January 28, 2018 Dr. Jim Cecy “Our Heavenly Fellowship” John 17:24-26 Series: Dining With Jesus: Lessons from the Upper Room (John 13-17) Introduction: This portion of the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus (John 17:20-26) could be rightly called, “A Heavenly Prayer For An Earthly Church” • In vv. 20-23 Jesus prays for unity among believers on earth • In vv. 24-26 Jesus prays for our fellowship with Christ in Heaven John 17:24-26 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them. “ • Ecclesiastes 3:11 King Solomon proclaimed that God has set eternity in our hearts. • In Philippians 3:20 the Apostle Paul reminds us that we don’t belong here because we are citizens of heaven. • The writer of the Book of Hebrews spoke of men of faith craving “a better country.” • Earlier in John 17, Jesus Himself had revealed that His disciples are “in” the world but not “of” the world. There’s something deeply within every believer that craves heaven! “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, New York, Macmillan, 1960, p. 119)

I. The Prayer for Our Heavenly Fellowship John 17:24 “I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am...” “I desire...” = a sincere demand: “Father, what you have given Me, I want.” • “Where I am there shall My servant also be...” (John 12:26) • “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.” (John 13:36) • “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

II. The Character of Our Heavenly Fellowship John 17:24 “…so that they may see My glory which You have given Me…” Revelation 21:1-5 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. “ And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Revelation 22:3-5 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bondservants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. My knowledge of that life is small, the eye of faith is dim, but it’s enough that Christ knows all, and I shall be with Him. (Richard Baxter) “[Heaven is] an unknown region with a well-known inhabitant.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face...” (cf. I John 3:2) Human beings this side of heaven are not permitted nor are they worthy to behold the glory of the Lord. Acts 7:55 “But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God…”

III. The Basis of Our Heavenly Fellowship John 17:24 “…for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” The Three Wonders of Heaven 1. Who is there 2. Who is not there, and m 3. The fact that I’m there! —John Newton 1 John 3:1 “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and {such} we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” And can it be that I should gain An interest in the Savior's blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him, to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? (Charles Wesley)

IV. The Conclusion to His High Priestly Prayer John 17:25-26 “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” Five Observations About This Prayer 1. This was Jesus’ Prayer of Adoration John 17:25 “O righteous Father...” cf. Isaiah 53:6 2. This was Jesus’ Prayer of Perspective John 17:25 “…although the world has not known You, yet I have known You…” 3. This was Jesus’ Prayer of Review John 17:25-26 “…and these have known that You sent Me, and I have made Your name known to them…” 4. This was Jesus’ Prayer of Hope John 17:26 “…and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known…” 5. This was Jesus’ Prayer of Promise John 17:26 “…so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them. “ Evangelism is introducing people to the love and the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. As believers we are indwelt by the Father’s LOVE and the Son’s LIFE! “Christ in me, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27 The Three Great Passions of Bernard of Clairvaux (1100 A.D.) 1) To remember God

2) To contemplate God

3) To love God

4) To know God

5) To make Him Known 6) To spend eternity with the God we know

Let’s add a few more... Blessed assurance, Jesus is Mine. Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. . . . This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long. (Written by Fanny Crosby, 1820-1915)

Discussion Questions: 1. List out the three things that most excite you about what the Scriptures promise about heaven? 2. What do you hope heaven will be like? (Come on, dream a bit! It may not happen but then again...) 3. What did you get most out of this series: “Dining With Jesus: Lessons from the Upper Room (John 13-17)” 4. Before leaving this series, we as your Pastor-Teachers encourage you to read John 13-17 one more time.

© 2018 Dr. James M. Cecy, Campus Bible Church, Fresno, CA 93726 | www.campusbiblechurch.com