8 - What would Jesus say today to you about discipleship (making an impact)?
By Jeff Fry, Darwin Park Community Church
NIV John 17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 6 "I have revealed you {6 Greek your name; also in verse 26} to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-- the name you gave me-- so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify {17 Greek hagiazo (set apart for sacred use or make holy); also in verse 19} them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Thesis: We must practice following Christ by living each day by God’s word (Jesus’ teaching).
I. Intro
A. Review
1. What would Jesus say today about anger?
2. What would Jesus say today about purity of thought?
3. What would Jesus say today about injustice?
4. What would Jesus say today about truth-telling?
5. What would Jesus say today about worship?
6. What would Jesus say about evangelism?
a) Evangelism spreading through the network of friendships
B. we must live by God’s word, not by following the ways of the world
II. We must live by God’s word, not by the world
A. State
1. John 17 – The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus
2. “(15)my prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. (16) They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. (17)Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
a) “not that you take them out of the world”
(1) Jesus didn’t withdraw from the world into a monastry because His mission demanded that he be among the people and preach the good news of the kingdom of God
(2) In v. 18 Jesus says that we have been sent with the same mission for which he has been sent – to make know God and His salvation.
(3) So, we must remain in the world to testify to it about salvation through Christ.
(4) “In the world but not of the world” is the catch-phrase from John 17
(5) we are to engage culture with the Christian message, not run from it or hide ourselves away from it tucking ourselves away.
(a) “If you’re tucked away and have no friends who are gay then you’ll believe what preachers say” – Bradd Pitt on the right for gay marriage
(b) missionary colleague who was a professor who had no clue about what was really believed and what were the real issues for the guy on the street where we lived.
b) “but that you protect them from the evil one”
(1) the evil one seeks to create disunity among believers
(2) John 17:11 “… Holy Father protect them by the power of your name – the name you gave me – so that they may be one as we are one.”
(a) Jesus repeats this theme of oneness & unity throughout his high preistly prayer
(b) It seems to hinge on the spirit of Jesus being in us (thus giving unity)
(c) “so that” = reason for
(d) protection is for unity to be maintained
(e) without protection of God disunity rules
(i) illus: James and John wanting to be first in the kingdom and sit at Jesus’ righthand!!
(a) Jesus has just told them he is going to die and their reaction is to ask him for part of the glory for themselves!!!
c) “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
(1) “sanctify” (Gk. Hagiazo) = set apart as sacred to God; make holy, consecrate; regard as sacred; purify; cleanse
(2) truth – this is what sets a believer apart from a non-believer.
(a) We have accepted God’s word which came through Christ
(b) We have believed that Christ has come from God and has delivered God’s word (message of salvation)
(c) Non-believers have no desire to find out what God’s word says in order to follow it. The centre of their world is themselves, not God.
(3) God’s word is what unifies true believers and sets them apart from the world
(a) True believer is someone who is trying to live out God’s word
(i) I get nervous when Christians are light on the word
(ii) Matthew 28:18 “Go make disciples of all nations teaching them to obey everything I have commanded ….”
(iii) Key verb is “make disciples”
(iv) “disciple” = learner
(v) we never stop learning God’s word
(vi) always trying to incorporate it into our lives no matter how much it cuts across the grain of our society
(b) The marks of a true believer according to Jesus in this passage is someone who:
(i) V. 2-3 has been given by the Father to follow Jesus
(ii) Vv. 2-3 has eternal life
(a) Eternal life = knowing God and Jesus Christ!!! (not going to heaven when you die as most think)
(iii) Vv. 6 they obey God’s word
(a) Illus: the apostles and their ministry was blessed by God because they obeyed God
(b) We wonder why we don’t have God’s blessing yet at the same time are leading disobedient lives (we can’t expect God to bless disobedience)
(iv) Vv 7 they have accepted God’s word given through Christ
(c) “sanctify them”
(i) set them apart is not just an intellectual setting apart (ie. give them the right beliefs)
(ii) This “setting apart” works itself out in how we live our lives. We live our lives in God’s way, not the world’s way and this occurs in every area of life.
(a) Jesus prays to God to do this in our life (ie. to sanctify us).
(b) Christian view on marriage (a covenant-like relationship btwn husband and wife)
(c) Sex (good within committed relaitonship of marriage)
(d) Money (doesn’t bring security)
(e) Power (servanthood)
(f) Work (glorify God)
(g) Homelife (family life & childrearing)
(h) Hospitality (be hospitable even to strangers – you don’t know when you entertain angels Hebrews 13:2)
(iii) So that in everything we do our goal will be to glorify God
(iv) Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but bbe transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
(d) The great disaster then is those who claim to be Christians but live like the world
(i) Biblically there is a question as to whether they are Christians at all or whether they are just immature Christians
(ii) The street beggar in Birmingham outside the Christian bookshop.
(a) Almost didn’t help him
(b) If I hadn’t helped him get some food it would have been a failure of showing people the love of Jesus which we are supposed to live by, which should mark our lives.
B. Apply
1. walk and talk
a) talk is cheap, how is your walk?
b) Are you set apart or are you blending with the culture?
(1) Going with the culture
(a) What kind of movies are you feeding your mind with?
(b) Living together before marriage
(c) Dishonesty for personal gain
(d) Greed (MP scandal, financial collapse)
(2) Going against the culture
(a) Believe in God
(b) Go to church
(c) Discipline children
III. Conclusion