John Chapter 17:14-18

I'm just so busy.

Pastor David, my life is so busy forcing so you only get like 18 hours 19 hours in the day when the rest of us get 24 know we all get the same amount of time and the question is how you spend the time why just I just can't find the time to re-in love, continuing to stop. Don't say you don't have time to read the Bible.

If you ever turn on the television. Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville North Carolina today is teaching part five of the six part series on the Lord's prayer, think about this time to read the Bible you think about that money. These associate pastors brown but it's good to be here this teaching.

Change your life if you can hear my voice right now our Bibles are meant simply sit on the shelf. The word of God helps us to grow and sets us apart for special use today Pastor David's find that special use continues in the Gospel of John, chapter 17, let's listen as David shares part five of this teaching. The real Lord's prayer last week in John 17. We can ended up on verse 14, but there's something else I want to cover their but just a little background information.

What we see is the real Lord's prayer. Now I know there's a section of Scripture that we call the Lord's prayer, and in Matthew, but really that was Jesus teaching us to pray, that was not his prayer. What we have in this chapter is we have the prayer of Jesus the prayer of Jesus. We got an inside window. We can learn a lot by looking at what was important to the Lord and what he's praying about because I think we can agree that if it's important to Jesus and were following Jesus should be important, say men. July 3 14.

Again, I have given them your word in the world has hated them because they are not of the world. Just as I am not of the world to Jesus, and you know I have given them your word. We talked about that last week spent a few minutes talking about how we got the Bible and all the men went through again. You can listen that online in review that it's information that I think every Christian should know every Christian should know how we got the Bible and I don't mean necessarily studying Greek and Hebrew, but understanding how this book came to be to us so that you can have those discussions.

When the enemy comes in and attacks are to have discussions with people but Jesus here says the world has hated them because in another place that we will have tribulation. So I'm asking question why is it that that shocks us. Why is it that that surprises us. We have struggles we have trials and we have tribulation and were like was going on. Can't believe I'm going to hurt. Now granted, some of you when you gave your life to Jesus you you may have not gotten the whole explanation meet some people.

As I watch gospel presentation. Some people give this gospel presentation. It will come to Jesus and all your dreams come true and everything will be much better and you'll never have any more problems in your life and thinking boy, that's not really the gospel is seen some ways those problems even escalate. But whether you're walking with Jesus, or not walking with Jesus, you're going to have tribulation. The question is are you want to do tribulation with Jesus on your all I want to go to tribulation with Jesus. So understand that Jesus here saying what you're going to have these problems, you're going to have these things.

The world is going to hate.

So don't be surprised. Don't be shocked because the world at large is probably Jesus. Now, according to Scripture, they tried to kill Jesus 10×10 different times I tried to kill him and and what about what about the life of Paul. Let me share just in the book of acts. What we see Paul going through acts chapter 13 verse 45 says they were filled within the and contradicting and blaspheming.

They oppose the things spoken by Paul. Acts 1350 raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

Not just the tile. Acts 14 five I went to file an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews with the rulers to abuse and stone them.

Acts 1419 easy for not just a few verses later they stone Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that acts 1623 and when they had laid many strengths on them. They threw them in the prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely accepting six when they oppose them, and blasphemed.

He shook his garments, acts 1928 now when they heard this, they were full of wrath, and cried out, acts 2023, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying the change in tribulations await me the words of Paul. Acts 2222 and they listen to him until this word, and then they raise their voices and set away. It was such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live.

Acts 23, two, and the high priest in the Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Acts 2310 now when there arose a great dissension. The commander fearing lest Paul might be pulled pieces by them. Acts 2312 and 13, and when it was day. Some of the Jews banded together bound themselves under no saying that they would neither eat nor drink too late. Kill Paul now there were more than 40 good form. This conspiracy acts 24, five, and we have found this man a plague the creator dissension among all the Jews throughout the world and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes is are just a few verses could actually share more and actually you know I had that in presenting these I had to come up use pieces of the verses just to keep it moving, but look at what Paul went through now. Certainly, since he was so hosed and and so many people against them. Surely we read a lot in the Bible of Paul wine in and complaining and talking how Sinbad it was in saying he's going to quit. He wasn't going to serve anymore.

He's tired it's not in there as it is anything like that is matter fact, next 2024 pulses, but none of these things move me nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I may finish my race with joy in the ministry, which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Paul said none of these things move me, let me ask you question what moves you. What moves you ask it a different way.

What does it take to get you off track and off focus from Jesus maybe think back over the last few days. Last few weeks. What something that got you out of sorts out of character.

Whatever terminology might use what did it take to move you know what I find in my life. Let me be honest, I'm surprised.

Sometimes I am surprised at my flesh at how little it takes to move me to get me winding and complaining. We all tend to do that only Paul is such an example because we look to Jesus, there's a tendency to look at Jesus going to Jesus was God.

I'm not God. You know, we start to condone unfavorable limit, Paul Tomei probably got beat up the got stone wound up being executed and evidently he did with joy as challenging and convicting what moves you only one thing should move as the Lord that's the Lord.

