John Chapter 17:14-26

People will be drawn to God. The word of God through your testimony. You know I share my testimony but I don't get in the gory details because I want to get Lori my gory past a lot of stupid things that some of testimony. My testimony is that our walk with the Lord today to clarify the efficacy we got Hughes coming up in the church that aren't doing these incredibly stupid things I did the last thing I want them to do is hear how stupid I was and they think walk me testimony interested different stuff.

Sorry. Come back in August.

Be an idiot enough that that's not your testimony, your testimony is that you walk with the Lord now welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina plus to have with this program. Brown, one of David's associate pastors and about today seeking true true. Indeed, you know that your testimony has the power to change a life you should share your story, your God story with others today pastor Dave explains in her testimony as he continues in the Gospel of John chapter 17. Now here's David McGee with the final part of the six poor teaching. The real Lord's prayer last week in John 17. We can ended up on verse 14, but there's something else on a cover there, 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 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 importantly Jesus and were following Jesus should be important, say men select 314. 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. I do not pray that you should take them out of the world did you should keep them from the evil one. They are not the world, just as I am not of the world, sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world.

I also have sent them into the world only a 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 hide out in these four walls. God's design is that the church should go into the world. Not that we passively just gonna sit here and wait for people to show up now, but be actively inviting them actively talking to them about Jesus and about what's going on here 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've commanded you. And while I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Jesus ago go. What's amazing is some people that way and I really have been called to evangelism me I'm in college eventually Jesus ago into a go except that one person or Kernersville, you can stay know he said go all of us. We want people to go from being an unbeliever to a believer in our jobs over right no Jesus and make disciples see people going from unbelievers to believers to disciples and the nose, disciples, back and help and reach unbelievers and believers turn in the disciples as a biblical model that's the vision of this church, unbeliever, believer, disciple, you should be able to surmise is what you all about teaching the word sharing the gospel in moving people from an unbeliever believer to decide everything that we do we look at that was a have anything to do this if done right, and others. A lot of cool stuff we could do a lot of neat stuff but it does have some to do this when I got see in order to reach the unbeliever when I just consider go well let's just pray that they come in God like go to hello there's time to pray is time to do.

And if you're going to pray.

I would suggest you pray for us as you know I got forgive me for being content doing little or nothing. While the world slips off in the hell I want you being content like that seat when we see that it's the pastors job or the church's job. Ephesians 4 says very plainly that I am to equip you guys to do the work of the ministry's are you doing Jesus in John chapter 20 verse 21 says so Jesus said to them again. Peace to you as the father has sent me also send you to not talk about evangelism but let me qualify that little bit there several questions that you can ask people when you're in a conversation with them about the Lord and and we we always say what's your relationship with Jesus or what you think about Jesus as a great starting place at the great starting place was out of Street witness not on a strip one night and everybody that I talked to was safe is amazing kids that smelled like weed, glassy and say Jesus do people who been drinking people who were Dragon all yeah all in four years ago and you and I started thinking that it's not just the question, do you think you're safe there. Do you academically believe in Jesus?

Are you living for God.

Are you living for God. People will what you mean limb forgot what you and fellowship, go to church every now and again every now we ask a question.

This analogy came up district if you were fighting the world champion in six months. Would you begin be content training for about once a month.

Now you would be training what several times a day exactly exactly. So in our training and our preparation, we should be plugged in like that and we should present that people of your following Jesus. What if you got it all down in your sandwich or visit the church once a month go for. God bless you.

I'd love to hear from, but if you like the rest of us in your struggle and you need all the encouragement you can get you in fellowship constantly constantly not occasionally constantly the people here know you and you know some people here. I don't know mean everybody this point I'm not sure any of us can know everybody do you know if you select people that if you don't show up there on calling that's what small groups are about inviting at deeper intimate relationship. We should be asking these questions of one another because you know what that is been said we might be the only Bible that some people every in there looking and they want to know the truth and see where the link we hear the link from a loving God who offers salvation to a lost and dying world who need salvation. We are the only link we are at word that you know the missing link. We are at times the missing link if you will only go ahead without analogy. At times we are the weakest link. Don't be the weakest link because you're the only between some people in heaven first. 19 and for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth and again were told in Ephesians 5, part of how that sanctification happens were told verse 17 Ephesians 526 is that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word. The life lesson. The word of God helps us to grow and sets us apart for special use the word of God helps us to grow and sets us apart for special use.

This is an amazing, it's a supernatural book.

