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John 17:20-26 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Just focus in on the last part of Christ's prayer in John 17.
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This particular chapter has meant a lot to me over the years as I've been at death's doorstep multiple times with my physical illnesses I've had.
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And it's one of the few passages that kind of give us a direction to look at life beyond this life.
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And it's raised my mind to God and eternity.
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It's commonly referred to as the high priestly prayer of Christ.
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And indeed, it is the true Lord's Prayer.
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The one we're familiar with, the one in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, tend to be more known as the Disciples' Prayer, where He teaches His disciples to pray.
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So this truly is the Lord's Prayer.
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It's a, what does Jesus pray?
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What is He like when He speaks to the Father?
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It's only about 650 words.
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It just takes a couple minutes to read.
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But it is deep and profound.
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Every single word of it, you could exhaust.
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Many years ago, on a commentary on John 17, Calvin wrote,
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This prayer of Christ is a safe harbor.
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And whoever retreats into it is safe from all danger of shipwreck.
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For it has, Christ has solemnly sworn that He will devote His care and diligence to our salvation.
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Let the world then condemn us a thousand times.
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This alone ought to satisfy us.
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That Christ acknowledges us to be His heritage and pleas with the Father for us.
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So this prayer is just one of a kind.
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You don't find anything like this anywhere else in the Scripture.
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It kind of looks like Moses' prayer, sort of, at the end of Deuteronomy, before Moses departs this world.
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And so think about what's on Jesus' mind, just the context.
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He's spending time with His disciples.
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He's finished the Last Supper with them.
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And they're getting ready to kind of go towards Gethsemane.
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And during this time, He lifts up His voice to the Father.
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And He prays and pours out His voice to the Father.
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I'll give you a quick outline of the prayer.
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But we're only going to focus on the last part of it.
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There's three parts that we've typically divided this prayer up into.
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The first part is in verses 1 through 5.
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And this is Jesus' praise for Himself.
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And the focus is the Father's glory.
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And in turn, His own glory.
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Second part, Jesus prays for His disciples.
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We see that in verse 6 through 19.
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And the focus of the Christ prayer during that time is preservation and mission.
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And then thirdly, what we'll be focusing on today is Jesus' praise for the present and future believers.
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The key is their oneness and unity.
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So that's what we're focusing in on today.
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But you see in verse 20, Jesus says,
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I do not ask for these only, but also those who will believe in Me through their word.
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And so Jesus is confident that His disciples, after all that's about to happen, are going to return.
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And they're going to go out.
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And they're going to preach the good news.
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And start the church.
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Read in Acts chapter 2, verse 42.
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This happened.
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They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, the breaking of bread and to prayers.
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So Jesus in this time prays for us.
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And it's known, this whole prayer, John 17, reveals to us one of the very unique and specific roles,
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I don't think a lot of us think about maybe on a daily basis,
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but a role that Christ plays in our lives.
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A significant role.
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He is our great high priest.
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As sinners that are unclean and unable to go into the holy presence of God,
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Jesus paid the final sacrifice for our sins and gave us His righteousness so that we could stand clean before God.
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And now He intercedes on our behalf.
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700 years ago, before Christ, Isaiah actually gave us a glimpse of this role
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in prophesying about the work of Christ and the Messiah, the suffering servant, in Isaiah 53.
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Starting in verse 11.
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You don't have to turn there.
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There's one other place for you to look at today outside this.
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But we get a glimpse of His priestly work on our behalf.
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But Isaiah spoke 700 years before Christ.
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Out of the anguish of his soul, he shall see and be satisfied.
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By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous.
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And he shall bear their iniquities.
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There's like the salvific part of this.
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Christ died on our behalf.
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Verse 12.
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Therefore, I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoiled with the strong,
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because he poured out his soul to death, and he was numbered with the transgressors.
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Yet he bore the sins of many and makes intercession for the transgressors.
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He stands before the Father, right?
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Making intercession on our behalf.
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And that's what the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 8, 1 and 2.
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He expresses Christ's priestly care for us.
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So think about this.
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We're about to read the passage together.
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But some of you may have someone in your life who has a very deep walk with Christ,
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who enjoys such deep fellowship with God.
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And when, if you said, if I would like to just pray with one person before I face this trial,
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who would that person be?
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Right?
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What friend would you think of?
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But a cool thought, as we begin to read this, is Robert Murray McShane,
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young Scottish pastor in the 1800s, preached a sermon on John 17.
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And he said this, really profound.
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If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies.
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Yet distance makes no difference.
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He is praying for me.
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It's amazing.
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So let's read the passage together.
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We're just going to focus on the last part of this.
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John 17, look at verse 20.
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Jesus praying.
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He says,
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I do not ask for these only,
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but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
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that they may all be one,
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just as you, Father, are in me,
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and I in you,
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that they also may be in us,
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so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
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The glory that you have given me,
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I have given to them.
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That they may all be one,
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even as we are one.
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I in them,
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and you in me,
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that they may become perfectly one,
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so that the world may also know that you have sent me,
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and love them even as you love me.
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Father,
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I desire that they also,
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whom you have given me,
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may be with me where I am,
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to see my glory,
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the glory of the Father,
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even though,
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I'm sorry,
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because,
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forgive me,
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typo here,
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they may see my glory,
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that you have given me,
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because you love me,
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before the foundation of the world.
