1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:05,080 Ancient prayers present power. I hope you've been challenged 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:08,600 and encouraged. There's something incredible 3 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:14,360 about looking at Scripture and looking at the prayers of 4 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:19,120 Scripture and recognizing that these prayers are for us. 5 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:22,480 They're timeless, and hence the title of the sermon or the 6 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:25,640 sermon series. Ancient prayers present power, 7 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,960 and I just want to encourage each of us as we look at the 8 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:34,440 prayers both in the Old and New Testament, to take ownership of 9 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:38,560 these prayers because these prayers were given to us to 10 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,800 imbibe, if you will, to take ownership of. 11 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:46,440 And one thing I want to encourage you is when we pray 12 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:50,440 the words of Scripture, we are praying always according to the 13 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:55,320 will of God. So the more that we can pray 14 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,600 with Scripture and into Scripture, the more we're going 15 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:00,680 to see God do what only He can do. 16 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:02,680 And I love that the segue of that song. 17 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:06,160 And not, not I, but through Christ in me. 18 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,880 If you remember nothing else today, remember the truth of 19 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:13,200 those words. Nonetheless, we're going to be 20 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:18,200 looking at one of my favorite passages of Scripture yet. 21 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,200 I'll admit it's one of the most difficult patch passages of 22 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:22,960 Scripture for me to understand. You know, we're going to be 23 00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:25,120 looking at a portion of it. We're going to be looking at. 24 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,040 I'd invite you to turn to John chapter 17. 25 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,600 We'll be looking today specifically at verses 20 26 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,760 through 26. If you're using a Pew Bible, I 27 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:37,600 guess they're not really Pew Bibles anymore. 28 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:39,640 They're kind of like seat Bibles. 29 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:43,040 Whatever you know, it's on page 960. 30 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,560 But before we begin, I just want to provide a little bit of a 31 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:56,080 context to this passage. It takes takes place following 32 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:00,040 Jesus and the disciples upper room experience where they break 33 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:04,440 bread together. Judas has dipped the bread in 34 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,280 with Jesus, signifying that he's actually going to go out and 35 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,240 betray Jesus. Jesus knows this full well. 36 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:16,240 And so he takes the rest of the 11 disciples and he begins to 37 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:21,880 teach them over the course of about four or five chapters and 38 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,400 he reminds them of the things that he has taught them. 39 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:31,200 He reminds them that if you have seen me, you have seen the 40 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,760 Father. And I want to encourage you 41 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:39,360 today, if you have problem with God the Father as opposed to God 42 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,280 the Son, recognize this, that you need to go back to Jesus 43 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:46,040 life and teaching and recognize His own words where He says 44 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:50,280 everything that you have seen me do and everything that you have 45 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:55,880 heard me say is from the Father. If you have seen me, you have 46 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:57,920 seen the Father. And I think it's very important 47 00:02:57,920 --> 00:03:01,120 for those of us who have a problem with the image of 48 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:02,920 Father. Or perhaps we've bought into 49 00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:06,520 this false notion that there's the Old Testament God, He's 50 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,360 angry, he's mean, and then we suddenly come to the New 51 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:10,800 Testament. Jesus saves the day. 52 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:12,720 No, this is actually not the truth. 53 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,440 Jesus actually takes the wrath of God on himself. 54 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:18,160 There's a theological word for that. 55 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:22,000 It's called propitiation, so that we can experience without 56 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,560 the wrath of God, the full love of God manifest. 57 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,960 That's an amazing thought. So when you think of the cross 58 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,400 of Christ, which we'll get to a little later today, recognize 59 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,600 the full import of what Jesus went through, not just in terms 60 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,840 of his physical suffering, which which was absolutely immense, 61 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:45,240 but the spiritual suffering that he endured being sinless and 62 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:50,560 becoming sin for us. Then we come to John chapter. 63 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:54,280 So Jesus has taught his disciples he's he said, look, 64 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,160 abide in me. I'm the vine, you are the 65 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,000 branches. Unless you abide in me, you 66 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:02,200 can't bear fruit. He also warns them about the 67 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,040 fact that they are not of the world, just as he was not of the 68 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:09,440 world, and as the world hated Him, so they will hate of the 69 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:14,320 disciples. And he warns them of that fact 70 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:19,240 that they will be persecuted. But he also reminds them of the 71 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:23,720 secret which is found in Jesus alone, that even though Jesus is 72 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,000 going to ascend to the Father, he's not going to leave them as 73 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,720 orphans, but he is going to send what he refers to as the 74 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,840 counselor or the helper, the Holy Spirit who is going to 75 00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:40,600 indwell the disciples. And of course that has specific 76 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,360 effects for us today because we who claim the name of Christ are 77 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,760 his disciples and have received the counselor, the Holy Spirit. 