PRAYING IN THE AUTHORITY OF HIS NAME;
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him (Colossians 3:17).
There are three important factors about prayer that we’ll study in the next three days. The first is praying in the authority of the Name of Jesus. As Christians, when we pray, we do so in the Name of Jesus; which means we’re standing in His stead.
Jesus gave us the power of attorney to use His Name, in prayer. There’re those who pray “through” the Name of Jesus, and that’s wrong. To pray “through” Jesus is to make Him a medium or an intermediary to the Father. However, to pray “in the Name of Jesus,” which is the right way to pray, means you’re standing in the place of Jesus; you’ve become His voice! So, in praying to the Father, do so in the Name of Jesus.
In John 16:23, Jesus said, “…Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “whatsoever ye shall ask the Father through my name, He will give it you.” Before you were born again, the Name of Jesus was given to you so you could come through that Name to the Father and be saved.
Having accepted His invitation and come to the Father at the new birth through Christ, you now have eternal life; the life and nature of God, that enable you dwell in Him and function by the power of His Name. Philippians 2:9 says, “…God also hath highly exalted him (Jesus), and given him a name which is above every name.” His Name is the greatest Name in heaven, and in earth.
God has vested all authority in that Name. Whatever you ask the Father, in the authority of the Name of Jesus, will be granted you. The Lord Jesus has delegated His authority to you; the same authority He had on earth to request anything of the Father and have it granted.
Further Study:
John 16:23-27
John 16:23-27
