Saturday, August 14, 2010

Monday August 16th

Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 ESV)

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be gloried in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14 NKJV)

Power and influence are pretty big in our country. Just mention a few last names of some political and cultural icons and your mind immediately defers to their power (either designated or perceived) and their ability to get their way: Obama, Bush, Clinton, Oprah, Bono (OK, the last two were not last names but they don’t need last names). Mention one of these names as a trusted friend and doors open for you, favors are granted and ‘heads roll’ (so to speak) if so requested.

I’ve come to realize we have the most powerful name on the tip of our lips, who is able to do “immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine” (Eph 3:20). The name of Jesus is all powerful; as His children observing both circumstances and creation around us we know that to be undoubtedly true. But when we pray “in Jesus’ name” do we really expect Him to do what we ask, or really believe He can do what we ask? Or has “In Jesus name” simply become our verbal “closing the door and turning off the light” on our time with God in prayer?

I want to challenge us to ponder what it means to “ask anything in My name” – remember Jesus was the one who came up with that offer – while at the same time seek to understand how in answering our prayers “the Father may be glorified…”. If I read this right God answers our prayers made “in Jesus name” in such a way that He is glorified. The definition of glorified is : ” to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise, or admiration.” (Merriam-Webster)

In future blogs I want to explore with you these two realities but first I’d like to hear your perspective or your experience of truly praying in Jesus name and the difference it has made to you. Please feel free to comment in the space provided below.

For some words straight from Jesus on this subject I would direct you to John 15:1-17 and John 16:23-28.

Blessing!

Jim Koan

Phoenix Christian Unified Schools

4 comments:

  1. I know it is especially true with family, at least my unsaved family. We can talk about almost anything; politics, economy, even religion. But when the name of Jesus comes up they get uncomfortable and begin to find an exit. I am blown away at the power of merely the mention of the name of Jesus. It immediately shakes the grasp of sin in the lives of the unsaved and provokes them with conviction.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm not sure why we're always surprised when our prayers are answered! As if we really didn't quite believe that asking our Father would really make a difference. Expectation and anticipation really must align with our faith journey. And as we journey everyday closer to Christ, we can rest in His perfect will expecting God's incredible story to continue unfolding.
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  3. "In the name of Jesus"...."In Jesus' name"...such POWERFUL WONDERFUL statements that we can claim and use and glorify God with....Makes me sad to think of how casually people(we) sometimes use Jesus' name...as an expletive, or as casually said, off-handed exclamation....Sad use of the MOST POWERFUL name in ALL of heaven and earth, no?

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for commenting on our blog.