78 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:52,520 And so there is because of that there's nothing to fear. 79 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:57,200 And one of the Jesus most frequent commandments is fear, 80 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:01,280 not peace. I leave with you in spite of the 81 00:05:01,280 --> 00:05:04,120 fact that there's turmoil in the world, in spite of the fact that 82 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:07,200 there's turmoil perhaps in my own family and my own 83 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,440 relationships and my own finances and all of these 84 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,280 things. Jesus says take heart for I have 85 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:17,480 overcome the World Peace. I leave with you so that in 86 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:20,720 spite of the circumstances of life, we can hold, we can hold 87 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,480 on to this anchor. We could anchor our hope and the 88 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:27,840 fact that Jesus is faithful to his word, and if he promises 89 00:05:27,840 --> 00:05:32,280 peace, then somehow in the midst of our suffering, in the midst 90 00:05:32,280 --> 00:05:36,280 of our pain, in the midst of the whirlwind, if you will, we can 91 00:05:36,280 --> 00:05:39,880 find the peace and security of this that only found in Jesus. 92 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,320 We come to John chapter 17, and I think it's a beautiful thing 93 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:48,960 that Jesus chooses to, in front of his 11 disciples, pray 94 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:53,240 directly to the Father. And he begins by praying for 95 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:57,600 himself, recognizing that he's accomplished everything that the 96 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:02,160 Father has sent him to accomplish, and that he's 97 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:06,160 glorified the Father, and he is glorified. 98 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:11,320 And then he goes on to pray for his disciples, and he prays that 99 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:15,760 they would be protected from the evil 1 He prays that they would 100 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:18,920 be rooted in love. He prays that they would be 101 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,240 sanctified. In other words, set apart 102 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:26,320 through His Word as being distinctly His disciples and 103 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:31,080 that they would live on mission. And then something really 104 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:36,080 amazing happens in starting in verse 20 is that Jesus prays for 105 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:42,040 us here today, sitting in the service, those of us who have 106 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:45,600 claimed the name of Jesus. Jesus is praying for us. 107 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:50,160 And that's where we begin in verse 20 of chapter 17. 108 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,240 I invite you to follow along as I read. 109 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,320 Jesus says. I pray not only for these being 110 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:02,680 his disciples there in the room with him, but also for those who 111 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:04,320 believe in me through their word. 112 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:10,440 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in 113 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,120 you. May they also be in us so that 114 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,520 the world may believe you sent me. 115 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,720 I have given them the glory you have given me so that they may 116 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:27,480 be one as we are one. I am in them and You are in me, 117 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:32,120 so that they may be made completely one that the world 118 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:36,920 may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have 119 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,080 loved me. Father. 120 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,640 I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so 121 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:46,240 that they will see my glory, which you have given me because 122 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,600 you loved me before the world's foundation. 123 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,880 Righteous Father, the world has not known You. 124 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:58,000 However, I have known you, and they have known that you sent 125 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,120 me. I made Your name known to them 126 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:05,480 and will continue to make it known so that the love with 127 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:11,720 which you have loved me may be in them and I may be in them. 128 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:17,600 And I want to begin by making a statement that might actually 129 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,840 surprise some of you and might challenge some of our thinking, 130 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,480 especially in terms of the fact that we live in a fairly 131 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,600 individualistic culture. But the first thing I want to 132 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:31,720 state based upon Jesus words here is that the most powerful 133 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:36,440 witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ is not personal 134 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,600 testimony, but congregational unity. 135 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:45,800 The most powerful witness to the world is not your or my personal 136 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:49,560 testimony, as powerful as that can be through the Holy Spirit. 137 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:55,040 The most powerful witness to the world is the unity of the 138 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,280 congregation, the unity of the body of Christ. 139 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:01,600 And I'm going to talk a little more specifically about the 140 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:05,840 unity within the body of Christ locally as we know it as forward 141 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:09,200 church. But know that that also spills 142 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:13,280 out into the greater church, all those who name the name of 143 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:18,840 Jesus, the unity of the church, that is the greatest witness. 144 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,360 And if you look at the book of Acts, you'll notice that the the 145 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:25,760 largest growth within the church is when the community witnesses 146 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:30,400 what is happening amongst this group of ragtag disciples that 147 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:32,320 claim that Jesus rose from the dead. 148 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:35,880 That is the most significant factor. 149 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:40,840 You see, when I go out into my community by myself, I'm not the 150 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:44,200 body of Christ. I'm a member of the body of 151 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,880 Christ, but I'm not the body of Christ. 