Untitled Sermon (10)

Big Idea So we have been in a message series: “Dangerous Prayers - Unleashing Gods Greatest Power in Our Lives” where we covered three huge and powerful, dangerous prayers.

We started with “God, search me” – inviting God to look into the depths of our hearts for anything that is not of Him, that’s holding us back.

We continued with “God, break me” – God transform us into who you designed us to be. Break us down that You might build us back up.

And then “God, send me” – Which is where we are going to be at today, we’ve hung out here for a bit, today is the third message on being sent. You might ask, Pastor Brian why is that?

It’s because a sent life is a whole life. And that’s what every heart desires, to live a life that is whole. See many times, we have a confused understanding of what it means to live the Christian life therefore we are confused about what it looks like to be made whole. We think there are different levels of Christianity for different people.

For example, when we hear a phrase like, “being sent out for the Lord” or being on mission for the Gospel, we think about missionaries. So, we think so highly of missionaries and we should. It’s a big thing to go to a different country, many times a hostile country with different languages and customs, to live amongst the people to bring the Gospel where it has not been before.

But we have this mindset that those are God’s special people that He sends out. They’re courageous and super-godly, so that’s not me, I’m a mess. I’m on a lower level. Or you think it’s about pastors, people like me or Bruce or Zach or Jawaan or Larry. You put us on another level, another plane. That God somehow trusts us more, listens to us more, therefore being sent is something He’s called us to do, because we are on a different level.

And that’s why today I want to dive into part of John 17. It’s known as the High Priestly prayer. The last prayer of Jesus before He goes to the cross. Let me say something, all scripture is of equal value, it’s all equally important. But John 17 is so special and let me tell you why, let me give you some context. So, in John 16, Jesus has this last teaching time with the disciples and the last thing He says to them is…

John 16:33

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

You may have heard this verse before, but think of it like this, that was His goodbye message to them before He went to die on the cross. He says I give you my peace, it’s going to be tough, but I’ve overcome the world. He turns and prays the most powerful prayer. Dangerous prayer for us. This prayer marks the ending of His earthly mission. He has this intimate time of communion with His Heavenly Father. And it’s the last time before He goes to the cross to take on our sin, to be rejected for our sake and have God turn His back on Him.

He prays this powerful and dangerous prayer for the disciples. Just so you know, before you ever prayed a prayer for yourself, Jesus prayed one for you. He didn’t pray it for just pastors, or missionaries, or people that have it all together, that certainly wasn’t the disciples. He prays with no distinction other than, the people that the Father has given Him. I want to start out of order and read one verse of John 17 to kind of set us up…

John 17:20 “20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,”

Who is He praying for? Anyone who would believe in Him after them. Jesus prayed for you on His way to the cross. So, I want us to hear John 17 with some fresh ears. I want you to hear it like Jesus is praying this directly for you. I want to read the whole passage we’re diving into today.

John 17:13-21

John 17:13–21 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. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 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.

Could you rephrase this passage in you own words?

The sent life is the whole life. I want to look at this powerful prayer that Jesus prayed for us, to unpack the life He wants for you and me.

Message: 📷

1. Jesus prayed that your life would be made whole in His joy.

Vs. 13 – My joy fulfilled in themselves. Why is this so important? Because whether people know it not, this is one of things they crave, that they can never fulfill on their own. We all confuse joy with a lot of things, like happiness. Joy defines as being filled with gladness because you are made full, complete, whole. This is something no human can achieve.

What’s so powerful in verse 13 is that Jesus says to the Father, I am coming to you. In other words, I’m on my way to the cross to accomplish the work you have given me. I’m about to be emptied out. And Jesus is praying that you would be made full. Here’s the reality: Nobody knew pain like Jesus and nobody knew joy like Jesus. Pain is emptiness, joy is fullness.

Isaiah 53:3a | ESV | 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…

Jesus knew and felt the whole brokenness of the world, felt the ultimate rejection, the ultimate emptiness. Jesus was also overflowing with joy. Jesus never had his joy diminished. Jesus never sinned, never broke his fellowship with his Father, was always focused on the work of His Father.

Hebrews 12:2 | 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.

The joy set before Him was the goal of winning you back for the Father. Jesus knows the depth of sorrow but He is also the author of joy. Here’s the deal: Not only is Jesus the only one that knows how to fix your heart, but more importantly Jesus is the only one who can fulfill your heart.

