Introduction: Play Video Clip “Somewhere over the Rainbow” WIZARD OF OZ
Somewhere over the rainbow way up high,
There’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.
Someday I’ll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney top that’s where you’ll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow. Why then, oh why can’t I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow why, oh why can’t I?
Poor Dorothy – She had dreams and expectations did she not?
• She wanted to fly above the Rainbow
• She wanted more for her life
• In her dreams she saw a world that was passing her by
• If there is anyone who had great expectations it was Dorothy
BUT DOROTHY IS NOT ALONE – We all have Great Expectations in our life!
We have expectations about a new job, a vacation, new opportunities, upcoming events – we even have expectations about our church.
OBSERVATIONS ABOUT EXPECTATIONS
1. Most expectations are over rated – normally the expectation is greater than the event itself. The Hype is often more exciting then the real experience.
• Movie
• Dream Vacation
2. Expectations can give us both optimism and pessimism
• For Dorothy had an expectation of a better place and that gave her a dream of something far better to strive for, it was one of optimism.
• Your expectations will have the same affect – if you expect something good to happen – chances are your outlook on life will find the good. But if you expect something bad your life will find the problem.
3. Expectations can consume us
Let’s face it we have all seen the coach or sports team who was ran out of town because he could not meet the unrealistic expectations of fans. Our Expectations can be so great that no one can live up to them nor can they ever really be fulfilled.
King Solomon was faced with that dilemma. He sought to find happiness in a variety of ways only to come to the conclusion it was a chasing of the wind – in other words thee things of life could not meet his expectations.
Study the gospels and you soon discover people had trouble with Jesus because of the great expectations
THINK ABOUT IT
• To the Jewish nation, they were expecting a military leader to conquer Rome, not one to conquer their hearts
• The religious leaders were expecting a messiah who would validate their rules and traditions, not upset the status quo
Jesus was completely opposite of their expectations
• His disciples were fishermen and outcast
• His friends were poor or worst SINNERS!
• His teaching were revolutionary
• Even His death was unexpected – death by crucifixion But that led to the greatest unexpected event – His resurrection
Jesus was not about meeting man’s expectations – he was about setting up expectations for his kingdom. In John 17 Jesus sets out a set of expectations for his disciples and for us.
READ TEXT John 17:20-26,
20) "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22) I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23) I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24) "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25) "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26) I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
It is no accident Jesus prays for unity – this is a frontline issue for the church today.
Why do so many churches struggle with growth and major on the minors? They have forgotten a key concept from our Restoration Heritage. In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love.
WE ARE A UNITY MOVEMENT – We are a unity movement – united to God through the blood of Jesus Christ and united to one another through fellowship as a church.
Warren Weirsbe said there is a vast difference between unity – oneness of heart and spirit and uniformity - everyone exactly alike. JESUS never prayed that we would be carbon copy Christians each of us being identical in body, mind and deed. Jesus wanted his church to be united in love and purpose, so the world would know the truth about salvation.
THE UNITY JESUS PRAYED FOR CARRIES WITH IT A COUPLE OF EXPECTATIONS
Today I want us to see how Jesus expected the unity of the church to be lived out.
1. Jesus expected unity because he prayed for unity
What could Jesus have prayed for just before he was arrested?
• He could have prayed for strength
• He could have prayed the eleven will stand with him or that they would hold fast to his teachings.
• With all he could have prayed for that evening his prayer life was dominated by one single thought – THE UNITY OF HIS FOLLOWERS.
Jesus knew the church would never make an impact on the world unless there was unity.
In verse 11 he first prayed for the disciples who were with him at that time, that they would be united.
THAT WAS NOT AN EASY TASK – the 11 who remained had an agenda
• James and John desiring to sit at the left and right of Jesus
• Matthew – the tax collector (hated by the Jews and repulsed by the Romans) and next him was Simon the Zealot a sworn enemy of tax collectors.
• Earlier that evening Jesus had revealed one of the 12 would betray him and now with Judas absent the other disciples began to suspect him of this heinous crime.
• YET JESUS PRAYER WAS SIMPLE = I PRAY THEY WILL BE ONE AS WE ARE ONE
I take comfort in knowing that the early disciples struggled with unity, and yet with all their personalities, all their quirks, all their baggage – JESUS PRAYER FOR THEM TO BE ONE!
After praying for his disciples he then prayed for us
Note Verse 20 & 21) "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
The pattern of unity is unlike anything else on earth. The unity Christ prayed for is not simply united in deed, purpose or organization – but it is tied to God and Jesus – MAY THEY BE ONE AS YOU AND I ARE ONE!
Christians are drawn to one another because they are drawn to a common center the unity of God the son and God the father.
