Peace in Answered Prayer

Today we will continue to talk about peace. We all want it but it’s obvious we don’t all have it, or at least many of us find it just a fleeting experience. We often think of peace as when everything is going well, and certainly we can have pace in those times, but Jesus has something much greater than that for us.

Let’s review our definition. I’ve revised it some with revisions in parentheses.

Peace - The (supernatural )capacity to maintain focus and identity despite troubles (or blessings) and, in doing so, experiencing a calmness of heart and mind pursuing a worthwhile purpose with the confident assurance of a favorable destination.

We’ve been in John 14-16, the Upper Room Discourse using these two passages as a springboard for our discussions:

John 14:27 (NIV)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 16:33 (NIV)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Two truths: Jesus is giving out peace and he has told them “these things” so they can have peace. Our job has been finding “these things” and today we will continue that search in John 14:12-14. IN this passage Jesus us going to make two extraordinary, almost unbelievable claims.

John 14:12-14 (NIV)

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

The two claims are that the apostles will do even greater things than what Jesus has done and that hey can ask for anything and Jesus will grant that request.

Let’s look at that first claim.

How do we understand the claim that the apostles will do even greater things after Jesus has left? It would seem unlikely at the time but as we continue to read the story, especially as we venture into the book of Acts we see that actually happen. Not the apostles outdo Jesus’s miracles, although they do some pretty impressive things, but that the message about Jesus and the Kingdom he has brought begins to explode. In this upper room there are no more than 120 adherents to this cause. Within the first few chapters of Acts there will be thousands. Reading through the book of Acts in a period of 30 years we have churches established in many of the major cities of the Roman Empire. What started as a rogue movement on the shores of the Sea of Galilee will in a matter of 300 years become the prevailing religion of the Roman World and fast forward to today there is hardly a place on earth where the name of Jesus is not known and honored. Not that there is no more work to be done, but the church is like a small, mom and pop restaurant that franchises itself all over the world.

Jesus wants them to know that what will happen in the following days and months is not the end of the movement but just the beginning. He wants them to know that they are committing themselves to important and enduring work. And what brings peace more than knowing that you are doing something important?

Here’s what they need to know and I need to know and you need to know in order to receive this peace that Jesus is giving out. Kingdom work is the most important work in the world!

The Importance of the Church

All of us are familiar with the story of Humpty Dumpty, the figure from the children’s nursery rhyme whose world was shattered after he had a great fall. He called on the best his world had to offer to address his problem – “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men.” We would say today that Humpty had the White House, the Congress, the military, and any other human power or authority you can think of coming to his aid in his brokenness.

But the tragedy of the story is that none of these human powers could put Humpty Dumpty’s life and world back together again. Apparently, Mr. Dumpty had no biblically functioning church available to help him, because if he had he would not have had to call on the king in the first place.

Now it’s one thing when a nursery rhyme character cannot find the help he needs to repair his shattered world, even when his problem is being attended to by the highest authorities the culture has to offer. But it’s another thing altogether when real people in the real world discover that all the king’s horses and all the king’s men - human institutions of power and influence – can’t fix society’s deepest problems and address people’s deepest needs.

This is where the church comes in, because the church is the most important institution on earth. The church, and only the church, has been commissioned by the sovereign Lord to be His representative agency in history. It has been given sole authority to unlock the treasures of the spiritual realm so that they can be brought to bear on the realities of earth.

Tony Evans, God’s Glorious Church

What we are doing is important. Teaching classes, contributing financially, supporting missions, caring for the sick, feeding the hungry, growing together as disciples, serving our community, teaching the truth of the Bible, setting up tables and chairs for fellowship, encouraging one another, everything we do in the name of Jesus is the most important work in the world! We can find peace in knowing we are doing something eternally important.

What Jesus says next is equally mind-blowing. He makes the claim that anything we ask for he will grant that request! And it’s not the only time in this section that he says something like this. This is the first of four places he makes this promise: (15:7, 16; 16:23–26). Is this true? Will we get everything we ask for? The answer is yes if we understand what Jesus is saying.

He obviously doesn’t mean that every and any request will be granted. Jesus is refused in the garden when he asks for the cup to pass. Aul is refused when he pleads for his thorn in the flesh to be taken away. We must recognize the two provisions he gives.

(1) The request is in my name.

Can I honestly make this request in the name of Jesus? Can I honestly ask for this knowing that whatever I ask for will be under the authority of Jesus? This should really help us word our prayers and refine our requests, shouldn’t it?

(2) The request is to glorify the Father.

Is what I am asking for going to illuminate the nature of God in my life and in the lives of others? Will the request make God’s glory, his goodness and holiness, known to others.

This promise also has to be connected with verse 12. Are our requests one of the greater things? Is my request part of kingdom work?

As I understand this promise, I hear Jesus saying to the apostles and to me that the prayer that is always answered is one that asks God to help me see everything I do as kingdom work and help me frame everything as kingdom work. God, whatever I do help me turn it into a great work of the kingdom.

As I parent, grandparent – make that kingdom work. As I teach, serve, sweep, work, study – make that kingdom work. Help me see every aspect of my life as kingdom work and find eternal purpose in everything I do and in every experience I have.

I recently officiated in the memorial service of Janet Holland, a former member here at PACOC. She lived a remarkable life of service. She was a good wife, mother, grandmother, and follower of Christ. Years ago, Janet was diagnosed with cancer. I don’t think she prayed for that. But when she was diagnosed and after she went through her treatments, I believe her prayer was, “God turn this experience into a way to glorify you.” And God granted that request. Janet used her experience and blessed the lives of so many others who experienced that same diagnosis. She lead support groups. She wrote letters of encouragement to those fighting cancer. In fact, after her death her family was going through her things and found some cards that had been written but not yet mailed.

One of those was to our own Sarah Thompson.

My heart is bursting! Throughout this journey I have been so blessed to receive thoughtful cards and texts, but this one—on a particularly hard week is just so chock full of meaning. Two weeks ago one of my high school teachers, mentor, and cancer surviving cheerleader passed away suddenly. My heart has broken not being able to have that last conversation or being able to say “thank you” for the years she has rooted for me, encouraged me, and sometimes wagged a finger at me. To receive a letter in the mail a week after her funeral addressed upside down, marked with the words “we found this in Janet’s car”, a mystery hole cut through both the envelope and card, and covered in an obscene amount of glitter is the best gift I could have gotten! If you knew Janet Holland you would know why all of these things would leave you with a smile on your face. The best part is her last line “God has great plans for you, I can’t wait to see what they are!” I know I have not lost anything, but gained a guardian angel watching over me still cheering me on!

This is the request that is always granted: God use everything I have and everything I am as a means to bring glory to your name. That prayer is always answered yes.

I think Paul was onto this when he wrote:

Romans 8:28 (NIV) — 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

We often take that verse in isolation, but listen to the words right before it:

Romans 8:26–27 (NIV) — 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Paul connects God’s work with our prayers as unintelligent as they sometimes may be.

Isn’t it comforting to know that God hears those prayers and that he can take everything and anything and turn it into a great work for the kingdom of God? And doesn’t that bring us peace?

Today, I want you to know that God knows your every need. He hears your every thought. He is working for good in your life. And in that, may you find his peace.