THE WORD

Friday, June 3, 2011

TARGET PRACTICE

Do you ever feel like a target is plastered on you back or maybe your forehead? If you say, ‘That’s crazy. I don’t feel that way,’ maybe I should rephrase my statement. As a Christian do you ever feel like a target is plastered on you back or maybe your forehead? Today like no other time in our six thousand year history, thousands, not millions by the way, are Christians targeted. This is the kind of message that will probably scare many from the cross upon hearing the truth. That is the exact opposite of what we Christians were told to do! But, bear with me and you will see why this message must be heard.

For a moment, let us pretend that you dear reader know nothing of the Gospel other than you are aware that Jesus Christ existed. You were never told that Jesus is God (John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God). You, up to now, never knew that God the Father loved you so much that he sent HIS Son, Jesus Christ to die a sacrificial death for you (JOHN 3:16) because of the sin in your life that separates you from God (Romans 3:23). You never knew that each breath you took without acknowledging Jesus as your savior was sending you that much closer to Hell (John 14:6). Finally, a Christian mustered up the courage to tell you all these things and that Grace alone saves us (Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God). You learn that Grace is given freely by the Lord God when we accept his Son as our savior and repent from the sinful behaviors (John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him/ Romans 10:9-13 if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.").

If you are a Christian, you know that our existence is great! We have the best relationship with our Lord, who by the way always hears our prayers, and life is good ALL THE TIME. Most of that is true. We Christians are sinners turned saints as The Bible teaches, but life is what it is. We have boatloads of trouble, depression, and heartache. Sadly, so many new Christians turn away and never grow in the faith, which makes me, question the legitimacy of their belief/commitment to Christ because of the trials that manifest themselves the second we leave behind the old life and become a new creation in Christ. As a matter of fact, getting back to what I said earlier, we as Christians have targets plastered on our backs with it appears everyone from Boot Hill to Capitol Hill literally gunning for us. That’s part of it, being a real Christian. If you are offended by my next statements, oh well. A real Christian is one who as Isaiah taught stands firm in the faith. Do you laugh at off color jokes? Do you stand around and stay silent when around friends/co-workers/family who aren’t saved? Do you-well, you get the idea. All of can improve in these areas. If you are attending church just to dress up and impress the neighbors, you are not a real Christian. If the only time you open The Word is when the preacher says to, you aren’t a real Christian. If you think parts of The Bible are true, but others are not because you can align them with your lifestyle, you are not a real Christian. If you encourage those new in the faith to continue living like Friday night instead of Sunday morning, you are not a real Christian. Anyway, back to the real Christian. If you are a real Christian, you know because God’s Word tells you that trials and hardships are coming.

James 1-4

Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

Most psychologists will disagree with the cliché, “Use it or lose it,” but it applies to the scripture in James. If we say we are believers, followers of Christ, our lives, actions, and thoughts will be reflective of Him, His teachings, and His ongoing existence in our lives. If not, then we lose contact so to speak with God. We grow spiritually in Christ like our bodies do physically if we pray and learn His ways. Our salvation is not lost. We never lose that if we trust Christ’s words. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” (John 10:14) “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28).

Most people say that God will never put on them what they cannot bear. Scripture teaches that God gives us strength to bear out the burdens. Jesus made it clear that we are to daily carry the cross. Let’s look at some folks from Bible times and how they withstood the trials and if you will the targets plastered on their backs.

Acts chapter seven introduces us to Stephen known forever as the first Christian martyr. Stephen gives a bang up number one first class summary of the highlights of both Old and New Testaments as he is validating and defending the Gospel of Christ. He is killed for his actions ironically by the decree of Saul later to be Paul. As Stephen lay dying he, the quintessential Christian target, exemplified the behavior he taught; he held onto the teachings of Christ. He looked up and saw Christ and said, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Most will say/ask, “Hey, didn’t Jesus say that too?”

Yes. Stephen exemplified Christ in every aspect by asking for forgiveness for those responsible for killing him. How many of us can do this today?

The apostle Peter is truly a great representation of a person on their journey toward totally becoming the real, mature Christian. This may take a moment or three. Prior to knowing Christ, Simon Peter was just a fisherman minding his own business. When he was told that the Messiah had been found, Simon followed Christ. Grated when we first hear the message of redemption through Christ, we may not follow right away as Simon Peter did, but our stubbornness and quick tempers do follow us when we do finally follow just as his did.

