WWJD - Cohesiveness
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Cohesiveness
Cohesiveness
Compassion
Conversation
Consideration
Cognitive Awareness
Clarity
This series of race and reconciliation has been eye opening for me personally.
John 16 Jesus is preparing His disciples for His return back to His father.
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
Jesus begins to lay the framework of the Holy Spirit
And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
In chapter 17 Jesus lifts his eyes to heaven and begins to pray… He also begins to pray for his disciples and us!
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. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them”
Jesus was saying… I told them what you told me, and as a result, the people of the world hated them
Fact!: We should be hated by someone because of our beliefs
“Because they are not of the world” -
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 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. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
The disciples did not derive their character from the world.
They were chosen / Separated / Set apart
“I do not ask that you take them out of the world” - Because they have a great work to do…
But… keep them from the evil one. (Satan) The enemy
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world”
The power of the Holy Spirit:
We are New Creatures / Born again
Our citizenship has changed
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
“Sanctify them” means make them holy, or set them apart from the world.
What is truth? Your word is truth…
The Father will immerse them in the revelation of himself and he will send them the Holy Spirit to guide them into all the truth.
“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
Jesus had raised the disciples to a higher way of life than the life of the world.
And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
“I consecrate myself”
I have given myself completely for their sake’ [CEV], ‘For their sake, I am making myself ready to serve’ [NCV], ‘I set myself apart on their behalf
“That they also may be sanctified in truth”
They are sanctified in the sense that they are set apart for a mission of salvation to the world
We understand during this time of civil unrest and racial tension, we have been sent out into the world as ambassadors.
We must show compassion
Break barriers and start a conversation
Take into the consideration about what it means to Love God/Myself/My neighbor
God’s word awakens our cognitive awareness
Clarity is key for establishing our consistent voice
Now we need cohesiveness
Cohesiveness: the quality of forming a united whole.
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word”
“That they may all be one, just as you father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us.”
He wants them to be: unified in mind, effort, and purpose [NTC], unified in brotherly love
Cohesive / One Body / One mission
Paul talks about…
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Bond - Binding force / to bring together / to unite
The world is watching us! It can not see a group of people
Divided
Dysfunctional
Separated
Disagreeing
Differing
Pointing fingers
Judging others
We have been Divided:
Through doctrine
Through Race
Through Gender
Through Location
Jesus said through unity the world will see that you have sent me!
There is power in cohesiveness.