So we're called to represent Him. It says in Hebrews 1:3, He was the express image of the Father. In other words, when you see Him, you see what the Father is like.
John 40:9 - "if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father".
John 1:18 - "No man has seen the Father, but the only begotten Son of the Father, who is intimately acquainted with Him, has declared Him or made Him known."
So you notice here in Verse 6, as he's finishing his prayer, he said: "Father, I have manifested Your name". I've shown people what You're like. So in other words, a key part of being a son is not just intimacy; it's actually expressed by your lifestyle, and relationships, what God is like as a Father. You can't do that without revelation - that comes from intimacy. So intimacy and representation go hand in hand. It's the same Holy Spirit who helps you do that. The representation of the Father in your life is actually the fruit of the Spirit flowing. It comes out of connection with the Holy Spirit. Intimacy comes out of connection with the Holy Spirit.
Now in order for us to represent the Father, guess what must happen? There must be an ongoing transformation of our life, a healing and restoration of our heart, so we become more and more like what He is; beholding Him as in a looking glass, the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image by the Holy Spirit. It's not about self-improvement; it's not about willpower; it's not about trying harder. It's about surrender to the Holy Spirit, and allowing Him access to the broken places in our heart and life, that we have desperately covered, defended, and are now dysfunctioning in our life, and stop us representing the Father. It's an ongoing, lifelong journey, letting the Father, letting the Spirit access your heart.
Otherwise, the broken parts, that you've tried to hide, will overload. People who are bleeding, pour their blood on other people, who didn't do anything to cause it. Some people are dripping blood everywhere - it's on the carpets, it's on everyone they meet; can't be mistaken! It says in Romans 8:29, that His purpose, His express purpose, is to conform us to the image of His Son. So God has designed a plan to shape you up, and it's unique to you. God knows exactly what you need now, to pull up to the surface the things in your heart He wants to change. If you're listening, then every situation you experience is a growing opportunity. It's not about all the things other people did. It's about you representing the Father, and growing.
A lot of people are upset about what everyone else is doing. When you're like that you're out of control, because your focus is in the wrong place. Focus should be on the Lord, and the Father, and what He's doing; and then if people do dumb stuff... Listen, people do dumb stuff! They do dumb stuff because they're broken. Even if you're nice to them, they still do dumb stuff. That's why dumb stuff happens in the church; it even happened back there in the Garden of Eden - with the perfect Father, it still happened. Why would we think it's going to be different? So God has a plan and a pathway for you; so that then means that my journey to wholeness is in my Father's hands.
I just need to start to become more aware of what is happening in my heart, and what the Holy Spirit's trying to get me to do. If I've got so hard in my heart that I'm not listening anymore, then you know I'm going to have a lot of pain come. Many people have a lot of pain, and if you look at it, and start to think and pray about it, you find it's recycling pain. It's the same dumb stuff happening over and over- different faces, different places, different things; but if you could label it, it's the same stuff - because it's in you, and God's trying to change you. That's why "all things work together for good" - so long as we're called, and responsive to God. Otherwise it doesn't work for your good - just makes you more angry! That helpful for you? So transformation is always by the power of the Holy Spirit - but it also requires our cooperation.