DCLM Search The Scripture Youth Bible Studies June 29, 2025, Lesson 167 : Title - Christ Intercedes For The Church

DCLM Search The Scripture Youth Bible Studies June 29, 2025, Lesson 167 : Title - Christ Intercedes For The Church 

TOPIC - CHRIST INTERCEDES FOR THE CHURCH

MEMORY VERSE: “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine” (John 17:9).

TEXT: John 17:1-26

This first fully recorded prayer of Christ was made after He had prophesied of the end of His earthly ministry to the disciples. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Question 1: Why did Christ have to pray for the Church?

After He told His disciples of His imminent departure from earth, Christ spent time in praying for the progress and preservation of the Church. He prayed as a High Priest, and as the Mediator of His people; yet He spoke with majesty and authority. In this study, Christ presents a model for believing youths in the church to follow in praying for each other. His prayers towards the end of His earthly ministry glorified God, the Father, who also had glorified Him. Christ presented requests He needed to help Him complete the purpose for which He had come to the earth and to keep the Church beyond His earthly ministry. He prayed for the holiness, happiness and the glorification of God in the Church.

COMPELLING PURPOSE FOR THE INTERCESSION BY CHRIST (John 17:1-8,11,12; 16:16; 21:15-17; 2 Corinthians 9: 11-14; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; James 5:16; Acts 20:18-35; Colossians 4:12; 1 Peter 4:7)

In spite of unbelief and several persecutions by the Jews regarding the purpose of His coming, Jesus Christ was able to minister to many people. A number of people got converted. A select few from the converts became disciples through which the gospel message was to be spread abroad. “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Christ knew the battles ahead of Him in fulfilling the final sacrifice: the pains, trials and persecution the Church would face upon His ascension to heaven. This made Him to spend quality time to pray for the Church.

Question 2: Why did Christ pray that the Father should glorify the Son?

Christ prayed here that the Father should glorify Him. This prayer was necessary because the world needed to believe in His death as He went to the cross. Also, they needed to believe that Christ was the Messiah who came to set the world free from sin. The need for this glorification was to ensure Christ continued with the plan of salvation. He, through His prayers, explains eternal life and His power. He can forgive sin and set free anyone bound by the enemy. He has the power to give eternal life to as many as believe in Him because He is eternal. Youths, who believe in God through Christ will manifest conduct and character that exemplify Christlikeness. “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which ĺ had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word” (John 17:4-6). Jesus was purposeful in His ministry; He finished the work which the Father sent Him to the earth to do. Many people got converted and came into the Kingdom. Jesus did not give the credit to Himself but gave all the glory to the Father. Before the prayers, Christ had explained to His disciples through various parables, messages and illustrations about the nature of His sacrificial death, the pains, the sacrifice, His resurrection and His ascension into heaven. Moreover, Christ knew that the persecution He had been receiving from the Jewish leaders would be visited upon His disciples. He told them, therefore, that “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” (John 15: 18-20).

Question 3: Why is it important today that believing youths should pray for the Church?

Jesus prayed for the Church to be preserved in spite of the hardship they encountered. He prayed that God would glorify Himself in the Church just like He had glorified Himself in the Son of God. The prayers of Christ also included the unity of the Church and the strength to be able to go through the cross. Today, believers need to pray for the growth and preservation of the Church. The prayers should be free of carnality. Wherever Christians pray for these purposes, God answers like He did in the case of many other saints of old.

CENTRAL PLACE OF INTERCESSION IN THE CHURCH (John 17:9,10; Acts 10:31-35; 12:5-7; Exodus 18:13-19; Daniel 9: 17-21; Acts 6:2-4; Philippians 1: 2-6)

The whole chapter was dedicated to prayers for the Church by Jesus Christ, signifying the great importance that prayers should take in our churches today. Jesus said, “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them” (John 17:9,10). He prayed for the Church because she was not of the world but had yielded to the Father. Christ emphasised the unity of the Godhead here as He showed the link between the Father and the Son. Many youths today do not devote time to pray for the members and the growth of the church. This has weakened the church from moving ahead in the mandate given. As a result, many are weak and have become tools in the enemy’s hand. Fellowship leaders must ensure that in line with the programmes given, they spend time to pray for the Church, missions, believers and other related requests that will lead to the growth of the Church.

Question 4: Please answer YES or NO

a. Do we have to be School Officers before we can pray? 

b. Can we stop praying for the church because it is very large?

c. Does God answer the prayers of junior students who pray for the preservation of the Church?

d. Do we have to be recognised to be able to continue praying?

e. If I decide to dedicate myself to pray for our YHSF and School Fellowships, can God bring back the old time revival?

f. Can I be a great intercessor and still be the best in my academics?

The Church has great need of intercessors today. It is intercessors that will bear the weight. The more intercessors we have today, the better for the Church. Prayer is like disinfectant and preventive. It purifies life, destroys the pollution of evil and is a voice which goes into God’s ear. Prayers outlive those who utter them. Youths who pray are God’s heroes. In our fellowships today, very few find time for prayer. They have time to read, sleep, eat, visit friends, and do other things everything but find no time for prayer, which is an important part of our Christian life. Intercession is important and can be done by any saved youths. Youths do not need to be officers in the School Fellowships before they intercede. Intercession can be done at home; in the school, bus, etc. “Pray without ceasing, …I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:8).

CONVINCING PATTERN OF INTERCESSION FOR CHRISTIANS (John 17:1, 13-26; Matthew 6:27-34; Ephesians 6: 18-20)

There are seven main petitions in the prayers of Jesus Christ. These are: (a) That Jesus may be glorified as He has glorified the Father (John 17:1). (b) For Christ’s restoration to His initial eternal glory since He had fulfilled God’s purpose on the earth (John 17:5). (c) For the safety of believers in this evil world (John 17:11,15). (d) For the sanctification of believers (John 17:17). € For the unity of believers (John 17:21). (f) That the world may believe the gospel message and the purpose for which Christ came to die (John 17:21). (g) That believers may be with Him in heaven to behold and share in His glory (John 17:24).

Question 5: What do we learn from Christ’s pattern of intercession?

Christian youths have a lot to learn from Christ’s pattern of prayers. We learn the following:

a) Christ was qualified to pray for the Church since He had fulfilled a life of obedience to God. Only saved youths are qualified to pray for the Church. Unsaved youths need to be converted before they can qualify to pray for the Church or else their prayers will be unanswered.

b) Jesus lifted up His eyes to heaven in full concentration. Intercession requires commitment and concentration. Youths should pray in places where they will be able to concentrate fully in prayers. This is the reason for closing our eyes while praying.

c) Jesus was humble and His prayer reflected His desire to glorify the Father. Christian youths must be humble and glorify God when they receive answers to prayers.

d) The prayers of Christ were clear, purposeful and straight to the point. It is not the length of the prayer that matters, it is the content and the faith of the person praying that get results.

e) Jesus did not concentrate on carnal things but on the spiritual upliftment of the Church. We should be more concerned about the spiritual state of the Church.

f) The unity of the Church must be kept by all as it is one of the requests dear to the heart of Christ.

g) The Church has power over the evil one for Christ already prayed and paid the price for our preservation from the wickedness around.

h) Evangelism is the heartbeat of the Almighty and Christ prayed for the fruitfulness of the Church when believers reach out. The only way to really grow is for all members of the Church to consistently reach out to the lost.

i) Christ’s desire is that all believers will dwell with Him in heaven. The question is: Are you a TRUE member of the Church?