Twenty-Four Hours
“Jesus is Praying for You” 
John 17

Jesus is praying for you!

“Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” –Romans 8:34

Because Jesus prays for us, we can walk by faith with confidence in every circumstance in life.  

John 17

Jesus knew His mission: the cross was not defeat but the path to glory.  (John 17:1) 

1. Jesus prays for your eternity – to grow in a relationship with God.  

“This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” –John 17:3

Eternal life is not just about a destination, but about a relationship - a deep, personal knowledge of the Father and the Son.

2. Jesus prays for your security - protection from the evil one.

“I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” –John 17:15

Who is the evil one?
Satan (adversary/accuser) 

“Simon, Simon (Peter), Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” –Luke 22:31-32

How do you defeat the enemy?
Identify the lie and replace it with truth.
 
3. Jesus prays for your maturity – to be in the world but not of the world. 

“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.” –John 17:16-17

In order for Satan not to influence our lives, we must be people of the Word, not the world.   

The world = a system of ideas, values, and social norms that are integrated into the mainstream of culture, and corrupted by sins of rebellion against God and redefinition of good and evil. (Live No Lies)

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is ...” –Romans 12:2

4. Jesus prays for your ministry - being set apart for God’s mission.  

“As you sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” –John 17:18

Three approaches to the world around us:  
Isolation - Pharisees, monks, bubble mentality.
Assimilation - conform to the world and its values – “Everybody’s doing it!”
Mission - engage the culture with the gospel – “Grace driven and truth led.”

“Our mission is not to disinfect Christians and put them on a shelf, but to disciple them and put them into service.” –David Platt

To embody Jesus is not to isolate from the world, but to share His love within it.   

5. Jesus prays for our unity – being united instead of divided.  

“I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one. And may they be in Us so that the world will believe You sent me.” –John 17:21

Unity is obtained from Christ but maintained by us. 

“Be completely humble and gentle; bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” –Ephesians 4:2-3

 “In essentials, unity, in nonessentials, liberty, and in all things, charity.” –Augustine  

6. Jesus prays for your destiny – the hope of Heaven.

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory...” –John 17:24   

Jesus desires that we would be with Him in glory one day. It’s not “goodbye,” but “until we meet again.”

How can we fulfill Jesus’ prayer? To know Christ personally and make Him known to others.