Sermon nuggets Tues Oct 21
Theme- Praying for the Disciples
Verses- John 17:9-10 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.
Perception-
How do you see yourself? We often act out on our self perceptions. If we feel we are good at something we gain confidence. If we see ourselves weak in some areas we can be reluctant to do that. If we see ourselves as smart, pretty, ugly or dumb, that may make a difference how we act with others. Certainly we can change our perceptions based on our experiences and other’s perceptions of us.
Last Sunday we looked at one verse among others, Rom 12:3 “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”
Some people have a different perspective of themselves than God has. We need to confront our pride and our sin. Sometimes our perception is not accurate, so we need to be examined by the Holy Spirit in prayer, Scripture and relationships with fellow believers. But we also need to examine our calling and giftedness in light of God’s mercy and grace. He has called you to be His representative today in your world. He has given you the Holy Spirit to handle whatever is His will for you in ways that might be different than yesterday. He has given you gifts and talents to be used for Him. Having that perception that your a gift can affect how you act.
When Jesus prays for his disciples He has called them to carry on the work of the Father. The perception He has is what counts. They are redeemed. They are dependent. But most of all, they are loved and owned and chosen by the Father. They need to see themselves with the correct understanding that they will go out as children of the Most High God.
I read a story of a lad in Scotland who was taken to the infirmary for an operation. “Will one of you gents put up a wee prayer for a wee boy, just a wee prayer to Jesus for me in my distress?”
The medical attendants looked embarrassed, silent. Then the child himself asked that Jesus would be near.
The next day making rounds after a successful operation one of the surgeons said, “The good Jesus heard your prayer.”
“I knew He would. I was praying to Jesus mostly for you.” The lad said.
Jesus was talking with His Father. But mainly the disciples needed to hear that so they could have a different perception of themselves. They knew that Jesus was from God. They knew His words were from the Father. They knew the Father had a plan that was unfolding for the redemption of the world. They knew and experienced life first hand being with Christ. But now they needed to know in His absence God would continue with them in similar ways. Not with any one of them, but with all of them doing what they were called to do working together. His power, truth, and wisdom would be on them. They were children of God. They were to go, not on their own authority, but by the authority of Jesus Christ. These men were love gifts to Jesus by the Father. He knew them and had chosen them for what they were about to do. Jesus gives these men back to the Father.
The perception we need this morning is we belong to God. We are loved by Him. We are gifted and empowered by Him. Nothing today will happen that He doesn’t already know about. He wants us to go in His strength. Jesus called his disciples to different tasks than you and me, but it is the same Lord and together we serve Him. We are his children, His friends, His flock, His bride, His body, His treasure. That is the perception He wanted them to know. It makes a difference how they live and the choices they make. I need that perception as well.
Pastor Dale.
