WEBVTT

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 Open up your Bibles to John 17.

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 So we've been on a three-week journey that kind of ends today.

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 Thank you for the encouragement that many of you have given me over the last few weeks

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! Just in how you've been blessed just through John 17,

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 which is known as the true Lord's Prayer,

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 and also really the high priestly prayer of Christ.

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 And I've just sort of emphasized every week that this prayer that Jesus prays

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 has just blessed my life so much.

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 And so for quite a while I've wanted to delve into it,

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 just to pass it on in hopes that it would just really strengthen your heart

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 and refer to as the high priestly prayer.

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 It's just really only about 600, roughly 650 words.

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 It takes a couple minutes to read, but as I've been saying,

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 you could spend an eternity just diving into the words and phrases and implications

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 that are made in this prayer.

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 And I've been really blessed, just even in the study time of it.

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 One of the commentaries, I just try to narrow it down to a few good commentaries.

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 I have three that I've been looking at for the most part.

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 I try to get some more current, modern-day guys,

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 as well as some of the old dead guys who kind of speak to a lot of these things.

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 But Calvin, John Calvin, has a great commentary on the Gospel of John.

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 And this is something he says about the high priestly prayer.

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 He says,

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 This prayer of Christ is a safe harbor,

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 and whoever retreats into it is safe from all danger or shipwreck.

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 For it has Christ in it,

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 and he has sworn solely that he will devote his care and his diligence to our salvation.

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 Let the world then condemn us a thousand times,

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 this alone not to satisfy us,

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 that Christ acknowledges us to be his heritage and pleads with his Father for us.

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 So this prayer really does stand out as preeminent in many ways in God's Word.

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 It's, again, toward the end of what has been referred to as the upper room discourse,

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 or the farewell discourse of Christ in the Gospel of John.

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 It starts in chapter 13 and ends right here in chapter 17.

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 And he is preparing himself to go, to be arrested, to be betrayed, and to die.

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 And this is what's on his mind.

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 His followers are in many ways very anxious.

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 They're afraid because he's saying,

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 I'm about to leave you, and I'm going back to the Father.

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 So he's been encouraging them with the thought of the Holy Spirit,

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 how he will come and comfort them and lead them,

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 and even saying it's better for you than for me to go away,

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 and for the Father to send the Spirit.

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 And he's contemplating heavily the events of the cross.

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 And farewell prayers are very common in Hebrew culture.

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 And it sounds like the prayer of Moses in Deuteronomy as he's praying to God

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 before he's departs from this world.

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 And I've been giving you just sort of a rough outline of the whole chapter every week

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 just so you can go back.

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 But it's been traditionally broken up in about three different ways.

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 But if you look at verses 1 through 5,

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 you see that Jesus more or less is praying for himself.

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 And the focus of that is his Father's glory,

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 and then in return, his own glory.

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 Secondly, as we looked at last week, verses 6 through 19,

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 Jesus is specifically praying for his disciples, the apostles,

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 the ones he was about to just leave behind.

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 And he really just prays for their mission and their protection,

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 their preservation.

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 That they would remain steadfast.

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 And then today, we're going to look at the last part of it.

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 And I just find this part so humbling,

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 that Jesus prays in verses 20 through 26 for future believers,

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 which include us.

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 That's me and you.

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 And I've often given the thought of,

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 I know there are many people in your life that when they pray around you,

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 or when they pray for you,

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 you just feel like you could just face anything because of the depth of that person

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 or the relationship that person has with the Father.

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 And you feel like you could just go out and take on the world after a certain person just intercedes for you.

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 But how much more, I think, you know, that Christ himself, if he prayed for us, if he interceded for us.

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 But that is the reality.

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 He is praying for us.

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 And he says, if you look at verse 20, here's sort of our context.

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 I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.

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 So this is us.

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 So with that, let's just go ahead and read verses 20 through 26.

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 Praying to the Father, he says,

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 I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

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 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,

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 that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

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 The glory that you have given me, I have given to them,

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 that they may be one, even as we are one.

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 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one,

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 so that the world may know that you have sent me and loved me, even as you love me.

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 Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me may be with me where I am,

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 to see my glory that you have given me,

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 because you love me before the foundation of the world.

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 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you,

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 and these know that you have sent me.

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 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known,

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 that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Father, I just want to take a minute to just say thank you for your grace,

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 and thank you for the chance to gather with your people this morning.

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 Lord, I just pray that you would work in and through me,

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 knowing that there is nothing of value I can bring to the table this morning,

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 only what you convey through your word and by your spirit to our hearts and our minds.

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 So Lord, just please help us in this time.

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 May we just walk away from this place changed,

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 built up, encouraged, challenged.

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 And I just pray your word would have its desired effect on each individual this morning.

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 In Christ's name, amen.

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 So, does that not sort of wow you that Jesus is now not just praying for his disciples,

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 then he turns and he's like, I'm praying for them,

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 those who will believe in their word,

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 knowing that the apostles were going to go out,

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 and they were going to preach the gospel,

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 and the church was going to conquer, really.

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 The church was going to advance.

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 It says early on in Acts that the church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching.

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 Right?

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 So they were, in many ways, how God started the church.

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 Kickstarted, I'd almost said, but not really kickstarted.

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 Not the way you want to phrase that.

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 But it's a confirmation for us to know that our faith is founded on the gospel that the apostles taught.

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 And they learned it, as we know, from the Lord himself.

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 But just before we get back into this,

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 I just want to emphasize that this is called, again, the high priestly prayer of Christ.

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 And it's because he fulfills one of the roles in our lives that we desperately, desperately need.

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 As sinners that are unclean, guilty, and unholy,

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 we need someone to stand in the gap for us,

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 for someone to intercede for us to a holy and righteous God.

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 If any of us, on our own accord, by ourselves,

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 tried to enter into the holy presence of God,

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 we would all be just consumed.

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 We cannot stand before God.

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 So Christ, as I spoke of last week,

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 he became the final sacrifice for our sins.

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 But he also gave us his righteousness to stand clean before God

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 and now intercedes for us as our great, eternal, sympathetic high priest.

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 Amazing.

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 We are in all need of that.

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 I've only been to court a few times in my life.

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 And a few years ago, I went to traffic court to battle a,

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 how do you say this all respectfully,

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 highest respect for law enforcement,

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 but a piece of junk ticket that I got.

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 And needless to say, I represented myself.

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 Like I was my own lawyer.

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 I was just like, this is my desk.

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 That's my jug of water.

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 I can, you know, I want to speak into the judge.

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 Got the cross examined, the witness kind of thing.

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 So, but I mean, needless to say,

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 I took the cops at the cleaners.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Legally, I knew that I was justified.

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 The law justified me.

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 Like I had not broken the law.

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 And I could prove that.

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 And he could not prove that I didn't.

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 But I'm just telling you that I don't have that confidence at all to enter into the courtroom of the Most High.

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 I have zero confidence.

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 Negative confidence.

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 Very confident that I would be condemned apart from our advocate, Jesus Christ, the righteous.

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 You're in desperate need of someone to stand in the gap and to intercede for you.

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 So Christ pleads his sacrifice.

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 He pleads mercy.

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 And we are given it.

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 And I just find it astonishing that, I mean, think about what is in front of Jesus at this moment.

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 Just how terrifying that would be.

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 Not just the physical pain, but the spiritual torture he was about to endure.

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 Anytime your face is something like that, it's usually just a prayer of like, God help me.

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 God help me.

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 Please help me.

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 And I find it amazing that more than two-thirds of this prayer is devoted to praying for other people.

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 He's not praying for himself as much.

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 And so he's interceding for you and for I, as we see like in our text today.

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 There's not many places for you to turn today outside of John 17.

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 I've tried to cut down the turning, but I want you to look at Isaiah 53.

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 So hold your hand in John 17.

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 But it was prophesied about hundreds of years before Christ came that he would have this ministry of intercession for his people.

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 Isaiah 53.

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 And if you just look at a little part of it, look at verse 11.

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 And this is talking about Jesus.

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 It's talking about the suffering servant who would come.

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 And see if you can pick up on the intercessory work of Christ in these verses.

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 It says,

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 Out of the anguish of his soul, he shall see and be satisfied.

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 By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous.

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 And he shall bear their iniquities.

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 That's what I just mentioned a minute ago.

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 Therefore, I will divide him a portion with the many.

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 And he shall divide the spoil with the strong.

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 Because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors.

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 Yet, he bore the sin of many and makes intercession for the transgressors.

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 That's what we have.

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 We have a great eternal high priest making intercession for us.

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 And before we start unpacking the text, I just thought it would be good to reread this short but very profound quote that Robert Murray McShane shared in the 1800s on a sermon from John 17.

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 He says,

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 And that's kind of like how I want you to think as we walk through this text.

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 But there's only two real big things that we want to hit on as we walk through what we just saw in John 17.

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 First off, number one, we see that Jesus is praying for the true unity among believers.

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 He's praying for the true unity among believers.

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 It stands out all over, but just look at verse 21.

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 He says, he's praying that they may all be one.

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 And this idea of oneness, togetherness, not split up, not, you know, divided.

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 And so, have you ever heard, I used to kind of talk this way in my earlier Christian life.

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 And like many people, I think I meant well, but I also was just very ignorant about what I was saying.

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 And most of my earlier Christian life can be characterized by ignorance a lot.

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 But it goes something like this.

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 You've heard people kind of say this.

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 College students say this a lot.

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 Christians just seem so divided.

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 We're so mad at each other all the time.

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 We're so, why do not, why do not denominations exist?

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 Why, why are we just angry with each other?

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 Why can't we just lay aside all our doctrinal differences and just be friends?

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 Jesus is the main thing, right?

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 Like, he's really the main thing, so why can't we all just get along?

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 We need to do something to create some unity, right?

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 You ever heard that kind of language?

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 And again, again, usually well-intentioned and usually well-meant.

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 Not always, but most of the time.

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 And it's a good sentiment, but again, just misguided.

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 And what I want to propose to you today is often people want to create unity,

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 which is really a false unity that comes at the expense of truth

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 and comes at the expense of sound doctrine.

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 And so two questions that I think will be good for us to examine our hearts

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 as well as just people that we engage with in the church.

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 What are the first things that people talk about when they're asked about their church?

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 You ever thought about that?

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 We've met some people in our neighborhood and some great, great people in our neighborhood.

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 But one gentleman that I met, though, I do believe he's a brother,

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 but I asked him about his church, and he just kind of went on about how great it was

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 because of all the programs and kids' ministries and how friendly the environment was.

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 And in the span of about ten minutes, just said nothing about Jesus.

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 It said nothing about the Word of God.

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 And then secondly, this is a really sort of like litmus test, if you would.

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 What is the gathering component of a local church?

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 What is the gathering component?

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 Often in contemporary evangelicalism, there are local churches that have a large range of gathering components.

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 They have an age demographic.

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 So teenagers, singles, young adults, whatever you want to say, elderly people.

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 That's like a certain age group.

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 They have an affinity demographic.

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 You know, again, married, single, college students.

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 That's a huge demographic.

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 Even just things like richer and upper class.

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 I know some people that would not dare enter into a building that looked like it wasn't at least a million dollars

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 because that's just their style.

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 It's like they want to.

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 I know people like that.

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 They feel like they have to stoop to go to a place like that.

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 So there's that.

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 There's this music demographic.

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 If you'll say, like, how cool a band is or how contemporary a service is or how traditional a service is,

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 and that's the gathering component.

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 I go there because I like the music there.

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 The end.

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 Then there's a...

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 This one's huge.

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 I would probably say this is probably the biggest one.

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 A program demographic.

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 We have a children's ministry, a youth ministry, a small groups ministry, a choir, a drama team.

00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:15.740
 You just got to find your place to plug in.

00:18:15.840 --> 00:18:19.240
 We have more outlets than the place over there for you to plug in.

00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:20.819
 So come here.

00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:24.980
 Really, there's a facilities demographic.

00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:25.759
 Our building.

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:31.480
 Everything that we have that really offers comfortable, quote, worship environments.

00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:36.700
 So there's even people, churches, that they send out polls.

00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:37.319
 I've seen them.

00:18:37.420 --> 00:18:42.200
 I've actually just thrown them away and just said, dude, you don't need to be doing this, and just, like, threw it behind my back.

00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:49.539
 But there are people that will even take polls to see what it would take for people to come to their church.

00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:53.880
 Like, what do we have to do to get you to come kind of thing?

00:18:53.880 --> 00:19:02.960
 And I heard on a local Christian radio station a few weeks ago, which isn't a terrible station, all in all.

00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:10.340
 But for 20 minutes, I listened to this, and I just wanted to jump to the radio and scream.

00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:17.640
 But the question that they were having callers come in and just call about answer was, how do you do church?

00:19:18.380 --> 00:19:19.480
 Like, that was, like, the question.

00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:30.380
 And in 20 minutes, I heard every preference under the sun, but not once was it like, what does Christ want for the church?

00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:33.079
 It was all those things.

