Aligning Our Will: Joy, Truth, and Unity in Christ
Summary
In the final hours of Jesus' life, we find ourselves drawn into a profound moment of prayer, a moment that reveals the heart of Jesus and the essence of our faith. As we reflect on this prayer, we are invited to consider the depth of Jesus' love and the mission He entrusts to us. Jesus, aware of His impending crucifixion, prays not for escape but for the glorification of God's name through His sacrifice. This prayer is a reminder that the purpose of prayer is not to align God's will with ours but to align our will with His. It is about becoming the kind of people who can follow Jesus, no matter the cost.
Jesus prays for His disciples, both then and now, asking the Father to equip us for the mission ahead. He sends us into the world, a place of both opportunity and resistance, to bear His word and carry out His commission. The world, in this context, is both the realm of our mission and a place of opposition to God. It is a reminder that while we are in the world, we are not of it, and our mission is to transform it through the love and truth of Christ.
The prayer emphasizes three key elements: joy, truth, and unity. Jesus prays for His joy to be within us, a joy rooted in eternal things rather than fleeting circumstances. This joy is a decision to view life through the lens of God's eternal truths. He also prays for our sanctification through the truth of God's word, which equips us for our mission and protects us from the evil one. Finally, Jesus prays for unity among His followers, a unity that reflects the oneness of the Father and the Son. This unity is grounded in love, the love that God has for the world and that we are called to extend to others.
As we come to the Lord's table, we are reminded of the joy, truth, and unity that are ours in Christ. We are forgiven, reconciled, and invited to participate in the ongoing work of God's kingdom. Let us pray for Jesus to be revealed in us, formed in us, and expressed through us as we live out our faith in the world.
Key Takeaways
- The Purpose of Prayer: Prayer is not about bending God's will to ours but aligning our will with His. It is about becoming the kind of person who can follow Jesus wherever He leads, regardless of the cost. This transformative purpose of prayer invites us to seek God's glory above all else. [09:06]
- Mission in the World: Jesus sends us into the world, a place of both opportunity and resistance. Our mission is to bear His word and transform the world through His love and truth. We are called to engage with the world while remaining distinct from it, embodying the message of Christ. [11:49]
- Joy as a Decision: Joy is not merely a fleeting feeling but a decision to view life through the lens of eternal truths. It is rooted in the unchanging nature of God and His promises, allowing us to experience deep and lasting joy regardless of our circumstances. [22:50]
- Sanctification through Truth: Jesus prays for our sanctification through God's word, which equips us for our mission and protects us from the evil one. The truth of Scripture is not just informational but transformational, leading us to a deeper relationship with Christ. [15:15]
- Unity in Love: Jesus prays for unity among His followers, reflecting the oneness of the Father and the Son. This unity is grounded in love, calling us to love one another, our neighbors, and even our enemies as Christ loves us. It is a unity that bears witness to the world of God's love. [22:50]
Youtube Chapters
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:36] - Setting the Scene: Jesus' Final Hours
- [06:37] - The New Covenant and Commandment
- [09:06] - The Purpose of Prayer
- [11:49] - Mission in the World
- [15:15] - The World and Its Meanings
- [18:30] - Resistance and Opportunity
- [22:50] - Joy as a Decision
- [26:10] - Sanctification through Truth
- [29:45] - Unity in Love
- [33:00] - The Lord's Table: Joy, Truth, and Unity
- [36:20] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 17:1-26
2. John 13:34-35
3. Hebrews 12:2
---
Observation Questions:
1. In John 17, what are the key elements of Jesus' prayer for His disciples, and how do they reflect His mission and purpose? [09:06]
2. How does Jesus describe the relationship between His followers and the world in John 17? What does He pray for regarding their interaction with the world? [11:49]
3. What does Jesus mean when He prays for His disciples to be sanctified by the truth? How is this connected to their mission? [15:15]
4. In the sermon, what are the three key elements that Jesus prays for His followers to embody, and how are they described? [22:50]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of joy as a decision, rather than a fleeting feeling, challenge common perceptions of happiness? What might this mean for a believer's daily life? [22:50]
2. Jesus prays for unity among His followers. How does this unity reflect the relationship between the Father and the Son, and why is it important for the mission of the Church? [29:45]
3. The sermon mentions that the world is both a place of opportunity and resistance. How can believers navigate these dual aspects in their mission to bear Christ's word? [11:49]
4. What does it mean to be sanctified by the truth, and how does this process equip believers for their mission in the world? [15:15]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current prayer life. How can you shift your focus from asking God to align with your desires to seeking alignment with His will? What practical steps can you take this week to make this shift? [09:06]
2. Consider the areas in your life where you might be resisting Jesus' lordship. What specific steps can you take to surrender these areas to Him? [15:15]
3. Joy is described as a decision rooted in eternal truths. Identify a challenging situation in your life. How can you choose joy in this situation by focusing on God's promises? [22:50]
4. Unity in the Church is crucial for its mission. How can you contribute to fostering unity within your small group or church community? What actions can you take to bridge any existing divides? [29:45]
5. Jesus sends His followers into the world to transform it with His love and truth. Identify one way you can actively engage with your community this week to share Christ's love. [11:49]
6. Reflect on the concept of being sanctified by the truth. How can you incorporate more of God's word into your daily routine to aid in this sanctification process? [15:15]
7. The sermon emphasizes the importance of joy, truth, and unity. Choose one of these elements to focus on this week. What specific actions will you take to embody this element in your interactions with others? [22:50]
Devotional
Day 1: Aligning Our Will with God's Purpose
In the final hours of Jesus' life, He exemplified the true purpose of prayer by seeking alignment with God's will rather than His own desires. Jesus, fully aware of the suffering that awaited Him, prayed for God's name to be glorified through His sacrifice. This profound moment teaches us that prayer is not about persuading God to fulfill our wishes but about transforming our hearts to embrace His divine plan. As followers of Christ, we are called to become people who can follow Jesus wherever He leads, regardless of the cost. This transformative purpose of prayer invites us to seek God's glory above all else. [09:06]
John 17:1-2 (ESV): "When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, 'Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself resisting God's will? How can you begin to align your desires with His purpose today?
