As Preached by Pastor Mark Finley
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In the late 1980s, my wife and I were living in Saint Albans England. And we were conducting a series of evangelistic meetings in the new gallery center in London. Now that meant that every day we either had to take our car and drive into London for an hour, or we had to take the train from St. Alban’s, down to Kings Cross Station, get on the underground at Kings Cross and go down from there to Piccadilly Circus, and walk up region straight to the new gallery. We usually left at some place around 8.30 – 9.00 o’clock in the morning, got into London, at some place around 10 o’clock, taught classes; And by the time we taught in the mornings, and visited people in the afternoon and had a meeting in the evening, it would be nine or 10 o’clock at night, we would get home. Now when you do that week after week, month after month, you’re pretty exhausted.
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And I remember distinct day that I was really tired. We had been battling the city working in London for these very months. And I was pretty exhausted, didn’t have much energy that day and I was walking up the stairs into the new gallery center. And I looked out of the corner of my eye, and I saw a group of my students praying for me. And as they were on their knees, they were praying a prayer like this, dear Lord, please bless Pastor Mark. He looks a little tired today. He looks a little weary today, lift his spirits and give him some energy today. I will tell you when I heard that prayer, new energy surge through my body, I bounded up those stairs like a young man. 23 years old again.
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It’s a wonderful thing, to have somebody that is praying for you. When you know that somebody cares enough to pray for you, that bonds you with them, that unites you with them. It’s a wonderful thing If you know your spouse is praying for you, when you know your husband’s praying for you, when you know your wife’s praying for you, you may be traveling on a trip. And in your mind’s eye, you see your wife on her knees, with your name on her lips, praying for you, brings your great peace in your life. When children know that their parents are praying for them, It gives them a sense of stability in their life, It gives them a sense of foundation in their life. When when a child knows in their teens, that their parents are praying for them.
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I remember when I was 17 years old, I didn’t know Christ. And I remember I’d come home from playing basketball, and I’d watched The Late Show in the late 50s. And I saw more snow on the TV that I saw a picture, some of you can’t remember that. And as I lay there, it not not knowing Christ at all. I’d look through the crack and my door into the living room and I saw my dad went by that old black and white vinyl chair with the stuffing coming out in the holes in the chair and dad is on his knees, praying for his son. It’s a wonderful thing. When you know that you have parents that are praying for you. And it’s a wonderful thing to when you have friends that are praying for you. And when they do that the bonds of Divine Love, unite them to your heart. It’s a wonderful thing to know that somebody who cares is praying for you. But there’s something even more wonderful than a wife praying for you. Then a son or daughter that prays for their their parent or a parent that prays for their children or a friend that prays something we’re wonderful.
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It’s to know that Jesus is in Heaven right now, and that he’s praying for you. Your name is on his lips. Your concern is in his heart, your anxieties and fears and worries matter to him to know that whatever struggle you are facing right now, whatever decisions you have to make right now in your life, that Jesus Christ is praying for you. The very famous Bible commentator Robert Murray McShane puts it this way. If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies, yet distance makes no difference for Jesus is praying for you.
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If I could hear Christ, let’s suppose I walked out a church today. And over there in the side room, I heard prayers, and let’s suppose that Jesus was there praying and your name was on His list. McShane says, If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Jesus name, Your name is on Jesus lives. There in the Most Holy Place of heavens sanctuary. Jesus is praying for you.
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Now one of the most comprehensive chapters in all the Bible is john, the 17th chapter. In our study this morning comes from the 17th chapter of the book of john, God’s going to speak to you through this chapter this morning. God is going to minister to your heart through these verses this morning. And the Spirit of God is going to touch somebody here today. New light is going to dawn in your mind. New Hope is going to feel your heart. New encouragement is going to radiate through your being, John the 17th chapter, this is Jesus great intercessory prayer. This chapter is one of the most inspiring and all the New Testament. Before Jesus lay gets Gethsemane agony, before Jesus let Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial and Pilate’s cowardness; inherit skepticism and the Pharisees coldness and the Roman soldiers brutality and Satan’s glee. See before Jesus, there was the cross and Golgotha his mountain and Calvary is Hill, before Jesus, there were the nails that would be driven through his hands and the spear that would wound his side and the nails go through his feet, all that lay before him, and they’re in john 17. Jesus prays for three groups. First, in the first part of the prayer, he prays for himself, but very shortly He prays for his disciples, and then very shortly He makes the transition, He prays for you, and He prays for me.