00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:45.579
 But the problem with focusing on demographics is, as the point of unity, is when that component is removed, the church falls apart.

00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:47.620
 Have you all ever noticed that?

00:19:47.619 --> 00:19:54.639
 I was in charge of a part of a really big church that split early in my Christian life.

00:19:54.679 --> 00:19:58.279
 And I could write a book on what I learned just through that experience.

00:19:59.439 --> 00:20:05.059
 But they had an immense children's ministry, huge children's ministry.

00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:11.539
 I mean, thousands and thousands of dollars, children's ministry, and all these higher staff people.

00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:17.200
 And it got to a point where they had to, they really felt like they needed to shut her down.

00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:21.240
 I can't tell you how many people just went, just left because of that.

00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:27.240
 As we would say, like, a golden calf inside the church, a certain component.

00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:36.339
 Or, again, I had people used to tell me, Clay, this is before I was married.

00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:41.759
 Clay, why don't you go to a big, big, big church that has a ton of singles in it, then you can find a wife there.

00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:43.220
 And I'm like, no thanks.

00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:46.120
 God will bring the wife to me.

00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:46.640
 And he did.

00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:54.620
 So, but I mean, like, yeah, like, go focus somewhere where there's a bunch of singles, or there's just a lot of people who look just like you.

00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:56.600
 This is such bull.

00:20:56.599 --> 00:21:01.099
 And it's heartbreaking.

00:21:02.159 --> 00:21:03.119
 And here's why.

00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:08.259
 Like, look, if your gathering component is anything other than Christ, it won't stand.

00:21:08.439 --> 00:21:11.319
 And, like, here's some of the questions I want you to think.

00:21:11.899 --> 00:21:21.599
 Isn't it sad that the church of Christ that he bought with his own blood usually isn't the main gathering component of why many churches get together?

00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:27.619
 That his life, his death, and his resurrection are not the central event that those people are coming around.

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:34.759
 It doesn't bother you that when it comes to doing church, everyone's opinions matter.

00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:42.139
 But Christ, even though the church belongs to him and he is the head of the church, his opinion doesn't matter.

00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:49.339
 Isn't it heartbreaking that thousands have flocked to local churches, even this morning,

00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:59.199
 to get a quick fix, therapeutic, sentimental, pop psychology talk that has nothing to do with Christ or his word?

00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:04.679
 We just read that in the previous verses, Christ prayed,

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.779
 sanctify them in your truth.

00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:09.059
 Your word is truth.

00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:12.839
 He removed the instrument of sanctification.

00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:16.019
 You're on a bad course.

00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:25.019
 And isn't it sad that the first thing that people think of is usually a pastor personality or a program

00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:28.299
 that makes their life more enhanced,

00:22:28.619 --> 00:22:32.019
 instead of really focusing on, like, the Son of God?

00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:35.879
 Those are tragic things.

00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:38.019
 And we don't need to meet these with...

00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:43.759
 I'm more apt to be more hostile towards a pastor who kind of does this and just a congregate,

00:22:43.879 --> 00:22:50.720
 but show mercy to people and love them and tell them, like, look, Jesus is the reason that we gather,

00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:55.519
 to worship him, to be changed by the word of God.

00:22:56.639 --> 00:22:59.500
 And if that's not there, the church really won't stand.

00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:02.720
 I've even seen, you know, churches will...

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:05.960
 The main component will be a certain ethnic group.

00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:11.900
 Or the main component will be even a certain theological persuasion,

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:17.480
 that they think everybody else is not right there, is not where they are, and they can't fellowship with them.

00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:18.920
 It's...

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.900
 No.

00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:24.640
 Jesus and the gospel are the main gathering components.

00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:30.940
 But I shudder to think, like, if the Christ that we see in Revelation in the earlier chapters,

00:23:31.100 --> 00:23:33.920
 the Christ that speaks to the seven churches,

00:23:34.560 --> 00:23:39.920
 I would just tremble to hear what he would say to us as he comes at them and he says,

00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:43.240
 this I notice about you,

00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:46.800
 and I have this against you.

00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:47.880
 Repent.

00:23:48.860 --> 00:23:49.140
 Right?

00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:52.960
 It would tremble, make me tremble to think about

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:56.799
 what he would say to the American Western church today.

00:23:57.779 --> 00:24:00.680
 We know that Scripture and history teaches us

00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:04.720
 that unity itself is beyond human ability or innovation.

00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:06.759
 We cannot do it.

00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:07.660
 We stink at it.

00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:12.519
 Even the greatest empires in the world that lasted for hundreds and hundreds of years,

00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:13.779
 they all eventually just fall.

00:24:14.380 --> 00:24:15.240
 They can't survive.

00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:18.660
 Because human unity can't winter.

00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:19.600
 They can't make it.

00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:23.459
 And so, we want to focus on our text.

00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:26.119
 If you look at verses 21 and 22,

00:24:27.219 --> 00:24:28.419
 23,

00:24:29.939 --> 00:24:32.939
 is that what is the source of true unity?

00:24:33.159 --> 00:24:33.359
 All right?

00:24:33.419 --> 00:24:34.899
 We can see that in our text.

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:37.319
 What we see in our text,

00:24:39.219 --> 00:24:40.179
 in verse 21,

00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:41.600
 that they may all be one,

00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:43.900
 just as you, Father, are in me,

00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.480
 and I in you,

00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:47.700
 that they may all be in us.

00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:49.620
 Verse 22,

00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:51.120
 the glory that you have given me,

00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:52.019
 I've given to them,

00:24:52.620 --> 00:24:53.940
 that they may be one,

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.720
 even as you and I are one.

00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:58.580
 See all the emphasis here?

00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:00.100
 To pick up on this,

00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:03.279
 what we see in our text

00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:05.940
 for the basis of the unity of the church

00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:07.640
 is not something that we create.

00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:10.360
 It's not of human origin.

00:25:10.540 --> 00:25:12.680
 It's within the nature of God himself.

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.020
 You see that?

00:25:14.780 --> 00:25:16.520
 Unity of all believers

00:25:16.520 --> 00:25:18.100
 is grounded in the love

00:25:18.100 --> 00:25:20.140
 and oneness that exists

00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:21.120
 within the Godhead.

00:25:22.280 --> 00:25:23.600
 It is the overflow

00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:24.880
 of the relations

00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:25.680
 between the Father,

00:25:25.880 --> 00:25:26.160
 Son,

00:25:26.800 --> 00:25:27.560
 and Holy Spirit.

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.320
 They are,

00:25:29.780 --> 00:25:30.920
 if we study the Trinity,

00:25:31.040 --> 00:25:31.759
 you will see that

00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:33.300
 the Trinity is united

00:25:33.300 --> 00:25:34.520
 in their motive.

00:25:35.520 --> 00:25:36.360
 In all they do,

00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:37.559
 they're devoted

00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:39.599
 to the glory of the Father.

00:25:39.719 --> 00:25:40.419
 Christ is devoted

00:25:40.419 --> 00:25:41.199
 to the glory of the Father.

00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:43.079
 Read the first five verses

00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:43.759
 of this prayer,

00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.479
 you'll see that.

00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:48.119
 So they are together

00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:49.619
 on the motive.

00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.879
 But then also the mission.

00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:52.199
 You ever notice that?

00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:54.339
 The Trinity is dedicated fully

00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:56.079
 to the mission of redemption

00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:58.079
 in a united way.

00:25:59.139 --> 00:26:00.699
 So many observations

00:26:00.699 --> 00:26:01.679
 that could be made.

00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:04.220
 But the spiritual unity

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:06.340
 comes from that reality

00:26:06.340 --> 00:26:07.940
 of God's redemptive lives

00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:08.640
 and our work.

00:26:09.320 --> 00:26:10.039
 So the unity

00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:11.460
 that we should be considering

00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:13.680
 is not a physical outward unity,

00:26:13.840 --> 00:26:15.100
 but a spiritual unity

00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:17.240
 founded in the Godhead.

00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:18.620
 All right,

00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:19.900
 so let's just unpack that

00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:21.299
 a little bit.

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:23.960
 Turn to Ephesians 4.

00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:26.400
 I'm the second place

00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.039
 to turn today,

00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:27.960
 but...

00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.799
 And I'm going to read

00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:36.000
 just six verses here,

00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:36.579
 but Paul,

00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:38.200
 writing to the church

00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:38.620
 at Ephesus,

00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.660
 he's talking about

00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:40.740
 spiritual unity

00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.480
 within the church.

00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:43.900
 And let's just make

00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:44.700
 two observations

00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:46.660
 particularly from this.

00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:52.480
 verse 1,

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:53.960
 chapter 4.

00:26:55.320 --> 00:26:55.720
 He says,

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.340
 I therefore,

00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:57.660
 a prisoner of the Lord,

00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:59.000
 urge you to walk

00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.900
 in a manner worthy

00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:00.779
 of the calling

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:02.580
 to which you have been called

00:27:02.580 --> 00:27:04.740
 with all humility

00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.640
 and gentleness,

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.779
 with patience,

00:27:07.860 --> 00:27:09.360
 bearing one another in love.

00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:10.980
 You ever notice

00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:12.040
 that when a church divides

00:27:12.040 --> 00:27:12.660
 and fights

00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:13.779
 that those are the things

00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:14.360
 that are absent,

00:27:14.620 --> 00:27:15.519
 those things that we just read?

00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:18.360
 He says,

00:27:18.580 --> 00:27:19.779
 eager to maintain

00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:21.320
 the unity of the Spirit.

00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:23.100
 So there's a person

00:27:23.100 --> 00:27:23.580
 of the Trinity,

00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:24.800
 the unity of the Spirit

00:27:24.800 --> 00:27:25.940
 and the bond of peace.

00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:28.300
 There is one body

00:27:28.300 --> 00:27:29.240
 and one Spirit,

00:27:30.080 --> 00:27:31.180
 just as you were called

00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:32.500
 to one hope

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:34.560
 that belongs to your call.

00:27:35.300 --> 00:27:36.100
 One Lord,

00:27:36.320 --> 00:27:36.900
 there's Christ.

00:27:37.820 --> 00:27:38.620
 One faith,

00:27:38.840 --> 00:27:39.540
 one baptism,

00:27:40.300 --> 00:27:41.180
 and one God

00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:42.620
 and Father of all

00:27:42.620 --> 00:27:44.440
 who is over all

00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:45.360
 and through all

00:27:45.360 --> 00:27:46.560
 and in all.

00:27:47.600 --> 00:27:48.540
 So you see

00:27:48.540 --> 00:27:49.519
 in this text

00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:50.340
 at least a couple

00:27:50.340 --> 00:27:50.940
 of things.

00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.600
 You see the unity

00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:53.200
 of the Trinity

00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:54.660
 in their work,

00:27:55.420 --> 00:27:56.140
 but here's a couple

00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:56.640
 of things,

00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:58.279
 two observations.

00:27:59.380 --> 00:28:00.960
 Unity is completely

00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:02.440
 a spiritual matter,

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.580
 not physical.

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.300
 You see that?

00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.960
 Our passage,

00:28:07.820 --> 00:28:08.279
 indeed,

00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:09.279
 the rest of Scripture

00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.680
 doesn't at all

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.519
 define unity

00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.279
 as a physical,

00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.200
 fluctuating,

00:28:14.040 --> 00:28:15.180
 visible unity,

00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:16.160
 of outward unity

00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:16.940
 of the church.

00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.620
 People just think

00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:19.160
 if we just got

00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.960
 all our money together

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.940
 and built one huge,

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.519
 huge building

00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.080
 that could hold,

00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:22.400
 you know,

00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:23.580
 50,000 people,

00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.160
 we would be unified.

00:28:25.560 --> 00:28:26.920
 We would not be unified.

00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:28.860
 And we all could gather

00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:29.680
 under one roof.

00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:31.400
 the physical,

00:28:31.600 --> 00:28:31.840
 no.

00:28:32.840 --> 00:28:33.840
 Spiritual unity

00:28:33.840 --> 00:28:34.860
 comes to us

00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:36.120
 from that reality

00:28:36.120 --> 00:28:38.580
 of the Godhead

00:28:38.580 --> 00:28:40.600
 and His redemptive work

00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:41.420
 in our souls.

00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:43.080
 So,

00:28:43.360 --> 00:28:45.019
 it's not a focus

00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:46.380
 on a visible unity,

00:28:46.560 --> 00:28:47.060
 but a focus

00:28:47.060 --> 00:28:48.600
 on invisible unity

00:28:48.600 --> 00:28:49.440
 that exists.

00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.460
 And then secondly,

00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:53.259
 we see in this text

00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:53.800
 that unity

00:28:53.800 --> 00:28:56.360
 is maintained

00:28:56.360 --> 00:28:57.279
 or preserved

00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.519
 and not created.

00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.000
 You see that

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.880
 in verse 3?

00:29:02.060 --> 00:29:03.500
 We don't create unity.

00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.039
 Why?

00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:05.740
 Because it already exists

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:07.060
 in the heart

00:29:07.060 --> 00:29:07.880
 of believers,

00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:10.060
 of all believers.

