Text: John 17:20-26

In John 17 Jesus elevates the Lord’s Prayer to Prayer 2.0. In His final hours of teaching, He’s praying. He’s modeling for His remaining 11 what it is to glorify the Father.

Unless you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, there is no other prayer you can pray that will be heard by God other than acknowledging Jesus as Lord. Until Jesus is Lord, God will not hear you.

That’s what all the Me in You, You in Me, Us in them in Chapters 13-17 is all about. Unity of will and purpose for ALL of God’s children. Starting with His Son and extending all the way through history to you and me… IF… Jesus is your Lord.

It can’t be stressed enough. No Jesus, No access to God. No access to heaven. Basically, you’re on your own. You and every other unwilling to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus.

Too harsh? Clearly, I don’t think so. Jesus is Lord, or He’s nothing but a phenomenon that blazed brightly for a few years a couple of thousand ago.

It was suggested yesterday that even Jesus could sing “Bend me, Shape Me, Anyway you want me, Long as you love me, it’s alright”. In fact, I’d go as far as to say those words sum up how His heart felt as He prayed on an ongoing basis. Yes, it’s a playful little ditty, but it’s theologically sound. Plus, it’s memorable. Every believer would be well served if they adopted a prayer posture consistent with those words.

In the Lord’s Prayer 2.0 Jesus prayed first for Himself, then His immediate family (the 11) and then for everyone else. He prayed with a heart that willingly, joyfully asked the Father to bend him, shape Him, anyway He wanted. Respectfully and continuously for His Father’s Glory, His own and ours.

Skeptical? Try it. Pray like that and you’ll likely experience more joy and less disappointment in your life… That same day! What have you got to lose?