The Danger of Self-Powered Sanctification

• Sanctification [00:43:03 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor defines sanctification not as sinless perfection or misery, but as being 'set apart' and 'consecrated to God' through the truth of the Word, correcting common misconceptions held by his Baptist audience.
• Joy and Holiness [00:45:33 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that a holy life is marked by happiness and joy, citing Jesus' life as the example, to counter the belief that being 'sold out' to Jesus means losing the ability to enjoy life.
• The World vs. The Word [00:47:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor introduces a contrast between 'the world' (the source of difficulty) and 'the Word' (the source of deliverance and victory) as the framework for understanding how to live the Christian life.
• Sanctification [00:46:33 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor defines sanctification as being 'set apart' or 'different,' specifically separated from sin and consecrated to God.
• The World vs. The Word [00:47:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > He contrasts the 'world' (a system in hostility to God and the source of difficulty) with the 'Word' (the source of deliverance and victory).
• Spiritual vs. Physical Location [00:52:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > He explains the paradox that believers are saved 'out of' the world spiritually but remain 'in' the world physically to serve as witnesses.
• Insulation vs. Isolation [00:59:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > He corrects the misconception that Christians should withdraw from society, teaching instead that they should be 'insulated' by the Spirit and community while living in the world.
• Worldly Wisdom vs. Spiritual Identity [01:02:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > He critiques 'street smart' or 'worldly wise' believers who adopt the habits of the unsaved, leading to frustration and a lack of victory.
• Separation from the World [01:04:16 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that while believers live in the world, they must not be 'of' it, citing James, 1 John, and Romans to argue against conforming to worldly systems or 'flirting' with it.
• The Role of the Believer [01:08:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor clarifies that believers are not sent to condemn or compromise with the world, but to confront it with the truth and demonstrate that Jesus changes lives.
• The Authority and Necessity of Scripture [01:10:40 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor identifies the Word of God as the 'secret sauce' for the Christian life, arguing that believers must read the 'instructions' to be sanctified and effective.
• Truth vs. Error [01:17:10 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor distinguishes between saying the Word is 'true' versus saying the Word is 'Truth' (the absolute standard), warning that abandoning this standard leads to societal destruction.
• Sanctification by the Word [01:22:42 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that the Word of God is the vehicle God uses to make believers holy and set them apart, citing John 17:17 and 17:19.
• Lordship of Jesus Christ [01:27:51 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that true cultural change comes from individuals submitting to Jesus' lordship in their personal lives and circles of influence.
• Repentance and Surrender [01:32:50 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor calls the congregation to honesty, repentance for falling short, and complete surrender to Christ through the altar invitation.

• Sermon Illustration [00:35:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses an analogy of assembling toys for Christmas: if all else fails, 'read the instructions.' He applies this to the Christian life, suggesting that believers who are frustrated with their spiritual walk need to look to the 'instructions' (John 17) to live successfully.
• Sermon Illustration [01:05:09 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of a marriage relationship to explain 1 John 2:15, comparing 'loving the world' to a groom flirting with his maid of honor, which would cause frustration and betrayal.
• Sermon Illustration [01:06:10 ▶️ 📄]
  > He references the biblical figure Lot to illustrate how a believer can become so conformed to the world's lifestyle that their Christian identity is indistinguishable to observers.
• Sermon Illustration [01:05:09 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of a bridegroom flirting with his maid of honor to illustrate the spiritual adultery of Christians 'flirting' with the world system while married to Jesus.
• Sermon Illustration [01:06:10 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the biblical figure Lot, noting that his lifestyle was indistinguishable from the world because he became friends with it, serving as a negative example of conformity.
• Sermon Illustration [01:14:31 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal pastoral insight that asking people about their 'quiet time' reveals the root of their spiritual struggles, comparing reading the Bible to reading the 'instructions' for the Christian life.
• Sermon Illustration [01:21:25 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses analogies of making ice cream without cream or building a car without a motor to illustrate the impossibility of teaching right and wrong or living a holy life without the standard of God's Word.
• Sermon Illustration [01:23:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor begins to tell a story about Jack Eckerd and Chuck Colson working together on law and order issues, but the transcript cuts off before the story is completed.
• Sermon Illustration [01:23:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor tells the story of Jack Eckerd, founder of Eckerd Drugs, who was evangelized by Chuck Colson. After becoming a Christian, Eckerd removed Playboy and Penthouse magazines from his 1,700 stores despite losing $3 million in revenue, demonstrating that the Lord would not let him off the hook and illustrating the practical impact of the Lordship of Christ.

• Pastoral Charge [00:38:54 ▶️ 📄]
  > Stand for the scripture reading
• Pastoral Charge [00:41:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > Underline specific verses in their Bibles
• Pastoral Charge [00:42:02 ▶️ 📄]
  > Participate in a corporate prayer for spiritual transformation
• Pastoral Charge [00:57:55 ▶️ 📄]
  > Lost individuals are urged to come forward and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.
• Pastoral Charge [00:48:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > Congregation is asked to take notes on the paper provided.
• Pastoral Charge [00:52:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > Congregation is instructed to write down and underline specific biblical phrases regarding their relationship to the world.
• Pastoral Charge [01:12:33 ▶️ 📄]
  > Physically hold up their Bibles to demonstrate possession and appreciation of the Word.
• Pastoral Charge [01:14:00 ▶️ 📄]
  > To personally read and appreciate the Bible, specifically through maintaining a 'quiet time'.
• Pastoral Charge [01:29:25 ▶️ 📄]
  > Bow heads in prayerful reflection
• Pastoral Charge [01:31:51 ▶️ 📄]
  > Come to the front to trust Christ for salvation
• Pastoral Charge [01:32:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > Come to the altar to repent, surrender, and make a fresh commitment to the Word

[00:01:58] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Thank you.
[00:07:24] Let us pray.
[00:07:56] Let us pray.
[00:08:28] In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:08:51] Amen.
[00:08:59] The Gospel of the Lord
[00:09:23] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[00:09:51] Amen.
[00:10:21] The Gospel of the Apostles
[00:11:02] In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:11:14] Amen.

[00:11:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
If they will hear, some will believe and call upon His name and be saved.
[00:11:56] But they cannot call on Him in whom they have not believed, nor believe of Him of whom they have not even heard, nor hear without someone preaching.
[00:12:11] And how are they to preach?
[00:12:13] Unless they're sent.
[00:12:18] So let's send them.
[00:12:22] So they can preach.
[00:12:25] So they can hear.
[00:12:28] So they can believe.
[00:12:31] Let's send those with beautiful feet to the every and the all.
[00:12:39] And let's attack it with the kind of urgency
[00:12:44] that we would feel if our own children were dangling over eternity, to be forever separated from the one who is love and joy and peace and life, but they're within our reach to grasp and to rescue.
[00:13:09] Like that sense of urgency continued to drive us forward.
[00:13:15] To ensure the bride is ready, to ensure that those who haven't heard here, to ensure that the every and all, every nation, all tribes, peoples and languages are in that vast multitude standing before the throne and before the Lamb.

[00:14:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]:
The promise of redeeming love through Christ the infant King So undeserved
[00:14:38] And still I find God's greatest gift can be mine The heart of Christmas
[00:15:06] The promise of redeeming love through Christ the infant King So undeserving yet still I find God's greatest gift can be mine
[00:15:39] Good morning.