152 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:50,360 And that's why Jesus says we're two or three are gathered in my 153 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,120 name. There I am in their midst. 154 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,000 That doesn't mean that Jesus like abandons me when we go out 155 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,840 by ourselves. No, actually his Spirit indwells 156 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,400 us. But what he's saying is that we 157 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,960 are the body of Christ. And that way when we are 158 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:10,920 together as diverse as we are and we are living under the 159 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:14,120 lordship of Jesus Christ, something incredible happens. 160 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:17,560 He refers to it as oneness. We're going to kind of call it 161 00:10:17,560 --> 00:10:22,120 unity because he says in verse 23, I am in them and you are in 162 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:27,480 me so that they may be made completely one that the world 163 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:31,560 may know you have sent me and have loved them as you loved me. 164 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:36,120 So the world may know when people see the unity of the body 165 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,280 of Christ, there is something argument. 166 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:42,240 It's, you know, argument doesn't make any difference. 167 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:44,800 When they see something that only could explain 168 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:48,080 supernaturally, that's when they begin to believe. 169 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:55,720 So I think when we talk about unity, it's important for us to 170 00:10:55,720 --> 00:11:02,800 recognize what unity is not. Unity is a word that can mean 171 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,240 many things in many different contexts. 172 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,760 But first of all, unity is not uniformity, OK? 173 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:13,640 I think it's, there's, there's context in which uniformity is, 174 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,000 is very important. And that would be, for instance, 175 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:19,880 the army, some sort of military where, you know, the same 176 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:24,600 uniform, the same sort of disciplinary regime, the same 177 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:29,600 sort of procedure in terms of military strategy. 178 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:32,360 These are things that are highly important. 179 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,360 And for there to be unity, there needs to be a degree of 180 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:38,760 uniformity. But when we're talking about the 181 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:43,000 unity within the body of Christ, we're not talking about a group 182 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:49,280 of people that all look and talk and smell the same, if you will. 183 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:52,120 That's really not what we're after. 184 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:56,240 OK, So it's not uniformity. It's also not agreeing on every 185 00:11:56,240 --> 00:12:00,240 matter. I think we would recognize if 186 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:05,680 you've been to a business meeting, you know, not everyone 187 00:12:05,680 --> 00:12:09,880 agrees on every matter. Yet the fact is, is we can still 188 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,200 maintain unity even though there is some disagreement. 189 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:15,640 I mean, I think there's a beautiful picture of it in the 190 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:20,080 book of Acts where Paul and Barnabas are arguing over John 191 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:22,360 Mark. John Mark had kind of abandoned 192 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:24,040 Paul in his first missionary journey. 193 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,600 Paul said, I don't need someone who's not going to be 194 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:29,320 dependable. And Barnabas, being a son of 195 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:33,560 encouragement, said, look, he needs to stay with us because 196 00:12:33,560 --> 00:12:35,240 he's an important part of our team. 197 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,000 And Paul and Barnabas had a dispute. 198 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:40,200 They ended up splitting and going their own way. 199 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:46,640 So it but but at the same time unity was maintained and we'll 200 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:51,080 kind of get to how that unity was maintained even within that 201 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:54,600 context. And then thirdly, unity is not 202 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:59,640 beige based on age, race, gender, socioeconomics, hobbies 203 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:03,760 or personal preference. And in other words, homogeneity 204 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:09,600 is not unity, OK? And I think the more diversity 205 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:13,360 that we can see within the body of Christ, or at least a 206 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:17,480 diversity that represents the community, then I think we could 207 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,920 say that there's something unique going on. 208 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,480 There's something that only God could be doing. 209 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,240 So it's not based upon any sort of homogeneity. 210 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:33,360 Rather, and this is kind of my big statement for unity, unity 211 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:38,880 in general is achieved amid diversity when a common purpose 212 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:43,600 and vision are kept front and center and pursued corporately. 213 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:50,080 Now, what do I mean by that? Well, let's, how many of you at 214 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:53,760 one point in your life owned a Kodak camera? 215 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:58,120 Raise your hand. A Kodak camera, OK, It kind of 216 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:01,480 betrays your age, but, you know, Yeah. 217 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:05,400 So quite a few of you owned a Kodak camera. 218 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:11,400 How many of you today own and operate a Kodak camera? 219 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:15,680 Raise your hand. I don't think I see any hands. 220 00:14:15,680 --> 00:14:18,560 Now, if you did, you'd be super cool because I think that's kind 221 00:14:18,560 --> 00:14:20,120 of in vogue is to kind of go retro. 222 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:24,720 But anyway, the fact of the matter is if you are say, north 223 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:30,200 of 40, you lived at a time where Kodak camera was or Kodak was 224 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:33,680 kind of synonymous for camera or film. 225 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:38,320 There was the the adage that they had, which was the Kodak 226 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:39,920 moment. I think that came about in the 227 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:43,440 1970s. And the Kodak moment was an 228 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:48,680 adage that Kodak coined, which basically said you kind of take 229 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:53,760 a frame of life and that becomes a moment, a slice of time. 230 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,360 And that kind of became the mantra kind of like Kleenex 231 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:00,840 becomes the, the, you know, we say, can you hand me a Kleenex? 