Over two weeks ago I posted a few thoughts I had on the Mark 9:23 “All things are possible to him that believeth“. During that post I made reference to the text, “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” John 14:14.
You could break it up into more, but if we divide John 14:14 into three parts, you have,
“If ye shall ask anything”
“In my name”
“I will do it”
In many respects, my previous article deals in part with 1 and 3. So today I will look at, “in my name” in five areas.
1. Praying In Jesus Name Establishes Our Association
Let it first be known, only those who have a legal relationship with Christ have a right to pray in His name. In 1 John 3:2 we read, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God.”
John was speaking of a present association that he, and those he was addressing, had, but it was not always something they possessed. I wouldn’t think that I should have to stress or argue the fact that no one is born into this world a child of God. We are born at enmity with God, under the dominion of the “god of this world” as the “children of disobedience” (Eph 2:2).
To pray in Jesus’ name aright, presupposes that we have been “born again” by the Spirit of God. Therefore, to pray in Jesus’ name is to understand and establish that we are “joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:17).
2. Praying In Jesus Name Appropriates God’s Pardon
One of the primary blessings of praying in Jesus’ name as a child of God (Rom 8:16) is our right to lay claim to a pardon that is a result, not of ourselves, but of the shed blood of Christ. The fact that one prays in Jesus’ name, outwardly and inwardly expresses the individuals need to have their sins removed by the blood that Christ shed on their behalf. By faith, the individual recognises that it is imperative he believes that the blood of Jesus was shed for him, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood” (Rom 3:25)
Having some comprehension of the holiness of God, the child of God see’s that his case before God is hopeless without the blood of Jesus to remove ALL his sin, “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” 1 John 1:7.
3. Praying In Jesus Name Lays Claim to Jesus Righteousness
Never think it enough to come to God knowing that your sins are removed by the blood. If all God required was the removal of sin for acceptance, the Lord Jesus would not have had to live all those years upon the earth, he could have died as a sinless sacrifice from birth! God, however, requires a merit to attain acceptance with Him. This merit is the complete obediance to every command and precept of God, while all the time being tempted and suffering, “and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil 2:8. “…by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” Rom 5:19. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered” Heb 5:8.
To pray in Jesus’ name is to understand, and have the faith that the obedience of Christ is not only what you need, it’s what you possess, “And be found in him, not having mine ownrighteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” Phil 3:9
4. Praying In Jesus Name Gives Access To The Power Of God
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name” John 14:26.
All power displayed in the visible Church is a result of the power of the Spirit of God. It is the Spirit that convicts and convinces a sinner of his need of Christ; it is the Spirit that revives the people of God; it is the Spirit that awakens a nation in grace. Such power is sent only on the grounds of Jesus’ name (His work, shed blood, and all his merit).
To know God, and to pray in Jesus’ name, is to have access to the power of God.
5. Praying In Jesus Name Makes Our Petitions As Acceptable As Jesus’
This is probably the most profound aspect of what it is to pray in Jesus’ name. Because of our association with Christ, the pardon we’ve received, the righteousness we possess, and the power we have access to, we can come to God with the exact same attitude that Christ did when he was upon the earth.
In John 11 we have the account of the death of Lazarus, and his ressurection by the power of God. In verses 41-42 we read, “And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always.”
Christ knew that Lazarus was going to rise from the dead, not merely because he’s omniscient, but because he knew the Father heard him in his request.
The point I’m trying to make is this; the child of God has the lawful and legitimate right to pray with the exact same assurance and faith that Jesus had. To pray in Jesus’ name is to have the right to pray AS Jesus did. Do we pray like this? Do we have an absolute faith and knowledge that God will perform what we request, because to Him, it’s just like the Lord Jesus himself was making the request?
May God stir our hearts to true, biblical, fervent prayer. Prayer that awaits the answer as soon as the petition is offered.