J. Gordon Melton, a Methodist minister has an interesting hobby – he keeps track of church denominations in the United States, His research has revealed there 1517 different denominations recognized in USA. Some of these are quiet interesting
• The Church of the Kennedy Worshippers – the believe they can pray to the late JFK for spiritual and physical healing
• The church of the Mystery of Universal Wisdom – they seek guidance from flying saucers
• The Church of Heaven on Earth – they do not believe in heaven but believe they have found utopia here in this life.
But of more interest to us is that of the 1517 different denominations…
• 88 call themselves Baptist
• 42 Call themselves Methodist
• 22 Call themselves Presbyterian – and the list goes on and on
QUESTION – Is this the kind of unity our Lord prayed for on the night of his betrayal?
How can so many people miss the words of Paul?
Eph 4:3-6, Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Our Lord prayed for unity because he knew it was the cornerstone to his relationship with the father and if we are going to be connected to god we too must make unity a priority.
Now unity does not always mean total agreement or a sacred union – Mark Twain said you can tie two cats’ tails together and you have a union – but you do not have unity.
No – unity is the common thread which binds us together. Unity keeps us united in propose and love.
MARK THIS DOWN WE MAY HAVE CONFLICT IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, BUT TRUE BIBLICAL UNITY IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF CONFLICT BUT THE PRESENCE OF A RECONCILING SPIRIT.
This kind of unity keeps marriages together
Heals broken relationships
Moves the church forward
2. Jesus expects an impact from a united church
Only the obvious, visible unity of believers will have an impact on the world vs. 23) I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Our unity plays a major role in how the world perceives Christianity. Only the sight of united Christians will convince the world of our Lords mission and love.
Remember the words of Jesus – This is how the world will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another.
• Some people believe if we could have a unified theology the world would believe – but unified theology was never promised to compel the world to believe
• Some believe if could just present the gospel more effectively we could believe – but a better presentation will not bring people to the foot of the cross
• There is not a program, slogan or building which will compel people to believe the gospel – only the supernatural oneness of the family of God – May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me
Francis Schaffer warned; We cannot expect the word to believe that the Father sent the Son, that Jesus’ claims are true and that Christianity is true unless the world sees the oneness of Christians.
How does unity make an impact on our lives today? Let me give you a few suggestions…
1. In the church – each of us must make it a desire to have a unifying personality, seeking common ground and a common cause. The truth is that at any time there may be a dozen opinions regarding a method of ministry. Yet every believer must make it a priority to seek God’s will and not their own agenda or Satan will get a foothold in the church.
2. Our words must be seasoned with unity – Today all around Palm Bay there are people sitting at home because they heard Christians on Monday morning in the workplace, in the grocery store or at other public gatherings speak of disunity by being critical about their church or other Christians and thus they have made unbelievers cynical about Christianity and they have turned a deaf ear on the gospel. LISTEN, THE BIBLE COMMANDS US TO BEAR WITH ONE ANOTHER – NOT TEAR ONE ANOTHER DOWN. Our words are important. Therefore we need to guard our lips from being critical or destructive. The words of Psalm 133:1, say it best “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”
Unity is not simply a way of life for Christians it is the lifeline for the world. Several years ago in a farm country of Kansas a 3 year old girl had wondered away from home. The frantic parents called the police and a search was started. The whole town was involved because the little girl‘s health was not very good and the situation could have turn grave if action was not taken. The people searched everywhere – abandoned home, wooded areas it seemed if no stone was left unturned. Right next to the house was a large cornfield which had been searched as well, but it was decided that this time the people would stand side by side and join hands they would comb the field once again. Finally the little girl was found huddled up against several stalks of corn. Overcome with fatigue and exposure she was rushed to the hospital but her poor body could not withstand the trauma she died. Later that week the small time came to say farewell at the little girl’s funeral – where it was overheard – IF WE WOULD HAVE ONLY JOINED HANDS SOONER
Friends there are lost girls in this world today as well as lost men women and boys and they are not lost in a cornfield, but in a field of sin, and what they need is a church – a unified church to join hands and seek them out so that they can find the hope of this world Jesus Christ. NEVER LET IT BE SAID OF PALM BAY CHRISTIAN IF ONLY WE WOULD HAVE JOINED HANDS SOONER.
Unity our Lord expected it of his disciples and he expected it of us – Jesus prayed for unity and he knew the impact unity would have on this world – the question this morning is what will you do to meet his expectation of unity?
• Some need to become one with Jesus accepting his grace for the very first time
• Some need to become a part of a church family united with a local body of believers
• Some may even need to seek out reconciliation with someone today
I do not know all of your needs but I know there is one who is here who will meet all of your needs if you will come to him.
INVITATION.
