Beyond Sunday with Pastor Nic
Join me for a more personal look into the weekend sermons, as well as some thoughts on theology, marriage, parenting, and leadership. I will also explore some of your most asked questions throughout the year.
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Beyond Sunday with Pastor Nic
Jesus' Heartfelt Prayer: A Deep Dive into John 17
Pastor Nick unravels the deep desire of Jesus for unity among His followers, likening it to a synchronized rowing team, where harmony is essential. Explore practical steps to foster unity within your faith community, inspired by Jesus's prayer for protection and unity across generations. This episode encourages listeners to consider their role in global prayer movements and the broader Christian community, emphasizing how our collective unity can serve as a powerful testimony to the world. Join us as we explore how to live in harmony with fellow believers, reflecting the love and unity that Jesus prayed for.
Welcome to Beyond Sunday, where we bridge the gap between our faith and our daily lives. I'm Pastor Nick, and today we're diving into a profound section of scripture, john 17, which is often referred to as the real Lord's Prayer. Here Jesus prays not only for his immediate disciples, but for all believers, echoing through the ages right into our own lives. Imagine for a moment if you could hear Jesus praying aloud over your life. What would you say? What would he say? What would he ask for you? It's a powerful thought that we get to explore today as we delve into his words. Picture the scene Jesus is facing the imminent approach of his crucifixion, yet he pauses to pray, showing us the critical importance of intercession. As we listen to his words, we find a treasure trove of insights about his priorities for us. Jesus starts his prayer by addressing his own immediate need his glorification through the crucifixion and resurrection, which, paradoxically, is for our benefit too. In John, chapter 17, verse 1, jesus says Father, the time has come, glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For just a moment, reflect on the dual nature of Jesus's request for his glorification to fulfill the Father's plan and for it to be a means to glorify the Father, god, it's a reminder that our pursuits should always reflect back to God, magnifying his name through our actions. Consider your personal and professional achievements. How do you consciously think about directing the glory back to God? I think sometimes we miss that. We miss that because we're busy. We miss that because we just don't think about it. We miss it because we're not sure that everything should glorify God. I know if you and I were to have a conversation, we'd say, yes, everything should glorify God, but there are things in our life that seem mundane, that we don't think should glorify God. But the truth is, everything should bring glory back to God. So this week, try to frame your successes in a way that highlights God's work in and through you, whether it's through a conversation, a social media post or even a quiet prayer of thanks.
Speaker 1:Now, as Jesus prays for his disciples, he focuses on their need for protection from the evil one and sanctification through the truth. John, chapter 17, verses 11 and 12, reveals Jesus's deep concern for the unity and purity of his disciples. Holy Father, he says, protect them by the power of your name the name you gave me so that they may be one as we are one. Think of a team rowing in a regatta. We have tons of that happening around Sarasota, where I live. For them, unity in their strokes, harmony in their efforts, makes all the difference. Jesus desires that same kind of harmony for his followers, driven by the truth of God's word.
Speaker 1:Identify one practical way that you can foster unity within your church, that you can foster unity within your small group. That you can foster unity within your church, that you can foster unity within your small group, that you can foster unity within your community. This week, perhaps it's reaching out to resolve a misunderstanding or initiating a prayer group focused on unity and protection. Jesus then extends his prayer to encompass all future believers. That's you and me Emphasizing that our unity will be a testimony to the world. Think about that for a moment, you and I. When we live in unity, when we live in harmony with other believers, we are a testimony to the world about the glory of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1:In John, chapter 17, verses 20 and 21, jesus prays my prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who believe in me through their message that all of them may be one father, just as you are in me and I am in you. This is a very specific form of unity. He's saying it's as unified as him and God are. That's how we are supposed to be.
Speaker 1:Consider the impact of global prayer movements, where believers from different denominations and backgrounds unite in prayer. These movements not only strengthen the participants, but also serve as powerful witnesses to the unity and love among Christ followers. What steps can you take to promote greater unity within the broader Christian community? Perhaps participating in or organizing events could be a start. In today's episode we've journeyed through Jesus' prayer in John chapter 17. To take a deeper look, I'll encourage you to go to SouthStoreChurchcom's website, hear the message for yourself on John chapter 17. And in that you're going to discover the depths of his care and intercession for you and I. His prayer lays out a blueprint for our own seeking God's glory in our lives, protection and sanctification through his truth and unity among believers. Thank you again for tuning in to Beyond Sunday. May you carry the heart of this prayer into your week, experiencing the joy and strength that comes from knowing Jesus himself is praying for you. Until next time, may your days be blessed with peace and purpose.