Christ's Description of a Christian

Greetings and welcome to the midweek service from beacon Baptist Church in Burlington, North Carolina. You have joined us by way of lifestream and we are continuing to conduct our services. In this manner the regular times Wednesday night, 7 o'clock Sunday morning 930 Sunday evening at 6 o'clock. We would encourage you to join us for any and all of those times as your schedule allows beacon congregation. We hope you will make that a priority be present with us. It is challenging to not be able to assemble together to greet one another to to talk and to catch up with one another and find out what's going on in the lives of our seasoning of our fellow church members.

Hopefully this trial will be coming soon to an end. But as long as the Lord ordains, we will continue on in this fashion waiting for our government to tell us when they will be happy for us to begin eating once again it's already happening in other places. I received information today from a church in a nearby state that will be having their first public meeting this coming Sunday, May 10, but with a lot of restrictions. They are urging people to stay home with their sick.

If they're not well if there if they're older. If they're afraid they have any concerns whatsoever about going out in this situation to please stay at home and to view the service by lifestream, but for those who are able, they are invited to come they have in that particular church marked out to killer places on the pews for people to sit so that the be scattered around the auditorium and will be able to maintain a 6 foot social distance.

There will be no nursery there will be no Sunday school meetings that will be not Sunday night service at this church, but normally there would be starting out with a morning worship service in this fashion. I rather believe that when we are able to meet. It will be something similar to begin with and then gradually, little by little will be moving into a full schedule. Services.

But as you know, if you live in the state of North Carolina.

We are moving into phase 1 of of the reducing restrictions very soon. I think I think it begins on Friday and maybe Monday but it happens very soon and a few things are loosening up and are now considered to be permissible, that were not permissible prior to this time, but there's still a lot of things that are being restricted and so far no, no restriction has been lifted on the assembling of people together in groups of more than 10 so that still remains in place. I also noticed with some regret that in phase 1 barbershops and beauty salons are not allowed to open either. I'm doing the best I can but it's been a long time since I've had a haircut, my dear wife is helping me by buying a trimming around the edges but the if they don't live that restriction pretty soon, then I'm going to know what I'm going to do any rate they are.

There are needs that we hope will be taken care of before long was just a couple of announcements will actually already made the one about our lifestream schedule. But there's one other and that is for beacon folks who are aware of the Ocean City Bible conference in Ocean City, New Jersey we been sending a group to that conference every year for many many years now really ever since they first started conducting that conference at the Ocean City Baptist Church and they are scheduling it this year. It is scheduled for September 13-16. That always is the Sunday following Labor Day and it goes through Wednesday.

So, September 13-16.

They have a full slate of speakers scheduled and they are assuming that by that time. September they will not have difficulty in conducting a regular Bible conference and all that to say that if you would like to go please let us know particularly get word to Pastor Carnes who helpfully year-by-year takes care of the registration for us and let him know of your interest so that he can reserve a proper number of seats for people reference number places for people from our church because when they open registration on September 13.

If it's like it was when they open registration. Rather, on May 13. If it's like it has been in years past, they may fill up very very quickly.

I don't know if if the covert situation will change that. But that's the way it is been.

In fact, more recently, they have generally filled up all of their places by just a matter of days and so if you're interested in going a please let us know as of right now I will be leading the group this year.

We take turns of the different pastors and so I go one year.

Pastor Carnes goes one year. Pastor Bob, the tour goes one year and it is time for me to go again and I'm hoping in God's goodness allow me to do that and I hope that many of you will be able to join me at that time. I enjoyed hearing our congregation sing the opening hymn that you probably heard of you to indemnity logged on at the at the regular time. For those of you are not members of beacon if the use recognize that or did not recognize that as a him that you have ever seen at a hymnal or some before, don't be surprised because actually it is not found in any hymnal is a hymn written by Pastor Bob mature one of our pastors. He's written a number of hymns that we enjoy singing here and that is one of them.

