1. The Disciples in the World
John 17:9-16

2. The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus
Jesus’ concern to bring glory to the Father
Jesus’ concern for His disciples facing trials
Jesus’ concern for having the truth in them
Jesus’ concern for their vulnerability
There is an inherent tension in being a believer in a fallen world…

3. I. Believers are Objects of Divine Interest
“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.” (John 17:9–10, NKJV)

4. A. We have a special relationship with God through Christ
The disciples were special objects of Christ’s prayerful concern
The world was not the object of Christ’s prayer here

5. B. We have a special opportunity to bring glory to Christ
We generally do not focus on our value for bringing glory to Christ as His followers
We may focus more on our anticipated glory in heaven with Christ

6. II. Believers need Protection in the World
“Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.” (John 17:11, NKJV)

7. A. Continued presence in the world warrants divine protection
We have seen ample examples of Christians being killed intentionally
The greater concern is for spiritual protection
One means of protection is unity in the body of Christ

8. John 17:12
“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” (NKJV)

9. B. Continued presence is encouraged by past divine preservation
Christ kept the disciples close to Him during His earthly ministry
The only loss was by divine intention and personal rejection

10. III. Believers need Provision in the World
“But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.” (John 17:13, NKJV)

11. A. The objective of Christ’s investment was the experience of His joy in them
Christ invested in the disciples for them to experience His joy
He was not just using them for His own ends
He genuinely wanted what was best for them

12. John 17:14
“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (NKJV)

13. B. The personal acceptance of the Word puts one at odds with the world
Real Christians have competing ideologies with the world
The effective embracing of the Word makes a difference

14. Colossians 3:16 & Galatians 5:16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Col 3:16, NKJV)
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Gal 5:16, NKJV)

15. John 17:15-16
“I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (NKJV)

16. C. The concern of Christ is for spiritual protection in the world
The disciple needs to be living in the world for impact
The disciple needs protection from the evil one

17. Ephesians 6:10-12
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (NKJV)

18. Ephesians 6:13-16
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” (NKJV)

19. Ephesians 6:17-20
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (NKJV)

20. We cannot function as ambassadors in the world without the Word in us
2 Cor 5:14-16 “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.” (NKJV)

21. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (NKJV)

22. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (NKJV)

23. We must be in the world but not of it!
To maintain proper balance is a lifelong challenge…
Are you in the world with the Word in you?
Or is the world in you where the Word should be?
We are either influenced by the Word or by the world...