232 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:04,440 Even if it's got tissue, right? It's one of those things that it 233 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:06,880 becomes so common. They've got in the corner on the 234 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:08,680 market. Well, what happened to Kodak 235 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:12,360 where none of you, to my knowledge, use Kodak today? 236 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:17,920 Well, Kodak lost a sense or didn't have a strong enough and 237 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:21,920 compelling enough purpose and vision so that when the camera 238 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:27,600 industry changed and became more of a digital camera industry and 239 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:30,760 eventually phone industry, they weren't able to pivot. 240 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:35,880 There were a number of reasons for that, but by and large, they 241 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:40,200 did not have a vision that drove their people to innovate 242 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:43,280 effectively. And by 2012, they declared 243 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:46,240 bankruptcy. And Kodak today is marginally 244 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:50,240 used among some corporations for printing and other such matters. 245 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:55,120 So Kodak either didn't have a strong enough vision or lost 246 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:59,760 that vision and purpose and weren't able to to kind of 247 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,920 navigate that. Whereas in contrast, we have a 248 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:06,880 company like Toyota. Last I checked, Toyota comprises 249 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:11,800 about 2 / 12% of the entire automobile market. 250 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:18,240 Now Toyota, Toyota has always had, has always had a philosophy 251 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:22,640 based upon, it's a Japanese word called Kaizen, which means 252 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:26,080 continuous improvement. And some of you, whether you 253 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:31,120 work for Toyota or not, probably have some knowledge or 254 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:38,040 experience with what's called the lean manufacturing or the 255 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:42,120 just in time production. And Toyota, this is their this 256 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:44,560 is their purpose and mission. It says Toyota will lead the 257 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:48,520 future mobility society, enriching lives around the world 258 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:52,000 with the safest and most responsible ways of moving 259 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,160 people. They're not like held to the 260 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:58,040 automobile as we know it. Even through our commitment to 261 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:01,320 quality, ceaseless innovation, and respect for the planet, we 262 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:05,640 strive to exceed expectations and be rewarded with a smile. 263 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:08,599 We will meet challenging goals by engaging the talent and 264 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:12,119 passion of people who believe there is always a better way. 265 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:16,079 So there's a large vision, but they tap into the human 266 00:17:16,079 --> 00:17:18,880 resources. They're open to innovation. 267 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:23,160 And this is not to tout Toyota because I'm, I don't think 268 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:26,680 Rachel, I'm, I won't get anything for this from Seth if I 269 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,520 OK, because I'll keep going if I do. 270 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:31,920 Now Seth, my friend Seth Burt works for Toyota. 271 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:38,320 But anyway, all I have to say, Toyota had has had a vision for 272 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:44,360 over 50 years that has driven their automobile industry and 273 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:48,760 enabled them to navigate within the context of rapid change. 274 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:53,760 Another example is Chick-fil-A. I don't know if you've ever read 275 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:55,040 the read their mission statement. 276 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:56,760 I kind of like this. To the glory. 277 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,520 To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is 278 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:04,160 entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on 279 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:06,520 all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A. 280 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:10,520 Wow. Our core values reflect our 281 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:14,080 purpose, which is we're here to serve, we're Better Together, 282 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:16,920 we're purpose driven, We pursue what's next. 283 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:21,440 For over 50 years, Chick-fil-A has offered quality chicken 284 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:26,080 products in an atmosphere that is hugely positive. 285 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:29,640 You've ever been in Chick-fil-A, whether it's in Florida or in 286 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:34,840 Kitchener or Cambridge. Now to, to a great extent, the 287 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:36,800 experience is very much the same. 288 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:37,880 Why? Because they've created a 289 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:44,040 culture, a culture of community, of support, of innovation with a 290 00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:48,760 driven by a larger vision. Now I will say this, if I've 291 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,560 whetted your appetite for Chick-fil-A, I do apologize 292 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:53,120 because you'll have to wait till Monday. 293 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,840 Because part of their core values is opening up a day of 294 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,960 the week to allow their employees a day of rest and also 295 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:02,120 an opportunity to worship if they so choose. 296 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:05,440 That's part of their mission or part of their purpose. 297 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:12,960 So we can see then that having a common purpose and vision, 298 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:18,480 keeping it front and center and pursued corporately or pursued 299 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:21,280 as a community, is highly important to success. 300 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:24,520 So what does that have to do with the church? 301 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:28,080 What does that have to do with a biblical perspective? 