Here are the words of another hymn Lamb of God, though now are seated high upon thy father's throne. All thy gracious work completed all thy mighty victory one every knee in heaven is bending to the Lamb for sinners slain every voice and harpist swelling worthy is the Lamb to rain Lord in all thy power and glory. Still, thy thoughts and eyes are here watching Lord I ransomed people to thy gracious heart so dear dial for them or dinner seating everlasting is thy love and the blessed rest preparing in our father's house above Lamb of God, thou soon in glory will to this sad earth, return all thy flow shall quake before the all that now despise the morning then thy saints shall rise to meet the with the in thy kingdom.

Rain dined the praise and dined the glory Lamb of God for sinners slain shall we pray, our heavenly father we bow in your presence again unworthy sinners who are worthy of condemnation by thy marvelous grace have been plucked out of the burning have been rescued out of death have been brought from the darkness into the light and how we thank you for it. How you how we thank you that your son came to earth and became a man and lived that perfect life that we are required to live in did not and died that death upon the cross that we deserve to die, including being separated from you, Lord God, his heavenly father. The separation which we deserve, but nevertheless he took it in the place of those who trust in him, and rose again from the dead and then ascended back to heaven where he is even now interceding for his people upon the earth and watching over us from heaven and father. What a great comfort. We taken that in these days of challenge and difficulty in many things that could cause us to be afraid. We take confidence in knowing that the one who gave himself for us, the one who conquered death, one who rose again from the grave, the one he was demonstrated power over death over said over Satan is now raining in heaven, and watching carefully over the events upon the earth and is protecting his dear people, even now, therefore, Lord, we realized that more secure is no one ever in the loved ones of the Savior, Savior, and we take our comfort in that. And I trust in you overcomes the fears and uncertainties of life that I heavenly father we pray that you will meet with us as we gather together in this fashion you will bind our hearts together in Christian love, you will open our minds to receive with faith. Your word and that Jesus Christ will be honored and what we do as we ask it now in his name or government official of the week for this week is vice president Michael R pants please remember him in prayer, along with other government officials. We have a number of praises to thank the Lord for them to ask you to join us in praising God. My own mother Mary Barkman who was not expected to live.

This time well little more than a week ago actually nine or 10 days ago, was pronounced in transition by hospice has rallied has been moved out of the category of being entrance transition.

Her vital signs have returned to normal and she is doing well at the moment.

We thank the Lord. From that for that Angela Boyd member of our congregation has celebrated 12 months covering from her double organ transplant surgery last year on April 4.

We thank the Lord for that she still has to be careful but she has survived the first year and that is a milestone we rejoice in that we thank the Lord that Kirk Kramer has recovered from pneumonia, a nephew of Stephen Lori Gagnon in Indiana whom we have been praying and we thank the Lord that Doris Philip the is home from rehab and doing well.

That's an aunt of Cheryl Ingold now. Please pray for my dear wife Marty, who fell while I was in South Carolina to visit my mother last week fell and cracked two ribs.

That's what happens when you let your wife out of your sight to understand and so she's recovering from that it's very painful and so play pre-display for. Please pray for her. Please pray for Drew Guthrie who is a Brian Center, Southpoint rehabilitation and is expected to be there for about two weeks and then they think shall be strong enough to go home as she is facing. Of course, cancer and cancer treatment continue to pray for our pope, a member of our church who has been struggling with COPD for number of years and has been struggling especially hard in these last couple of weeks were glad to report to Shirley Watkins has been able to go home from the hospital where she went for a couple of days ago.

They determined she had a blood clot in her long they were able to dissolve it with medicine and sent her home for further recovery. We continue to pray for the Dell lorries Scott and Emil and Daniel who are separated by many miles and desire to be joined together in the Philippine Islands.

