Pursuit from Pursuit
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· 12 viewsThe grace that justifies us is the same grace that sancifies us.
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Recap Part One
Recap Part One
Jesus invited Peter, Andrew, James, & John to follow Him with a:
1) Pursuit of Him
2) Call to Him
3)Promise from Him
We agreed that accepting the call to follow Jesus only comes from a recognition of the grace of God for us, for we did nothing to earn or deserve the pursuit of Jesus.
Tonight, we are going to dive into the question:
What now?
If we’re honest, that question comes up in our lives. Have you ever pursued something so much that when you finally reached it, you did not know what to do? Or you spent many hours and days on a project and it gets done with only confusion on what to do now? - There’s excitement and a since of accomplishment, but also a sense of “what now?”
I think that same question happens in our lives spiritually.
Since I’ve been saved (become a Christian), what do I do now? What’s required of me?
As we look into God’s Word, we are going to discover that Jesus actually answers that very question, but in the middle of His prayer to the Father.
God’s Word
God’s Word
John 17:15-20
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. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
What is the point of Jesus’ prayer for us? Answer: Pursue Jesus. That simple. Not a hard concept to grasp.
Pursue Jesus.
Jesus desire for His followers is to pursue Him.
From this record of Jesus’ prayer, we can know the goal or desire Jesus has for us.
What did Jesus mean when He said,
What did Jesus mean when He said,
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Sanctify - set apart, holy, etc.
This is Jesus’ prayer for you. What He is saying is to be sanctified in truth, His truth. This can only happen if we pursue Jesus. Our pursuit of Jesus is an overflow of His pursuit of us. If you’ve experienced Jesus, you cannot help but pursue Him. Why? Because you are controlled by the impact of Him in our life.
A saved person can only look like Jesus. A saved person follows Jesus. What happens when a person follows Jesus - that person walks, talks, and acts like Jesus. A saved person cannot look like the world. A saved person cannot help but live like Jesus, because their life is all about Jesus.
But, if were honest, we have no idea where to start.
But, if were honest, we have no idea where to start.
So, we have to ask the question together:
So, we have to ask the question together:
I. Why Do I Pursue Jesus?
I. Why Do I Pursue Jesus?
But, if were honest, we have no idea where to start.
So, we have to ask the question together:
Our pursuit of Jesus is an overflow of His pursuit of us.
Jesus prayed for it to happen in your life.
The same grace that justifies us is the grace that sanctifies us. All saving benefits come from our union with Christ.
This is Jesus’ prayer for you. What He is saying is to be sanctified in truth, His truth. This can only happen if we pursue Jesus. If you’ve experienced Jesus, you cannot help but pursue Him. Why? Because you are controlled by the impact of Him in our life.
A saved person can only look like Jesus. A saved person follows Jesus. What happens when a person follows Jesus - that person walks, talks, and acts like Jesus. A saved person cannot look like the world. A saved person cannot help but live like Jesus, because their life is all about Jesus.
II. How do I Pursue Jesus?
II. How do I Pursue Jesus?
Answer: Pursuing Him through and in His truth.
When you spend time in the Word, you spend time with Jesus. So..to seek Christ through His Word. That’s exactly why Jesus said,
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
There is no other way to be sanctified. (no music, no verse of the day, no podcast, etc.)
When you and I pursue Jesus, the automatic result is us being sanctified, exactly what Jesus’ prayer for us is.
Constant communion (communication)
His Word
Sounds easy, right? Easier said than done, right?
A lot of the times, it’s hard. Simply because for you it isn’t all about Jesus. If you have truly tasted the goodness of Jesus and the salvation only He provides, then pursuing Jesus is a delight, not a drag.
(I think a lot of us view being a Christian as a drag, rather than a delight.)
Why do I read God’s Word? Answer: To see Jesus. To get more of Jesus. To know Jesus. To follow Jesus.
Listen students, you and I cannot be sanctified (aka grow closer to Jesus) distant from His Word.
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
“Your word is truth” - Jesus.
A saved person cannot know pursue Jesus apart from His Word. If you want to know Christ, put your nose in His Word, for apart from it, you cannot be sanctified (set apart).
For some, you wonder why your faith in Christ isn’t strong. For some, you wonder why you are not confident in Christ. For some, you wonder why you possess doubt every time a hard situation arises in your life. For some, you wonder why it’s been 9 million days since you’ve personally prayed. Jesus hasn’t saved us to be stagnate, but to be active.
I think a lot of us forget that we have a part to play in our relationship with Jesus. Just like any other relationship in our lives, we have to be active in it.
I cannot get to know if I do not spend time with you. It’s the exact same with our relationship Jesus. It just doesn’t magically happen. Jesus is always with you, but acknowledging Him is our part in the relationship.
Our pursuit of Jesus is an overflow of His pursuit of us.
The truth that Jesus is now in you and a reality in your life, the reality of our life revolves around the pursuit of Him. When we pursue Jesus, our sanctification (spiritual growth) is automatic.
When we pursue Jesus, Jesus’ prayer is answered. And it all comes back to the grace of Jesus poured into your life that changed everything, because — the same grace that justified us is the grace that sanctifies us.
