02-24-19 Morning Worship - A Mystical Union

INTRODUCTION ● ➽ Jesus changed the “limits” and threats of “death” in ​Exodus 19:7-25 ○ ➽ to​ “​boldness”, “confidence”, and “access” through faith in ​Ephesians 3:12 ● In John 17 Jesus prays that his people would be devoted to serve God ● ➽ ​JOHN 17:20 ​Before we start, it’s important to see that Jesus is praying for us too ➽ ​BIG BIBLICAL TRUTH ● Consecration to God is non negotiable (required) for the Christian because we are in Christ ➽ ​JOHN 17:18 ● Ἀπέστειλας “sent” with a mission ● Each of us has a divine purpose ○ All - We have been set apart for service to the Lord ○ Children - Honor & obey your parents ○ Husbands - give your life up for your wife ○ Wife - honor husbands with submission ○ Parents - Train children in Christ then send them out ○ Single - Use your time to serve inside & outside the church ○ All - Proclaim the excellencies of Christ ➽​JOHN 17:19 ● By choosing a single lamb, Israel “consecrated” it ○ Consecrate → ​Dedicate formally for a divine purpose ○ Chosen lamb had Diff purpose than the others → Devoted to divine service ● Jesus consecrated himself as a lamb ○ He set himself aside as different → Devoted to serving the Father ● Ἁγιάζω “consecrate” → same word translated “sanctified” in 2nd half of verse ○ ➽Jesus asks the Father to separate us out as he was separated ○ ➽Jesus asks the Father to dedicate us to his service as Jesus was ● ➽Identifying the consecrated life ○ ➽ Centers on truth → Christ prayed we would be sanctified in truth (God’s word) ■ ➽ 1000 Buddhists at Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple to celebrate Magha Puja day looks impressive but not consecrated unto the Lord. ○ ➽ It invests in the church & community ■ ➽ Art Camp & Outreach pictures ○ ➽ It keeps a constant eye toward eternity ■ What is your #1 goal for your family? → Standing side by side worshipping in eternity ■ Focus on this goal intently → Our #1 reason for homeschooling ○ ➽ Maintains Unity with other Christians → John 17:21 That they all may be one ■ Most difficult in today’s atmosphere → Division is monetized JOHN 17:21 ● ➽ How do we obtain unity with one another? → ➽ Our “Mystical Union” with Christ ○ Spiritual reality not apparent to the senses or obvious to the intelligence ○ We are “In” Christ → Louis Berkhof has a lot to say about this (as seen below!) ■ We will focus on the subjective aspect of this union → Union experienced post receiving saving faith ➽​WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OUR UNION WITH CHRIST (all from Berkhof) ● ➽NOT ROBOTIC → Incorporates an act of our free will ○ We freely unit ourselves to Christ by faith ● ➽NOT COMPLETELY CONSUMING ○ We retain our personality ● ➽REAL → whether we “feel” it or not ● ➽PERSONAL → Mediated by the Spirit directly to us & not through the Church ● ➽VITAL ○ To our lives as Christians (do not quench the Spirit) ○ To our eternity → We walk into eternal life united to Christ; not merely as invited guests or friends ● ➽TRANSFORMATIONAL → The reason you feel the weight of your disobedience while also experiencing victories in your fight against temptation CONCLUSION ➽Consecration to God is non negotiable for the Christian because we are in Christ ● And it is the source of our Joy & our Unity with one another