John 17:20-26

TVCC Students,

As always, we loved getting to worship with you this past Wednesday. It is a joy to us to see you all coming to have fellowship with one another and to grow in intimacy with your Savior. This past Wednesday we finished up John 17- Jesus' prayer on our behalf. Here is a recap...

~John 17:20: Jesus is making intercession here for those people that would one day believe in His Word. What a wonderful thing to know that as satan stands continually accusing us, believers can rest assured that Christ stands to make intercession on our behalf based on the life that He lived (and died) for us (Hebrews 7:25).

~Jesus talks about the "Word" that will bring others to know Him. The gospel has power! The fact that the sinless Lord left heaven to come and die on behalf of unworthy sinners so that they might have eternal life... this is simply amazing and changes people forever. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the Word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword and pierces even our soul and spirit.

Q: Do you realize that the Lord lives to make intercession for you that whenever you are feeling accused and condemned that He is making intercession for you? There is now NO condemnation for us that are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) and we can walk in the newness of life that He died (and rose) for us to walk in (Romans 6:4)! In what ways have you lately felt accused and need to change your thinking so that you can walk in he new life offered by Christ?

Q: Do you realize the power of the Word of God to change lives? Are you letting the Lord change you through His Word on a daily basis? What changes do you need to make in your life to be able to be more submitted to the Word of God?

~John 17:21: This is the goal of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection- that we might be with Him and the Father so that the world may see the glory of the Lord. 1 Peter 3:18 reminds us of this truth: Jesus died to bring us to God. The cross is not just about us escaping hell... it is about us walking in an intimate relationship with the Lord as Adam did in the garden before the fall.

Q: What does your relationship with the Lord look like? Do you have an intimate relationship with Him where you are in continual communication with Him? What is holding you back from having a deeper relationship with Him now? We encourage you to throw off anything that is a hindrance to your relationship with Him (Hebrews 12:1-3)... nothing compares to the greatness of intimately knowing Him.

~John 17:22-23: The "glory" that Christ has given us is Him in and with us. 2 Corinthians 4:6 says that God has shown in our hearts and given us the knowledge of His glory in the face of Christ. Our glory is Christ in us- being co-heirs with Him!

~Jesus was praying that His future disciples would really know who they were and the glory that they were given. When we know who we are and that this world is not what we are living for, we are able to display to this world the glory of the Father- that they may know Him too... we are sometimes so earthly-minded that we are of no heavenly good!

Q: Are you living with your mind set on eternal/heavenly things so that the world will see Christ in you (Colossians 3:1)? What changes do you need to make so that you will be free to focus on eternal and not temporal things?

~John 17:24: Again we see the intimacy that Jesus desires for us to have with Him. Unity with Him and the Father is the most important thing that we could pursue and enjoy. He had such a zealous love for us that He gave His life so that we could be with Him. How much more should we have zealous love for the Father and others?

Q: Do others see your life and see a zealous love for the Lord?

~John 17:25-26: God is screaming out to the world about His glory and it is most beautifully seen in the life of Christ- in Him giving up His life that His people might walk in closely with Him. A. W. Tozer speaks so much in His books about the eternal world waiting on our response to His presence. God wants His children to be with Him!!

Q: How will you respond to His calling for you to be with Him and enjoy Him this week?

Dear students,

We pray that through this in-depth study of John 17 you will really see how much the Lord desires for you to have an intimate relationship with Him. We cannot emphasize this enough- He did not just die to free you from hell but so that you would share in His glory and walk closely with Him as He had originally intended in the garden. We encourage you to meditate on His Word this week and to be in intentional fellowship with other believers that are encouraging to your pursuit of Christ. We love you and are praying for you!

With hope,

~Sonny and Casi