Today we need to remind ourselves of our place of refuge, our pavilion of safety and our shelter from the surge of wickedness unleashed by the fallen ancient spirits, same as those that operated in the days of the Lord. Our scripture text declares:

And [now] I am no more in the world, but these are [still] in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep in Your Name [in the knowledge of Yourself] those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We [are one]. While I was with them, I kept and preserved them in Your Name [in the knowledge and worship of You]. Those You have given Me I guarded and protected, and not one of them has perished or is lost except the son of perdition [Judas Iscariot–the  one who is now doomed to destruction, destined to be lost], that the Scripture might be fulfilled…I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one.John 17:11,12, 15 AMPC

Note the words, kept, preserved, guarded and protected! Where then is your confidence!

Perhaps you question in your heart, what is the name the Lord was referring to? You need not go far, for John 10:30 provides the answer. If as He declared “I and the Father are One”, the revealed name of the Father is also the name He bore, The Lord Jesus Christ. Little wonder He instructed early disciples and us in John 15:16 and Mark 16:17—

whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], He may give it to you. John 15:16b (AMPC)

And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages. Mark 16:17 (AMPC)

The disciples understood this, believed Him and applied His name (Acts 3:6,16), and confronted the unbelieving religious system with the same. Paul would write to the Romans:

For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved (Romans 10:13 (AMPC)

and affirm to the Philippians in Philippians 2:10 (AMPC): 

That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

As long as you are not a son of Sceva (Acts 19:13-16) and you are walking in His light, you have a sure place of refuge and you invoke that name in faith. Where is your confidence, beloved of God? Selah.



Pastor Afolabi Oladele