00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:10.220
 believers.

00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:11.259
 So,

00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:11.960
 that's why we're called

00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:13.079
 to maintain it,

00:29:13.179 --> 00:29:13.679
 preserve it,

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.200
 keep it,

00:29:14.639 --> 00:29:15.399
 because we already

00:29:15.399 --> 00:29:16.639
 have it in Christ.

00:29:18.159 --> 00:29:18.679
 So,

00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:19.879
 one of my greatest,

00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:20.419
 I guess,

00:29:21.159 --> 00:29:22.339
 things that I've seen

00:29:22.339 --> 00:29:23.059
 that I think

00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:23.940
 demonstrate this

00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:24.720
 over the years

00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:27.039
 is a conference

00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:27.759
 that I've gone to

00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:28.839
 about four times

00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:30.399
 in the last eight years.

00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:31.440
 It's called

00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:32.899
 Together for the Gospel.

00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:34.220
 And it's in

00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:34.960
 Louisville, Kentucky.

00:29:36.119 --> 00:29:37.359
 And you have

00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:39.960
 guys from

00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:41.000
 from mainly

00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:41.940
 three different

00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:43.920
 denominational backgrounds.

00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:45.819
 You have guys

00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:47.400
 like Mark Dever,

00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:49.840
 Al Muller,

00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:50.559
 John Piper,

00:29:51.100 --> 00:29:51.900
 David Platt,

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:52.600
 who are all

00:29:52.600 --> 00:29:53.600
 Southern Baptists.

00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:55.200
 And then they have

00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:56.039
 their best buddies

00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:57.299
 who are really

00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:58.380
 PCA guys,

00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.340
 Presbyterian Church.

00:29:59.519 --> 00:29:59.660
 So,

00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.680
 you have like

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.319
 Ligon Duncan

00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:03.460
 and R.C. Spurl,

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.500
 who just passed away,

00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:04.759
 but

00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:07.299
 Kevin DeYoung.

00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:08.319
 So,

00:30:08.379 --> 00:30:08.819
 you have these

00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:09.420
 Baptists and

00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:10.099
 Presbyterians

00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:10.799
 getting together.

00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:12.240
 Then you even

00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:12.779
 have a few

00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.500
 charismatic

00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:15.059
 biblical

00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:16.140
 gospel guys

00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:16.680
 in that group

00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:17.140
 as well.

00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:18.339
 And so,

00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:19.819
 and they joke

00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:20.279
 about it.

00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.079
 They,

00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:23.559
 they're like,

00:30:23.619 --> 00:30:23.759
 no,

00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:24.379
 we have some

00:30:24.379 --> 00:30:25.420
 serious differences

00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:26.440
 on church

00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:26.940
 government,

00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:28.559
 baptism,

00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:30.460
 like,

00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:30.639
 oh,

00:30:30.679 --> 00:30:31.179
 we'll debate

00:30:31.179 --> 00:30:31.579
 each other

00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:32.099
 on those things.

00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:32.440
 They have to

00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:32.859
 just kind of

00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:33.339
 joke around

00:30:33.339 --> 00:30:33.960
 and ticket each

00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:34.399
 other about

00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:34.980
 those particular

00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.940
 topics at times.

00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:37.919
 But here's the deal,

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.919
 they're best friends

00:30:38.919 --> 00:30:39.460
 with each other.

00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:41.099
 But they love

00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:41.599
 each other.

00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:42.720
 And they,

00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:43.879
 they talk to each

00:30:43.879 --> 00:30:44.460
 other weekly

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.339
 on the phone.

00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:46.480
 You know,

00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:46.980
 you have a guy

00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:47.759
 like Matt Chandler

00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:48.579
 talking to a guy

00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:49.460
 like John MacArthur

00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.339
 on the telephone.

00:30:51.639 --> 00:30:52.659
 Just encouraging

00:30:52.659 --> 00:30:53.119
 and praying

00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:53.759
 for one another.

00:30:54.679 --> 00:30:55.359
 And it's because

00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:55.839
 it was saying,

00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:56.059
 like,

00:30:56.099 --> 00:30:56.259
 look,

00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:57.159
 we are united

00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:58.620
 in Christ

00:30:58.620 --> 00:30:59.519
 and we are united

00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.560
 in the gospel.

00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:01.660
 And that,

00:31:01.660 --> 00:31:01.960
 that,

00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.940
 that goes over

00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:04.980
 denominational lines.

00:31:06.360 --> 00:31:07.140
 And so,

00:31:07.320 --> 00:31:08.680
 don't think of

00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:09.320
 denominations

00:31:09.320 --> 00:31:10.000
 as necessarily

00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:10.860
 a bad thing.

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.600
 It actually means

00:31:11.600 --> 00:31:12.060
 that people have

00:31:12.060 --> 00:31:12.920
 convictions about

00:31:12.920 --> 00:31:13.340
 the Bible.

00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:15.000
 But don't allow

00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:16.620
 it to divide

00:31:16.620 --> 00:31:17.140
 to the point

00:31:17.140 --> 00:31:17.820
 of this person

00:31:17.820 --> 00:31:18.640
 does know Jesus,

00:31:18.820 --> 00:31:19.180
 does believe

00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:19.640
 the gospel,

00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:20.759
 and I'm not

00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:21.160
 their brother,

00:31:21.300 --> 00:31:21.580
 and I'm not

00:31:21.580 --> 00:31:22.000
 their sister

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.660
 because they go

00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:23.680
 to this location.

00:31:24.580 --> 00:31:25.140
 It is a

00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:26.320
 spiritual unity

00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:27.859
 that exists.

00:31:29.419 --> 00:31:29.859
 Then,

00:31:29.939 --> 00:31:30.839
 another observation,

00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:31.799
 this is the last one,

00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:32.500
 under this idea

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:33.559
 of unity,

00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.240
 true unity.

00:31:35.439 --> 00:31:36.079
 You see it

00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:37.019
 at the second part

00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:37.879
 of verse 21

00:31:37.879 --> 00:31:39.659
 and the second part

00:31:39.659 --> 00:31:40.460
 of verse 23.

00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:43.059
 Why is he praying

00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:43.480
 for unity?

00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:44.799
 So that the world

00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:45.460
 may believe

00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:46.379
 that you have sent me.

00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:48.559
 In verse 23,

00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:49.279
 so that the world

00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:49.939
 may know

00:31:49.939 --> 00:31:50.899
 that you have sent me

00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:51.659
 and love them

00:31:51.659 --> 00:31:53.399
 even as you love me.

00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:55.900
 So true unity

00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:57.420
 is evangelistic

00:31:57.420 --> 00:31:59.019
 in its nature.

00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:00.560
 Sin causes

00:32:00.560 --> 00:32:01.759
 division and hatred.

00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:03.920
 The fallen world

00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:05.120
 has plenty of that.

00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:06.519
 But the church

00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.100
 is meant to be

00:32:07.100 --> 00:32:07.940
 the greatest ways

00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:08.500
 that we display

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.100
 our love

00:32:09.100 --> 00:32:10.160
 or the love of God

00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.740
 for the world

00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:11.600
 by being united

00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:13.140
 as one,

00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:13.960
 being perfectly

00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:15.400
 one.

00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.740
 Jesus is saying

00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:19.540
 that as believers

00:32:19.540 --> 00:32:20.680
 we have all things

00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:21.280
 in common.

00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:21.900
 And when the world

00:32:21.900 --> 00:32:22.620
 sees this,

00:32:23.060 --> 00:32:23.700
 it's attractive

00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:25.300
 because they can't

00:32:25.300 --> 00:32:26.080
 create it.

00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:27.759
 They can't maintain it.

00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:28.580
 They don't have it.

00:32:29.040 --> 00:32:29.759
 And so when they look

00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.980
 at the church,

00:32:31.100 --> 00:32:31.519
 they're to see

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.860
 the gospel made visible.

00:32:33.540 --> 00:32:34.200
 They're to see

00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:36.620
 what things were meant

00:32:36.620 --> 00:32:37.519
 to be like

00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:39.120
 in human relationships

00:32:39.120 --> 00:32:40.019
 before the fall.

00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:41.680
 They see that

00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:42.220
 and it's supposed

00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:43.180
 to be attractive

00:32:43.180 --> 00:32:44.480
 to the outside world.

00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:45.980
 Jesus says

00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:46.360
 that you are

00:32:46.360 --> 00:32:47.200
 the light of the world.

00:32:47.320 --> 00:32:48.019
 We are the city

00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:49.040
 that is set on the hill

00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:51.220
 to be a shining example

00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:52.399
 of what God

00:32:52.399 --> 00:32:53.039
 can do.

00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.279
 And again,

00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:56.119
 in the church,

00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:57.980
 as believers,

00:32:58.180 --> 00:32:59.279
 we have all things

00:32:59.279 --> 00:32:59.859
 in common.

00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:01.200
 Many of you

00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:02.119
 could give testimony

00:33:02.119 --> 00:33:02.680
 to this,

00:33:03.879 --> 00:33:04.559
 that Christ

00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.420
 can bring together

00:33:05.420 --> 00:33:06.500
 the most different,

00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:07.700
 odd type of people

00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.019
 ever.

00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:08.819
 He can bring

00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:10.019
 people that have

00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:11.319
 nothing in common,

00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:11.980
 at least in our

00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:12.579
 earthly sense,

00:33:12.659 --> 00:33:12.980
 together.

00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:13.099
 together.

00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:15.640
 And I love that.

00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:17.339
 One of my,

00:33:18.620 --> 00:33:19.620
 I was definitely

00:33:19.620 --> 00:33:20.559
 a lot more

00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:22.240
 of a country

00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:23.079
 good old boy

00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:24.420
 in my high school

00:33:24.420 --> 00:33:25.140
 college years

00:33:25.140 --> 00:33:25.620
 for sure.

00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:27.960
 And when I first

00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.720
 became a Christian,

00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:31.799
 I went on a

00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:32.440
 mission trip

00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:33.180
 to Puerto Rico

00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:34.640
 and a kid

00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:35.279
 there recently,

00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:35.860
 I think he was

00:33:35.860 --> 00:33:36.440
 like 18,

00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:36.940
 came to know

00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:37.420
 the Lord

00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:39.000
 named Joe.

00:33:39.819 --> 00:33:40.480
 He was more

00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:41.460
 like your gothic

00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:42.980
 punk rocker,

00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:44.519
 like had long hair,

00:33:44.600 --> 00:33:44.900
 but like,

00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:45.440
 like that

00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:45.860
 when he played

00:33:45.860 --> 00:33:46.360
 the drums.

00:33:46.600 --> 00:33:47.160
 And we had

00:33:47.160 --> 00:33:48.299
 like zero in common.

00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:49.640
 And he became

00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:50.160
 one of my

00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:51.319
 closest little buddies.

00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.019
 Like we were

00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:53.279
 so tight

00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:53.940
 because we had

00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:55.059
 Jesus in common

00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:55.579
 and that's all

00:33:55.579 --> 00:33:56.380
 we talked about

00:33:56.380 --> 00:33:56.960
 was Jesus.

00:33:58.519 --> 00:33:59.400
 Nothing in common

00:33:59.400 --> 00:33:59.940
 in the natural.

00:34:01.259 --> 00:34:02.319
 I have many

00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:02.960
 other friends

00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.980
 that are scattered

00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:04.700
 over the globe.

00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:05.279
 I'm sure many

00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:05.720
 of you do.

00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:06.700
 You just have

00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:07.840
 to bump into

00:34:07.840 --> 00:34:08.400
 somebody

00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:09.579
 who's another

00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:10.360
 believer somewhere

00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:11.400
 else in the world

00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:11.960
 and you're like

00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:13.720
 immediate connection.

00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:14.320
 This person

00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:15.059
 knows Jesus.

00:34:15.200 --> 00:34:15.920
 That spiritual

00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:17.220
 unity that I'm

00:34:17.220 --> 00:34:17.900
 talking about.

00:34:18.619 --> 00:34:19.460
 So don't think

00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:20.059
 of it in terms

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:21.059
 of the natural.

00:34:22.220 --> 00:34:22.940
 Please don't.

00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:24.920
 So that's

00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.700
 the first thing

00:34:25.700 --> 00:34:26.019
 that Jesus

00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:26.639
 prays for

00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:27.500
 is true unity

00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:29.180
 among believers.

00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:30.639
 And then

00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:31.019
 secondly

00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:31.900
 and lastly

00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:34.139
 Jesus prays

00:34:34.139 --> 00:34:35.599
 for the future

00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:36.180
 glory

00:34:36.180 --> 00:34:37.160
 of believers.

00:34:38.240 --> 00:34:38.920
 And I hope

00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:39.760
 you're encouraged

00:34:39.760 --> 00:34:40.360
 by this.

