Thirdly, Jesus’ prayer request was for people to get involved in the mission of God. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. Jesus wants to set the church apart (sanctified) to carry out the kingdom of Heaven work of God. Satan loves to keep the body of Christ distracted and divided because it keeps us from reaching the goals of God. We see it happening daily. There are over 300 divisions in the Christian church today, but God gives us something by which we can all be united in His truth found in the inerrant Word of God. As we unite around God’s truth, we can go out into the secular world that does not know God’s truth with His blessing, being effective in our Gospel message mission as light to a world living in darkness.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.”
One of the reasons that people do not listen to the Gospel message is that they see division and so many differences in Believers. Christ’s church must be united in God’s truth and mission. Our lives are not to be found anywhere but in God’s truth and mission purpose. Romans 10:13-17 “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
People must hear God’s Word and by Jesus’ Great Commission, it is His church’s mission to go tell them. If we are going to see the glory of God then we have to take the Word of God and reach out to touch the hearts of people whose hearts have been prepared by God. We are not the ones (nor pastors, evangelists or missionaries) who change hearts; it is the power of God, through the Holy Spirit and makes the Word of God effective.
Nehemiah 8:10b “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your refuge and strength.”
The fourth prayer request of Jesus is that the people of God experience the joy of God. Telling people that God loves them is a joyful experience. This culture today needs to heard that because they are lost in the darkness of sin and unbelief. “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.” That joy comes from knowing the glory of God. When we are united in the truth, under the authority of God, earnestly in the Word of God, going out on the mission of God. It’s not temporal laughter, manufactured entertainment, fabricated amusement, extreme visual or audible excitement; it’s about the joy of the Lord. It is joy in all circumstances because the source of our joy is not circumstances, but in knowing the glory of God. The Bible speaks of unspeakable, abundant, exceeding, constant, everlasting joy in the life of Believers, even in trials, persecution and calamities of life.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”
Joy is a fruit that grows. It comes from knowing the truth, living the truth and being in the awe of God’s continual working in this world. You can have this joy by living in the truth of God’s Word in every aspect of your life. Seek God and His holy Word, Will and Way in your life, and care to have a personal relationship with Him. because God looks for us, seeks us out, and desires a heavenly Father/Child relationship with us. We can have Joy. 1 John 4:19 explains, “We love, because He first loved us.” We were far from God’s holiness in our sin, but He loved us and sought us out. We are His forever.
Jesus prays for us and we should pray for each other, that we sense the presence of God with awe, that we obediently follow the Word of God, that we engage into the mission of God on earth, and experience the full joy of God in our lives.
In Christ, Brian
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