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Oh,
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righteous Father,
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even though the world does not know you,
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I know you,
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and these know you,
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that you have sent me.
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I have made known to them your name,
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and I will continue to make it known,
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that the love with which you have loved me,
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may be in them,
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and I in them.
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Join me in a quick word of prayer.
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Father,
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we just looked up this time to you,
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please work in our hearts,
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through your Holy Spirit,
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apply,
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apply your word,
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to our hearts,
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that we would not walk away,
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from this place,
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unchanged,
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that you would give us,
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a picture of what,
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you prayed for us,
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long ago,
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you give us deep insight,
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into your word,
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Lord,
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in Christ's name,
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Amen.
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So,
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we're going to break this up,
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into a few different pieces,
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but,
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point number one,
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as we're walking through this passage,
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point number one,
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is Jesus prays,
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for true unity,
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among believers.
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Jesus prays,
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for true unity,
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among believers.
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And so,
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under number one,
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we see,
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there's a few sub points,
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but the sub point,
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A,
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underneath this,
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is he has,
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a request,
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for true unity.
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Look at verse 21,
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that they may all,
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be one.
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Alright?
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And,
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a good,
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way to kind of,
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get to the heart of this,
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about what true unity means,
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is to kind of expose,
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what false unity,
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actually is.
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Many in the church today,
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and most people,
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well meaning,
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will make remarks like,
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Christians just seem so divided,
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how come there's so many different,
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churches,
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how come there's different,
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denominations,
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after all,
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like isn't just Jesus,
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all that matters,
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and they'll kind of like,
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simplify,
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the Christian life,
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with phrases like that,
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and they'll say like,
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we need to do something,
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to create unity,
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among believers.
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And again,
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I know,
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like well meeting people,
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who have said such things,
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but often,
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thoughts like that,
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are kind of misguided,
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and,
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and ignorant.
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false,
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superficial unity,
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sometimes,
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is created,
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at the expense,
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of truth,
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and doctrine.
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Churches may avoid,
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hard,
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Bible topics,
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just so they can,
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make people feel,
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better,
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about,
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themselves.
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But let me give you,
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a couple of diagnostic questions,
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when it comes to this idea,
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of unity.
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A couple of diagnostic questions.
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What are the first things,
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that people talk about,
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when they ask you about,
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when you ask them,
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about their church?
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That's when it goes,
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Christ's family,
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tell me about that church.
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Like what's the first thing you say?
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Or somebody else,
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like what comes out of their mouth?
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Like what do you enjoy,
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about that church?
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The second question,
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is us asking ourselves,
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is what is the gathering component,
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of a local church?
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Like why do people come there?
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Like what's the purpose?
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What's the goal?
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What brings them together?
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And often in today's,
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contemporary,
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evangelicalism,
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local churches have a large,
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range of gathering components.
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Alright?
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There's many demographics.
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There's the age demographic.
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I like going to this church,
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because it has a youth program,
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or teenagers,
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or older people,
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or young adults.
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Singles.
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That's why we like going there.
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Another demographic.
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Some sort of effemnity, right?
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That church has a lot of families.
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I like going to that church.
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Or a lot of children.
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Or these people seem,
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richer upper class,
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or middle class,
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or whatever it may be.
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A big one,
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among today's denominations,
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are music.
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Do you have contemporary cool music,
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or do you have the old people,
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organ,
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you know,
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piano music?
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Like they'll go,
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I've heard people say,
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that's why they go where they go.
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Programs.
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This is probably the biggest one.
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This church has a place for me,
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and my family to plug in.
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We have all these different things.
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We have children's ministries,
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youth ministries,
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college ministries,
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single ministries,
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on and on and on.
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We have a drama team,
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whatever it may be, right?
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So,
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we don't have a drama team here.
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So,
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also facilities.
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That's a really nice building.
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That's a beautiful church building,
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and a great parking lot,
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you know,
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on and on.
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They have good coffee,
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whatever it may be.
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So,
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there's all sorts of things
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that people say
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is the gathering component
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of their church.
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Right?
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I heard on a local Christian radio station
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a while back,
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they were allowing people to call in,
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and I said,
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this was the question,
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how do you do church?
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And you got all kind of crazy answers on that.
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But here's the deal.
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One of the big problems
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with focusing on demographics
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as a point of unity
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is that something happens
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to that component?
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Your church is gone.
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If that component was removed,
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would that church divide?
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Would it break up?
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What would happen?
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The gathering component,
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for any other reason
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than the Lord Jesus Christ,
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that church will fail.
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That church won't stand.
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But isn't it sad, though,
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that the church
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of the Lord Jesus Christ,
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that He bought with His own blood,
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usually,
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or sometimes,
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is not the gathering component
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for why a church gathers.
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It's all kind of
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other things
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other than His life,
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His death,
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and His resurrection.
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That's the main event
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for which we gather.
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But many churches do not.
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It is that bother you
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that many people ask the question,
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how do you do church
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when really,
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the only thing that matters
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is what would Christ
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have us do
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when we gather?
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What is His opinion?
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He is the head of the church.
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It is His church,
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His bride.
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He has told us
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what we ought to be doing
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when we gather.
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And it is heartbreaking
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that thousands of people
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have flocked to local churches
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even this morning
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to get a quick fix,
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to have a real quick shot
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of feel-goodism,
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a pop psychology talk
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that has nothing to do
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with God's Word.