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We begin our study this morning in John 17 : 1, I direct your attention to that. Jesus spoke these words, and He lifted up his eyes to heaven and he said, Father, The hour has come. Now every time you read in the New Testament, the hour, it’s the hour of the cross, the hour of Golgotha’s mountain, It’s the hour of Calvary’s Hill, it’s the hour that Jesus would hang between heaven and earth, It’s the hour of the cross, the hour the nails and the betrayal. So Jesus says The hour has come, Then Jesus says something that is absolutely incredibly amazing. He says, glorify Your son, that your son may glorify you, the hour of Christ’s death on the cross of Calvary, the hour of His suffering, the hour of His pain, the hour of agony was the hour of His greatest glory.
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When you think of that, Jesus would hang between heaven and earth. He would hang as a condemned sinner, bearing the guilt of all humanity. That our would be the hour of the hiding of his father’s face, that hour would be the hour that darkness surrounded Him. That hour would be the hour that he sensed the lost-ness of all humanity, the sins of all humanity rested upon Him. And when Jesus Christ hung on the cross, He felt in His very being in his physical flesh, He felt in his very heart and mind, the condemnation that every sinner will feel when they’re lost and lost for all eternity.
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It was not the nails through his hands that gave him the most pain. It was the sparing of the sins of all humanity, and He tasted death for every human being, and He felt the pains of what it would be like for millions of people who would be lost. He felt that lost-ness, and Scripture says that the hour He would look death in the face, He would triumphantly conquer and that would the hour of His greatest glory, His hour greatest suffering was the hour of His greatest glory. There are times that the hour of our greatest suffering, there are times that the hour of our greatest trials, there are times that the hour of our greatest difficulties, our greatest challenges, are the hour of our greatest glory. Because it’s in those hours, when we recognize our utter inability to deal with the situation, that God comes through in powerful ways for His glory. It is in those moments of our absolute weakness, that God reveals his absolute strength. It is in those times of our greatest challenges that we experience God’s greatest power. It is not the avoidance of problems or challenges or difficulties that brings glory to God. It is facing them in the name of Christ, it’s conquering them through his power and overcoming them by His grace.
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Now, Jesus prayed for four things here, in john chapter 17, when we come to the prayer for Christ’s disciples, He prays first, that they would be guarded or protected. He prays secondly, that they would be sanctified. He prays, thirdly, that they would be unified, and He prays fourthly, that they would be glorified. So let’s look at the four things that Jesus prayed for. What did Jesus pray for in that garden so long ago? 2000 years ago, what did Jesus pray for on that night? What is He praying for right now? What He prayed for then He’s praying for now. You were in His mind then and you are in His mind now. What He was seeking God for then, He appears before the judgment bar of God for you now, He’s praying for four things.
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Let’s look at what they are. John 17 and let your eyes drop down to verse six. What did Jesus pray for in that garden that night? John 17, And we’re looking at verse six. And we’ll concentrate particularly on verse 11. John 17, verse six, I’ve manifested your name to the men who you’ve given Me out of the world, they were Yours, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept your word. So as Jesus prays, He seeks the Father, and He says, they were Yours. They were not Mine. The glorious reality is this. Whatever you go through in life, you are Christ’s. When you come to Jesus, you become a son and daughter of God. He holds you in his hand. Jesus says there, verse eight, for I have given to them the words which you’ve given me, and they have received them and have known surely that I come forth from you and they believe that you sent me. I pray for them. Now Jesus begins praying. He’s not thinking about the nails through his hands. He’s not thinking about the crown of thorns upon his head. He’s not thinking about Judas’, betrayal, or Peter’s denial, or the Jews rejection or the Roman crucifixion. He’s not thinking about the disciples that will forsake Him and flee. what love is this? He is thinking about you. He’s thinking about me in the hour of His greatest suffering.