Day 2: Engaging the World with Christ's Mission
Jesus sends us into the world, a place filled with both opportunities and challenges, to bear His word and transform it through His love and truth. Our mission is to engage with the world while remaining distinct from it, embodying the message of Christ. The world is both the realm of our mission and a place of opposition to God, reminding us that while we are in the world, we are not of it. We are called to transform the world through the love and truth of Christ, carrying out His commission with courage and faithfulness. [11:49]
John 17:15-18 (ESV): "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world."
Reflection: Identify one way you can actively engage with your community this week to share Christ's love and truth. How can you remain distinct in your faith while doing so?
Day 3: Choosing Joy Rooted in Eternal Truths
Joy, as Jesus prays for us, is not merely a fleeting feeling but a decision to view life through the lens of eternal truths. This joy is rooted in the unchanging nature of God and His promises, allowing us to experience deep and lasting joy regardless of our circumstances. By choosing to focus on God's eternal truths, we can cultivate a joy that transcends the temporary challenges and trials we face in life. This joy is a testament to our faith and trust in God's unchanging character and His promises. [22:50]
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."
Reflection: What is one circumstance in your life where you struggle to find joy? How can you choose to view this situation through the lens of God's eternal truths today?
Day 4: Sanctification through the Transformative Truth of Scripture
Jesus prays for our sanctification through God's word, which equips us for our mission and protects us from the evil one. The truth of Scripture is not just informational but transformational, leading us to a deeper relationship with Christ. As we immerse ourselves in God's word, we are sanctified and prepared for the mission He has entrusted to us. This sanctification process is essential for our spiritual growth and protection against the challenges we face in the world. [15:15]
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV): "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
Reflection: How can you incorporate more time in God's word into your daily routine this week? What specific steps will you take to allow Scripture to transform your heart and mind?
Day 5: Unity Reflecting the Oneness of the Father and the Son
Jesus prays for unity among His followers, reflecting the oneness of the Father and the Son. This unity is grounded in love, calling us to love one another, our neighbors, and even our enemies as Christ loves us. It is a unity that bears witness to the world of God's love and serves as a powerful testimony of our faith. As we strive for unity, we are reminded of the importance of love in our relationships and the impact it has on our witness to the world. [22:50]
Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life where unity is lacking. What steps can you take to foster love and unity in that relationship today?
Quotes
"Prayer is not a technique to bend God's will to my will. The heart of Jesus' prayer is not get me out of this, nor even get me through this. At the heart of Jesus is this prayer. Father, glorify your name. And Jesus knows that the answer to that prayer is the cross." [00:07:48] (30 seconds)
"The purpose of prayer is not to bend God's will towards mine, but to bend mine toward his. The main purpose of prayer is not to get something, but to become someone. To become the kind of person who is able to follow Jesus wherever he goes, whatever he says, whatever the cost." [00:08:48] (31 seconds)
"Jesus' prayer asks the Father to equip them and us, not only to deal with whatever fear and confusion is immediately ahead, but also for the world-changing work he is entrusting to them and to us. Just as the Father has sent Jesus into the world, so Jesus will send these 11 men into the world, bearing his word, carrying out his commission, and Jesus has been sending his people into the world ever since." [00:09:58] (36 seconds)
"My prayer is not that you would take them out of the world, but that you would protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." [00:10:56] (22 seconds)
"The world is the sphere or the realm of the church's worship, witness, and work. I send them into the world, Jesus says. And the world is human life organized and lived in opposition and resistance to God. God, the world has hated them." [00:12:02] (25 seconds)
"So the world is the realm of our mission. It's the realm of opportunity and possibility of seeing the miracle of rebels converted into beloved daughters and sons. And the world is a place of resistance, of human life haunted by the desires and designs of the evil one. Father, don't take them out of the world." [00:12:27] (28 seconds)
"God so loved the rebellious world that he sent Jesus into that world to free it from its captivity to its beloved illusions, deceptions and lies, to ransom and rescue that world from its slavery to the powers of sin and death. And as the Father sent Jesus, Jesus sends us." [00:17:23] (27 seconds)
"Joy is rooted in the permanent things, the lasting things, the eternal things, the things of God rather than the counterfeits offered by the world. Joy rather than being a feeling is a disposition of our souls, a posturing of our hearts before God. Joy isn't primarily or in the first place of feeling as much as it is a decision." [00:20:50] (30 seconds)
"Jesus says, I have given them your word, and the world has hated them. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth. So what is it that protects us from the evil one and equips us for mission in and to the world? God's word of truth, the scriptures." [00:31:34] (27 seconds)
"The overarching purpose of scripture is not to answer any and every question we might have. The overarching purpose of scripture is to reveal Jesus to us, to form Jesus in us, to express Jesus through us. The purpose of scripture is not that we would merely accumulate facts and principles and propositions helpful and important as these can be." [00:36:34] (23 seconds)
"The source and ground of the unity for which Jesus is praying is the love that the Father has for the Son, the love the Son has for the Father, and the love that God has for the world even in its resistance and rebellion. The love that is at the heart of Jesus's new command: this is my commandment that we would love one another as he loves us." [00:51:33] (28 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?