WEBVTT 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:08.080 The sermon text this morning comes from John chapter 17, verses 20 to 26. 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:11.679 We have a lot of new pew Bibles. 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:19.839 And if you'd like to follow along there, it's on page 849 or follow in your bulletin. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:33.600 Before I read the text, I want to say welcome back, Alejandro Luccini, who played with us for years, our percussionist in worship for many years, who now lives in Florida. 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:36.799 And Alejandro, what a joy to worship with you this morning. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:39.600 Welcome back on your weekend back to DC. 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:47.200 We also want to just comment how the Lord is at work in people's hearts. 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:54.960 Through the summer months, a lot of things take a break during the summer, well-needed break from a very busy year. 00:00:55.200 --> 00:01:03.520 But this past Wednesday night, I understand that about 45 women met together to study the Bible, study the book of Ruth, and what an encouragement that was. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:20.640 Yesterday, about 45, 50 men met for lunch and to hear some really powerful testimonies of the gospel in their lives, and it's just an encouragement to see how God is working, bringing new people every Sunday to this church, and we're thankful. 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:28.879 We're concluding a three-week series this morning on Jesus' high priestly prayer found in John 17. 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:33.280 If you've missed it, I encourage you to go back and listen because it is a whole. 00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:34.560 It's one prayer. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:42.400 We're covering in three weeks, but we look at the last part where Jesus prays specifically for you. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:44.959 For us. 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:49.599 Remember the first petition was he prayed for himself. 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:55.599 The second petition he prayed specifically for his disciples, knowing what they were about to face. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:01:58.879 And now he prays for all of his people. 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:00.879 Hear the word of God. 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:23.039 I do not ask for these only, meaning his disciples, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:30.560 The glory that you have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, even as we are one. 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:43.919 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:57.439 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me, because you have loved me before the foundation of the world. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:05.919 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:16.719 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:24.719 This is the reading of God's holy, infallible, and errant word. 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:29.520 May the Spirit instruct us and teach us this morning. 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:31.280 Please join me in prayer. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:36.719 Father, thank you for your son's prayer. 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:40.639 Thank you for listening to that prayer that night. 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:49.360 When your son prayed, you were listening intently, and you answered his prayers. 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:53.199 May we understand that in a new way even today. 00:03:53.840 --> 00:04:03.120 How his prayer changes everything, even change the things in us that you would this morning. 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:04.560 We pray by your spirit. 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:05.520 Amen. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:21.279 This high priestly prayer, Jesus, our high priest, the fulfillment of all the prophecies of the Old Testament, all the high priests that went before him. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:36.959 The high priest in the Old Testament that bore the twelve tribes on his chest, the people of God close to the heart of God, we find fulfilled ultimately in Jesus, our high priest. 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:44.800 John Knox, noted as the father of Presbyterianism. 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:55.120 John Knox in Scotland, toward the end of his life, in his final weeks, asked that this prayer be read to him every day. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:57.839 I think I understand why. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:06.240 I ask, Jesus said, for those who will believe in me, one day, that's us. 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:15.199 Through their word, the word and the teaching of the apostles, the inscripturation of God's word. 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:19.600 We believe because we have read, we have heard. 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:31.839 The Holy Spirit has given us new hearts, soft hearts, not hard hearts, so that we can actually hear and obey and respond. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:38.399 This morning we're going to look at the basis for this prayer, this section. 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:45.040 We're going to look at the marks of this prayer, and finally the purpose and the results of this prayer. 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:51.920 The basis of this prayer that Jesus prayed, there is some repetition. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:59.680 Repetition is a good thing, oftentimes, because we don't catch things the first time, do we? 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:05.600 There's a lot that just goes right over our heads reading the Bible. 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:07.680 There's repetition. 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:15.199 Once again, Jesus in his prayer gives thanks to God the Father for the given ones. 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:17.519 And we know who that is now, right? 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:19.519 Who are the given ones? 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:20.240 You. 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:29.839 Every follower of Christ, every Christian, we first belong to God the Father. 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:41.120 And as a result of the work of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, the Father gave us to his Son. 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:44.480 Don't ever get over that. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:49.199 Amazing grace. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:53.279 Given to the Son by the Father. 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:59.839 Every Christian is united not only to Christ, but to every other Christian. 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:04.560 That's really a bit of the focus this morning. 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:12.000 You were not only given to Jesus, you were given to the people next to you in this room, the people that are in the body of Christ. 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:15.199 I think a lot of Christians miss this today. 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:18.639 I think a lot of Christians never even think about this. