CRCF””3-27-11
Introduction
Os Hilman
On February 20, 1962, at 9:47 A.M., the spacecraft Friendship 7 rose on a pillar of fire, piloted by lone astronaut John Glenn. Leaving the coast of Florida far behind, the space capsule orbited the earth three times, traveling 81,000 miles in less than four hours. As the craft began its descent from space, mission controllers in Houston received a warning signal. A sensor indicated that the capsule’s heat shield was in danger of detaching. If the heat shield came loose during reentry, the capsule would burn like a meteor–and John Glenn would die.
Because radio waves cannot penetrate plasma, the spacecraft experienced a total communications blackout–what astronauts and mission controllers call a “black hole”.
The minutes crawled by and the suspense mounted in the Houston control room. NASA engineers felt totally helpless. Finally, after five minutes of silence, mission controllers heard Glenn’s voice crackling over the radio: “Friendship 7 to Houston?”
Shouts of joy shook the control room. John Glenn was coming home. Although neither Glenn nor the mission controllers knew it at the time, the heat shield was absolutely firm and reliable. The fears for John Glenn’s safety during his black hole experience were unfounded.
If you’ve ever been through a major crisis, you probably know what a communications “black hole” feels like. While you are in the pit of adversity, you feel that your world is collapsing, that your life is out of control–and that God is silent. The silence of a black hole is deafening. You feel isolated and alone. You question God’s love, His care for you, and even His existence.
But even when it seems that God is distant and silent, your “heat shield” is still there, firm and reliable. In your black hole experience, God is teaching you to go deeper into your relationship with Him. You may think that your life is out of control and burning like a meteor, but in reality God, your heat shield, still protects you from the fiery forces that surround you.
And you can have hope”¦no matter what you feel!
I want to share a text message that I received from my son, Nathan, on Thursday.
Nate
“The words of the Maker of heaven and earth, the Holder of time, past, present and future”¦only a few days before He would take our sin on the Cross, He told His disciples and it is just as true today as it was then”–
John 16:33 (NLT)
33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
Nate
“Notice: Jesus said these things BEFORE He even died on the Cross, BEFORE He took our sin onto Himself, BEFORE He won the battle and crushed the devil forever. He said “he had overcome the world” before dying for us. He is the author of time. He said with 100% confidence he had overcome the world BEFORE happened! He is the author of time! He already had Good Friday down on his calendar before Adam was on earth! THAT is a God we can trust through hard times! He wrote the story of our past, present and future. He knows what will happen. He has no worry about the future because He is the One that has already decided.”
We have an Overcoming Savior!
Now, notice the first verse of John 17”¦
John 17:1-26 (NLT)
1 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life””to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
6 “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. 7 Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, 8 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.
9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. 11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.
13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I”™m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.
20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one””as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn”™t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”
We have an Overcoming Savior Who
prayed for us!
THAT is ”¦.
A Hope-Inspiring Prayer
John 16:33-17:26
During those times when it seems like you”™re in a “communications black hole”””like God is silent””go back to John 16-17 and hear the prayer of Jesus for YOU!
Because Jesus is our Overcoming Savior Who prayed for us, we can have hope!
I want to point out 4 things we can have hope for because Jesus prayed for us:
1. Hope for UNITY as Believers
11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.
20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one””as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.
John 13:34-35 (New Living Translation)
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
Because Jesus is our Overcoming Savior Who prayed for us, we can have hope for unity as believers!
2. Hope for PROTECTION from the Enemy
14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I”™m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do.
Ephesians 6:10-13 (New Living Translation)
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God”™s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God”™s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
Because Jesus is our Overcoming Savior Who prayed for us, we can have hope for protection from the Enemy!
3. Hope for HOLINESS
17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (New Living Translation)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
Because Jesus is our Overcoming Savior Who prayed for us, we can have hope for holiness!
4. Hope for HEAVEN
24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
Philippians 1:21-23 (New Living Translation)
21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don”™t know which is better. 23 I”™m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.
Because Jesus is our Overcoming Savior Who prayed for us, we can have hope for heaven!
Conclusion
You may be in a “communications black hole” right now with God. You may feel like Heaven has cut the wires of your connection. You may feel like your prayers just drop to the floor as soon as they leave your mouth.
TAKE HEART!
Because Jesus is our Overcoming Savior Who prayed for us, we can have hope!
Hope for”¦
Unity as believers
Protection from the Enemy
Holiness
Heaven
Prayer
Lord”™s Supper