We are praying for Scott McMillan, who has an infection in both hips. This is a friend of Leanne Michael Hannon and for Terry Owen who is home from rehabilitation and continues to need our prayers. We are thankful that missionary Paul Snyder has improved somewhat, but still has a ways to go before he will be strong enough to return to Indonesia and we are still waiting word for missionary Stuart Waugh in Johannesburg. The has been able to schedule a liver transplant there waiting now for a suitable donor and please pray please pray for him, that God will supply that donor very soon. We are joining our hearts in sympathy for the passing of Alma Riley, the mother of Marcy Councilman who died last week and was buried on Saturday and all of us today are adjusting unfortunately with his covert situation to to not being able to have a public funeral service but nevertheless we pray for, pray for the Riley family at this time. I have some missionary communications that I'd like to read, well, a couple thank you notes to start with then some missionary communications.

This first thank you note comes from Jeannie Duncan Ennis in regard to the passing of her husband, Mike Ennis, who died. I guess it's been a couple of weeks, maybe three weeks ago now and I Jeannie is the daughter of members of this church patent Betty Duncan Jeannie lives in Fayetteville. She writes dear beacon family. Thank you so much for your faithful prayers for my husband during his illness. Mike is now in the Lord's presence where there is fullness of joy.

Lord's goodness in sustaining power have been evident in all evident all throughout this trial. He is our good and faithful sovereign and we will trust his will thank you for such precious love from the body of Christ, looking unto Jesus signed Jeannie Duncan Ennis in this thank you card from the Loma Riley family dear Pastor B&B can congregation. Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers you sent to honor by mother's passing.

The prayers and meals that were provided was a blessing to our family.

The love and concern of the beacon Saints is overwhelming.

I'm so thankful that we belong to such a loving and caring church that shows such love and concern to others knowing that mom is with the Lord is the most important thing she's walking in and out of the wheelchair, praising our Lord, thank you for all you do to serve our Lord love in Christ, Bruce in Marseilles. Councilman this communication from Thad Boyd in regard to his wife Angela he says on April 14, Angela Angela set up celebrated 12 months of recovery from double organ transplant surgery. We are thankful to God for his blessing and for the beacon Baptist Church family for so much love, prayer and encouragement.

At this point it would be good to note this milestone in the praises column did a moment ago. We will continue to need the Lord's help, but we are at the life visit will be from now on staying normal so we passed that communication on to you now couple of missionary communications.

First of all, from Tom and Connie Chapman in Chile who asked us to pray for a friend of theirs by the name of Roberto and their writing to say thank you for praying so faithfully for Roberto. He had covert, 19 your prayers have been and are being answered round a week ago for a little more.

Roberto was moved from ICU to a common room in the traumatology area. There he was gradually weaned from the ventilator he stayed in that room for several more days as his body became accustomed to breathing on its own is quite weak but gaining strength each day because of the number of tubes in his body. His voice is very weak.

However, a few days ago he was able to speak briefly with his wife and children on the phone but then a suddenly a couple of days ago they decided letting go home. There were some problems finding an ambulance to take him one was secured in Tuesday evening. He was taken back to his home in show show on where he is now with his family resting under the care of his wife. We appreciate your prayers for us because of our age. They are in their 70s because of our age. We are considered high risk, but our greatest concern is that Connie has a history of lung problems including pneumonia.

The last episode being this past February Tom almost never goes out something that fits his introverted personality just fine but Connie goes out once a week to buy food. In fact that's what she's doing right now. It concerns me and I have offered to go in her place, but with good reason. She said she would rather do it, thus avoiding a food catastrophe for us and being more socially inclined. It's good for her to get out now and then she wears a mask and gloves and everyone here seems to be careful about maintaining distance so thus far. She has done well. However, when you think of us. Please pray for protection, especially Connie on Thursday mornings is a little idea of what's going on with children in other parts of world.

Read another communication that lines in just a moment before I do that I want to read this letter from Pastor Kyle quite community Baptist Church in Elmendorf, Texas, three or four maybe five or six weeks ago.

