In My Name

Introduction - Open your Bibles this morning to the 14th chapter of John.

We will be looking at the words of our Savior.

It is in chapters 14-17, the Lord is dealing with His disciples in a most intimate way.

Then, in chapter 17, the Lord lifts up what many call, the high priestly prayer.

So this whole section should be taken as one discourse.

In this 14th chapter, in verses 1-4, we read first of our future heavenly home, and the wonderful truth, that our Savior is coming again for us.

In verse 6, the Lord reveals that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. And there is so much that is bound in that threefold revelation of Christ.

Then in verses 7-12, the He continues by assuring Philip and the rest of the disciples that they would do greater works.

But then we come to our text verse and in the 13th and 14th verses, the Lord reveals something wonderful about prayer.

Stand with me as we read just a few verses, beginning in verse 7.

John 14:7–14 “7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

Let’s Pray

There are so many truths in the New Testament connected to this phrase “in my name.” or “in hid name” speaking about the Lord.

The question for us today— is not whether if we are to pray in name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I believe most of us here today understand, that we are to pray in the name of our Lord .

The question then is, what does it really mean to pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Now on the face, verse number 13 and verse 14, seem to be what you and I would call a “blank check.”

We live in a day today—where not many people write checks— perhaps we need to update that terminology. I don’t know what we would say today—

Maybe a gift card with an endless balance.

But the idea is that it seems on the face, that the Lord is saying we could just simply ask in His name anything… and He will do it.

And we will certainly address that shortly—

I know that many have read this verse in times past and may have trouble reconciling that in their minds and in their hearts.

But I believe what we will discover as we look at these two verses, is some immeasurable wisdom the Lord gives to us concerning prayer.

In order for us to grasp this, we must understand what is taking place in this passage.

I. The Cause For Prayer

The Lord is preparing His disciples for a time when they will be labouring on His behalf without His physcial presence—

Since the Lord ascended back to heaven some two thousand years, this has been the case.

The cause for pray is listed in this passage right before the two verses we are emphasizing in verse 12.

Look at it with me.

John 14:12 “12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

Can I tell you that the cause and context for prayer is ‘the greater works than these’ that the Lord has for us to do?

Did you know that our time here on this earth is for the express purpose of bringing His will to pass and glory to His name?

This is the great cause for prayer. This is the ultimate cause for prayer.

See, all prayer in this life ultimately has this as its goal—-His will being accomplished and glory to His name.

And all prayer in some way or another, we are expressing our dependence upon the Lord.

Think of any area of life in which you may make request of the Lord. By praying you are seeking God’s will and His work in your life and in the lives of others.

And the Lord, tell these that are His — You will do the works I have done and greater works than these— because I go unto my Father.

The key was for the Lord to go to the Father and send His Spirit to dwell in us.

In fact, for the rest of this chapter the Lord speaks expressly about the Holy Spirit.

John 16:7 “7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

The Lord gives these men the great task and then tells them in Luke 24:49 “49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

How would they receive power from on high for these greater works?

Well Acts 1:8 tells us, from the Holy Spirit.

In fact,

There greater works are first of all:

1. Greater in Scope

They're greater in scope, and this is proved out in the life of the apostles throughout the book of Acts,

But then it is proved out in the life of every local New Testament church in all places where the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ has spread.

We study to life of the Lord it's amazing to recognize that the Lord Jesus and just 3 1/2 years took a band of men in such a limited area and yet through those men and through his working in them spread the Gospel all over the world.

These are the greater works that Jesus talks about and is the privilege of the child of God.

That are first of all greater in scope.

This is God's grand design for his plan of redemption —that souls are saved, and Christians are discipled. They go everywhere preaching Jesus.

Not only are they greater in scope, but they are secondly, they are

2. Greater in Spirit

You see, we might think about the Lord opening the eyes of the blind. And indeed that is an amazing thing.

We might consider the miracle of the Lord cleansing leprosy. And that is an impossible thing.

We might even consider a deaf man— and the Lord opening His ears to hear for the very first time.

How about the Lord working in the life of the lame man— so that they stand to their feet, and is able to take up his bed and walk about.

The Lord Jesus Christ even in His time before His ascension, raised three different individuals from the dead.

And all of those are amazing miracles, —they display the supreme power of Almighty God.

But the greatest works of God are not the work of opening the eyes of the blind— unless where are speaking of the sin-blinded soul.

The greatest work is not the cleansing of leprosy, unless we are speaking about the cleansing power of the blood of Christ which can wash clean the sinner.

The greatest work is not that a lame man can walk, but that a child of God can walk with God.

The greatest work is not that a deaf man can hear the sounds of this world… but that we through Christ we can hear the wisdom of God through His Word.

This is why these works that these disciples would accomplish would be greater spiritually.

It is in fact, Christ working in us—and allowing us to take part in what He is doing in this world.

These men, and us even today would go everywhere preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 16:20 “20 And they [speaking about these very men] went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

Paul tells us — that gospel of Christ that is the power of God.