[00:16:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Let's continue our worship with how great our joy.
[00:16:04] Let's stand together as we sing.

[00:16:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]:
While by the sheep we watched that night, glad tidings from an angel bright, how great a joy, great a joy, joy, joy, joy!
[00:16:50] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[00:17:08] Amen.
[00:17:11] How great a joy!
[00:17:28] Great a joy!
[00:17:31] Joy, joy, joy!
[00:17:31] Joy, joy, joy!
[00:17:32] Praise be the Lord in heaven on high!
[00:17:32] Praise be the Lord in heaven on high!
[00:17:33] Where shall the child lie in the storm?
[00:17:42] This child who shall redeem us all?
[00:17:45] How great a joy!
[00:17:46] Great a joy!
[00:17:49] Joy!
[00:17:56] Joy!
[00:17:56] Joy!
[00:17:56] Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
[00:17:59] Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
[00:18:05] This gift of love we'll cherish well That ever joy our hearts shall fill How great a joy!
[00:18:21] Great a joy!
[00:18:22] Joy, joy, joy!
[00:18:22] Good morning.

[00:18:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Let's pray.
[00:19:03] and on behalf of our Trinity Baptist family and again our deacons have some information that they would love to put in your hands today if you are our special guest and they want to give you some things in that bag that'll help you remember your visit here we want you to take those home with you
[00:19:20] and be reminded of your time you spent with us this morning but there's a guest card in that bag as well and we want you to take a moment fill that out place in the offering plate when it comes by just a little bit later in the service so that we'll have record of your visit so if you are visiting with us this morning if you'll just lift your hand about like this and hold it up high enough and long enough as they make their way down the aisle
[00:19:42] They'll just share this with you and you take a moment to fill out the card and let us know about your time here.
[00:19:48] If you're with us via live stream, we welcome you into the sanctuary at Trinity Baptist Church this morning.
[00:19:54] We're so grateful that you've chosen to be a part of what God's doing here.
[00:19:58] and we are celebrating the Christmas season in a tremendous way in fact all weekend our sanctuary choir has been blessing us and will bless us again tonight in the final performance at six o'clock as they share the heart of Christmas and I know that you're going to want to be a part of that if you can and we would welcome you and invite you to be here at six o'clock this evening as we celebrate that together
[00:20:22] We want you to participate in every aspect of this service this morning from wherever you may be joining us.
[00:20:28] When we pray, we invite you to pray with us.
[00:20:31] When we sing our songs of joy and inspiration, we invite you to sing along with us.
[00:20:36] And then when we open God's Word in a few minutes, we hope that you'll find a copy of God's Word with you and open up and follow along as we let His Word speak into our lives this very morning.
[00:20:48] Well, again, we're always grateful to be here.
[00:20:51] We want to be, especially today, mindful as we pray.
[00:20:54] This morning, in just a moment, Mike and Shannon are going to come and they're going to lead us in the lighting of the Advent candle and lead us in some scripture and prayer.
[00:21:03] But I do want to just mention this morning to continue to remember the families
[00:21:07] We are living in tumultuous times, ladies and gentlemen.
[00:21:12] You know that.
[00:21:13] We're living in serious times right here at this Christmas season of the year.
[00:21:18] Also the beginning of Hanukkah for those of the Jewish faith.
[00:21:22] It's a critical, critical time when you understand the foundations of our nation and the Judeo-Christian values that are under attack literally here and around the world.
[00:21:33] And so just in the last...
[00:21:35] 24 hours when you stop and think about what happened with our soldiers that were killed there in Syria, what happened there on the campus of Brown University, and then what happened to the Jewish community there in Australia.
[00:21:49] Again, acts of terrorism, acts of barbarism that we must understand are part of life.
[00:21:57] As we get into the Scripture today and we listen to the Lord Jesus and His prayer, it reminds us again
[00:22:04] of what we're dealing with in this world that we live in day in and day out.
[00:22:09] So it's my prayer today that your heart will be in tune and that you will ask God to prepare your heart for His Word today, for today, the day in which we live here on this earth.
[00:22:22] Mike and Shannon Hastings, you come and lead us in our Advent lighting today.

[00:22:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
On this third Sunday in Advent, we light the candle of joy because Jesus is our source of joy.
[00:22:49] John 15, 9-11 As the Father loved me, I also have loved you.
[00:22:55] Abide in my love.
[00:22:58] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
[00:23:06] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full.

[00:23:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Let's pray.
[00:23:17] Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day that we've been able to come in here and worship with you.
[00:23:22] Lord, when we think of this word joy and just what the pastor said,
[00:23:27] It's hard to see it in this time that we're living in.
[00:23:31] But when we're saved and we're under you, Lord, we know we can have joy even in the midst of all this turmoil.
[00:23:38] We pray for all those that are going through this.
[00:23:40] We pray for them to be able to find some type of joy.
[00:23:42] But Lord, we know the only joy we can ever have is through you.
[00:23:46] And we just pray that in this Christmas season, Lord, we don't let our joy be stolen.
[00:23:52] We don't let our joy get found in the world of stress, with stress over all the things that we're worried about for Christmas that takes us away from the true gift of Christmas, which is you.
[00:24:01] Lord, help us to see that today as we go through this service.
[00:24:04] Help us to hear your words.
[00:24:06] We pray for everybody in here.
[00:24:07] We pray for the families of all those who are not struggling but maybe having a hard time seeing joy today.
[00:24:15] Lord, we ask these things in your blessing.
[00:24:17] In Jesus' name we pray.

[00:24:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Amen.

[00:24:37] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let us pray.
[00:24:59] Let us pray.

[00:25:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Let's pray.

[00:25:31] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let's pray.
[00:25:39] The Gospel of the Lord

[00:25:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]:
Joy to the world!
[00:26:09] The Lord is come!
[00:26:10] Let every sinner be!
[00:26:10] Let every heart prepare him room!
[00:26:11] Let heaven and nature sing!
[00:26:11] Let heaven and nature sing!
[00:26:12] Let heaven and heaven and nature sing!
[00:26:13] Joy to the earth!
[00:26:17] The Savior reigns!
[00:26:19] Let men their songs employ!
[00:26:25] From fields and floods, from hills and plains, Repeat the soundly joy!
[00:26:33] Repeat the soundly joy!
[00:26:36] In the age we beat the sounding joy No more let sins and sorrows grow Nor thorns infest the ground
[00:26:55] He comes to make this blessing strong For as the curse is found For as the curse is found For as, for as the curse is found
[00:27:14] He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love
[00:27:37] and wonders, wonders of His love.

[00:28:02] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Joyful, joyful, we adore

[00:28:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]:
In all angel eyes abating Child of Mary, Son of God Voiceless joined in joyful chorus Praise you for your gift
[00:28:28] of God, Joyful now our hearts are lifted, Joined in wonder, love, and praise.
[00:28:46] Declare your glory, all creation joins to sing.
[00:29:11] Praise resounds as earth rejoices in the birth of Christ the King.
[00:29:12] Shepherds kneel before the infant, trumpets sound and
[00:29:13] Amen.

[00:29:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
You may be seated.