Peter was always for lack of a better word second guessed Christ. When Christ washed Peter’s feet, Peter protested not understanding the importance of the symbolism. When Christ explained that He had to die, Peter refused to believe it saying in essence, “No, man, no!” Right before this, Christ spoke highly of Peter, but immediately referred to Peter as Satan because he was denying what Christ had to accomplish! How many times have doubted that God is in control because of our life’s circumstances? We tend to see the right now picture whereas Jesus has always seen the grand picture. Most know the story of Peter walking on the water towards Christ. Old Pete got out of the boat in faith when Christ commanded him. Many times when we are n fire so to speak for the Kingdom we do jump out of the boat and are ready to tackle everything. But the moment, our nature gets the best of us, we and Peter are alike. He started to sink when he took his eyes off Christ. How many times have we taken our eyes off Him?

Sadly Peter is mostly known for his denial instead o the strong founder of the church by a majority of people. As it happened, the disciples were being petty arguing who among them would be the greatest. Christ intervened saying what He had to say. One would betray the other deny. Before His arrest, Jesus scolded Peter and two others because they were too tired to stay awake and pray. Moments later when Judas betrayed Christ, Peter was the first to defend his master by drawing a knife and cutting a guard’s ear off. Now I’m not saying you or I are like Peter in that we go and cut ears off, but we do have spiritual highs and lows. One second we can’t spend an extra minute praying before the day begins. Next we are jumping headfirst into something without considering all things.

Three times Peter denied Christ. We deny Christ every time we don’t witness to someone who is lost and going to hell. We deny Him by not exalting Him. We deny Him by standing and listening in silence to those who abuse his name or deny that He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. If we do anything less than proclaim the Gospel message to a lost and dying world then we are denying Him. We spend more time debating the merits of reality shows, our favorite meals, the next big blockbuster, and how Team A could have beaten Team B if only they had listen to Coach C, than we do studying and sharing God’s Word. We are no different than pre-crucifixion Peter. He grew and kept the command the Risen Christ gave him; “Feed my sheep.” Check out I and II Peter for the message and proof of growth.

As we close, let us remember those original twelve and Paul that were Christian targets for Christ and the Gospel.

Matthew killed by a sword wound.
Mark Died after being dragged by horses through the
streets until he was dead.
Luke- was hanged.

John Faced death when he was boiled in a huge basin of boiling oil
in Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered
from death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of
Patmos . He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos.
The apostle John was later freed. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.
Peter was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross. According to church
tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die
in the same way that Jesus Christ had died.
James, The Less was thrown over a
hundred feet from the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club.
James the Great, son of Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade when Jesus
called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church,
James was ultimately beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded
James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial.
Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of execution.
Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt
beside James to accept
beheading as a Christian.
Bartholomew also known as Nathaniel was flayed to death by a whip.
Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross. After
being whipped severely by seven soldiers , his body was tied to the cross
with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was
led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: "I have long desired
and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of
Christ hanging on it." He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days
until he expired.
Thomas was stabbed with a spear.

Jude, The brother of James, was killed with arrows when he refused to deny
his faith in Christ.
Matthias the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot, was
stoned and then beheaded.

Paul suffered long imprisonments and torture before being murdered by decapitation under Nero in Rome most likely in 67 AD.

I pray that no one is wondering why all these men throughout history allowed themselves to die in such a manner. The reason is clear; Jesus Christ is real. They could not deny their experiences with Christ. They knew Christ and His message. They considered it, being a target, a blessing. Jesus reassured them just as He will reassure you today if you do not know Him as Savior. Jesus said as recorded in John chapter 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love [you as] its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.”

If you have never accepted Christ as your savior, today is your day. There’s nothing special about the sinner’s prayer. Remember we are saved by Grace.

Father God, Lord, I know that I am a sinner. Lord I believe Jesus Christ is the Lord. I know he died on the cross for me. I know Lord that you raised him from the dead. Father, I repent of my sins and ask Jesus to come into my life as my savior. It is in Christ’s holy name, I pray, Amen.