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He says, I pray for them. Verse nine, I do not pray for the world. But for those you have given me, they are yours. In all mine are yours and yours are mine. I’m glorified in them. Now notice verse 11. That’s the text when I concentrate on, He focuses this first aspect in His prayer. Now, I am no longer In the world, but these are in the world. I come to you, Holy Father, so Jesus is going to leave soon. He was sent to heaven. Soon He’ll be out of sight of Earth and inside of heaven. Soon the disciples will no longer be able to visibly see Him anymore. What is his concern? He says, verse 11. Now I am no longer in the world. These are in the world and I come to you, Holy Father, keep through those, through your name those whom you’ve given Me that they may be as one. Now notice, Jesus didn’t pray that his disciples would be taken out of the world. Christianity does not release us from our problems, It provides the wisdom and strength to solve them. Christianity does not offer us a life in which problems are escaped, It offers us a life in which problems are faced and conquered. Christianity does not offer us a life of ease, It offers us a life of triumphant warfare. We’re in a battle between good and evil. We’re in a battle between Christ and Satan. And the Great Controversy wages.
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The apostle Paul puts it this way, keep your finger in john 17. But go to Ephesians 6:12. Jesus never prays that His disciples would be taken out of the world. Some people think that Christianity is peace and joy all the time. There is an inner peace. There is an inner joy, but it’s the peace in conflict, It’s the joy in struggle, because we are in a battle. We’re in the enemy’s land, the controversy wages between good and evil. So if you’re going through a struggle, if you’re going through a battle, if you aren’t facing the wiles of the enemy, don’t become discouraged about that. You’re not off the map, you’re on the map. Because Christianity does not promise release from our trials until the day we walk streets of gold and we sing the glory song on sea of glass, but Jesus promises peace in our trials. Jesus promises strength in our difficulty. Jesus promises wisdom in our ignorance.
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Notice what the Bible says in Ephesians 6:12, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness at this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness and heavenly places. So there is a battle, there is a struggle. The devil is a vicious foe and daily the battle rages. Jesus never prayed that they would find His followers would find escape. He prayed that they would find victory. Now, did you notice that word in john 17: 11, we need to go back to it. John the 17th chapter and the 11th verse. Notice the word that Jesus praise in this first part of his prayer. John 17:11. Jesus Prays. He says, I pray that you would keep them through your name. He says now I’m no longer in the world, verse 11, but these are in the world and I come to you Holy Father, keep through your name. Now the word keep is an interesting word. In the original Greek language, it means, it has the impression of guarded, guard them oh Lord, it has the impression of protect them. As Jesus prays, He commits his followers to His father’s care. Every Christian can claim the keeping power of God. God will never allow us to go through any test that He does not hold us in his hand.
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You know, many years ago, the Native American Indians have a very unique practice of training their young warriors. When these young warriors were 13 years old, they had been trained in tracking, They had been trained in scouting, They had been trained in hunting and they’ve been trained in fishing. On the 13th birthday of one of these young Indian Braves. The young Bray was brought at night, out into the woods. He was brought for miles and miles and miles into the woods 5, 6, 7, 8 miles into the deepest, darkest dense forest. And he was left there to spend all night alone in the forest. Every cracking twig brought fear to that young Braves heart. Every squirrel that ran up a tree brought fright to that young, brave; it seemed like eternity. And as he stood there, now he was, the young brave was blindfolded when he was brought there. And the blindfold was taken off and he was left alone had to spend all night. That was his initiation into adulthood. He visualized wild animals ready to pounce upon him. throughout the night he was terrified. It appeared that the night would never end it appeared like it was an eternity.
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But when dawn broke, in the first light broke through the interior of the forest, looking around the boy saw of flowers and trees, and the outline of the path. Then, to his utter astonishment, he saw a man standing a few feet from him. It was his father with a bow and arrow. standing guard over that young brave all night, however terrified you are of what you’re going through in life. However worried you are, however anxious you are, whatever battles you face, whatever challenges come your way. our Heavenly Father answers Christ prayer for you. And He’s keeping guard over you, He’s keeping watch over you. In scripture The Bible says that we are never far from the father’s eyes. In the darkest night, we tremble with fear, He is there. He is on guard to protect, preserve and guide us who can have absolute confidence that not only did Jesus pray for us in john chapter 17, But Jesus is praying for us right now.
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Take your Bible and turn to Hebrews 7:25. We have a friend in the heavenly courts. That friend is praying for us. Your name is on its lips today. You’re in his heart today. Hebrews chapter seven, verse 25. Notice what the scripture says. Jesus prayed for us in the garden that night, and He’s praying for us now. Hebrews seven verse 25. Therefore, He is also able to save to the outermost those who come to God through him since He ever lives. What does Jesus do? He ever lives; What does He ever live to do? to make intercession for them; Notice He is in heaven making intercession for you right now. It says He’s able to save to the outermost, what is Jesus able to do? He’s able to save? How much is He able to save to the outermost? Now notice what it says he’s making intercession for us. What does that mean? In very practical terms? What does it mean? That Jesus is in heaven today, making intercession for you?
