In the World

James Watson

The Praying Savior • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

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It’s the morning of Christmas Eve. You have put off shopping for that special someone because nothing was quite good enough. You came close a couple times but nothing quite said, “I love you” in the right way. So here you find yourself, you know you have to brave the mall. But you know that today will be rough. Will you find a parking spot? Will there be long lines? Will the workers be kind? Will you get run over by that person in the motorized scooter? You know that you are likely taking your life in your hands. You are tempted to break out the craft supplies and make the gift, but you have to go. You have to go out in to the world.

Now many of you can relate to this story, probably the men in the room. Now the mall around Christmas is a scary place, but the world in general can sometimes feel dark and dangerous. So much crime. So much pain. So much desperation.

For followers of Jesus there is sometimes hostility towards our message and our cause. What about the temptation?

John 17:6–19 ESV

6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 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.

Big Idea: Being, sent into this world, we need all the prayer we can get.

Jesus prays: 1. That despite the world, His disciples would have joy.

Jesus prays: 2. That His disciples wouldn’t be corrupted by the world.

Jesus prays: 3. That His disciples would be sustained by God’s Word.

Jesus Prays:

1. That despite the world, His disciples would have JOY.

“That they may have my joy....”

The past few years had probably been the most amazing of their entire lives. The things that they had seen and even done themselves must have been incredible. But even more than that, they had Jesus…every day. Things could only get better right. They didn’t exactly understand that Jesus had to die on the cross for their sins.

The cross would have the potential to leave them hopeless and confused about life. there would be no joy for those first few days. There would be confusion until the Holy Spirit came. And then things would get really difficult as they were being sent out into a hostile and broken world. They would be criticized, condemned, beaten and they watch as their friends and family were killed in front of them. Even they themselves would be killed and if they were lucky it would be a quick death.

Yet throughout this, we find the disciples singing and praising God; laughing in the face of danger. In spite of all that they went through, they never lacked for joy. And it infuriated their oppressors and sparked curiousity in the eyes of onlookers..

The stuff of this world only has the power to steal your joy if you let it.

There are many things that have the potential to steal joy from a believer? What can we do to keep joy in the midst of what’s going on in the world around us? (See also . Why do you think it’s so important to Paul that his readers have joy?)

2. That His disciples would not be CORRUPTED by the world.

“15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”

As life and ministry get tough, and the world steals your joy, the natural temptation is to soften your message to make it more palatable to the world. And while presenting the message of Jesus in way that people can understand, it is important not to change the message or use it for personal gain.

The essential message of the gospel is that people, by their sin, have offended a holy and perfect God. But God, not desiring that any should perish, loved the world by sending His son to pay the penalty for that sin and restoring us to a relationship with God. Now to the repentant sinner that desires God the Gospel is enough to bring tears to your eyes. “What do you mean he died for me? I don’t deserve it, but I’m thankful!” But that is not how most people will respond. To most people, that message is offensive. Why? Because you just called them a sinner. And most people won’t acknowledge that there is anything wrong with them.

So we a tempted to just say, God loves you. But without mentioning a persons sin and need for repentance, we have corrupted the message at best and at worst have given people a false assurance of their own salvation.

The other thing that we might be tempted to do is use the gospel for our own personal gain. The disciple were endowed with unbelievable power. And throughout history people have used that power for personal gain. Charging for healings. Charging to pray. Even telling your people that there loved ones are in pergatory and for 9.99 a month you can get them out is a corruption of the message of the cross.

For further discussion: The world is at odds with God. Why is it so tempting for the believer to compromise their faith to look more like the world? Why is it important that the disciples stay focused on God? (See also . What does it mean to love the world? How can we keep from being corrupted by the world?)

3. That His disciples would be SUSTAINED by God’s Word.

“17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

So how will the disciples know what is true and what is a deception. How will they keep their joy and remain uncorrupted by the world. They will have to stay rooted in God’s word.

Some will question is the Bible actually true? Is it relevant to me to day?

That God’s word is the only source of pure truth is a controversial topic. How do you determine the difference between truth and lies; fact and opinion; and conventional wisdom and mob mentality? (See also

John 8:31–32 ESV

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

What is the role of truth in the lives of believers? Does the Bible hold sway over what you believe?)

Conclusion:

Jesus didn’t just pray for his disciples and next week we’ll look at how Jesus prayed for us as well. And Jesus continues to pray for us today.

Romans 8:34 ESV

34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Jesus continues to pray that we would have joy, that we would not be corrupted by the world and that we would be sustained in this world. Because He has still sent us into this world to bring a message of hope to a lost world.

Jesus has sent you into your work place; into your schoool; into your neighborhood; maybe even into your home.