John 17:6-8 “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.”
 
So, we have been talking about two lines of thinking. The first is how God had chosen those that Jesus drew near to. And Jesus chose them as well and he imparted into them the knowledge of who the Father is. They (Apostles) believed that Jesus was sent by the Father.
 
The second thought we have been dwelling on is what is implied in the passage. The Father is the source of revelation and like a river that flows from him, we are in the river. Flowing from the father, through Jesus through the Apostles and now that river has reached us. The thought is exciting, it continues on through us and into the next generation.
 
Let’s bring these two thoughts into convergence.
 
The Church
 
Matthew 16:17-18 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
 
After you read this passage can you go back and identify the flow of the river that Jesus hints at? Do you see that Jesus points to the origin of revelation, the source of the river? It is the Father. He implies that it is from the Father, came through himself and was imparted into the Apostle Peter.
 
And then Jesus identifies for Peter the mechanism through which the river will continue to flow.
 
The church is the river.
 
That River is the Father’s idea. That river, which is you and me, the church – not weekend events – is pushing against the gates of hell. The church is the glory of God.     
 
John 17:10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
 
The church is the knowledge of God…alive. The church is the living breathing body of Christ, not a written codex. The glory of the Father and Christ is the revelation of the Father alive in people. God is glorified in the church.
 
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
 
The church is the whole river of God flowing from his throne. The church is the intent of the Father to touch the next generation.
 
In the eyes of God, the church is beautiful and adorable. The church is powerful and established in God’s throne room. The church is strengthened and guided by the Holy Spirit. The church will not be taken from this earth or compromised globally. The church is God’s workmanship.
 
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
 
Yes, when Jesus prays in John 17, he is thinking about the river, the revelation of the Father, the church. We are the living breathing testimony of his power to save mankind through his Son’s shed blood.
 
How do you feel about the church? Come on, get in the water, go to the middle, the stream is moving quickly. God will sustain you and help you. No, you won’t be able to touch the bottom and stand on your own, you will have to use faith.
 
Father, we are the church, called into existence by Jesus as he was authorized by you to speak it into existence, right into peter’s DNA. We have that same DNA and we receive our swimming orders from you. The glory that Jesus receives, would it be bountiful and blessed through our attitude and actions regarding the revelation of the church. Thank you Jesus for empowering the church through your blood.
 
Blessings,
Pastor D