[00:29:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Good morning!
[00:29:51] Welcome again to Trinity Baptist Church.
[00:29:56] It's so good to be together and worship Jesus Christ, God's only Son, born to be our Savior.
[00:30:07] This is the time in our service to give our tithes and offerings.
[00:30:11] If you are watching online, you can contribute by clicking on the Give portion of the screen.
[00:30:19] What a special time of year this is to remember how the Creator of the world left heaven to be born as a little baby, seemingly helpless, but yet God.
[00:30:37] Let's pray.
[00:30:40] Dear holy, righteous Lord, we praise you for loving us
[00:30:46] and willingly coming to earth to save us from our sin.
[00:30:52] Thank you for salvation that only you can give.
[00:30:57] Please bless this offering and use it for your glory in the furtherance of your kingdom.
[00:31:05] May this time of the year draw us closer to you and use the message today to touch our hearts to know you better.
[00:31:16] In the holy name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

[00:31:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
O beautiful star of Bethlehem Shining afar through shadows dim Giving a light for those who long have gone And guiding the wise men on their way Unto the place where Jesus lay Beautiful star of Bethlehem Shine on O beautiful star
[00:32:04] Star of Bethlehem, shine upon us until the glory dawn.
[00:32:14] Oh, give us the light to light the way into the land of perfect day.

[00:32:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]:
Beautiful star of Bethlehem, shine on us.

[00:32:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
The beautiful star, the hope of light Guiding the pilgrim through the night Over the mountain till the break of dawn
[00:32:43] In the light of perfect day, it will give out a lovely ray.
[00:32:49] Beautiful star of Bethlehem, shine on!

[00:32:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]:
Oh, beautiful star of Bethlehem, shine on!
[00:33:00] Star of Bethlehem, shine upon us until the glory dawn.
[00:33:10] Oh, give us the light to light the way into the land of perfect day.
[00:33:16] Beautiful star of Bethlehem, shine on us.
[00:33:24] O beautiful star, the home of rest For the redeemed, the good and blessed Yonder in glory when the crown is crowned is won For Jesus is now the star divine Brighter and brighter he will shine Beautiful star of Bethlehem Shine on, shine on
[00:33:52] Beautiful, beautiful star of Bethlehem Shine upon us until the glory dawn O give us the light to light the way Into the land of perfect day Beautiful star of Bethlehem Shine on, shine on
[00:34:21] Beautiful, beautiful star of Bethlehem Shine upon us until the glory dawn O give us the light to light the way Into the land of perfect day Beautiful star of Bethlehem Shine on, shine on