So let me ask you question. Looking back, what is it taken the movie.

Be careful because that same instrument. That same person that same situation might be used to move you again. Be careful is God alone is the one that should move us in and sometimes I hear believers and say why can't do this and I can't do that you know or are the team leaders come to me while so-and-so quit serving because so-and-so looked at him wrong or you know, said the wrong thing or they assume they were thinking something bad about him and I threw up their hands and walked out while. Aren't you glad Jesus did not like that and if Jesus did not like that, brothers, sisters, we genetically now. I doubt anybody's going to come in here this morning and begin the with you and begin the beat you and begin to put a crown of thorns on your head and now you to cross and yet it takes far less for us to bolt and run should be should not be Jesus served us we should serve the Lord we should serve the Lord. Yet sometimes you're not going to like servant may be honest, I'm Pastor, you understand.

There are times when I don't feel like servant. There are times when stuff is just getting hammered. Where in my flesh is also my hands up to man I'm done, I'm outta here. Tired of this is times it happens may shock you to know that that's not an option channel consider that an option that hopefully makes you glad I have not seen their goal well was a really bad week on this quit and I'm not thinking because about that was in my thought processes.

I would revisit that every time I was in the place of tribulation lesson an option to me not serving God is not an option. To me, not serving here is not an option. To me, and you know what this is your church should be an option to get it's very biblical that we should be serving that we should be given that we should be praying for our leaders. Verse 15 I do not pray that you should take them out of the world did you should keep them from the evil one. July times week in the midst of a situation when we say Lord lighten our load.

That's a good prayer for you know often what we should be praying is not Lord lighten our load. The Lord give a stronger shoulders to carry what you've placed on us when I can be taken out of the world, we will eventually Jesus is saying you don't buy into the world. Don't philosophically and in mentally and spiritually.

Don't buy into the ways of the world.

Some people taken this and thought well I'll just go live on an island by myself in that way. Sin won't bother me. Yeah well you're taking your sin with you and I don't think that the church should hide within for all that was never God's plan.

We should be influence in the world and everywhere it and spot in sports and in film and music.arts, politics, all these things we should be influencing the world. The world influence in the church and again we talked about this last week and the week before. The fact that when we got saved we did just proof disappear as you something, God has a plan that didn't take you out like as he left you here. Why so you could whine and complain when things went bad. No, so you could be a lie in the midst of a dark world without help us why you're here. That's your purpose, you don't have to read a 200 page book. There's a purpose to go and tell him to be a lie.

Over 16 since they are not of the world. Just as I am not of the world. We don't belong to the world. Once you make a decision I'm following Jesus on following Jesus. You are saying you know I'm no longer following the world. I'm now following Jesus. I know some people try to follow the world and say the following Jesus, but it you know what I think those people are more miserable perhaps than even before they got saved because sitting on the fence is no way to live if you're following Jesus follow Jesus befallen the world don't play games. Follow follow the Lord were told. First Corinthians 723 it says you were bought at a price do not become slaves of man even purchased. If you pass the Lord to forgive you, ever since you have been purchased with the blood of the precious son of God, even Paul, so you should serve the Lord that purchased will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown. They were really excited that you tuned in today and if you listen right now.

Taking a few moments in the program to pray for cities and our listening audience.

So if you're listening right now are praying for you and specifically the cities of Missouri Springfield St. Joseph St. Louis and in Montana. Arley built Billings and Culbertson Lord, thank you for the people listening in the cities.

Thank you for the work that you're doing in their life then listening is evidence that your work. Father I pray that you would fill them with the faith to believe in what you're doing for Helton to say yes to everything that you want to do on their life. We pray for the city leaders. The mayor, the police chief. The fire chiefs. We pray that you will give them wisdom. The town Council and Lord, we pray for your Holy Spirit to pour out in these cities give the pastors wisdom help people get plugged into churches and low we thank you that we can ask for your help and expect you to move in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 17 sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth. Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth right here. We have such an overlooked verse I can't tell you, possibly hundreds of time I've had a similar conversation here. Somebody comes up and says you know I was going to the soda church and you know is, like to give you a verse or two maybe two versus on a good week and I wasn't growing and I didn't understand what was wrong just need someone right, but then I came here and I've been here three months enough grown more in three months and I have in the last 10 years.

I can't count on my fingers and toes. The times I've heard that it's not because any reason other than the fact that were focused on God's word and as we focus on God's word.

Guess what happens you get washed man you get washed you get sanctified, you get set apart you get reminded of the truth in the promises of God. And yes, in the process, you will probably get your toes stepped on occasionally. That's okay because God loves you enough to do that sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth. Another place tells us that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. These are just part of the reasons why we focus on the word of God because it is an instrument God uses to change our lives. If the only time you hear the word of God or you read the word of God is on Sunday morning don't wonder if you're not growing in your Christian walk answers are simple, you're not in the word of God. If you're not the word of God. Don't expect to grow as you question what is your teenage child or whatever during your teenage years you a once a week.

