Have you been thanking God in your prayers as you should?

Talk to Him about the things He has done for you. Express your Jesus’ Upper Room Prayer
appreciation to Him. 26 May 2013 PM – John 17:1-26 – Scott Childs
Do you ever talk to God about your duties? It is good for us to
review our duties as husbands, wives, children, parents, Introduction: Because this prayer of Jesus follows the
witnesses, God’s servants, and Christ’s representatives. discussions Jesus had with His disciples in the upper room the
Do you pray as much as you should? Life is busy and the night before His crucifixion and because John 18:1 speaks of
devil will do his best to give you excuses for not praying. Prayer is them crossing the brook Cedron after the prayer, I believe that
a vital part of abiding in Christ, and Jesus said if we do not abide Jesus prayed this prayer in the upper room with His disciples.
in Him, we can do nothing. Transition: This evening we are going to four elements of Jesus’
Tonight, let’s ask God to improve our prayer lives. upper room prayer. As we do, we will learn more about Christ, but
Song: Teach Me to Pray – 346 we will also learn about prayer.
I. His Acknowledgements Addressed in His Prayer
A. Jesus acknowledge what the Father gave Him
1. You gave Me power to give eternal life (2)
2. You gave Me [atonement] work to do (4)
3. You gave Me men out of the world (6, 9, 11, 12, 24)
4. You gave Me all things [to do My work] (7)
5. You gave Me words [specific words] (8)
B. Jesus acknowledge other blessings
1. You gave Me glory (22, 24)
2. You loved Me eternally (24)
3. I have known You (25)
4. You have loved Me (26)
In our prayers, we ought to acknowledge things God has given us and His
blessings. We should thank God for all He has given us in salvation. Thank God
for our family. Thank Him for your church and pastor. Thank Him for the Bible.
Thank God for forgiveness. Thank Him for Christian friends. Count your
blessings name them one by one as the hymn writer put it.
II. His Accomplishments Mentioned in His Prayer
A. He expresses these in “I have” statements
1. I have glorified You (4)
2. I have finished the work (4)
3. I have manifested Your name (6)
4. I have given unto them Your [specific ρηματα] words (8)
5. I have kept those You gave Me (12)
6. I have given them Your [general λογον] word (message) (14)
7. I have given them My glory (22)
 Dr. Peter Pett: The glory of Jesus was ‘full of grace and truth’ (the devil).
(Joh 1:14). It was a glory of compassion and mercifulness, and 2. I am desiring that the believers be with me (24)
above all of truth concerning God. This He has sought to pass on a) The word “will” speaks of desire.
to His own. b) Jesus wants Christians to be with Him in heaven.
8. I have declared unto them Your name (26) B. His firm requests [imperatives]
B. He expressed ongoing activities 1. Glorify me (1, 5)
1. I am speaking these things in the world (13) 2. Keep them (11)
2. I am sending them into the world (18) 3. Sanctify them (17)
a) Jesus sends us into the world just like the Father Certainly, requests ought to be part of our prayers, but they ought not to be the
sent Him into the world. main part of every prayer. Both acknowledgements and accomplishments
b) First, we must be sanctified (set apart) by the ought to be large portions of our prayers. God wants us to ask Him to provide
truth found in the Bible. He wants us to be set our needs.
apart from the world in character and set apart in Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer
the world for God’s service. and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
c) We are not saved to sit, but to serve. unto God.
3. I am sanctifying myself in order that they might be Many times, God does not supply for us because we do not ask Him to. How
sanctified (19) Jesus set apart Himself to do the much do you pray each day?
Father’s will that we might be set apart to a holy life James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and
of service through the truth of His Word. cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
I think it is wise to talk to God about our accomplishments and shortcomings. Psalm 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry
Only Jesus perfectly did His Father’s will. This is not a brag time. Rather, it is a aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
time to talk to God about the duties He has given us. It is a time to discuss with If David set aside three times daily to pray, should not we set aside at least one
Him what we have done and what we have yet to do. Talk to Him about your time daily to get alone with God? Jesus said:
personal quiet time with God. Talk to Him about your standing before Him (have Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men
you obeyed Him in Baptism and church membership?). Husbands, talk to God ought always to pray, and not to faint;
about your duty to love and lead your wife. Wives, talk to God about your duty to We cannot demand anything from God. However, we can claim clear promises
complete your husband submissively. Discuss both progress and shortcomings. that are given to Christians in the Word of God. We can remind God of promises
Parents, talk to God about your parental duties. Children, talk to God about your He has made and ask Him to fulfil them.
relationship with your parents. Talk to God about your witnessing, your church
ministries, and your character. Ask God to point out needs. IV. His Promise Stated in His Prayer
I will declare your name. Jesus finished His prayer by
III. His Requests Made in His Prayer promising the Father that he would continue to make known
A. His earnest requests His name.
1. I am praying for them (9, 15, 20) One of our main duties as Christians is to make known the name of the Lord.
a) Jesus did not pray for the world but for the We are to be witnesses for Christ. We sing about it. We talk about it. We pray
believers. about it. But how often do we do it?
b) He did not pray that the Father would take us out
Conclusion: This evening, we have by no means exhausted all
of the world, but that He would keep us from the
that we could learn from this prayer of the Lord Jesus. However, I
evil. This may refer to the evils of sin or the one
trust we have learned more about prayer.