The trap of the human heart is that we think we can manufacture our own joy. You see this happen in many different types of ways but you have two sides to a spectrum. Morality and sensuality.

On one side people try to find joy in living what they call a reasonable, a good life. I’m morally upright, I’m responsible. I’m a good citizen. My greatest goal is to take care of my family and the people I love, and be responsible to them. To be dedicated to my job and my country. That is where true joy is found. It’s found in duty and honor.

On the flip side, people try to find joy by making the most out of their life. Meaning whatever is my dream, that’s my purpose, and my goal is to fulfill it. So I set the benchmarks for my life, I define the rules, therefore I’m the only one who can bring joy to my life. My joy comes from my experiences that I create for myself and settling for anything else is living a life that is less than.

Here’s what everybody finds out eventually is the more you try to find joy in these pathways of life, the emptier they become. The more insignificant you feel. Being moral and upright works, until you realize you can’t even live up to your own standards. Being dedicated to your family works, until you kids rebel against you. Being dedicated to your career works until it vanishes one day, or you just get sick of it. On the flip side people who define their life by fulfilling their dreams, the more they achieve or experience, the more they realize it’s not enough. Instead of feeling accomplished, life begins to feel pointless. Because the joy they were working for is not there.

Jesus came to set you free into His joy. But here’s the question: What does he set you free from? From your comfort. From whatever it is that you have accomplished that you feel brings you worth and status apart from God. From whatever you chase that you feel bring safety to your life. See all those things, family and career and adventure, are not bad things. But when they are your source of joy, what makes you full, they are also your source of righteousness. They are the ways that we try to feel self-righteous therefore self-complete; whole. We are incomplete without our creator and will live for the wrong things, for lesser things on our own. That’s why Jesus said…

John 17: 14-15 | 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. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

Self-righteousness is the enemy’s ways to destroy you from the inside out. By taking on a role that we could never complete on our own: to be our own savior. People chase joy, when joy can’t be earned, it can only be given. God is the only one who can give us joy, and through Jesus He does so completely. Jesus gave us the truth, that the truth would set us free from bondage into His joy.

When people see that you are not looking to get joy and fulfillment from the same things they are, that you’re not trying to earn your joy. You get two reactions, they either hate you. Because they are running form God and clinging to their self-righteousness. Or they are drawn to it, because they have this void in their heart that desperately needs filled.

What does this passage teach us about God?

Whats the differnce between joy and happiness?

Would you mind sharing a personal example of how you learn this?

2. Jesus prayed that you would be made whole to join Him in making others whole.

This is where things can get confusing and where people tend to muddy the waters. When we think of missions, or being sent out, our mind goes to feeding the poor, taking care of orphans. Great things. Or we think of preaching and teaching to people, also great things. And all those things and much more can happen, and will happen in the mission Jesus has for us. But if we’re not careful, we can get lost in the details.

Illustration: When I was a music producer, I read this interview with a guy named Lemmy form the band Motorhead that really affected how I produced records. By the way I never thought I would have an illustration in a sermon where the focus was on Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead.

But anyways, Lemmy was the lead vocalist and the bass player for Motorhead. He had such a unique bass sound, distorted, growly. It was awesome. Along with his raspy vocals, it was part of their signature sound. And in the interview, the person said to him, you know Motorhead has a huge guitar sound. How do you stop the bass getting lost in the mix on an album?

And his reply was so different from what musicians would normally say. Lemmy said, I don’t mind the bass getting lost, because I think a band should sound like a bunch of guys playing together. I want to hear a wall of sound. He said it’s actually like building a physical wall. I just see the wall; I don’t see the individual bricks on their own.

If we get caught up in details, if we just get caught up in the bricks if you will, if that’s where we stop, just making the world better, just making ourselves better, we’re just like everyone else. We’re just like all the religions of the world, and all the organizations trying to make a difference. The two most popular worldviews, religious and secular.

Religious – Hates the world and want to escape it. You become the best you while you’re here, ask God to give you the strength to endure it and ultimately escape it.

Secular – The worlds not a bad place at all. We love the world; we just need to make it a better place for everyone to live.

Now before we get ahead of yourselves. If you’re thinking, being a Christian is a combination of these two, that’s not it. It’s something completely different. See each of these worldviews have a different bent to them. One is more internally focused, one more outwardly focused. But do you know what they have in common? Self-sanctification. Here’s what Jesus says…

John 17: 17-19 | 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. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

What does this passage teach us about the relationship between God and his people?