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It makes, let me make it simple. Here’s what it means. the intercession of Christ in the sanctuary above simply means this, that Jesus is doing everything you need for salvation. In Christ, Forgiveness is ours, Its abundant. In Christ, freedom from guilt is ours, It is there. In Christ, the gift of eternal life is ours. In Christ, victory over sin is ours. In Christ, strength to overcome is ours. in Christ, hope for the future is ours. You can rejoice that everything we need for salvation is ours in Christ; the intercession of Christ in heaven sanctuary simply means that through Christ, all of Heaven’s blessings flow from the throne of God to you today. Forgiveness flows, freedom from guilt flows, freedom from condemnation flows, strength flows, wisdom flows, all of those gifts are yours, because of the intercession of Christ.
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Now, notice something significant. Who is this that is praying for you? It’s one thing if your husband’s praying for you, praise God for that. It’s one thing if your wife is praying for you, praise God for that. It’s one thing if you have friend is praying for you, praise God for that. What does it mean when we say Jesus is praying for us? Who is this Christ? The purpose of the gospel of John is to introduce the divinity of Christ. See, each of the Gospels have a different function. That’s why we have four of them. Matthew tells is the best on the sermons of Christ; It reveals the teachings of Christ. Mark is the best on the humanity of Christ and Christ interfacing with human beings. Luke is the part of the parables of Christ the stories of Christ as a physician, Luke thought in stories, parables illustrations, the gospel of John was written to show the divinity of Christ.
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When you come to John 17, it presupposes that you understand who it is, it’s praying for you. in John chapter 1, The titles of Christ are introduced. So let’s go to John chapter 1. And we’re going to breeze through John chapter one to get the significance of what it means that Jesus is praying for us. John the first chapter introduces this whole idea of who the living Christ is. John chapter one; And we’re looking there at John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. So who is it that is praying for you? He is the one that He is the Almighty, the Eternal, the one that was coexistent with God, the one who was with God from all eternity. Let your eyes drop down to verse three, who is it that’s praying for you? verse three, all things were made through Him and without Him, nothing was made that was made. Who is it that’s praying for you? He is the all powerful creator. He is the one that spoke and worlds came in existence. He is the one that spoke and there the earth was carpeted with living green and stars appeared and sun, moon and stars, He’s the all powerful creator. He’s praying for you. Who is it that’s praying for you? Verse four. In Him was life and life was the light of men. He is the one who lights every heart born into this world and by His Holy Spirit begins to draw them to Himself. Who is it that’s praying for you? Verse 16, in of His fullness, we all have received grace and truth. Who is it that’s praying for you? He’s the Fountain of Grace, He’s the fountain of truth.
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Who is it that’s praying for you? Verse 18, no one has seen God at any time the only begotten Son, that word be God two means unique one, the one who is one of a kind, it comes from the Greek word mono, meaning one get a meaning guy and he is the only begotten son. He’s one of a kind. Why is he one of a kind? He’s existed with the Father the expression the bosom of the Father means that He’s with the Father forever from eternity. Who is praying for you? He is the one who is God, He is the one who is the creator, He is the one that likes every man that comes into the world, He is the one who’s existed from all eternity, He is the fountain of grace and truth and your name is on his lips.How can you be discouraged? How can you be downhearted? Whatever the devil throws at you, the eternal Christ, the all powerful creator, the fountain of grace and truth, the one of light in glory, the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the King of the universe. Your name is on his lips. He’s praying for you.
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Now, the second aspect of Jesus prayer is found in John 17: 16 and 17, First He prays that will be kept protected, guarded by the power of God. Now, the second thing He prays is that we would be sanctified through His grace. John, the 17th chapter, You’re looking there at verse 15, 16, and 17. Now notice again Jesus prayer. He says, John 17:15-17, I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but You should keep them from the evil one. That was not Jesus prayer that we go off and live in some monastery some place, that wasn’t his prayer. Not that would be taken out of the world, but rather, that we be kept from the evil now how can we be kept from the evil the world They are not of the world just as I’m not of the world.