00:34:41.400 --> 00:34:42.380
 Verse 24

00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:43.900
 Father

00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.740
 I desire

00:34:44.740 --> 00:34:45.619
 that they

00:34:45.619 --> 00:34:46.360
 also whom

00:34:46.360 --> 00:34:46.619
 you have

00:34:46.619 --> 00:34:47.160
 given me

00:34:47.160 --> 00:34:48.240
 may be

00:34:48.240 --> 00:34:48.680
 with me

00:34:48.680 --> 00:34:49.099
 where I

00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:49.420
 am

00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:50.639
 to see

00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:51.320
 my glory

00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:51.780
 that you

00:34:51.780 --> 00:34:52.160
 have given

00:34:52.160 --> 00:34:52.480
 me

00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:53.039
 because you

00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:53.639
 love me

00:34:53.639 --> 00:34:54.860
 before the

00:34:54.860 --> 00:34:55.280
 foundation

00:34:55.280 --> 00:34:55.579
 of the

00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:55.900
 world.

00:34:57.340 --> 00:34:57.940
 So at the

00:34:57.940 --> 00:34:58.740
 outset of

00:34:58.740 --> 00:34:59.000
 Jesus'

00:34:59.160 --> 00:34:59.340
 prayer

00:34:59.340 --> 00:34:59.680
 if you look

00:34:59.680 --> 00:35:00.079
 back in

00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:00.400
 the first

00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:01.039
 five verses

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:02.559
 he's asking

00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:02.920
 that the

00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:03.380
 father would

00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:04.220
 restore him

00:35:04.220 --> 00:35:05.139
 to that

00:35:05.139 --> 00:35:05.780
 point of

00:35:05.780 --> 00:35:06.579
 glory that

00:35:06.579 --> 00:35:07.920
 he had

00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:08.400
 with the

00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:08.720
 father

00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:09.379
 before

00:35:09.379 --> 00:35:10.159
 creation.

00:35:10.959 --> 00:35:11.879
 He's asking

00:35:11.879 --> 00:35:12.419
 for that

00:35:12.419 --> 00:35:13.239
 intrinsic glory

00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:13.839
 that rightfully

00:35:13.839 --> 00:35:14.579
 belongs to

00:35:14.579 --> 00:35:15.019
 him as

00:35:15.019 --> 00:35:15.539
 the son

00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:16.519
 that's been

00:35:16.519 --> 00:35:17.059
 in a way

00:35:17.059 --> 00:35:18.579
 veiled while

00:35:18.579 --> 00:35:19.219
 he was here

00:35:19.219 --> 00:35:19.619
 on the

00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:19.959
 earth.

00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:21.759
 So he's

00:35:21.759 --> 00:35:22.319
 asking for

00:35:22.319 --> 00:35:22.739
 that but

00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:23.039
 then he

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:23.559
 throws in

00:35:23.559 --> 00:35:23.879
 there

00:35:23.879 --> 00:35:25.439
 verse five

00:35:25.439 --> 00:35:27.159
 where he

00:35:27.159 --> 00:35:28.480
 says glorify

00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:28.980
 me in your

00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:29.559
 own presence

00:35:29.559 --> 00:35:29.899
 with the

00:35:29.899 --> 00:35:30.339
 glory that

00:35:30.339 --> 00:35:30.679
 I had

00:35:30.679 --> 00:35:30.879
 with you

00:35:30.879 --> 00:35:31.299
 before the

00:35:31.299 --> 00:35:31.559
 world

00:35:31.559 --> 00:35:32.099
 existed.

00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:33.259
 All right

00:35:33.259 --> 00:35:35.219
 so here's

00:35:35.219 --> 00:35:36.079
 how we're

00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:36.239
 going to

00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:36.579
 do this.

00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:36.940
 I want you

00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:37.239
 just to

00:35:37.239 --> 00:35:37.619
 think.

00:35:38.579 --> 00:35:39.239
 I want you

00:35:39.239 --> 00:35:39.739
 to ponder

00:35:39.739 --> 00:35:40.179
 the most

00:35:40.179 --> 00:35:41.099
 beautiful sight

00:35:41.099 --> 00:35:41.539
 you've ever

00:35:41.539 --> 00:35:43.279
 seen or

00:35:43.279 --> 00:35:43.599
 the most

00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:44.440
 beautiful noise

00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:44.759
 you've ever

00:35:44.759 --> 00:35:45.079
 heard.

00:35:46.119 --> 00:35:46.799
 Just think

00:35:46.799 --> 00:35:47.339
 about what

00:35:47.339 --> 00:35:47.699
 that could

00:35:47.699 --> 00:35:47.980
 be.

00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:49.199
 It could

00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:49.480
 be a

00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:50.279
 sunset over

00:35:50.279 --> 00:35:50.860
 the ocean

00:35:50.860 --> 00:35:51.199
 or the

00:35:51.199 --> 00:35:51.579
 mountains,

00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:53.319
 a stunning

00:35:53.319 --> 00:35:53.960
 musical

00:35:53.960 --> 00:35:55.480
 concert or

00:35:55.480 --> 00:35:56.199
 a monumental

00:35:56.199 --> 00:35:56.759
 sporting

00:35:56.759 --> 00:35:57.279
 event.

00:35:59.099 --> 00:36:00.559
 And when

00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:00.940
 you get it

00:36:00.940 --> 00:36:01.159
 in your

00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:01.500
 head,

00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:02.779
 let's just

00:36:02.779 --> 00:36:03.219
 make two

00:36:03.219 --> 00:36:03.779
 observations

00:36:03.779 --> 00:36:04.539
 about that

00:36:04.539 --> 00:36:05.019
 event.

00:36:05.639 --> 00:36:05.960
 There's

00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:06.619
 usually two

00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:07.119
 things that

00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:07.460
 happen.

00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:08.920
 One,

00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:10.779
 something in

00:36:10.779 --> 00:36:11.699
 us long for

00:36:11.699 --> 00:36:12.380
 someone else

00:36:12.380 --> 00:36:12.900
 to be there

00:36:12.900 --> 00:36:13.679
 with us to

00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:14.739
 share that

00:36:14.739 --> 00:36:15.119
 event.

00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:16.799
 You ever

00:36:16.799 --> 00:36:17.380
 notice that?

00:36:18.139 --> 00:36:18.639
 We say,

00:36:18.799 --> 00:36:19.319
 wow, this is

00:36:19.319 --> 00:36:20.079
 so amazing,

00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:21.719
 so glorious,

00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:22.900
 so awesome.

00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:23.539
 I wish,

00:36:23.639 --> 00:36:23.940
 fill in the

00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:24.259
 blank,

00:36:24.860 --> 00:36:25.339
 so and so

00:36:25.339 --> 00:36:25.940
 is here with

00:36:25.940 --> 00:36:27.239
 me to see

00:36:27.239 --> 00:36:28.239
 this or to

00:36:28.239 --> 00:36:28.880
 hear this.

00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:30.920
 And especially

00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:31.519
 the people that

00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:32.079
 we love and

00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:32.699
 we're close

00:36:32.699 --> 00:36:33.059
 to, we

00:36:33.059 --> 00:36:33.860
 want that to

00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:34.319
 be the

00:36:34.319 --> 00:36:34.679
 case.

00:36:35.639 --> 00:36:35.960
 And I

00:36:35.960 --> 00:36:36.519
 believe that's

00:36:36.519 --> 00:36:36.920
 in a way

00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:37.380
 what Christ

00:36:37.380 --> 00:36:37.940
 is saying.

00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:38.480
 He wants

00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:39.019
 us to be

00:36:39.019 --> 00:36:40.139
 there to

00:36:40.139 --> 00:36:40.840
 behold his

00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:42.639
 glory that

00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:43.179
 he had with

00:36:43.179 --> 00:36:43.579
 the Father

00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:44.079
 before the

00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:45.119
 world existed.

00:36:46.739 --> 00:36:47.619
 So that's

00:36:47.619 --> 00:36:48.559
 amazing.

00:36:48.639 --> 00:36:48.920
 That's the

00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:49.380
 first thing

00:36:49.380 --> 00:36:49.739
 that sort of

00:36:49.739 --> 00:36:50.340
 comes to our

00:36:50.340 --> 00:36:52.039
 mind is the

00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:52.579
 longing for

00:36:52.579 --> 00:36:53.239
 someone else

00:36:53.239 --> 00:36:53.900
 to be there

00:36:53.900 --> 00:36:54.599
 to experience

00:36:54.599 --> 00:36:54.900
 what we're

00:36:54.900 --> 00:36:55.360
 experiencing.

00:36:55.360 --> 00:36:55.500
 thing.

00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:57.240
 Then secondly,

00:36:58.160 --> 00:36:58.980
 underneath that,

00:36:59.780 --> 00:37:01.160
 we don't just

00:37:01.160 --> 00:37:01.820
 want to behold

00:37:01.820 --> 00:37:03.620
 something magnificent

00:37:03.620 --> 00:37:04.800
 from a distance.

00:37:05.680 --> 00:37:06.500
 We don't want to

00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:08.500
 just see it far

00:37:08.500 --> 00:37:10.079
 off and just

00:37:10.079 --> 00:37:10.800
 stare at it.

00:37:11.660 --> 00:37:12.720
 We really want to

00:37:12.720 --> 00:37:13.260
 be in the middle

00:37:13.260 --> 00:37:13.660
 of it.

00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:14.240
 We want to

00:37:14.240 --> 00:37:15.180
 become a part

00:37:15.180 --> 00:37:15.420
 of it.

00:37:15.460 --> 00:37:15.660
 You ever

00:37:15.660 --> 00:37:16.200
 notice that?

00:37:17.260 --> 00:37:17.960
 I remember the

00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:21.300
 first time I was

00:37:21.300 --> 00:37:21.860
 with Jonathan

00:37:21.860 --> 00:37:22.740
 Laws, but Andy

00:37:22.740 --> 00:37:23.360
 Truett took the

00:37:23.360 --> 00:37:23.960
 same trip with

00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:24.180
 me.

00:37:24.740 --> 00:37:25.280
 But the first

00:37:25.280 --> 00:37:26.860
 time I ever

00:37:26.860 --> 00:37:27.200
 went to the

00:37:27.200 --> 00:37:27.940
 Scottish Highlands,

00:37:28.019 --> 00:37:28.460
 I was on a

00:37:28.460 --> 00:37:29.019
 bus, and when I

00:37:29.019 --> 00:37:29.420
 was looking out

00:37:29.420 --> 00:37:29.840
 the window, I was

00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:30.840
 like, this is

00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:31.200
 awesome.

00:37:31.800 --> 00:37:32.380
 I wanted to

00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:33.120
 dive through the

00:37:33.120 --> 00:37:33.860
 window, like drop

00:37:33.860 --> 00:37:34.960
 me off now and

00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:35.660
 let me get out

00:37:35.660 --> 00:37:36.200
 there and be a

00:37:36.200 --> 00:37:36.720
 part of that.

00:37:36.780 --> 00:37:37.519
 Let me dive in

00:37:37.519 --> 00:37:38.860
 that place.

00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:41.500
 I remember as a

00:37:41.500 --> 00:37:42.160
 little kid listening

00:37:42.160 --> 00:37:44.099
 to the Braves win

00:37:44.099 --> 00:37:44.820
 the World Series

00:37:44.820 --> 00:37:45.960
 on the radio on

00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:46.460
 my bed.

00:37:47.539 --> 00:37:48.079
 Braves won,

00:37:48.160 --> 00:37:48.599
 Braves won.

00:37:48.760 --> 00:37:50.960
 I was like,

00:37:51.079 --> 00:37:51.980
 dang, I wish I

00:37:51.980 --> 00:37:52.820
 was there to

00:37:52.820 --> 00:37:53.340
 let me be a

00:37:53.340 --> 00:37:54.559
 part of that

00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:56.680
 celebration, to

00:37:56.680 --> 00:37:57.360
 be in the

00:37:57.360 --> 00:37:58.400
 middle of that.

00:37:59.640 --> 00:38:00.940
 And so when we

00:38:00.940 --> 00:38:01.539
 see something

00:38:01.539 --> 00:38:02.960
 magnificent, we

00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:03.460
 just don't want to

00:38:03.460 --> 00:38:04.000
 look at it from a

00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:04.360
 distance.

00:38:04.900 --> 00:38:05.519
 We want to

00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:06.320
 become a part

00:38:06.320 --> 00:38:06.660
 of it.

00:38:07.820 --> 00:38:08.120
 C.S.

00:38:08.180 --> 00:38:09.059
 Lewis said this

00:38:09.059 --> 00:38:10.079
 about glory.

00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:10.700
 He said,

00:38:11.660 --> 00:38:13.380
 we do not

00:38:13.380 --> 00:38:14.260
 merely want to

00:38:14.260 --> 00:38:14.940
 see beauty,

00:38:15.579 --> 00:38:16.180
 though God

00:38:16.180 --> 00:38:17.039
 knows that is

00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:17.980
 bounty enough.

00:38:18.660 --> 00:38:19.220
 We want

00:38:19.220 --> 00:38:19.980
 something else

00:38:19.980 --> 00:38:21.079
 which can hardly

00:38:21.079 --> 00:38:22.000
 be put into

00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:22.460
 words.

