Sunday Service
Thank you worship team. Wonderful as always.
I'm going to be rooting John 17 and foreign first 20 to the end of the chapter and I'm going to be reading out of the New Living Translation and I think Dina I'll probably have that the same words behind me. But Jason gracious enough to let me read from the new living. So there we go. I'm praying not only for these disciples but also for who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one just as you and I are one.
Is you and I as you are in me father and I am in you and may they be in us so that the world will be will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me so that they may be once one as We Are One. All right. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect Unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me father. I want these whom you have given me to be with. Me where I am. Then they can see all the glory that you gave me because you love me even before the world began. All right, just father the world doesn't know you but I do and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them and I will continue to do so then your love for me will be in them and I will be in then thank you. You may be seated.
Thank you, Joe. Such a powerful passage of scripture. I am humbled before the Lord. I I just pray that I might do justice to these words. In fact, I like to just begin. I know we prayed a lot can go wrong with prayer. Let's let's play One More Time Father in Heaven. I pray that your holy spirit will give me inside and that you would show me exactly what to say in the ISA versus and I pray father that I would not a water anything down or withhold anything true out from what your word says, but that I would speak your word with authority today and boldness father and may we raise your Church Father respond and Faith may we not be like those who hear the word of God and ignore it. Ooze houses are built on the sand and when the storms of life, the house Falls and greatest destruction, but may we be like the wise man who heard the words of Jesus and put them in the practice and Bill is House on the Rock in So I just pray we would stand together on the rock of your word and no matter how difficult or how uncomfortable maybe this message makes us today or even how challenging it'll be to follow through and be obedient to these words today. I do pray that we would mix these words with faith and that we would do the best of our ability father in The Power of your Holy Spirit seek seek the answer to Jesus prayer this morning. I pray this in Jesus name and all God's people said and then I do you want to begin with verse 20 is the introduction and that is simply too just I just want you to realize something that Jesus prayed for you that we already in this lesson. We we saw the Lord pray for himself and John 17th in verses 1 through 5 in a pray for the disciples and verses 6 through 19 Venom verse 20. He says I did not ask for these only but also for those who will believe in me. I like the new living. Translation that Joe just read for everyone who will ever believe in me through their word and that's all of us. That is Jesus prayed for me. Jesus prayed for you. And the only prayer that Jesus ever prayed for us is right here. And so if this is the only time that Jesus prayed for this recorded in scripture, then we must take very seriously what he prayed for us. And I realized if you start seeing neck veins popping out here and stuff and I get a little loud it is I'm not angry at anybody but I am deeply concerned for the body of Christ that we are so divided that we are so ask you that we are so in many ways far apart from one another. I pray that you would not be part of the problem. Rather you would commit to being a part of the solution. I know for many years. I was part of the problem. I was a part of a church that believe we were the only ones that were right. We were the only ones that interpret scripture correctly. Where were the only ones that figured out God's Plan of Salvation in anybody that disagrees with us was not only were they wrong they were false. And I was very judgmental. I was her very combative. I love to argue with people that disagree with me. And it was it's to my Shane I literally know told you this before I literally is a sixteen-year-old boy sat in the home of one of the elders this church and told him I hope he made it to heaven. Because he didn't understand I'm baptism the way I understood it at the time and I wasn't sure he was going to make it. And I might not be sure now but this for other reasons by Larry the arrogance of a sixteen-year-old kid to set an alarm of an adult someone who is nearly old enough to be his is that well. Yeah, he's definitely old enough and sit there in judgment. I was part of the problem. Unless you had a certain name on your church building. I did not consider you even to be safe. And I was not alone. I was not alone and I also found out that the church I attended was not the only one that feels that way. There's a lot of different spectrums. And so we begin that Jesus prayed in verses 21 through the end of the chapter for three things. And I know I tend to focus on the first one. I'm going to try to give balance to these but he prayed for three things for us and the very first thing that he prayed for us was that we would be United verses 21 through 23. Rush 21. They may all be one that's the that's the request the request is that they may all be 1 verse 21 notice. He's not talking to a congregation that everybody inside the congregation would all be one. He's talking to all believers who would believe in his name because of the work of of him and the other believers that they would believe in me through their word. So we're not talking about this congregation were talking about the body of Christ were talking about churches everywhere and Jesus prayer for us that we would all be one just as you father are in me and I in you That they also may be in us now. That's what I thought about how to how to explain how do you know when you look at the request of the one I'm getting ahead of myself. That's the pattern. Let's back up and look at that. There's these requests that you know, have we all looking verse 23 cuz he repeatedly says I am them you and me that they may become perfectly one. That's the request. And so I begin this morning with the question like to post everyone of you.