302 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:32,560 Well, first of all, it's important for us to know that 303 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:38,040 foundational to Christian unity is love, love for God and love 304 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:41,520 for others. One of the reasons why Forward 305 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:47,600 Church has a purpose, envision statement that is making 306 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:51,160 disciples of Jesus who love God, love others and serve the world 307 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:55,480 is we know that is an eternal vision for this life and the 308 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:59,240 next. And So what we do is we make we 309 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:02,120 filter every decision what we make and we don't do this 310 00:20:02,120 --> 00:20:05,280 perfectly, of course, but we filter every decision that we 311 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:10,480 make through the terms of to what extent is this program or 312 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:14,680 ministry or event, to what extent is it contributing to 313 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:19,040 making disciples of Jesus who love God, love others and serve 314 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:22,360 the world. And so it's very important for 315 00:20:22,360 --> 00:20:25,680 us then to understand that as a community of faith. 316 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:32,440 It is found founded upon love, a love for God and a love for 317 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:35,640 others. But I hopefully won't want to 318 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,800 dive a little deeper and get a little bit more practical here 319 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:40,360 because I think it's important for us. 320 00:20:40,360 --> 00:20:42,600 It's one thing to say all you need is love. 321 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,680 I mean, The Beatles said that they sang it beautiful song. 322 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:49,200 And it can be really meaningful or meaningless depending upon 323 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,280 your experience and your definition of love. 324 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:56,520 So we need to understand then what does it mean for us to 325 00:20:56,520 --> 00:21:00,800 build a foundation of love where we love God and love others? 326 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:06,920 So I've as I was reading and meditating on this passage, 327 00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:12,320 there are 6 fundamental elements that are essential to Christian 328 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:16,120 unity. The first one being is that we 329 00:21:16,120 --> 00:21:23,080 agree on who we worship. We agree on who we worship. 330 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:26,440 In other words, the what's the object of our ultimate 331 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:30,480 affection? Now Acts 432 says that the early 332 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:36,480 church was of one mind and one heart and as a result the church 333 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:38,000 grew. What does that mean? 334 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:45,000 They had one focus in mind, both from a standpoint of the mind. 335 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,880 They were focused on this one vision and mission which was to 336 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:52,720 make disciples of Jesus. But furthermore, they have war 337 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:54,560 of 1 heart. And what does that mean? 338 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:59,000 That is the driving affection, the thing that moves us forward, 339 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:02,040 the thing that gets us out of bed, the thing that makes us 340 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:06,200 make daily decisions. That is what our driving 341 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:08,080 affection is. And that's what we need to ask 342 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:11,280 ourselves is what is it ultimately that is driving my 343 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:12,920 affection? Because I could quite easily say 344 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:19,600 that I love God, but what does that mean if I'm making all 345 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:23,840 these other decisions that would seem to contradict that core 346 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:27,840 value. And so we need to, it would seem 347 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:29,920 obvious that we need to agree on who we worship. 348 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:32,200 And but even churches have been faulted for this. 349 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:36,880 Probably many of you have seen the American Gospel, which is a 350 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:39,240 documentary on the prosperity gospel. 351 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:44,520 And the problem is in a very general sense is that we can see 352 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:49,360 Jesus as a means to an end. Now, the prosperity gospel is a 353 00:22:49,360 --> 00:22:54,320 very obvious example where Jesus is a means to wealth and 354 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:57,480 prosperity and health. That's kind of in a nutshell, 355 00:22:57,480 --> 00:22:59,200 what the prosperity gospel is about. 356 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:03,400 But it's a little bit more insidious than that when you 357 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:07,400 think in terms of what is my primary motivation for being a 358 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:10,920 follower of Christ? Is it his glory? 359 00:23:12,360 --> 00:23:16,160 Is what I'm doing out of love for what Christ has done? 360 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:20,520 Is that what drives me? Am I OK not taking credit and 361 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:22,680 allowing Christ to receive all the glory? 362 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:27,000 Am I OK taking a backseat? Am I OK washing someone else's 363 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:29,720 feet as it were, and no one sees? 364 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:34,320 Am I OK making sacrifices that no one acknowledges? 365 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:38,960 Because I'm so in love with Jesus, I'm so intent on Him 366 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:42,720 receiving all the glory. The rest is inconsequential. 367 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:49,840 We as a church body can quite easily lose who it is we 368 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:54,720 worship, and we see Jesus simply as a means to an end. 369 00:23:56,120 --> 00:23:59,120 Is he the ends or is he just the means? 370 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:05,200 And so #2 we need to identify and eliminate idols in our 371 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:07,440 lives. In other words, those things 372 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:09,400 which compete for our affections. 373 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:11,960 And we should do a daily heart check. 374 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:15,120 We're at where we're asking the Holy Spirit of God as we've 375 00:24:15,120 --> 00:24:20,920 engaged the Scriptures to reveal areas that are robbing my 376 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,960 affection from Jesus. We all have them. 377 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:26,800 And usually they're more subtle than we think. 378 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:29,840 And we think we're doing really well, but if we actually 379 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:33,280 honestly ask the Holy Spirit and spent time in His Word, spend 380 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:35,720 time listening, He will reveal things. 