Now I like kind of lost track of time. He emails a number of churches to present a need for a church in Siberia that he stays in touch with that was losing their rented building their rented they were renting an apartment for church services and he was being offered to them for sale but they didn't have the money to purchase it, which was the equivalent of $30,000 and in their area. They will no longer be able to rent a building they either have to own one or they are shut out. So the appeal went out and this is the report dear pastors, writes Kyla been waiting for all promised contributions to arrive before sending this update, God has blessed tremendously. Three churches join me in giving thanks Safari churches in the United States have contributed a total of 23,500. I expect a bit more may arrive, but we will begin the transfer now so that they will have the funds on hand before the end of May to make the purchase of the meeting place for the church in most lamps eat I LL I MSK churches in Siberia have collected a little over $4000 and I'm told that there's been a commitment of a couple thousand dollars from England.

Altogether, these funds will be sufficient to make the purchase. In a legal matter, manner and permit the brethren to make some needed improvements to the small but adequate meeting space brother surgery will oversee the distribution of the funds, etc. along with Eddie set photo of the church in the meeting place. I know you can't see it anyway. Here they are smiling broadly because they have now received the Lord's provision of these promises Lord's provision to be able to purchase this meeting place and to continue to bear testimony to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Probably the only testimony of that kind in their area and I finally I want to read a letter from Tony and Kathy Payne in South Africa in the Cape Town area down the down in the southern southwestern part of South Africa almost, almost to the end of the country go beyond the gate. Here in the in the ocean and keep keep going you will be in Antarctica before long. But any rate, this tells a little bit of what's going on in their situation because of covert, 19 greetings on this lovely fall day from Cape Town to Cape Town or we are still under lockdown begin on March 26.

On May 1 we completed 35 days of total lockdown known as level V.

During level V only one family member was allowed to go to the grocery store and only essential items such as food and medicine were sold. I managed to do all the shopping at a nearby grocery store going once a week with Kathy's list. Usually, I was able to find everything, but occasionally some vegetables were missing from the produce section, are nearby grocery was closed a few days due to some cases of covert, 19 being diagnosed among the workers.

The total cases diagnosed since our first case in March, 559 days ago is 7220 Cape Town is now the epicenter of the virus. For South Africa with 45% of the countries cases the Cape Town convention center has been turned into an 800 bedsit facility for covert, 19, and most of our hospitals have tents for receiving covert, 19 patients. This weighs heavily on our hearts in the ministry and Ed Endo thought some things have been occurring with the recorded recorded messages that I sent out to our church family. The number of nonchurch or unsaved family and friends are listening to the messages and Saturday members unsaved husband phoned to tell me that he was so disappointed that he was going to miss Sunday's message because he had been called to return to work on Sunday. I did not know he had been listening.

Please pray for Jeffrey salvation. Several others are listening along with regular attendance and he names them.

We covet your prayers for our young nurse Tracy who works in one of the government hospital's emergency department.

She is seeing cases as they spike and is concerned that she not become infected. They provide some personal put detection equipment, but not all that is recommended. She has a husband and three young daughters foster mother and three brothers who all share a small multifamily dwelling self isolation will not be possible in their home, she becomes infected. Tracy and her husband are our most stable and spiritually healthy family unit and he says when we moved to level IV lot on this Friday, a few people could return to work but still no gatherings of any kind except for funerals and no schools until June or July. We are now able to take walks within 5 km of our home between 6 and 9 AM.

We have been thankful for this new privilege masks and social distancing are mandatory.

Many people continue to complain about the total ban on the sale of tobacco and alcohol. Please continue to pray for Kathy in the loss of her brother Dave on April 13 breathing at a distance stable course was in the states since she was unable to travel to the USA made the death even sadder. Our people are grieved to not be able to come see her personally give her comfort. My mother is maintaining her present level of kidney function through dialysis three times a week. She is praying we will be able to be in the USA for her 85th birthday in September. We are praying that the airports will be opened up by August.

Thanks for much for your faithful support and administrative make God bless you, but I think that's all I will share by way of missionary letters and I will encourage you now to open your Bibles to John chapter 17 as we take a look at Christ's description of a Christian we find this in the high priestly prayer in John chapter 17 word Christian is a very common term. It is bandied about many times with very little thought about what the what the title means, except that in the case of many people. It means not Muslim, not Buddhist, not some other religion, but rather of the not Jewish, but but Christian of the Christian religion. Other people will recognize that that's not an adequate definition that there is more involved in being a genuine Christian event. What I just described, but there even among people who call themselves Christians.

