John 17:24-26 (NASB)

Theme: Four concluding pronouncements of Jesus’ prayer so that we may take comfort in a hopeful future.

1. Only Jesus can legitimately express the desire He prays – v.24
2. Only Jesus has known the Father correctly – v.25a
3. Only Jesus’ disciples have know Him correctly – v.25b
4. Only Jesus’ disciples have the Father’s name revealed to them – – v.26

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John 17:20-23

²⁰ “I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;

²¹ that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me.

²² “And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just We are one;

²³ I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me.”

Theme: Three indications that Christian unity is needed to maintain our evangelistic witness to the world.

1. Jesus prays for unity for all His followers – vv. 20-21
2. Jesus provides for unity for all His followers – v.22
3. Jesus projects perfected unity for all His followers – v. 23

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John 17:17-19 (NASB)

¹⁷ “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.

¹⁸ “As Thou didst send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

¹⁹ “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.”

Theme: Four features of the disciples’ sanctification so you can realize the priority of your own.

1. The prayer for their sanctification – v. 17a
2. The provision for their sanctification – v. 17b
3. The purpose for their sanctification – v. 18
4. The prerequisite for their sanctification – v. 19

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A Christian perspective on the 15th Anniversary of 9/11 & what it can teach us.

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Theme: Three reasons why Jesus prays for the disciples’ protection so we are reminded of the persistent dangers of living in the world.

John 17:13-16 (NASB)

¹³ “But now I come to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy made full in themselves.

¹⁴ “I have given them Thy word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

¹⁵ “I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.

¹⁶“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

Three Reminders:

1. First is where He is going – to the Father
2. Next is why He has spoken to them – His joy made full in them
3. Finally is what He has given them – God’s Word

I. The Hatred of the world – v. 14

II The necessity of remaining in the world – v. 15a

III The opposition of the evil one – v. 15b

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Introduction:

Theme: Three matters you must understand about the eleven disciples so you will be strengthened in your Christian faith.

John 17:6-12 (NASB)

⁶ “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.

⁷ Now hey have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You;

⁸ for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me.

⁹ I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours;

¹⁰ and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them.

¹¹ I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.

¹² While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.

1. The eleven disciples serve as a template for all believers in Christ v.6-10
2. The request for the eleven disciples is necessary for all believers in Christ v.11
3. The preservation of the eleven disciples is a comfort for all believers in Christ v.12

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Introduction:

Theme: Three benefits to us that arise from Jesus’ prayer for Himself, so you will rest in the assurance of your salvation.

John 17:1-5 (NASB)

1 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You,
2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.
3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
4 I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.
5 Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Setting:

The Request: Jesus prays for His Glory vv. 1-2a, 5

I. We receive eternal life v. 2b

II. We understand eternal life v. 3

III. We are assured of eternal life v. 4

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Introduction:
Review:

Preparing for the Battle vv. 16-22

Praying for the Battle vv. 23-28

29 His disciples *said, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech.
30 Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.”
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?
32 Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:29-33 (NASB)

Theme: Three common perspectives adopted in battle so you might embrace those needed for victory.

Perspective #1 The Wrong Perspective – Overconfidence vv. 29-30

Perspective #2 The Right Perspective – Omnipresence vv. 31-32

a. It is asserted by Jesus

b. It is according to reality

c. It is assured of God’s presence

Perspective #3 The Peace Perspective – Overcoming v. 33

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John 16:23-28

Prayer Promises
In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.”

Introduction:

Review:

Theme: Six features of this prayer so that you will experience the joy promised in it.

I. The timing of this prayer – “in that day” vv. 23a, 26a

II. The manner of this prayer – “in My name” vv. 23b, 24a, 26b

III. The result of this prayer – “you will receive” vv. 23c, 24b

IV. The purpose of answering this prayer – “joy may be made full” v. 24c

V. The clarity that accompanies this prayer – “tell you plainly of the Father” v. 25

VI. The basis of this prayer – “the Father Himself loves you” vv. 27-28

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Theme: Three necessary preparations for spiritual warfare so you will be ready to engage it.

John 16:16-22 (NASB)

16 “A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”

17 Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?”

18 So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.”

19 Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’?

20 Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.

21 Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.

22 Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
I. Identify the battlefront – it’s spiritual vv. 16-19
II. Accept the battle call – it’s inevitable vv. 20, 22a
III. Expect the battle victory – it’s certain v. 22b

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