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Or isn't it sad
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that the first thing
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that people think of
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of their church
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is a pastor
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or a program,
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something that enhances
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their life
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instead of the Son of God?
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Right?
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So please,
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I'm not saying
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that it's okay
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to mention some of the good things
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about our church,
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but I pray that Christ
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is the gathering component.
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I pray He is why we gather.
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Period.
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And I tremble to think
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how Christ would see
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some churches
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when you look at
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Revelation chapter,
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the early chapters
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when He addresses
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the churches.
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And He commends them
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for good things
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and He condemns them
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for bad things.
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Right?
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Underneath this first point
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about Jesus praying
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for unity
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is another point.
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Point B.
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What is the source
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of true unity?
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What is the source
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of true unity?
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Look at verse 21 and 22.
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That they may all be one
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just as you, Father,
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are in me
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and I in you.
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that they also
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may be in us.
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Look at verse 22.
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The glory
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that you have given me,
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I have given to them
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that they may be one
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even as we are one.
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I in them
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and you in me
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that they may be
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perfectly one.
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Alright?
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So,
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based on this text,
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very clearly,
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we see that unity
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is not something
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that we create.
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It's something
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that exists
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already.
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It's not of human origin.
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It's something
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that exists
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in the nature
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of God Himself.
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The unity of all believers
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is grounded
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in the love
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and unity
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that exists
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in the Godhead.
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Okay?
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Father,
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Son,
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and Holy Spirit.
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They are united
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completely,
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perfectly one
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in their motive,
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in their glory,
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in their mission,
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in their redemptive purpose.
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They are perfectly one,
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unified.
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So,
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spiritual unity
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comes to us
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from the reality
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of His redemptive activity
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in our lives.
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Okay?
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Unity,
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we should be concerned about,
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is not a physical,
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visible unity
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in our lives,
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but a unity
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that is
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not outward
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and physical
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but one that's
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spiritual
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and invisible.
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Unseen.
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Spiritual unity.
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That they would be
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perfectly one.
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Alright?
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Really quickly,
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this is the only place
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you have to turn
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outside of our main passage,
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but hold your hand,
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John 17.
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Look at Ephesians
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chapter 4.
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Paul writing
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to the church
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at Ephesus
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and he kind of
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clears the air
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on what unity
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actually is.
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Ephesians 4,
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verse 1,
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and he's addressing
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the church,
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and he says
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in verse 1,
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I therefore,
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a prisoner of the Lord,
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urge you
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to walk in a manner
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worthy of the calling
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to which you have been called,
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with all humility
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and gentleness,
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with patience,
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bearing with one another
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in love,
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eager to maintain
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that there it is,
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the unity of the Spirit
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in the bond of peace.
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There is one body
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and one Spirit,
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just as you were called
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to the one hope
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that belongs to your call.
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One Lord,
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one faith,
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one baptism,
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one God and Father of all,
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who is over all
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and through all
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and in all.
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So there's a lot
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to talk about right there.
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Just think about two things
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if you notice.
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Unity is completely
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a spiritual matter
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and not physical.
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Alright?
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Our passage,
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the Scripture,
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doesn't define unity
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in a physical,
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fluctuating,
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visible way.
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Rather,
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it's this constant unity
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that is invisible.
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Christ's prayer
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is answered
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every time a dead sinner
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is raised from death
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and brought
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into His kingdom.
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But secondly,
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notice this
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about this passage,
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that unity
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is maintained
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and preserved,
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not created.
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Okay?
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It already exists
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because of Christ
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and His Spirit
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that dwells within us.
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So we're called
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to preserve it,
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protect it,
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right?
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Not create it.
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Not to find
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some outward thing
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that brings us
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unity.
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Very clear passage.
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So let me just
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give you a quick
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example of this.
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For many years,
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they no longer
19:27
have this conference,
19:28
but in Louisville,
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every other year,
19:30
they had a conference
19:31
called
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Together for the Gospel.
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And at this conference,
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you had guys
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from different
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denominational backgrounds,
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primarily
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Southern Baptists,
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Presbyterian guys,
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Baptists like
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Mark Dever,
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and John Piper,
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John MacArthur,
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Al Mohler.
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Then you had
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PCA guys,
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Presbyterian guys
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like Spurl,
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Ligon Duncan,
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Kevin DeYoung,
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and they were all
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just really good
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buddies,
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all just really
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good friends.
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They disagree
20:03
like on certain
20:04
issues like baptism
20:06
or like church
20:07
government,
20:08
but they are all
20:08
really close.
20:09
They're saying
20:10
we are united
20:10
in Christ.
20:12
We are united
20:13
in the Gospel,
20:14
right?
20:16
And such
20:16
close friends.
20:17
So it can go
20:18
across denominational
20:20
lines.
20:20
In fact,
20:20
I'm okay with
20:21
denominations
20:22
because it actually
20:22
means that people
20:23
have convictions
20:23
about things,
20:25
right?
20:25
We actually believe
20:26
something that
20:27
the Scripture
20:27
teaches.
20:28
But there is
20:29
unity that exists
20:31
in those who
20:31
have been born
20:32
again and who
20:33
have believed
20:33
in the Gospel,
20:35
right?
20:35
There is spiritual
20:36
unity.
20:39
The last little
20:40
part underneath
20:41
point number one
20:42
is this,
20:44
the result of
20:45
true unity.
20:47
The result of
20:48
true unity.