Alaska first of myself. Am I committed to the unity that Jesus prayed for?
Now I'd like to ask you almost like a wedding right do you?
Are you are we together or do we even care about? the unity the Jesus pray for
There's my contention that this doesn't even come up to many people's radar. I'm not even worried about it or they've decided something long ago and they just kind of let this thing fall to the side in and I'm not trying to provoke you to make you feel guilty or hand. I've nothing I do want to provoke you to love and Good Deeds. I do want you to stir you to making a commitment today that you are going to be an answer to the prayer that Jesus prayed for Unity in the body of Christ.
You say for me? My is a pastor this church and it's me as a believer in Jesus Christ. The answer that question is. Yes. I am committed to Unity. I have figured out over the 30 plus years of being a pastor that one of the things that God is wanting to do in my life. One of the callings that God has given to me as a pastor but not just as a pastor but is a believer in Christ is to try to bring you in and it's not out of guilt over the 12 years or 15 years. I spent as a Believer where I was a part of the problem and now I'm trying to fix and make up for what I didn't know. It's not that it has everything to do with the glory of Christ. It has everything to do with the effectiveness of the church has everything to do with us just simply walking in obedience to what Jesus says I am committed to Unity. It is one of the greatest things I ever accomplished in the church in Arkansas when I say that I didn't I don't want to take her to one of the greatest things that God ever did while I was there is we had a We called it one service on a Sunday morning in the community of Siloam Springs Arkansas over 18 churches came together 3500 Believers gathered at John Brown University and we had a worship service and there was every different kind of flavor of church you could ever imagine. Now I'd like to say that was eighteen all 18 of the churches. That's actually not true there about sixty churches in the town at the time. We got 18 of them and we got the Big E's and we all came together and that was the most significant when people ask me what's the most significant thing you've done in Ministry of Tourism minister is a pastor that service is it when we brought folks home and this was the text that the president of John Brown University not preach to him and he said this and I'll just quote one will quote from his message. He said we all we are in different rooms in a mansion in the house of God. He said we all come to the same door and the door is painted red with the blood of Jesus Christ. And he spoke on unity and we demonstrated unity and people were blessed. And now I wish I could say we did it every year after that will be 10 1/2. We did that while those guys went. Well, I'm glad that's done. We're not doing that. So maybe I shouldn't be that maybe I should pick something else to be proud of that. I actually accomplished for the Lord and not sure about the long-term effect. But you know just for a moment and fact of the local newspaper did huge store Front Page, they could hardly believe it that that these churches that normally meet separately all came together and they talked about the message. They talked about what it meant and just for a moment. You got a picture what heaven might be like, that's why I like the promise Keepers anybody ever been to the convention. You got to promise keeper convention 55,000 men in Arrowhead State Stadium singing How Great Thou Art I want to tell you something that gives you a little taste of Heaven. And one with all the sudden you don't really care what the name on their church is. All you care about is the person in Jesus Christ and all the sudden you began to discover. Maybe what Jesus was wanting when he when he talks about Unity. now
you say how are we going to do this? Cuz it's tough. And I want to share with you and verse 22 and inside that the Lord really gave me this morning when I got here early because to be honest other than telling you how we did that in Siloam and just my prayer in my heart for you today. I'm trying to figure out how to get along with guys and maybe you disagree with I was saying a lawyer that's a might be well for me, but what about the person sitting there? How are they going to are they going to say? Okay, I want to do this. I want to be one. I want to become a perfectly one with my other brothers and sisters that are in Christ. How how do we accomplish that I mean isn't there all these areas where we disagree and I would suggest you. Yes, there are areas that we disagree. But I would also challenge you that for most you're going to find there's more areas where you agree then where you disagree? If we're just honest. If we don't allow the barriers in the walls to come down for just a little while. Yeah, we might disagree about the Rapture for instance. But really do we have to agree on it in order for it to be true. Because if it happens there anybody going no, this is not how I know they are going to are you kidding me? Are you going to be going in and Honey Boo Boo on the way up? I might but you are you going to do that, you know? no, it's it's
truth is truth regardless of whether you believe it and was Billy Graham said the Bible says that I believe it that settles it you can actually shorten then say the Bible says says it that settles it what do you believe in something or not doesn't change truth. I would love to stand up to her today and say I'm 25 years old.
