WEBVTT 00:00:00.959 --> 00:00:11.679 As you uh are getting settled in and uh after that beautiful uh moment of worship that we had today, uh if you don't mind, as you know, John 17. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:14.720 If you turn your Bibles, John chapter 17. 00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:21.199 So in John 7, chapter 17, we find ourselves at one of the most significant moments in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:25.440 We have been in the upper room with Jesus and his disciples. 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:35.759 He has been teaching them, preparing them for what is coming and explaining the realities they face when he is no longer physically present with them in the same way. 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:44.479 He has spoken about his departure, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the opposition they will experience, and the peace they will have in him. 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:52.079 Now we come to what is commonly called as the high priestly prayer of Jesus Christ. 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:56.719 The shadow of a cross is falling over this moment, and betrayal is approaching. 00:00:56.960 --> 00:00:58.399 Suffering is near. 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:04.640 Jesus preparing to lay down his life, and yes, his attention is not consumed with himself. 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:07.599 He is preparing his people. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:12.239 John records this in a remarkable detail. 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:28.319 We are given the privilege of hearing the Son speak of the Father, revealing the unity of their purpose, the certainty of the work Christ came to accomplish and his concern for those whom the Father has given him. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:36.000 We should notice that Jesus is not preparing generalities or praying for generalities, I should say. 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:42.159 We see that in verses 6 through 19, he prays particularly for the disciples the Father had given him. 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:51.599 In verse 20, when we go a little bit further down, the prayer explicitly broadens to those who have believed in their word. 00:01:53.599 --> 00:02:05.760 But what we see today in 11 through 19, we hear Jesus continue to pray for his disciples as he prepares to depart, as he prepares to go away from them. 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:11.439 He knows the world they will remain in, the opposition they will face. 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:13.199 He has seen it himself. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:19.280 He understands their weaknesses and their need for a divine keeping. 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:23.439 So, what does Jesus truly pray for him? 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:26.319 There's going to be six things that we're going to talk about today. 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:29.520 Six things that we're going to break down, and these are the six. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:35.919 Number one, he asks the Father to keep them, to be with them. 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:42.400 Number two, that they might have his joy, and by when I say his, Christ's joy. 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:48.080 Number three, that they are guarded from the evil one. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:54.719 Number four, that they will be sanctified in the truth. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:57.520 We'll expand on that a little bit more. 00:02:57.919 --> 00:03:07.439 Number five, that they be sent into the world, that they're not hidden from it, that they're sent out, but prepared to be sent out. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:10.319 With God being with them. 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:16.800 And number six, Christ's own consecration would be for their sake. 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:20.479 Those are the six things that we're going to focus on today. 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:22.879 They're not disconnected in any way, shape, or form. 00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:24.240 They're not disconnected wishes. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:30.080 They aren't just these random things that Christ just throws out there because, you know, these are six things I got to pray for. 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:32.800 There are six things that come together. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:36.080 They reveal Christ's priorities for his people. 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:49.039 God keeps him, sustains him, protects them, sets them apart by truth, sends them on a mission, and grounds their hope in the saving work of Christ. 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:52.319 That's the prayer. 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:56.319 That's the identity of what Christ is trying to. 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:59.599 And it's through him that this is going to only exist. 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:11.599 The main question we need to look at as we go into this: what does Christ desire for his people as he prepares to go to the cross and leave them in the world? 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:16.319 John chapter 17, 11 through 19 answers. 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:28.240 He prays that they'll be kept by the Father, sustained in joy, protected from the evil one, sanctified in truth, sent into the world, and set apart through his own saving work. 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:35.680 So if you have your Bibles, go ahead and open up John chapter 17, 11 through 19. 00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:38.879 I'll be reading from the uh English Standard Version, the ESV. 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:48.800 Um, and follow along as we go through this, as we try to break this down and uh try to step into a prayer that is that is unreal. 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:57.839 So chapter 17, verse 11, and I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you, Holy Father. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:04.720 Keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:18.800 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you had given me, I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the Son of Destruction, that scriptures might be fulfilled. 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:30.959 But I am now coming to you, and these things I speak in the world world, that they may be fit be and may have the joy fulfilled in them, my joy fulfilled in them. 