There a lot of competing ideas and erroneous ideas about what a Christian is as well as a lot of correct ideas as well and in the Bible you will find different descriptions in different places so what I'm going to point us to tonight is not the only place in the Bible or we find an accurate description of what a Christian is and the description that were going to look at tonight is not comprehensive. There other things other places the Bible that we could add to this description. But I think will be helpful tonight if we will look at the words of Jesus Christ himself and see how Jesus describes what we call a Christian now. The term Christian was not used by Jesus. In fact, the term Christian is not found in the Bible until we get to ask Chapter 11. That's the first place where it is found in there. We are told that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch and so that becomes the first use of that term Christian, which now is so common that it is generally the most common term that is used for one who identifies in some way with Jesus Christ. Other terms, of course, are to be born again to be saved to be a believer to be a disciple of Christ and so forth are a number of different terms which can be and ought to be used for this person who has a saving relationship with Jesus Christ but Christian I say is the most common term and that's the one that I'm going to use tonight I'm going to read in the moment the first six verses of Christ's high priestly prayer in John chapter 17. Why do we call it Christ high priestly prayer Christ is the high priest of his people, and as high priest.

He represents his people, especially in the Old Testament the high priest represented the covenant people of Israel when he went into the holy of holies once a year to sprinkle blood upon the mercy seat. He was not representing the Philistines. He was not representing the Moabites, he was not representing anyone else except the Israelites who were in a special covenant relationship with God Almighty. He was their high priest in a way that he was not high priest to other people in the world will in a similar fashion in actually a fuller fashion.

Jesus Christ is high priest of those who are who belong to him.

He represents us before the father.

He has offered his own blood in order to atone for our sins and in John chapter 17. He prays for his own.

That's why we call this is high priestly prayer because he's not praying for the world. In fact, he states that emphatically in this very prayer when he says I pray for them. Verse nine. I do not pray for the world. But for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. So that's why we call it the high priestly prayer Christ because it is a prayer in which he takes the position who does takes up the work of the high priest who represents a particular people they people that he has a special relationship with he represents them before the throne of God and this is the prayer that is recorded in John chapter 17 becomes at the end of the upper room discourse, which began in chapter 13 Jesus gathered his disciples together and instituted the Lord's table out of that last Passover meal that they observed together and began to prepare them for his death, and departure from this world. That preparation continues in chapters 418 and 15 and 16 and then we come to chapter 17 Christ is still the presence of these disciples and this high priestly prayer I would consider still to be part of his preparation of them or his departure because he is prayer of those spoken to the father is spoken aloud for his disciples to hear as well so they are being instructed by these words which Jesus speaks.

Someone has said that this prayer of Christ in John chapter 17 probably would best be called the Lord's prayer I say best be called.

I think high priestly prayer may be a better term, but in contrast with the prayer that we generally call the Lord's prayer. This is really the Lord's prayer, the one we call the Lord's prayer is not Christ's prayer, not his own prayer.

You may recall that this is what he taught his disciples to pray when they asked him to teach them to pray or teach us to pray in John taught his disciples and Jesus said when you pray, say, our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power of the glory forever.

Amen. That is generally called the Lord's prayer, but that would better be called the disciples prayer Jesus taught the disciples to pray that he gave the words to use when they prayed, do you use those words when you pray I do.

We don't generally use those words in our church services will be pray that many churches do, but I use those words in my own prayers to the Lord. I use them as a pattern.

