John 14:1–3
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Hebrews 7:25
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Romans 8:34
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Hebrews 7:25
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

“‘To the uttermost’ in Hebrews 7:25 means: God’s forgiving, redeeming, restoring touch reaches down into the darkest crevices of our soul, those places where we are most ashamed, most defeated. More than this: those crevices of sin are themselves the places where Christ loves us the most. His heart willingly goes there. His heart is moststrongly drawn there. He knows us to the uttermost, and he saves us to the uttermost, because his heart is drawn out to us to the uttermost. We cannot sin our way out of his tender care.” - Dane Ortland, Gentle and Lowly, p 83

Romans 8:31–39
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
​​“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 John 2:1
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

“Intercession has the idea of mediating between two parties, bringing them together. Advocacy is similar but has the idea of aligning oneself with another. An intercessor stands between two parties; an advocate doesn’t simply stand in between the two parties but steps over and joins the one party as he approaches the other. Jesus is not only an intercessor but an advocate” - Dane Ortland, Gentle and Lowly, p 87

Things Jesus Prays For Believers
1. That His followers would stand firm in their faith and be protected from the evil one (John 17:11-12, 13-14).

2. That His followers would be in harmony with God and our brothers and sisters in Jesus (John 17:11, 13, 21-23, 26).

3. That His followers would grow in holiness and righteousness. Our sanctification (John 17:17, 19, 21-22, 26).

4. That His followers would courageously and boldly share the gospel message (John 17:18, 20-21).

5. That His followers would reflect the glory of Jesus in our lives (John 17:22, 24).

Romans 8:26–27
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

1 Corinthians 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Exodus 33:20
But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”

Take Aways
1. Christ followers should be moved to a place of awe and gratefulness.

2. Christ followers should have a plan for spiritual growth in their life.

3. Christ followers should find joy and comfort in the fact that their salvation is secure.

4. Christ followers should be interceding on behalf of other people before the throne of God.

5. Christ followers should courageously share the gospel with those who don’t know Jesus.

Discussion Questions:
1. How does the phrase “save to the uttermost” encompass both the initial forgiveness of sins and the ongoing work of transformation in a believer’s life?

2. How does knowing that Jesus saves us completely move you to a place of awe and gratefulness?

3. How does the fact that Jesus “always lives to make intercession” for us assure believers of their eternal security?

4. In what ways does Christ’s continuous intercession provide the grace, strength and mercy needed for daily life?

5. How can you better intercede for others in prayer, knowing how the enemy might accuse them? What specific person do you need to begin praying for (you don’t need to share out loud)?

6. We develop diet plans, physical fitness plans, etc., what are good reasons to develop a spiritual growth plan? Do you have a spiritual growth plan? Why or why not? Share ways one might develop a plan.

7. Who do you know that you could share the gospel with?