The Longest Prayer - Part 4 Screen 1 John 17:11-19 June 25, 2017

RANDOM QUOTES TO PONDER:

➡ “There is a myscal relaonship between the Lord and His own.” –J. Vernon McGee

➡ “If you don’t accept (embrace / love/ respect) my son (or daughter), as a father, you and I will never be close. < I will reject you!> It is the same way with God the Father.” -William S. Moss

Last week we closed out with the fact that if we were on our own (as believers) it wouldn’t be enough. If we only had our faith, even the , the Church, our works, our gis—it sll would not be enough. We must have Jesus connually praying for us or we would never make it (see Romans 8:28-39). I hope that changed you—it sure changed me… The Holy Spirit too (Romans 8:26 - “The Redeemed Only”).

➡ Let’s step into the presence of God before we step into the presence of God in the “Holy of Holies” (the “conversaon”) of John 17. >PRAY<

Hand-wrien Notes: [The Kidron Valley is the “Valley of the shadow of death.”] Screen 2 {The Kidron Valley has been referred to as the Valley of and Valley of Decision, also.} During the Feast of Tabernacles, the third of the great annual (yearly) feasts (the other two: Passover & Pentecost) where the Israelites were commanded to live in booths (see Levicus 23:43), to celebrate the ingathering of the harvest and to feast (from the harvest), four (4) enormous oil lamps burned in

1 the Temple (outside) courtyard. Each lamp had four (4) large bowls of oil on tall stands, with wicks made from worn-out garments of the priests. It is wrien there was not a courtyard in that did not reflect the light “(Mishnah, Sukkoth 5:3). The lights could be seen throughout Jerusalem; however, due to the depth of the angle, the Kidron Valley remained in the shadow. (K.V. is/was located in the SE corner of Old Jerusalem.) The Kidron Valley was called the “Valley of Shadow of Death” (cemetery since Jeremiah) as in Psalm 23:4.* possibly wrote Psalm 23 when he was fleeing from his son, (a type of false Messiah), across the Kidron Valley. (There is a pillar there today [original?] with Absalom’s name on it. See II Sam. 18:18.) HEAR THIS! ✹David, kept going to safety; Jesus stopped at the Garden. II Samuel 15/16✹ Psalm 23 is likely a prophec reference to the Messiah, Yeshua, who was arrested at the Garden of , then brought to Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley. Yeshua could have prayed Psalm 23 at that me. (“The Valley Where Yeshua Walked,” return to god.com) During his being led back to Jerusalem for trial and execuon, he probably got blood from the Kidron Brook (temple sacrifices) on his clothes. (God was cung the covenant that was to save all who would call on His name.) (Jesus is in the Valley of the Shadow of Death - literally.)

Read John 17:11-19 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the Screen 3 world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with Screen 4 them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destrucon, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I Screen 5 speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have Screen 6

2 given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the Screen 7 world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sancfy them in the truth; your word is truth. Screen 8 [18] As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for Screen 9 their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sancfied in truth.

I have a friend (doctor – a leader in his field) who, you can bet on, that if he is eang something or gets something to eat, it won’t be long before he is wearing it. I realized this about him early on in our relaonship (just over five years ago). He and I were in my office and I had goen a spot on my pants from lunch. He whipped out a Tide-To-Go Pen (stain remover sck). He said his wife always made sure he had one with him as he traveled (and he travels a lot)! My wife loved that he actually had one of those pens that usually only women carry with them. I call this story “Tim Smith and the Tide-(To-Go) Sck.” He just had, and I am sure sll has, the problem that he cannot make contact without being contaminated! I’ve noced that I have the same problem—not with food, but spiritually. I cannot make contact with the world (spiritually) without being contaminated!

Within these verses, Jesus prays that the disciples be “protected” and be “kept safe.” He must be referring to something more than keeping them safe from danger because all of them would die a martyr’s death (save John) [Josephus says he was boiled for 24 hours in a vat of boiling oil.] (remember, God the Father always answers Jesus’ prayers just the way He prays them…). What kind of protecon is that? Obviously, that kind of protecon—safe from physical harm— is NOT what He’s asking for or talking to the Father about. He means to keep

3 them safe, strong and protected in such a way that they can make contact with the world without being contaminated! That is His prayer for us today as well.

Vs. 11b reads, Holy Father, keep them in your name… Screen 10

“Holy Father” —it’s found here alone in John — is unusual and is comparable to the phrase “Righteous Father” that appears in verse 25. The holiness of God contrasts with the selfishness and evil of the world that confronted the disciples. On the basis of the holiness of God’s character, Jesus requested the Father to preserve the disciples (Merrill C. Tenney, “The Expositor’s Bible Commentary”, p. 164).