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:40.160 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:45.279 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but you keep them from the evil one. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:49.519 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:54.480 Sanctify them in truth, your root word is truth. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:06:06.480 As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world, and for their sake I consecrate myself, that they may be sanctified in truth. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:15.040 The first point today we're going to see in the verses 11 through 12 is in Christ the Father preserves their salvation. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:21.439 The Father preserves his people through his power in the keeping work of Christ. 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:24.879 Jesus knows that he is returning to the Father. 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:27.519 He knows that he is not staying here very much longer. 00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:30.319 He's at that, he's at the eve, he's at this point. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:36.879 We had the upper room, we're now at a prayer in the garden, and he is now understanding that he is no longer going to be with him. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:39.519 He's been preparing them for this for a while. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:45.040 While the disciples will remain in the hostile world, Christ is trying to prepare them. 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:48.959 He asks the Holy Father to keep them in his name. 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:54.079 The character, authority, and revealed identity of who God really is. 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:58.160 He is praying earnestly for them. 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:05.120 That it's not just, I'm done with them, I'm just dying and I'm letting them go on their own. 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:06.480 He's not doing that. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:09.120 He's praying earnestly for them. 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:26.959 He has guarded, excuse me, he has guarded the disciples during this earthly ministry, consistently protecting them, trying to keep their mind away from the things of the world, trying to keep them from physically walking into the world. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:37.040 One, as scripture tells us, as we call the son of destruction, Judas was the one that does walk away. 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:42.480 But that's showing both the seriousness of unbelief and the fulfillment of scripture. 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:50.319 Judas goes this route because he was, that was, it was fulfilled in Scripture. 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:57.120 He went this route because he wanted more than what Christ could offer him, or thought he wanted more. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:02.639 Do not use Judas to imply that Christ loses one of his true sheep. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:03.839 No, no, no, no. 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:11.920 John's gospel distinguishes the only, the only one who truly belongs to Christ are the ones who does not, from the one who does not. 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:15.759 He distinguishes the difference between Judas and his other eleven. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:23.360 Because in the prayer, as you see, we see in scripture, we see that he actually speaks of that, talking about the fulfillment of scripture. 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:32.399 But believers persevere because God is faithful, keeping those who are truly his. 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:35.440 This is not a license for carelessness. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:38.799 This is not a license for us to just do whatever we want. 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:42.159 It is grounded in assurance and in continuing faith. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:44.480 So we see this in two different areas. 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:47.600 In Romans, we see that Paul talks of this. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:09:06.159 In Romans 8, 38 through 39, for I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, or nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:09.360 Notice what it says at the very end. 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:11.440 In Christ. 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:15.840 In John, we see that Jesus says something very similar. 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:18.240 John 10, 27 through 30. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:23.039 And my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they will follow me. 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:28.720 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:36.240 My father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:39.360 And I and the Father are one. 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:44.320 There's that connection between Christ and the Father. 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:52.080 And we're seeing that as his prayer is unfolding, as we see that at the beginning of this, as he talks about, I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world. 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:55.840 He talks about this while I was with them, I kept them in your name. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:10:01.440 And twice he says that in the first two, I keep them in your name. 00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:06.000 That's the connection between Christ and God. 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:12.159 There's gonna be more that comes from this, but but he is guarding the disciples. 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:13.919 He is keeping them in his name. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:16.720 He has specifically picked them. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:27.279 And as we look at it from our point of view, we can understand that our confidence is not what we naturally is not a natural strong, what we hold on to ourselves. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:29.840 Our confidence is in the Father is faithful. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:32.639 Our confidence can't be on our own. 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:35.120 And you're gonna see that all the way through this. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:40.320 Every little piece of this, our confidence cannot be in who we think we can be. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:46.399 But our confidence has to be in the one that is the rock, that is the truth, that is the standard. 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:51.120 Otherwise, it's futile. 00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:56.240 God's keeping does not mean believers never stumble. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:56.799 No. 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:03.120 I can't sit up here and tell you that I haven't suffered or we haven't suffered because we follow God. 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:05.759 In fact, that's going to come. 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:07.440 Those things happen. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:11.759 And not to use you, Teddy, but I appreciate what you said this morning. 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:25.919 Because you kind of took a little piece of the sermon as we go forward, but your joy is rooted not in the idea that I lost a job, but your joy is rooted that Christ has surrounded you with people and that you're in Christ. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:27.519 And we're going to get to that. 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:30.799 But we don't, we we stumble, we suffer, we struggle. 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:36.639 It means God does not, what it means is God does not abandon his saving purpose for his people. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:39.600 He's not just gonna leave that, leave us willy-nilly. 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:46.320 We are gonna suffer. 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:48.720 We are gonna face trials. 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:56.320 We are gonna see things for what they really are when you really truly dive into truth, and you'll struggle. 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:58.559 It'll be difficult. 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:06.559 And when assurance feels weak, do not look first on the strength of your own feelings. 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:12.639 Look to the character and promises of God and to Christ who keeps his own. 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:15.279 That's the hard part. 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:18.080 That's the part we all struggle with. 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:21.600 Because how quick are we going to say that my assurance is my own? 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:24.559 I know who I am, I can do things on my own. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:26.559 Because we're taught that. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:29.919 So the world teaches us. 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:38.720 But how many times have I done that on my own and failed, face first into a pile of dirt? 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:40.240 It happens. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:45.519 But the father does not merely keep his people alive spiritually. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:49.360 Christ also desires that they know his joy. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:52.960 In Christ, the Father gives them joy. 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:59.919 In chapter 7, 17, verse 13, we're going to see that God right here is going to give him joy and through himself. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:02.639 It's not through anything else but Christ. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:08.879 Christian joy is rooted in Christ and his word, not in favorable circumstances. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:12.480 Let me repeat that because I think that's worth repeating. 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:21.840 Christian joy is not re-rooted in, is joy is rooted in Christ and his word not in favorable circumstances. 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:24.480 That's the lie. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:33.120 Favorable circumstances, things that just randomly happen because we don't give credit to God because it happened, and we think, oh, that's my joy. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:39.360 Whether it's something earthly, whether anything, that's the lie. 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:45.840 Jesus speaks these things while moving towards the cross, which I find interesting. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:48.879 His suffering is coming. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:53.200 Physical, mental, the suffering is coming. 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:57.120 And his joy is not shallow optimism or denial of sorrow. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:57.679 No. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:04.240 It is the joy of communication with the Father and confidence in the Father's purpose. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:07.919 He knows his will. 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:10.720 And when I say his will, Christ knows God's will. 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:12.720 That he was put here for a specific purpose. 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:16.480 And part of that purpose is to walk to the cross. 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:20.720 To be on the cross. 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:23.679 To be the redemption. 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:29.519 Because God knows, and Christ knows, that we can't do it on ourselves on our own. 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:35.279 In no way, shape, or form do we have the ability to find our way to heaven without Christ. 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:40.320 He wants his joy fulfilled in his disciples. 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:41.840 And that's what we're seeing here. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:49.039 Their joy is connecting to hearing and receiving his word and knowing that they belong to him. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:52.320 So many times we forget that. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:59.200 So many times we find our joy in our own selfishness. 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:01.919 The disciples might find their own joy in their own selfishness. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:06.480 But his prayer is that the joy is found in Christ. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:10.320 And it may not be the joy that we expect. 