Sermon Tone Analysis

*/Praying In His Name/*

*/John/**/ 14:12-13/*

*/“Can You Hear Me Now?”/*

*/April 1, 2004/*

This sermon was adapted from a sermon by Chris Seidman,

Farmers Branch Church of Christ

 

Big Idea: Praying in Jesus name means praying according to his will, desires, and character!

1)      History Lesson

a)      In 1562, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian world, and the new year fell on January first.

There were some people, however, who hadn't heard or didn't believe the change in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April first.

Others played tricks on them and called them "April fools."

They sent them on a "fool's errand" or tried to make them believe that something false was true.[1]

 

b)      Today is more importantly known as Palm (Passion) Sunday.

A day traditionally remembering Jesus making His entry into Jerusalem on Sunday before He was crucified on Friday.

/They had been one of the symbols of victory, whether in battle or at the games.*[2]*

/He made that journey for us so that can be reconciled to God and go before His throne in prayer.

John 12:13.

2)    Study – “Can You Hear Me Now?

a)     When you pray do you end your prayers, “in the name of Jesus?”

b)    Looking closely at prayer.”

Why do we pray “in the name of Jesus”?

That may sound like a silly question but please think about it.

Is it something we say at the end of our prayers with little thought?

Do we pray and at the end say “in Jesus name” hoping that God will change His will.

3)    Why is it customary to pray “in the name of Jesus?”

 

a)     It has been modeled since childhood.

Many don’t know why.

But we feel that if we don’t then God will be displeased and not answer our prayers.

b)      For some, they have learned it from scriptures.

Particularly from John 13-17- Jesus gave last instructions and encouragement before he was to die on the cross.

Several times he encouraged his disciples to pray “in His name.”

i)        */John/**/ 14:13-14 (NIV)  /*Jesus said they would do greater works than him.

/13 //And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

14 //You may ask me for anything *in my name*, and I will do it/.

ii)      */John/**/ 15:16 (NIV)/*  Jesus said in order to bear fruit.

/16 //You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.

Then the Father will give you whatever you ask *in my name*./

iii)    */John/**/ 16:24 (NIV)/*  Jesus said, praying this way will make your joy complete.

/24 //Until now you have not asked for anything *in my name*.

Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete./

iv)    The conclusion drawn is that we should say this every time we pray.

c)     This is not what Jesus meant!

How do I know?

You have asked and not received.

i)       Praying in the name of Jesus is different than having a four leaf clover or a lucky rabbit’s foot.

*STORY** FORMAT*

ii)      */Acts 19:13 (NRSV) - /*/13 //Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”/

The man with the evil spirit said I know Jesus and Paul but who are you?

*/Acts 19:16 (NIV) /*/16 //Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all.

He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding/.

Now that’s a bad day in ministry.

iii)  When Jesus taught his disciples to pray what we know of as the “Lord’s Prayer” or “Our Father” praying in His name was not mentioned.

*iv)  **What does it really mean to pray in the name of Jesus?*

* *

*4)    **“Whatever you ask in my name I will give it to you.

Two key points.*

*a)    **Acknowledging that my access to God is Jesus.*

i)       When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain leading into the Holy of Holies was torn open.

No longer would a high priest offer a sacrifice on our behalf because Jesus died for our sins once and for all.

ii)    Being able to come before the throne of God in prayer has nothing to do with who I am or whom I’m not.

It has nothing to do with what I have done or not done.

It isn’t based in any way upon me.

iii)  /Byron// Nelson// was a faithful Christian and a legendary golfer.

At church one morning he was talking with a friend about golf.

Byron asked him what kind of clubs does he play with.

His friend answered and Byron said you need to get rid of those and get some Cleveland golf clubs.

Byron had a life-time endorsement contract with Cleveland golf.

He handed his friend a card with a number on it and said call this person.

On Monday, when he called Byron had already called is Cleveland rep to tell him his friend would call.

The rep set up an appointment and came to his office.

When he walked into his office, he handed Byron’s friend a catalog and said to pick out whatever golf clubs he wanted.

Ladies this would be like someone giving you a Cold Water Creek catalog and said pick out whatever you wanted.

Young people it would be like someone giving you a skate board catalog or a music catalog or a video game catalog or a clothing catalog saying that you can pick out whatever you want.

After Byron’s friend picked out the clubs he wanted the rep set up a time for him to have his clubs fitted.

This opportunity would have happened if his friend had not called the Cleveland rep with the name Byron Nelson./

iv)  The same is true for us in prayer.

WE could not have this great opportunity to come before God if we didn’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

God is handing you the catalog – the Bible – saying that you can order anything you want.

You have to be willing to open the catalog and decide what you want.

Important note – God will hear the prayers of those who are seeking Him but do not have a relationship with Christ.

*b)    **Praying in the name of Jesus means that we are aligning ourselves to his will, his character, and his plan.*

* *

i)       /When Byron’s friend at church called the Cleveland rep it got him a new set of golf clubs but that was all.

When Bryon’s friend called the rep it didn’t mean that he was committing to be just like Byron.

He wasn’t committing to have the same desires as Byron, or take on his character, or live out his life plan just like Byron./

When we pray in the name of Jesus that is what we are saying to ourselves, to God, and to those who are listening.

ii)    As you can probably understand, the culture of the first century and the 21st century is different.

When we call a person’s name it doesn’t mean what they meant in the first century.

If you call Brian Minnick or Bill Sanders it only means that we are referring to two different people.

iii)  In the Jewish culture of the 1st century a person’s name described the nature of a person.

(1)   They hoped a child would have a certain nature (so important that God would change the name of a person like Abraham – father of the multitude), or the circumstances in which they were born (Isaac – laughter) or a quality of a child’s appearance (Esau – red).

Their names described their life, who they were, and why they came.

(2)   What about the name of Jesus?

(a)    */Matthew/**/ 1:21 (NIV)  /*/21 //She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”/

Jesus’ name means He will save his people from their sins.

The OT name for Jesus is Joshua which means “Lord Almighty saves.”

(b)   */John 3:18 (NIV)/*  /18 //Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son/.

Believe in his name?

When you believe in the name of Jesus you believe in who He is and why He came.

(3) When we pray “in the name of Jesus” we should pray according to what he wants and desires and what He stands for.

(4) Let me confess to you that for many years I prayed in the “name of Mike Cagle,” even though I ended my prayer “in Jesus name.”

I prayed in accordance to what I wanted and desired and what I stand for.