Tell from the chuckles I could have said a number higher now and you guys would not have bought it not for a minute. That's Amore believer Truth doesn't get your belief and Truth doesn't change the truth is true. Truth is reality. So when you asked how do we bring this about and you got all these areas where we disagree and I I have some dear friends that I have some serious disagreements with but guess what those serious disagreements are about there. Not on things that are most important not about who Jesus is there not about the cross. They're not about what this table represents. They're not about heaven. They're not about health. They're not about the things that I disagree with them on. Yeah, I disagree and I'd probably think they're wrong and they look at me and think I'm wrong and when we get to heaven they're going to find out that I actually was Somewhere in between there, and they're going to find that out, too. But how do you how do you have a fellowship with somebody that maybe you would see something different on and it maybe it's even something that you would think of a not-insignificant. I mean, it's not the deity of Christ, but maybe it's something important. and how do you deal with that will look one verse 22 says because I think the inside that I feel like the lord gave me this morning was in verse 22 and you says the glory That you have given me. I have given them. And then there's that word that Tina a purpose. Here's the here's the reason that the glory that the father gave to the son. Jesus gives to his followers and he said he gives us this Glory that they may be one even as We Are One I tell you what, I think that means. I believe it means this. That the focus if I want Unity. I can't focus on may be what I believe versus what they believe but I have to look and say is the glory of Christ in their life. See that's what happened to me. I have to focus on is Jesus in their life. And if he is then guess what that means. We would we start there we start with who Jesus is in and are we both in Jesus Christ? And if we are it's kind of like your family if you have the same dad you are brothers. How many of you would like to have said that guy's not my brother? And does it change your bottom? If you have siblings that you'd like to then when you say who's your family and you mentioned then I go I got this other brother too, but I don't really mention him, you know. It's like the church today. It seems like we got all these half brother and step-brother and maybe half Brothers father. We just you can't write them off. I'm in my brother Sammy. You're not my brother anymore. I said good. I was spiritual all the way back then when I was four.
I probably said something smart back to him.
The truth is I have to focus on the glory of Jesus and other believers because that becomes the basis for Unity. And that's how God changed me from this judgmental, you know church member that felt like their church was the only one that was right and everybody else was wrong and everybody else was lost is that God put of all people a guy that owned a Christian bookstore and he had a boot repair shop in the back case old leather soles on boots and he was gracious enough to take me as an apprentice and I learned how to repair boots and soul new leather on there and clean them all up and cut and polishing and he taught me was teaching me how to be a cobbler as it were.
And here's the problem. He was in a Baptist Church, and I was in a knot Baptist Church. And according to my knob Baptist Church. He wasn't even saved. But it was very confusing to me because he seems like he love Jesus more than I did. I think you did. So confusing to me. Cuz he didn't have the Holy Spirit because he wasn't baptized for the right reason so that he would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Missy and yeah, you seem to have the fruit of the Holy Spirit fact, he seemed to have more fruit than I did. Did he can I test him he was just a kind gentle loving soul. That would not argue with me. He just smile and laugh and talk about the things we did agree on and that was the beginning of God changing me. I began to realize if Jesus is in somebody that's when they're my brother. I don't care what church I go to I mean I care but the most important thing is is Christ in their heart. You see what was flushed out. I'm not going to say how many years ago 30 years ago in my life. As far as even a pastor let the glory that God gave Jesus he gave to them and I saw that glory and him and all sudden had to rethink my Paradigm and I'm not talking about 20 cents. I'm talking about the way I was looking at stuff in the way. I was viewing people.