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John one, verse 29, who is at the praise for you? Then the next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, who is it that’s praying for you? The one that died for you, is the one that’s praying for you. John 1:49, who is it that’s praying for you and for me? John one verse 49. Nathaniel answered and said to Him, Rabbi, You are the Son of God, you are the king of Israel. When we sense this, we sense that it’s the Almighty, the all knowing, the all wise the all Powerful Christ is praying for us. It’s the Jesus that has never lost a battle with Satan yet, it is the Christ that triumphed over Satan in His life and death. It is the crucified, ascended, resurrected, interceding coming again Lord, that is praying for us. Isn’t that incredible Good news.
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We’re sons and daughters of God. We’re not in this culture of the world. Verse 17, Sanctify them through your truth, your Word is truth. Here Jesus says, sanctify what is sanctified Mean? sanctified means set apart. sanctify means to make holy. It’s a word used in the Old Testament of the priest of Israel, they were set apart. The truth of God’s Word sets us apart. It’s sanctifies, or cleanses us in our inner soul. Now, when Jesus uses, when John uses the word world, what does he mean? If you look through the gospel of john, there are four things about the world in the Gospel of John. Jesus says they are not of the world. What does that mean? They’re not a culture of this world. What is the teaching of the gospel of john regarding the world therefore things about it? First, the world is diluted. Its meaning, Where meaning is not, seeks for purpose where purpose is not. It seeks for pleasure, where pleasure is not in the Word of God reveals reality. It reveals a loving God who cares and has the power to change our lives.
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When we saturate our minds with the Word of God, we can sing with John Wesley, I once was blind, but now I see. See, the world tends to shape us, it tends us to tends to dumb us down into the culture of the world. But you read the Word of God and transforms the brain cells, it transforms the thinking process, and we see with a new reality. First, the Word of God, the The world is diluted, deceived. Secondly, the word the world. The world is diluted, the world is deceived. The Word of God speaks to us and it opens our minds and that blindness.
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Secondly, the world is a dangerous place according to John’s Gospel. It’s filled with the temptations of Satan and Daily when bombarded with those temptations that can easily overwhelm us and what John, Jesus is saying here, He’s saying, I’m praying, don’t let my people be bombarded with the dangers of this world, saturate their minds with the word so they can see a new reality. So the world is dangerous.
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Thirdly, in the Gospel, John, the world is defiled, it’s spiritually fall and it’s corrupt, It’s wicked to the core, but through the power of the Holy Spirit as we saturate our minds with the Word of God, we are cleansed. Take your Bible and turn to John chapter one, verse 21. We have some 14 billion brain cells or more, I never counted them. John Fourth, we’re looking there at James chapter one. When you read the Word of God, James one, when you read the Word of God, the brain cells are transformed and the living word enters the mind and cleanses the inner recesses of the brain. James chapter one, you’re looking there at verse 21. What is Jesus praying? He’s praying that His people would not be too busy to study His Word. He’s praying that His people would not be so involved in making a living that they forget to make a life. He’s praying that the world would not so encroach into our thinking process, that we spend many seconds reading the Word, an hour’s in front of the TV screen. He’s praying that we would not be too busy to have the transformation of the brain cells of our mind through the living word.
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When you’re too busy to study the Word when life seems to choke out time for devotion When the things of time crowd out the things of eternity, remember a garden and remember at night and listen to the prayers of Jesus; Father, I pray, not that you take them out of the world. But I pray, that they would be sanctified through My word, James1:21. Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and the overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your soul. Notice what Scripture says. It says the implanted word. As you read the word and you pray God in plant your word, in my mind, God in the brain cells, may the creative energy of the word transformed my thinking process. What did Jesus pray for in the garden that night? He prayed first, that you always would be held in the father’s hand. that you’d be kept in trial, in temptation, in heartache and sorrow that you’d since Jesus handholding. He prayed secondly, that when you were too busy to take time with God’s word, you’d remember that Jesus is drawing you back through His prayers. He’s praying that you’d be sanctified through the word. He’s praying Your mind will be claims through the word. He’s praying that in His Word, you’d find strength and courage and hope. He’s praying that the word would sanctify you.
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Now there is a third thing That Jesus prays for in this prayer. The world today that we live in, is divided. It’s fragmented. Governments are divided. Would you agree with me on that? conflicts erupt in the workplace. We often have divided workplaces, Tensions arise in families, friends are often separated by differing opinions. If there ever was a place, that the unity of the gospel and the love of Christ ought to be revealed, it’s in the church. And so in this prayer, Jesus prays for the unity of His church; Let’s study it. John, Chapter 17. Jesus has prayed that his people would be kept by his power. Jesus has prayed that his disciples would be sanctified by his word. And Jesus prays for your family your relationship, that it would be unified. Jesus prays that our church would be unified.