381 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:40,720 The great thing is, is that we don't have to do penance, but we 382 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:46,280 do have to confess, confess our sins and clear those pathways so 383 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:48,200 that our worship will be uncorrupted. 384 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:54,960 Uncorrupted. Thirdly, we learn the Scriptures 385 00:24:54,960 --> 00:25:00,520 by listening to them, reading them, meditating on them, and 386 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:03,920 praying them. Now this is not meant to be 387 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:06,680 complicated. What it's meant to do is it's 388 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:10,880 meant to emphasize the centrality of the Word of God in 389 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,840 our lives. If we are going to live a life 390 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:17,600 of faith and if we are going to live a transformative gospel 391 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:23,640 driven life, we need to listen to His Word, we need to read His 392 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:27,280 Word, we need to meditate on His Word and we need to pray His 393 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:30,400 Word. And I can assure you that if you 394 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:34,680 are doing these things, something miraculous is going to 395 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:39,120 happen. Notice verse 17 of chapter 17. 396 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:41,800 Jesus says, and it's going to back up to something we haven't 397 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:47,880 read, but He says this. He says, Father, sanctify them 398 00:25:48,120 --> 00:25:51,200 by the truth. Your word is truth. 399 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:56,600 How are we set apart and made holy for His purposes by the 400 00:25:56,600 --> 00:26:01,800 Word of truth when the Holy Spirit and His Word come 401 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:06,000 together in our lives and begin to transform us from the inside 402 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,440 out? And I noticed there I didn't put 403 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:12,080 memorize the scriptures. Why? 404 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:16,080 Well, for one, I think memorize feels like a big fat chore. 405 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:19,240 And for two, I can assure you that if you're listening to the 406 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:22,440 Word, you're reading the Word, you're meditating on the Word, 407 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:25,040 and you're praying the Word, you will memorize the Word by 408 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:27,520 default. It's probably a better approach 409 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:33,400 #4 We obey the scriptures through repentance and spirit 410 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:38,160 filled prayer and action. Let us not be guilty of being a 411 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:43,400 people that are driven by tasks. If you feel like it's your task 412 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:46,360 to go out there and be salt and light in the world and share the 413 00:26:46,360 --> 00:26:49,000 gospel when given the opportunity, if that to you is a 414 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:53,840 burden and a task, then there's something missing there. 415 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:56,480 Something very important missing. 416 00:26:56,760 --> 00:27:00,200 Because when you read the scriptures and you see a person 417 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:03,400 or group of people making a traumatic or making an 418 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:07,120 incredible impact upon the world around them, they're spirit 419 00:27:07,120 --> 00:27:10,400 filled. They are spirit filled people. 420 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:15,560 So how do we get, how do we become filled with the Spirit as 421 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:19,000 we read the Scriptures and as the Holy Spirit brings things to 422 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:21,880 light in our lives? We confess and we repent. 423 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:25,520 We confess and we repent. And you know, he doesn't get 424 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:28,280 tired of our confessions and our repentance. 425 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:31,200 If he did, we'd be in trouble because we should be doing this 426 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:35,440 every day. And then as you confess and as 427 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:40,880 you repent, then ask him to fill you with his Holy Spirit so that 428 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:44,840 you can go out in power. But don't leave it there at home 429 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:48,160 or in your car or wherever it is that you spend that time alone 430 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:53,000 with with God. Rather come back to it and say, 431 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:55,920 God, fill me with your Spirit. Give me a heart of discernment. 432 00:27:56,120 --> 00:28:00,240 Give me a heart of love. Because one of the most powerful 433 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:03,080 things that Jesus taught in these concluding chapters of 434 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:07,200 John is that he would not leave us orphans, but he would send us 435 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:10,200 the helper, the counselor, the Holy Spirit. 436 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:13,640 And so if you are in Christ, you have the Holy Spirit. 437 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:18,040 And we have to be filled with the Spirit in order to do the 438 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:20,440 things that Christ has called us to do. 439 00:28:21,360 --> 00:28:25,800 We must be filled with the Holy Spirit and that is a daily, 440 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:31,560 ongoing discipline of inviting Him to have unhindered sway in 441 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:40,240 our lives #5 We practice humility, grace, and hospitality 442 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:44,400 within the body of Christ. An attitude of humility is 443 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:47,200 paramount. Consider others as more 444 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:50,480 important than yourselves. If we all live that way, that 445 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:52,760 would eliminate 3/4 of our battles. 446 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:56,600 We exercise grace. Grace is the willingness to 447 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:59,400 overlook a fault. There are simply people, through 448 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:02,000 no fault of our own or their own, who simply rankle us on the 449 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:04,360 inside. How are we going to respond to 450 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:06,240 that? Are we going to exercise grace? 451 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:09,360 Are we going to exercise love? Are we going to overlook 452 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:14,360 offences or are we going to take offence and then suddenly become 453 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:16,240 proud? And these are my rights. 