[00:34:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Well, amen and amen.
[00:35:01] Thank you so much, men of purpose, for blessing us this morning.
[00:35:05] Well, turn in your Bibles, if you will, this morning to the Gospel of John and the 17th chapter as we continue in our series, walking our way through this chapter verse by verse.
[00:35:19] and really this book that we've been in for some period of time now looking at the Gospel of John as he records for us the walk of the Lord Jesus Christ and step by step.
[00:35:33] You know when all else fails and you want to remember this especially if you're young and you've got young children and you're putting together toys this coming Christmas if all else fails
[00:35:47] Read the instructions.
[00:35:51] Any of you ever heard that before?
[00:35:52] If all else fails, read the instructions.
[00:35:58] The truth of the matter is, I've got a feeling today that there's a lot of believers that are maybe even present here who really do know the Lord and who really do want to live a successful Christian life.
[00:36:15] But yet they're very frustrated.
[00:36:18] And they're frustrated because they're having difficulty putting the Christian life together, really learning how to live successfully for the Lord Jesus.
[00:36:32] And in this great prayer,
[00:36:35] of John chapter 17 where Jesus is teaching us on how you and I can live a dedicated Christian life in this world.
[00:36:48] It's an absolute phenomenal passage that we have to make sure we understand.
[00:36:56] I mentioned to you last week as we were introduced to the 17th chapter of John that there's really three sections
[00:37:03] In this incredible prayer, as the Holy Spirit manages to pull back the veil and allows us to look inside at the Lord Jesus as He is communing with the Father and is pouring out His heart in prayer, and in the first five verses that we looked at last week, we see where Jesus prays concerning Himself.
[00:37:25] and we see incredible principles we talked about last week there but then in verse 6 through 19 he prays concerning his disciples those that were right there with him and then really from verse 20 all the way through 26 he's going to pray concerning his future disciples and that's you
[00:37:47] and that's me and it's phenomenal when you look at that and in the last week we saw in the first part the power of salvation which really rests on the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ himself when he went to the cross and where he suffered and where he died for all of us
[00:38:18] But today we come to this second part, the part which deals with our daily Christian walk.
[00:38:25] In other words, I want us to see how to live for Jesus successfully on a daily basis.
[00:38:35] And the word you're going to see that just emerges out of this whole passage is a big word, sanctification.
[00:38:48] Sanctification.
[00:38:50] I want you to stand in honor of the reading of the Word of God, and I want you to, we're going to pick up in verse 6.
[00:38:55] Jesus, just keep in mind, we're hearing His prayer.
[00:39:00] We're hearing what He pours out to the Heavenly Father as He continues to speak to Him.
[00:39:08] He says, "...I've manifested Your name to men whom You have given Me out of the world."
[00:39:17] They were yours, you gave them to me, and they've kept your word.
[00:39:23] Now they have known that all things which you have given me are from you, for I have given to them the words which you have given me, and they have received them and have known surely that I came forth from you, and they believed that you sent me.
[00:39:41] I pray for them.
[00:39:45] I do not pray for the world but for those whom you have given me for they are yours and all mine are yours and yours are mine and I am glorified in them now I'm no longer in the world but these are in the world and I come to you holy father
[00:40:08] Keep them through your name, those whom you have given me, that they may be one as we are.
[00:40:17] While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name.
[00:40:22] Those whom you gave me I have kept, and none of them is lost except the son of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
[00:40:31] But now I come to you, and these things I speak in the world.
[00:40:37] that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
[00:40:43] I have given them your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world just as I am not of the world.
[00:40:55] I do not pray that you should take them out of the world but that you should keep them from the evil one.
[00:41:03] They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
[00:41:08] Sanctify them by your truth.
[00:41:11] Your word is truth.
[00:41:14] As you have sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
[00:41:19] And for their sakes, I sanctify myself that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
[00:41:32] I want you to look at verse 17 again in verse 19.
[00:41:37] In verse 17, underline it.
[00:41:40] Sanctify them by your truth.
[00:41:44] Your word is truth.
[00:41:46] And then verse 19, underline it.
[00:41:49] And for their sakes I sanctify myself that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
[00:42:02] Would you pray with me?
[00:42:03] Father in heaven, we do just ask in these moments that we are together around your word that you may speak to us that we may never be the same.
[00:42:18] We need your presence.
[00:42:21] We need your power.
[00:42:23] We need your strength.
[00:42:24] We need your guidance to give us discernment.
[00:42:29] And Father, we just pray that right now that whatever's going on in any individual's life under the sound of my voice, that in this very few minutes that we are together in your word, that you would truly do a work that only you, by the power of your Holy Spirit, can do.
[00:42:50] Lord, I just pray personally that you would let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight.
[00:42:56] In Jesus' name I pray.
[00:42:59] Amen.
[00:43:00] You may be seated.
[00:43:03] I pointed out verse 17 and 19 and asked you to underline it because Jesus here is talking about sanctification.
[00:43:10] Jesus here is talking about how to live for Jesus Christ on a daily basis.
[00:43:17] Now, I understand, having grown up and been a Baptist throughout my life, that the word sanctification scares a lot of Baptists.
[00:43:28] I mean really and truly you mentioned the word sanctification and a Baptist will break out into hives in a heartbeat because no Baptist wants to be thought of oftentimes as being sanctified I mean by the way there's another word that maybe you're a little more comfortable with and it has means the same thing and it's the word holy
[00:43:52] It means the same thing.
[00:43:54] Sanctification.
[00:43:56] Holiness.
[00:43:58] It's the same thing.
[00:44:00] But you've got to understand this morning that there are a lot of misconceptions about what it means to be sanctified.
[00:44:08] There's a lot of misconceptions about what the holy life
[00:44:13] Some folks make the mistake of thinking that a sanctified life is a life that is without sin, to be truly free of sin.
[00:44:25] Well, I've got news for you.
[00:44:29] None of us, if we're honest, would ever claim that we've come to the point where we no longer sin.
[00:44:36] I mean, is there anybody here that would raise your hand and say, well, Pastor, I fall in that category?
[00:44:43] Because then I would tell you you're a liar and that would break your chain.
[00:44:49] Because the reality is all of us still deal with sin.
[00:44:54] But folks have the misconception of thinking that a life of sanctification means you've never sinned since you were saved.
[00:45:03] And some folks think that somehow being sanctified is the end of a good time.
[00:45:12] That somehow when you talk about living a holy life or you talk about being sold out to Jesus, you talk about that you're getting to a stage where you no longer enjoy yourself or no longer enjoy life and no longer have a good time.
[00:45:29] But ladies and gentlemen, that's not what the Bible is talking about whatsoever.
[00:45:33] In fact, Jesus constantly uses the words love.
[00:45:37] He constantly uses the word joy.
[00:45:40] Constantly uses the words peace.
[00:45:42] And I'll tell you something else.
[00:45:44] If you know anything about the Bible, if you've read anything about the Lord Jesus, you know that he lived the most holy life ever lived on this earth.
[00:45:55] But you also discover when you read about his life, Jesus had a good time.
[00:46:01] He really did.
[00:46:03] His life was marked by happiness.
[00:46:06] His life was marked by joy.
[00:46:09] Folks always just wanted to be around him.
[00:46:12] Do you notice that?
[00:46:13] If you know anything about the Bible, there was a happiness in his life.
[00:46:19] But that word sanctification is best understood to be set apart, to be separate.
[00:46:33] Literally, it means to be different.
[00:46:38] That there's a difference in who you are once you're saved.
[00:46:46] It means to be different.
[00:46:50] When the Bible uses the word sanctification, it literally means this.
[00:46:58] It means to be separated from sin and to be consecrated to God.
[00:47:06] And that's really what we're going to talk about this morning.
[00:47:10] If I ask for a show of hands, how many of you are interested in living a meaningful, Christ-centered life?
[00:47:18] How many of you would raise your hand?
[00:47:21] Hopefully that's just about all of us.
[00:47:23] Well, the great news is that God has given us some instructions to enable us to be able to accomplish this.
[00:47:31] And that's what we find in verse 6 through 19 because there's two spiritual identities, if you will, that are placed in contrast to one another.
[00:47:41] One of them all throughout these verses is referred to as the world.
[00:47:47] And then there's another that is referred to all throughout these verses as the word.
[00:47:56] Make sure you get those two concepts.
[00:48:00] The world.
[00:48:01] and the Word.
[00:48:02] The world and the Word.
[00:48:06] The world and the Word.
[00:48:10] Because you see, the world, that's our difficulty.
[00:48:16] That's where the problems come.
[00:48:18] And then you've got this Word he talks about, which is where our deliverance comes.
[00:48:26] That's how you get to victory and live the victorious life
[00:48:31] is what we see in the Word.
[00:48:35] So let's look real quickly.
[00:48:36] If you have a piece of paper, pencil, or pen, I want you to jot some things down with me real quickly this morning.
[00:48:42] And number one, let's look first at the world, this difficulty that we have.
[00:48:47] 19 times, 19 times in John 17, Jesus uses this phrase or speaks of the world.
[00:49:01] Now, it's interesting, in those 19 times, he refers to the world in several different ways as you're reading through this passage.
[00:49:09] On one occasion, he speaks of the world of creation.
[00:49:12] Go back to verse 5, where we were last week.
[00:49:15] And it says,
[00:49:19] Together with yourself with the glory which I had with you before the world was.
[00:49:27] In other words, Jesus is back there.
[00:49:29] We talked about that last week at creation.
[00:49:32] We're talking about the world of creation, the sun, the moon, the stars, the flowers, the birds, the bees.
[00:49:39] On another occasion, when Jesus speaks about the world, in fact, we didn't read this far, but look down at verse 23, if you will.
[00:49:48] And Jesus says in verse 23, I in them and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.
[00:50:03] So there he's talking about the world of people, right?
[00:50:06] He's talking about the world of humanity.
[00:50:10] But most of the time, when Jesus is praying here and he speaks of the world,
[00:50:17] He's referring to something altogether different.
[00:50:21] Not the world of humanity, not the world of creation, but he's referring to human society organizing itself apart from God and in hostility to God.
[00:50:42] He's referring to a world system
[00:50:46] that nailed him to the cross.
[00:50:48] He's referring to a world system that is in active opposition to you living the Christian life successfully.
[00:50:59] And he's talking about a world system that is a society organizing itself to do everything it can do to hinder the work of God.
[00:51:17] When you see that word world, you quickly recognize that is the problem, that is the difficulty that we face in this life.
[00:51:36] You and I are living in this world system.
[00:51:41] And that's where the rub comes.
[00:51:43] That's where the problem is.
[00:51:45] And what I want to do real quickly for you is show you in a series of phrases that Jesus uses right here in his prayer to the Father, a series of phrases that establish once and for all what a disciple's relationship should be to the world in which we are living.
[00:52:10] When he's praying for his disciples, he is laying out here in this passage what the relationship should be.
[00:52:19] And it's four simple phrases I want you to see right here in Scripture.
[00:52:23] Don't take my word for them.
[00:52:25] Look at what he says.
[00:52:27] I want you to jot these down.
[00:52:29] First of all, he uses a phrase in verse six that ought to get our attention.
[00:52:35] He says, I have manifested your name
[00:52:39] to the men whom you have given me out of the world.
[00:52:47] Would you jot down that phrase?
[00:52:49] A disciple is saved out of the world.
[00:52:54] Now if you've come to Jesus Christ and you've genuinely received Him as your Savior,
[00:53:01] The Bible says right here that in a spiritual sense, you have been taken out of this world system.
[00:53:11] Not physically, but spiritually.
[00:53:16] You see, that's exactly
