Persevering in Practice - Part 1

This podcast is made available by this increasing media thanks to the generosity of our support is your donation today means great podcasts like this remain available to help people look to God daily presentation of a nation today send out all day with so many diversions and distractions. In today's world it's easy to turn your attention from God and stumble in your Christian will is there a solution to the point of the Jeremiah says absolutely that he offers encouragement from Scripture to help you stay focused on God and his purpose for you is today's message persevering in practice is thank you so much for joining us were getting down to the end of our discussion of the life God blesses you to talk about something very important and that is staying involved in the search staying involved in the fight, staying engaged in the battle all the way through is easy to walk with the Lord in good times and in short stretches through King if you want God to bless you. Over the long haul is to stay focused and stay involved and to persevere to talk about that today and our lesson today is built upon one of the great chapters in the New Testament, chapter 17 of the book of John, so find your place there and you will be able to follow along. Just a moment. If you have her study guide, you will be in great shape to wrap your arms around this lesson started with today's lesson I want to talk to you today about the focused life and blessing comes to us from the New Testament and the 17th chapter of John. If you know your Bibles.

You know the John chapter 17 records prayer Jesus the longest prayer of Jesus that we have in all of the Bible. Now, this prayer is usually referred to as the high priestly prayer and that's probably the correct name for, but it is also accurately called the Lord's prayer because the prayer back in the early chapters of Matthew is really the disciples prayer and the prayer in John chapter 17 is the Lord's prayer. It's the prayer that the Lord prayed, and in this high priestly prayer we gather together some principles that will help us understand why the Lord's life on this earth. As the son of God was so effective now. Please remember that this prayer was not prayed in the easy days of our Lord's life. This prayer was prayed just before he went to his death.

He was about to leave the brightest days of earthly ministry and enter into the darkest night of his life. A time when he would bear the sin of the whole world time when he would hang between heaven and earth as the sin bearer for the universe and in this prayer. I believe he uncovers the very core of his heart. What was it that made Jesus what he was, as the son of God as the Son of Man, I believe if we study this prayer carefully.

We can learn that he didn't pray this prayer, so that we could admire it. He prayed the prayer in the hearing of his disciples so they could be recorded so that we could listen to it and learn from it.

For in this prayer are the keys to his life and he is given us this prayer in such a way as to help us understand that these principles are not just principles that he followed but there principles for us as well. There is a wonderful way to explore this as we look together at this prayer and I want to take the time at the front end of this message to do it because the problem were going to face as we take a few moments and study the Lord Jesus and his life is that were going to feel like it's the untouchable life for like all this is all right for Jesus but it's not for us.

It's all right that Jesus could live such a focused life. After all he was the son of God, but I believe that the Lord Jesus has gone out of his way. In this prayer to relate these principles to us so that we would never believe they were just theological truths for deity. They are practical truths for humanity and he's done it through the keyword that is used in the prayer now. If you have your Bibles open the John 17 you could probably just Peru's the chapter and suggest some keywords you might want to use the word world.

It appears in their quite a few times, and the word glory is found a few times in this chapter, but there's a little word that really is the keyword to understanding the text, and it's the little to letter word as AES in order to demonstrate that I want to take you through these verses and show you what the Lord Jesus has done simply by using that little word as it appears for the first time in the second verse. Jesus said, as you have given him authority over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him the word as there relates to us the truth about Jesus and his father and helps us to understand that the truth about Jesus and his father is also the truth about Jesus and us.

In other words, our relationship to Jesus Christ and many of these key areas is the same relationship that Jesus Christ has to his father here in this first expression we learn in verse two that we have the same life in us that Christ has in him we have the same life we are related to Christ in that way. Notice verse 11 where the word appears again in John 1711. I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world and I come to you.

Holy father keep through your name those whom you have given me, that they may be one hears the word again, that they may be one Lord as we are one.

Here again, Jesus is saying that the relationship he has with the father is a picture of the relationship that were to have with Jesus Christ as he is to the father.

We are to Jesus.