Think sometimes we forget that seat the word of God in spirit of God joined together to cause us to grow in him, and to grow closer to him and to be drawn along the path that brings us closer and closer to him now there's three term sanctification is one of them. Let me map is out salvation as I am saved, the moment you asked Jesus to forgive your sins you're forgiven her safe. But then there's something progressive that begins to happen and that sanctification as you begin to let go of the things of the world. Let go of sin and let go of selfishness and you I am being say that sanctification that ultimately we have glorification will be safe. At some point you're no longer struggle of the flesh are no longer struggling with sin you've been glorified. So those are the three phases of you will salvation. Now let me go back to the person just so were all clear.

Getting saved is not a process, it is something that happens like that it happens in a moment. But the working out of your salvation takes a lifetime.

And then at the end of that lifetime is the glorification we tend to think of sanctification is for our benefit suffer your benefits for others benefit Jesus just said that that they may be sanctified by the truth that they may question what is different about you and give you the opportunity to share verse 20 I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word Jesus praying for us. Jesus praying for me. Think about that next time you're going through hard times and you will you want to go to another human, and I encourage you to go :-) and asked for prayer. But before you do that understand Jesus is praying for you. Talk to Jesus about what's going on.

What an amazing thing. Now those who will believe in me through their word for word and testimony standards are two things book Revelation mentions us people will be drawn to God through the word of God and through your testimony may clarify your testimony and I always like to say this, you know I share my testimony but I don't get in the gory details. I don't do that with my testimony. I could share stuff that would just freak people out. So I do that one because I want to give glory to my gory past a lot of stupid things. That's not my testimony, my testimony is that our walk with the Lord today clarify that because he we got Hughes coming up in the church that aren't doing these incredibly stupid things I did the last thing I want them to do is hear how stupid I was and they think long ago give me testimony interested in different stuff so I come back in August been idiot enough that that's not your text but your testimony is that you walk with the Lord now test me. I encourage you to share your testimony you're listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be right back with more just a moment, but I want to remind you of the free resources available to you on cross the bridge.com there's a team of hundreds of people that will pray for somebody to be saved. You have a loved one that needs to know Jesus as Savior. You need people to pray for them.

You need someone to present God's word to them every day were present in God's were told here on cross the bridge with Pastor David McGee. We can pray for them as well. Just by simple going to cross the bridge.com and click on the pray for the lost button. All you need to do is put in the first names of the people you love that needs know Jesus as Savior. Click on submit and immediately hundreds of people begin praying for your lost loved ones. What an awesome way to bring your loved ones to Jesus. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown. They were really excited that you tuned in today and if you listen right now were 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. Specifically, the cities in 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 Lord helped him to say yes to everything that you want to do in 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 more.

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. Hey man, thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 21 that they all may be one as you father are in me and I in you, that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that you sent me while there's a lot about verse Jesus talk about unity in this verse he'll talk about this for the rest of just being one this is so important guys, now what's the primary weapon for division in the body of Christ. Your tongue now because there's a lot of time don't say things I don't say there's times where you might want say some lesion sample or you should save them to the right people see there's a problem. If you think we could do some a little better. We want to hear from. Please let us know.

Call the office set up an appointment. Talk to Deacon talk to an elder. That's a good thing.

But the moment you just turn to somebody else in this fellowship, start talking and love your and sin is causing division. Don't ever asked me to take that lighthearted because Jesus didn't take division lighthearted receipt while we read a couple verses Titus chapter 3 verse 911 system but avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and striving about the law, for they are unprofitable and useless for stent rejected divisive man.

After the first and second admonition, knowing that such persons work concerning being self condemned.

Many of you are familiar with the process of Matthew 18 Matthew 18. If somebody is in sin. You go to that brother you confront them individually if they won't respond.

You go back with another brother with another sister you confront them again if they don't respond then you asked them to leave the church is biblical. Some of your words and they're probably going that's in there you batching referred to it in Matthew 18. Regrettably, we had to do it here before, but understand according to Titus division goes to Matthew 18 it says after the first.

It says, and second, but it says after the first admonition is that guys don't be divisive. I don't think we understand how critical this is in the body of Christ. And there's a lot of places that don't deal with the vision they wink and they don't do anything about Romans 1617 says not hurt your brother know that those who calls divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. Avoid. That means don't hang out with no chat with pray with him.

Avoid them while because again division is so detrimental to the body of Christ. Life lesson years we should be protective of the unity of this body. We should be protective of the unity of this body. I am not naïve enough to think that everybody that has a problem is going to come to me, but they should succumb to somebody in leadership in an guys be careful with this one because of your if you come to a single unit such and such was talking bad about the church. As you know what leadership can ask really what you say shown that don't be caught.