[00:53:18] What God is doing when he says over in fact I want you to hold your finger here for a minute flip over just a few pages to the book of Acts and look at chapter 15 in Acts chapter 15 verse 14 you may have never noticed this verse before
[00:53:35] But look at what it says when the disciples are meeting there at the Jerusalem council.
[00:53:42] And in verse 14, you might want to underline that.
[00:53:45] It says, Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his name.
[00:54:03] He's taking a people.
[00:54:05] For His name.
[00:54:07] Simply put, when you come to Jesus Christ, you are no longer spiritually part of this world.
[00:54:20] When you really get saved, when you really know Christ, you have been spiritually removed from this world.
[00:54:28] It means that you belong to another world.
[00:54:31] That's the reason the Apostle Paul used this statement about our citizenship being where?
[00:54:38] In heaven.
[00:54:40] We have dual citizenship.
[00:54:42] We have citizenship here in the United States of America, but we also have citizenship in heaven.
[00:54:51] And when you're a genuinely born-again believer, you are taken out of this world system and you become a part of the system of the kingdom of God.
[00:55:03] Don't you see?
[00:55:07] That places you in a totally different perspective of life on a daily basis.
[00:55:20] In other words, when you're tempted to do something you ought not to do, you should stop and think, wait a minute, I don't belong in this place.
[00:55:31] Wait a minute.
[00:55:32] I don't belong in this position.
[00:55:35] Wait a minute.
[00:55:36] I've got a different standard.
[00:55:39] So the first thing that every believer who is a true born-again disciple of Jesus needs to understand is that you have been saved out of this world system.
[00:55:53] You don't belong there.
[00:55:56] You don't belong in that situation.
[00:55:59] That the Holy Spirit
[00:56:01] is speaking to your heart and convicting you.
[00:56:06] I don't belong here.
[00:56:08] But there's a second phrase Jesus uses in verse 11.
[00:56:12] Go down and look at it and underline it if you will.
[00:56:15] He said, now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world.
[00:56:25] Underline that little phrase.
[00:56:27] These are in the world.
[00:56:31] Now according to verse 11, you are still in the world.
[00:56:38] And that simply means, when you came to Jesus Christ, accepting Him, and that moment, spiritually, you were taken out of this world system, but we all know, physically, you are still in this world.
[00:56:58] The minute you got saved, we all understand, we weren't immediately transported to glory.
[00:57:08] I mean, think about that for a minute.
[00:57:11] What would happen if you were immediately transported to glory?
[00:57:18] Well, we'd have a problem.
[00:57:20] Who would tell a lost world about Jesus?
[00:57:23] If you were immediately transported to glory, who would show the beauty and the righteousness of the Christian life?
[00:57:32] Who would be able to live in the power of the Holy Spirit here on this earth?
[00:57:38] There would be no physical witness for God on this earth if you were saved and immediately transported to glory.
[00:57:47] So you're not.
[00:57:52] Now, I will say this.
[00:57:55] If you're lost this morning, there is nothing that I want anymore than for you to come today to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord of your life.
[00:58:13] But I've got to be honest with you this morning.
[00:58:17] If you do, in the morning, when you get up,
[00:58:23] You'll go back to that office that you were working in on Friday because you're still living in this world.
[00:58:35] You're going to trade in the old world stores tomorrow because you're still living in this world.
[00:58:44] Listen, you're going to breathe in the polluted air tomorrow.
[00:58:48] Just like you did Friday because we're still living in this old world.
[00:58:53] You're going to work in the factories.
[00:58:56] You're going to work in the offices just like you did Friday because you're still living in this world.
[00:59:04] Young people are still going to go to the same schools tomorrow as they went to Friday because we're still living in this old world.
[00:59:14] But look what Jesus prayed.
[00:59:18] Specifically in verse 15.
[00:59:25] I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one.
[00:59:44] That's important.
[00:59:46] Underline that phrase.
[00:59:50] Can I just let you in on a secret?
[00:59:52] Jesus never taught isolation.
[00:59:58] Jesus never taught that we're to withdraw from life as the answer.
[01:00:05] He never said living in a hole makes you holier.
[01:00:12] No.
[01:00:13] Jesus never taught isolation.
[01:00:17] Jesus taught insulation.
[01:00:21] There's a huge difference.
[01:00:25] He taught insulation.
[01:00:28] Insulated by the presence and the power of the Spirit of God.
[01:00:33] Insulated by the body of believers that surrounds you and walk through life with you and strengthen you and encourage you.
[01:00:42] Jesus never taught isolation.
[01:00:46] He taught insulation.
[01:00:49] So you see the progression here.
[01:00:52] I mean, you see the progression.
[01:00:54] You're saved out of the world spiritually, but you still live in the world physically.
[01:01:03] But then look for the third statement.
[01:01:05] It's right here in verse 16.
[01:01:10] They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
[01:01:20] Please underline that phrase because that's very, very important.
[01:01:25] A believer, we are told right here according to verse 16, we are not of the world.
[01:01:32] What is he talking about, Mark?
[01:01:33] He's talking about in terms of lifestyle and he's talking about in terms of behavior that we are not of the world.
[01:01:45] You see the progression.
[01:01:47] We are saved out of the world system spiritually.
[01:01:52] We are still living physically in this world, but our minds and our hearts should be so guided that we are not of this world when it comes to lifestyle and behavior.
[01:02:12] I've been preaching for 36 years.
[01:02:14] In February it'll be 37.
[01:02:18] You know what I've found over these 37 years of serving as a pastor?
[01:02:23] The average church member I meet today I find has become street smart.
[01:02:34] You say, what do you mean street smart, preacher?
[01:02:37] I mean, they've come pretty worldly wise.
[01:02:44] And the fact is, sad as it may be,
[01:02:47] That many believers whose lifestyle is such that you really can't tell a difference between them and the unsaved.
[01:02:59] Because we become street smart.
[01:03:02] We become worldly wise.
[01:03:06] And that's why there's a lot of people I come across who say to me, well Mark, I've accepted Jesus.
[01:03:12] But I'm not living a successful Christian life.
[01:03:15] I'm very frustrated.
[01:03:16] I don't feel like I'm living a victorious Christian life.
[01:03:20] And I'll tell you what I've discovered.
[01:03:22] What they're doing is this.
[01:03:24] They've adopted the lifestyles, the patterns, the value systems, and the habits of this world.
[01:03:38] And when you've adopted the lifestyles and the patterns and the value systems and the habits of this world, it's no wonder you're frustrated.
[01:03:53] Because Jesus says, my disciples are not to be of this world.
[01:04:02] Now some of you I can tell by your looks that I'm losing you.
[01:04:06] Like a deer in headlights here.
[01:04:10] You say, Mark, let me get this straight.
[01:04:16] We're not of this world.
[01:04:19] Or we've been saved out of this world, that's right.
[01:04:22] But we live in it, that's correct.
[01:04:25] But we're not to be of it.
[01:04:29] Exactly.
[01:04:32] You say, but how does that work, really?
[01:04:34] Well, I can give you a number of statements from the Bible itself that explains it.
[01:04:41] Check out James 4.4 sometime.
[01:04:43] We won't take time to look at all these, but James 4.4 says, Don't be friends with the world.
[01:04:50] In other words, don't hobnob with the world system.
[01:04:54] James 1.27 says, Keep yourselves unspotted from this world.
[01:05:01] 1 John 2.15 says, Love not the world.
[01:05:05] And it carries the idea of the marriage relationship.
[01:05:09] In other words, don't flirt
[01:05:12] What if your groom was flirting with your maid of honor?
[01:05:18] That wouldn't go over too well, would it?
[01:05:21] Say, of course not.
[01:05:23] So the Bible says we belong to Jesus.
[01:05:27] We are married to Him.
[01:05:29] And this old world comes along, and if we start flirting with it, you're going to be frustrated.
[01:05:39] Frustrated.
[01:05:41] Romans 12.1 says, be not conformed to this world.
[01:05:52] Oh, listen to me.
[01:05:55] Please note how easy it is to let this world determine how you think, how you behave, where you go, what you do, what you watch.
[01:06:10] That's what happened to Lot, don't you recall, in the Old Testament?
[01:06:15] I mean, you'd never know that Lot was a Christian by his lifestyle or the way he lived.
[01:06:24] You just would never know he was a believer in the Lord.
[01:06:27] And Lot's problem was simple.
[01:06:30] He started being friends with the world.
[01:06:33] Next thing you know, Lot's getting spotted by the world.
[01:06:37] The next thing you know, Lot is loving the world.
[01:06:42] And before you know it, Lot was conformed to this world.
[01:06:47] Ladies and gentlemen, Jesus says, you are saved out of this world.
[01:06:53] You are still functioning in this world.
[01:06:55] But praise God, you must be not of this world.
[01:07:06] Let me put it simply.
[01:07:09] You, you ought to be different.
[01:07:17] Different.
[01:07:19] I mean, our lifestyle ought to demonstrate that Jesus Christ has saved us and redeemed us by the blood of the Lamb.
[01:07:38] In fact, let me just ask you a question.
[01:07:42] If salvation doesn't change your life, what's the point?
[01:07:52] If salvation in Jesus doesn't change your life, your lifestyle, what's the point?
[01:08:06] He says you are not of this world.
[01:08:13] But then there's a fourth phrase that he gives us down here in verse 18.
[01:08:21] He says, as you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
[01:08:33] Here's the picture you gotta grasp.
[01:08:36] You are saved out of this world.
[01:08:41] You are still in this world.
[01:08:45] You are not of this world.
[01:08:51] But yes, Jesus has sent you into the world to tell them about the love of Jesus.
[01:09:04] And you see, my friend, it's real clear.
[01:09:06] We're not here to condemn the world.
[01:09:09] We don't have to.
[01:09:10] The world's already under condemnation.
[01:09:14] Not our deal.
[01:09:16] We're not here to compromise with the world.
[01:09:20] We're not here to condone the world.
[01:09:23] We are here to confront the world with the truth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
[01:09:34] and listen we have a job to do and it's to tell this world that Jesus Christ really does save and that he will change a person's life forever that's what we're here for now that progression right there if you will just if you will do nothing else out of this message today but really understand
[01:10:01] that that's what is at the heart of the Christian life as Jesus describes it himself in his prayer to the Heavenly Father you come to understand why the world is the difficulty that that we're facing but but here's the beautiful thing in this prayer
[01:10:25] I want you to notice that he not only talks about the world being the difficulty, but I want to close by helping you see how he says the Word is our deliverance from that.
[01:10:40] The word is the secret.
[01:10:42] The word is the secret sauce.
[01:10:45] The word is the answer.
[01:10:46] Do you notice how Jesus keeps referring to the word here?
[01:10:50] What does Jesus say about the word?
[01:10:52] Well, I want you to notice there's three real clear statements I just want you to hit on real quick as we wrap up today.
[01:10:58] Number one is right there in verse 14.
[01:11:01] He says, I've given them what?
[01:11:05] Read verse 14.
[01:11:06] I've given them your word.
[01:11:10] and the world has hated them because they are not of the world.
[01:11:17] I've given them your word.
[01:11:20] And by the way, if you look closely
[01:11:23] You find three of the greatest gifts Jesus mentions right here in chapter 17.
[01:11:29] Back in verse 1 and 2, he talks about the giving of himself for our salvation.
[01:11:34] Verse 14 here, he talks about giving the gift of the Word for our sanctification.
[01:11:41] And then in verse 22, again, which we didn't read, but if you go back and look at it, he is talking about giving us the gift of his glory for our glorification.
[01:11:53] Listen, Jesus not only gave Himself to save us, He's telling you and He's telling me in verse 14, I've given you God's Word to sanctify you.
[01:12:08] Ladies and gentlemen, God has provided a gift.
[01:12:13] And in that gift, there's a secret of successfully living for Jesus Christ.
[01:12:21] You say, what is that gift, Mark?
[01:12:23] The gift is this Word.
[01:12:29] He's given us the Word.
[01:12:31] How many of you have a Bible this morning?
[01:12:33] If you have a Bible, hold it up.
[01:12:34] Hold it up.
[01:12:35] I want to see them.
[01:12:36] How many of you have a Bible in your hand this morning?
[01:12:39] I want you to look around.
[01:12:40] All over here you see this Bible.
[01:12:44] Have you ever thought how you ought to appreciate
[01:12:49] The gift of the Word of God.
[01:12:53] Did you know people sitting in a church having your own copy of God's Word is a relatively new thing?
[01:13:05] Only a few hundred years old that people have had the ability to sit in a church and have a copy of God's Word right there with you?
[01:13:17] I mean, there were times that there would be one copy of the Word of God on the pulpit and it was chained to the pulpit so nobody would steal it.
