Praying in the Name of Jesus
Philippians 2:9-11
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him (Jesus), 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.
Jesus’ name is above ALL names:
-Everything and everyone in Heaven,
-Everything and everyone in Earth,
-Everything and everyone in Hell.
“The name of Jesus” is not the word “Jesus”:
It is His reputation, His authority, His character, His integrity, His strength, His power, His history, His plans, His desires, His generosity, His compassion, His anointing…
Jesus has a better reputation than anyone else. He is more generous, kind and compassionate than anyone else. His NAME is above EVERY name!!
(We are on a road to understanding what it is to be Baptized in Jesus’ name… At this point, let’s consider what it means to pray or ask “in Jesus’ name”.)
Most of us Christians finish our prayers with “we ask this in Jesus’ name” and “Amen”. We usually do this as a ritual (or even a superstition). I say ritual because we use it no matter what we are asking. I say superstition because we get nervous if we don’t say it.
We have noticed that it doesn’t always work. Sometimes (to help the Lord out), we’ll add “If it be your will”.
We know that “in the name of Jesus” means more than words, but we are often not sure WHAT it means…
Knowing how to pray in Jesus’ name will change your prayer life. Praying in the name of Jesus will change every area of your life.
John 14:13-14
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.
-Whatsoever we ask? What should we be asking?
John 15:15-16
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
(v.15) What is the Lord doing?
(v.16) What shall we ask for?
John 16:22-26
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
At the time that Jesus was speaking, the disciples always asked Jesus for things. Only Jesus was really praying to the Father (as we will see in John 17). Jesus is telling them that after the resurrection, there will be big changes:
-(v.23) They will pray directly to the Father in Jesus’ name.
-(v.23) The Father will give them WHATEVER THEY ASK!
-(v.25) Jesus will stop speaking to them in proverbs. He will speak plainly
-(v.26) Jesus will not pray to the Father in their place.
_____________________________________________________
What was Jesus’ ministry? Is it continuing?
Luke 4:16-21 (Jesus cites Isaiah 61:1-2)
16 And he (Jesus) came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Jesus’ ministry was:
-preach the Gospel to the poor.
-heal the brokenhearted.
-preach deliverance.
-restore sight to the blind.
-give liberty (freedom) to those that suffer.
-preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
What does the Bible say is our ministry?
2 Corinthians 5:17-20
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
We are to bring people to salvation and peace with God!
When we pray for God to use us to complete Jesus’ ministry, we are praying in Jesus’ name!
Two important passages:
John 6:28-29
28 Then said they unto him (Jesus), What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
All of God’s works are one work: To convince people that Jesus is the Messiah --- so that they will want eternal life!
John 17:1-3
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Look at what Jesus prays!!
John 17:6-8
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
Jesus is praying that we will believe that He is the Messiah and that the Father sent Him.
John 17:9-26
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
This is clearly an inheritance blessing that a man gives when he is close to his death (as Jesus was). He is telling His Father that we are to continue His ministry and wants us to have His protection, wisdom, power and fruit.
________________________________________________________
How does Paul pray?
Colossians 1:9-11
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Paul prays the same as Jesus!
When Paul asks for prayer, what does he want?
Colossians 4:3
3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
Notice he doesn’t ask to get out of jail or for a good job.
Paul’s friend Epaphras prays for the Colossians:
Colossians 4:12-13
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
Epaphras knows how to pray in the name of Jesus!
Please notice that when we pray in the name of Jesus, we KEEP praying. Paul says he does not cease to pray for you. The scripture encourages us to “pray always”, “pray without ceasing”, “men ought always to pray, and faint not”, etc…
Those of us here at Kingdom Come Southern Baptist Church are praying for each of you that has come to the services or has simply been enjoying the Bible studies on this site. We join Paul, Silvanus and Timotheus in their prayer for the Thessalonians; but our prayers are for you!
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen!!! J
Philippians 2:9-11
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him (Jesus), 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.
Jesus’ name is above ALL names:
-Everything and everyone in Heaven,
-Everything and everyone in Earth,
-Everything and everyone in Hell.
“The name of Jesus” is not the word “Jesus”:
It is His reputation, His authority, His character, His integrity, His strength, His power, His history, His plans, His desires, His generosity, His compassion, His anointing…
Jesus has a better reputation than anyone else. He is more generous, kind and compassionate than anyone else. His NAME is above EVERY name!!
(We are on a road to understanding what it is to be Baptized in Jesus’ name… At this point, let’s consider what it means to pray or ask “in Jesus’ name”.)
Most of us Christians finish our prayers with “we ask this in Jesus’ name” and “Amen”. We usually do this as a ritual (or even a superstition). I say ritual because we use it no matter what we are asking. I say superstition because we get nervous if we don’t say it.
We have noticed that it doesn’t always work. Sometimes (to help the Lord out), we’ll add “If it be your will”.
We know that “in the name of Jesus” means more than words, but we are often not sure WHAT it means…
Knowing how to pray in Jesus’ name will change your prayer life. Praying in the name of Jesus will change every area of your life.
John 14:13-14
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.
-Whatsoever we ask? What should we be asking?
John 15:15-16
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
(v.15) What is the Lord doing?
(v.16) What shall we ask for?
John 16:22-26
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
At the time that Jesus was speaking, the disciples always asked Jesus for things. Only Jesus was really praying to the Father (as we will see in John 17). Jesus is telling them that after the resurrection, there will be big changes:
-(v.23) They will pray directly to the Father in Jesus’ name.
-(v.23) The Father will give them WHATEVER THEY ASK!
-(v.25) Jesus will stop speaking to them in proverbs. He will speak plainly
-(v.26) Jesus will not pray to the Father in their place.
_____________________________________________________
What was Jesus’ ministry? Is it continuing?
Luke 4:16-21 (Jesus cites Isaiah 61:1-2)
16 And he (Jesus) came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Jesus’ ministry was:
-preach the Gospel to the poor.
-heal the brokenhearted.
-preach deliverance.
-restore sight to the blind.
-give liberty (freedom) to those that suffer.
-preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
What does the Bible say is our ministry?
2 Corinthians 5:17-20
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
We are to bring people to salvation and peace with God!
When we pray for God to use us to complete Jesus’ ministry, we are praying in Jesus’ name!
Two important passages:
John 6:28-29
28 Then said they unto him (Jesus), What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
All of God’s works are one work: To convince people that Jesus is the Messiah --- so that they will want eternal life!
John 17:1-3
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Look at what Jesus prays!!
John 17:6-8
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
Jesus is praying that we will believe that He is the Messiah and that the Father sent Him.
John 17:9-26
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
This is clearly an inheritance blessing that a man gives when he is close to his death (as Jesus was). He is telling His Father that we are to continue His ministry and wants us to have His protection, wisdom, power and fruit.
________________________________________________________
How does Paul pray?
Colossians 1:9-11
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Paul prays the same as Jesus!
When Paul asks for prayer, what does he want?
Colossians 4:3
3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
Notice he doesn’t ask to get out of jail or for a good job.
Paul’s friend Epaphras prays for the Colossians:
Colossians 4:12-13
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
Epaphras knows how to pray in the name of Jesus!
Please notice that when we pray in the name of Jesus, we KEEP praying. Paul says he does not cease to pray for you. The scripture encourages us to “pray always”, “pray without ceasing”, “men ought always to pray, and faint not”, etc…
Those of us here at Kingdom Come Southern Baptist Church are praying for each of you that has come to the services or has simply been enjoying the Bible studies on this site. We join Paul, Silvanus and Timotheus in their prayer for the Thessalonians; but our prayers are for you!
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen!!! J
