Key Scriptures: John 17:15-19
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
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3 Points from Jesus’ Prayer
Jesus’ plan is not to take us out of the world
We are not of this world
We are sent into the world, different
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Lesson one: Before you can be light, you have to walk right.
• The reality of what Christ has done in you—needs to start working its way out of you as you do your part to let the word of God sanctify you and make you different.
• People can deny the things of God—but they cannot deny a life made different/distinct by Christ.
Philippians 2:12-16, Therefore, my dear friends, as you’ve always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling-g, for it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become “blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation”, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold firmly to the word of life.
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Lesson Two: Our rescue operation is motivated by love.
• God sends us into the world motivated by the same love that he has for us
• In Christ, we are able to love people even if we don’t agree with them
Ephesians 5:1-2, Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
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Lesson Three: Our humanity has equipped us to know the way out of the darkness.
• We were in the world when God sent the light of Christ, in somebody, into our darkness
Isaiah 9:2, The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
1 Peter 2:9-10, But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
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Lesson Four: We cannot wait for the world to show up at the front door of the church.
• Your life—your ability, your opportunity and your circumstances—are God’s gift to you because they are your ‘fob’ into the doorway of the world.
Philippians 1:12-14, I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.