[01:13:28] Have you ever stopped and thought about how much you ought to appreciate the copy of the Bible that you may have?
[01:13:38] Martyrs have died so that common folks just like us would have a copy of the Scripture.
[01:13:51] God says, I've given My Word.
[01:14:00] Do you appreciate it?
[01:14:03] Do you read it?
[01:14:07] See, in dealing with folks that are going through so many problems and struggles, from being backslidden, family issues, I've kind of learned over these 36 years as a pastor that there's a question I always ask when I sit down with somebody that's going through all these issues, maybe at work, maybe at home, maybe wherever it is.
[01:14:31] You know what I've come to ask them?
[01:14:34] Tell me about your quiet time.
[01:14:39] Because when a man or a woman describes to me about their personal quiet time, it immediately opens up all kinds of answers to why they're where they are.
[01:15:01] I can almost say without exception,
[01:15:06] Those people say to me, well, you know, Pastor, I know I haven't been reading the Bible like I should.
[01:15:13] Or I know, Preacher, I haven't been following God's Word and really spending any time in it like I should.
[01:15:21] So let me ask you something.
[01:15:23] How are you ever going to put the Christian life together if you ain't reading the instructions?
[01:15:36] Hello?
[01:15:42] I think that's an answer.
[01:15:46] To why we've lost the effectiveness of the body of Christ moving on this earth today.
[01:15:51] Maybe we've lost the effectiveness in our own nation of why people in our church pews aren't really making the impact in their communities or their schools or across this nation.
[01:16:02] Could it be because we're not in God's Word?
[01:16:07] We're not reading the instructions.
[01:16:11] So if we're not putting the Christian life together,
[01:16:15] By reading the instructions, how can we expect otherwise?
[01:16:24] Jesus says, I've given them my word.
[01:16:29] Look at the second thing in verse 17.
[01:16:36] Jesus is speaking here, sanctify them.
[01:16:41] by your truth and then underline the rest of that verse your word is truth you see that your word is truth that's a very oh boy that that is the most powerful statement he didn't say
[01:17:10] Your word is true.
[01:17:12] Did you notice that?
[01:17:14] He didn't say your word is true.
[01:17:17] No, now it is true, but that's not what he said.
[01:17:21] He said your word is what class?
[01:17:25] Truth.
[01:17:26] You say, wait a minute, Mark, what's the big deal?
[01:17:28] I don't see the difference.
[01:17:30] Oh, it is a big deal.
[01:17:31] It's the biggest of differences.
[01:17:33] Why?
[01:17:34] Because truth, truth is the standard by which everything else is determined true or false.
[01:17:45] Truth.
[01:17:46] Jesus says, your word is truth.
[01:17:51] Which by saying that, Jesus is saying everything else must be brought and put beside the truth of God's Word to determine whether it's true or false.
[01:18:03] That's what He's saying.
[01:18:05] Don't ever let anybody get you in the trap of saying, well, I believe God's Word is true.
[01:18:10] No.
[01:18:11] You say, I believe God's Word is truth.
[01:18:16] Because by saying that, you're saying that Jesus has established the absolute integrity, the absolute accuracy, the absolute inerrancy, the absolute infallibility of the Word of God.
[01:18:32] That's how God works in our lives, by truth.
[01:18:38] Truth.
[01:18:39] The devil works in our lives by error.
[01:18:42] The devil works in our lives by lies.
[01:18:46] And you see, if the world can get people to move away from the truth of God, if they can get us to move away from the truth or the standard of God and begin to live by the lies of the devil, then he's got us exactly where the devil wants us to be.
[01:19:10] Oh, listen, you can disagree with it all you want.
[01:19:15] You can argue all the arguments that you can think of, but I'm here to tell you, the day that we as a nation kicked the Bible and prayer out of schools was the day we put this country on a path toward destruction from which we have yet to recover.
[01:19:38] That's the truth.
[01:19:42] You say, but why do you say that, preacher?
[01:19:45] Because sir, ma'am, no person can be a truly educated person who doesn't have some working knowledge of the Word of God.
[01:20:03] You go back and look at our history.
[01:20:05] You go back and look at UNC Chapel Hill, the oldest public university, and where students were required
[01:20:15] To take Bible where they understood the principles of God's Word in its history.
[01:20:22] And when you abandon that very foundation of truth, your whole culture and your whole society is on a path that is headed on a course toward destruction.
[01:20:41] Listen, we've
[01:20:44] I feel for teachers today because we have put our educators in an impossible situation.
[01:20:52] We've created a generation of young people with no standards or values, no systems of right or wrong, and then we say to educators, go teach those children right from wrong, but you can't use a Bible.
[01:21:11] It doesn't work.
[01:21:13] You've removed the standard of truth by which everything should be measured.
[01:21:25] It's kind of like saying, I want you to make ice cream but you can't use any cream at all.
[01:21:33] Or saying, I want you to make a car but you cannot use a motor in building a car.
[01:21:43] It's ludicrous.
[01:21:45] It's impossible.
[01:21:48] And yet we look at ourselves confused.
[01:21:51] We look at ourselves like, hmm.
[01:21:56] Listen, you can't teach right and wrong apart from the Word of God.
[01:22:06] Jesus makes that statement about the Word.
[01:22:10] And then the last thing,
[01:22:13] as he says in verse 17 and 19 he gives the clue away I touched on it when I started where he said in verse 17 sanctify them by your truth and then again in verse 19 when he says and for their sakes I sanctify myself that they also may be sanctified by the truth in other words the word of God is the sanctifying agent
[01:22:42] that helps us set apart our lives.
[01:22:49] The Word of God is the vehicle that God uses to make us holy, to set us apart, to make us different.
[01:23:04] Does it work?
[01:23:07] It works if you read the instructions.
[01:23:13] I'll give you an example.
[01:23:15] And it's kind of an interesting example because it lets you know how far removed our culture has gotten.
[01:23:23] How many of you have ever heard of Eckerd Drugs?
[01:23:25] Raise your hand.
[01:23:27] Maybe some of you have heard the story of Jack Eckerd.
[01:23:31] Jack Eckerd was a businessman from Florida.
[01:23:33] He was the founder of the Eckerd drug chains, which was the largest drug chain in America at one time.
[01:23:39] He happened to see Chuck Colson on television when Chuck was talking about some of the issues of the day in which he was facing.
[01:23:49] Well, Chuck was contacted by Jack Eckard that said, I liked what I heard you say, and I wonder if you and I would be able to work together to make a difference on dealing with law and order issues in our country.
[01:24:04] And so he invited him to travel with him and here is Chuck Colson with Jack Eckerd flying around the country speaking about these issues.
[01:24:17] And every time that they would get on the plane, Chuck Colson would begin to witness to Jack Eckerd.
[01:24:23] And he would begin to tell him about the love of Jesus Christ and they would get off and they would go on and Jack Eckerd would say, but I'm not a Christian.
[01:24:33] And eventually one day, after another one of their trips, Colson gave him a copy of Mere Christianity.
[01:24:41] And that copy of Mere Christianity by C.S.
[01:24:44] Lewis, Jack Eckard went home and began to read it.
[01:24:48] He also coupled that by reading the book that Colson had written that told his story called Loving God.
[01:24:56] And he decided, Jack Eckard did, that indeed,
[01:25:02] Jesus was resurrected and that he needed to trust him as a savior.
[01:25:13] Well, when he called Chuck Colson to tell him and Chuck asked him a few questions and he responded, Chuck said, well, Chuck, I got great news.
[01:25:21] You're born again.
[01:25:23] And Jack said, well, I don't think so.
[01:25:25] He said, well, why?
[01:25:26] He said, because I don't feel anything yet.
[01:25:29] He said, trust me.
[01:25:30] He said, from what you are testifying to me, you've given your life to Christ.
[01:25:35] Can we pray together right now?
[01:25:37] And they began to pray together.
[01:25:41] He accepted Christ into his life.
[01:25:44] The first thing Jack Eckerd did was the very next week he walked into one of his drugstores
[01:25:52] And as he was walking down the aisle of his drugstores, he saw on the bookshelves copies of Playboy and Penthouse magazines, the pornography of the day.
[01:26:06] He said he had seen it many times before, but it had never bothered him until this day because he was seeing them with new eyes.
[01:26:23] He came back.
[01:26:26] He called the president of his company, and he said, I want you to take every Playboy and every penthouse off of the shelves in Eckerd drugstores.
[01:26:37] The president responded back to him.
[01:26:39] He said, but sir, you can't mean that, Mr. Eckerd.
[01:26:42] I mean, we make $3 million a year on those magazines.
[01:26:48] Jack Eckerd said, take them out.
[01:26:51] and just like that, just like that, there were 1,700 stores across America by one man's decision to take those magazines and that smut and remove them from the shelves of that store.
[01:27:13] Chuck Colson called Jack Eckard when he heard it.
[01:27:18] He said, I want to use that story
[01:27:21] He said, Jack, did you do that because of your commitment to Christ you just made?
[01:27:28] And his response was, why else would I give away three million dollars?
[01:27:35] He said, the Lord wouldn't let me off the hook.
[01:27:43] Isn't that marvelous?
[01:27:46] The Lord wouldn't let me off the hook.
[01:27:51] I don't know of any theologian who could better describe the Lordship of Jesus Christ than that.
[01:28:03] And the reason I tell you that story is because so many things that we think that we must involve ourselves in, so many things that we think make the difference,
[01:28:19] What really makes the difference in our society and what really makes the difference in our culture is when you get serious about the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your own life.
[01:28:34] and in your own circle of influence and in your own community and your own business and your own neighborhood and your own network when you get serious about the power of Christ and His Word sanctifying you
[01:29:04] Setting you apart for His glory.
[01:29:10] That's how communities are changed.
[01:29:17] That's how families are changed.
[01:29:25] Would you bow your heads right where you are please?
[01:29:48] You know right where you're sitting this morning, the Holy Spirit of God is simply wanting to speak to you about where you are in your own Christian life.
[01:30:16] and when you really stop and think about it for those that have walked with the Lord for a long time or maybe a better phrase I should use for folks that have been in church a long time it's almost easy to become street smart and so influenced by the world
[01:30:44] We find ways around which is not what God wants.
[01:30:57] His Word is truth.
[01:31:01] And His Word works to convict.
[01:31:03] His Word works to rebuke.
[01:31:05] His Word works to comfort.
[01:31:08] His Word works to strengthen.
[01:31:11] His Word works...
[01:31:14] To set you apart.
[01:31:19] The Bible acts like a mirror.
[01:31:23] When you really begin to read it, it helps you see yourself as you really are.
[01:31:30] And it can help you see yourself as you need to be.
[01:31:38] Jesus said, Your word is truth.
[01:31:43] As he prayed to the Father.
[01:31:46] As he prayed for his disciples.
[01:31:51] This morning, as we move into this invitation, listen, if you're here and you've never given your life to Christ, I want to invite you to come and receive Him today.
[01:31:59] I'm going to be right here at the front, and I invite you just to trust Him.
[01:32:03] If you're here and you're already a follower of Christ, but you just haven't been able to get it together as far as the Christian life, I mean, you believe Jesus died for you, and you've asked Him to come into your heart.
[01:32:16] You've asked Him to save you, but again, you're frustrated.
[01:32:21] You just don't feel like the Christian life has come together for you.
[01:32:25] And today, God, in His grace and His mercy, has perhaps shown you why.
[01:32:31] He's shown you what's missing.
[01:32:37] And maybe you just need to get up and come get on this altar.
[01:32:40] This is like an old-fashioned altar.
[01:32:43] You can say, Lord, You're dealing with me today.
[01:32:47] And as you're dealing with me, I want to be honest with you.
[01:32:50] And I want to repent for where I have fallen short.
[01:32:53] And I want to surrender myself completely to you right now, Lord.
[01:32:57] Would you just do that?
[01:32:59] Would you just make a fresh commitment to Him?
[01:33:04] That you're going to be in His Word.
[01:33:07] And that you're going to allow His Word to be in you.
[01:33:09] This Christmas,
[01:33:19] It's about God coming to man.
[01:33:24] It's an opportunity for man to receive Him.
[01:33:29] But when you receive Him, you receive all of Him, including His Word, which is speaking into your life right now.
[01:33:41] So this altar is open.
[01:33:44] and I invite you to come.
[01:33:46] Father, we just ask you to guide this invitation.
[01:33:50] Have your will and have your way in these moments.
[01:33:55] For it's in Jesus' name I pray.
[01:33:58] Amen.
[01:33:58] Would you stand to your feet as Brother Grant comes to lead us in our hymn of invitation.
[01:34:03] We invite you to come.