It appears again in the same chapter and verse 14 notice. The 14th verse, verse 14 says I have given them by word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world know what this verse teaches us is that we have the same hostility toward us that Jesus Christ had toward him. Is that true or is that not true, isn't that the fact Jesus said they hated me because what I did not. Don't be surprised if they hate you. You going to get the same treatment that I had to have the same hostility. If you live for Jesus Christ you're not going to be always the most popular people in your environment.

We identify with Christ and what he was on this earth, we have the same experience ourselves. That's what Jesus is trying to tell us it appears again in verse 18. Notice what it says in verse 18 underlined in your Bible as you sent me into the world.

I also have sent them into the world. This tells us that we have the same mission that Jesus had. He was sent by God the father into this world as a missionary, now he said just as I have been sent. I'm sending you. We have the same responsibility in this world that Jesus had when he came.

It's found again in verse 21 verse 21 says 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 notice the word as again in verse 21. Here we discover that we have the same unity that Jesus has with the father. It appears again in verse 22.

I'm going through this quickly, because this is not the point of the message. Verse 22 and the glory which you gave me.

I have given them that they may be one, just as we are one. Here we discover we have the same glory that Jesus has.

It appears the last time in verse 23 I in them and vowing me, that they may be perfected in unity that the world may know that thou didst send me. And it's love them even as thou didst love me. Here we discover that we have the same love that Christ has not if you follow the little word as throughout the text. Here's what you learn. It's a dynamic principle that I discovered some years ago and I've never recovered from it because every time I read the Gospels, it keeps popping up and the principal goes like this. If we will be to Jesus.

What Jesus is to the father. Then Jesus will be to us what the father is to him if you want to know how we are related in this whole principal of walking with the Lord. Here's how it works. Just watch how Jesus related to the father. Just watch how the father related to Jesus and then you can put it in the bank. That's the way Jesus wants to relate to you if you will relate to him as he relates to the father.

What was Jesus plan and purpose in coming to this earth.

It was a clearly focused direction.

He knew what the father wanted him to do now that takes all of John 17 out of the theological and it puts it into the practical. It tells us that if we study this chapter we can learn how God wants to work through us in our lives. And the key principle is this the thing that made Jesus life dynamic.

The thing that made him so unique. Take away the divine part of this whole equation, look at Jesus as a man, but he was more than a man. He was the God man but look at him as the Son of Man, and notice the reason celebrating his birthday always thousands of years after he was born into this world.

Here's the reason Jesus lived the life that was absolutely totally focused and knew exactly why God had brought him here, what he was to do, my friends, I'm convinced that until we can approximate that kind of a focused life will never be able to get over the surfing we do on the waves and the tides of this world.

What was it that the Lord Jesus came to do throughout the Scripture, you will find his purpose statement over and over again. For instance, in Luke chapter 2 in verse 49 we read these words and he said to them, why do you seek me, do you not know that I must be about my father's business to remember that verse.

Jesus was 12 years older approximately 12 years old he went to the temple as a little boy. He stayed after when his folks thought he was with them on the way home and they came to find him when he was sitting there with all of the Sanhedrin talking and they were asking him questions and his parents in their humanity were pretty upset with him and Jesus don't be upset me.

Don't you understand I could be about my father's business. He was a young boy. He knew that his purpose was to do the will of God who would send him what was that purpose. Look at John chapter 4 and verse 34.

Here it is described. Jesus said to them, my food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to finish his work did Jesus have a sense of destiny and purpose and focus about his life necessary did. He knew from the very moment he was born that he was born to die.

Jesus wasn't born to be king.

At that moment.

Ultimately, he will be king but he was born into humanity. So they might go to the cross and paid the penalty for our sin, he was literally born to die and he knew it.

He knew that was the work that God had called him to do. John chapter 9 in verse four he once again visits this theme. He said I must work the work of him who sent me while it is day or night is coming when no one can work.

And then in a prophetic statement in Hebrews chapter 10 in verse seven we read these words about the Lord Jesus. Then I said, behold, I have come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do your will. All God marked chapter 10 in verse 45 adds even the Son of Man did not come to be served. Why did he come he came to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. Do you think Jesus knew what his purpose was on absolutely certain he did. He was the perfect son of God, born into humanity from the day he was born from the day Bethlehem introduced him into our culture into our world. Jesus said, his face like a lint toward the cross. He knew that his life was not to raise the dead and to take blindness away from blind eyes or to heal the lame that was all preliminary. His purpose was to come to this world.

