Praying in Jesus' Name (3)

Chuckle: Why is the person who invests all your money called a broker?

Quote: "Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble; prayer is a life attitude." --Walter A. Mueller

RESULTS OF PRAYING IN JESUS' NAME

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:11 NIV). "I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete" (John 16:23b-24 NIV).

In our last two studies, we have seen that praying in Jesus' name is the only way to gain access to the Father. Also, we saw that we must remain joined to Jesus and hide his words in our hearts if we are to expect to receive what we ask of God. We must pray according to the character and will of Jesus. Today, let's focus on how our lives will change if we pray this way.

We can readily see in our passages that our joy is of primary concern to our Lord. He shares the secrets of living in complete harmony and fellowship with him which will bring about this joy. He also says that when we sincerely pray in the name of Jesus, we will receive the desires of our hearts and our joy as Christians will be complete.

Previously, people had approached God through priests as mediators. After Jesus resurrection, any believer could approach God directly. A new day has dawned and now all believers are priests (1 Peter 2:9), talking with God personally. That's why Jesus said his disciples had not previously asked anything in his name. When we pray in Jesus' name:

(1) our joy will be complete -- it is dependent upon exercising the privilege of prayer. Prayer is the spiritual life-sustaining breath to the believer. A praying Christian is a joyful and happy Christian. (2) God's power will be evident in and through us. Someone has said, “Prayer is the only omnipotence God grants us.” (3) We will receive increased spiritual illumination. This new spiritual insight then allows us to increasingly pray in more perfect accord with His character and his will.

Our rewards for praying according to the will of the our Lord in Jesus' name will be answered prayers, sweet fellowship in His presence, and complete joy. The disciples no longer could rely on Jesus' physical presence for strength, comfort, and joy. The new experience of asking in the name of the ascended Christ brought them new power and new joy. Such power and joy remain available to all believers today.

Let me close with the words of Leonard Ravenhill. "The church has many organizers, but few agonizers; many who pay, but few who pray; many resters, but few wrestlers; many who are enterprising, but few who are interceding. The secret of praying is praying in secret. A worldly Christian will stop praying and a praying Christian will stop worldliness. Tithers build a church, but tears will give it life. In the matter of effective praying, never have so many left so much to so few. Brothers and sisters, let us pray."

Love, Jerry & Dotse