Romans 1:16 “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Acts 4:33 “33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”

You see the backdrop of this truth concerning prayer is first of all this great cause for prayer— the greater works.

Ultimately speaking it is for the glory of God.

Friend, many people stand for different “causes” in this world.

Some stand against the hunger crisis in this world. And it is great indeed.

Some stand against the drug and addiction crisis in this world. And it is great indeed.

Some may stand against the crisis of homelessness.. And it too is great indeed.

But the greatest cause in all the world—- is need of all men everywhere to repent and receive Jesus Christ as Savior.

And for this cause—-we must pray!

We have not only the great cause for prayer, but secondly

II. The Changeless Purpose Of Prayer

Look with me at verse 13 and notice the last part of that verse.

John 14:13 “13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Th changeless purpose of prayer, and might I say the changeless purpose of our lives is the glory of God.

Now I would tell you, if we had in our minds— the glory of God when we are praying— that would change and shape our prayers.

Understanding this that as we pray, in Jesus name, it is so that the Father may be glorified in the Son, Jesus Christ.

Which leads us to the third point.

We have not only the Cause for prayer, the Changeless Purpose In Prayer,

but notice thirdly,

III. The Condition Of Prayer

Did you notice that the Lord repeats to His disciples that they are to pray in His name?

Two times in these two verses the Lord expressly says that we are to ask in His name.

John 14:13 “13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, ….”

John 14:14 “14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

We will not take the time to look there but the Lord repeats this promise in John 15:16, and John 16:23.

And so as often as we pray, we are instructed to pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

And by the way there is much said in the Scriptures concerning His name.

In fact if you were to search the phrase “in his name…” or “in my name” you would find

The Bible tells us that men who reject the truth will hate Christians because of His name. Matthew 10:22

Matthew 18:20 tells us, “20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

In Matthew 24:5 warns us, that “5…. many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

Did you know this, the Holy Spirit of God, the Comforter, would be sent in the name of Christ?

John 14:26 “26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, …”

Paul would suffer great things for Christ’s name according to Acts 9:16.

Think of this, in Romans 10:13 “13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

You see praying in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ was not meant by to be an empty thing.

Praying in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is not just some nice tag that we put at the end of our praying that somehow will make everything preceding that valid.

We need to understand why we are told to pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A. The Power Of His Name

Look with me for one moment in Philippians chapter 2.

Now in this chapter we have a summation of divine mind of Christ in His incarnation.

Read with me beginning in verse 5.

Philippians 2:5–11 “5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

This is speaking about Christ’s work— it is speaking about His divinity and His choice to take upon Himself humanity without ceasing to be God.

And what did He do, the Bible says there in verse 8, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

We might express that simply with the song title, “His life for mine”

But notice powerful statement in verse 9 about the very name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Paul writes again in Ephesians 1:19–21 “19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:”

Now, we must understand that His name is not disconnected from His Person, but rather His name is to be understood as a revelation of His Person.

The name ‘Lord’ means - Jesus is my Master.

The name ‘Jesus’ means - God is Savior.

The name ‘Christ’ means - He is God’s only Son, the anointed One.

Many who have entered this world have had the name of Jesus, but there is only One Jesus Christ—- the Anointed One, who is God’s only begotten Son.

Bound up in the beautiful name of Jesus is the expression of who He is!

Matthew 1:21 “21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: [God is Savior] for he shall save his people from their sins.”

I am reminded of the beautiful hymn—

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; There's just something about that name! Master, Savior, Jesus, Like the fragrance after the rain; Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Let all heaven and earth proclaim, Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, But there's something about that name!

And so I want you know, when we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we understand there is power in His name.

But secondly, there is:

B. The Authority Of His Name

There is a peculiar incident in Mark chapter 9 that displays this.

In Mark 9:38–40 “38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.”

Now perhaps the disciples believed they were doing right—- because this one whoever He was— was not in their group.

And might I say we kind of get that way. We believe that we are the only ones that are going about the work of Christ the “right way.”

But notice what the Lord told them in verse 39.

“39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part.”

Did you know this—- that Lord Jesus Christ has all authority?

Matthew 28, that great commissioning passage says in verse 18,

Matthew 28:18 “18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

The word translated as ‘power’ is not in the same sense as the word that is translated as ‘power’ in Acts 1:8 “8 But ye shall receive power….”

It would be in accordance with the previous point, Acts 1:8 speaks of that mighty power in the name of Jesus.

But in Matthew 28 verse 18 what Jesus is saying to them is that He has all authority in both heaven and both earth.

Some people possess authority— but have little power. Others have great power, but little authority.

But Jesus possesses all authority and all power.

After making that statement in verse 18, He then delegates authority to you and I to go in his name.

Matthew 28:19 says “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

This is what the Lord is doing.

He says to his disciples listen —-I possess all authority in heaven and in earth and now I'm sending you out in my authority.

And I simply trying to tell you not only is their power, the name of Jesus, but there is authority in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And so Matthew 28, the Lord looks to His disciples—-He looks to His little flock.