20:49
Verse 21,
20:52
the second part,
20:53
he says,
20:53
so that the world
20:54
may believe
20:55
that you have
20:56
sent me.
20:56
look at verse
20:58
23,
21:00
so that the
21:01
world may
21:01
know that
21:02
you have
21:03
sent me
21:03
and love
21:05
them even
21:05
as you
21:06
have loved
21:07
me.
21:08
And so,
21:10
the result of
21:11
true unity,
21:12
one of those
21:12
is evangelistic.
21:14
Sin causes
21:15
division and
21:16
hatred.
21:18
Sin causes
21:18
people to
21:19
separate,
21:20
go their own
21:21
ways.
21:21
the church
21:23
is meant
21:23
to be one
21:24
of the
21:24
greatest
21:24
ways that
21:25
we display
21:25
to a
21:26
dying
21:26
world
21:27
who God
21:28
actually
21:28
is and
21:30
what was
21:30
meant
21:31
before the
21:32
fall,
21:33
right?
21:34
By loving
21:35
one another
21:35
well,
21:36
loving in
21:37
the grace
21:37
of God,
21:38
living in
21:39
community
21:40
with one
21:40
another.
21:41
I've heard
21:42
it said
21:42
a long time
21:43
ago that
21:43
the church
21:44
is the
21:45
Gospel
21:45
made
21:46
visible.
21:47
Like,
21:47
the world
21:47
is to see
21:48
the unity
21:49
that we
21:50
have because
21:51
of Christ
21:51
and because
21:52
of the
21:52
indwelling
21:52
Spirit.
21:55
Right?
21:55
Beautiful.
21:56
Jesus says
21:57
that that
21:58
unity,
21:58
that oneness
21:59
that He
22:00
prayed for
22:01
is attractive
22:02
to those
22:03
that God
22:04
is working
22:05
in,
22:05
right?
22:05
To the
22:06
outside
22:06
world.
22:07
We are
22:08
to be
22:08
the light
22:09
of the
22:09
world.
22:10
Jesus said
22:10
that you
22:11
are the
22:11
light of
22:12
the world.
22:13
A city
22:13
on a hill
22:13
cannot be
22:14
hidden,
22:14
right?
22:15
Let your
22:15
light shine
22:16
before men
22:16
that they
22:18
may see
22:18
your good
22:18
works
22:19
and glorify
22:19
your Father
22:20
who is in
22:21
heaven.
22:22
Right?
22:22
So that's
22:22
one goal,
22:23
one result
22:24
of true
22:24
unity is
22:25
it's evangelistic.
22:27
Jesus says
22:27
that,
22:27
that they
22:28
would,
22:28
a world
22:29
may see
22:29
and know
22:30
me,
22:31
right?
22:32
And then
22:33
underneath
22:33
this also,
22:34
another result
22:35
of true
22:35
unity.
22:36
I love
22:37
this part.
22:37
In Christ
22:38
we have
22:38
all things
22:39
in common.
22:40
Alright?
22:41
Many of you
22:42
can give
22:42
testimony to
22:43
this,
22:43
that Christ
22:44
has a
22:44
tendency
22:44
to bring
22:45
together
22:45
people who
22:46
otherwise would
22:46
never be
22:47
around each
22:47
other.
22:48
Like,
22:49
very different
22:49
types of
22:50
people.
22:51
All kind
22:52
of categories
22:52
of people.
22:53
It doesn't
22:54
matter what
22:54
social background
22:55
you have,
22:56
what ethnic
22:56
background you
22:57
have,
22:58
Christ brings
22:59
us together
23:00
into his
23:01
church,
23:01
his family.
23:03
And that
23:04
thought of
23:04
like whenever
23:05
you encounter
23:05
another believer,
23:07
some of you
23:08
have traveled
23:09
far outside
23:10
the U.S.
23:10
and it
23:12
feels a little
23:12
isolating and
23:13
you don't
23:14
really feel
23:14
like people,
23:15
anybody around
23:16
you knows
23:16
that you're
23:17
a Christian
23:17
and you're
23:18
kind of
23:19
alone.
23:19
And then
23:20
you bump
23:20
into somebody
23:21
else who
23:22
is and you
23:22
just immediately
23:23
have this
23:23
like,
23:25
yes,
23:26
they are
23:26
in the
23:27
faith.
23:28
They are
23:28
a brother
23:29
or a
23:29
sister.
23:30
And you
23:31
immediately
23:31
have this
23:31
connection
23:32
with them.
23:33
But God
23:34
brings together
23:34
all types
23:36
of different
23:36
people that
23:37
otherwise would
23:38
not spend
23:39
any time
23:39
together,
23:40
probably.
23:41
Growing up,
23:42
I was a
23:42
part of
23:42
like the
23:43
good old
23:44
boy country
23:46
crowd that
23:46
drove trucks,
23:47
deer hunted,
23:48
and fished.
23:49
And I
23:50
love to see
23:51
just that
23:52
over the
23:52
years,
23:53
that kind
23:53
of means
23:54
less and
23:54
less to
23:55
me.
23:55
It's more
23:55
as I've
23:56
seen people
23:57
that have
23:58
been saved
23:58
by Christ
23:59
and I have
24:00
more in
24:01
common with
24:01
them than
24:02
even my own
24:02
family sometimes.
24:04
And we
24:04
have,
24:05
I have a
24:06
good buddy
24:06
of mine who
24:07
is sort
24:07
of a punk
24:07
rocker
24:08
background.