00:38:22.460 --> 00:38:23.960
 we want to

00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:24.639
 be united

00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:25.519
 with the beauty

00:38:25.519 --> 00:38:26.179
 that we see,

00:38:26.679 --> 00:38:27.920
 to pass into

00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:29.400
 it, to receive

00:38:29.400 --> 00:38:29.840
 it into

00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:30.720
 ourselves, to

00:38:30.720 --> 00:38:31.280
 bathe in it,

00:38:31.300 --> 00:38:31.800
 and to become

00:38:31.800 --> 00:38:32.559
 a part of it.

00:38:33.320 --> 00:38:34.019
 And that's

00:38:34.019 --> 00:38:35.699
 what I believe

00:38:35.699 --> 00:38:37.500
 heaven will be

00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:38.980
 like forever

00:38:38.980 --> 00:38:39.800
 with God, to

00:38:39.800 --> 00:38:40.579
 behold the

00:38:40.579 --> 00:38:41.300
 Father and the

00:38:41.300 --> 00:38:41.920
 Son and all

00:38:41.920 --> 00:38:43.300
 their glory and

00:38:43.300 --> 00:38:43.679
 all their

00:38:43.679 --> 00:38:44.179
 majesty.

00:38:44.940 --> 00:38:45.760
 We'll become

00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:46.960
 there with it,

00:38:47.000 --> 00:38:47.639
 a part of it,

00:38:47.679 --> 00:38:48.059
 in it.

00:38:48.059 --> 00:38:49.059
 God's

00:38:49.059 --> 00:38:49.619
 love.

00:38:49.619 --> 00:38:50.000
 And Paul

00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:50.400
 wrote, I

00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:50.619
 mean, how

00:38:50.619 --> 00:38:51.039
 great is

00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:51.299
 this?

00:38:51.840 --> 00:38:52.239
 It's better

00:38:52.239 --> 00:38:52.659
 than anything

00:38:52.659 --> 00:38:53.099
 this world

00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:53.719
 has to offer.

00:38:53.860 --> 00:38:54.159
 It's greater

00:38:54.159 --> 00:38:54.559
 than anything

00:38:54.559 --> 00:38:54.920
 you can

00:38:54.920 --> 00:38:55.500
 imagine.

00:38:56.880 --> 00:38:57.619
 Paul said

00:38:57.619 --> 00:38:58.320
 in 1 Corinthians

00:38:58.320 --> 00:38:58.719
 2,

00:39:00.079 --> 00:39:01.139
 what no eye

00:39:01.139 --> 00:39:01.860
 has seen

00:39:01.860 --> 00:39:03.279
 nor ear

00:39:03.279 --> 00:39:04.039
 has heard

00:39:04.039 --> 00:39:05.599
 for the heart

00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:06.159
 of man

00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:06.900
 imagined

00:39:06.900 --> 00:39:08.500
 for what God

00:39:08.500 --> 00:39:09.079
 has prepared

00:39:09.079 --> 00:39:09.639
 for those

00:39:09.639 --> 00:39:10.000
 who love

00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:10.219
 him.

00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:11.940
 Just think

00:39:11.940 --> 00:39:12.480
 about that,

00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:13.360
 the immensity

00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:14.980
 of glory

00:39:14.980 --> 00:39:15.320
 that we

00:39:15.320 --> 00:39:15.640
 will get

00:39:15.640 --> 00:39:17.059
 to see

00:39:17.059 --> 00:39:17.940
 and we'll

00:39:17.940 --> 00:39:18.420
 be there

00:39:18.420 --> 00:39:18.900
 with all

00:39:18.900 --> 00:39:19.660
 the redeemed

00:39:19.660 --> 00:39:21.200
 throughout the

00:39:21.200 --> 00:39:21.640
 whole history

00:39:21.640 --> 00:39:22.059
 of the church

00:39:22.059 --> 00:39:22.599
 to take it

00:39:22.599 --> 00:39:24.120
 in and

00:39:24.120 --> 00:39:24.460
 we'll become

00:39:24.460 --> 00:39:24.940
 a part of

00:39:24.940 --> 00:39:25.120
 it.

00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:27.300
 Then another

00:39:27.300 --> 00:39:28.120
 observation that

00:39:28.120 --> 00:39:28.559
 we can make

00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:29.340
 is this means

00:39:29.340 --> 00:39:30.559
 we will have

00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:31.340
 unhindered

00:39:31.340 --> 00:39:31.860
 fellowship

00:39:31.860 --> 00:39:33.160
 with the

00:39:33.160 --> 00:39:33.620
 Godhead.

00:39:34.579 --> 00:39:35.440
 The sweetest

00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:36.059
 times of

00:39:36.059 --> 00:39:36.640
 fellowship that

00:39:36.640 --> 00:39:37.140
 you and I

00:39:37.140 --> 00:39:37.500
 have had on

00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:37.860
 this earth,

00:39:37.940 --> 00:39:38.320
 just think

00:39:38.320 --> 00:39:38.900
 about that

00:39:38.900 --> 00:39:39.340
 time.

00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:40.820
 It could be

00:39:40.820 --> 00:39:41.360
 in the middle

00:39:41.360 --> 00:39:42.079
 of anything

00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:42.720
 and you've

00:39:42.719 --> 00:39:43.039
 had these

00:39:43.039 --> 00:39:43.459
 wonderful

00:39:43.459 --> 00:39:43.959
 moments

00:39:43.959 --> 00:39:44.239
 with the

00:39:44.239 --> 00:39:44.539
 Father

00:39:44.539 --> 00:39:45.439
 where he

00:39:45.439 --> 00:39:46.119
 seemed to

00:39:46.119 --> 00:39:47.500
 almost manifest

00:39:47.500 --> 00:39:48.119
 his presence

00:39:48.119 --> 00:39:48.480
 to you

00:39:48.480 --> 00:39:49.059
 in a very

00:39:49.059 --> 00:39:50.059
 unique way.

00:39:50.759 --> 00:39:51.039
 You just

00:39:51.039 --> 00:39:51.639
 felt his

00:39:51.639 --> 00:39:52.139
 nearness

00:39:52.139 --> 00:39:53.359
 in an

00:39:53.359 --> 00:39:53.799
 abnormal

00:39:53.799 --> 00:39:54.699
 special way

00:39:54.699 --> 00:39:56.019
 and your

00:39:56.019 --> 00:39:56.639
 heart was

00:39:56.639 --> 00:39:57.439
 just overwhelmed

00:39:57.439 --> 00:39:58.019
 with joy

00:39:58.019 --> 00:39:58.619
 and gratitude

00:39:58.619 --> 00:40:00.519
 and you

00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:01.000
 wished you

00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:01.259
 could just

00:40:01.259 --> 00:40:01.579
 kind of hit

00:40:01.579 --> 00:40:02.339
 pause and

00:40:02.339 --> 00:40:03.099
 stay right

00:40:03.099 --> 00:40:03.439
 there.

00:40:04.519 --> 00:40:04.679
 You know

00:40:04.679 --> 00:40:04.959
 what I'm

00:40:04.959 --> 00:40:05.539
 talking about?

00:40:06.199 --> 00:40:06.619
 And you

00:40:06.619 --> 00:40:07.939
 just wished

00:40:07.939 --> 00:40:08.599
 that that time

00:40:08.599 --> 00:40:09.000
 would not

00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:09.439
 leave.

00:40:10.439 --> 00:40:11.000
 However,

00:40:11.139 --> 00:40:11.699
 we get just

00:40:11.699 --> 00:40:12.679
 glimpses of

00:40:12.679 --> 00:40:13.379
 Christ here

00:40:13.379 --> 00:40:14.859
 and there's

00:40:14.859 --> 00:40:15.359
 interference.

00:40:16.500 --> 00:40:17.219
 There's always

00:40:17.219 --> 00:40:17.859
 something that

00:40:17.859 --> 00:40:18.500
 steps in to

00:40:18.500 --> 00:40:19.059
 kind of end

00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:19.879
 that moment.

00:40:20.739 --> 00:40:21.279
 We have

00:40:21.279 --> 00:40:22.000
 hours of

00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:22.739
 contemplation

00:40:22.739 --> 00:40:23.259
 but then

00:40:23.259 --> 00:40:23.980
 our quiet

00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:25.219
 time with

00:40:25.219 --> 00:40:25.619
 the Lord

00:40:25.619 --> 00:40:26.159
 is interrupted.

00:40:27.019 --> 00:40:27.639
 We get

00:40:27.639 --> 00:40:28.139
 hungry,

00:40:29.139 --> 00:40:29.799
 hangry,

00:40:30.719 --> 00:40:31.099
 for some

00:40:31.099 --> 00:40:31.460
 of you.

00:40:32.379 --> 00:40:32.799
 You get

00:40:32.799 --> 00:40:33.299
 tired.

00:40:33.940 --> 00:40:34.319
 There's a

00:40:34.319 --> 00:40:34.659
 knock at

00:40:34.659 --> 00:40:35.039
 the door.

00:40:35.159 --> 00:40:35.440
 There's a

00:40:35.440 --> 00:40:35.940
 phone call.

00:40:36.039 --> 00:40:36.299
 There's a

00:40:36.299 --> 00:40:37.039
 stupid text

00:40:37.039 --> 00:40:37.480
 message.

00:40:38.279 --> 00:40:38.960
 There's all

00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:39.599
 kind of stuff

00:40:39.599 --> 00:40:39.919
 that just

00:40:39.919 --> 00:40:40.719
 distract us

00:40:40.719 --> 00:40:41.039
 from that

00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:42.399
 moment that

00:40:42.399 --> 00:40:42.859
 we're enjoying

00:40:42.859 --> 00:40:43.159
 with the

00:40:43.159 --> 00:40:43.439
 Father.

00:40:44.439 --> 00:40:44.919
 Naturally,

00:40:45.819 --> 00:40:46.279
 so many

00:40:46.279 --> 00:40:46.859
 things can

00:40:46.859 --> 00:40:47.459
 just happen.

00:40:47.619 --> 00:40:47.899
 And it's

00:40:47.899 --> 00:40:48.539
 kind of like

00:40:48.539 --> 00:40:50.659
 we're going

00:40:50.659 --> 00:40:51.379
 toward heaven

00:40:51.379 --> 00:40:51.719
 and then we're

00:40:51.719 --> 00:40:52.459
 just like pulled

00:40:52.459 --> 00:40:53.139
 back down,

00:40:53.239 --> 00:40:53.659
 kicking and

00:40:53.659 --> 00:40:53.959
 screaming.

00:40:54.099 --> 00:40:54.239
 Like,

00:40:54.299 --> 00:40:54.579
 no!

00:40:55.579 --> 00:40:56.339
 Leave me

00:40:56.340 --> 00:40:57.600
 in this

00:40:57.600 --> 00:40:58.160
 place.

00:41:00.019 --> 00:41:00.360
 But,

00:41:00.760 --> 00:41:02.240
 but,

00:41:02.500 --> 00:41:03.760
 when we

00:41:03.760 --> 00:41:04.120
 die,

00:41:04.400 --> 00:41:04.980
 when this

00:41:04.980 --> 00:41:06.260
 mortal

00:41:06.260 --> 00:41:07.360
 shell is

00:41:07.360 --> 00:41:08.640
 peeled off

00:41:08.640 --> 00:41:09.180
 and our

00:41:09.180 --> 00:41:09.760
 souls are

00:41:09.760 --> 00:41:10.980
 set free

00:41:10.980 --> 00:41:12.280
 and we

00:41:12.280 --> 00:41:12.880
 go to

00:41:12.880 --> 00:41:13.460
 glory to

00:41:13.460 --> 00:41:13.780
 be with

00:41:13.780 --> 00:41:14.260
 the Father,

00:41:14.960 --> 00:41:15.320
 we will

00:41:15.320 --> 00:41:15.559
 have

00:41:15.559 --> 00:41:16.519
 uninterrupted,

00:41:16.700 --> 00:41:17.300
 unhindered

00:41:17.300 --> 00:41:18.320
 fellowship for

00:41:18.320 --> 00:41:19.000
 all eternity

00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:19.620
 with the

00:41:19.620 --> 00:41:20.079
 Son and

00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:20.480
 the Father.

00:41:21.600 --> 00:41:22.160
 Eternity

00:41:22.160 --> 00:41:22.539
 will be

00:41:22.539 --> 00:41:23.019
 spent,

00:41:23.820 --> 00:41:24.820
 not by us

00:41:24.820 --> 00:41:25.240
 trying to

00:41:25.240 --> 00:41:25.700
 pay God

00:41:25.699 --> 00:41:26.279
 back and

00:41:26.279 --> 00:41:26.919
 give Him

00:41:26.919 --> 00:41:27.839
 what He's

00:41:27.839 --> 00:41:28.159
 due,

00:41:28.779 --> 00:41:29.539
 but we

00:41:29.539 --> 00:41:30.239
 will enjoy

00:41:30.239 --> 00:41:31.039
 the grace

00:41:31.039 --> 00:41:31.379
 of His

00:41:31.379 --> 00:41:31.759
 kindness

00:41:31.759 --> 00:41:32.519
 to us.