He looks to these men and those women who would go and turn the world upside down, and He says listen when you pray you pray in my name.

Why? Because My name possesses all power because My name possesses all authority.

There is an interesting account found in Acts 19 that shows the importance of us living a life in Christ… these men whom the Bible calls the Sons of Sceva attempt to cast evil spirits out —- in the name of —- listen “Jesus — whom Paul preacheth.”

To which the devil replies “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” (Acts 19:15)

See, just adding the name Jesus —- does not give us access to the power of God and the authority of God…

Which leads me to point 3,— we must know the

C. The Principle Of Praying In His Name

There is not only the fact of His power and authority, but there is the principle of praying in His name.

The conditioning phrase for the whole command is the phrase, “in my name…”

When someone’s name is given the person’s authority is invoked.

When someone’s name is given the person’s power is inferred.

When someone’s name is given the person’s character is intended.

“When we mention of call someone’s name the whole person comes before us.”

This is precious indeed for no one would ever give the permissive use of their name unless they were assured that it would be used for their interests.

“The free use of ones’ name is always a token of confidence and close union.” (Murray)

This is why— this is not a blank check for you and I to tag onto the end of a prayer.

“Prayer in Jesus ‘s name must be in accord with the Lord’s changeless purpose of glory to the Father.” (Wiersbe)

This changes completely the vantage point from whence we often pray.

I can tell you that often times my prayers will fall into the category of selfishness.

They are not asked according to character of Jesus’ name…in other words, for the glory of the Father.

If you were to search out every recorded prayer of our Savior in the gospel records, what you would discover is:

That there are at least 25 records of which some have parallel accounts of the Lord in praying.

And of those 25 records, some do not record the content of what He prayed, but rather just the fact that He prayed.

But of the occurences that we have what He prayed, you will discover that His praying was always to bring glory to God.

He prayed just before great ministry work.

Mark 1:35-36 (Galilee)

He prayed after great ministry work.

Luke 5:16

He prayed just before setting apart the apostles.

Luke 6:12-13 (Choosing the twelve)

He prayed just before feeding the 5000.

John 6:11 (Matthew 14:19, Mark 6:41, Luke 9:16)

He prayed before walking on water.

Matthew 14:23

He prayed healing the deaf and mute man.

Mark 7:31-37

He prayed before feeding that 4000.

Matthew 15:36

He prayed before the great declaration of Peter.

Luke 9:18

He prayed just before the transfiguration.

Luke 9:28-29

He prayed after the return of the seventy.

Luke 10:21

He prayed before His disciples asked ot be taught to pray.

Luke 11:1

He prayed before raising Lazarus from the dead.

John 11:41-42

He prayed for the little children.

Matthew 19:13-15

He prayed at the Lord at the supper before His crucifixion.

Matthew 26:26

He prayed for Peter’s faith to be strengthened as Satan has asked to sift Peter as wheat.

Luke 22:31-32

He prayed in Gethsemane.

Matthew 26:36-46

He prayed right before the cross, on the cross, and just before He gave up the ghost.

Luke 23:34; Matthew 27:46; Luke 23:46

In all of these references, we notice that in each case, the Lord was praying in a way to glorify God the Father. It was for His work to be accomplished.

I want us to understand that when we pray in Jesus’ name, it is that we are doing so as His representative.

The Lord of glory, in His ascension to heaven, has put into our hands, His children, His work.

“Our power in praying in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will ever depend on the depth of our” spiritual life in Christ.

You will remember as we begin to close, that the church is referred to as the bride of Christ.

And in that simple truth, is also the truth, that we are to take upon ourselves the blessed name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Illustration - We are all familiar that in our present day even, when one is married to another, the bride—- and in our case, the church, assumes the name of the husband’s family.

They no longer are to live independently, on their own, making decisions and living life in a separate manner.

But it is that when a bride is joined to her bridegroom, she is now the help meet for Him.

She carries now the name of her husband and she lives to her husband.

And so it is with you and I. We are to live to the Lord in all things.

Romans 14:8 “8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”

I pray the Lord would help us to truly pray in Jesus’ name.

Understanding that first, the cause for prayer…

Our cause for prayer is connected to the great work that God is doing in us and in this world.

Friend, are we praying according to the great cause for prayer?

Secondly, I pray it is that we would understand ultimatley the great purpose is prayer is for the glory of God.

And lastly, I pray that we would understand the condition for prayer must be in Jesus’ name.

Why is this, —- because there is Power in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is authority in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And lastly, because our purpose is His purpose.

I wonder this morning, if you are guilty as I am — as praying without regard to the Lord of glory. And perhaps you would have to admit that it is often thoughtless to just tag on the end of our prayers the precious name of Jesus.

Maybe this morning, you have never understood this wonderful truth that we are to pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Or perhaps maybe for someone else, you have never trusted in the Savior yourself. Could I challenge you to respond during this time of invitation. Trust Christ as your Savior today.

Let’s have a word of prayer.