24:09
Right?
24:10
And I
24:11
would have
24:11
never hung
24:11
out with
24:12
that guy
24:12
outside of
24:14
Christ.
24:15
And brothers
24:15
and sisters
24:16
from every
24:16
nation,
24:17
every tribe,
24:18
every tongue,
24:19
Christ brings
24:20
us together
24:20
and we have
24:21
all things
24:21
in common.
24:23
Right?
24:24
That's the
24:25
answer to all
24:25
the stuff you
24:26
see in our
24:26
world right
24:27
now.
24:28
The gospel.
24:29
Christ.
24:30
The church.
24:32
This brings
24:32
us to point
24:33
number two.
24:35
Point number
24:36
two.
24:36
Jesus
24:38
prays
24:39
for the
24:40
future
24:40
glory
24:40
of
24:41
believers.
24:42
He
24:43
prays
24:43
for the
24:44
future
24:44
glory
24:44
of
24:45
believers.
24:46
And then
24:47
two parts
24:48
underneath
24:48
that.
24:50
In one
24:51
way,
24:51
part A,
24:53
the fellowship
24:53
and focus
24:54
of our
24:55
future
24:55
glory.
24:56
Look at
24:57
verse 24.
24:58
He says,
24:59
Father,
24:59
I desire
25:00
that they
25:01
also,
25:02
whom you
25:02
have given
25:03
me,
25:04
may be
25:05
with me
25:05
where I
25:05
am,
25:06
to see
25:07
my glory
25:08
that you
25:09
have given
25:09
me because
25:10
you loved
25:10
me before
25:11
the foundation
25:11
of the
25:12
world.
25:14
Such a
25:14
beautiful
25:15
picture here.
25:17
At the
25:18
outset of
25:18
Christ's
25:19
prayer,
25:20
right,
25:20
he asked
25:21
the Father
25:21
to restore
25:22
him to
25:23
the place
25:23
of glory
25:25
that he
25:26
enjoyed with
25:26
the Father
25:27
before
25:27
creation.
25:29
So you
25:29
get this
25:30
glimpse of
25:31
what happened
25:31
before the
25:31
world was
25:32
created.
25:32
Christ
25:33
dwelt in
25:34
perfect joy
25:35
and satisfaction
25:36
with the
25:36
Father,
25:37
right,
25:38
before anything
25:39
ever was
25:40
created.
25:41
That's a
25:42
beautiful picture
25:43
of what
25:43
existed.
25:45
If you look
25:45
at verse 5
25:46
of chapter 17,
25:48
just kind of
25:49
looking back a
25:49
little bit,
25:50
he kind of
25:50
says the
25:50
same thing.
25:51
He says,
25:51
Now,
25:52
Father,
25:53
glorify me
25:53
in your
25:54
own presence
25:55
with the
25:56
glory that
25:56
I had
25:57
with you
25:57
before the
25:58
world
25:58
existed.
26:00
It's an
26:00
amazing
26:00
thought.
26:01
Think and
26:01
ponder that.
26:03
Right?
26:04
Something I
26:05
want you
26:05
to think
26:05
of just
26:06
right now,
26:07
think about
26:08
one of the
26:08
most beautiful
26:09
scenes that
26:10
you've ever
26:10
seen with
26:10
your eyes,
26:12
or one of
26:12
the most
26:12
beautiful
26:13
noises you
26:14
ever heard
26:14
with your
26:15
ears.
26:17
It might
26:17
be like a
26:18
sunset over
26:19
the mountains
26:20
or the
26:20
ocean.
26:22
It might
26:22
be hearing
26:24
a great
26:24
musical
26:25
performance
26:26
or a
26:28
monumental
26:28
sporting
26:29
event.
26:30
And notice
26:31
that in
26:31
those moments,
26:32
things that
26:33
just sort
26:33
of take
26:33
your breath
26:34
away,
26:34
you're not
26:34
thinking about
26:35
yourself at
26:36
all.
26:36
You're carried
26:37
outside of
26:38
yourself.
26:39
Right?
26:40
Two things
26:41
kind of
26:41
happened during
26:42
that time.
26:43
Something in
26:44
us longs for
26:46
another person to
26:47
be there with
26:48
us to share
26:49
that rich
26:49
experience.
26:50
You ever
26:51
thought that?
26:51
Like,
26:51
man,
26:52
I wish that
26:52
person was
26:53
here to see
26:54
this.
26:56
And typically,
26:57
the ones that
26:57
we love the
26:58
most,
26:58
typically the
26:58
people that are
26:59
closest to us,
27:00
who want
27:00
them to be
27:00
there to
27:02
behold this
27:02
beautiful thing
27:03
with us.
27:05
This,
27:05
in a small
27:06
way,
27:06
is what I
27:07
believe Christ
27:07
is saying,
27:08
a small way,
27:09
that He
27:10
desires for
27:10
us to be
27:11
with Him
27:12
where He is
27:14
so that we
27:14
may behold
27:15
His glory,
27:17
the glory that
27:17
existed before
27:18
the world
27:19
was created.
27:21
Not because
27:21
He needs
27:22
us,
27:23
just because
27:24
He's gracious,
27:25
just because
27:25
He wants us
27:26
to be in
27:26
His presence.
27:27
He chose
27:28
to set
27:28
His love
27:29
upon us.
27:30
Right?
