Dear Explorer,
Read John 14:11-14
Wow! Jesus gave us a blank check -- or is it?
It is! But there are some very definite qualifications before it can be cashed! What does it mean to ask in Jesus' name?
"In Jesus name we pray, Amen." We hear that tagged on to a lot of prayers that are not answered. So, what is the problem?
What is the first requirement? It is repeated in both John 14:11 and John 14:12.
We must believe in Jesus and invite Him to live inside of our control center or core, so that we are operating under the Holy Spirit's instructions just like the Holy Spirit was working in and guiding and empowering Jesus. Only then, with the Holy Spirit instructing us, can we understand Jesus' heart and character and know His desires concerning whatever we are praying about. If you hear and obey the Holy Spirit's leading, then you can pray VERY boldly. But so many times we pray for things that are not in character or inconsistent with Jesus' teachings. We pray for "wealth and health for me myself." These prayers are based on SELF, not the Holy Spirit.
Can a person pray who is not following Jesus?
Oh, yes. God hears everyone (remember He's omnipresent and omniscient) and sometimes because of His great love and mercy and care, He will grant those requests. He promises to always grant the request if you are inviting Jesus to come in! But there's no guarantee that He will grant other requests if you are not walking in obedience. But if we are following Jesus and being obedient, we can come with confidence.
John 14:13 indicates that what you ask for should glorify God. This means that when God answers this prayer, it would bring Him the glory and honor. So often our prayers are for things that will simply make life easier for me or mine so that we won't need God so much! How ridiculous to expect God to answer such prayers!
So, what should we ask for in prayer?
In the model prayer found in both Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4, Jesus taught His disciples to pray. He told them to ask for their daily bread, for forgiveness from sins, and for strength against temptations. (Day 81)
We know it's okay to ask for God to provide our every need because of the promise found in 2 Corinthians 9:8. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed." (NASB). Dale's translation is that God has promised to provide everything you need to do everything He's called you to do. So, ask away!
When we pray in Jesus' name, we must pray the way Jesus would -- consistent with His goals, His character, and His will. If we pray selfishly, or with SELF leading us, or with wrong motives, or against God's character, don't expect power in prayer. The Holy Spirit would never lead you to pray this way.
The New Testament is also full of prayers for boldness in sharing the Good News with others and for the safety of those being persecuted for their faith.
I love the prayers of Paul as he prayed for fellow followers. Here's 3 of those prayers:
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Ephesians 1:17-19a NASB
That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19 NASB
That you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." Colossians 1:9b-12 NASB
Everything that Paul asks for is consistent with God's character, His goals and His will. Paul could confidently expect these prayers to be answered.
I love to pray these prayers for family and friends. I just insert their name into the verse.
Is there someone you'd like to pray for right now?
In His service, dale
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