John 17
Fascinating to consider the psychology behind various Christian conferences.
-various reasons people go
-some trendy
-some personality driven
-some smaller conferences have a certain loyalty among attenders
-Banner conference has one aspect to encourage a spirit of catholicity -- not a denominational focus, but a kindred spirit united in Christ and his gospel
-not a unique thing, has much historical precedence
-looking at the final verses of John 17
-the prayer of Jesus not only for his apostles, but for all his people
-if this prayer had not been answered by the Father in Heaven, there would be no church today
-but the Father's answer in the affirmative gives us hope
-we may have come wondering what God would say to us at this conference
-but how many considered what Jesus would be praying for us at this conference
-how and what is he praying for as our intersessor
-only a few places in scripture where we are given a direct insight into Jesus prayers for his people
-this passage is one of them
-prays that he would be glorified in his people just as Father glorified in Jesus
-prays for his apostles, the very ones who would forsake him that night
-then he prays for all his people
-one thing we find Jesus praying here
-that his people would be one
-first thing, his concern for unity among his people
-in view of the expansion of the church he prays they may be one, not just once but twice
-what exactly is he asking for
-oneness seems to be far from us for a multitude of reasons
-Jesus answer is that the oneness among his people is to be like the oneness of the triune God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
-many try ways to get around it through various ways
-invisible unity, spiritual unity
-but the unity Jesus has in mind is a very visible one
-three thought arising from this to help make sense of it
-first and formost a positional unity
-just as Father, Son and Spirit are one because they are one God
-so Christians are one because they are part of one body
-we have union and communion with Christ and in him and through him we have union and communion with one another
-share same spiritual DNA
-the divine family is the pattern of our spiritual family
-we belong to one another
-Second thing we find is the unity Jesus has in mind is diverse in its character
-the persons of the godhead are distinct persons even though they are one God
-that is the beauty of the oneness we have as God's people
-we are all different
-even Jerusalem counsel did not give a lot of specifics, but general directions allowing a lot of latitude
-third, this unity will always be imperfect in this world
-it will never be a unity we find, as it should be, on this earth
-it must begin in our local congregations
-then spill over to our denominations, networks, fellowship
-but beyond that as well
-recognizing that this unity is beyond denominational bounds
-we must spare not effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace
-on the eve of his crucifixion he prayed this
-He also speaks of the impact of this unity
-for those outside the church
-not to say there are not joys, and blessings for those in the church for those who experience this unity
-but Jesus focus is on those outside
-again points to it twice
-that the world may know
-the major effect of this will be to turn the eyes of the world away from the church to Christ and Father
-this extraordinary oneness among people of God reflects the the oneness of the triune God to the world
-man has tried to manufacture this oneness
-but it always fails
-but God cultivates a unity that doesn't start on the outside, but on the inside with a change of the heart, then works out
--Matthew Paris (sp?) -- Africa needs Christian Missionaries not NGOs
-gospel when truly believed brings unity even between enemies
-when the world sees the church like that in unity their eyes are directed to Christ wondering who is the savior who can do this
-if we put the effort into building bridges to one another as Christians as we do seeking to divide we would see much more of this unity
-not that there are things that don't need to be defended, but we spilt all to easily
-What are the things that build this unity?
-How is it achieved?
-all to often our answer is diplomacy, church politics, and the like
-but at the end of the day none of those things will achieve this
-only way to get this unity that Jesus is praying for, is to recognize the church is a spiritual living organism
-very last request
-"the love you have for me might be in them"
-prayer ends on same note in began on
-knowing God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent
-to know in the Bible is so often the language of love and intimacy
-that sort of love is what Jesus wants in his people
-souce is in knowing God the Father and Jesus his Son
-Jesus will continue to make the Father known
-the more we grow in the knowledge of God, the more we will grow to love one another as fellow believers
-cf. Eph 4:16ff
-thus the means of grace and how they bring increasing knowledge of Jesus and through him the Triune God will bring growth in our love for one another
-this unity of love is THE distinctive of the church (cf. John 13)
-we should not settle for our divisions but labor for this unity that Christ prayed for.
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