John 17:14-19 - Homiletics

The world's hatred and Christ's prayer for the disciples' safe keeping against it.

I. IT WAS CHRIST 'S WORD IN THE DISCIPLES THAT EXCITED THE WORLD 'S HATRED . "I have given them thy Word." They who receive the Word cross the world's path

II. THE OPERATION OF THE WORLD 'S HATRED . "The world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

1. It is the honor of believers that they are linked with Christ as the objects of the world ' s hatred .

2. This hatred is seen in

3. The hatred of the world is no hindrance to the believer ' s blessedness .

III. CHRIST 'S PRAYER IS NOT FOR THE TRANSLATION OF BELIEVERS TO HEAVEN , BUT FOR THEIR PRESERVATION ON EARTH . "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil."

1. The desire of death is unlawful in the saints ,

2. There is provision made for the preservation of the saints from evil .

(a) awaken him to a true sense of his danger,

(b) humble him,

(c) and lead him to a nearer dependence upon the Lord.

IV. THE TRUE METHOD OF PRESERVATION . "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth."

1. There must be a complete consecration to the task the disciples have to fulfill in the world .

2. The Word of God is the great instrument in God ' s hand for his people ' s sanctification .

(a) infallible,

(b) eternal,

(c) and holy.

(a) by our arguments,

(b) by our obedience,

(c) by our sufferings.

3. Jesus presents two motives in support of this petition .

(a) The apostles went not unsent upon their mission.

(b) They looked to Christ, not only for authority, but for equipment.

(c) They carried his message.

(d) They kept in view his end in preaching the gospel.

(a) Christ consecrated himself wholly to his work. " His human life received in an ever-increasing degree the seal of consecration till the entire and final sacrifice of death."

(b) The end of his consecration was the consecration of his members. The union of Christ and believers is the abiding source of this continuous consecration.