I generally elaborate upon the as I pray through the Lord's prayer is a good exercise is a very very very helpful exercise because that is the purpose for which it was given to teach the followers of Jesus Christ. How to pray. It's a simple prayer but it's a profound prayer and it teaches us a great deal we come in John chapter 17 we have Christ's prayer the Lord's prayer is high priestly prayer which begins in this way, Jesus spoke these words lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said father, the hour has come. Glorify your son that your son also may glorify you as you have given him authority over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him, and this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work which you have given me to do and now will father, glorify me together with yourself, with the glory which I had with you before the world was. I have manifested your name to the man whom you have given me out of the world they were yours. You gave them to me and they have kept your word. In this high priestly prayer 26 verses, as recorded in John chapter 17 we see that first of all, Jesus prays for himself.

Verses one through five I read those. Secondly, Jesus prays for his disciples apart may be more accurately his apostles. Verses six through 19 and I just read the first of those verses and then finally Jesus prays for all of his people, not just the apostles but all of his people in verses 20 through 26 for he says in verse 20. I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word. Those who be leaving the gospel is proclaimed by these apostles become followers of Jesus Christ.

Christ is praying for them as well so he's praying first for himself. Secondly, for his apostles and then thirdly for all believers in Jesus Christ, but no how does Jesus describe a Christian there's a fourfold description in verse six, the Christian is number 11 who first belonged to the father.

The Christian number two is one who has been given to the sun. The Christian number three is one to whom the son has manifested the father's name in the Christian number four is one who has kept the father's word that's the way Jesus describes a true Christian, and it would be good for us to become familiar with his description. First of all, that we will say that a Christian is one who belonged to the father before he belonged to the sun. That's what he said in verse six, I have manifested your name to the man whom you have given me out of the world they were yours. You gave them to me and they have kept your word. Those who first belonged to the father. They were yours said Jesus else clear that he is praying about a particular group of people is not praying about everyone or for everyone as we already saw from verse 23 he says very specifically, I pray for these. I do not pray for the world. So when it says those who first belonged to the father. He cannot be talking about belonging to the father by right of creation, because everyone belongs to God in that sense, all human beings owe their existence to God all their life to God all their presence in in this world.

The fact that they are living and breathing in our here in this world to the creative life giving act of God in all of us belong to God in that way, and all should recognize God's rightful claim upon our lives as our create tour that can't be what Jesus is talking about here because he's talking about those who belong to the father in a way that others do not belong to the father is talking about a special group of people who are attached to Jesus Christ in a special way and who are not, therefore, of the world is talking about those as you go down through this prayer who are no longer of the world who have been brought out of the world even though they are left in the world for a time but do not belong to the world is talking about a special belonging to the father and what he's talking about. Of course, are those who belong to the father by sovereign's election or what we often call because the Bible calls it, because by the father's election and that is the way in which a multitude of people belong to God in a way that others do not.

It is a group that had been selected by God the father and in am an active sovereign choice that precedes the creation of the world and certainly in a way that predates any involvement on the part of a man or woman himself, that is the special relationship that God's people have to God the father they belong to him because he has laid claim upon them in selecting them out of the mass of humanity for a special relationship to himself.

They belong first to God the father. Whenever you bring up the doctrine of election, which is found all throughout the Bible. It's amazing how those who who are Christians and who read the Bible study it to Tucson level of seriousness can study the Bible, sometimes for years and never really see the doctrine of election and then coming to see it.

They marvel at how much it is found in the Bible that they didn't see before.

Why did I see that before it's everywhere. I can't tell you how many people have told me that in here it is again. That's exactly what Jesus is talking about. I have manifested your name to the men whom you have given me out of world they were yours. The Bible doctrine of election now course, there many objections the doctrine of election. I don't really have time to go into all of the objections and answer them all.

But let me simply say some people object to it because it would seem to them that if that is the case if God's people have been chosen by him before the foundation of the world that that in some way invalidates my hands right to choose to choose Christ and yet the Bible talks in terms of coming to Christ and choosing Christ in some way. Well, I must say that the doctor election does nothing to invalidate man's right to choose.