[01:34:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]:
I have decided to follow Jesus
[01:34:23] I have decided to follow Jesus I have decided to follow Jesus No turning back, no turning back The world behind me, the cross before me
[01:34:52] The world behind me, the cross before me, no turning back, no turning back.
[01:35:09] I still will follow.
[01:35:21] Though none go with me, I still will follow.
[01:35:28] Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
[01:35:52] Will you decide
[01:35:59] Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
[01:36:19] No turning back, no turning back I have decided to follow Jesus
[01:36:26] Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus No turning back, no turning back The world behind me, the cross before me
[01:36:54] The cross before me, the world behind me The cross before me, no turning back, no turning back Do not go with me, I still will follow
[01:37:24] Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy
[01:37:47] Will you decide now to follow Jesus Will you decide now to follow Jesus No turning back, no turning back

[01:38:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
It's right where you are for just a moment as the instruments softly play.
[01:38:19] God continues to work here and moving on people's lives and hearts are being surrendered and turned over to Him this morning.
[01:38:30] May you just pray for those around you.
[01:38:33] May you pray for what God is doing in our midst.
[01:38:36] Thankful for the movement of His Holy Spirit and thankful
[01:38:44] Thankful, thankful to know Him and to make Him known.
[01:38:56] Just pray for what God's Spirit is doing in our midst.

