John 17:13-19

In John 17…We find Jesus praying for His disciples…He is praying for all those who have given HIM their lives! He is about to be betrayed by Judas…led to the cross..and die for the sin of the world…

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.

Jesus is clear in His prayer that His disciples [His Followers]…like Him.. are “not of this world”

They are made “new” distinct from the world. Through the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Listen…when you surrender your life to the Lord Jesus Christ…God doesn’t revamp your old parts…He doesn’t take the old and make it new…He doesn’t supply you with a refurbished version…He makes you new…He installs new parts…That are specific and supplied only by Him!

It is something that those who do not possess Him…Who have not surrendered to Him…cannot possess themselves…

It is the indwelling of His Holy Spirit!!!!

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh… I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Folks…belief in Christ is more than having a head knowledge that:

God is real…

That Jesus is His Son…

That He died on the Cross…

That He resurrected…

That the Bible is His inerrant, infallible Word

And that there is a place called Heaven and a place called Hell

James 2:19 - You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

But it is complete surrender to a Holy, Righteous God!

It is a dying to yourself: Your wants, Your Desires, Your Plan, Your Needs and Your Sin…

It is seeing Yourself for who you really are…A Chief among sinners as Paul states in 1 Tim. 1.15 who is lost in your sin in your natural state…and headed toward spiritual death…if you do not take hold and possess the “NEW LIFE” that Christ has made available!

By forsaking the old way…rejecting your old parts…and allowing God to baptize all of who you are…in all of who He is….

To confess and repent of your sin….to take hold of God…to surrender your whole life to Him and his Word…to make Him Lord of Your Existence and to. be. made. NEW!

What does verse 16 say: They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

God’s Word tells us that when we do this…we will still live in this present world…but our lives will be lived for the Next!

Last week we spoke of the altar…How we are here today…and every other week..to respond to the word…

We are not here to check a box…

We are not here to see our friends…

We are not here to catch up on the lastest gossip…

Or even to be moved emotionally by a great worship service…

WE ARE HERE TO RECEIVE THE WORD!!!

TO RESPOND TO THE WORD!!!

TO ALLOW THE WORD TO PERMEATE OUR HEARTS!

TO BE CHANGED…AND TO LEAD OUR FAMILIES AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST TO DO THE SAME!!!

AND THIS IS WHAT THE ALTAR IS FOR!!! ITS NOT JUST FOR THE BROKEN OR THE SINNER…IT IS FOR THE SAINT!! IT IS TO RESPOND!!! TO BE SANCTIFIED…SET APART…MADE HOLY…MADE NEW…

HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

VERSE:

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.

Ephesians 5:26 - that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,