More Top Ten Things Christ will Never Say Part III

10. “I really want my people to focus more on themselves and the things they love more than me. I want them to put their heart’s desires over me.” Luke 12:34 ^“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

9. “I’m never going there again, Dad!” Luke 21:27 “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

8. “We just opened a new wing in Heaven. We have the lowest prices and standards! Everyone welcomed!” Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

7. “Hey, Don’t I know you? I’m pretty sure I saw you on the Jerusalem Express Lane. Matthew 7:22-23 “Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

6. “I’m so glad the churches are filled with volunteers who are serving the Kingdom. Matthew 9:37 "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

5. “I’m okay if you love others more than me.” Matthew 10:37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

4. “I believe I’m too tired and busy to accept anyone else in the Kingdom. Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

3. “Who am I, Santa? Get these little kids away from me!” Mark 10:14-15 "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

2. “Follow my teachings because, I’m the Man, Teacher of the Year 33 AD” John 7:16 "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.”

1. “I sure can’t wait until December 2012!” Mark 13:32-33 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.”

TOP 10 THINGS JESUS WILL NEVER SAY PART 2

10. “Okay, gang in order to keep people believing in me, I want all of you to dress like me and go hang out with Elvis and Bigfoot.” Jesus spoke to Thomas JOHN 20:29 "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

9. “It’s okay people if you stand by and do nothing while others mock me, my church, and the Kingdom. You don’t have to stand firm in your faith.” Matthew 5:11-12 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

8. “Dang! Ms. Rosh Hashanah 32 BC is fine!” Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

7. “Aw, crap, I was kidding! I can’t save anyone!” John 11:25-26 "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

6. “What? I have to go and do what on that cross? No way, Daddy-o!” John 12:27-28 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!"

5. “I am the Lord! Wash my feed, pour me a drink, and do my nails!” Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

4. “Go on, everybody! It’s a free-for-all party! You can love God if you want to. You can love an eight limbed god, the invisible man and or a walking cheeseburger! It’s all good!” Mark 12:30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

3. “Please, demon, come on out of that man. Please with sugar on top.” Luke 4:35 "Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

2. After saving Mary from death by stoning: “It’s okay. Next time you hook up, lock the door.” John 8:11 "Go now and leave your life of sin."

1. “Heaven is waiting for everybody! Belief in any god will do! John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Copyright©

TOP 10 THINGS JESUS CHRIST WILL NEVER SAY Part I

10. “Silly Lazarus. Simon didn’t say live.” JOHN 11:43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"

9. “Yeah, I need 5000 Happy Meals. Hold the pickles please.” JOHN 6:10-11 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

“Maybe we can sell some more stuff on Sunday.” JOHN 2:14-16 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

7. No, Peter, take your time. I’ll wait for you to get your arm floats. Matthew 14:28-29 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said.

6. “No, sorry, I don’t have time for you. Get up and out of my way. Oh wait, right. You can’t walk! MARK 2:3-5 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

5. “Hey guys help me put food coloring in this water.” JOHN 2:7-9 7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.

4. “You know God, I don’t believe I want to hang out today.” Luke 22:41-42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
3. “Satan, that’s a pretty deal. I’ll take it.” MATTHEW 4:10-11 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” 11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
2. “For God so loved the worl-no, not you. No, you are out. Section AA23, you’re gone, definitely not you.” JOHN 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
AND THE NUMBER 1 THING JESUS CHRIST WILL NEVER SAY

1. “You just wait! I’m going home and telling my Daddy! LUKE 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

JOHN CHAPTER 17

We as a Christian people should try to emulate or be like Christ. Today, we will look at John 17. There are three areas of this chapter that we will be looked at. Most Bibles label the first part as Jesus prays for Himself.

John 17:1-5 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus starts out by stating the obvious. The time for saving all mankind had come. "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” The line glorify your son that your Son may glorify you is a line where many opponents want to say that Christ was seeking His own glory. That’s not it. The glorification of Christ was accomplished the moment He gave up the ghost and said, “It is finished.” God was then glorified because of the Son’s sacrifice. Jesus was not seeking his own glory, but rather the glory through His sacrifice for God the Father.

Lines two and three at times cause controversy. There are Christian people that say only so and so is going to Heaven or everybody is going because they either think Christ’s sacrifice was for only certain people or that we all are God’s children regardless of the sacrifice of Christ.

For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Jesus says that He has been given authority by the Father over all people. That is not difficult to understand, but here comes the problem for some folks; that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. No one has ever come to Christ on his own. I’ll explain. When I accepted the Lord Jesus as my savior, I did not do it because I thought it was just a good idea or I wanted to be a member of a church. I knew God was working on me. I knew I had to have a relationship with Christ. Every Christian that is reading this I know understands what I am saying. The Bible says that God doesn’t want anyone to perish. That is why as Jesus said, “My father is always working.” God is always drawing people closer to him. Christ died so that all who believe will be saved. Election is not a feasible thought. If it were, how stupid would it be to say Jesus died for me, but not that loser down the road? It is equally ignorant to say that just because we are alive we are children of God. Scriptures teaches just the opposite.

