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

Asking In His Name

Prayer is the attempt by man to approach a holy and awesome God who has allowed His creation to petition Him. Only through the grace and mercy of God is man allowed into the presence of the Almighty. Prayer is the humbling experience of dust standing before its Maker. There is nothing in the arsenal of human wisdom that can boast itself against the favor of the Lord God, Jealous, and I AM. Prayer is a privilege of a humble heart. Jesus taught His disciples to pray with honor given to the Father. His name must be hallowed in reverence to the sanctity of prayer with the authority of the King of kings and Lord of lords. The Son of God taught His disciples to ask whatever they needed in His name that the Father may be glorified in the Son. When prayers are framed in the name of Jesus, the divine will is accomplished.

Prayer is a learned experience that must be taught to understand the honor of seeking the Almighty’s favor. It is not a casual conversation with a fishing buddy or a ‘slap-on-the-back, good-buddy’ kind of chat. When men approach without revering the name of the Father, they do a disservice to the holiness of God. Praying without seeking the blessings in the name of the Son of God dishonors what Jesus came to accomplish. He is the Lord and Christ who died for the sins of the world. Not everyone can approach God in prayer seeking His divine blessings. All spiritual blessings are found in Christ Jesus, and if someone is not in Christ, they cannot seek the blessings of the Divine. If a man approaches God without honoring Christ, they fail to honor God.

Jesus taught that prayer is seeking the Father’s favor in the name of the Son of God, and that by asking in His name, the Father will grant the petition. All thanksgiving comes through the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is in the name of the Judge of the living and the dead, Jesus Christ. The disciples in Samaria were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Jesus told the eleven that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in the name of Jesus to all nations. Paul reminded the saints at Ephesus to do whatever is done, in word or deed, in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The Holy Spirit declares throughout the New Covenant that Jesus is Lord and Christ. He is the Blessed and only Potentate. Paul describes Jesus as the Master in his writings. Jesus is the vine, according to John. The Son of God is Emmanuel, the Holy One, Lord from Heaven, Alpha and Omega, the Amen, the Bread of Life, Bridegroom, and many other names showing His divine glory. Praying in the name of Jesus is recognizing that all blessings come through Him and honor belongs to Him because of His authority. He is the High Priest of every Christian, the Mediator and Advocate through whom petitions through the Father are made. To do any less is to disrespect the name of Jesus and dishonor the nature and character of the Father and the Holy Spirit.