27:31
So that's
27:31
one thing.
27:32
We want
27:32
for other
27:32
people to
27:32
be there.
27:34
Secondly,
27:35
we want
27:36
to not
27:37
just look
27:38
at something
27:38
that's
27:39
magnificent.
27:40
We actually
27:41
want to
27:41
dive into it.
27:43
We don't
27:43
want to
27:43
just stare
27:44
at it
27:44
from a
27:44
distance.
27:45
We want
27:45
to go
27:45
and actually
27:46
be a part
27:46
of what
27:47
we see.
27:48
We want
27:48
to be in
27:48
the middle
27:49
of it.
27:50
I remember
27:50
the first
27:51
time I
27:52
ever saw
27:53
the Scottish
27:54
Highlands
27:55
in 2009.
27:56
I was
27:57
on a
27:57
bus.
27:58
As soon
27:59
as I
27:59
saw it,
27:59
I was
27:59
like,
28:00
oh my
28:00
gosh,
28:01
that is
28:01
beautiful.
28:02
I was
28:02
like,
28:03
I wanted
28:03
to jump
28:03
through the
28:04
window to
28:04
go out
28:04
and get
28:05
into it.
28:06
I want
28:06
to drop
28:06
me off
28:07
right here
28:07
and I
28:08
will go
28:08
backpacking
28:09
all day
28:10
by myself.
28:11
I didn't
28:12
just want
28:12
to look
28:12
at it
28:12
from a
28:13
distance.
28:14
I remember
28:15
in 1995
28:17
a little
28:18
boy listening
28:18
to the
28:19
radio about
28:19
the Braves
28:20
World Series
28:20
and it
28:22
made me
28:22
go to bed.
28:23
I couldn't
28:23
stay up
28:23
and watch
28:24
it.
28:24
So,
28:25
the whole
28:25
like,
28:26
Braves
28:26
win,
28:27
Braves
28:27
win.
28:27
I wanted
28:27
to be
28:28
a part
28:29
of that
28:29
celebration.
28:30
I wanted
28:30
to be
28:30
in the
28:30
middle
28:31
of it.
28:32
C.S.
28:32
Lewis
28:32
wrote,
28:34
we do
28:34
not want
28:35
merely
28:35
to see
28:36
beauty,
28:37
though God
28:38
knows even
28:40
that is
28:40
bounty enough.
28:41
We want
28:42
something else
28:43
which we can
28:44
hardly put
28:44
into words,
28:46
to be
28:46
united with
28:47
the beauty
28:48
that we
28:49
see,
28:50
to pass
28:50
into it,
28:51
to receive
28:52
it into
28:52
ourselves
28:53
and to
28:53
bathe in
28:53
it and
28:54
to become
28:54
a part
28:55
of it.
28:55
And so,
28:56
when we
28:57
leave this
28:58
world and
28:59
go and
28:59
behold God's
29:00
glory and
29:02
the glory
29:02
of Christ,
29:03
we want
29:04
to see it
29:05
and be a
29:05
part of it.
29:05
We want
29:06
to be in
29:06
the middle
29:07
of that
29:08
glory.
29:09
There's no
29:09
better thing
29:10
in this
29:11
world.
29:11
Nothing can
29:12
compare to
29:13
the glory
29:13
that we
29:14
will behold
29:14
one day.
29:16
Paul wrote,
29:18
quoting Isaiah,
29:19
what no
29:20
eye has
29:21
seen,
29:21
nor ear
29:22
has heard,
29:23
nor the
29:23
heart of
29:24
man
29:24
imagined,
29:25
what God
29:26
has prepared
29:26
for those
29:28
who love
29:28
him.
29:30
Amazing
29:30
thing.
29:31
So,
29:31
a focus
29:32
of fellowship
29:33
and future
29:35
glory is what
29:36
we see
29:37
in these
29:38
verses.
29:39
And secondly,
29:41
underneath
29:41
this part,
29:43
is we
29:44
will enjoy
29:44
unhindered
29:45
fellowship
29:46
with God.
29:48
Unhindered
29:49
fellowship
29:49
with God.
29:50
Think about
29:51
the times
29:51
where you
29:52
have just
29:52
enjoyed
29:53
being in
29:54
the presence
29:54
of God.
29:56
Like some
29:56
of the sweetest
29:57
moments of
29:57
fellowship,
29:58
when you
29:58
were in
29:58
prayer,
29:59
when you
29:59
were in
29:59
God's
29:59
word,
30:01
when you
30:01
were just
30:01
alone
30:02
somewhere,
30:02
or in
30:03
the presence
30:03
of his
30:04
people.
30:05
And it
30:06
just seemed
30:06
like in
30:07
that moment
30:07
you just
30:08
had a
30:09
real sense
30:10
of God's
30:11
presence
30:11
with you.
30:13
In an
30:13
abnormal
30:13
way,
30:14
almost.
30:15
You felt
30:15
his nearness
30:16
to you,
30:17
thinking about
30:18
how he
30:18
saved you
30:19
from your
30:19
sin,
30:20
giving you
30:21
life,
30:22
enjoying
30:22
gratitude,
30:23
or just
30:23
filling
30:24
your soul.
30:25
You just
30:25
want to
30:26
say,
30:26
pause.
30:28
I just
30:28
want to
30:28
stay
30:28
right here,
30:30
right?
30:31
But then
30:32
something
30:32
happens.