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:26.000 We have unfortunately devolved into a very individualistic church. 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:32.879 Where it's so easy for the people of God to see themselves in silos, Christian silos. 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:35.279 It's just me and God. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:36.800 No, it's not. 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:43.040 If we didn't believe it before, certainly this passage teaches us. 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:47.600 You are given to each other as well. 00:07:49.519 --> 00:08:09.120 Jesus is the, Jesus, excuse me, just as the Father and the Son live together in perfect harmony, so every believer is in union with them and dwelt by the same Spirit, the Holy Spirit, and this is how we understand our oneness in Jesus Christ. 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:20.000 Augustine the great saint once said of his friend Olypius, brother, we were washed in the same blood. 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:22.000 That's true. 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:33.600 If you're a Christian, if you're a follower of Jesus Christ, you were washed in the same blood as the person you don't like. 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:38.480 As the person that you're really struggling to forgive. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:42.639 The person you've got grudges with. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:46.320 The person you'd rather not be in your life. 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:51.440 If they're a Christian, we're washed in the same blood. 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:55.759 That's what he's getting at here. 00:08:56.240 --> 00:09:05.519 The basis of his prayer is our union with Christ and our communion with our brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:09.120 William Hendrickson, the commentator, put it like this. 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:12.960 In this prayer, Jesus is scanning the centuries ahead. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:21.120 He's pressing to his loving heart all of his true followers as if they had already been saved that night. 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:23.360 Isn't that tremendous? 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:28.559 Was he thinking of you that night? 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:29.519 Yes. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:33.360 Incredible. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:44.080 Hours later, we don't know how many hours later, not many, he's going to be praying in the garden. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:47.440 And we're going to get to that in another moment or two. 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:59.120 Verse 21, may they all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, that they also may be in us. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:06.559 Our spiritual union with the Godhead is the very foundation of our oneness with the brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:08.559 Let me say that again. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:21.039 Our spiritual union with the Godhead is the very foundation of our relationship, our oneness with all other Christians. 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:27.360 Verse 23, Jesus says something amazing, mind-blowing. 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:36.320 You have loved them even as you loved me before the foundation of the world. 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:39.519 Just as the Greek word means, just as. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:47.039 Now, if you're paying attention, this is the third week in a row that Jesus is plumbing deeply into the love that He has for you. 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:52.720 This is the repetition. 00:10:54.320 --> 00:11:01.120 You have loved them, Father, just as you have loved me. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:03.919 Do you believe that? 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:09.519 I don't know. 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:13.360 Only the Holy Spirit can convince you of that. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:16.080 You will never convince yourself of this. 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:18.720 You will never convince anyone else of this. 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:23.600 And some of us know how hard we've tried. 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:26.000 You can't do it. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:35.759 Only the Holy Spirit can convince you that the Father loves you as much as he loves his own son. 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:47.759 God loves his sons and his daughters to the same degree, in the same way that he loves his only son, Jesus Christ. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:53.120 And to that all we can say is, thank you. 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:55.679 All glory to God. 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:10.480 And the prayer of confession that we prayed earlier this morning is an attempt to get to this and to understand when we don't feel like we can go back to our high priest when we see our sin. 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:18.639 When we see our sin, and it just convicts us, and we're we're we're just down in the dust. 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:25.440 This is when you need a high priest that you believe is interceding for you. 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:34.399 And the high priest says to the father, Father, I know, I know they sin greatly. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:38.559 I know they fail us miserably sometimes. 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:45.360 But Father, remember, remember, this is why I went to the cross. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:56.399 That they might be forgiven, that they might be welcomed, that we will rejoice in them, have our joy. 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:06.480 You know, maybe you don't, that when you're at your worst, you need God's love the most. 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:20.000 When you're at your worst, when you're surprised at what you did, you're surprised at what you thought, that's when you need the love of God the most. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:21.919 That's the gospel. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:24.639 That's what Jesus is praying. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:31.200 Jesus wants his people because he loves his people and he wants them to be with him. 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:35.919 Look, we need like six hours to unpack this. 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:38.240 But we're not going in. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.559 But take it in. 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:46.879 Father, I desire that my people may be with me where I am. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:49.679 And you say, well, wait a minute, he was on earth, he was in the upper room. 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:53.840 He's from his perspective, he sees that he's already in heaven. 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:56.000 It's that close. 00:13:56.639 --> 00:14:04.399 He so longs to return to be with his father, he can taste it, even though he has to go through an excruciating death. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:07.919 He says, Father, I can't wait to get back home. 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:10.240 This is Tom's paraphrase. 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:13.919 Father, I cannot wait to get back home. 