Yesterday at NorthStar, Mike Linch continued the United series with part 2, "United by God's Power," as we looked at verses 11-16 of Jesus' "high-priestly prayer" in John 17.
Miss Sunday's service? Click here to download audio of Mike's message or to view or print sermon notes.
I. WHAT DID JESUS MEAN BY “THE WORLD”?
1. By “the world,” Jesus meant the world’s system of values, sponsored by Satan, which is designed to turn people’s hearts against God and His truth.
2. According to 1 John 2:16, the world’s values can be placed into one of three categories:
- The impure desire for pleasure - “craving of sinful man”
- The insatiable desire for possessions - “the lust of his eyes”
- The pursuit of significance apart from God - “boasting of what he has and does”
The "world" is how humanity organizes itself without God.
3. Those who are living by the world’s values will come against those of us who seek to live according to God’s word. Jesus said: “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more that I am of the world” (John 17:14 NIV).
II. WHY DO WE NEED GOD’S POWER & PROTECTION?
1. TO MAINTAIN OUR INFLUENCE IN THE WORLD
“Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name… so that they may be one as we are one… so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them… My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:11b,13b,15 NIV).
- God has not called us to separate from the world and become monks.
- God has called us to infiltrate the world and reach others for Christ.
- Our influence in the world is dependent on our joy and our unity.
2. TO MAKE IT TO THE FINISH LINE WITH OUR FAITH (and so the world will notice!)
- Jesus’ Prayers: “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me…My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one" (John 17:11 NIV).
- Jesus’ Promise: “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away… this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:37-40 NIV).
Key Point: We become an answer to Jesus’ prayer and become more united when all of us as His followers LEAN ON GOD’S POWER to maintain our influence in the world and make it safely to the finish.
Upcoming
Check out these upcoming events at NorthStar...
- Marriage Tune Up Conference: This weekend, August 21-22, at Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta. Register online.
- The Clothesline: Bring your new or gently used clothing this Sunday to the trailer. The big giveaway takes place Saturday, September 12.
- Premarital Seminar: This Sunday, August 23. Register online.
- NorthStar in the Community Orientation: This Sunday, August 23, 9:30 a.m., Center Court. Come and find out what's happening and how you can be a part of something big!
- The Women's League Fall Kickoff: Meet other women and find a Bible study to jump into this fall. Tuesday, August 25. More info here about this free event.
- Quiet Time Seminar: Sunday, August 30.
- Men of NorthStar Fall Retreat: September 26-27.
Check out Digging Deeper this week as we continue our study through John 17. Use these daily devotions on the back of your sermon notes. Or find them posted online each day at www.growthstarts.org!
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