00:41:33.819 --> 00:41:34.199
 You won't

00:41:34.199 --> 00:41:34.779
 be bored.

00:41:35.939 --> 00:41:36.359
 Boredom

00:41:36.359 --> 00:41:36.899
 is something

00:41:36.899 --> 00:41:37.919
 that the

00:41:37.919 --> 00:41:38.319
 human,

00:41:39.179 --> 00:41:39.980
 fallen human

00:41:39.980 --> 00:41:40.339
 nature

00:41:40.339 --> 00:41:40.799
 struggles

00:41:40.799 --> 00:41:41.219
 with.

00:41:41.799 --> 00:41:42.179
 We get

00:41:42.179 --> 00:41:42.879
 tired of

00:41:42.879 --> 00:41:43.259
 the same

00:41:43.259 --> 00:41:43.679
 thing.

00:41:44.579 --> 00:41:44.919
 But the

00:41:44.919 --> 00:41:45.379
 closest you

00:41:45.379 --> 00:41:45.759
 could probably

00:41:45.759 --> 00:41:46.419
 get to is

00:41:46.419 --> 00:41:46.919
 those of you

00:41:46.919 --> 00:41:47.219
 who have been

00:41:47.219 --> 00:41:47.759
 around kids,

00:41:47.839 --> 00:41:48.359
 have kids,

00:41:48.919 --> 00:41:49.500
 grandkids,

00:41:49.699 --> 00:41:50.059
 nieces and

00:41:50.059 --> 00:41:50.399
 nephews,

00:41:50.519 --> 00:41:50.799
 whatever,

00:41:51.739 --> 00:41:52.159
 want something

00:41:52.159 --> 00:41:52.619
 they love

00:41:52.619 --> 00:41:53.019
 to do.

00:41:54.219 --> 00:41:54.919
 They find

00:41:54.919 --> 00:41:55.399
 something that

00:41:55.400 --> 00:41:55.900
 they like

00:41:55.900 --> 00:41:56.180
 and they

00:41:56.180 --> 00:41:56.480
 want it

00:41:56.480 --> 00:41:57.079
 done again

00:41:57.079 --> 00:41:57.960
 and again

00:41:57.960 --> 00:41:58.619
 and again.

00:41:59.180 --> 00:41:59.500
 And it

00:41:59.500 --> 00:41:59.940
 never ever

00:41:59.940 --> 00:42:00.740
 gets tired,

00:42:01.539 --> 00:42:02.579
 never gets

00:42:02.579 --> 00:42:03.099
 boring.

00:42:03.700 --> 00:42:04.320
 And I feel

00:42:04.320 --> 00:42:04.760
 like that's

00:42:04.760 --> 00:42:06.300
 how heaven

00:42:06.300 --> 00:42:06.940
 will be for

00:42:06.940 --> 00:42:07.160
 us.

00:42:07.200 --> 00:42:07.380
 We will

00:42:07.380 --> 00:42:09.139
 not grow

00:42:09.139 --> 00:42:10.220
 weary of

00:42:10.220 --> 00:42:10.780
 the glory

00:42:10.780 --> 00:42:11.360
 that we are

00:42:11.360 --> 00:42:12.119
 beholding.

00:42:13.099 --> 00:42:13.619
 Rather,

00:42:14.480 --> 00:42:15.139
 eternity

00:42:15.139 --> 00:42:16.619
 we will be

00:42:16.619 --> 00:42:17.059
 spending,

00:42:17.180 --> 00:42:17.780
 as Paul says

00:42:17.780 --> 00:42:18.240
 in Ephesians

00:42:18.240 --> 00:42:18.559
 2,

00:42:19.480 --> 00:42:20.500
 that all

00:42:20.500 --> 00:42:20.880
 this has

00:42:20.880 --> 00:42:21.440
 been done

00:42:21.440 --> 00:42:22.220
 so that in

00:42:22.220 --> 00:42:22.619
 the coming

00:42:22.619 --> 00:42:23.239
 ages,

00:42:23.859 --> 00:42:24.259
 he might

00:42:24.259 --> 00:42:24.799
 show the

00:42:24.799 --> 00:42:25.259
 immeasurable

00:42:25.259 --> 00:42:26.339
 riches of

00:42:26.339 --> 00:42:27.000
 his grace

00:42:27.000 --> 00:42:28.420
 and kindness

00:42:28.420 --> 00:42:29.380
 towards us

00:42:29.380 --> 00:42:30.059
 in Christ.

00:42:33.440 --> 00:42:34.099
 I was

00:42:34.099 --> 00:42:34.880
 debating on

00:42:34.880 --> 00:42:35.159
 whether or

00:42:35.159 --> 00:42:35.500
 not to

00:42:35.500 --> 00:42:36.000
 read this,

00:42:36.059 --> 00:42:36.259
 but if

00:42:36.259 --> 00:42:36.599
 you're able

00:42:36.599 --> 00:42:37.460
 to gird

00:42:37.460 --> 00:42:37.739
 up the

00:42:37.739 --> 00:42:38.199
 loins of

00:42:38.199 --> 00:42:38.699
 your minds,

00:42:38.799 --> 00:42:39.339
 just listen

00:42:39.339 --> 00:42:40.299
 as the

00:42:40.299 --> 00:42:41.019
 old term

00:42:41.019 --> 00:42:42.759
 goes to

00:42:42.759 --> 00:42:43.500
 this great

00:42:43.500 --> 00:42:43.900
 quote.

00:42:45.559 --> 00:42:46.319
 I try to

00:42:46.319 --> 00:42:46.719
 shy away

00:42:46.719 --> 00:42:47.179
 from quotes

00:42:47.179 --> 00:42:47.359
 because I

00:42:47.359 --> 00:42:47.859
 know some

00:42:47.859 --> 00:42:48.299
 people like

00:42:48.299 --> 00:42:49.319
 three-quarters

00:42:49.319 --> 00:42:49.579
 of their

00:42:49.579 --> 00:42:50.000
 sermon are

00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:50.279
 close.

00:42:50.400 --> 00:42:50.579
 I'm like,

00:42:50.639 --> 00:42:50.940
 you should have

00:42:50.940 --> 00:42:51.440
 given me

00:42:51.440 --> 00:42:51.960
 something to

00:42:51.960 --> 00:42:52.260
 read.

00:42:55.099 --> 00:42:55.659
 But,

00:42:55.840 --> 00:42:56.240
 this is

00:42:56.240 --> 00:42:56.980
 Spurgeon on

00:42:56.980 --> 00:42:57.679
 John 17.

00:42:58.579 --> 00:42:59.059
 He says,

00:42:59.500 --> 00:42:59.920
 I doubt

00:42:59.920 --> 00:43:00.500
 not that

00:43:00.500 --> 00:43:00.659
 there will

00:43:00.659 --> 00:43:01.179
 be many

00:43:01.179 --> 00:43:01.820
 joys in

00:43:01.820 --> 00:43:02.280
 heaven which

00:43:02.280 --> 00:43:03.519
 will amplify

00:43:03.519 --> 00:43:04.579
 the joy

00:43:04.579 --> 00:43:04.880
 that we

00:43:04.880 --> 00:43:05.480
 have there.

00:43:06.300 --> 00:43:06.860
 I feel

00:43:06.860 --> 00:43:07.700
 confident that

00:43:07.700 --> 00:43:08.240
 our meeting

00:43:08.240 --> 00:43:09.099
 our departed

00:43:09.099 --> 00:43:09.760
 friends,

00:43:10.820 --> 00:43:11.480
 the society

00:43:11.480 --> 00:43:11.880
 of the

00:43:11.880 --> 00:43:12.320
 apostles,

00:43:12.579 --> 00:43:12.880
 prophets,

00:43:13.059 --> 00:43:13.420
 priests,

00:43:13.599 --> 00:43:14.260
 martyrs,

00:43:14.260 --> 00:43:15.340
 will amplify

00:43:15.340 --> 00:43:15.980
 the joy

00:43:15.980 --> 00:43:16.159
 of the

00:43:16.159 --> 00:43:16.579
 redeemed.

00:43:17.159 --> 00:43:17.400
 So,

00:43:17.500 --> 00:43:17.639
 yeah,

00:43:17.720 --> 00:43:18.019
 we're going

00:43:18.019 --> 00:43:18.460
 to enjoy

00:43:18.460 --> 00:43:19.220
 seeing many

00:43:19.220 --> 00:43:20.320
 of the

00:43:20.320 --> 00:43:20.740
 people who

00:43:20.739 --> 00:43:20.979
 have gone

00:43:20.979 --> 00:43:21.679
 before us

00:43:21.679 --> 00:43:22.159
 and after

00:43:22.159 --> 00:43:22.719
 us in

00:43:22.719 --> 00:43:23.039
 heaven.

00:43:23.919 --> 00:43:24.479
 He says,

00:43:24.579 --> 00:43:24.859
 but,

00:43:25.459 --> 00:43:26.119
 still,

00:43:27.219 --> 00:43:27.819
 the sun

00:43:27.819 --> 00:43:28.159
 that will

00:43:28.159 --> 00:43:28.819
 give them

00:43:28.819 --> 00:43:29.379
 the greatest

00:43:29.379 --> 00:43:29.919
 light

00:43:29.919 --> 00:43:31.419
 will be

00:43:31.419 --> 00:43:31.899
 the fact

00:43:31.899 --> 00:43:32.219
 that they

00:43:32.219 --> 00:43:32.719
 are able

00:43:32.719 --> 00:43:33.379
 to see

00:43:33.379 --> 00:43:34.019
 the glory

00:43:34.019 --> 00:43:34.519
 of Jesus

00:43:34.519 --> 00:43:35.039
 Christ.

00:43:36.119 --> 00:43:36.819
 And now,

00:43:37.039 --> 00:43:37.519
 there may

00:43:37.519 --> 00:43:37.919
 be many

00:43:37.919 --> 00:43:38.259
 other

00:43:38.259 --> 00:43:38.919
 employments

00:43:38.919 --> 00:43:39.399
 in heaven,

00:43:40.239 --> 00:43:40.679
 but they

00:43:40.679 --> 00:43:41.199
 are mentioned

00:43:41.199 --> 00:43:41.639
 in this

00:43:41.639 --> 00:43:42.019
 text,

00:43:42.139 --> 00:43:42.539
 the chief

00:43:42.539 --> 00:43:42.799
 one,

00:43:43.079 --> 00:43:43.419
 that they

00:43:43.419 --> 00:43:44.139
 may behold

00:43:44.139 --> 00:43:44.939
 his glory.

00:43:46.399 --> 00:43:46.859
 Let us

00:43:46.859 --> 00:43:47.779
 pass as it

00:43:47.779 --> 00:43:48.199
 is in a

00:43:48.199 --> 00:43:48.779
 panorama

00:43:48.779 --> 00:43:49.379
 before our

00:43:49.379 --> 00:43:49.839
 eyes,

00:43:49.840 --> 00:43:50.340
 the great

00:43:50.340 --> 00:43:51.019
 scenes of

00:43:51.019 --> 00:43:52.120
 glory that

00:43:52.120 --> 00:43:52.500
 we shall

00:43:52.500 --> 00:43:53.220
 see after

00:43:53.220 --> 00:43:53.660
 death.

00:43:54.380 --> 00:43:55.160
 The moment

00:43:55.160 --> 00:43:55.640
 the soul

00:43:55.640 --> 00:43:56.460
 departs from

00:43:56.460 --> 00:43:57.100
 this body,

00:43:57.800 --> 00:43:58.120
 it will

00:43:58.120 --> 00:43:58.860
 behold the

00:43:58.860 --> 00:43:59.420
 glory of

00:43:59.420 --> 00:43:59.820
 Christ.

00:44:00.640 --> 00:44:01.240
 The glory

00:44:01.240 --> 00:44:01.640
 of his

00:44:01.640 --> 00:44:02.360
 person will

00:44:02.360 --> 00:44:02.660
 be the

00:44:02.660 --> 00:44:03.460
 first thing

00:44:03.460 --> 00:44:04.100
 that arrests

00:44:04.100 --> 00:44:04.720
 their attention.