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:21.440 And the other thing I can't hardly wait for is to get all of my brothers and sisters home with me. 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:32.399 That word is the Greek word I desire that they also may be with me where I am. 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:34.240 Oh, by the way, finish the sentence. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:34.799 Why? 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:36.399 To see my glory. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:49.120 He wants you to join him in heaven so that you may see his unvarnished, unhidden glory. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:53.679 Amazing. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:59.600 By the way, that's the same Greek word he used again just a few hours later in the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:07.679 When he said, Not what as I desire, not as I will. 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:09.679 But what did he say? 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:11.519 Father, as you will. 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:16.559 Oh my goodness. 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:29.840 Because he could say, Father, not my will, but your will be done, he could later say, Father, I my desire is to have all my family together. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:32.559 Parents, grandparents. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:38.080 Something special when you have all your kids home after they've gone. 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:44.399 To have all your grown kids and your grandkids come back home, that's pretty special. 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:51.600 Sometimes you just feel like it's not it's not really done until they're all back. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:56.399 That's a little bit like I think what Jesus was thinking. 00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:04.879 So that they can see my glory, they can see the power of the cross in full display. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:09.679 I've worshiped well this morning. 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:23.200 I appreciate the music that has led us to the cross, to the throne, the word of God, but we have not worshiped this morning like we will one day when we're home. 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:28.480 When we are home, there will be no tinge of regret. 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:38.320 There will not be any stained or blot on our conscience, and Jesus can't wait for that day. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:47.039 And oh, by the way, he wants you and me to be living every day today in preparation for that day. 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:48.879 Do you think about this? 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:52.000 I hope so. 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:59.039 The disciples saw him suffer before their very eyes in just ours. 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:03.440 His prayer is that they will soon see him in his full glory. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:11.039 If you see Jesus in his suffering, he wants you to see him in his full glory as well. 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:13.359 I remember years ago, R. 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:13.519 C. 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:16.160 Sproul saying an illustration. 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:21.039 How we idolize celebrities. 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:24.720 Messi's back in Miami, right? 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.680 Is he near you? 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:33.519 Messi's back in Miami and everybody's going nuts. 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:36.240 This king of soccer. 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:42.079 And I heard that the price of tickets is like tenfold. 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:47.200 Everybody just wants to see this star. 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:51.440 For an hour or two. 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:54.079 They'll pay a lot of money. 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:57.759 Who is Messi? 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:06.799 We're gonna be with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and we're gonna see his glory, and we're never gonna get over it. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:09.279 It's never gonna get boring. 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:12.319 It's never gonna get old. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:18.799 We will be renewed day after day after day. 00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:21.279 Dazzled by his glory. 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:23.200 It starts now. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.799 It starts in this sanctuary. 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:36.960 Jim Boyce told a story that's pretty good. 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:45.680 If it's true that you will eventually be with Jesus if you are a Christian, then why not spend time with him now? 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:51.839 This you may do through times of your own personal Bible study and prayer, yes. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:58.559 What would you think of a couple who are about to be married who don't seem to feel the need to spend time together before the marriage? 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:03.839 They say, oh, we're going to be together for the rest of our lives. 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:05.839 We don't need to be with each other now. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:08.720 We have other things we want to do now. 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:14.480 We would think that a marriage like that can hardly be promising, and we would be right. 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:22.400 For if a couple is going to spend their lives together, they would rightly want to get to know each other better and even more before the wedding. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:27.200 In the same way, we should want to get to know Jesus better now. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:34.720 If we don't want to really get to know Jesus now, if we don't want to be in his word now. 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:41.759 Kind of crazy, isn't it? 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:50.480 Jesus only knows, but look, people that don't want to be with them now, I'm not sure they're gonna be with them then. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:56.720 Oh, I know we're gonna get married someday. 00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:01.680 I know it's gonna be great in heaven, but I'm doing my thing on earth. 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:03.680 Do you know him? 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:07.119 That's an honest question. 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:09.599 Do you want him? 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:15.680 Do you make time and space to just be with him? 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:21.759 Because of who he is and what he's done for you. 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:26.240 Makes sense to me. 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:30.559 Secondly, let's look at the marks of Jesus' people. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:34.559 The fifth petition in this prayer, he prays for unity among believers. 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:37.440 Verse 21, that they may be one. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:42.640 Verse 23, that they may be brought to complete unity. 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:47.039 A unity that honors the unity of the Godhead. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.640 Listen to what J.I. 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:50.079 Packer said about this. 00:20:50.319 --> 00:21:03.519 It's about time for Christians who recite the Apostles' Creed and mean it to come together for fellowship and witness, regardless of their denominational identity or their personal conflicts. 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:09.119 Let's put away our pettiness. 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:13.359 We can be so petty. 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:16.079 Well, I'm not going to talk to them. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:18.559 I'm going to ignore them. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:20.799 Really? 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:24.000 Jesus died for our unity. 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:34.160 How easily we can dishonor God by our grudges, our refusal to forgive, our refusal to love others. 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:38.160 Jesus says, Father, may they be brought to complete unity. 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:41.759 He's serious about this. 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:44.319 What are we doing with it? 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:48.319 Does it go in one ear and out the other ear? 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:51.359 I pray not. 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:58.240 In the last petition, he prays for the love among his believers. 00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.759 Verse 26 that the love. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:04.799 With which you have loved me may be in them and I in them. 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:08.640 In that same upper room discourse in John 13, 34. 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:11.839 If your Bibles are open, you can just turn over there. 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:16.480 A new commandment I give to you that you love one another. 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:20.799 Boy, this little word just gets us, doesn't it? 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:23.599 Sometimes we just wish it wasn't in the Bible. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:30.480 Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:39.519 There may be no greater work of the Holy Spirit in this worship service this morning than some of us, confessing our sin. 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:50.000 Confessing our sin, of our indifference, our despising other Christians, our refusing to forgive other Christians. 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:56.559 This may be the very work of the Holy Spirit that He wants to do in our hearts this morning. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:59.680 It's time to just say it's okay what I'm doing. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.839 No, it's not okay what we're doing. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.599 It's not okay. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:23.839 Holy Spirit, would you make me a person that I can say to Jesus, I am looking to you to enable me to do what you just said, just as I have loved you all, you also are to love one another. 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:27.279 But listen to what he says right after that. 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:34.480 By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another. 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:36.880 Sorry about that. 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:49.279 If you have love for one another, this prayer specifically, Jesus is not praying how you love non-Christians. 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:57.920 Of course, we should love non-Christians, but in this prayer, this is all about how you and I love Christians. 00:23:58.559 --> 00:24:00.559 The world is watching. 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:05.519 Do we just, do we behave like the world when we snub people? 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:07.920 When we freeze people out? 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:13.839 When we grow cold toward other Christians? 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:19.039 Jesus says, I don't understand that. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:21.519 Why did I die? 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:26.160 But to demonstrate the power of the cross. 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:34.559 And this is one very specific way that the cross is displayed to a watching world, which brings us to our last point. 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:38.640 The results, the purpose of his prayer. 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:44.319 Verse 21b, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:53.519 This is what Francis Schaeffer called the greatest apologetic that we have, the church has to the watching world. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:25:00.000 Apologetics, and don't worry if you don't know what that is. 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:03.359 Apologetics can be useful. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:10.799 Learning a lot of ways, reasons to defend the Christian faith in the eye of unbelief. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.720 Yes, it can be useful. 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:21.279 But the most important, greatest apologetic that we have to the world is the way that we love other Christians. 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:24.319 That's what Jesus said. 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:34.880 Jesus' prayer is the reason, is the key to you and I growing in his love for one another. 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:38.160 We don't have this kind of love, do we? 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:46.559 When we rely on our love for him, or when we rely on our love for others, we fail miserably. 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:49.039 Can I get an amen? 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.799 Is that true? 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:53.279 You know it. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.480 I know it. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:58.160 It's not for us. 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:12.480 We're here this morning to say, Lord Jesus, I need your love in me to love you and to love my brothers and my sisters. 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:17.680 And I repent today if I'm not. 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:22.640 This is the purpose and the result of Jesus' prayer. 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:28.960 The spirit-given unity in a church family is essential for evangelism. 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:39.119 I think Sinclair Ferguson says that in the last 200 years, the church has gone in a very different direction when it comes to evangelism and witnessing. 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:41.279 It's got very privatized. 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:50.319 Look, it's good when you have an opportunity to share the gospel with other people who don't know the gospel. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:52.880 Personal evangelism is good. 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:54.720 There's a place for it. 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:58.400 But do you hear what Ferguson is saying? 