Eternal Emissaries

Felt need/problem: Why did Jesus leave us in a fallen world (with a longing for joy)?

Solution: He isn’t leaving us, He is sending us.

Big Idea: Our joy isn’t found in being removed from this world but in being sanctified by the Word and sent into the world.

Intro

A foreigner traveled across two billion galaxies, was born in the womb of a woman

knetlt in the garden He had spoken into existence

a place of beauty that now held His pain

the night of His betrayal, the night before His crucifixion

Jesus prayed not only for himself but for you and I.

It goes without saying this world is broken. Theres diseases that travel across the globe, war, famine, abuse etc.

Perhaps you, like me, have had moments where life was hard and you just wanted to ask God, “why”. Why do I have to study, why didn’t I make the team, why do my parents have to divorce, why did she have to dump me, why am I here on earth?

Why did Jesus leave us here in a fallen world?

I believe Jesus will give us insight into this question today.

The text

John 17:13–19 ESV

13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 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. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Hate

I was at the gym this past week and a lady stopped me to ask, “why does hate exist” - she had experienced racism in her life - but all of us know what it’s like to fell left out of a particular group, to feel like we don’t belong and perhaps even to have others who not only exclude us but treat us with contempt. Some of us may understand what it’s like to be hated.

As a Christians, harbingers of God’s love, we should expect to receive hate from the world.

Share the story of a time when I was hated for sharing a spoken world with a Christian worldview.

But the hatred we receive is less personal than it appears, what the world hates most is Christ - it’s why they crucified Him.

If we’re honest we hated Christ - it’s what we’ve been saved from. Romans 5:7-9

Romans 5:7–10 ESV

7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

“enemies” - ἐχθρός (ech-thros') - hateful, hostile

Could present gospel here.

We who have been reconciled to God and now love him are still hated by those who are opposed to Him.

Thus Jesus warns His disciples John 15:18-19

John 15:18–19 (ESV)

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Even in His first sermon He warned us, Matthew 5:10-11

Matthew 5:10–11 ESV

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

We live in a time where it is not popular to be Christian.

What God’s word teaches about marriage, about the sanctity of life, about our identity as men and women, much of the content within God’s word is counter cultural.

Yet, what’s more radical is living like Jesus - because such a lifestyle is counter cultural.

So although we are caught up in a war and hostility that has existed since the foundation of the world, doesn’t leave us unprotected, in fact he prays that we would be kept from the evil one.

John 17:15 ESV

15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

He also doesn’t leave us unequipped or ill-equipped but rather he has given us His Word that we may be His missionaries.

Word

John 17:14 (ESV)

14 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.

God has given us His Word! 2 Tim 3:16-17

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The Word of God is important because it is a reflection of the heart, the character or nature of God. The Gospel of John opens with John 1:1-3

John 1:1–5 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

God Has given us His Word the Bible, but also the Living Word His Son.

The more we know His Word the more we know Jesus, the more we know Jesus the more we begin to look like Jesus. You cant know Him and not begin to look like Him.

The problem with looking like Jesus is that it causes people to hate us as it hates/[ed] Him

John 17:14 (ESV)

14 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.

Knowing Jesus changes our citizenship and subsequently makes us ambassadors

Philippians 3:20 (ESV)

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 (ESV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

So let’s revisit the question we asked initially - Why did Jesus leave us on earth? This week is halloween weekend, and I know some of the things that occur on this weekend here at the U. I know that it’s a time filled with darkness, chaos and the grip of the enemy is extremely evident during weekends like this. Further, our need for Jesus is extremely evident, and if you’re a Christian here at the U, the temptation is to run, to not attend certain events or outings, to dissociate yourself from everyone around you, which there can be some wisdom in doing so - but why did Jesus leave us on earth instead of taking us with Him?

Especially if the world would be positioned in against us?

Better yet, why would Jesus leave us when He could be glorified and do it all Himself? Why is it for His glory and our good that He leaves us here?

Joy

John 17:13 “13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” but so that we may have His joy.

How does staying here on earth lead to increased joy?

because in staying, we are 1) sanctified and 2) sent

Our joy isn’t found in being removed from this world but in being sanctified by the Word and sent into the world.

John 17:17–18 (ESV)

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

Let’s first talk about being sent

Sent as Missionaries

Jesus didn’t pray that God would remove our affliction, He didn’t pray that God would remove us from the world. So if God has chosen to leave us on earth then there has to be a divine plan and purpose for doing so.

We are sent because Jesus was sent. Jesus came to establish and initiate the mission of making more disciples of Jesus, but then He empowers us and sends us to continue the work of making more disciples. God’s Son was a Missionary and He expects those who follow His Son to become missionaries too!

What does it mean to partner with God as His missionary?

Let’s start with what a missionary is: A missionary is someone who is sent to represent Jesus to others!

Another way to think about being God’s missionary is to think of what an ambassador does. Ambassadors are supposed to give a true and accurate representation of their home country. That means dispelling any stereotypes their host country may have about the people and culture whom they represent.

2 Corinthians 5:20 “20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

So, as missionaries we are sent to represent God.

A missionary’s message is the good news that we first recieved and now we get to share.

Why does the world hate the gospel?

Because the gospel is rooted in truth - the truth that we are sinners in need of a Savior - and that truth is uncomfortable and unacceptable my most.

