Prayer Goals: "I want to pray with 100% certainty"

Introduction

Last week, I taught on the 1st of 6 prayer goals that I have made for FBC Jayton based on my challenge to make 2018 a year that we commit ourselves to prayer. “I want to pray for other people”.

The underlying tension that we experience in the evangelical church is that we often refer to prayer as a priority without truly committing ourselves to prayer. In other words, I believe that we don’t pray as often as we should.

Not a criticism of the church, but a willingness to point out a weakness in order to improve.

A church committed to prayer have no limits. The Lord is ready and willing to accomplish His will through the church. There is clear and concise message to the church to experience community through prayer among other things.

Instead of focusing on everything that we as a church body can improve, I feel led to talk about this one concept for a while.

It’s 2nd and 26 in overtime against the Georgia Bulldogs for the national championship. As a spectator, people have one thing to do. Just watch. Whether you’re a fan or not, we are all doing the same thing. The players have a completely different situation. They must listen to their coach, memorize their position, condition themselves well enough to compete, and carry out the play that has been called. Everything that happened to the Alabama Crimson Tide hinged on one thing: A football play. 6th national title for the history of the school hinged on one decision. This begs the question: How do you know that you have called the right play in this moment?

Christians are living through this anxiety every day. They have their own experiences, failures, and defeats that can develop how they pray. Time has led them to believe and disbelieve whether or not they believe in the God that they pray for. There have been moments in my life whenever I didn’t know how to be certain with my prayers before God.

Instead of living in life by feeling and wondering how you can be sure about your prayers, God’s word gives everyone the best way to know and believe that their prayers can be answered.

Prayer Goal #2: “I want to pray with 100% certainty.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 14

13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

John 14:13–14 NASB95

“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

Exegesis

The term “you ask” meaning to “make a request or demand” is a Third Class Conditional Statement .

It provides an idea of “future potential”.

“Will I do” - to carry out or perform an action.

Emphasizes the consequence that resulted from the conditional statement. The consequence depends on the conditional statement.

The Greek shows us that there is a cause and effect that happens in our prayers. We are not simply throwing out words that make people feel better through speaking positive words. Jesus is telling us that our prayers (requests) before Him lead to Him carrying out the words that have entered the ears of the father through our words.

Verse 14 implies prayer to Christ. Jesus is very explicit. “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

The comprehensive promise of verse 13 is emphatically repeated in verse 14.

These two verses bear light on why this cause and effect is so certain for every disciple.

1. Certain prayers are in the name of Jesus.

How often in church culture have we heard people pray “In Jesus’s name” and never really thought about what that means?

Jesus is the full substance of the saving faith and the confession of him/her who prays. The whole existence of Jesus is the element which moves our prayer.

It is through His redemption of the cross that you and I have the power to pray before God at any time or any place for any reason.

"Name" onoma - a person's attributes, nature, and very self understood as summarily comprehended in the person's name. reputation.

In some cultures and contexts the naming of a thing implied power and authority.

To believe ‘in His name’ means to believe in Him/Jesus. This expression is found 6 times in Johns gospel.

Jesus says he will do what we ask in His name, and that ‘you may ask for anything in my name and I will do it’.

Speaking in the name of someone implies a close relationship.

If we all decided that we wanted to visit President Trump at the White House, we would not be able to make that happen if none of us knew someone that could make that happen. One of us need to have a relationship with someone in power that can use his name to clear the way for you and I to make a visit.

God’s name has great power when we know Him. He is the strength of our prayer.

Of particular interest in the New Testament, however, is the way in which the writers treat the theme “the name of Jesus.” This is especially true in the writings of John. People are to believe on Jesus’ name (; ) and to pray in his name (14:13–14). The power of God’s name is in the name that God gave to Jesus (17:11–12). Jesus associates himself with God’s mighty self-disclosure as “I AM” (8:58). John reports Jesus’ promise to the one who overcomes, “I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name” (; cf. 22:4). Just as God had put his name on the place Jerusalem in the Old Testament, now Jesus puts his new name—the name he won for himself in his warfare at the cross—on individuals; he proclaims his ownership and dominion, that they belong to him through his conquest on the cross.

John reports Jesus’ promise to the one who overcomes, “I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name” (; cf. 22:4). Just as God had put his name on the place Jerusalem in the Old Testament, now Jesus puts his new name—the name he won for himself in his warfare at the cross—on individuals; he proclaims his ownership and dominion, that they belong to him through his conquest on the cross.