I am the cross be raised from the grave and ascended to the father so that he might be the sacrifice for our sin and he lived every day with that vision back purpose that focus in mind when you say pastor Jeremiah usually don't expect me to live like that. I don't think it really matters what I expect. But I want touch something I'm in learning.

I believe that God expects all of us to know what is called us to do and to focus on that and let that be the core of our life, you say well not a preacher. I mean, good night out work in the factory. I'm not a missionary I don't teach in a Christian school, I work out in the business world. I don't think anybody who's a Christian is first of all, a teacher or first of all, a factory worker. We are always first of all, children of God and the children of the king and Christians. So whatever we do, is the fact that we are Christians first that controls that whole thing. If you're a teacher you're an ambassador for God in the classroom.

If you work out in the factory assembly line God has uniquely put you in that place to be his representative bear, you can get a sense of God's destiny changing the diaper. If God has called you to do that and you can do that with a sense that God is in this. This is his purpose for your life.

I got a book called the little book about God, written by Jim Hicks and I'll never forget the impact this one Enemy listen to this and listen to it through your own ears for your own self, not for somebody else.

The God of eternity has something in mind for your life that has been in his heart from before the foundation of the world. Some hundred and 39 reveals that God knew you intimately before you were even formed in your mother's womb in those scriptures, the psalmist speaks of a deep sense of destiny and of assignment.

His assignment is eternally significant. When God calls you to a new thing.

He has something important and specific in mind God's hopes and plans for you are not trivial.

They are not second-best God's dreams are about being and doing about achievement and accomplishment. Taken together, they are God's unique assignment for you and they give meaning and purpose to your life and what Jim Hicks is saying is this that long before there was a son and a moon and stars long before there were animals and creatures long before Adam and Eve long before there was any life in eternity past before the foundation of the world.

The eternal God saw you and he knew you.

And he understood you and he had a dream about your life what it would be and what you would do and what you would accomplish in every single one of us no matter who we are or what our station in life may be. God has a plan, a unique plan for us and when we come to grips with that plan. When we understand his eternal purpose for our life then we get in his focus, and then life begins to make sense. I've gone through the process as many of you have trying to sort out what was my life was all. I started out. Believe it or not is a disc jockey I worked on FM station from 3 to 11.

I was on the everyday play music doing the weather doing the news.

I thought my life was in sum, radio thing, God had other plans and I worked in trusted and try to figure out God got a hold of my life and show me what you and I know what I'm supposed to do now I'm to study the Bible and read the Bible and preach the Bible record the Bible and televise the Bible write about the Bible saying about the Bible, God is calling me to the ministry of his word and the more I stay focused on that. The more meaning my life pass and I am absolutely certain that there's not one person was a child of God. But God doesn't have a perfect plan for your life.

Have you taken any time to sort that out as it ever crossed your mind that you might be just, floating through life missing the very best thing that God has for you. Listen to me you say well I'm afraid to find out what that is because if I find out what that is unchurched will be some I don't like know what you meant when he toyed with the word of God says commit your way unto the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart you know what I'm doing friends. I'm doing what I love to do what I would do if I could design it. I didn't know it at the time God had this all in mind, and he planned it all out. He sorted it all out and I wake up every morning and get ready to face the day.

I'm so excited because I get to spend my life doing what I really love to do. God has a plan for everyone.

It was like that. That's the plan. He wants to focus your life on when you find out what that is. And some of you never even thought this way. It is not well, I'm a Christian I'm on the way to heaven. I got do all the stuff on the way know God has a plan for your life and that plan is going to bring meaning and purpose. If you will take some time to sort it out.

Find out what is and I'm telling you it's the only way to stay focused. It's the reason why the Lord Jesus Christ could stay focused in his life, to give you five things that you can take to the bank five things that will help you understand how very important it is to have a focused life. Jesus lived his life according to purpose. He never lost sight of that. He was a human. And so he had all the same kind of experiences we have you believe that the Bible says he was tempted in all points as we are yet, apart from sin, you think Jesus ever had days when he could've gotten off course and lost sight of his perspective.

