Praying in Jesus’ Name Many Christians mouth the words ‘in Jesus’ Name’ without understanding its meaning. The use of a person’s name in a transaction or in giving a command means that the bearer of the name is doing the transaction or giving that command on behalf of the person. When God sent His angel to go with the Israelites in the wilderness, God said that they are to beware of him, obey his voice, and not to provoke him for His Name is in him (Ex. 23:21). The angel became a complete representation of God. To displease the angel would be equivalent to displeasing God. Apparently, the angel also had delegated authority to punish (Ex. 23:21). Aaron was made to wear the names of all the twelve tribes of Israel on his shoulders and on his breastplate. He was being made a representative of all the tribes of Israel before God (Ex. 28:12, 29). When we use the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ in our prayers, we are coming to the throne of God as if Jesus Himself were praying. We are not approaching God by our ownmerit, righteousness or ability but we are seeking to come by the rights of access and privileges that Jesus has with the Father. This is made possible through our identification with Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection. We have been united together with Him in His death (Rom. 6:4-6). We are now seated together with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Eph. 1:3). We are heirs and joint heirs together with Christ (Rom. 8:16, 17). All that Jesus has is ours too. In the Old Covenant, it was very cumbersome to approach the throne of God. The Israelites had to perform the various sacrifices before they can make their request to God. All this is done because of the blockage of sin. It was dangerous to approach God without the blood covering. Jesus Christ became the sacrificial lamb for us (Heb. 9:26). By the use of the Name of Jesus, we can now approach the throne of God knowing that God will accept us. Using the Name of Jesus does not apply to just the privilege of presenting our requests to God. It implies the knowledge that our prayers will definitely be answered because God will never say ‘No’ to a request made in the Name of Jesus. The problem with Christians who have no answer to their prayers is that their prayers are not a representation of Jesus Christ although they mouth the words ‘in Jesus’ Name.’ In fact, if a prayer is not a representation of the Will and Person of Jesus Christ, the person who prays has no right to use the Name of Jesus because it is against what Jesus represents. The positive side of this truth is that all prayers that are representative of the Will and Person of Jesus Christ will surely be answered with a resounding ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’ from God the Father. Such is the power of the Name of Jesus Christ that when the Father hears that Name being used in prayer, He gives it His fullest attention and bade all creatures in heaven to bring the request to pass. Some of the translations of the Bible that expresses the power of the Name of Jesus on John 16:23 are as follows: Amplified Translation- I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in My Name presenting all I AM. Charles B. Williams Translation I solemnly say to you, the Father will give you, as bearers of My Name, whatever you ask Him for. Kenneth S. Wuest Translation Most assuredly, I am saying to you, whatever you shall request of the Father, He will give it to you in view of all that I am in His estimation. We should allow the Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray for items that bring the Will of God to be done on earth as it is in heaven. The secret is to fellowship with God.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 18:00:46 +0000
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