If there is such a right, but he doesn't do anything to disturb that what it does is addresses man's fundamental inability to choose. We are under a delusion in thinking that man has this on fettered on encumbered on hindered ability to choose that he is free to do regardless of what God does or does not do with him. When the Bible teaches over and over and over that man has no such ability. The natural man. We are told in one text, and there are many others as well. The natural man. We are told does not understand the things of the spirit of God, cannot understand the things of the spirit of God, he both does not and cannot because the foolishness to him.

Paul tells us that in the Corinthian epistle and if, therefore, man cannot understand the things of the spirit of God. How can he make a unhindered choice for Christ so what will it take for a human being dead in trespasses and sins spiritually blind because of his sin, unable to understand spiritual truth.

He may understand many intellectual facts and information from the Bible but cannot really understand the spiritual truth and meaning of the Bible in the in the meaning of salvation, the meaning of coming to Christ.

The Bible tells us that he has no such ability to do that so what will enable him to choose Christ. Unless God does something for him and to him and within him to enable him to make that choice.

That's with the doctrine of election addresses it "it's the first step in a number of events, a chain of events that eventuate in man being able to choose Christ to otherwise could not and would not far from invalidating man's right to choose. He's got the right. He just never exercise that unless God has mercy upon him, and does something within his heart.

First to give him that ability and desire. That's what this doctrine of election does so. We are describing a Christian how to describe Christian the Christian is one who first belonged to the father but what else the Christian is one. Secondly, who has been given by the father to the son. I have manifested your name to the men you have given me out of the world they were yours.

You gave them to me and they have kept your word.

They were given to the sun. This refers to some Trinitarian agreement again before the world began. Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who was slain the foundation. All of this was was arranged before the world was ever created and in eternity past, God the father said I have chosen the people. People who are not yet born of people in a world that is not yet been created.

But all of this will come to pass, but I have chosen the people and he knows every one of them intimately by name, I have chosen a people and I'm going to give them to you. The sun in this mysterious triune Godhead made up of three persons, father, son and Holy Spirit who are at the same time, one God, not three gods but also at the same time, three persons, not one person in God the father says I am giving these two the sun as your reward for the work of redemption that is necessary for them to to be brought out of darkness into light out of death into life. And so they were given to the sun.

In some Trinitarian agreement before the world was created and they are given to the sun as a reward for his redemptive work upon the cross listened carefully to the last two verses of Isaiah chapter 53 well-known chapter. Most people know the first verse is quite well who has believed our report is the arm of the Lord revealed and so forth.

All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned every one to his own way, but the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

And then we read this in verse 11 key speaking of this one, upon whom the iniquity the sins that the guilt and the judgment of the payment for sins is laid, we read, he shall see the labor of his soul. Labor of dying and being separated in agony of bearing the sins the sinless one bearing the sins of memory, millions of people down through the centuries of mankind, but he shall see the labor of his soul and be satisfied by his knowledge my righteous servant shall justify many, therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul unto death, and he was numbered with the transgressors and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors because of his willingness to come and to die and to redeem sinful people unto God, to atone for the sins of these people.

This these many that are referred to here because of that he's going to be rewarded. He will see the travail of his soul. All that it takes in order to redeem a people and the satisfied he satisfied with the reward of those who are given to him by the father so they are given to the sun and the Trinitarian agreement. They are given to the sun as a reward for his travail in the atonement.

They are given to the sun as a shower, which as a responsibility as something that he must accomplish the given to him as a project we might say specifically in the beginning of this prayer after Jesus prays for himself. He's praying for the apostles and describing them in the terms that I have given to you, but as I've already pointed out, he makes it clear that this prayer covers all who believe in him, not just the apostle.

I do not pray for these alone.

Verse 20, but also for those who will be leaving me through their word.

So these words about the display describe Christian those who belonged to the father first and secondly, those who work given to the sun that is a description of all who saving. We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. What is the third description those to whom the son manifested the father's name. I have manifested your name to the men whom you have given me out of the world. Those to whom the son manifested the father's name to get a special for special manifestation special revelation that is not given to everyone. He has manifested the father's name. He has displayed the father's name. He has revealed he has made plain the father's name. The father's name stands for the person of the father for who the father is his person's character his attribute, and Jesus the Christ the son has revealed the father the true nature of the father, the character of the father, the glory of the father.

