Gospel of John - They May Be One As We Are One part 2 - A Special Homecoming

      

A Special Homecoming 

John 17:13-19

Homecomings have always been a festive occasion, from High school frolics to the returning of loved ones from a military campaign to the gathering of family after years apart for a holiday weekend to the internment of a God-fearing person at a graveside service. It is the oneness of the relationship that makes the homecoming special. Let’s look at the first portion of the text, “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. 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.”

Jesus truly was looking to his return to heaven from which he came, to the Father’s kingdom and his as well. Jesus also knew that he was leaving many who were very close to his heart, for they had established the oneness that was eternal. It was in this portion of the prayer, as he spoke to the Father on behalf of those the Father had given to him from the world, that he now prays fervently because he knows that they are going to remain in this sin-riddled world and they truly would need the gift of the Holy Spirit and God’s protection.

 Jesus’ desire was for the disciples and the others to have the full measure of his joy within them which would come from the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew the Father’s gift of the Holy Spirit would give them the full measure of his joy. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit…(Rom. 14:17, Acts 15:8) The disciples were about to face the full assault of Satan and the world upon their master and ultimately them as well, and their faith would be sorely tested. Their great need would be the full measure of joy from the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew what the disciples would need and was asking the Father for them. 

Jesus had given them the very words of the Father. They were life, water, manna from heaven, and protection in life. Nehemiah wrote about God the Father’s mercy and compassion for the Israelites in the desert, and the disciples would have this very same Spirit watching over them and not abandoning them, and more he would live within them. “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. (Neh. 9:20)

Jesus knew how much the god of the world hated him, and how the world hated the disciples as well for they belong to Jesus and were not of this world spiritually (1 Cor, 5:9-11), they were children of God, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God…“And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” says the Lord Almighty.” (Rom. 8:14, 2 Cor. 6:18)

Application - Our blessed Hope, the promised return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for his church. “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14) Jesus is looking down from heaven, interceding for all who will believe, and one day the Father will give the word and the Son will come for His Bride the church. But we still have the works of God to do while we are in the world. One of the mysteries of scripture is to rejoice, to be filled with all joy when we face trials and testings and the perfecting of our faith. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing…Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.” (James 1:2-4, 1 Pet. 4:12-13)

We can rejoice, be filled with the full measure of joy because he has given us His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who lives within us to bear the fruit of joy, and that to full measure. We have been given the very Word of God in order to stand against Demonic powers and this sin-riddled world. Our joy is not like the world, who see joy and happiness as synonymous. God’s joy is an indwelling eternal comfort that reminds us of whose we are and the promises that are here now and to come, of the grace and gladness of being a child of God. 

We are not of this world, but have been transformed, changed, created anew, born of the Spirit and of a new life in faith, in grace and mercy in our Lord Jesus Christ who is praying and interceding for us.  We have his Word, and we have his word, the glorious promises. Though the world doesn’t understand and rejects vehemently the Word of God, it will stand the test, it will not change. God said it is sent out, and will not return void, but always, always, achieve its purpose. “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isa. 55:11)

Last, Jesus knew they must remain in this world, like the demoniac in the Gerasenes, (Lk.8:26-39) After being completely healed, he wanted to go with Jesus and the disciples, but Jesus told him he must remain and tell all what had been done for him. Let’s look at the rest of the text, “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. 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.”

As well, Jesus knew the disciples had the works of God to do that would literally shake the whole world with the Good News (Col. 1:6), but they would need the protection of God. Jesus had fought the devil and the world on several fronts while in the world, and God’s Word and His Spirit always protected him. Jesus knew that the disciples needed the same protection. He knew when the Holy Spirit came he would provide the protective armor and weapons ( Eph. 6:10-17, 2 Cor. 2:9-11, 10:4-5) for victory over the world and the demonic rulers, the demonic authorities, the powers of this darken sinful world, and the satanic spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. 

Next, Jesus asks the Father to sanctify the disciples with the truth of God’s Word. They were to be set apart for the works of God, made holy, separated from this world. Jesus had said earlier that “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” (Jn. 15:3) 

Jesus, the Word of God (John 1:1), came into the world. He was sanctified before birth and was sent into the world to save it by believing in the Son whom the Father had sent. Jesus was now sending his disciples into the world with their testimony of Jesus, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in them, and with the Gospel, the Good News, that salvation has come from God by His Son by grace through faith. Jesus who was sanctified by the Father, again sanctified himself. He set aside himself and went to the cross as a holy sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, fulfilling the high priestly duties (Heb. 4:14-16, 10:19-23). Jesus’ sanctifying work on the cross was the example of sanctification for the disciples and all believers. They were to be set apart, separated from this world by being a sacrificial offering to God the Father, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom. 12:1-2)

Application - The war of all wars is not fought with the weapons and means of this world. The true battles are in the spiritual world. The enemy of God, Satan, as blinded the eyes of many in the world (1 Cor. 4:4) “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” He uses the same strategies and schemes that he has used since the beginning, but we are not unaware of his plans. “For we are not unaware of his schemes. ...The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy … He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies…”  So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world (2 Cor. 2:11, Jn. 8:44,10:10, Rev. 12:9) 

But God the Father has given us everything we need to stand firm against the Devil’s onslaught. “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil…Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world…Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (Eph. 6:11, 1 Pet. 5:8-9, James 1:12)

God has given us his Word and His Holy Spirit to protect us in fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer request.

Last, Jesus asked the Father to sanctify us by the Truth, for His Word is Truth. The word sanctified means to be separated. The Word in Greek here is ‘logos’ meaning the divine reasoning , the creative word, personal word that describes Jesus , not just the rhema of the textual word, for the rhema word is the receiving of a word from God of instruction or application while reading the Bible to a current situation or need.

The Word of God has set us apart, it has cleansed us (Jn. 15:3) We are sanctified to do the works of God and to living a life of sacrificial giving of ourselves. (Rom. 12:1-2) 

When Jesus calls you, you are chosen, set apart for the work of God “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you… For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them… (Jer. 1:5, Eph.2:10), you are sanctified and God equips you with everything that you will need, “may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever!” ( Heb. 12:13)

Jesus is our example, so that we can be the sanctified, holy living sacrifice that is pleasing to Him.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Rom. 12:1-2

Our homecoming in Heaven will be made complete because he stood firm in our salvation by the blood of the lamb and of our testimony of his love, grace, and mercy, the full measure of his joy and every fulfilled promise he made to his redeemed children.   

 I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. And he wants to empower you with the Holy Spirit. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today.  Thank you

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com