(#1564) Day 10. We Are Not Of This World (28/9/26)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (currently posted on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) as we continue our 9-week series: Fresh Vision From Jesus' High Priestly Prayer from John 17. 

Over the next three weeks, we focus on John 17:6-19, the second section of Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, where we will see that genuine Christian fellowship is essential to God's vision for the local church.

To watch this devotional, go to:

Please read John 17:6-19

1. What does Jesus mean by ‘the world’?

What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘world’? Perhaps you think of travelling the world, a picture of planet Earth from space, or what people mean by "worldly" behaviour.

In Jesus' prayer, however, ‘world’ (kosmos) has a much deeper meaning. It appears 18 times in John 17 (and 78 times throughout John's Gospel). It describes humanity organised in rebellion against God - a fallen world that is hostile to God and His people.

This is why Jesus says:

The theologian Hermann Sasse defines the world as:

The "world" is therefore the backdrop to the whole Christian life. It is the setting in which we live, worship, suffer, and carry out Christ's mission.

2. What does Jesus teach about the world?

Throughout His prayer, Jesus reveals our relationship to the world:

• We are called out of the world (v.6).

• Jesus prays for His disciples rather than for the world (v.9).

• We remain in the world (vv.11, 13, 15).

• We are protected while living in the world (vv.11, 13, 15).

• We are not of the world (vv.14, 16).

• The world hates Christ's followers (v.14).

• We are sent into the world on Christ's mission (v.18).

• Our unity points the world to Jesus (vv.21, 23).

• Our future is to share Christ's glory beyond this world (v.24).

• We know the Father, though the world does not (v.25).

3. We Are Not Of This World

In His prayer, Jesus says:

And again:

What does this mean?

To become a Christian is to enter God's kingdom. Although we still live in this world, our true citizenship is now in heaven. Our identity, values, and future are no longer shaped by the world but by Christ.

This changes the way we think about everything.

i. We know God differently

Jesus says of us:

Those who are not of the world -  those who belong to Christ - know the true God as He has revealed Himself in Scripture. We no longer define God according to human ideas but according to His self-revelation. 

ii. We understand salvation differently

This world - with its false religions and philosophies - teaches salvation by good works in various forms. Those taken out of the world ‘obey the word’ - they believe the gospel. 

iii. We understand unity differently

Jesus prays:

We are not of this worlds kind of unity! we are joined in the family of the ‘Holy Father’ - God is our Father, we are brothers and sisters in Christ. 

iv. We live differently

Jesus says:

God's Word shapes our values, our relationships, our sexuality, our use of money, and every area of life. Living differently will often bring misunderstanding or opposition, but it also shines the light of Christ into the world.

v. We have a different purpose

Jesus says:

The world encourages us to live for success, comfort, or self-expression. Our purpose is different. We exist to glorify God and to make Christ known.

vi. We have a different hope

Jesus prays:

Christians understand history differently. We know that Christ existed before the world was made, that He entered this fallen world to redeem it, and that one day He will renew all things. Our future is not ultimately in this world but with Him in glory. 

Moment To Reflect

Jesus' vision for His church is that we would truly be a community who are not of this world. 

• The world teaches that acceptance with God must be earned. Are you resting fully in God's grace through Jesus Christ?

• The world finds its identity and unity in age, race, nationality, career, politics, social status… Is your deepest identity and unity found in being a child of God and is this what unites you with other believers?

• In your relationships, your work, your use of money, your sexuality, and your everyday choices, are you living as someone whose values are shaped by Christ rather than by the world?

Download the booklet

Below is the link to download the devotional booklet: Fresh Vision From Jesus Prayer. This is a series of 27 devotionals based upon Jesus' High Priestly Prayer in John 17.

This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of CCP; to watch our anniversary video, please select the link below:

Community Group Study

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News. 

2. Icebreaker

You might want to use the icebreaker: How has God been speaking to you from His Word recently, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.

On Sunday, we continued our series, Fresh Vision From Jesus’ Prayer, and began our three-week focus on John 17:6-19, the second section of Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, where we will see that genuine Christian fellowship (One-another) is essential to God's vision for the local church.

Read John 17:6–19 together and discuss:

• What spoke to, challenged or inspired you from Sunday’s message?

• Has anything from the series of devotions particularly encouraged or helped you? If so, what could you share with the group?

• What does it mean to be in the world, but no longer to be a part of it?

• In our message, we saw that : 'Like Jesus, We Will Not Look Like This World', and this will effect three areas in particular:

  i. Up - Those Who Are Not Of This World Know God Differently  

  ii. In - Those Who Are Not Of This World Understand Community Differently  

  iii. Out - Those Who Are Not Of This World Live Differently

Discuss each of these areas - particularly how you feel challenged personally.

Let’s pray together: 

In our prayers together, we continue with some of the same themes as last week: 

• For students and twenties: Please continue to pray for the young people in our church - for Samuel and Lucia, Cole and Abby who are leading in this area.

• Gift days: Pray for our 30k target to be met at our upcoming gift days on 11th and 18th October.

• Community Groups: Pray for our Community Group life to flourish at CCP (for info on groups, go to https://www.communitychurchputney.com/community-groups )

• General Prayer: Let’s also pray for one another based on our study, and bringing before God any other needs or requests for prayer.

SIV: 

• Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.

• Pray for the ‘people of peace’ in our lives, asking God to open their hearts and give us the Love and boldness to share His love as He opens opportunities.