaken the Lord and even provoke Him to anger?
Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters:
they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger,
they are gone away backward.
Isaiah 1:4

An adult that will be replenished from the east and from soothsayers?
(Psychology - New Bible Versions, etc. to please their self!)
Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob,
because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines,
and they please themselves in the children of strangers.
Isaiah 2:6

Even as children, already ruling the house and getting what they want?
Note: In all reality, they are destroying their own family!
And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
Isaiah 3:4
As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them.
O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err,
and destroy the way of thy paths.
Isaiah 3:12

Do you want your children to grow up not knowing the Lord,
in what ever manner or level of closeness?
Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said,
They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Hebrews 3:10

Do we want our children to be smart in the wrong things
and dumb in the right things?
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
II Timothy 3:7
"No way!" amen?
but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
Romans 16:19



So, what do we have as a one of the sons of God - a child of God -
that we could give to our children?

We want for our children, the same things that God has given us...
And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it:
that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
vs 26
The Scriptures!

By the means of the scriptures, we have the opportunity to be perfect (vs 21) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
II Tim 3:16,17

 Whom we preach, warning every man,
and teaching every man in all wisdom;
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 1:28
That would especially include our own children, amen?
(Physical or spiritual, by the way!)

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
I Peter 5:10



What can we pass on to our children so they their life includes the Lord?

Let's guide our children down God's way!
Lets give our children a buckler!
Lets give our children The Rock from God - not the rock from Satan!
As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried:
he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
For who is God save the LORD?  or who is a rock save our God?
It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
Psalm 18:30-32

Lets give our children the counsel of God and the thoughts of His heart!
The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever,
the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Psalm 33:11

Lets give our children His Name!
(that's another study/sermon about His Name!)
I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations:
therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
Psalm 45:17

Lets give our children God's strength and protection from an enemy
that will be their enemy their entire life!
Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces;
that ye may tell it to the generation following.
Psalm 48:13

If we give our children the right stuff - maybe they will give it to their children!
That the generation to come might know them,
even the children which should be born;
who should arise and declare them to their children:
Psalm 78:6

We can be our children's their example in giving 'thanks' to God!
So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever:
we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
Psalm 79:13

Do our children hear us praise the Lord for His strength and wonderful works?
We will not hide them from their children,
shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
Psalm 78:4
One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
Psalm 145:4
Grandpa - this is where you can come in, for sure!
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not;
until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation,
and thy power to every one that is to come.
Psalm 71:18

We can tell our children of God's mercies, his truth and of His faithfulness!
I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever:
with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 89:1
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 100:5

Let our children see how we live IN the Lord!
The closer we are to the Lord, maybe they will want to be there, too!
There is joy, peace, righteousness, etc. there - if we show it!
LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Psalm 90:1

Let our kids know that God always WILL BE...
...regardless of the new laws coming up and most people not even wanting believe in Him!
But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
Psalm 102:12

We must show our children that being in God's family is a blessing!
His seed shall be mighty upon earth:
the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
Psalm 112:2

And of most importance, we must leave our children the WORDS OF GOD!
Do they know all the 'places' and 'evidences' that prove the KJV is the 'one and only'??
The words of the LORD are pure words:
as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD,
thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Psalm 12:6,7

Out of that Book will come your child's salvation & righteousness!
For the moth shall eat them up like a garment,
and the worm shall eat them like wool:
but my righteousness shall be for ever,
and my salvation from generation to generation.
Isaiah 51:8

Let's not leave our children the ways of the heathen - a culture - the customs of the people!
Lets not leave our children psychology and the foolish wisdom of man!
Let's not leave our children with the false belief or desire in visions!
Let's not leave our kids looking for signs and wonders!
Let's not leave our kids looking for the anti-christ!

Let's leave them with the spirit of God - the sword of the Spirit!
The King James Bible
Nothing else and No-one else!

Then you will have led your child closer toward being
perfect in Christ Jesus.
God will take care of the rest!

 Whom we preach, warning every man,
and teaching every man in all wisdom;
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 1:28



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