That's how it happens. Now you said well, that's that's wonderful. What can I do? Practically? I'm glad you asked turned Ephesians. Please chapter 4 Visions chapter 4 because she there's a call here for us to be United. There's a prayer there's a request there's this appeal of the heart of Christ that we would all be one.
Call deals with it in a different way in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 1. I get it begins with this call is by there for prison of the Lord urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with what you've been called and inverse one we can surmise or conclude that as a prisoner of the Lord. I am not supposed to live like I've always lived. But I was a prisoner for the Lord meaning I don't get to set the rules. Lizards don't say when they want to eat or when they want to sleep or when they want to exercise when they want to go outside and play the very nature of a prisoner is you're bound and whoever has you can they determine your life? Add a suppressor for the Lord where it should walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. And one of the aspects of that calling is unity. Know the elements of unit is is also here in the fusions 4 verse 2 with all humility and gentleness with patience.
Joe was kind of ribbon me about I agree too long to read the New Living Translation. I know I have a little thing I preach in the ESV. It's the extra spiritual version of the Bible. And and I think that's a great version. So I'm preaching from it. I kind of wanted up here but I'm not going to mention huebler initial start with Dina. She thinks we ought to have the version that it is is that the the guys reading for him and I you know, like no, I want it my way, you know, and and so they do of them gang up on me a deacon Anna and Indiana, I'm not really doing it was enough but none the less, you know, they are lying and I'm going to ask me can they put up the New Living Translation? I thought how can I say no, and then preach about humility and patience and a Gentleman. When are you guys be humble fashion General? By the way, the reason we know Unity doesn't mean uniformity and meanings. Everybody's alike is because of what what they're praising verse some do says bearing with one another it was seeing if you're bearing with one another that means you have an issue with one another right? There's no issue. There's no bearing When your bearing with one another? You guys I'm going to assume you all know what that means because we all came back from family at Christmas time, right? Do I need to say anymore? Bearing with one another. Yeah. There we go. eager he says This is where it moves from a call to elements to Reelsville to the reality to truth. Eager to maintain notice. We don't establish Unity. We maintain it. the unity is established by who Jesus Christ, you just took an element representing his body which ball says broke down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile slave free woman female or male female.
Jew Gentile
it's we maintain the unity of the spirit how in the bond of Peace Unity does not is not achieved by us fighting. It's not a cheap by me having Victory Over You by stopping you into the ground theologically and arguing with you until you submit 10 and that no, that's not the bond of peace. a suppression
Unity is the nature of it. We maintain what God has already done the unity of this Holy Spirit in the bond of peace. And then here's what we get in the Reelsville. There is one body one Spirit just as you're called to one hold the belongs to your call one Lord One Faith one baptism one God and Father of all was over all and through all and in all That's Reelsville. The reason we have Unity folks is there's not a bunch of different price. Not a bunch of different gods is not different be a bunch of different Church. Listen, we're all one we have the unity of the spirit.