454 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:21,080 So we need to approach with an attitude of humility, grace and 455 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:24,120 hospitality. And I love, I mean, hospitality 456 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:28,640 is not something that in in our culture we understand very well 457 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:31,320 in general. But what does hospitality have 458 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:34,840 to do within the body of Christ, within the local church here in 459 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:41,520 this room or wherever you are? Well, hospitality is yes it, it 460 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:44,480 is inviting people into your home, but it's more than that. 461 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:47,360 It's an attitude. It's it's an openness to invite 462 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:51,760 the stranger to become friend, to invite the stranger to become 463 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:54,920 family. I met a lady a few weeks ago 464 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:59,600 who's brand new to forward her first Sunday here, and she was 465 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:05,400 invited to sit with three sisters who have been in going 466 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:09,680 to forward church for many decades and who sit in the same 467 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:14,800 seats every week. But you know what, they get it. 468 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:20,400 They understand hospitality. They invite the stranger to 469 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:25,840 become part of the family. That in essence is hospitality. 470 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:30,440 And if we as individuals here this morning, if we took it upon 471 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:34,360 ourselves to have an attitude of hospitality, to an attitude 472 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:38,520 where we're inviting the stranger in to become part of 473 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:45,040 our space, to be loved by us, to be befriended by us, regardless 474 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:47,480 of who they are, regardless of their age, regardless of their 475 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:50,920 background. If we would simply be prayerful 476 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:56,520 about that, praying that God would send across our path at 477 00:30:56,520 --> 00:30:58,800 the end of the service or at the beginning of the service, 478 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:03,600 someone that I can connect with and that I can bless, that I can 479 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:06,840 love. See, a culture of hospitality is 480 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:11,840 going to transform the church, the community, the world, 481 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:17,000 because hospitality is a lost discipline, but it is commanded 482 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:20,960 by scripture. If we all exercise hospitality, 483 00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:23,440 I'm afraid we'll just disband the hospitality team because 484 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:29,760 everyone will be part of it. And then number six, we keep in 485 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:34,720 mind, or rather we keep the end in mind, manifesting our hope. 486 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:39,000 Look at verse 24. Father, I want those You have 487 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:44,640 given me to be with me where I am so that they may see my 488 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:48,520 glory, which you have given me because You loved me before the 489 00:31:48,520 --> 00:31:51,520 world's foundation. You know what Jesus is saying 490 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:54,600 there? He's saying if you're in Christ, 491 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:56,880 and that would be any of us in Christ here today. 492 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:07,160 Jesus is inviting us to be in his presence in glory that 493 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:11,320 should rock our world, that should infuse our hope because 494 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:13,800 regardless of our circumstances, and I don't want to diminish 495 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:17,800 the, the difficulties that many of you are enduring right now, 496 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:23,080 but I pray that the the hope of Jesus would infuse us because 497 00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:25,720 he's invited us to a seat at the table. 498 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:29,880 He's invited us to the end upper room at the end of days where 499 00:32:30,040 --> 00:32:32,920 it's not going to be mournful, it's going to be celebratory. 500 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:40,400 And so how we steward our time between now and that day makes 501 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:44,720 all the difference. So let's steward it well so that 502 00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:49,000 when we sit at the table with Jesus and he gives us this feast 503 00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:54,600 to celebrate, we can say, I'm so glad I invested it and didn't 504 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:58,400 waste it. Let's keep the end in mind 505 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:01,000 manifesting our hope. And that's why Paul says, if 506 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:05,120 anyone, you know, be ready to give an answer to the the person 507 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:07,200 who asks you for the hope that you have. 508 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:10,000 And I think you know, he's talking not just to the 509 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:12,560 individual, he's talking to the church. 510 00:33:12,560 --> 00:33:16,960 If we're for a body that's infused with hope that what we 511 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:20,680 ultimately want is to be in Jesus presence as Job did, you 512 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:22,600 know, in my flesh I will see God. 513 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:27,440 That was what kept him going. If we have that, that is going 514 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:31,000 to be such a testimony to the gospel of Jesus Christ. 515 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:33,880 So inevitably disagreements will come. 516 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:39,760 So what are just some practical ways that we can keep 517 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:41,960 disagreements from undermining unity? 518 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:45,480 And just just three quick ways here. 519 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:49,720 First of all, we need to learn to communicate humbly, lovingly, 520 00:33:49,720 --> 00:33:53,080 and respectfully. We may disagree strongly with 521 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:56,880 something, but you need to keep ourselves in check before we 522 00:33:56,880 --> 00:34:01,760 actually begin the conversation. Are we communicating humbly? 523 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:06,800 Are we communicating lovingly? And where are we communicating 524 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:09,840 respectfully? I think it's important for us in 525 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:13,880 any sort of crucial conversation like that is to ask the Holy 526 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:19,600 Spirit to guard my heart and my mind and my mouth so that what 527 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:22,840 is said ultimately is loving. Because we can have conflict. 528 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:26,520 Conflict is inevitable, but conflict also can be loving. 