This current generation for all its technological advances is no different from previous ones. Each generation until the last will come to know Abraham, Noah, Moses, Daniel, David and the rest. Secular history books allow these figures to be taught from a historical view. Christ is taught as well from the world view as being a teacher and prophet. Jesus used the parable to teach his disciples and the masses. But, here in John 17, we are allowed in plain, understandable text to read, hear, experience and receive eternal life.

John 1:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Jesus spells it out! That they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. As easy as it is to understand, there is a catch. Other than the so-called atheist, people realize there is a creator. The sinner, let’s say, a teenager, is involved in many things that are not Christian oriented. The sinning teenager says he believes in God, but wants to have fun. Or perhaps the teenager has doubts about Jesus. Just knowing who God is, the Father and the Son is not what is being said here.

“How do you know? Were you there?”

All scripture is “God-breathed. (1 Timothy 3:16) With that being understood, the Book of James tells us that even the demons believe in one God and they tremble. The demons recognized Christ when He walked the earth. Simply saying you know God and Jesus like you would say you “know” so and so as they walk down the street is not what is being said. We know God through and because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross when we accept Him as Lord of our life. There are numerous instances/scriptures where Jesus speaks this truth. Perhaps the most widely used verse is John 14:6. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”” Jesus is not just a way to eternity. He is the only way.

John17:4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

Jesus taught that good trees never produce bad fruit. Furthermore He taught that bad trees do not produce good fruit. If we are children of God, a people that have given everything to the Lord Jesus Christ we will act like it. Our lives will show a love for Christ and others. We will exalt and bring glory to God just as Christ did.

Jesus was, is, and forever will be the reigning Lord of all creation. It is beyond tragic that so many do not believe in the deity of Christ. They don’t believe He is God. They just think he was born from Mary, raised by Joseph, taught a nice message was killed for His belief and died. Others, notably the Islamic faith disavows that Christ even died. Either way, who Christ is, is sometimes overlooked. In verse five, Christ makes another, fairly simple, easy to understand statement. “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

Jesus the Son was with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit also known as The Great Comforter before the world was spoken into existence 6008 years ago. Take a look at part of verse twenty-six from Genesis chapter one: Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness. God is not bipolar, okay. He just was not alone. Jesus refers to Himself in Revelation as the Alpha and the Omega. He was with the Father and the Comforter from the beginning.

Chapter 17 verses six through nineteen detail Christ praying for His disciples. Let us look at the entire piece before dissecting the individual pieces.

"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Jesus to start out with here is taking about the disciples, yes, even Judas. "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.” It was not that long before Christ spoke these words to the Father that the disciples were arguing among themselves concerning who was greatest. Although Christ was speaking straightaway about these twelve, isn’t it a wonderful feeling knowing that our God speaks up for us like that? Don’t let anyone lead you astray. The Bible is clear that the Gospel message is for all people. Yes, God, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh chose twelve specific men to complete the tasks at hand, but at no time has Christ ever denied anyone who came to Him for a healing.

7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.”

Can you imagine what the disciples felt when Christ was arrested? Scripture teaches that all fled except for Peter, who would as Jesus foretold deny knowing the Lord not once but three times, and an unnamed disciple (Maybe John). John was at the crucifixion with Mary, the mother of Christ. If all Jesus spoke was a lie, the disciple would have never built the church. We would not have the term Christian, Christ would be a fable and most importantly, we would all get what we deserve; hell forever. But, praise be to God, the disciples as Jesus said, knew Jesus was the Christ.

John 17:9-10 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.

This not only applies to the disciples, but also to all of us. Christ is praying on our behalf before the Father just as He does when we face the Father on the Day of Judgment. “All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.” Go ahead. It’s okay, maybe. The Savior of all mankind just said glory has come to Him through them. Them refers to the disciples, again, but also His children, the believers in the Risen Lord. Wow. Such unity exists between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. “All I have is yours, and all you have is mine.” Christ wanted His followers to be united like the Trinity. John 17:11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.