00:44:06.180 --> 00:44:06.860
 There we

00:44:06.860 --> 00:44:07.400
 will sit

00:44:07.400 --> 00:44:08.120
 in the midst

00:44:08.120 --> 00:44:09.039
 of the

00:44:09.039 --> 00:44:09.380
 throne,

00:44:09.760 --> 00:44:10.420
 and our

00:44:10.420 --> 00:44:11.000
 eyes will

00:44:11.000 --> 00:44:11.500
 be caught

00:44:11.500 --> 00:44:11.920
 by the

00:44:11.920 --> 00:44:12.579
 glory of

00:44:12.579 --> 00:44:12.720
 his

00:44:12.720 --> 00:44:13.300
 appearance,

00:44:14.200 --> 00:44:14.800
 and oh,

00:44:14.860 --> 00:44:15.220
 how the

00:44:15.220 --> 00:44:15.900
 Christian will

00:44:15.900 --> 00:44:17.360
 stop at the

00:44:17.360 --> 00:44:17.980
 foot of his

00:44:17.980 --> 00:44:18.840
 master's throne

00:44:18.840 --> 00:44:19.260
 and look

00:44:19.260 --> 00:44:19.660
 upward,

00:44:20.380 --> 00:44:20.720
 and the

00:44:20.720 --> 00:44:21.340
 tears could

00:44:21.340 --> 00:44:21.820
 be allowed

00:44:21.820 --> 00:44:22.280
 in heaven.

00:44:22.519 --> 00:44:22.980
 Tears of

00:44:22.980 --> 00:44:23.660
 rich delight

00:44:23.660 --> 00:44:24.100
 will roll

00:44:24.100 --> 00:44:24.840
 down our

00:44:24.840 --> 00:44:26.160
 cheeks when

00:44:26.160 --> 00:44:26.700
 he looks

00:44:26.700 --> 00:44:27.400
 and sees

00:44:27.400 --> 00:44:28.600
 the man

00:44:28.600 --> 00:44:29.079
 enthroned

00:44:29.079 --> 00:44:29.760
 and says,

00:44:30.519 --> 00:44:31.039
 I often

00:44:31.039 --> 00:44:31.480
 used to

00:44:31.480 --> 00:44:31.860
 sing of

00:44:31.860 --> 00:44:32.400
 you on

00:44:32.400 --> 00:44:32.960
 the earth,

00:44:33.620 --> 00:44:34.340
 crown him,

00:44:35.120 --> 00:44:35.800
 crown him,

00:44:35.960 --> 00:44:36.320
 king of

00:44:36.320 --> 00:44:37.079
 kings and

00:44:37.079 --> 00:44:37.440
 lord of

00:44:37.440 --> 00:44:37.820
 lords.

00:44:38.980 --> 00:44:39.880
 Then Spurgeon

00:44:39.880 --> 00:44:40.559
 has a little

00:44:40.559 --> 00:44:41.180
 verse that he

00:44:41.180 --> 00:44:41.500
 writes,

00:44:41.559 --> 00:44:41.960
 he says,

00:44:42.680 --> 00:44:43.300
 millions of

00:44:43.300 --> 00:44:43.980
 years our

00:44:43.980 --> 00:44:44.400
 wandering

00:44:44.400 --> 00:44:46.100
 eyes shall

00:44:46.100 --> 00:44:46.820
 over our

00:44:46.820 --> 00:44:47.559
 savior's

00:44:47.559 --> 00:44:48.240
 beauty's

00:44:48.239 --> 00:44:48.679
 grove,

00:44:49.459 --> 00:44:49.879
 a myriad

00:44:49.879 --> 00:44:50.599
 of ages

00:44:50.599 --> 00:44:51.479
 will adore

00:44:51.479 --> 00:44:52.339
 the wonders

00:44:52.339 --> 00:44:52.799
 of his

00:44:52.799 --> 00:44:53.139
 love.

00:44:54.519 --> 00:44:55.239
 It's not

00:44:55.239 --> 00:44:55.459
 going to

00:44:55.459 --> 00:44:55.939
 get old.

00:44:57.479 --> 00:44:58.159
 Psalm 16

00:44:58.159 --> 00:44:58.679
 says,

00:44:58.819 --> 00:44:59.319
 in God's

00:44:59.319 --> 00:45:00.039
 presence is

00:45:00.039 --> 00:45:00.939
 fullness of

00:45:00.939 --> 00:45:01.299
 joy,

00:45:01.979 --> 00:45:02.479
 and at his

00:45:02.479 --> 00:45:03.179
 right hand

00:45:03.179 --> 00:45:03.479
 there are

00:45:03.479 --> 00:45:03.939
 pleasures

00:45:03.939 --> 00:45:05.079
 forevermore.

00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:06.539
 It won't

00:45:06.539 --> 00:45:09.259
 become boring.

00:45:10.119 --> 00:45:10.779
 For the

00:45:10.779 --> 00:45:11.159
 believer,

00:45:11.279 --> 00:45:11.599
 that's where

00:45:11.599 --> 00:45:11.959
 we all

00:45:11.959 --> 00:45:12.799
 long to go

00:45:12.799 --> 00:45:13.139
 and we

00:45:13.139 --> 00:45:13.659
 long to

00:45:13.659 --> 00:45:13.939
 be.

00:45:13.940 --> 00:45:15.740
 so,

00:45:15.980 --> 00:45:16.400
 another

00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:16.980
 thing,

00:45:17.039 --> 00:45:17.220
 and the

00:45:17.220 --> 00:45:17.700
 last thing

00:45:17.700 --> 00:45:18.139
 to mention

00:45:18.139 --> 00:45:18.480
 here,

00:45:18.980 --> 00:45:19.280
 you see

00:45:19.280 --> 00:45:19.679
 in verses

00:45:19.679 --> 00:45:21.360
 25 and

00:45:21.360 --> 00:45:21.980
 26,

00:45:22.940 --> 00:45:23.700
 that Jesus

00:45:23.700 --> 00:45:24.519
 really also

00:45:24.519 --> 00:45:26.099
 prays for,

00:45:26.340 --> 00:45:26.980
 we have like

00:45:26.980 --> 00:45:27.820
 a foretaste

00:45:27.820 --> 00:45:29.099
 now of that

00:45:29.099 --> 00:45:29.519
 glory.

00:45:30.480 --> 00:45:30.880
 See the

00:45:30.880 --> 00:45:31.659
 beautiful words

00:45:31.659 --> 00:45:32.159
 that he's

00:45:32.159 --> 00:45:32.480
 used here,

00:45:32.579 --> 00:45:32.920
 righteous

00:45:32.920 --> 00:45:33.519
 father,

00:45:34.300 --> 00:45:34.599
 it's this

00:45:34.599 --> 00:45:35.139
 idea that he's

00:45:35.139 --> 00:45:36.159
 having confidence

00:45:36.159 --> 00:45:37.200
 in the one

00:45:37.200 --> 00:45:37.740
 he's praying

00:45:37.740 --> 00:45:38.000
 to,

00:45:38.079 --> 00:45:38.480
 to bring

00:45:38.480 --> 00:45:39.380
 these things

00:45:39.380 --> 00:45:39.860
 about.

00:45:41.300 --> 00:45:41.720
 But he

00:45:41.720 --> 00:45:41.920
 says,

00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:42.320
 the world

00:45:42.320 --> 00:45:42.760
 does not

00:45:42.760 --> 00:45:43.240
 know you,

00:45:43.920 --> 00:45:44.519
 but the

00:45:44.519 --> 00:45:45.140
 son does,

00:45:45.220 --> 00:45:45.460
 and the

00:45:45.460 --> 00:45:45.780
 son has

00:45:45.780 --> 00:45:46.740
 made you

00:45:46.740 --> 00:45:48.280
 known to

00:45:48.280 --> 00:45:48.700
 those whom

00:45:48.700 --> 00:45:49.039
 you gave

00:45:49.039 --> 00:45:49.380
 him out of

00:45:49.380 --> 00:45:49.780
 the world.

00:45:51.140 --> 00:45:51.800
 And you

00:45:51.800 --> 00:45:52.140
 may say,

00:45:52.300 --> 00:45:52.360
 like,

00:45:52.420 --> 00:45:52.680
 yes,

00:45:52.780 --> 00:45:53.740
 heaven sounds

00:45:53.740 --> 00:45:54.200
 great,

00:45:54.280 --> 00:45:54.539
 but it

00:45:54.539 --> 00:45:55.980
 seems so

00:45:55.980 --> 00:45:56.740
 far away.

00:45:57.680 --> 00:45:58.140
 It seems

00:45:58.140 --> 00:45:58.640
 like that's

00:45:58.640 --> 00:45:59.539
 just such a

00:45:59.539 --> 00:46:00.599
 far-fetched

00:46:00.599 --> 00:46:00.900
 thing,

00:46:00.960 --> 00:46:01.300
 like we're

00:46:01.300 --> 00:46:01.900
 here on

00:46:01.900 --> 00:46:02.400
 this earth,

00:46:02.500 --> 00:46:03.039
 stuck on

00:46:03.039 --> 00:46:03.539
 this earth.

00:46:04.840 --> 00:46:05.280
 Well,

00:46:06.079 --> 00:46:06.460
 a couple

00:46:06.460 --> 00:46:06.720
 things.

00:46:06.780 --> 00:46:07.059
 First of

00:46:07.059 --> 00:46:07.119
 all,

00:46:07.140 --> 00:46:07.440
 that might

00:46:07.440 --> 00:46:07.800
 not be

00:46:07.800 --> 00:46:08.059
 true.

00:46:09.380 --> 00:46:09.900
 Some of

00:46:09.900 --> 00:46:10.160
 you could

00:46:10.160 --> 00:46:10.539
 be a

00:46:10.539 --> 00:46:11.200
 lot closer

00:46:11.200 --> 00:46:11.840
 to glory

00:46:11.840 --> 00:46:12.180
 than you

00:46:12.180 --> 00:46:12.519
 think.

00:46:15.019 --> 00:46:15.539
 None of

00:46:15.539 --> 00:46:16.039
 us know

00:46:16.039 --> 00:46:16.720
 the hour

00:46:16.720 --> 00:46:18.019
 that the

00:46:18.019 --> 00:46:18.740
 father may

00:46:18.740 --> 00:46:19.240
 send the

00:46:19.240 --> 00:46:19.860
 son back.

00:46:20.640 --> 00:46:21.119
 None of

00:46:21.119 --> 00:46:21.559
 us know

00:46:21.559 --> 00:46:21.880
 when he'll

00:46:21.880 --> 00:46:22.320
 breathe our

00:46:22.320 --> 00:46:22.800
 last.

00:46:23.400 --> 00:46:23.940
 We're just

00:46:23.940 --> 00:46:24.539
 tempted to

00:46:24.539 --> 00:46:24.880
 think that

00:46:24.880 --> 00:46:25.160
 we're just

00:46:25.160 --> 00:46:25.360
 going to

00:46:25.360 --> 00:46:25.800
 walk around

00:46:25.800 --> 00:46:26.420
 here forever.

00:46:27.200 --> 00:46:27.559
 And some

00:46:27.559 --> 00:46:27.820
 of you are

00:46:27.820 --> 00:46:28.260
 already having

00:46:28.260 --> 00:46:28.840
 problems

00:46:28.840 --> 00:46:29.559
 physically,

00:46:29.800 --> 00:46:30.280
 and you

00:46:30.280 --> 00:46:30.940
 know why

00:46:30.940 --> 00:46:31.599
 this can't

00:46:31.599 --> 00:46:32.039
 be it.

00:46:33.480 --> 00:46:34.180
 I hope

00:46:34.180 --> 00:46:35.900
 that that's

00:46:35.900 --> 00:46:36.640
 a joy to

00:46:36.640 --> 00:46:36.920
 you and

00:46:36.920 --> 00:46:37.340
 not something

00:46:37.340 --> 00:46:37.619
 to be

00:46:37.619 --> 00:46:38.260
 afraid of.

00:46:38.260 --> 00:46:39.440
 Because if

00:46:39.440 --> 00:46:39.700
 what we're

00:46:39.700 --> 00:46:40.140
 reading is

00:46:40.140 --> 00:46:40.400
 true,

00:46:40.460 --> 00:46:40.680
 that should

00:46:40.680 --> 00:46:41.100
 be something

00:46:41.100 --> 00:46:41.960
 that our

00:46:41.960 --> 00:46:42.680
 hearts should

00:46:42.680 --> 00:46:43.340
 long for.

00:46:44.320 --> 00:46:45.060
 But here's

00:46:45.060 --> 00:46:45.760
 kind of the

00:46:45.760 --> 00:46:46.000
 deal.

00:46:47.200 --> 00:46:47.700
 The good

00:46:47.700 --> 00:46:48.640
 news is that

00:46:48.640 --> 00:46:49.160
 we don't have

00:46:49.160 --> 00:46:49.880
 to wait to

00:46:49.880 --> 00:46:50.180
 get a

00:46:50.180 --> 00:46:50.940
 foretaste of

00:46:50.940 --> 00:46:51.540
 that glory

00:46:51.540 --> 00:46:52.080
 that's ahead

00:46:52.080 --> 00:46:52.540
 of us right

00:46:52.540 --> 00:46:52.820
 now.

00:46:53.520 --> 00:46:54.320
 A foretaste.

00:46:55.120 --> 00:46:56.060
 Christ initially,

00:46:56.160 --> 00:46:56.600
 if you read in our

00:46:56.600 --> 00:46:57.200
 text, he's like,

00:46:57.680 --> 00:46:58.500
 I have made

00:46:58.500 --> 00:47:00.100
 you known

00:47:00.100 --> 00:47:00.760
 to them,

00:47:01.220 --> 00:47:01.780
 and I will

00:47:01.780 --> 00:47:02.820
 continue to

00:47:02.820 --> 00:47:03.420
 make it known.