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:18.240 And it doesn't mean the delightful things, the wonderful things. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:19.440 It means everything. 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:26.559 Because if everything is rooted in Christ, it doesn't matter what comes your way, the joy is sitting inside of the relationship you have with Christ. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:28.080 That's the joy. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:30.320 That's the joy he's talking about. 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:35.840 In 1 Peter 1, 8 through 9, though you have not seen him, you love him. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:50.720 Though you do not know, uh do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, salvation and the salvation of your souls. 00:15:50.960 --> 00:16:00.480 In John 15, 11, these things I have spoken to you, Christ speaking, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:06.240 Replacing our joy with his joy. 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:13.360 Biblical joy is not the absence of sorrow, it is confidence in Christ in the midst of sorrow. 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:21.519 And feelings do matter, but they are not the foundation of truth. 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:24.720 Our feelings are not our foundation of truth. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:32.240 They fluctuate, they jump up and down, but Christ's promises do not. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:43.039 So I ask you whether your joy is being governed more by today's circumstances or by the unchanging promises of Christ. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:52.240 The disciples will have joy, but Jesus does not pretend that the world will welcome them. 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:54.240 Look at the progression here. 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:56.159 Look at where we're going here. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:58.159 Father, keep them. 00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:02.080 Father, protect them, give them joy. 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:06.799 But Father, there's a mission and protect that as well. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:09.200 In Christ, the Father protects their mission. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:21.920 In verses 14 through 16, we see God keeps his people spiritually as they live and serve in the world, in a world that opposes, that opposes to his truth, that is opposed to God's truth. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:30.480 The world hates the disciples because they received Christ's word and no longer belong to the world system of values. 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:39.279 In John, the world often means humanity organized in opposition to God when they use that word term. 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:44.319 Not every person or every created thing. 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:49.680 Jesus has not asked the Father to remove them from the world. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:52.559 He asks that they be kept from the evil one. 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:58.400 The church is not called to escape the world, nor become indistinguishable from it. 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:06.240 Christ knows where they're supposed to go. 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:09.839 Christ knows their mission. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:13.440 Christ has been preparing them for a mission. 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:18.079 And God is in Christ is asking God to protect that mission. 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:20.480 Do not remove them from the world. 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:22.240 Do not take them out. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:31.119 For I have given, for I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:36.799 I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but keep them from the evil one. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:39.519 He understands what they're supposed to be doing. 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:46.480 And he's going to set their mission here again at the end of this prayer, and even more so as to what they're supposed to be doing. 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:58.240 But in this process, as he's praying through this, understanding that there's an overwhelming protection in the idea of the I have keep them with you, preserve them, give them joy. 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:05.119 And in this process, when they are suffering because they are working for me, protect them from the evil one. 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:09.839 Provide them opportunities to see you. 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:17.680 And he gave them tools. 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:27.440 The Father will preserve his people through the means, including his word, prayer, the church, and the spirit's work. 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:30.319 That's how he protects them. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:32.640 They have an avenue to him. 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:54.480 In John 16, 33, Christ says this, I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace, in the world you will have tribulation. 00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:58.880 But take heart, I have overcome the world. 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:06.799 God does not preserve his people by removing them from the battlefield. 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:10.240 He is not going to preserve the disciples by removing them. 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:14.400 He preserves them so they can remain faithful in it. 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:18.000 That's a hard concept to understand. 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:21.599 That is a very hard concept to understand. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:30.880 Being different from the world does not mean being needlessly hostile or withdrawing from our neighbors, which we all have a tendency to do. 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:34.400 I see the world for what it really is. 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:37.119 Let me step back. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:39.839 No, there's a charge. 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:46.799 It means living under Christ's lordship, even when the world's value conflict with God's word. 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:51.759 And we're going to see that as we mature in faith. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:56.160 And you probably are starting to see that now that the world is evil. 00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:58.079 The world wants you to fall. 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:05.920 The world will give you a desire and make you feel good more momentarily and then strip everything away because it can. 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:09.839 There's no consistency in the world. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:14.160 John Piper says this, and it was kind of an interesting statement. 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:18.720 I kind of came across this, and I didn't know if I wanted to use this, but it kind of fits this. 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:23.440 We don't sin because we truly want to sin as a believer. 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:25.440 We sin because it feels good. 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:28.400 And we sin because we like it. 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:30.480 And it just makes me feel good. 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:40.480 But if our desire is not focused on, is focused on the desire of what the sin gives me and not focused on the desire I have for God, that's the separation. 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:41.839 That's the difference. 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:52.559 Because God gives you a desire and a passion and a love and a feeling that is greater than any sin can give you in that momentary time that you decided to do something like that. 00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:56.880 Or live in that little bit of, you know, hey, that was delightful. 00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:59.119 No, your delight should be in God. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:02.079 Light should be in the fact that you're walking with Christ. 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:09.839 So I ask you, where are you tempted to trade faithfulness for acceptance? 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:14.000 That's a hard question. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:21.039 Where might you be confusing cultural approval with spiritual maturity? 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:23.920 And so many times we fall in that. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:30.480 We're so quick in this world today because we want to be told that, hey, you're a Christian, you should be tolerant about everything. 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:37.920 Am I approving this because God's directing me to approve it because it's scripturally sound? 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:42.240 Or am I approving this because I want to be liked by somebody across the way from me? 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:55.039 That's walking in the world and be protected by God, understanding that God has given you everything: prayer, his scripture, his ability to talk to him, his church. 00:22:55.279 --> 00:23:02.000 And if the church is being led in the right way and the church is seeking Christ, then that church will help you. 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:05.680 It'll disciple you, it'll teach you. 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:16.880 How will Christ's people remain distinct without withdrawing from the world? 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:19.839 So this is where Jesus answers that. 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:35.599 And if you're in your Bible, when you look at verses 17, I want you to go ahead and go to your Bible and it says, Sanctify them in truth. 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:44.559 Your word is truth. 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:49.119 There is no other truth. 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:53.839 The standard bearer that which exists is the creating God. 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:57.759 The one that created everything that we sit here and look at. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.200 He is the standard bearer. 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:04.960 His truth, his word is the truth that we should be setting everything against. 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:18.960 God sanctifies his people through the objective truth of his word, renewing their minds and shaping them in holiness. 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:23.920 So let's look at sanctification just for a second. 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:30.640 So as we look at this verse, we look at in verse 17 sanctify them in truth. 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.759 Your word is truth. 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:35.759 To sanctify is to set apart for God and his purposes. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:44.000 In this verse, Jesus prays that the disciples will be shaped in practical holiness through the truth. 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:52.640 Sanctification includes our thinking, our desires, our decisions, words, and actions, not merely our outward behavior. 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.680 It's everything. 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:55.279 It's the culmination. 00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:57.359 It's who we're supposed to be. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.559 It must reach our mind. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:04.319 Sanctification must reach up into the tops of our mind. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:15.839 We often absorb assumptions of our culture and then justify them because they feel natural, compassionate, authentic, personally true. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:23.200 But sincerity does not make a belief true. 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:27.680 And a strong feeling does not establish what is right. 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:35.359 God's word does not become true because we agree with it. 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:41.839 It is true because it is true, because God is true. 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:57.279 Or do you believe God? 00:25:58.400 --> 00:26:01.279 And I think there's a little bit of a distinction there, right? 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:03.519 It's easy to believe in God. 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:05.599 People can walk around, I believe he exists. 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:09.519 Or sure, you know, the mountains were, he put that there. 00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:10.799 You know, sure, okay. 