So good to be praying with you! We’ve shifted into our summer season, and we are living this summer on purpose. Our small group season, Red Letter Challenge, Serve Day, Youth mission trips! Our church is in full swing with some amazing things this summer. A lot of times we take our foot off the gas, we go our own way in summer. But when we keep pushing, when we are pushing in the same direction, when we are unified, we are more impactful. That’s the kind of dynamic, impactful Church Jesus Himself prayed for. And that’s what I want us to grab hold of today.
Straight from John chapter 17. This is Jesus’ heart, His prayer, right before He goes to the cross. And He’s not just praying for the disciples He’s with in that moment; He’s praying for us, for everyone who would believe. That’s you and me!
Let’s jump into John 17. Jesus says in verse 9: "I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours."
Then, the second sentence in verse 11: "Holy Father, protect them by the power of[a] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one." He wants us united, just like He and the Father are one!
Fast forward to verse 15: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one... v18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world."
And then, so powerfully in verse 20: "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one."
Do you feel the weight and love in that? Jesus is praying for His Church—for us—to be:
UNIFIED: (v11, v20) He emphasizes this: "that they may be one." This isn’t about us all being clones. It’s about a deep, spiritual unity in purpose and love, reflecting His relationship with the Father. It means we operate differently from the world's divisions. We're one team, under one Lord. Imagine the power in that!
PROTECTED: (v15) Jesus prays, "keep them safe from the evil one" He knows we’re in the world, facing its pressures. He doesn’t pray for us to be removed, but to be kept secure and set apart by His truth—His Word. When we live by His truth, we are protected and can be a force against darkness. We’re set apart for something.
POWERFUL ON MISSION: (v18) And what are we set apart for? Verse 18 nails it: "As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." This is the "why"! We are a sent people. Unified, protected by His power, and we are deployed on mission. We’re not meant to just gather; we’re sent to go! To love, to serve, to share Him.
So, as we move into our prayer time, let's align our hearts with Jesus' own prayer.
Pray that the church is Unified: Pray for a profound unity in our church, in the local church and the global Church. May our oneness be a powerful witness to the world.
Pray that the church is Protected: Pray for God's protection over His people. Pray that we would be safe, set apart, living boldly by His truth.
Pray that the church is Powerfully on Mission: Pray for a fresh outpouring of missional power and courage. That we would embrace our calling to be sent.This is what Jesus desires for us! He prayed it. He believes in His Church. He believes in you. Let’s step into this prayer, live it out, and watch Him work. You are prayer warriors—let’s get to it!