00:47:03.420 --> 00:47:05.700
 So, he's

00:47:05.700 --> 00:47:06.440
 saying, I will

00:47:06.440 --> 00:47:07.360
 continue to

00:47:07.360 --> 00:47:07.900
 show them

00:47:07.900 --> 00:47:08.260
 who you

00:47:08.260 --> 00:47:08.559
 are.

00:47:09.280 --> 00:47:09.960
 And this

00:47:09.960 --> 00:47:10.360
 is true

00:47:10.360 --> 00:47:10.960
 for us.

00:47:11.800 --> 00:47:12.880
 We initially

00:47:12.880 --> 00:47:14.340
 are shown

00:47:14.340 --> 00:47:14.880
 the Father

00:47:14.880 --> 00:47:15.360
 when we're

00:47:15.360 --> 00:47:15.960
 born again

00:47:15.960 --> 00:47:16.619
 in regeneration.

00:47:17.559 --> 00:47:18.460
 We initially

00:47:18.460 --> 00:47:18.960
 get to

00:47:18.960 --> 00:47:19.820
 behold him.

00:47:19.980 --> 00:47:21.260
 We're created

00:47:21.260 --> 00:47:23.460
 to be new.

00:47:23.840 --> 00:47:24.579
 We have eyes

00:47:24.579 --> 00:47:25.059
 to see that

00:47:25.059 --> 00:47:25.420
 we didn't

00:47:25.420 --> 00:47:26.220
 have before.

00:47:27.200 --> 00:47:27.659
 And then

00:47:27.659 --> 00:47:28.760
 the Father

00:47:28.760 --> 00:47:29.860
 gives us

00:47:29.860 --> 00:47:30.320
 the Spirit,

00:47:30.599 --> 00:47:30.840
 and he

00:47:30.840 --> 00:47:31.740
 continues to

00:47:31.740 --> 00:47:32.659
 make him

00:47:32.659 --> 00:47:32.940
 known

00:47:32.940 --> 00:47:33.199
 throughout

00:47:33.199 --> 00:47:33.839
 our lives

00:47:33.839 --> 00:47:34.000
 and

00:47:34.000 --> 00:47:34.759
 sanctification.

00:47:35.940 --> 00:47:36.199
 And so,

00:47:36.279 --> 00:47:36.940
 knowing Christ

00:47:36.940 --> 00:47:37.440
 and walking

00:47:37.440 --> 00:47:37.940
 with him,

00:47:38.500 --> 00:47:39.219
 enjoying him

00:47:39.219 --> 00:47:39.579
 is something

00:47:39.579 --> 00:47:39.839
 that we

00:47:39.839 --> 00:47:40.460
 can experience

00:47:40.460 --> 00:47:41.319
 right now.

00:47:42.199 --> 00:47:42.859
 Right now.

00:47:44.219 --> 00:47:44.799
 He is with

00:47:44.799 --> 00:47:45.379
 us every

00:47:45.379 --> 00:47:46.159
 hour of the

00:47:46.159 --> 00:47:46.440
 day,

00:47:46.579 --> 00:47:47.079
 wherever we

00:47:47.079 --> 00:47:47.359
 go.

00:47:48.579 --> 00:47:49.079
 He said

00:47:49.079 --> 00:47:50.059
 earlier in

00:47:50.059 --> 00:47:50.500
 John 10,

00:47:50.559 --> 00:47:50.940
 I've come

00:47:50.940 --> 00:47:51.219
 that they

00:47:51.219 --> 00:47:51.639
 may have

00:47:51.639 --> 00:47:52.239
 life and

00:47:52.239 --> 00:47:52.599
 have it

00:47:52.599 --> 00:47:53.259
 abundantly.

00:47:54.139 --> 00:47:54.539
 He's not

00:47:54.539 --> 00:47:55.279
 talking about

00:47:55.279 --> 00:47:55.920
 the fancy

00:47:55.920 --> 00:47:56.480
 new car.

00:47:57.420 --> 00:47:58.079
 He's saying

00:47:58.079 --> 00:47:58.440
 it like,

00:47:58.579 --> 00:47:59.079
 this is the

00:47:59.079 --> 00:47:59.799
 life that I

00:47:59.799 --> 00:48:00.179
 will give

00:48:00.179 --> 00:48:00.440
 you,

00:48:01.259 --> 00:48:01.839
 that you

00:48:01.839 --> 00:48:02.379
 are with

00:48:02.380 --> 00:48:02.740
 me.

00:48:03.900 --> 00:48:04.460
 And that

00:48:04.460 --> 00:48:05.099
 fellowship you

00:48:05.099 --> 00:48:05.619
 have with

00:48:05.619 --> 00:48:06.300
 me is to

00:48:06.300 --> 00:48:06.740
 have an

00:48:06.740 --> 00:48:07.119
 abundant

00:48:07.119 --> 00:48:08.420
 life.

00:48:09.260 --> 00:48:09.660
 So in

00:48:09.660 --> 00:48:10.200
 our text,

00:48:10.220 --> 00:48:10.800
 even now,

00:48:10.900 --> 00:48:11.220
 we get to

00:48:11.220 --> 00:48:11.940
 experience that

00:48:11.940 --> 00:48:12.400
 love of the

00:48:12.400 --> 00:48:12.720
 Father,

00:48:13.220 --> 00:48:13.800
 and we get a

00:48:13.800 --> 00:48:14.460
 head start

00:48:14.460 --> 00:48:16.019
 on eternity

00:48:16.019 --> 00:48:16.740
 by going

00:48:16.740 --> 00:48:17.500
 deeper into

00:48:17.500 --> 00:48:18.599
 what Paul

00:48:18.599 --> 00:48:19.140
 calls the

00:48:19.140 --> 00:48:20.000
 unsearchable

00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:20.880
 riches of

00:48:20.880 --> 00:48:21.300
 Christ.

00:48:22.119 --> 00:48:22.940
 We get to

00:48:22.940 --> 00:48:23.640
 start that

00:48:23.640 --> 00:48:24.039
 now,

00:48:24.640 --> 00:48:25.019
 and to

00:48:25.019 --> 00:48:25.579
 taste and

00:48:25.579 --> 00:48:26.960
 see that

00:48:26.960 --> 00:48:27.340
 the Lord

00:48:27.340 --> 00:48:27.860
 is good.

00:48:28.740 --> 00:48:29.360
 We have

00:48:29.360 --> 00:48:29.640
 that.

00:48:29.639 --> 00:48:29.759
 God,

00:48:30.319 --> 00:48:31.779
 and so I

00:48:31.779 --> 00:48:32.400
 hope that

00:48:32.400 --> 00:48:33.440
 many of you

00:48:33.440 --> 00:48:33.980
 have experienced

00:48:33.980 --> 00:48:34.460
 this.

00:48:34.599 --> 00:48:35.139
 I hope that

00:48:35.139 --> 00:48:36.480
 you're seeing

00:48:36.480 --> 00:48:37.619
 this prayer of

00:48:37.619 --> 00:48:38.539
 Jesus answered

00:48:38.539 --> 00:48:39.519
 in your life,

00:48:40.480 --> 00:48:40.900
 that you can

00:48:40.900 --> 00:48:41.759
 see the unity

00:48:41.759 --> 00:48:42.460
 of the church,

00:48:43.420 --> 00:48:44.159
 and see that

00:48:44.159 --> 00:48:44.779
 really is

00:48:44.779 --> 00:48:45.239
 something that

00:48:45.239 --> 00:48:45.659
 you really

00:48:45.659 --> 00:48:46.599
 possess with

00:48:46.599 --> 00:48:47.420
 other believers,

00:48:48.359 --> 00:48:48.980
 and that you

00:48:48.980 --> 00:48:50.079
 are longing for

00:48:50.079 --> 00:48:51.480
 the glory to

00:48:51.480 --> 00:48:51.779
 come.

00:48:52.219 --> 00:48:52.659
 You don't

00:48:52.659 --> 00:48:53.400
 really want to

00:48:53.400 --> 00:48:53.960
 stay here

00:48:53.960 --> 00:48:54.879
 forever.

00:48:55.879 --> 00:48:56.699
 That you want

00:48:56.699 --> 00:48:57.159
 to go and

00:48:57.159 --> 00:48:58.099
 behold the glory

00:48:58.099 --> 00:48:58.719
 that the Son

00:48:58.719 --> 00:48:59.880
 had with

00:48:59.880 --> 00:49:00.380
 the Father

00:49:00.380 --> 00:49:01.619
 before the

00:49:01.619 --> 00:49:02.279
 world existed.

00:49:04.179 --> 00:49:05.059
 Many of you

00:49:05.059 --> 00:49:06.360
 have been very

00:49:06.360 --> 00:49:07.059
 close to

00:49:07.059 --> 00:49:08.779
 crossing over

00:49:08.779 --> 00:49:09.659
 into the next

00:49:09.659 --> 00:49:10.039
 life.

00:49:11.039 --> 00:49:11.900
 I have,

00:49:12.960 --> 00:49:13.539
 and I can

00:49:13.539 --> 00:49:14.099
 tell you,

00:49:14.219 --> 00:49:14.480
 like,

00:49:15.139 --> 00:49:16.539
 nothing brings

00:49:16.539 --> 00:49:17.199
 you more joy

00:49:17.199 --> 00:49:17.799
 and more hope

00:49:17.799 --> 00:49:18.400
 and more comfort

00:49:18.400 --> 00:49:19.039
 than knowing

00:49:19.039 --> 00:49:19.739
 that that's

00:49:19.739 --> 00:49:20.179
 what's waiting

00:49:20.179 --> 00:49:20.639
 you on the

00:49:20.639 --> 00:49:21.159
 other side,

00:49:21.860 --> 00:49:22.339
 that Jesus

00:49:22.339 --> 00:49:22.920
 is there,

00:49:23.639 --> 00:49:24.380
 ready to

00:49:24.380 --> 00:49:25.019
 receive you

00:49:25.019 --> 00:49:25.759
 into glory.

00:49:25.760 --> 00:49:28.140
 so I

00:49:28.140 --> 00:49:29.140
 pray that

00:49:29.140 --> 00:49:30.920
 all of us,

00:49:31.980 --> 00:49:33.540
 as Psalm 73

00:49:33.540 --> 00:49:34.140
 says,

00:49:34.380 --> 00:49:35.320
 whom have I

00:49:35.320 --> 00:49:35.860
 in heaven

00:49:35.860 --> 00:49:37.020
 but you?

00:49:38.520 --> 00:49:39.040
 And on

00:49:39.040 --> 00:49:39.660
 this earth

00:49:39.660 --> 00:49:40.020
 there is

00:49:40.020 --> 00:49:40.600
 nothing that

00:49:40.600 --> 00:49:41.300
 I desire

00:49:41.300 --> 00:49:43.520
 beside you,

00:49:44.220 --> 00:49:44.860
 and that my

00:49:44.860 --> 00:49:45.500
 heart and my

00:49:45.500 --> 00:49:46.320
 flesh may fail,

00:49:46.420 --> 00:49:47.040
 but God is the

00:49:47.040 --> 00:49:47.540
 strength of my

00:49:47.540 --> 00:49:48.840
 heart and my

00:49:48.840 --> 00:49:49.880
 portion forever.

00:49:51.380 --> 00:49:52.060
 So we

00:49:52.060 --> 00:49:52.600
 conclude

00:49:52.600 --> 00:49:54.320
 John 17

00:49:54.320 --> 00:49:54.700
 today,

00:49:54.699 --> 00:49:55.039
 and I

00:49:55.039 --> 00:49:55.559
 pray that

00:49:55.559 --> 00:49:56.019
 it has

00:49:56.019 --> 00:49:56.319
 been

00:49:56.319 --> 00:49:56.960
 enriching

00:49:56.960 --> 00:49:57.919
 to your

00:49:57.919 --> 00:49:58.259
 heart.

00:49:59.139 --> 00:49:59.859
 Continue to

00:49:59.859 --> 00:50:00.319
 go back

00:50:00.319 --> 00:50:00.659
 and read

00:50:00.659 --> 00:50:01.179
 over it

00:50:01.179 --> 00:50:02.379
 and dive

00:50:02.379 --> 00:50:02.799
 into all

00:50:02.799 --> 00:50:03.219
 the riches

00:50:03.219 --> 00:50:03.519
 that are

00:50:03.519 --> 00:50:03.799
 there.

00:50:05.480 --> 00:50:06.159
 Let's pray

00:50:06.159 --> 00:50:06.480
 together.

00:50:06.480 --> 00:50:06.759
 Let's pray

00:50:06.759 --> 00:50:06.539
 together.

00:50:06.539 --> 00:50:06.759
 Let's pray

00:50:06.759 --> 00:50:06.539
 together.