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:14.079 It was some, maybe he was the Big Bang, I don't know. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:30.559 But to believe in him, to trust in him, to know that his word is truth, that there is no other word that, or there is no other truth that to which I should be living by or understanding or putting my measure against. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:37.599 Which is why sanctification in the mind is understanding, because those things are going to be flooded with a thousand different things that come your way in the culture. 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:45.519 Again, I kind of already talked a little bit about that and the idea that we will we will tell you, hey, you you're you're a Christian, you should be compassionate with everybody. 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:50.880 But if it goes against the standard to which God has already created, then why are we being passionate towards that? 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:54.000 Set yourself away from that. 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:58.960 And it's not to be argumentative, it's to be in Christ. 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:09.920 And that's the hard part because we live in a world where everybody wants us to be, they want us to be happy with each other, but we're not going to be. 00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:13.519 Because our truth is from God. 00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:18.079 Our truth is from the one who created this world. 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:21.519 We create a construct. 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:26.720 We're the ones who create all these different things that we we kind of try to follow. 00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:33.599 But if we're not putting it to the standard that is the Bible, then there is, is there any truth to it at all? 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:44.319 Christian maturity requires bringing our thoughts and assumptions under the authority of Scripture. 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:54.799 The question is not merely what feels right to me, but what has God revealed and how must my thinking be corrected and renewed by it? 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:57.759 This is what he was wanting for the disciples. 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:03.519 Truth is not simply a private perception or individual construction. 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:08.559 Christians believe truth is grounded in the character of God and revealed in his word. 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:13.839 And our understanding cannot be mistaken. 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:28.799 Scriptures become the standard by which our philosophies, cultural assumptions, assumptions, and desires, desires and interpretations are tested. 00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:40.480 We need to examine worldview in the light. 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:46.640 In the light of God's revelation. 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:55.920 We should be thoughtful, discerning, not captive to ideas that contradict Christ. 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:58.960 And that's an easy thing to do. 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:04.000 We can justify so many things to make ourselves feel better. 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:09.039 We can look at things that hey, that that made a lot of sense. 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:12.319 But if we're not putting it to the test in the scriptures. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:57.119 Romans 12, 1 through 2. 00:29:57.279 --> 00:30:11.519 1 and 2, I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your b your bodies as a living sacrifice, wholly and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:29.680 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:34.400 Kind of talked about that with joy, right? 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:40.400 If it's our own, then probably it's not real. 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:44.720 But if it's God's, there is no question. 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:53.440 And if you're seeking God in that, because he is the author of sanctification, the Holy Spirit applies the truth of Scripture to the believer. 00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:56.160 The word is not magical. 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:58.720 We can't look at it as a magical object. 00:30:58.960 --> 00:31:10.240 It works as a spirit, illuminates the mind, convicts the conscience, redirects our affections, and moves the will towards obedience. 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:14.319 There's a purpose there. 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:19.839 We should be obedient, but it should be through our faith and our connection with God. 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:22.559 We shouldn't be obedient at first thinking that that's what's going to save us. 00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:32.000 We should have faith and trust and belief in God and living in him, and that obedience is going to be the fruit because we want to live for him. 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:35.279 Because we want to be separate. 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.799 We want to be something different. 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:44.240 We want this idea, we want to be somebody who people walk by and it's like, man, what's up with that person? 00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:50.880 I knew who they were, used to be, but there's something different about that person. 00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:55.839 Which will invite a conversation. 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.519 Hopefully. 00:31:58.319 --> 00:32:00.000 Hey, what's going on with you? 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.480 It's not me. 00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:05.759 It's not me. 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:28.079 Renewing the mind is not merely collecting biblical facts, it is learning to see God, ourselves, sin, suffering, identity, relationships, and purpose according to God's revealed truth, and then living accordingly. 00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:30.799 It's the maturity in Christ. 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:33.200 It's the building in Christ. 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:44.000 I'm not saying today that if you if you hear the call of Christ and you immediately join his army and you just jump in full head and I believe in you that this is gonna happen overnight. 