Friday, 2019-11-29
Bible Reference: John 16:23-24
Translation: The Voice (VOICE)
Bible Text: 23 ….. I tell you the truth, anything you ask of the Father in My name, He will give to you. 24 Until this moment, you have not sought after anything in My name. Ask and you will receive so that you will be filled with joy
OBSERVATION: Even today I believe that commands have more power when we can safely say that we are demanding something at the command of an authoritative figure. But none can compare with the power that Jesus spoke of in these verses we are looking at today. Jesus is assuring His disciples that those who have invited Him to be Lord of their lives – His disciples, can go before God in prayer and ask for anything in Jesus’ name and they would see their joy made complete because they will receive what they ask. Let’s think about this power some more today….
APPLICATION: One might ask why it is not possible for all men/women to ask God for something ‘in the name of Jesus’. I believe we can quickly evaluate this question and reasonably answer this question by saying that our all-knowing God knows exactly what His Son would approve of! I have a good example of this from my working experience. At one point during my working career, there was a manager who always used the name of the owner in order to throw some weight behind what they were asking their employees to do. It was funny to the employees, because after learning the heart of the owner, they knew exactly what may have come directly from the owner, and what may have been added by that manager! To further this thought, imagine if a total stranger decided to ask one of these employees to do something in the name of the owner, do you suppose they would quickly move to obey? The Holy Bible is filled with direct words from our Master, and with the remainder of things that were approved by our Master. So when we look for direction in what to do, we look to the Word of God. When we seek for God’s will on what we should say, we look to God’s Word. To align what we say or do with that of the One we love, adore, and aim to follow and obey, we must look to the Word of God and stay aligned with all that it teaches us. We should daily seek the face of Jesus to teach us, remind us, and direct us in the paths that we should follow. Therefore, when we seek the face of God in prayer, we should not be troubled about requesting things outside the will of God, because we have aligned our lives with everything Jesus taught us through His Life, and through His written Word. When children of God pray, we know that God will hear our prayer that we ask in the name of Jesus. Think about it friends, praying a selfish prayer and from hearts unattached to Jesus, will hit the ceiling, or against brick walls, because God knows full well if they are being asked in the name of His precious Son, or not. So let me encourage you today to know my Jesus. He loved you and I enough to forego the power within Himself, and destroy those attempting to crucify Him. But He went to the cross knowing that it would be through His sacrifice that we might have the means of salvation and access to the Father. This is a very key point my friend, for without asking Jesus into your heart, you cannot pray to God ‘in the name of Jesus‘. For God could easily come back to you and say that you are unqualified to ask such a prayer, since you don’t know His Son. There is great power in the name of Jesus our Lord! Know Him today and know about that power dear friend.
PRAYER: Jesus, the name above all names. Master, Savior, Deliverer and a wonderful Friend to sinners. This is the name in whom I place my faith and my trust, and this is the name in whom I pray today! Oh that You may melt hardened hearts today, oh that You may speak to hearts that have surrendered their allegiance to You, but have chosen to still follow their old earthly master. Lord, I believe that You will return soon to take Your bride home to heaven. May we be found faithful in all that You have commanded of us. May the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to You in every way today, my Lord, my Savior and my Rock! AMEN!