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Now notice the prayer of Christ. Now the reason unity and we’re looking at john 17: 22-23. The reason that unity is crucial to the witness and mission of the church is that the world is defined by conflict, The world is defined by broken relationships, The world is defined by dysfunctional families, The world is defined by fractured and nearly non existent communities. And if the church can reveal the loving unity of Christ, it would be assigned to the world that God is at work in that no human effort could accomplish it. The love that we are to show to the world is to mirror the love that the Father has with the son.
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Now notice, John 17 we start with verse 20. Jesus prays, I do not pray for these alone, but for those who believe in Me through your word, that’s you, that’s me. Jesus is praying, that they all may be one, as you father are in Me, and I in you, that they may be one in us. Now notice, He goes on to pray, that the world may believe that you sent Me. Notice the essence of the unity of the church, when people with different ideas, when people in different cultures, when people with different backgrounds get together. When they express themselves on a committee in differing opinions, but in love and respect for one another, when culture is respect for one another, when we have this different Some background, unity is not everybody dressing the same, eating the same thinking the same. Unity is a boundedness that we have in Christ. It’s a recognition that we’re sons and daughters in Christ.
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Some time ago, I read an amusing story. I don’t know if it was was true or not. probably wasn’t. It’s okay. If a preacher tells you a story as long as if he tells you a story that’s not true as long as he tells you that it’s not true. What you got to worry about it, the ones that tell you stories that anyway, I’m not going to go there. All right, here’s the story. Man is on a boat traveling through the ocean. And as he travels the ocean, he’s alone, a storm comes up and the storm overwhelms the boat and the guy swims and he goes on this little island and it’s a marooned Island. Nobody lives there. It’s one of these islands where nobody lives. So the first thing he does is get a hot, get get twigs and stuff and branches. It builds this hut, then he builds another hut, then he builds another hut, he build three huts. Nobody lives on the line except him. A year goes by, two years go by, He’s the only one on the island. And pretty soon a boat comes by, a rescue boat. And the rescue boat, rescues the guy. But they see three huts, and they say I thought nobody lived on the island. And he said, What are the rescue guys? The captain puts in one of those three huts for? he saw that first hut over there, That’s where I lived. What about those other huts? He tried to worship God. So that’s a church. I built a church in that second hut. The captain said Praise God. What’s the other one over there? The third hut? Oh, that’s the church I used to go to.
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You got the point. Some people are always looking for the perfect church. I’m looking for church that never gonna offend me. Oh, man, that person didn’t say hi to me, and I think I’m not gone back there. Oh, this little conflict over there in the church. Why do you think God puts you here? To grow through conflict; To learn, to respect, to understand differences. That’s why God puts us in church. What are you going to go? Go find a baren island someplace and build your huts? Then you get so discouraged with yourself, you leave that one to go to the next one, right?
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What did Jesus pray? The basis of all unity is this, is the recognition that whatever backgrounds we have, we are all sons and daughters of God. The basis of all unity is to allow the glory of God to be reflected in all of our relationships. It is the recognition that just as the Father and Son, were members of the Godhead, we are members of one spiritual family in Christ. I love the way Adam Clark, he’s an old Bible commentator. Sometime you have to struggle with his language but this one Adam Clark said, he paraphrases John 17. You know, where Jesus says that they all may be one, as you father are in me and I in you, that they also may be one in us that the world may believe you sent me and the glory which you gave me, I’ve given them that they may be one, Adam Clark paraphrases, that it’s brilliant is what he says, I have communicated these keys; he’s paraphrasing Jesus words, So there’s Jesus speaking, I have communicated to all those who believe in me the glorious privilege of being sons and daughters of God, that all being adopted children have the same father, they may abide in peace, love and unity.
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When you become a little patient with your brothers and sisters. Remember, we’re all part of the same family. We may have differences, but we’re brothers and sisters in Christ. And it’s this love for one another. Not because we don’t have differences, but in spite of those differences that unite our hearts. When you are becoming a little impatient in a committee meeting and you are tempted to lash out a little too harshly, remember that person sitting across from you is part of the same family. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus is praying for the unity of his church. He’s praying that those who have different opinions will be brought together in a loving fellowship.
