Enjoying God Together

Enjoying God Together
Take a Step Series 

John 17:1-5 - 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. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

This is the beginning of what is known as the “High Priestly Prayer”.  Jesus is praying for His Church here – in fact one of His ministries now is to pray for His Church.  So, what exactly would Jesus pray for us?  We don’t have to guess, in fact over the next three weeks we will discuss this prayer and how it relates to, what we call, the “Life in Christ Triangle”.

Main Idea: Enjoying God together is a gift to us and glorifying to God.

I: “Knowing God” is more than an awareness of Him.

John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

A. Jesus accepts what the Father has for Him – then immediately turns His attention to His Church. Look again at what He says just before verse 3: 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.
B. To know the Father we must know the Son – John 14:5-7 0- Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
C. To know Jesus is to know His suffering and sacrifice – which is what He is talking about at the beginning of this prayer.  
D. I want to look a little closer at this word “know” – it is the same word used in John 14 and John 17 – which means to know experientially.
E. So knowing God is more than an awareness of Him – Jesus wants you to know Him through experience.  This starts at the moment we accept Him.

Main Idea: Enjoying God together is a gift to us and glorifying to God.

II: Experiencing God means joy for the believer.

While I grew up going to church, I had a wrong view of God.  I believed that He functioned somewhat like an official of a game.  Watching closely to make sure I didn’t make any mistakes so that He could punish me as soon as I did.  I still struggle with this and it can rob the joy of following Him.  

As Jesus continues in His prayer, He says the following:

John 17:13-15 - But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 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. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

A. Did you catch that? Jesus is concerned with your joy.
B. Two things about this joy I want to discuss:

1. Joy is associated with His Word.

2. The joy of God is at odds with the world.

C. If joy is associated to the Word of God – we need to know (experientially) His Word, meaning we need to study and pray His Word.
D. The fact that the joy of the Lord is at odds with this world shouldn’t come as a surprise. The world offers counterfeit joy that will run out and corrupt our ability to find our joy in Him.
E. Chasing the joy in this world will keep us from the very things that will give us lasting joy.  

Main Idea: Enjoying God together is a gift to us and glorifying to God. 

III: Our ability to enjoy God together increases as we grow in His truth.

There is nothing more frustrating than trying to compete in a game of any kind that you don’t know how to play… This is true for a job and all sorts of things – we can enjoy what we are doing more, the more we understand what we are doing….

John 17:16-19 - 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. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

A. First thing to remember, we are not of this world. The more we invest in the things of this world, the further we are removed from the things of God…
B. To grow, we need to invest in the truth, which is the Word of God.
C. Starting this Wednesday, you have a great opportunity to do just that – by joining our Grasping God’s Word class.  Many of us on staff have taken this course on a seminary level and I know it will be a great opportunity for you.
D. Jesus sets the example for us – He says: And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
E. The word “consecrate” He uses comes from the Greek, and means to sanctify or make holy.
F. While Jesus is holy and calling us to holiness – He offers us the perfect example.

Are you enjoying God? This is why you were created! You were made to know God, glorify Him, and enjoy Him forever! Jesus' prayer is that you may know Him and His joy!