Someone Is Praying for You: Jesus Christ, Our Intercessor
Text: John 17 & Hebrews 7:23-25 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Intro: Isn’t it nice to know there are people who are behind you, backing you up, giving you the support you need? It is so encouraging to me as your pastor to have a sense that you are on board with where we are going as a church. Of course, if we were going in the wrong direction and you knew it, then I would want to hear from you as well.
-Many years ago, when I was in high school, I remember what it felt like to be running down the football field, knowing that I had the support, the cheers and encouragement, and the backing of the coach, parents and fans. They wanted me to do well and were encouraging me – rooting me on. It didn’t matter how daunting the opponent was. I was convinced I could do what needed to be done, because of others who thought I could do it also. Occasionally, however, I would overhear the comments of someone who didn’t think I should be in there. They didn’t believe I could get the job done. I’d hear, “Get him out of there! What’s he doing in there?” Obviously, that did not help my morale. I needed support and encouragement to keep me doing my best.
-Today I’d like to talk about a form of support and encouragement that is greater than a cheering crowd. It is better than a pat on the back from the coach. This encouragement is found in 5 little words: Someone is praying for you. I plan to speak 3 different times on this topic, because it is so essential. Tonight will be part 2, and 2 weeks from tonight will be the concluding message. Don’t you enjoy hearing someone say, “Hey, I’ve been praying for you,” and know that they really have? Just knowing they are thinking of you is helpful, but the real benefit comes from the prayers that are prayed on your behalf.
-The title of today’s message in this series is Jesus Christ, Our Intercessor.
Prop: The main idea I’d like to cover today is this: You are going to make it because Jesus Himself is praying for you.
Interrogative: If we are willing to accept the fact that Jesus does live to make intercession for us, what kind of prayer is Jesus praying to His Father for us?
TS: Our text tells us that Jesus does pray for us in heaven. We will also examine other passages that tell us how Jesus has prayed for us, and how He is praying still.
I. Jesus Prays for Our Strength & Protection (John 17:11,15)
Jn 17:11 Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-- the name you gave me-
John 17:15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
-The word keep or protect in v.11 means to keep someone unharmed. Keep or protect in v.15 speaks of guarding from or against someone. This would be like protection against an enemy. Jesus told Peter that He had prayed for Him, that his faith would not fail, and that the enemy had a design on him. Look at it in Luke 22.
-Luke 22:31-32 31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
-Jesus told Peter, “Satan wants you, but I want you more.” Later, Peter himself wrote that the devil, the adversary, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8). No wonder. He had first hand experience with that kind of opposition.
-This passage in Luke really moves me, because of the faith Christ showed in Peter, that he would return to Him. Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him, but He didn’t write him off and say, “For Pete’s sake, Peter, I’ve spent 3 years investing in you, and now you’re going to blow it! You’re hopeless!” No, Jesus said, “When you have returned to Me, strengthen your brothers. I’ve been praying for you that your faith will not fail. You are going to make it. Don’t give up!”
-Romans 8:34 shows us that Christ does not condemn us, because He is praying for us. “Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-- more than that, who was raised to life-- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Jesus cannot intercede and condemn at the same time. Rather, He is praying for us (like He did for Peter) that our faith will not fail – even though we may be facing the biggest trials and challenges of our lives.
-The Bible says that our enemy walks about; however, Jesus lives within. Greater is he that is within you than he that is in the world. Satan is fighting a losing battle. One day Jesus will crush Him once and for all, and he will be cast into the lake of fire, prepared for him and his angels. Until that day comes, we can be encouraged by the fact that Jesus is praying for our protection and for the strengthening of our faith. If we do falter along the way, like Peter did, Jesus says, “When you return, I have something for you to do.” The good news is that we do not need to deny Him or walk away from Him. Why? Because He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He says, “I am with you always.”
-TS: What else does Jesus pray for?
II. Jesus Prays for our Sanctification (John 17:16-17)
-John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
-To sanctify means to set apart. What are we set apart from? We are set apart from sin, from the world, and all that displeases God. What are we set apart to? We are set apart to God Himself.
-John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
-If Jesus is not of the world, and He doesn’t want us to be of this world, then we should not live as though we are of this world. Our values, affections, the way we view wealth and possessions, how we view human life – these should all reflect God’s values. That is why we need His word (the truth) to sanctify us, set us apart, and purify us.
-Earlier in John 14, Jesus said that He would pray that the Father would send another Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who sanctifies us with the truth, the word of God.