and I am sad to say that I sat in a meeting of probably 15 or 20 pastors. I was invited to the meeting they know what it's about. But when I got there they started talking about the god-centered gospel. the true gospel and I was sitting there listening very patiently and kindly and also raise my hands to do you realize with some of your adjectives Terrier? You're making a dairy in other words if I disagree with what you think the true gospel is you've automatically assigned me to the false gospel. They said well, we're talking about the gospel of God a god-centered gospel. I said as opposed to what a Jesus Center gospel is something wrong with that or how about just the gospel. What's what's see they were they were leading me down a narrow path and they were inviting me to have fellowship with them. As long as I continue down this Narrow Path and it was the opposite side of the church that I grew up when it was the other side of that church or the other side of the tree and and they were they were leading us down the path of John Calvin and five point Calvinism. And if you didn't agree with all five points you were out you were not saved. They were saying the same things that I said when I was in a meeting and all the way over on the other end of the spectrum that the Calvinists are all out. And they're all saying that I am off and they were inviting me to be a part of it and I said in a very nice way. Thank you. But no thank you. I just came out of a movement. They thought they were the only ones saved. I'm not interested in getting into another one that thinks that he only wants a and our conversation and some of these are people that I love and I listen to on the radio and it but they'll say things like well if he if if you're not preaching, you know, and basically was Calvinism reformed covenant theology. If you're not preaching Five Points of Calvinism. They said you're preaching. This is the new code work a different Jesus. I was said to me recently and I said you've got to be kidding me. What Jesus would that be his twin brother that you know, what are you talkin about here? Is there some other gospels that I'm not picking up on here? That's what we're in your with the Gospel of Jesus. According to Matthew Mark Luke John and I'm over here in Paramus or so. We talkin about here. I know.
My tenancy and so I dialed it back and said thank you, but no. Thank you.
Is she I think if we're trying to make herself, so right so we're so comfortable that everybody else is wrong. We've gone down a path. I don't believe Jesus ever want to just go down.
Because the pattern of this Unity is as we are one back up in verse 22.
Wayment Ephesians they finish their real quick. One more thing I got to say to maybe 3 or 7, but Grace. Was given to each one of us should be the end-all are we not saved by grace unmerited undeserved favor of God if I'm saved by grace and your saved by grace, how is it all the sudden that now you have to agree with everything. I say the illogical in order for you to truly be safe. But if you don't agree with everything I say then somehow you're not only out of Christ. You're out of Grace. See it just doesn't make sense. It goes against the very nature of the Gospel. Therefore it says therefore because of this because of unity because we all been given Grace according to measure of Christ gift. Therefore. It says when he ascended on high heel it a host of captives and he gave gifts to men and saying he Ascend what does it mean that he also had also descended into the lower regions the Earth to send it is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens Heavens remind fill all things and he might and he verse 11 gave the apostles prophets evangelists the shepherd's teachers. Women wouldn't know what happened here talking about Unity, Grace and I'll God grace gift leadership to the church in the form of Apostles prophets evangelists Shepherds and teachers. Did you see in the contacts you see on study that passage more times than you can imagine because that's all about church leadership in church function and how we do our or ecclesiology and I'm all into that. But I want to tell you nearly every time I've ever studied this passage. I've lifted that out of the context of unity.
Do you realize when you read these words that the reason God gave churches pastors? So that we can become one.
imposters are some of the most guilty when it comes to dividing the church. I want you to follow me and I want you to follow me alone. And I want you to think I'm a great guy. And so I settled Leo convince you that some other guy that might be at a church. Maybe close to here. They might be tempted to go. I got to convince you that he's not really preaching the true gospel safer without the real deal. You got to come here, right?
till that happens
I gave these guys to the church to equip the Saints for the work of Ministry for building up the body of Christ again, notice the bookends begins and unity and verse 13 until we all attain to the what the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a mature man who to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. So it may no longer be children tossed to and fro by waves and cared about by every wind of Doctrine by human cunning by craftiness and deceitful scams rather speaking the truth in love. We are to grow up in every way into him. Who is the head and Christ from home the whole body joint and held together by every joint with which was which is equipped with which it is equipped when each part is working properly makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in the love and I could keep reading and read the whole chapter to you. But do you not see my job is to preaching to teach the word of God? Yes, but not so that you can go out and not be friends with your Baptist neighbors or your Episcopal neighbors or your Methodist neighbors or Assembly of God or whoever else would you would disagree with on some theological point? It's to actually bring us all together. That's my calling from the Lord and I that is the calling I will remain true to until or text me from this life.
Is back to John 17 the glory that you have given me I have given to them that they may be one even as we are one. That's the now we're back to the to the pattern as we are one. How close is that? Let me give you a few logical explanation pretty darn close.