42:52
He had a during world war two Adolf Hitler, commanded that all religious Groups be united, together. He didn’t ban religion. But he united all religious groups for one reason. That’s why Hitler did it, because he knew he could control them. And that’s what he wanted to do. In the brethren group, the brethren group split over that. And when they split, half of them accepted to go with the state church that Hitler established. They were able to exist during the Second World War fairly well. The other half of the brethren group didn’t do that. And they were persecuted, They were tormented, many were put in prison. It was a very horrible time, for the many died in Hitler’s concentration camps. At the end of the Second World War, there was bitterness and Ranko and there was a great division in the brethren group because the war was over. But, The one group said the other group had compromised and the other group argued with the other group and it was horrible. There was just it was deep, deep, deep seated feelings. The leaders of both groups decided to get together. And they had a spiritual retreat. And in that spiritual retreat, this is what happened. They said, we’re going to take the first two days and simply pray. And as they prayed, the Spirit of God came down in that retreat, and the Holy Spirit began speaking to their hearts.
44:34
There were confessions of bitterness, hostility, tears flowed, and fright. And the philosopher theologian Francis Schaefer tells about that meeting. He talked to somebody that was there and the person that was there said this when God broke my heart in showed me my bitterness and hostility, I was able to record reconcile. But when I looked for others who I supposed were bitter and hostile, the barriers were there. When the Holy Spirit breaks your heart, and you shift your attention, not from what the other person has done to you, but what Christ can do in your heart to reconcile with the other person. barriers are broken down.
45:26
What did Jesus pray for? He prayed your life would always be in His hand, that you would be guarded by His love and grace always. He prayed that his word through the Spirit would sanctify your mind. He prayed that his people would be unified, recognizing difference and misunderstanding. He prayed that there would be no hostility in our hearts. But there’s a fourth thing that Jesus prayed for John chapter 17: 24-26, there’s the last thing that Jesus prayed for. This was the most important thing His prayer comes to a glorious climax. His prayer comes to this glorious climax, John 17. And you’re looking at verse 24 to 26. Father I desire, Jesus is praying, can you hear His prayer, He prayed this on Earth, He’s praying and in heaven sanctuary above, Father, I desire, first 24, father this is my wish, Father, this is my dream. Father, this is what I want for more than anything else. Father, this is my will, Father I desire that they also whom you have given me they be with me where I am, that they may be hold my glory, which you’ve given me for you love me before the foundation of the earth. Oh God or his father. The world has not known you but I’ve known you these. Know that you’ve sent Me, declare to them your name. What is Jesus praying for?
47:04
Can you hear Jesus praying? Jesus is in heaven sanctuary. He’s in the most holy place at the days of the judgment hour and Jesus is praying Father, I desire, father I wish that that John or Mary or Peter Ellis, I wish they will Be with me, Lord, I don’t have any other desire in my heart that’s more important than this. Lord, I want my people to be saved. I want them to be in the kingdom of God forever. He thought of you in a garden that night 2000 years ago, and He’s thinking about you right now. Imagine this scene. The judgment is set, the books are opened, 1000 times 10,000 Angels gather around that scene, Celestial beings from unfallen worlds gather around that scene, Cherubim and Seraphim are there around that scene. The judgment is set and the books are open, the destinies of all humanity are to be settled. It is the most solemn moment in the history of the universe. And there your name comes up before judgment.
48:25
Angels are hushed. Cherubim and Seraphim are quiet. All of Heaven is quiet. Your name comes up before judgment. And as it does, the Christ that prayed for you in the garden stands forth, the scars of the wounded hands and He says, Father, I desire. The words of John 17:24 on His Lips. Father, I desire that this My child, be with Me through all eternity and all of heaven says, it’s enough, the sacrifice of Christ is enough, The blood that flowed from his hands are enough. The forgiveness that flows from the cross is enough. It’s enough, saved in God’s kingdom forever. And all of heaven begins to sing worthy, worthy, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive riches and honor and glory forever.
49:45
Jesus prayed for you 2000 years ago. He prayed that you would be kept in His love. He prayed that you’d be sanctified by His Word, He prayed that your heart would be at unity with others around Him around you. And He prayed that you, that you, that you would live with Him in heaven forever, the father will answer the son’s prayers for you. Walk through life, filled with hope. Walk through life filled with encouragement, the battle wages, but all the demons in hell cannot take you from the hands of Christ. His prayers for you will be answered let hope fill your heart as Sophia sings
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