“Protect” is applied to persons in the sense of “preserve.” It means to wrap them up, like in a blanket. Hear me—I have three (3) babies right now. I can tell you that there is a difference between how fathers hold their babies and how mothers hold their babies. When fathers (I) hold their babies, they are extremely careful. Muffin walked around with the baby up on her shoulder, and that made me nervous. She would sling him around like he was a lile rag doll (just kidding), but I was very careful with Michael. I made sure he had his blanket and that his head was held just so… Most men are that way with small infants (some men won’t hold them at all, unl they get bigger). (One Sunday, around 5 PM, I thought Muffin had dropped Michael while she was sing on the couch.) I’m just more cauous and careful. God the Father is that way with you and me, as His children. This is the idea that Jesus uses in this verse. “Wrap them in a blanket.” (Keep their Faith Safe—their spiritual life intact.)

4 Screen 11 “…in your name…” There is great power in the Lord’s name. Proverbs 18:10 says: The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

That begs the queson: Why do we need the Lord’s protecon? (Why did they

need it?) We need to be protected by the Father and wrapped in His name Screen 12 because of:

! The Absence of Jesus

Vs. 12a While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me.

“While I was with them”—same as verse 11; it means connuously and as a father with a baby in a blanket.

“kept them in your name”—different from verse 11 protecon. This means “to guard.” This is a military term that is also used in:

Screen 13 Depressed, Philippians 4:6-7 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by stressed, discouraged? prayer and supplicaon with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to Verse on mirror 22 years God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard ago. your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Like here … Luke 22:31-32 31 Screen 14 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might si you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Perhaps Peter’s love and his nerve failed for just a few moments, but his ✹HUGE✹ faith did not fail. (God answers prayers just the way Jesus prays them.) {He’s

5 never failed – his courage…} If Jesus had not prayed that prayer before His passion, Peter’s faith would have failed.

Screen 15 Vs. 12b not one of them has been lost except the son of destrucon, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

‣ This is in fulfillment of Psalm 41:9 (a Psalm of David): Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lied his heel against me. Of course, Jesus speaks of Judas Iscariot, who never was a believer in the first place. Jesus had never lost one person who has truly been saved—NEVER! I believe in eternal security with all my heart.

‣ We would p the balance toward error if we would say that Jesus intenonally withheld His protecon of Judas to expose him to the temptaon of Satan so that the betrayal could happen. (Judas was NEVER a true Chrisan; he was a “tare”.) We would also be in error if we said the temptaon of Satan was stronger than Jesus’ ability to protect Judas (Life Applicaon Bible Commentary, p. 14).

‣ Why do we need to be wrapped in that blanket of the Father’s name for protecon?

! Because of the absence of Jesus.

Screen 16 " Because of the antagonism of the World.

(We will come back to verse 13 in a minute.)

Vs. 14a says, I have given them your word, and the world has hated them…

6 ➡ STILL IN THE WORLD:

We, like Jesus’ original disciples, sll live in the world. What is “the world”? It is a system of values typified by Satan himself, centered on power, deceit, and self-will. While we’re in the world, Satan wants to neutralize or destroy us. In: Screen 17

I :16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life —is not from the Father but is from the world.

John explains that “the world” is the cravings of sinful human beings, the lusng of the eyes, and the boasng of what one has and does. As Christ’s disciples today, we are on a collision course with the world’s values. We need God’s protecon more than ever because it is so easy for us to emulate the world’s character.

The fact that we are in the world does not grant us license to become of the world. We must not betray Jesus by loving the world. If we love the world - we betray Jesus! We must recognize and resist the pervasive aracons presented to us through adversing, self-help psychology, public opinion polls and charismac public figures. We must be sure that we allow Christ—not the media and the world around us—to define who we are. (Life Applicaon Bible)

Listen to me, believers / disciples of Christ—the world hates you! I’m sorry but it’s true!

Research on Chrisanity in Middle East and the U.S. here ➜➜➜

7 If you (and I) are trying to get to a place where the world doesn’t hate you, we’re missing out on what God wants us to be and do!

Now, the world hates us for two reasons: Screen 18

1. Because we have been given the Word. (We are the “vessel” of the Gospel.)

‣ The world does not hate the Bible—in fact, the world oen quotes Scripture. BUT the world hates the WORD—parcularly the Gospel.

‣ The Bible is NOT seeker-friendly.

‣ Somemes we try to employ techniques that sell Jesus, or make Him more marketable—“come to Christ and He’ll make you happy, wealthy— emoonally, spiritually and physically. But, the Bible never uses those kinds of techniques. The “WORD” says come to Christ because you’ve sinned against a Holy God and His wrath is coming and the only place you can flee to escape is Jesus Christ.

‣ Everyone talks about God, but very few speak of Christ! Why? Jesus makes them angry. Why? Because Jesus concretely defines God!

