NOW!! He sends us out to invade the world, the same way He was sent - to invade
Go, invade the world, plunder the prince of this world, take back that which is Mine… (Matt 28:19; Isaiah 49:25; 53:11-12; Matt 12:29)
John 17:13-26 “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world” 17:18
(Jo 3:16; 17:18-19; 20:21-22) - we are to invade the world with Jesus’ glory: Jesus in us with and by power - with the love and light and life.
We must remember, that for us to be sent into the world, we must have first been taken out of this world, as to no longer be a part of this world - we are from the world, sent into the world, not to be of the world, but bring light to the world.
Our going is to be just like Jesus: As the Father sent me, so now, I send you.
John 3:16 “ For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him…”
What is “as”? Is it not “in the same way”, “just like”, or “in AND with the same manner”? And because we are created, now, in Him, in His manner, we will be seen and treated as such…
John 15:20 18“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ b If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.
When we think of being sent “as” by …whomever we are sent, “as”... in this case, Jesus, we tend to think “for the same reason”, and that is true, but it is just part of it. We have been made in the image and likeness of God, and now, having faith in Jesus, we are being “created in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:10), which means, that “as” has to be more the “for the same reason”, but in fact, if all of this is true, “as” must mean, just like Jesus - not just the same reason, but, also in manner and way, character and countenance, attitude and action…
Philippians 2:5-8 “...in your relationships, with God and others, have the same attitude as Jesus… did not hold on to what He was but… took a lower rank - nothing… as a servant…, humble…”
Everything we say and do, therefore, is a reflection of the One who sent us, so, “as” He was sent, so are we! Maybe the strangest part about this is that we are sent “as”, and part of that “as”, is, “as” His glory... which should totally mystify us, blow us away, shock us…, humble us - because His glory has to do with His own humility - that He DID NOT COME HERE TO DO HIS OWN WILL, BUT THE FATHER’S.
John 17:22-23 “I have given them the glory that you - have given - me, that they may one as we are one - I in them and you in me…” so that they may be AS we are - one “...so that they may be brought to complete unity.”
Why “AS”? Because Jesus said, “...as…”
John 17:20 “I pray for those who will believe their message… that all them may be one, Father Just AS you are in me and I am in you.”
John 1:1-3; 5:19; 6:38-40; 10:38; 12:45,49; 14:9-11, 20,24; 15:24; 17:16 If you have seen me, you have seen the father - the will, the words, the works, the way - and, as they treat me, they treat my Father, as they treat us, they will treat you… as you are not of this world any more than I am…”
Therefore, if we have been sent “as” Jesus has been sent, we must see that our being sent is not to do our own will, but the One who sends, and then, not do it as we might, but “as” He would and submit and subject ourselves to that truth. Which means…
…we must submit to Jesus’ washing us, being cleansed by the word - with the word (Peter)
John 13:8,10 “...if you do not let me wash you, you have no part of me…”, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean.”
Jesus' words ARE the cleansing agent…
John 15:3 “...you are clean because of the word I have spoken to you…”
1Peter 2:22 “22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. b 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”
…we must love and serve one another AS we have seen Jesus do -
John 13:34; 15:12 “...AS I have loved you, so you must one another…”
…we must remain in the vine, abiding there - in His word - Jesus, Himself the word, and His, or the Father’s, words
John 15:5-17 “... remain in me… remain in my words… the one who loves me will obey my commands…, bearing much fruit… you are my friends if you do what I command…” or, will speak, and act, and live AS I have lived
…we must then go, as Jesus went, being sent AS Jesus was sent - and the only way to do that is to remain, abide, be attached, cling to, be empowered by, under the influence of Jesus the Word, Jesus and the Father’s word, as reminded, instructed, and prompted by the Holy Spirit
Humbly submitted, longing to do what we have seen the Father through, because we have seen Jesus do it, that we might bear much fruit - and that - to God’s glory, having and being God’s glory - as Jesus was.
And this should humble us AS we can only bear this kind of fruit if we are humble
We do not belong to this world any more than Jesus does - we are aliens and strangers (1Pet 1:1). Why? Because we carry, reflect, and to some degree, are the glory of God - and the world knows that, and they kind of expect that.
Have you ever heard this “is that the way a Christian is supposed to…”?
(even) The world has an expectation of what a Christian should look like… (Phil 3:7-21)
Remembering but we are works in progress, at least - In view of God‘s mercy, and then in grateful appreciation of his gracious and dwelling – let us progress:
Exodus 34:10 “10Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you.”
Matthew 5:13-16 “13“You are the salt of the earth…, 14“You are the light of the world…, put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
1Peter 2:12 “11Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
James 3:13,17-18 “13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom…, 17…wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” (Col 2:2-3 abiding in the Word - Jesus; Isa 11:1-5)
2Peter 1:5 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge” (Ps 119:4)
Philippians 3:16 “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”
2Corinthians 3:18 “18And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate a the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
2Corinthians 4:6-13
6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” a made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”
How do we best and most effectively express this oneness? Philippians 2:1-11
Reflecting on, being in view of, God’s mercy and grace: 2:1. Take some moments and reflect on each of these statements of truth. How have you experienced each? How has that experience shaped you? If you are struggling to experience them what are some things you can do to deepen the experiences of these truths in your life?
Joy complete! Being of one mind and mission: 2:2-4. Jesus prayed that we would be one, how might these things be an answer to that prayer? How can we foster these things in our lives and the lives of others, especially the church? How might my life and the life of the church look if this was how we lived?
In humility, consider others and better than yourself: 2:2-4 What is it to be humble? What effect does humility have on relationships?
In our relationships, we should have the same attitude as Jesus: 2:5-8. To be like Jesus… that is our aim, our goal, in fact, this is the very aim and goal of God (Romans 8) how might we reflect, more and more, the attitude of Jesus in our lives? And if we were to adopt Jesus’ attitude in our relationships, how might that change them? How might it effect others?
John 17:22 WE ARE THE GLORY OF JESUS and therefore, humbly recognize Whose we are and because of that we are - and live accordingly (Eph 4;5; Col 3)
We are called to a oneness that reflects the very glory of God, the light, the brightness of Jesus in us
Together, we
17:13 Experience joy complete (Jo 15:11; 17:13; Ro 15:13; Ph 2:2; Heb 12:2) and inexpressible (1Pet 1; Ps 16)
17:22 Reflect this glory, this bright light of Christ, to the world (Matt 5:14-15; Jo 8:12; 9:5; 2Cor 4:6; Phil 2:15)
Let us then speak - as…
Having been loved by Him
Our lives reflecting that love
With one another
Our words - fruit of a heart that’s been loved, a heart that loves
John 17:22-23
"the glorious condition of blessedness into which it is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Saviour's return from heaven": Romans 8:18, 21; Romans 9:23; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Colossians 1:27 (twice; cf. Meyer at the passage); Colossians 3:4; 2 Timothy 2:10; Hebrews 2:10; 1 Peter 5:1; which condition begins to be enjoyed even now through the devout contemplation of the divine majesty of Christ, and its influence upon those who contemplate it, 2 Corinthians 3:18; and this condition will include not only the blessedness of the soul, but also the gain of a more excellent body (1 Corinthians 15:43; Philippians 3:21)
