05/30/2021 -
In the gospel of John, the Apostle describes to us a historical progression in the method of praying for miracles, and our other divine petitions. He begins with a quote from Jesus in which Christ tells us to ask of Him, in His name, for the things we desire, but as the New Covenant is realized, and the Holy Spirit is poured out on us, John reveals a new, and revised, method via another amazing quote of Jesus. Our Savior tells us that we are no longer to ask Him for these things, but to ask God, our Father, directly. Although we are still to ask the Lord in His name, the name of Jesus. Now, In this, the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, we truly are new creatures… having become much more like Christ.
“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
In John 14, before He had been crucified, Jesus tells His disciples to ask Him for what they wanted done, , and He tells them that He will do it, but there was a requirement… what they asked, and He would do, had to glorify God, through Him, before He would do these things.
Here in the United States we send our Ambassadors abroad to negotiate contracts, and represent our government. They have all of the authority and power needed to speak for us on most matters, but they must still conform to all our laws, and not bring dishonor to those they’ve been sent to represent. This is not a new concept; kings and emperors did it throughout antiquity, and we read in God’s Word, that He did it through His prophets, and yes… through His Son Jesus. This method served God well as He brought His children into spiritual adulthood. We hear Jesus restate the glorification of God requirement in John 15 as He tells them specifically that their request must conform to His words that abide in them; listen…
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
John 15:7 ESV
Today, by separating the promise from the requirement, many try to force Jesus, and God, to answer “yes” to all of their requests… even those that do not conform to the Word, and will of God. This is an easy trap to fall into when we are suffering, or in great need, but in this way we are implying that God serves us, and overlooks the fact that we are His servants… meant to glorify Him through Jesus Christ. Listen to Paul’s very direct and unequivocal words on this subject…
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
Then came Calvary, the resurrection, the ascension, and we entered into a New Covenant, and the Holy Spirit was sent to abide in us. Jesus spoke of this day too, and John gives us His words in John 16…
“In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.”
John 16:23 ESV
So what does this mean? It means that through our faith in Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we have truly become like Jesus; we can make our requests known directly to God the Father. Yet, we must still glorify Him in them; even as Jesus was required to do. We are told as much when He says “whatever you ask of the Father in my name”. Today, when we pray we need to seek out God’s will, and in this effort the Holy Spirit will assist us… then, as we pray we will glorify God, and receive what we ask for. Remember as we do this that His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are higher than ours. We see only the door we want Him to open for us, but He sees far beyond it, and works all things for our good… even those that we see painfully through our tears.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for hearing our prayers, and we thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray in your will, and to insure that we ask only those things that will bring you glory. Father, teach us to be more like your Son Jesus with each passing day, and to look to Him as our perfect example as we pray in His name. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who gives us increase in faith and spirit as we come closer to you. Praised be your name for hearing us directly as we lift our arms in prayer to you, and for treating us as your children as we do so. Your grace abounds Father, and there is no greater example than this… the way we are able to address you personally without need for a priest, or other emissary. Great are you who can do all things, and gives us all we ask for that glorifies you, and is asked in the name of Jesus who does your will always. We pray now that you wash us in His blood, and cleans us of our sins. We pray that on our day of judgement you will thus find us worthy as He is worthy, and seat us at your bountiful table forevermore… our presence there bringing glory to you.
Rich Forbes