The gospel reveals our our imperfection and our guilt but it also provides the a path away from condemnation and into life - that path is the forgiveness offered to us by Jesus.

The temptation for us as followers of Jesus, in the midst of a culture that opposes the gospel and opposes Jesus is either to flee or to stay silent. To try and fly under the radar and go unnoticed and undisturbed.

What compels a follower of Jesus to defy the pressure to keep one’s faith to themselves?

Your relationship with Jesus!

You cannot be in a genuine relationship with Jesus and not become like Him! Why? Because His Spirit has entered into your life and if you let Him have your life He’s going to compel you to be on mission with Him!

And if you don’t have that conviction and sense of urgency, you either haven’t really experienced being born again or you’re in a back slidden state. That’s a phrase you don’t hear much anymore, back-slidden. What does it even mean? Oswald Chambers says to be back slidden is to forget Jesus and to take up something or someone else in His place. Has anyone or anything taken Jesus place as the One most important thing in your life?

Experiencing Jesus is what mobilizes us

you cannot really be sent out until you encounter God!

Give example of Isaiah.

He was a priest who went into the temple one day to worship God (Isaiah 6). That day in the Temple he encountered God! The result humbled him and sent him.

Isaiah 6:1–8 ESV

1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

“Because his encounter with God was bigger than any challenge he might face.

To the degree you encounter the greatness and holiness of God you will be able to take on the challenges He calls you to face.” - Pastor Dale

- Remember young David and Goliath? What enabled him to go on the mission to defeat the giant? He had great encounters with God!

- Abraham. God encountered Abraham who was a simple pagan living in Ur of the Chaldeans. God promised to make Abraham into a great nation through whom all the other nations would be blessed. Do you know what God said to Abraham after calling him out of paganism? “Get out…” “Leave where you are and go with me to where I will send you…”

Abraham had to leave his idols behind and get out of his security and comfort and trust God alone!

“If you want to experience and know the power of God, you have to live with a willingness to forsake your comforts and securities and go with God.: Is there any reason you wouldn’t be willing to go on mission with God? Who or what is holding you back?

- Family?

- Finances?

- Familiarity?

- Fears?

Jesus is the prototypical model of what it looks like to be a missionary for God

Think of the greatest example of all, Jesus! What did He do? He left heaven and came to earth. He left glory, security, comfort and His very unique and indescribable relationship in the God head and took on human flesh and pursued the Father’s business. Have you ever thought about that? What did Jesus look like before he was born in Bethlehem? Before the incarnation He was bodiless, He was entwined in the divine essence of the Godhead. Do you realize that when Jesus took on a human body it was an eternal decision? He remains in bodily form and will return in bodily form! He must really love His Father and you! He gave up more than anyone of us will ever realize!

John 17:4 ESV

4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

John 17:18 (ESV)

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

If Jesus has equipped us with His word, if He’s equipped us by modeling for us what being a missionary is to look like then why is our evangelical proclamation to the often diluted down and ineffective?

Because the number one hinderance to non-believers being intrigued by the Christianity, as shown is many Barna studies over multiple decades is: Hypocrisy - when we know what Jesus said but don’t live how Jesus lived.

Why aren’t we more effective here, near and far? Why is the church in the world largely ineffective?

I think we have the answer at least in part in verses 17 and 19:

The problem - is ultimately - we aren’t subjecting ourselves to sanctification

Sanctify[ied]

John 17:17 “17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

God gave us his word to equip us and to sanctify us.

Are you being sanctified? Are you becoming like Jesus? If you are you will become more effective as a missionary of Jesus.

Why is it truth that sanctifies us?

Jesus is truth - he transforms

Truth changes what we believe, what we see, and how we live

John 17:19 ESV

19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Jesus was already holy, set apart, but sacrificed Himself that we might be sanctified.

be sanctified--consecrated. The only difference between the application of the same term to Christ and the disciples is, as applied to Christ, that it means only to "consecrate"; whereas, in application to the disciples, it means to consecrate with the additional idea of previous sanctification, since nothing but what is holy can be presented as an offering. The whole self-sacrificing work of the disciples appears here as a mere result of the offering of Christ [OLSHAUSEN].

“To prepare them to be sent out as Christ's missionaries they must be sanctified. How shall a holy God send out unholy messengers? An unsanctified minister is an unsent minister. An unholy missionary is a pest to the tribe he visits; an unholy teacher in a school is an injury rather than a blessing to the class he conducts. Only in proportion as you are sanctified unto God can you hope for the power of the Holy Spirit to rest on you, and to work with you, so as to bring others to the Savior's feet.”

Spurgeon

Why does this matter? because being sanctified and being sent are key to joy being fulfilled in us.

John 17:13 “13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” but so that we may have His joy.

John 17:17–18 “17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

How does staying here on earth lead to increased joy?

because in staying, we are 1) sanctified and 2) sent

JUST AS JESUS’s joy was found as he was sent into this world.

Hebrews 12:2–3 ESV

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Summarize:

Jesus doesn’t remove us from the world, instead he gives us His Word (Scripture/Jesus), that we might become Jesus’ missionaries here on earth. When our life is tranformed, sanctified, by God’s Word it causes two responses from the world, one is opposition (hatred), the other is acceptance of the message in which we are ambassadors of. Jesus doesn’t remove us from the world because He knows that our joy is greater fulfilled in being sanctified by the Word and sent into the world.