In John 17, Jesus prayed for His disciples knowing that He did not have a lot of time left on earth with them. What we find is a great model as to how we can pray for our students. Brian shares three ways, according to John 17, that we should be praying for our students.
In John 17, Jesus prays for His disciples:
- Pray that your students would be Insulated and Not Isolated: vs. 15 (That they would not be taken out of the world but kept from the Evil one). Students who are isolated from the world become self-righteous and disconnected with a wrong perspective. We need to allow them to be salt and light, while equipping them and praying for their spiritual protection as they face what the world will bring into their life.
- Pray that your students are Sanctified and Not Satisfied: vs. 17 (Sanctify them in the Truth. Your Word is truth.) The word, “sanctified,” means to be set apart for a special use. Pray that your students have a passion to continually grow spiritually in the sanctification process.
- Pray that your students are Active and Not Anchored: vs. 18 (As You sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world). You have been sent to minister to these students, and now you want to send them into the world of their friends and family who need Christ. Move from being the quarterback, who makes all the evangelical touchdowns of sharing the gospel, to the coach who equips their students to share the gospel themselves. You do not want your students anchored in the sense that they are stuck and not going anywhere. Mobilize your students with the gospel. Help them see your passion and desire for people to know Christ.
2 Cor. 5: 20-21 – We are ambassadors of God and our message is of reconciliation to Him. Your students need to be ambassadors in their homes, schools, sports teams, and everywhere else their life takes them.
We can equip our students to reach every student everywhere for the gospel, but we must pray for them as well. This is a spiritual war.
Brian has been in youth ministry for 23 years. He is passionate about communicating truth to young people and the leaders that work with them. Brian loves to play, watch and talk about all kinds of sports. He and his wife Lynn have three awesome teenagers and live in upstate, NY.