Download Not of This World - Ann Arbor Free Methodist Church

Not of This World
A Sermon by Pastor R. D. Johnson
Preached at the Ann Arbor, MI Free Methodist Church
Scripture Text:
John 17:14-23
October 21, 2012
Sermon #0322
Welcome to week 1 of 4 for our 2012 Stewardship campaign!
This week’s campaign focus question is,
“Why should I commit my money and my time to the church?”
 This year the church leadership team (Debbie, Rusty, Linda, Scott, Dave, Fred and
myself) are not just asking what each of you will commit in faith to give financially in
2013, but also what you will commit in faith to give of your time.
 This morning I hope to convince you WHY you need to commit both to the church.
To help us see the WHY of giving to the church, we will be looking into John 17 this
morning, where Jesus prayed to the Father for YOU the night he was betrayed.
But before we step back into the Bible, I want you to consider what’s going on in America
today. We are moving toward an election (that I expect all of you to vote in by the way) that
will have major implications for this country.
 Two candidates whose worldview and political philosophy could not be further apart,
which will undoubtedly make the choice easy.
 People will either end up agreeing with one or the other in this election because there
is almost no common ground between them in terms of their approach to governing.
 Which one will:
o Be kind to America’s allies and tough on America’s enemies?
o Unite the country, support the middle class, enable business to create more jobs?
o Uphold the constitution, protect the people, and grow the economy?
 But far more important for followers of Christ to consider, which one will:
o Value life, honor God and the institutions He created, respect people of all faiths
This will be a very important choice that we make. Do we vote from our Christian
conviction, or from our pocketbook if the two aren’t championed by the same candidate?
 And let’s not think that God wont expect us to give an account for the choice we make!
The reason I bring up the election is not to endorse either candidate from the pulpit, but to
make it clear to each of you that voting is both a right and a responsibility in this country.
The Bible says to obey the governing authorities, and in America we are given a vote.
The second reason I bring up this obligation of an American citizen is to draw your attention
to another obligation you have as a citizen of this country. You are expected to support the
administration, social works, and defense of this country through what we call taxes.
 The government expects something around 10-15% from each of us, PLUS 6% of
everything we buy!
 The government TAKES the first part of your paycheck whether you like it or not.
In God’s kingdom, it works a little differently. He also expects His citizens to give 10% to
support the kingdom, PLUS 100% of everything we are!
 In other words, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s”
o The government gets its 10-20% of your money and God gets everything else.
 So now, how many of you would prefer a 10% ‘Tithe’ to what I just described?
 But don’t we realize THIS is why the Bible calls us stewards? Nothing is really ours!
The MAJOR difference is that the government makes you pay it, while God waits for you to
offer it. The Bible says, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has
decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
(2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
So the question is this, “Are you a citizen of the Kingdom of God?”
 If you aren’t a believer or have not committed your life to Christ, I don’t expect you to
pledge anything for 2013, and neither does God – contribute if you want to and don’t if
you don’t…
 But if you do follow Christ and the Holy Spirit lives in you, then God does expect you
to cheerfully support the administration, social works, and defense of His kingdom.
So now we are ready to step back to the gospel of John and listen to Jesus praying for the
citizens of His kingdom; to understand how we are to support that kingdom faithfully.
Kingdom Administration
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. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the
world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. – John 17:14-17
We ought to live every day as though we’ve come out of another world into this world — but
with the power of that world still upon us. We should live and speak and move in that power,
and have our whole being in Jesus Christ! - John Wesley
What we give to the church pays for everything we NEED to administer the kingdom of God.
I found these three definitions of the word ‘administer’:
1. To manage (affairs, a government, etc.); have executive charge of: to administer the law.
 “Sanctify them in the Truth”
2. To bring into use or operation: to administer justice; to administer last rites.
 “keep them from the evil one”
3. To make application of; give: to administer medicine.
 “I have given them Your word”
These things Jesus asked the Father to do for us, and these are also things I am called to give
each of you as your pastor. It is what you give to each other as members of His body.
This kingdom administration speaks to what we do in and for the church. Basically it is our
bills and pastor’s salary, our time to clean the church and grounds…
 In fact most of our budget goes to the administering area, but this needs to change.
 We need to cheerfully increase our giving so we will be better able to do…
Kingdom Ministry
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. I do not ask for these only, but
also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as
you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may
believe that you have sent me. – John 17:18-21
Our church needs time and money as funding for kingdom ministry. Consider Jesus’ example
Ministering to the Lost:
And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were
near. – Ephesians 2:17
 “that the world may believe”
Ministering to the Saved:
For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. – Ephesians 2:18
 “that they also may be sanctified in truth”
A Pledge of Allegiance:
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints
and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being
joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. – Ephesians 2:19-21
 “I have sent them into the world”
Kingdom Defense
And finally, we need to cheerfully give to faithfully defend the kingdom. This area requires
less financial commitment than the other two, but much more commitment of our time.
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we
are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world
may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. – John 17:22-23
How do we defend the Kingdom of God? I believe we can ALL defend the Kingdom.
Here is how we A.L.L. defend the Kingdom:
1. In Word – Apologetics (witnessing, inviting others to church, persuading others with truth)
 “so that the world may know”
2. In Spirit – Living Holy (lifestyle evangelism, an example of what Christianity really is!)
 “I in them and you in me”
(countering in our lives what others believe about us)
3. In Deed – Loving (gospel is NOT judgmental but compassionate and merciful to sinners)
 “that they may be one”
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it
necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered
to the saints. – Jude 1:3
“We are commanded to use apologetics in as many or more places as we are told to preach
the gospel. How is it then that all churches affirm the latter but so many ignore the former?”
– www.gotquestions.org
Make your life be the evidence for your testimony.
Defend the truth by living it and showing the world that it is the only way…
This year, in addition to asking each member of the church to pledge their faithful giving of
money for 2013, we are also asking each of us to pledge specific time to God.
That is:
 How often will you pledge to be here on Sunday mornings?
 How much time throughout the year (or monthly / weekly) will you commit to
participating in the ministry of the church (administration, ministry and defense)
 How much time will you commit to reading the Bible and prayer each week.
Think about these things over the next 4 weeks. Then be ready to pledge both financially and
of your time to God in 2013. He pledged His life to you. What will you cheerfully give back?
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
– Philippians 3:20