[01:39:26] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let us pray.

[01:39:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
And all God's people said, Amen.
[01:39:43] Brother Robert's going to come and lead us in the closing word and Grant's going to sing us out.
[01:39:47] Don't forget tonight, 6 o'clock right here.
[01:39:50] If you came last night, you're welcome to come back and invite some friends to come with you.
[01:39:55] A powerful message on the heart of Christmas.
[01:39:58] And it really will help you as we're 10 days away from that fateful time.
[01:40:05] of celebrating the birthday of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords coming into Christmas Eve just 10 days from today.
[01:40:11] So please make sure that you take an opportunity to be here tonight.
[01:40:16] It really helps focus your mind and heart where it needs to be as we hear it this evening.
[01:40:21] Brother Robert?

[01:40:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
So, amen.
[01:40:23] Thank you, Pastor Mark.
[01:40:25] Church, I heard an old pastor once said that God does business with people who mean business.
[01:40:31] I just want to encourage you today, if you are serious about doing business with the Lord this upcoming year, we have a Bible reading plan out front, and it's printed out ready to go for you.
[01:40:41] It breaks out the Bible into four really incredible reading sections, and I've also heard it once said, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail, so it's good to have a plan in place, a guide to help you walk through the Bible for the upcoming year.
[01:40:54] I don't just want to encourage you to do that.
[01:40:56] I want to implore you to do that.
[01:40:57] You'll walk out those doors and find it on that circle table.
[01:41:00] There's a little basket.
[01:41:01] You'll find these Bible reading plans.
[01:41:02] Let's read through the Bible together as a church.
[01:41:06] The benediction today comes from the book of 2 Timothy chapter 3 starting in verse 16.
[01:41:11] This is the word of the Lord.
[01:41:14] All scripture is breathed out by God and it's profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
[01:41:23] At the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
[01:41:29] I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is the judge of the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom, preach the word.
[01:41:39] Be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching.
[01:41:45] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.
[01:41:55] They will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
[01:41:59] But as for you, church, as for us today, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
[01:42:11] Would you pray with me?
[01:42:14] Holy Heavenly Father, God, we thank you for your word, which is truth.
[01:42:20] We thank you for the word that became flesh and dwelt among us, who also described himself as the way, the truth, and the life.
[01:42:28] Lord, help us to remember Matthew 4.4.
[01:42:31] We cannot live by bread alone.
[01:42:33] but by every word that flows forth from the mouth of God help us to feast on your word daily help us to take it in Lord and not just be informed by it but be transformed by it Lord and be equipped through that process to fulfill our ministry here on this little hill in Mooresville and beyond to go out these doors and to know Jesus Christ intimately and personally and make him known powerfully to the ends of the earth we ask this in Jesus mighty name our Messiah amen

[01:43:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]:
There's a sweet, sweet spirit in this place And I know that it's the spirit of the Lord There are sweet expressions on each face

[01:43:35] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
[01:44:02] We'll now and ever know how we can live regard when we shall leave this place.

[01:44:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

[01:44:50] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.
[01:45:35] Let's pray.

[01:46:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
God bless you.

[01:47:15] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Thank you.