InJesusNameAmen

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” - John 14:13-14 (ESV)

If you have been around church circles for long you have heard at least someone, if not everyone, end a prayer with some variation of “in Jesus name.” For many of us the phrase has basically become part of the word Amen; InJesusNameAmen. Many Christians would not even dream of closing a prayer without the “required” prayer ending. Many use it and have no idea why. Many believe that if you leave it off God cannot even hear you. So why do so many Christians use this phrase without exception? What happens if you choose not to close a prayer by saying “in Jesus name?” To answer these questions we need to determine what “in my name” means when it is used in Scripture.

In John 14 Jesus is speaking to the Disciples and giving them some final instruction and comfort before He takes His leave of them and heads to the cross. He is preparing and equipping them to be successful after He is gone. In verse 12 He tells them that they are going to do greater works than He had done. While Christ's earthly ministry was intentionally limited both in time and location, the Disciples' ministry would, by the Holy Spirit and through Jesus' work on the Cross, stretch to the corners of the earth and last until Christ's return. They would help bring spiritual salvation to untold numbers. How were they going to achieve these “greater works?” In part, Verses 13 and 14, by asking in His name.

If we want to see the results of a fruitful prayer life we need to learn several things from John 14:13.

• We need to pray according to Christ’s will, Christ’s purposes, and for the furtherance of Christ’s kingdom. Prayer was never designed to use for our own selfish reasons. Jesus was NOT giving the Disciples, or us, a “name it and claim it” secret formula. To pray in Jesus’ name may be better described as, praying consistent with totality of Jesus Christ.

  Have you ever heard the expression, “Stop in the Name of the Law?” It was often used in the old western movies. Thieves and crooks supposed to stop when the sheriff yelled “Stop inthenameofthelaw.” Were the bad guys supposed to stop because of the magic words at the end of the Sheriff’s command? No. The expression was meant to demand they comply because of all the word “Law” is, all that it means, and all that it stands for. Similarly Jesus was telling the Disciples, His Disciples, the men who knew His character better than anyone else, that when they prayed for things consistent with the totality of all that Jesus is, all that Jesus means, and all that Jesus stands for, God’s hand will move.

• We need to pray in humility. Paul says whatever we “ask” in His name. Not demand, command, or even expect, but ask. We want the results of our prayers to be based on Christ’s merit and righteousness, which is why we are to ask in Jesus' name and not our own. If the results of our prayers were dependent on anything we have done, anything we deserve, or any personal worthiness, we would be in trouble. God is not bound to action because we we are skilled enough to follow some formula correctly.

• God will act on prayers so “that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” The things we typically pray for, health, safety, and security, are noticeably absent when prayer is modeled for us in Scripture. In fact in Matthew 6 we are actually commanded not to worry about these type things but to “seek first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness.” The prayers we find in scripture down play self, and center on furthering Christ’s purposes and His kingdom. If your prayers are more focused on yourself and the things that surround you rather than things that will bring glory to Jesus, you need to reevaluate your prayer life.

Even today a “name” is a precious thing. People will go to great lengths to keep theirs from being slandered or misrepresented. When a loved one dies we do things like make donations and start charities in their name. When we love someone we want to see their name honored. Likewise our prayers need to honor who Jesus is (His name) and not misrepresent His character or His will.

So, do we have to use one of the Jesus name variations at the end of our prayers? No, not specifically. As Christians, God will still hear our prayers if we leave it off, but we need to make sure we are seeking to honor Jesus’ name and glorify him with the subject of our prayers. Make sure that first and foremost you are praying for God’s will to be done. Next, study your Bible. The more you learn and know about Jesus, the better you will be able to truly pray consistent with totality of Jesus Christ, or in His name.

His Slave to Righteousness,

- Tyler Wess

Posted in: Early DoF,Friday Lesson