30:34
Interference
30:34
usually steps
30:35
in.
30:36
You get
30:36
hungry,
30:37
you get
30:37
tired,
30:39
hangry for
30:39
some of
30:40
you.
30:41
Somebody
30:41
knocks on
30:41
your door,
30:42
you get
30:42
an annoying
30:43
text message.
30:44
Whatever it
30:45
may be,
30:45
there's moments
30:46
that just
30:46
interrupt us.
30:48
They pull
30:48
us away
30:49
from those
30:50
depths of
30:51
fellowship.
30:52
We're kind
30:53
of dragged
30:53
down from
30:54
heaven,
30:55
as it were,
30:55
back to
30:56
earth,
30:56
back to
30:57
just being
30:58
here.
30:59
And it
30:59
feels like
31:00
we only
31:00
can get
31:00
so close
31:01
in this
31:03
life.
31:04
But,
31:05
when we
31:06
die,
31:06
when we
31:06
shed this
31:07
weak,
31:08
mortal
31:08
flesh,
31:09
and it
31:09
passes
31:10
away,
31:10
we
31:11
will
31:11
have
31:11
uninterrupted,
31:13
unhindered
31:14
fellowship
31:14
with Christ
31:15
and the
31:16
Father.
31:17
Right?
31:18
Eternity
31:18
will not
31:19
be spent
31:19
with human
31:20
beings
31:21
paying back
31:22
the debt
31:23
that we
31:23
owe God,
31:24
because that
31:24
is impossible.
31:26
The grace
31:26
that we
31:27
have been
31:28
saved,
31:28
we can
31:28
never pay
31:29
it back.
31:30
But for
31:30
all eternity,
31:31
we will be
31:31
the beneficiaries
31:32
of God's
31:33
kindness.
31:35
Right?
31:35
Christ
31:37
has done
31:38
this,
31:38
Ephesians
31:38
2,
31:38
7,
31:39
that in
31:40
the coming
31:40
ages,
31:41
He might
31:41
show us
31:42
the
31:43
immeasurable
31:44
riches of
31:44
His grace
31:45
and kindness
31:46
towards us
31:47
in Christ
31:47
Jesus.
31:50
Some of
31:50
you,
31:51
many of
31:52
you,
31:52
who have
31:53
children or
31:53
grandchildren,
31:54
know that at
31:54
a certain
31:55
age,
31:56
you do
31:56
something
31:57
goofy or
31:58
fun,
31:59
and they
31:59
like it,
32:00
and then
32:00
what do
32:00
they tell
32:00
you?
32:01
Do it
32:01
again.
32:03
Do it
32:03
again.
32:03
Even like
32:03
for an
32:04
hour,
32:04
you just
32:04
do the
32:05
same thing,
32:05
over and
32:06
over again,
32:06
and they
32:07
never get
32:07
tired of
32:07
it.
32:08
Boredom
32:09
is something
32:09
that fallen
32:10
creatures
32:11
experience.
32:12
Right?
32:13
But the
32:14
newness of
32:16
standing in
32:16
Christ's
32:17
presence
32:17
forever will
32:18
never get
32:19
old.
32:20
We will
32:20
enjoy that
32:21
unhindered
32:22
fellowship with
32:23
God,
32:24
on and
32:24
on.
32:27
Debating
32:28
whether to
32:28
read this
32:28
to you or
32:29
not,
32:29
I'm not
32:29
usually a
32:30
fan of
32:30
long quotes
32:31
during
32:31
sermons,
32:33
but I'm
32:33
going to
32:34
read this
32:34
one to
32:34
you really
32:34
quickly.
32:35
Spurgeon
32:36
wrote a
32:37
sermon on
32:38
John 17
32:38
and he
32:39
says,
32:40
I doubt
32:41
not that
32:43
there are
32:43
many joys
32:44
in heaven
32:44
which will
32:45
amplify the
32:46
grand joy
32:47
with which
32:48
we will
32:48
have.
32:49
I feel
32:50
confident
32:51
that meeting
32:52
of departed
32:53
friends,
32:54
the society
32:55
of apostles,
32:56
priests,
32:57
and prophets,
32:58
and martyrs
32:59
will amplify
32:59
the joy of
33:00
the redeemed.
33:01
So in
33:02
other words,
33:03
I'm sure
33:03
there are
33:03
many things
33:04
in heaven
33:04
that are
33:05
going to
33:05
help bring
33:05
us joy.
33:07
Good things.
33:08
But still,
33:10
the Son
33:10
that will
33:11
give them
33:12
the greatest
33:12
light to
33:13
their joy
33:13
will be
33:14
the fact
33:15
that they
33:15
are with
33:16
Jesus
33:16
Christ.
33:18
And behold
33:18
his face.
33:20
And now,
33:21
there may be
33:22
other employments
33:23
in heaven,
33:24
but that
33:24
mentioned in
33:25
this text
33:25
is the chief
33:26
one,
33:27
John 17,
33:27
that they
33:29
may behold
33:29
my glory.
33:31
Let us
33:32
pass in
33:33
a panorama
33:34
before your
33:38
eyes with
33:38
great scenes
33:39
of this
33:39
glory that
33:40
you will
33:41
behold after
33:42
death.
33:43
The moment
33:44
the soul
33:44
departs from
33:45
this body,
33:46
it will
33:47
behold the
33:47
glory of
33:48
Christ.
