”Kept by the Power of God” Sunday Morning October 26th

This sermon explores Jesus's high priestly prayer in John 17:11-16, focusing on Christ's intercession for His disciples and all future believers. The central theological truth presented is that genuine Christians are eternally kept, protected, and preserved by God's power rather than their own strength. Pastor Joe Fant addresses the common Christian struggle of wondering whether one has enough strength to finish the race of faith, providing assurance that perseverance is guaranteed through divine protection rather than human effort. The sermon emphasizes three areas of protection: from destruction (eternal judgment), from purposelessness (living with Christ's joy), and from the judgment that comes from being in a hostile world. Using the imagery of God holding believers rather than believers holding onto God, the message brings comfort to those experiencing doubt, suffering, or spiritual weariness by anchoring their security in God's sovereign keeping power.

Key Points:

• Believers are kept and preserved by God's power, not by their own strength or ability to hold on to faith
• Jesus prayed specifically that His disciples would be kept in the Father's name, establishing a relationship of divine protection
• Christians are protected from three primary threats: destruction, purposelessness, and divine judgment
• The case of Judas demonstrates that true apostasy occurs only because someone was never genuinely saved, not because God's power was insufficient
• God's sovereignty means that all evil is "on God's leash" and can only extend as far as He permits
• Believers possess Christ's own joy, which comes from relationship with the Father rather than circumstances
• Christians remain "in the world" but are "not of the world," protected while living among spiritual darkness
• The forces of darkness must go through Christ before reaching believers, as they are hidden in God's hand
• Perseverance in faith is guaranteed for the genuinely saved because of divine protection, not human effort

Scripture Reference:

• John 17:11-16 (primary passage)
• 1 John 3:19-20 (reassurance when hearts condemn)
• Philippians 1:6 (God completing His work)
• Luke 22:31-32 (Jesus praying for Peter)
• John 6:64-65 (Jesus knowing who would betray Him)
• Psalm 41:9 and Psalm 109 (prophecies fulfilled in Judas)
• Romans 14:17 (kingdom characterized by joy)
• Nehemiah 8:10 (joy of the Lord as strength)
• Psalm 16:11 (fullness of joy in God's presence)
• Romans 8:1 (no condemnation in Christ)
• 2 Kings 6 (Elisha and Gehazi seeing angelic protection)