Whatever you ask in My name

There are some common passages we use in prayer. I shall mention just a few. 

Isaiah 45:11; “Thus says the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me. ””

Matt 7:7-8, 11: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you;  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! ”

Mark 11:24: “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”  

John 14:13-14: “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” 

John 15:7: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you”

John 15:16: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” 

John 16:22-26: “Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.  And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.  Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.  These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.  In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you ”

What do these passages tell us? Do these passages remove from God the right to do His own will and not our will? Do these passages put God in a straight jacket to do what we ask whether or not He likes it? If your answer is No, as I suppose it should, it means that either our interpretation or application of them is wrong or both.

What does it mean when the Bible says “whatsoever you shall ask in My name?” 

What does it mean to pray in the name of Jesus Christ? Is it the unintelligible use of “in Jesus name” which we repeatedly say either at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of our rattling?

To pray in Christ’s name, means something more than adding “for Jesus’ sake” or “for Christ’s sake” to our petition. The name expresses personality, character, and being. Samuel Chadwick expresses it: "Prayer in Christ’s name is prayer according to the quality of His person, according to the character of His mind, and according to the purpose of His will. To pray in the name of Christ, is to pray as one whose mind is the mind of Christ, whose desires are the desires of Christ and whose purpose is one with that of Christ."

Prayer in Christ’s name is prayer according to the quality of His person, according to the character of His mind, and according to the purpose of His will. [Tweet]

We often claim promise in the Bible in our prayers but some of these promises are conditional promises. In Old Testament for instance, prayer was conditioned upon urgency, intensity and sincerity. You find God if you seek Him with all your heart, and the  purpose and motive were sincere and pure. There must be truth in the innermost soul, and no iniquity in their hearts and no pretenses on their lips. In the New Testament our Lord demanded importunity and a forgiving spirit of all who prayed. Let us read again First John 3:21-22. “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” All prayers offered in the name of Christ are scrutinized and sanctified by His nature, His purpose, and His will.  Then and only then, will they be endorsed by Him.

Read Also: How can I know my prayers are answered?

What do we mean when we talk of praying in the Spirit? - Romans 8:9-22. 

Those who pray in the Spirit must be in the Spirit and if the Spirit of God is to make intercession for us, He must dwell in us. He searches the deep things of God; He takes of the things of Christ and reveals them to us.  God knows the mind of the Spirit; we pray in the Spirit, instructed and inspired by Him, and He makes intercession for us in wordless intercession. This is what the New Testament calls praying in the Spirit. Please note – wordless intercession! 

Does this include the meaningless babbling we find in some of our prayer sessions? Call it whatever name you choose. “We do not know what we should pray for as we ought”. This is very true. We cannot see deep enough or far enough to know what is our real need. Most people would like good health, home comfort; congenial conditions, happy friendships, a little more money, and better success; but who can tell if these would be for their ultimate good? God sees deeper and farther, and He may will otherwise. The Holy Spirit knows the mind of Christ and the will of God, and He teaches us how to pray and what to pray for. If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask God, and He will give him more than wisdom, He will give Him the Spirit of wisdom to instruct, strengthen and guide.

Read More: Praying in the Spirit

The Holy Spirit creates the conditions for prayer. We may ask amiss, not only in what we ask, but also in the reason for asking. We should want what He wills. In Him is the supply of life and desire, wisdom and faith, intercession and power. He quickens desire, purifies motive, inspires confidence, and assures faith.

Prayer is more than asking; it is communion, fellowship, cooperation, identification with God the Father, and the Son by the Holy Spirit. Prayer is more than words and it is more than asking. It is being in the presence of God.

As usual, I welcome your thoughts. Please share in comments below