33:49
The glory
33:50
of his
33:50
person will
33:51
be the
33:52
first thing
33:52
that will
33:53
arrest your
33:53
attention.
33:55
There he
33:55
will sit
33:56
in the midst
33:56
of the
33:56
throne,
33:57
and our
33:57
eyes will
33:58
be first
33:58
caught with
33:59
his glory
34:00
of his
34:00
appearance.
34:02
Oh,
34:02
how will
34:03
the Christian
34:04
stop at
34:05
the foot
34:05
of his
34:06
master's
34:06
throne and
34:07
look upward?
34:09
And if
34:10
there could
34:10
be tears
34:11
in heaven,
34:12
tears of
34:12
rich delight
34:13
would roll
34:14
down his
34:14
cheeks when
34:15
he looks
34:16
and sees
34:17
the man
34:17
enthroned
34:18
and says
34:19
to him,
34:20
how often
34:21
I used
34:22
to sing
34:22
about you
34:23
on the
34:23
earth.
34:25
Crown him
34:25
with many
34:26
crowns.
34:27
King of
34:27
kings and
34:28
lord of
34:28
lords.
34:30
This
34:30
version ends
34:31
like by
34:31
writing this
34:32
poem.
34:33
Millions of
34:34
years are
34:35
wandering
34:35
eyes.
34:36
Shall our
34:37
savior's
34:38
beauties
34:38
rove.
34:40
And
34:40
myriads of
34:40
ages will
34:42
adore the
34:43
wonders of
34:43
his love.
34:45
So it'll
34:46
be a joy
34:47
that is
34:47
unceasing
34:48
in heaven.
34:50
We'll never
34:51
be bored
34:51
beholding the
34:52
glory of the
34:53
father and
34:53
the son.
34:54
And
34:55
then lastly,
34:57
landing the
34:57
plane here
34:58
is part
34:59
B.
35:01
There will
35:01
be a
35:01
foretaste
35:02
of future
35:03
glory.
35:04
Look at
35:04
verse 25.
35:05
Oh,
35:08
righteous
35:08
father,
35:09
even though
35:10
the world
35:10
does not
35:11
know you,
35:11
I know
35:12
you,
35:13
and these
35:13
know that
35:14
you have
35:14
sent me.
35:15
I have
35:16
made known
35:17
to them
35:17
your name,
35:18
and I will
35:19
continue to
35:20
make it
35:20
known,
35:21
that the
35:21
love which
35:22
you have
35:23
loved me
35:23
may be
35:24
in them,
35:24
and I
35:25
in them.
35:26
So beautiful
35:27
words.
35:28
Jesus says,
35:28
righteous
35:29
father,
35:30
expresses this
35:30
great
35:31
confidence
35:31
that his
35:32
father hears
35:33
his prayer,
35:34
and he
35:34
will fulfill
35:35
his request.
35:37
He says
35:38
about this
35:39
righteous
35:39
God,
35:41
a fallen
35:41
world does
35:42
not know
35:43
Christ,
35:43
it does
35:43
not know
35:44
God,
35:45
but the
35:46
son knows
35:47
God,
35:47
and the
35:48
son has
35:48
made him
35:48
known to
35:49
us.
35:50
Jesus has
35:51
shown us
35:51
who the
35:52
father is.
35:54
The moment
35:54
that we
35:55
are born
35:56
again,
35:57
we have
35:57
fellowship
35:58
with God,
35:59
and we
36:00
continue to
36:00
throughout
36:01
the duration
36:01
of our
36:02
lives,
36:02
and
36:02
sanctification,
36:04
but knowing
36:04
Christ,
36:05
experiencing
36:05
his glory,
36:06
and his
36:07
fellowship,
36:08
starts now.
36:09
We get
36:10
glimpses,
36:11
we get
36:11
tastes,
36:12
but it
36:12
starts now.
36:14
Jesus said,
36:15
I have
36:15
come that
36:16
they may
36:16
have life
36:17
and have
36:17
it abundantly.
36:19
Having
36:19
this life
36:20
that is
36:21
rooted in
36:22
fellowship
36:23
with Christ.
36:25
So even
36:25
now,
36:26
with all the
36:27
distractions,
36:27
and all the
36:28
stuff,
36:28
even in
36:29
this moment,
36:29
right,
36:30
we can
36:30
enjoy the
36:31
presence of
36:32
Christ with
36:33
us.
36:34
We may
36:35
get a start
36:36
on eternity
36:36
now,
36:37
but one
36:37
day,
36:38
Paul says
36:38
that we
36:39
will enjoy
36:40
the
36:40
unsearchable
36:41
riches
36:42
of Christ.
36:44
So be
36:45
thankful for
36:45
these times
36:46
of fellowship
36:46
that you
36:46
have now.
36:47
They're just
36:47
a foretaste
36:48
of what
36:49
is to
36:50
come.
36:51
So taste
36:52
and see
36:53
that the
36:53
Lord is
36:54
good.
36:55
So just
36:55
a beautiful
36:56
picture of
36:56
what Christ
36:57
prayed for
36:58
you,
36:59
for me,
36:59
and for
37:00
every believer
37:00
that followed
37:01
after he
37:02
left the
37:03
earth,
37:04
that we
37:05
would be
37:05
one,
37:06
that we
37:06
would behold
37:07
his glory
37:07
one day.
37:09
So just
37:10
join me in
37:10
a word of
37:11
prayer.