In Jesus' Name. It's more than a phrase we tack onto the end of our prayers. All that God is and does is represented in the Name of Jesus. The Amplified Bible says when you ask in His Name, you present your requests to the Father on the basis of all that Jesus is. So you can boldly expect to have those requests granted—not because you're worthy, but because He is!
What's
more, the Name of Jesus carries authority over all other names. In
Philippians 2:5-11, the Apostle Paul tells us, "God also hath highly
exalted him [Jesus], and given him a name which is above every name:
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven,
and things in earth, and things under the earth."
In spite of all
the Word of God has to say about the power of the Name of Jesus, most
believers don't seem to put much stock in it. They'll pray in the Name
of Jesus, then turn right around and say, "I sure hope God answers that
prayer." They don't realize that if they only had the faith to believe
it, Jesus' Name alone carries enough clout to guarantee their prayers will be answered.
They
even let religious slang rob them of the power of using that Name. I've
heard many a well-meaning believer end his prayer with the phrase, "For
Jesus' sake." But Jesus didn't say to pray for His sake. He said to pray in His Name.
I
used to make that mistake myself. One night I was praying because I was
suffering from a stomachache. "Oh, for Jesus' sake," I prayed, "heal my
stomach."
After I'd said that a few times, the Lord spoke up on the inside of me. Wait a minute, He said, whose stomach is hurting here, Mine or yours?
"Mine!" I answered.
Then He very plainly said, In that case, pray for your stomach's sake, in My Name!
Jesus' Name.
Dig in to the Word and find out just how much power and authority it
really carries. Then use that power every time you pray. Stop hoping God will answer and start expecting Him to cause every circumstance in your life to bow its knee in honor of that glorious Name!