Verse twelve mentions Judas as the one that is doomed. “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.” Prophecy to be true must come to pass. I don’t know why Judas was the one out of all history to be the one to betray Him. The fact is he was and that’s done. He served a purpose although an infamous one.

John 17:13-16 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

Verse thirteen shows us that Jesus is using a word that should come natural to us as Christians. Joy is what we should have. I know life is tough now. I know it. God though, wants us to be happy, to be joyful. If you are a Christian that is full of sadness, and you are down trodden, how unfair is that to Christ? Jesus as he headed to the place of the skull, Golgotha, Cavalry, told his mother Mary that He indeed did make all things new. How can we be a people that claim to have the joy of God, but lives that reflect everything but? It makes you think don’t it?

“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.” This not only applies to the original twelve, but to Christians everywhere! We as Christians are not a part of this world. Time after time we are told to look to the things of Heaven not the earth. We are told to focus on the will of God in our lives, not the desires of our failed flesh and humanity. The world you know hates us as Christians. That isn’t a surprise. The world says sex with anyone anywhere and anytime is okay. Several states have redefined marriage from what the Holy Scripture deems truth. We have as a pastor friend of mine once said, “A Feel Good Gospel,” where anything goes as long as you feel good. What a tragedy we have become in the face of an Almighty God.

Verse fifteen and sixteen show Christ praying for something very specific. “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” How awesome do you feel right now after hearing or reading that? The God of all, the Son of Man, asks in prayer for God’s protection over us. Too many people today place the angels above the Son and the Father. God whether he uses angels or Himself protects His children. That being said, so many who wish to denounce Christ scream out, “Why does God allow innocent people to die or become disease ridden to the point of death?”

“I don’t know.” Is that plain enough? Recently I wrote about the Book of Job. Job and company pondered the same questions. Tragedy, my friends, more times than not strengthens our resolve and faith in Christ. Christian people never feel closer to God than when tragedies are attempting to rip their lives apart. Getting back to the original point, our God prays for protection for His followers. He made the distinction that those who follow Him are not of the world.

The dictionary defines sanctify with the following: to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate. Keep that in mind as we look at verses seventeen through nineteen.

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

We all know that God so loved the world as 3:16 instructs, that he sent Christ to die for us. Here we see and hear Jesus Himself tell why He completed the task after He gave up the glory of Heaven for the dirt of the earth. “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. Christ is saying that just as He had a job to do, so did the disciples. I said it earlier, but can you imagine what the world would be like if the disciples ignored the Great Commission? The disciples turned apostles had a huge task of spreading Christianity and setting up church services. If you think they did it with good luck you are wrong. The very hand of the Almighty, the Spirit of God was with them, leading and guiding.

Verse nineteen knocks it out of the park to borrow a cliché from political candidates. “For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” Every Gospel preaching Jesus Christ Savior church should be stating this every time the doors are opened. We are lackadaisical and complacent concerning the very issue of our salvation. Christ in this prayer although directed to the twelve references you and me. “For them I sanctify myself,” Christ says. For them, for you, for me, for the children that are yet to be. “That they too may be truly sanctified.” We don’t realize even with the Gibson movie what Christ gave up and took up for us. He did the most unselfish act in all history so we would not be a part of a world that is ruled by the prince of the air, Satan, a world that is already on its way to the Lake of Fire, the Second Death. I suppose you can say

In the last part of John chapter 17 starting with verse twenty, we see the prayer Christ says for future believers.

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Jesus begins this final part of the prayer by specifically addressing the future generations of believers. "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” Christianity began with Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. It continued by the apostles setting up the church, and it continues today when we not only exalt, worship, and fellowship in the presence of the Lord Almighty, but when sinners are won by the Gospel message of His loving Grace. Unity does not exist where dissention reigns. Jesus said He prayed for those who will believe in Him, and that they be one just like He and the Father are one. Today good people, we tend to look at the denominational sign on the door as a measuring stick of how much we love God. I am going to say with love I hope what everyone thinks. Today, we as a Christian people are too wrapped up on church membership rather than the time and quality we put in on worshipping the Lord.

Some people complain about the color of the carpet, music selection, use of instruments, non-use of instruments, size of the offering plate, the preacher’s tie, and of course the number of times the Lord’s Supper is observed. Do we really think that this interferes with a person’s decision to live for Christ? We should not base our Christian goodness on the name and reputation of our church, but rather be of one Christian body, the body that represents the Lamb of God’s bride, the church, and Jesus Christ Himself!