529 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:30,840 And conflict causes growth. If we had no conflict, there 530 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:35,560 would be no growth. Secondly, we need to show a 531 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:38,440 willingness to concede in areas that amount to personal 532 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:41,840 preference. Everyone in this room has 533 00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:45,040 different preferences in different areas of how we do 534 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:47,120 church. That's OK. 535 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:52,199 Those areas that are simply preference, we need to have a 536 00:34:52,199 --> 00:34:55,080 willingness to concede. Doesn't mean we can't open up 537 00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:59,760 conversations, make suggestions, or so forth, but let's not make 538 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:03,760 it a point of contention. Don't allow bitterness to root 539 00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:09,040 in your heart over something that in the end really boils 540 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:13,440 down to my preference. And then thirdly, we need to 541 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:16,520 pray for and submit to spiritual authority. 542 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:20,600 Submission is a very unpopular world word rather. 543 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:24,960 And in our culture, the idea of submitting to authority in 544 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:29,080 general is looked down upon, not practiced by most people. 545 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:34,880 In fact, it's, it's a, I can't even think of the word of it 546 00:35:35,280 --> 00:35:37,520 word. But, but as you go around and 547 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:40,400 you see bumper stickers and flags and so forth and so on, 548 00:35:40,680 --> 00:35:45,000 that can be so hurtful and negative. 549 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:50,200 It reminds us of what Scripture is calling us to. 550 00:35:50,200 --> 00:35:53,080 And that's to pray for and submit to authority. 551 00:35:53,080 --> 00:35:57,480 And in this instance, within the body of Christ, God has placed 552 00:35:57,720 --> 00:36:00,120 the elders as spiritual authority. 553 00:36:00,720 --> 00:36:04,200 Are we praying for our elders on a daily basis because they are 554 00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:09,600 working sacrificially on your behalf, seeking to shepherd you 555 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:12,440 well, And so are we praying for them? 556 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:15,920 And ultimately, are we trusting that the way that they are 557 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:19,240 leading our church is one that is ultimately for the glory of 558 00:36:19,240 --> 00:36:21,960 God? They don't do it perfectly. 559 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:27,080 None of us do it perfectly. But the more that we support 560 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:30,760 them in prayer, the more God will illuminate the decision 561 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:34,160 making and the thinking, and there will be unity as a result. 562 00:36:36,280 --> 00:36:41,640 In conclusion, the ultimate purpose of Christian unity is to 563 00:36:41,640 --> 00:36:47,760 manifest the truth of the gospel that Jesus was sent by God to 564 00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:55,080 redeem humankind. It's amazing that our unity is a 565 00:36:55,080 --> 00:37:00,840 living expression and proof that Jesus was sent by God to redeem 566 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:03,760 humankind. That is the hope of the world. 567 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:07,960 That is what's at stake here. And that's why the devil is 568 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:11,640 having a heyday in the church today, in the broader church 569 00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:15,360 today, by creating division and discord. 570 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:19,120 And there have been church splits and so forth and so on. 571 00:37:19,120 --> 00:37:21,880 And we know the story. We know the narrative. 572 00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:26,280 But you know what, the devil shouldn't have any space for 573 00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:28,400 that because Christ has already won the victory. 574 00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:31,720 We just have to choose to live within that victory and we need 575 00:37:31,720 --> 00:37:36,280 to choose to get over ourselves so that we can be unified in the 576 00:37:36,280 --> 00:37:39,600 body of Christ. So I ask you to take Jesus words 577 00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:46,040 this week and to pray them, to live them, to make them part of 578 00:37:46,040 --> 00:37:52,320 your soul, and to ask the Holy Spirit for you individually and 579 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:57,240 as a community of faith to actually fulfill Jesus words 580 00:37:57,920 --> 00:38:01,000 here at Ford and the rest of the world. 581 00:38:03,120 --> 00:38:07,560 And you know there is no greater symbol of unity than communion. 582 00:38:09,040 --> 00:38:13,040 And so we rewind to the Upper Room, the Last Supper, and Jesus 583 00:38:13,040 --> 00:38:20,040 gathers with his disciples and he takes the bread and he takes 584 00:38:20,040 --> 00:38:26,720 the cup and uses it as a symbol of his broken body and of his 585 00:38:26,800 --> 00:38:29,840 shed blood. Paul reminds us in First 586 00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:32,240 Corinthians Chapter 11, verse 26. 587 00:38:32,600 --> 00:38:37,560 For as often as you proclaim the Lord, whereas law, for as often 588 00:38:37,560 --> 00:38:42,080 as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the 589 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:48,200 Lord's death until he comes. And so this morning we're going 590 00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:50,800 to take an opportunity. If you haven't received a 591 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:54,000 communion wafer and cup here, you can go ahead and raise your 592 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:55,600 hand. Someone will be around to give 593 00:38:55,600 --> 00:39:09,660 that to you and take out the wafer here symbolizing Jesus 594 00:39:09,780 --> 00:39:15,940 body. And Jesus took the bread, and 595 00:39:15,940 --> 00:39:19,220 he, when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his 596 00:39:19,220 --> 00:39:23,840 disciples. And he said, take, eat. 597 00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:28,840 This is my body which is broken for you. 598 00:39:30,040 --> 00:39:35,720 Do this in remembrance of me. Let's take the bread and take it 599 00:39:35,720 --> 00:39:59,820 together. And then Jesus took the cup and 600 00:39:59,820 --> 00:40:03,420 he said, this cup is my shed blood. 601 00:40:04,500 --> 00:40:06,620 It's a symbol of the New covenant. 602 00:40:08,380 --> 00:40:10,780 My blood poured out on your behalf. 603 00:40:13,140 --> 00:40:17,540 He took on himself our sin, our shame. 604 00:40:18,380 --> 00:40:23,380 His blood was poured out for us. And so we come together, humbly 605 00:40:23,540 --> 00:40:27,160 and gratefully. As a community of faith to the 606 00:40:27,160 --> 00:40:31,800 only one worthy of our worship. And we say thank you Jesus, that 607 00:40:31,800 --> 00:40:35,960 you shed your blood and that because of your shed blood my 608 00:40:35,960 --> 00:40:39,040 sins are forgiven past, present and future. 609 00:40:40,040 --> 00:40:43,280 Let's not take it lightly, but let's take it together as a 610 00:40:43,280 --> 00:40:47,600 community of faith, remembering Him until he comes again. 611 00:40:56,640 --> 00:41:02,320 Father, you have made known to us the path of life. 612 00:41:03,640 --> 00:41:06,320 You will fill us with joy in your presence. 613 00:41:07,360 --> 00:41:10,120 Eternal pleasures are at your right hand. 614 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:16,280 You are the God of the past, present and future and we give 615 00:41:16,280 --> 00:41:22,880 you thanks and praise for your goodness, for in love you sent 616 00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:27,800 your only Son to redeem the world. 617 00:41:29,280 --> 00:41:34,320 So may we live a life that is pleasing to you in Jesus name.