‣ If you and I preach faithfully that there is no other way to God outside of Jesus Christ and live faithfully THE WORD (the Gospel), the world will hate us. Read: :6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

2. Because we don’t belong to the world. (the rest of verse 14 says)

Vs. 14b because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Screen 19

8 ‣ Romans 12:2 says, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by tesng you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

‣ Did you know the world—your child’s school, your work –is doing everything it can to stamp out (like a mold) a carbon copy of all children. All children are My wife has been teaching for 22 years. expected to be the same! All adults—according to television, the media, etc. –are demanded to be the same. Culture demands sameness… (No difference in gender? Yes there is! Genders are blurred—e.g. “actors” “fire fighters”.) If you are a child of God, you are different!

‣ All things today are relave! Very few things are absolute.

‣ ✸Repeat with me out loud✸: “I will never be accepted by the crowd (the Screen 20 world) if I walk closely with Jesus.” (Repeat three [3] mes.) Homosexual marriage *Aboron*

‣ Why? Because if we are truly accepted by the crowd—look, act, think, get stamped into their mold—we are betraying our Lord!

‣ Why do they hate us? ✸Because we are a reminder of their sin!✸ This is why God leaves us here and doesn’t take us immediately to heaven—we are to be salt and light—but the world loves darkness. :19 says And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

Ulmately, I would rather offend the world than offend God. I want to be a “God-pleaser” rather than a “crowd-pleaser!”

9 ‣ So many of us today think that if we just do a lile more to become like the world, the world will love us. NEVER! (Churches get caught up in this ➜ AND IT WORKS TO BUILD THE CROWD.)

✸The world hated Jesus first, and God will never do for you and me what He never did for His own Son (Ron Dunn, CD).✸

‣ You and I are not above our Lord! Read Vs. 15 & 16 here: 15 I do not ask Screen 21 that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

‣ Why did the disciples need that blanket of the Father’s name for protecon?

! Because of the Absence of Jesus.

" Because of the Antagonism of the World.

# For the Advancement of the Gospel. Screen 22

Vs. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. Screen 23

‣ They had the WORD—this is the Great Commission before the Resurrecon Great Commission in Mahew 28:18-20.

‣ I am always amazed that Jesus placed the future of redempon onto their lips of people like you and me. He did it with the disciples first!

‣ (Ask the congregaon) Touch your lips right now. This is the future of redempon! These are the lips that will get the Good News to the world!

10 Screen 25 ‣ We have the WORD. This is why Jesus prays that we be “ONE” (which is the essenal request of the whole prayer) back from verse 11b. The disciples were “ONE” then, and today, disciples must be “ONE”—unified in purpose.

✸There is nothing that a church cannot accomplish if it is unified!✸ Screen 24

‣ Unity does not mean uniformity, but it does mean singleness of purpose. If a church exists for any other reason than to bring glory to God by making disciples and equipping the saints to make disciples, it should be shut down.

• We have country clubs and civic organizaons to meet the social needs of people.

• We have sales people and marketers to build people’s self-esteem—only if you buy their product, of course (authors; psychologist, etc.).

• We have an unlimited selecon of places to be entertained—from ball fields to movie theaters to concerts.

‣ But, there is only one place on earth to experience God uniquely—that is in His church, among His people, who have His mind and His purpose as their purposes.

‣ A unity of purpose in that we follow Jesus, closely!

✸RBC Mission Statement: To glorify God by loving Him, loving others and laboring to see all people become disciples of Christ.✸

Screen 26

11 If we are going to reach a lost world with the GOOD NEWS, we have to have joy! Look back with me to: Vs. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

‣ The world will never be aracted to Jesus if His followers are not filled with joy!

‣ So many believers walk around with their lips poked out and a negave atude ➜ no one is going to follow you to Christ! Why would they? You’re miserable! (Laugh)

‣ Also, if we are going to reach a lost world with the GOOD NEWS, we must be Screen 27 sancfied.

Vs. 17 says Sancfy them in the truth; your word is truth. The moment a Screen 28 person comes to Christ, he or she is a saint. Paul called the Corinthian church members saints and look at the messes - train wreck - they had goen themselves into! We must be holy! The world will never believe or listen to a worldly Chrisan. If we’re no different than the world—a lost man or a lost woman—why should they listen?

‣ If we act no different—have no different standards and morals and behavior— why should they listen? Jesus leaves us here because we’re different and different is “araconal” (my own new word - three years ago) or aracve.

‣ The Bible says, David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly. Mark 12:37

‣ Why? -GLADLY- Because He was different! “Araconal!” (Aracve!)

12 ‣ A preacher of yesteryear was once told by one of his students / mentees that whatever he preached on was so different—even if the text was as familiar as John 3:16. The preacher, not known for his great humility replied, “The closer to the truth, the more different you are.” That stands true for Chrisans—the closer you are to the TRUTH—JESUS CHRIST—the more different and disnct you are!

PRAYER AND INVITATION

• Today, are you wrapped in the Father’s blanket of protecon (your faith)?

• Are you making contact without being contaminated?

• Do you need salvaon?

• Are there any here today that could honestly say, “If I told people I was a Chrisan, they would be shocked!”

• Is rededicaon what you need?

• Prayer?

• Membership?

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