-While we’re on the topic, we believe that there are 3 works of sanctification. First, there is instantaneous sanctification, in which the new believer is set apart from sin and to God as soon as he calls on the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” We also believe that there is a sense in which sanctification is progressive. Hebrews 10:14 “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” Also, Philippians 1:6 says “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Finally, we believe in final and complete sanctification when the Lord returns for us. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
-The main point is that Jesus is praying that we will be sanctified, set apart, pure and holy for Him. He is returning for a bride that is pure, one that is completely His, not one with divided affections and wandering eyes.
-TS: Finally, Jesus is praying for His people to be one.
III. Jesus Prays for Our Unity (John 17:20-23)
-John 17:20-23 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
-Hey, did you see your name in verse 20? You didn’t know you were mentioned in the Bible, did you? Jesus prayed for you specifically in v. 20: “I pray also for those who will believe in me….” Jesus was thinking of you, way back then. What did He pray for here? That all who believe in Him would be one. What does it mean to be one? It means to be in agreement, having the same goals, values, and heart. We can share these things in common, because we all have the same Savior and Lord. Our common pursuit should be to know Christ more and to make Him known! It should be to love like He loves. Paul says it so well in Colossians 3:12-15 “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
-I think this is all part of what Christ is praying for in His church. As part of His church, we must make every effort to be one with all of our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Denominations do not really matter. A relationship with Jesus the Son of God is what matters!
-Look again at the result of the unity that Jesus prayed for in John 17:23: “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” When we live in unity, we are telling the world that God loves them and that He sent Jesus to do for them what they could never do for themselves. There is a lot more at stake (when it comes to loving one another) than just avoiding conflict. I don’t really like conflict, although I realize that sometimes it is necessary. Our witness to the world is at stake when it comes to being in harmony with fellow believers. If Christians cannot love one another, what kind of picture of Jesus is being portrayed to the world? A distorted picture! It matters to Jesus that we love one another and get along. It matters so much that He prayed for it, and still prays for it. And I suspect that the prayers of Jesus get results. I think He probably knows how to pray effectively. He is praying for His Bride, the Church. Are you letting His prayer be answered in your life?
Conclusion: Someone is praying for you! Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, and He lives to make intercession for us, praying that our faith will not fail. He is praying for our strength and protection. He knows that we will go through hard times, but He promised to go through them with us and never leave us. He is praying for your sanctification, so that you will give yourself completely to Him and live the forgiven, pure life He has called you to live. Finally, He is praying for unity among believers. He wants all believers to be of the same heart and mind. That does not mean we all think exactly alike, but that we love one another and are working together to reach this world.
-If there is someone here today who is not a Christian, please know that Jesus prayed for you too! Remember in John 17:20: “I pray also for those who will believe in me….” If you have not yet put your trust in Jesus to forgive you and to lead your life, will you answer His call today? He wants you to know what it is to be forgiven and to make a clean start. If that is you, you can begin talking to Him right now, right where you are, and ask Him to forgive you for every wrong thing you’ve ever done. You can ask Him to be the leader of your life, and He will change your life forever.
-Whatever your situation is this morning, whether you have a relationship with Jesus or not, please be encouraged that someone is praying for you. Jesus is pulling for you! You are not alone! You can make it, if you turn to Him with all of your heart.
-In just a moment, we will be taking communion together. This is a time when we remember what Jesus did for us on the cross. We eat a little wafer, representing the body of Christ, and we drink some grape juice, representing the blood of Jesus that bled out of His body when He died for us. As we sing a chorus and the elements are distributed, I encourage you to search your heart and make things right with God. If you know there is unforgiven sin in your life, stop and ask the Lord to forgive you. If you have something against another person, go ahead and take care of it. If it is someone here, go ahead and go to them, asking them to forgive you. If it is someone not here, make plans to reconcile with that person. We’ve heard that Jesus is praying for us. He will help you make things right in your heart. Maybe you are not a Christian, but you know you need Jesus in your life. If so, just talk to Him in the next few minutes. Ask Him to forgive you and become the leader of your life. [Sing Once Again -Read 1 Cor.11:23.]
Jesus Christ, I think upon Your sacrifice
You became nothing, poured out to death
Many times I’ve wondered at Your gift of life
And I’m in that place once again
I’m in that place once again.
Now You are exalted to the highest place
King of the heavens, where one day I’ll bow, But for now I’ll marvel at this saving grace
And I’m full of praise once again (2x) Thank You for the cross... my friend….
2005