God’s name is the theme and basis for worship, prayer, and actions just as it was in the Old Testament.Of particular interest in the New Testament, however, is the way in which the writers treat the theme “the name of Jesus.” This is especially true in the writings of John. People are to believe on Jesus’ name (; ) and to pray in his name (14:13–14). The power of God’s name is in the name that God gave to Jesus (). Jesus associates himself with God’s mighty self-disclosure as “I AM” (8:58). John reports Jesus’ promise to the one who overcomes, “I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name” (; cf. 22:4). Just as God had put his name on the place Jerusalem in the Old Testament, now Jesus puts his new name—the name he won for himself in his warfare at the cross—on individuals; he proclaims his ownership and dominion, that they belong to him through his conquest on the cross.Paul also reports that God has given to Jesus a name that is above all other names, so that at the mention of his name every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth should bow (). The writer of Hebrews describes Jesus as the exact representation of the glory of God, one who has a name superior to that of the angels (1:4).

Paul also reports that God has given to Jesus a name that is above all other names, so that at the mention of his name every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth should bow (). The writer of Hebrews describes Jesus as the exact representation of the glory of God, one who has a name superior to that of the angels (1:4).

Praying in Jesus’ name is certain because His name is higher than any other name.

2. Certain prayers are consistent with the character of Jesus.

God guarantees that our prayers will be answered when we attach ourselves to God’s plan. This is why Jesus taught His disciples to pray.

Men don’t simply ask for things in the name of God that have nothing to do with who He is as a Savior.

Jesus is clear in verse 13 that any prayer offered in His name will be granted.

It important that we understand what Jesus said—not that all our prayers would granted, but that our prayers made in His name would be granted.

The “name it and claim it” message hit our culture hard in church life. The idea that God’s major purpose in this life is to grant and meet our needs. People preach these types of sermons and write books about this idea. The “prosperity gospel” has poisoned church society and taught people to pray outside of God’s character. This doesn’t mean that God is not willing to meet your physical needs. Every prayer matters to God. The fear comes when people begin to pray for a blessing but don’t value the Blesser.

The test of any prayer is: can I make it in the name of Jesus?

No one, for instance, could pray for personal revenge, for personal ambition, for some unworthy and un-Christian object in the name of Jesus. When we pray, we must always ask: can we honestly make this prayer in the name of Jesus? The prayer which can stand the test of that consideration, and which in the end says, Your will be done, is always answered. But the prayer based on self cannot expect to be granted.

The promise of answered prayer attaches primarily to our part in God’s plans.

Jesus came to this earth to do the will of His Father. Are you willing to allow God’s will to happen even if it didn’t work in your favor? This is the question we must deal with if we want to begin to take God seriously.

3. Certain prayers are made to bring glory to God.

How is glory brought to God?

In this Gospel, the things that bring glory to God include (1) the raising of Lazarus (11:4); (2) Jesus’ obedience in going to the cross (12:28; 13:31–32); (3) fruit-bearing in the life of Jesus’ disciples (15:8); (4) Jesus’ completing the work the Father gave him to do on earth (17:4); and (5) Peter’s martyrdom (21:19). All this suggests that what brings glory to the Father is our obedience in carrying out the Father’s will, i.e. playing the part assigned to us in God’s redemptive plan.

Asking for Jesus’ sake is asking for things that will enable him to bring glory to the Father.

"may be glorified" doxazo - to have glory bestowed upon, be gloried

"Father" pater - father; grandfather; by the father's side (parents, ancestor, take care of parents until death)

"Son" huios - male descendent; male offspring; follower

The Son, Jesus Christ came to give glory to the Father, God and we are to always think of how our prayers are bringing glory to God.

Singing karaoke with my mom on a cruise ship. I sang a duet with her because I knew it would make her happy.

Our prayer are not meant for us. If God is to answer your prayer, He answers for the sake of His glory.

The Scriptures are full of this concept.

John 16:23–24 NASB95

“In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 16

23 “In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.

24 “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

Matthew 7:7–8 NASB95

“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.

John 13:31 NASB95

Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him;

John 15:16 NASB95

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

Mark 11:24 NASB95

“Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

John

Luke 11:9–10 NASB95

“So I say to you, 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.

John 11:22 NASB95

“Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

James 1:5–7 NASB95

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

1 John 3:22 NASB95

and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

Conclusion

You can be 100% certain in your prayers when you know Jesus personally. Pray with the character of Jesus for the glory of God.