Listen and read the words carefully: May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. How we as a Christian people spread the Gospel message if we are divided? Satan has his hand in every church division. We cannot have one third of the people going with preacher so and so while the others stay with deacon Joe because older hymnals are used. “May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Jesus instructed the eleven apostles to spread His message, of the blessed Hope, Grace, and love Love. Brothers and sisters we are the body of Christ, we are His people, but don’t think for a moment that we save anyone. We are told to tell, lead, and live a Christ-like example, but remember it is the Grace of the Lord that saves us from that burning lake.

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me.” What is that glory you may be asking? His sacrifice for us is what the glory is. It is a mockery, a shame, and an insult to the risen savior that so many worldly, Satan inspired divisions cast doubt the church body’s love and dedication to Christ. The Father, Son, and Spirit want nothing less than for all people to turn from sin and be united in one accord to worship. Here’s some of that scripture to further explain the unity idea. “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”

"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. Jesus said many times that people would know God the Father if they knew the Son. The “they” Christ refers to are His children. We as Christian people are not a part of the world. We are set apart, saved by Grace because we have acknowledged and repented from our sins and accepted the Grace from an Almighty God. If we factor out those people who say they don’t believe that Jesus died for their sins, we are left with the independent voters so to speak. More times than not they will admit that the world has a creator. They admit God may be the One. There will come a day when all know and confess. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." Jesus once said to the Pharisees in regard to their questioning Him concerning His observance of the Sabbath, “My Father is always working.” Jesus too by His words is always working to draw the hurt, the broken, and the lost closer to the Father.

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The Point?

We all start to decompose, die a little every day, after we take the first breath. The secular world, humanists, and liberal educated people most times do not subscribe to this or the thought pattern that Jesus Christ is The Living God. Furthermore, they feel The Bible is an outdated book with some moral value, but it doesn’t apply to all people all the time. Since the fall in Eden, we have been living and dying, dying and living.

If by the by, you are reading this and you are one that does not hold the belief that The Bible is God’s Word, I hope that the Lord uses me to convince you otherwise. The Bible says a few things about the subject of death. Here are just a few snippets of truth.

Hebrews 9:27

27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment

Dying is easy. Facing judgment from a holy, mighty, and just God, well, good luck with that if you are not covered by the blood of Christ.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I once heard a pastor use this scripture at a funeral. It offended a lot of people because while yes, this scripture is true, it was used in an inappropriate manner. It sounded as though the deceased only died because of a sin. Sin brings forth death. That came about from Adam and Eve’s first transgression, sin in Eden. That is why we are all failed flesh destined to die at least once. The second death is a message and a half in itself.

As humans we are I suppose it can be argued the only ones who are aware of death. If domesticated pets knew of death, they would flee from the road. Cattle and other livestock would not blindly graze away only to be slaughtered. As humans we justify our behavior and desires by saying, “You only live once.” Fine. That’s true. We do only live once and that is the big issue! More people use that as a reason to sin, sin, sin, and push Christ away because, “You only live once! Enjoy yourself!”

Christian people truly devoted to Christ and the life will be happy, joyful, and full of hope without having to get hammered, hooked up, or high! The main part of this message today now that we looked briefly at death is one scripture over life.

James 4:14

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
        “I just talked to mom, yesterday.”
        “I was supposed to go visit, Grandma on Saturday.”
        “Jim can’t be dead. Why, I saw him last week.”
        We are one phone call away from hearing the news about the death of a loved one. By the time this is read if ever, I may already be dead. We get too comfortable in life until death calls and wakes us! How many times do you think someone will say the words I typed today? Kids and teenagers may get a pass on this, the little ones more than the teens because they don’t think like adults. Truth is most of us don’t think about death until we have to go to the funeral home as a bereaved member or guest of honor. If we are the guest, it’s too late. We are either with Christ in Heaven or we are burning and living on in hell.
        We are here. Then we aren’t. That is it. Christian people, do not treat Jesus Christ, His love, Grace, and mercy like the last slice of pizza. Share Jesus with those who are dying.
John 11:25-28
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
        How reassuring is that, brothers and sisters? He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. We have the promise of eternity from the Lord Himself! Christ finished with the question, Do you believe this? No matter who you are, Jesus is here asking you through His people and the Word, Do you believe this?
        We do live to die. The birth and death dates tell how long we hung out. but it is the middle dash on the tombstone that holds the untold story of how we lived for Christ or how we rejected Him.