The beauty of the father has revealed God the father to these people in such a way that they admire him that they worship him that there drawn to him that they are delighted to come to him and to be identified with him and that is a description of a Christian. Those whom the son or to whom the son has manifested the father but there's one more and that is this a Christian is one who has kept the father's word. I have manifested your name to the men whom you have given me out of the world they were yours. You gave them to me and they have kept your word that describes a true Christian those who have kept the father's word. What does that mean what's a word that means have treasured have guard have protected the father's word because it means so much to them doesn't mean that they have kept everything perfectly, because as long as we are in this world we still stumbling but it does mean that they don't treasure the father's word selectively. They don't say I like that all keep that part all treasure that part I don't like that I don't agree with that. I will keep that part someone who acts like that must not be a Christian because he is not one is keeping the father's word. All of it may not understand at all perfectly but he treasures it all. He values it all he keeps it all and he does so persevering that he keeps it up. That's Christ description of a true Christian.

The question I have for you tonight is, does this describe you, what is a true Christian will be given to you again. He is one first of all, who belonged to the father. Secondly, one who was given by the father to the son. Third one, to whom the son manifested father's name that is revealed, the beauty of the character of the thrice holy God number 41 who has kept and is keeping the father's word. Does that describe you, you say well I don't know how to evaluate number one into whether I first belong to the father and have been given by the father to the son, that's true. You can't really tell if you fit into category one and to accept by category three and four.

If you are one to whom the father the son has manifested the father's name. That is, to whom God has become real and precious and delightful. Do you and that's evidence that you belong first of the father never given to the son, and if you are one who treasures God's word, who keeps it delights and it who studies it, who follows it, who desires to understand it better and to apply it into your life more faithfully than that indicates that all of these characteristics no doubt belong to you and if this doesn't describe you. You may have considered yourself a Christian until you heard this message tonight. What should you do go to Christ, he is able is able to manifest the father to you in this way that draws out your faith and love and adoration to him.

He is able to give you a love for his word and a desire to keep it. He's able to make those changes in your heart and life and therefore go to him, and cast yourself upon his mercy and say Lord Jesus. Please do this for me I can't do it I can do it in myself. I can't do it by myself. I don't have it within myself to do this little Lord God, you can do.

You are able, you have the power and you have shown plenteous grace. All Lord please bestow this grace upon the and will the sun ever turned away anyone who humbly comes to him in this way I can assure you those who come to him, he will in no wise cast out.

Shall we pray father seal this word to our hearts and lives tonight.

Father seal this word to the heart of someone who until tonight was outside of Christ, Lord, use it to draw to yourself, those who are in need of salvation father want to thank you for your answer to prayer in regard to Mary Barkman.

My mother and Angela Boyd and preserving her in these 12 months from her very difficult and challenging double transplant surgery. We thank you for raising up Kurt Kramer to health again and likewise with Doris ability for tonight for my wife Marty that you might help her ribs to heal and for Drew Guthrie that her time in the rehabilitation center will be helpful and productive in restoring health to her. We pray for our talk. You might help him with his COPD and Shirley Watkins as she returns from the hospital to her home that you might give her healing and strength we pray. Likewise, for Scott DeLorean his family that she will reunite them in for Scott McMillan that has this difficult condition. In both of his hips.

We also pray for Terry, Owen, that you might help her to regain the use of her limbs.

Once again, and we pray for missionary call Snyder and for Trevor Johnson, both of whom are recovering from illness and for our dear brother Stuart Waugh. You might speedily bring that transplant which is needed in order to extend his life upon the earth, and to continue that ministry which you entrusted into his care. Father watch over all of your people, and particularly the pray that you watch over each member. The beacon congregation, Lord, keep us from straying keep our hearts in love with you.

The Lord Jesus Christ and faithful to and preserve us. So Lord until we can gather together again, and we ask these blessings in Jesus name