31st January 2018
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24).
Jesus never said we should call on the saints who have gone to heaven to pray for us, like some Christians do today. Even Jesus said He wouldn’t have to pray for you, because the Father Himself loves you. Thus, the idea that Jesus is beside the Father, begging Him on our behalf, as some Christians wrongly assume, is unscriptural. Read His words: “At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you…” (John 16:26-27).
As read in our opening scripture, He taught us how to pray, which is in His Name, and not through His Name. There’s a difference between the two. To pray through His Name is to make Him a medium. To pray in His Name is to exercise the power of attorney He’s given us. The next time you hear someone pray and conclude with, “…through Jesus Christ, our Lord,” let the person know he hasn’t prayed yet, because that prayer isn’t going to be answered.
You might say, “But I’ve been praying that way and getting results”; that’s because you’re still a spiritual babe, and God is waiting for you to grow up. The Bible says, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30). If you don’t think this means much, try to cast out devils by saying, “Through Jesus Christ, I command you to come out”; it’ll not work, because that’s not what the Word says.
Jesus said in Mark 16:17, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils” ; He didn’t say, “through my Name.” To pray in His Name is to assume His authority, His glory and His person. When you ask the Father anything or make a demand in the Name of Jesus, it’s as though Jesus Himself were asking. We live in His Name. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the legal right to pray in the Name of Jesus and receive answers. Even now, I declare that my day is blessed, fruitful and productive, in the Name of the Lord, Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: Philippians 2:5-11 John 14:13
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 21:33-22:1-14 Exodus 20-21
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 14:1-7 Job 32-33