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:44.880 No, no, no, no, no. 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:46.160 That's a process. 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:48.319 It's a process. 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:55.359 But seeking it on your own accord as opposed to seeking it in the scriptures, we're gonna fail. 00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:02.160 Spurgeon puts it this way. 00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:10.559 We only progress in sound living as we progress in sound understanding. 00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:16.240 It's about how much you want to put into it. 00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:24.000 Christ has given us the way, Christ is the way, and it's our our our our purpose to seek him out. 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:42.480 We all interpret life through a framework, assumptions about what is good, what is true, what makes us valuable, and what we should pursue. 00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:44.400 And I think that's something we all struggle with. 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:46.640 We all we all consistently are working through that. 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:55.359 And if the framework that is shaped primarily by the surrounding culture, our conclusions may feel obvious while deeply out of step with scripture. 00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:00.880 That's the hard part. 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:06.640 Our culture can make you feel good. 00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:13.679 Our culture can challenge you if you feel like you're, you're, you're, you, you, you stand against something, and then it's like, why are you standing against that? 00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:14.639 Aren't you tolerant? 00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:16.159 Well, maybe I should be a little bit more. 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:16.800 Let me step back. 00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:20.880 Let me let me let me let me listen to you a little bit more and try to be a little bit more tolerant. 00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:34.400 God's word does not simply decorate our existing worldview, it corrects and renews it. 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:44.960 Sanctification means allowing God's truth to reshape how we think so that our choices and conduct increasingly reflect Christ. 00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:49.679 And again, I'm not up here saying that I figured that out. 00:34:51.199 --> 00:34:54.320 I pray and hope that God is consistently working in me. 00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:57.679 But that is the difficult process. 00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:13.840 The truth that sets the disciples apart does not lead them away from the world forever. 00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:16.639 It prepares them to be sent into it. 00:35:17.199 --> 00:35:23.360 So in verse 18, we see that in Christ, the Father sends his people on a mission. 00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:30.320 Christ sends his people into the world to bear witness. 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:43.440 So to kind of explain this a little bit more, the father has sent his son into the world with a unique saving mission. 00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:45.360 There was a mission that was given to Christ. 00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:49.519 There was a thought that this was exactly what you're supposed to do. 00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:51.119 Christ knew this. 00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:54.320 Christ lived the perfect, perfect life for that. 00:35:54.639 --> 00:36:06.960 And now Jesus, who has been preparing them, showing them miracles, teaching them on the way with parables and having conversations with them, they saw all of this. 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:12.880 We have faith and belief and trust that all these existed. 00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:14.719 They physically saw it. 00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:22.400 And he's asking them to bear the witness to him and carry his message into the world. 00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:26.800 If you remember in chapter 14, he talks about your works will be greater. 00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:33.440 Not that the things that they do are going to be on the level of Christ, but because Christ was living in them and they are spreading his word. 00:36:35.920 --> 00:36:38.800 They're taking his word and expanding it. 00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:46.079 And yes, we know that they're going to, as we walk forward, as we get into chapter 18, 19, and 20, we're going to see them just disperse. 00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:48.239 We're going to see Peter deny him. 00:36:48.639 --> 00:36:50.559 They're not perfect beings. 00:36:51.760 --> 00:36:55.280 But what they are are men who seek Christ. 00:36:57.039 --> 00:37:00.239 You're going to see in Galatians, Paul calls out Peter, that's okay. 00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:02.000 They're fighting through it. 00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:02.880 Why? 00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:05.519 Because they're all seeking Christ and they understand the mission. 00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:06.960 The mission is not their own. 00:37:07.119 --> 00:37:12.559 The mission is to spread the word of the God who died on the cross for their sins. 00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:22.400 The disciples do not repeat Christ's atoning work. 00:37:22.639 --> 00:37:24.559 Christ alone is the Redeemer. 00:37:24.800 --> 00:37:28.880 The church announces the good news of his completed work. 00:37:31.360 --> 00:37:33.440 And the mission flows from grace and election. 00:37:33.519 --> 00:37:34.960 It does not earn salvation. 00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:36.239 Let me repeat that. 00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:38.800 It does not earn salvation. 00:37:39.599 --> 00:37:49.280 God ordains not only the end, people coming to faith, but also the means, including the witness of his people. 00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:52.480 It's the faith. 00:37:53.599 --> 00:37:55.199 It's the changing tone. 00:37:55.280 --> 00:37:56.960 It's the sanctification. 00:37:57.360 --> 00:38:01.760 These guys right here, when they go into the world, it's not because of on their own accord. 00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:18.079