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:05.039 That's not the primary, not the primary mode of evangelism in the Bible. 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:18.799 The primary mode of evangelism in the Bible is to invite unbelievers who don't know the good news to come and watch you and me worship. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:21.759 Confess our sins. 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:29.759 I can't tell you how many people over the years have come to know Jesus through our worship. 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:30.960 They've told me. 00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:32.720 They've told the elders. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:36.799 The Apostle Paul talks about it in 1 Corinthians chapter 14. 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:49.119 He says, When the unbeliever comes into your midst and he sees you really worshiping God, will he not say in his heart, these people know God in a way that I don't know them? 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:55.039 It's the way we worship, it's the way we treat each other. 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:59.759 This is the primary means that God has used to call the world to himself. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:16.160 Because as Sinclair Ferguson says, the last 150 years, that kind of has gotten lost, and now it's kind of become about just personal evangelism training. 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:22.640 Well, that's again, there's a place for that, but that's not the primary place in Scripture. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:29.279 Will not the secrets of our hearts be revealed when we come to God and worship? 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:37.119 The person who comes into this sanctuary, he says, you know, I don't believe what you all believe. 00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:53.759 I don't believe what you all believe, but I'm really curious because as I watch you, the way that you sing to your God, the way that you pray to your God, the way that you treat each other. 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:58.720 I cannot deny the reality of that. 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:02.160 And there's something about that that is capturing my heart. 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:05.440 Paul says, the secrets of their hearts will be revealed. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:11.119 The secrets of their hearts will be revealed, and they will say, Is not God among these people? 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:14.000 This is what Jesus is praying right here. 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:29.279 I can't tell you how many people have met with the elders over the years and profess their saving faith in Christ through the worship of God's people here. 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:31.839 It's powerful. 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:38.880 The purpose and the result, Jesus said, is so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:41.200 That will get their attention. 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:45.519 I want to close with a letter anonymous. 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:56.640 It's called the letter to Diognes, second century A.D., where a writer describes, an unbeliever describes watching Christians. 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:59.119 And this is his letter. 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:05.039 Christians are not differentiated from other people by country, language, or customs. 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:09.519 You see, they do not live in cities of their own or speak some strange dialect. 00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:13.839 They live in both Greek and foreign cities, wherever chance has put them. 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:18.640 They follow local customs and clothing, food, and other aspects of life. 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:25.759 But at the same time, they demonstrate to us a most unusual form of their own citizenship. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:29.279 They live in their own native lands, but as aliens. 00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:36.079 Every foreign country is to them as their native country, and every native land is a foreign country. 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:44.799 They marry and have children just like everyone else, but they don't kill unwanted babies, which was very common in Rome. 00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:51.680 They offer a shared table, they don't share their bed with others. 00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:55.839 They're passing their days on earth, but they're citizens of heaven. 00:30:56.160 --> 00:31:00.559 They obey the appointed laws and go beyond the laws in their own lives. 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:04.720 They love everyone, but are persecuted by all. 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:06.720 They are put to death and gain life. 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:08.640 They are poor and yet they are rich. 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:12.640 They are dishonored and yet again they are glory through their dishonor. 00:31:13.119 --> 00:31:15.759 Their names are blackened and yet they are cleared. 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:18.160 They are mocked and blessed in return. 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:22.640 They are treated outrageously and behave respectfully to others. 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:29.759 When they do good, they are punished as evildoers, and when they're punished, they rejoice as if they are blessed. 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:33.920 They are attacked by others as aliens and are persecuted. 00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:38.000 Yet those who hate them cannot give any reason for their hostility. 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:41.759 This is the working out of this prayer. 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:44.720 This is the working out of Jesus' prayer. 00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:51.119 Oh, I am convicted how far I have to go. 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:54.240 How much more I have to learn. 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:57.440 What I have to repent of. 00:31:59.039 --> 00:32:00.960 But this is what God's called me to. 00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:03.200 And this is what God's called you to. 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:09.039 And the Holy Spirit dwells in us so that it's possible. 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:15.920 Father, I thank you. 00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:18.720 Thank you for the power of the gospel. 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:21.359 Jesus, thank you. 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:26.880 Thank you for completing your assignments that the Father gave you to do. 00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:40.640 Speak to each heart here this morning. 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:42.400 What's in the way? 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:51.200 What is in the way that we would yield, that we would surrender by the power of the Spirit. 00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:54.160 Oh Jesus, we love you. 00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:57.519 We thank you that you pray for us. 00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:00.240 And now we're going to live for you. 00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:02.000 Amen.