In what ways know that God saves us and sanctifes us bring you comfort?

How does this passage change your view of God, yourself and other people?

Jesus didn’t pray, Father I’ve given them your truth, help them to get their act together, help them sanctify themselves. Jesus is asking the Father, you sanctify them. Jesus says for our sake he sanctifies himself that we may also be sanctified. Here’s the question, what does it mean to be sanctified.

There are two definitions. One means to separate from profane things and dedicate to God. And the other definition, which is like it, means to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin. Expiation means to atone for sins.

Jesus prayed that you would be set apart in His truth. Jesus set himself apart and took on our sin, that we could be made holy and dedicated to God. Jesus, who was whole and came from the most whole place, heaven, came to a broken place, this world, to be broken for us so that we can be made whole. Jesus gave us his righteousness, that we would be set apart. And therefore, could be sent back into the world.

When we get that confused, we can make a mess of things. Because what will happen is we will look like everyone else, performing deeds that look good on the outside, but are really all about us on the inside.

Simon Sinek – Inspirational speaker. He has this book called Find Your Why. A lot of people focus on how to get something done, and they lose the why. Why am I even doing this? If you don’t understand your why, the how becomes meaningless. We need to know our why.

John 17: 21,26 | ESV | 21 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. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

We are sinners, saved by grace. Not by our own doing, not by our own holiness, but grace alone through the kindness and compassion of our Heavenly Father who gave up His only son. Jesus took our empty lives and made them full, complete.

What steps of faith does this passage challenge you to take this week?

Who is someone you can share Jesus with this week?

But here’s the greater reality. Before Jesus, no matter how much you loved the people in your life, how good you tried to be, life was all about you. It was all about your glory, your joy, your will be done. That’s a lonely and broken place. Where you can be surrounded by people by feel so isolated.

When Jesus saved us, He made us complete, He made us full. So full that we’re no longer trying to fill this void of our life, we no longer have to be self-centered. Now we can do what we were created to do all along, to love and worship God, and love each other and serve each other.

God’s all about restoration. Your Father sent Jesus, who was whole, to be broken for you so that you can be made whole. Now that we are whole, guess what, we are being sent out to those who are broken. It’s God restoring you into who He designed you to be.

Application: Here’s how it gets fleshed out. It starts with pointing people to Jesus. It starts by sharing with people what Jesus has done for you. Then you share what He’s done for them. Not just so that they would believe in who Jesus is. That they would believe Jesus was sent for them. And here’s the part that everyone misses, that is so crucial, that drives home the prayer of Jesus.

You invite them to check out the family of God. The greatest way to move them forward. Jesus says when people see the family of God, people of all backgrounds and culture and walks of life, united together for one purpose, to worship God by loving and serving each other, it proves that Jesus was sent for them. They see His work. They see Jesus in us and us in Jesus. They see the love of the Father at work in us and realize what’s going here is not by human hands but the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s greater than us. And it reaches down into that spot in their hearts and touches that great big hole that is there. And they realize God is drawing them to Himself to fill that void.

The sent life is the whole life. It’s what each of us have been called to do. But let me take it further. Jesus prayed this for you because it’s the answer to your hearts longing, to not just see yourself restored but others restored. To get to a spot that you realize God has taken care of you, you want to join Him in his work to reach and take care of others. To not fulfill that is to not be whole.

So, everything we do here is for one reason, to point people to the fact hat Jesus was sent for them. Even Fostering Hope. It’s not to feel good about ourselves, it’s to show these kids that they are loved, more than they could every know. That they have a Creator that hasn’t forgotten about them. To show our neighbors and friends and coworkers that we’re about joining God in His redemptive work. Care Portal – We serve them because we serve a savior who loves them

So, everything we do here is for one reason. Missionaries who get sent out with the ultimate purpose of starting a church, to show people that Jesus was sent for them. Pastors get up and preach to equip you, the saints, to go out and show people that Jesus was sent for them. The number one thing you could do this week, to be sent out for Jesus, is to simply invite someone to church this week. So, they can see Jesus in us, the hope of glory. How many of us know one person, just one person that would come this week if we invited them? Jesus is already at work. Jesus is moving. He prayed you’d have the courage to do it. Who will say yes to