He had all the same challenges that you and I have he could have. You remember when Satan took them out into the wilderness to remember that and Satan tempted him and I don't know if you ever study Matthew chapter 4, but Matthew chapter 4 is like this. It's Satan trying to get Jesus to accept the benefits of the cross without going to the cross. He was saying to orgies on the world you have the kingdom just bow down before me in the Lord Jesus is no saying you not going to do that to me. I know what my purposes. I know what my focus is get you behind me Satan there's a little phrase. John 17 and it's found seven times throughout the Gospels. It's all about the power that is, when you come to John 17 wanted begins like this, Jesus is glorify the father for my hour has come when our was he talking about class's death the next day was going to die. He said the hour has come, but I don't know if you've ever noticed it. There are several places in the Gospels where Jesus said that his hour had not come and it's interesting to study those places and see what Jesus said when he said my hour had come. For instance, it begins in John chapter 2 Jesus is just beginning his earthly ministry, and he's invited to a wedding goes to the wedding at Cana of Galilee. And you know what the problem was in John chapter 2, they ran out of wine, they didn't have enough to service all the people he came to the wedding in John chapter 2 verses three and four we read and when they ran out of wine, the mother Jesus said to him, they have no wine. Jesus said to her, woman, what does your concern have to do with me. My hour has not yet come. What is that all about. We have studied a little bit.

Let me tell you what it means. Jesus was not being disrespectful to his mother.

I've heard messages were people said he shouldn't of said to her, woman, and I will today in our culture you somebody woman system to you and you respond woman is probably not going to be very well received at that and that doing so would like that and it certainly had nothing to do with his willingness to do the miracle because they needed a miracle absolutely listen to me now Jesus was not rebuking his mother.

He was not refusing to deal with the lack of wine. Jesus saying to his mother listen carefully. The time for me to be submissive to the authority of man in the hour of my crucifixion is not yet here I will not be placed under authority to man.

I will do what you ask of me, but I want you to understand that this is not my purpose right now. My purpose right now is not to turn water into wine. My purpose now is the cross and I will not let the activity of even a marriage ceremony distract me from that purpose.

So I wrote down in my notes. When you live a focused life. Nothing can distract you. Is that a problem to you dear Heather, I tell you what. Whenever I lose the focus of my goal. I get totally distracted and I get off on other things. How many times do you get off on the cul-de-sacs was always got you doing something only wake up one day someone my doing this for this is not what I'm supposed to be doing when you stay focused on God's purpose for your life. Listen to me. Nothing can distract you friends we have formal principles from this wonderful text that will help you with your life being focused as you go into this new year. Five things that come from John 17 you just heard the first one when you live a focused life. Nothing can distract you tomorrow. I'll give you the last four and there are also practical and you know what when you when you get stuff from the Bible when you get principles from the Bible you put them in your notes you write about them and then as you really get a chance to think about them, you realize how very personal and practical and timeless. The word of God is that these principles that were enjoyed by generations before us in and in the first time anybody read or heard it were blessed were being blessed today because the word of God lives forever and it was in your heart when you take it into studying tomorrow will finish up persevering in practice we have three more lessons after that were going to talk about writing your story going to end with a spiritual blessings. This is the life God blesses him. David Jeremiah, this is Turning Point was for more information on Dr. Jeremiah's current series lifeguard Mrs. please visit our website. We also find two freeways to help you stay connected to monthly magazine Turning Points and daily email devotional sign up today@davidjeremiah.org/writing that David Jeremiah got old/writing when you do, please ask your company object countrymen's new book, God's blessings just for you, which is 100 and devotional readings and reflections hundred euros for a gift of any amount and if you still have is the guiding devotional for 2021: strength for the day or so. Copies of. It's a great way to get a dose of truth every day hospital coffee when you visit us at David Jeremiah thought oh/I'm very hopeful he can join us tomorrow as we continue the series the life God blesses us here on Turning Point you taking time to listen to on tonight-he's in custom-made path that I said anything so