You don't get any closer than Jesus and God is father. He said wow, can I ever attend to that? No, guess what? That means. That means are working unit. He's never done really. We have to work on it everyday every moment.
And in the purpose notice the purpose twice. He says it verse 21. He says that they yours why we're supposed to be one that they also may be a nice old that the world may believe that you have sent me looking verse 23 that they may maybe come perfectly one so that the world may know that you have sent me that you sent me and I love them the world even as you love me. The truth is folks. The reason why many in the world simply did not accept their message is because we don't give any attempt at any kind of unity at all. And they're like, dr. Phil asking us. How's that working for you? You know. When we say we're about Grace, but then you know, we don't get along with each other on the world it did. How can we expect this Valley to believe that God sent Jesus and that Jesus said if we can't get along If the only people we get along with them the ones that come here, are they not going to conclude maybe rightly so that this is just a club.
I'm not trying to beat anybody up here. I'm just trying to say I've been down this road. It's so very easy to label anyone and everyone who disagrees with me as false and if they're false and I can justify not even attempting to bring about Unity after all doesn't the scripture say what Fellowship has light with Darkness you have already called them dark and doing so I set myself up as a final judge as to who is saved and who is not if you agree with me, you're in few don't agree with me. You're out. Did I not turn back to John with me John chapter 5 and verse 22? Did I not just become guilty of doing what Jesus Pro prohibited me from doing? Verse 22 Jesus says of John chapter 5 for the father judges. No one but has given all judgment to the son and meet no no to this sign. Oh, oh, well, I remember was that guy back in welcome back Carter the guy who do you know? All right. Horseshack. Yeah, I know who's older than I am.
Yeah, I know. I shut this time. I know it's by the way.
Roseanne yeah, and I don't that what verse with her 22 in Paradise. Oh, yeah, the sun just as they honor the father.
Why let that sink in? Whoever does not honor the son does not honor the father who sent him. Truly I say to you whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from Death to life. And my question is why are we as Christians? Why did I for so many years? Why do is believe in Jesus Christ? I have not come into judgment. I have now passed from judgment into from Death To Life. Why am I so anxious to put people back into death?
What is my problem?
Well, we can spend all day looking at the motive assistant why we do this. But suffice it to say this back to John 17. I choose and I want to say this as a declaration to you. I choose to believe the words of Jesus that when we begin to work towards Unity becoming one with all believers. Then the world will believe that God sent Jesus and that Jesus is sending Now will it be easy? No way Jose?
How many of you come from a family?
Yeah. How easy is it to get along with your brothers and sisters let alone parents and two uncles cousins.
All My Exes Live in Texas, or why don't you know How difficult and challenging is familial relationships just in the normal world and just in our normal life difficult, right? Why would we think it be any easier in the Family Guy? I think it's going to be difficult. That's why Jesus prayed for us. That's why I prayed for us. Eminem look at verse 23, it's also why I have to drop this notion that in order for me to be United with somebody that he or she has to change and think exactly like me. You guys look what it says that they plural. How do you may become? Both of us become perfectly one. The very statement implies. Maybe I'm not as right as I think I am on everything. And maybe the reason God brought somebody into my life that thinks differently about something is God's way of nudging me a little closer and maybe where he wants me to be.
I'm not asking you go crazy or go out on any kind of lambs or you know, you're wondering bracelet. No, no, no, no. I want to embrace Jesus. And I want to embrace anyone that Jesus has embraced. And maybe God's going to use you to bring them. Do an accurate understanding what the word of God says about what life is and what Christianity is in? Wow, that's a lot.
and in fact wasn't planning on doing this, but we're going to end up with a part for a message cuz yes, I could tell by the calmness coming over the congregation some of you were already seeking a Clear Vision from the Lord as you were naughty. So we'll pick up with his part two of his prayer for us. The first is unity. So can we sing this simple course that I don't know if you remember it that says we are one in the spirit. We are one in the Lord with the spirit. We are one in the Lord May one day be restored and they'll know we are Christian by our love by. Yes. They'll know we are Christians by our love. all God's people say thank you for being God bless you.