You think you'd be growing no how often do some I have to come up do you go hey, have you eaten since Sunday. I haven't eaten since Tuesday is that ever happened to you, probably not.

Why, because you reminded physically to eat.

God remind you spiritually that you need to be. And if you get week is from not eating and you know what happens you realize the more you eat, the word of God. Hungrier, you get hungrier you get for the word of God. Well, I'm just so busy. Pastor David my life is so busy.

Oh, poor thing, so you only get like 18 hours and 19 hours in the day when the rest of us get 24 know we all get the same amount of time and the question is how you spin that time. What I just I just can't find the time to read can't find the time to read first life lesson here. Take the time to read because he took the time to bleed. Take the time to read because he took the time to bleed in love, continuing to stop. Don't say you don't have time to read the Bible. If you ever turn on the television because your lien. You got time to watch television but you don't have time to be in the Bible. I mean look at it if you say to me I just don't want to read the Bible that I would encourage you to read about that, but at least you're being honest.

But when you say I don't have time. God doesn't believe you don't believe that and is not really what you're going to stand on when you get to heaven bought just enough to read that book deal. Moody said something interesting is that this book will keep you from sin and our sin will keep you from this book.

I think many of us can can acknowledge that when you begin to drift out of the word you drift into the world when you drift out the word you drift into the world. I love this quote. This book contains the mind of God, the state of man the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy precepts of finding its histories are true and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe practice to be holy contains like to direct your food to support you and comfort to cheer you. It is the travelers map, the pilgrim staff the pilots compass the soldiers sword and the Christians character. Here Paradise is restored. Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed Christ as its grand subject are good, its design and the glory of God attend, but should fill the memory test the heart and got the feet.

Read it slowly, frequently prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, the paradise of glory in a river of pleasure is given you in life will be open that the judgment be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility rewards the greatest labor and condemns all who trifle with its sacred covenant is quite a quote in it. Peter tells us first Peter chapter 2 verses verse two says as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow CS you learn the word of God as you hear the word of God as you read the word of God. The word of God begins to read you and you come face-to-face as compared to a mirror and another passage let you know okay is everything alright I would imagine most of you checked the mayor before you left town this morning. I am a recent Capote didn't your wife will be talking to you but you know there's a that mere concept of looking and CN. That's what the word of God does.

And just like you know you have a really bad night you go look in the mirror and you really want to run that make the that's what happens sometimes with the word of God in Samir. It's a good thing God wants to use the word sanctify to set you apart for special use with, twist of that word a little bit it means set a font set aside for special use. The really the word picture there in the Hebrew and the Greek is is almost taken women.

If you have jewelry probably from time to time. Polish that jewelry don't you want so that it looks nice and you know when you do that some I probably comes and goes.

When I sense really nice. Look at some that's what God wants to do with you was to polish you up and go look small boy, you know that's that's my girl liquid liquid I'm doing in their lives.

That's what the Lord subduing our life. Verse 18 as you sent me into the world.

I also have sent them into the world for any minute now.

Surely Jesus expects us just the kind of hot out near Donnie is scary out there and it is knowledge that was never the plan of Jesus that we hot out in these four walls. The life lesson here God's design is that the church should go into the world that the church should go into the world. Not that we passively just gonna sit here and wait for people to show up no but be actively inviting them actively talking to them about Jesus and about what's going on here and not waiting for them to come but going to people sharing the love of the Lord Jesus told us to be fishers of men not keepers of the aquarium. Amen. So you keep the group keep a polished gold don't get any of those street fish though Street Fishel just mess everything up, as I quickly sat be fishers of men.

Quick story when John David was a little boy we we went fishing lately and I'm not a big fisherman.

To be honest it's it's there's long drawn out silent.

Between anything happen just kill me.

So I'm not real good. I like crap but not that sufficient.

You know I went to confession just so that we could talk, you know, just so we could sit there with a line in the water. So we would go there every couple weeks and we were there for the second or third time.

You know that a city lake in the parking he he he start asked me questions. Her dad, okay, we got this hooking we got this world right in. Okay so the fishlike sees that in you know the sun shines down. They can see it in a sometimes I smell it or whatever. Again, we've been there's two or three times we had caught anything is quiet for a little while and he said that. Are you sure people catch fish like this, you got the resume got a flaw in the plan.

There's not a flaw in the plan guys.

Jesus has a perfect plan, but you know you don't go to a pond and go okay fish Khmer jump up on the bank, got my own know you got. Be proactive. You gotta be inviting you gotta be going into the world. Jesus in Matthew 28 said and Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.

And while I am with you always, even to the end of the eight Jesus ago go. What's amazing is something going on. I really have been called to evangelism and occult event Jesus ago. All of us. Source was to be: friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now own Legion. A short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him.

God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now.

Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life now done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry.

Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend.

If you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous. So congratulations bring you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio through the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com. Click on the donate button and ask God how much he would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out through cross the bridge. Thank you so much ODA before we go.

What are some ways that we can bless our listeners they can wake up with encouragement Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider daily reading and the thought to meditate on. Throughout today from the heart.

David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God