There's a lot of analogies between battles and warriors in the body of Christ work were in a battle Matthew question. How serious does the military take division only have such words as mutiny. They have such work is treason and the things are dealt with quickly understand that this is a serious thing for me, this issue of division and is a serious thing to Jesus where compared to the body of Christ. This is the body look at the medical terms that are used for division in your body dislocated her played sports and dislocated something is very painful. Division calls or more serious version of separation is amputation.

Amputation or when there's a contrast of purposes in your body. You may have sales that grow rebellious and you have cancer. Think of those three words, dislocation, amputation, cancer if you heard those words from your doctor make sure just a little insight if you heard those words from your doctor. What would you sense what would you feel when you heard those things the understand that's what I feel when I hear about division in the body you want because I know people are going to get hurt. Seen sat repeatedly people get hurt over division guys don't do it. If you have fundamental problems with us. If you do if you think that Jesus is not the only way to heaven and love go find another church meet me and you're never going get along, but there's a lot of things that we can agree on and there some things that we can agree to disagree. Maybe you prefer the hymns over the rock and worship may be like the rock and worship over the hams. That's awesome. We need to fight about, but be careful division while because the enemy strategy would be to have us in fighting while because of or in fighting. You know it's not happening when I fight on the front.

God wants us to. And that's why Jesus is talking about unity repeatedly in this prayer because it's so important, so important to be careful and you know what some of you mean, we haven't talked about this. We haven't come across in Scripture. Some of you in and in love some of you probably need to repent of this even as I said this, you, you probably thought you know what that one conversation, I should need asked the Lord to forgive me, as the Lord to forgive you and perhaps asked the leader that you spoke against it forgive you and be cleansed and walk away from it because you week we got got too much to do. We have too many battles to fight to be in fighting and again Scripture tells me to take this very serious 1117 says this, but he knowing this offset the every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation.

A house divided against the house falls if I allow division of leadership here allows division allows people to go through here and run her mouth about this that the other.

That's what happened here can do that. Don't ask me to do is to Sears everything in and how many times we heard divide and conquer divide and conquer them. And you know when this happens we think the enemy does sits back and laughs and what does the world do look at these guys, Jesus that you gotta be unified as everybody else's and sit back and point and laugh and give that's a joke so important, so I spent some time on this verse 22 and the glory which you gave me. I've given them that they may be one, just as we are one again. Jesus hears claimant deity, the glory which you gave me deity wasn't ascribed to Jesus. Several hundred years later. Colossians 1 verse 1516 says he is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through him and for him, Jesus is the height of ignorance to say that in 325 all suddenly voted Jesus in the being deity that's their semi-Scriptures and hear the talk about that verse 23 I in them and you and me, that they may be perfect and one again unity and that the world may know that you have sent me, and I have left them as you love me. One amazing thing. Jesus sent the love that exists from the father to himself as the same love that exists between the father and you you are love your last your life by God is not to pull his low back is going to continue to chase you with this love verse 24. Father, I desire that they also, whom you gave me may be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which you have given me for you love me before the foundations of the world to be with me to pee with me says we get to go be with Jesus.

When we clarify if you've asked the Lord to forgive you of your sin, you get to go be with Jesus. One amazing thing. He actually wants that to happen. He wants to fellowship with us.

Revelation 21 three enforces I heard a shout from the thorns and look the home of God is now among his people.

He will live with them and they will be his people, God himself will be with them, he will remove all of their sorrows, and it will be no more death or sorrow, chronic pain for the old world and its evils are gone forever. So they look forward to the day that we lay our burdens down and the sword which were Karen can finally relax at her side.

Life lesson here is real simple if you know Jesus you're going to have the old adage is not what you know but who you know is biblical that is biblical. If you know Jesus you're going to have verse 25. All righteous father.

The world is not known you but I have known you and these of known that you sent me and I have declared it to them your name and will declare that the love was what you love me may be in them and I in the Jesus were on his heart in his Jesus is praying for you.

Jesus will see you in heaven. Jesus wants to see you in heaven so much that he died that you might have the opportunity and the ability to go there or not. It's just something that happens at the end of your life, but that all your failures can be placed behind you so that you can follow Jesus the day every day for the rest of your life. But what will you do when you sit there and say was glad you reminded me of that that's incurred and what will you do from this point on, from this day forward, what will your life be like because we have an awesome opportunity before us right now. Today, to make changes friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only 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 free, 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 from 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 taking verse by verse in the gospel of God