Pray In Jesus Name What Does It Mean?

How and Why Do I Pray ‘in Jesus’ Name?’

  • Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
  • 2019 16 Oct

When it came to prayers, it was usually the final sentence that tied them all together; the ribbon on a well-crafted box.Rather than concluding with the words ″In Jesus’ name, Amen,″ I found it strange and unfamiliar when a prayer did not end with those words.Unbiblical and uneducated to an almost frightening degree.It is after all, Jesus instructed us to pray in his name; thus, wouldn’t it be improper to conclude a prayer without saying those words?

Is it merely a’magic word’ that sanctifies and blesses our prayers, or is it something more complex?

Biblical Support for Praying in Jesus’ Name

The notion of praying in the name of Jesus is unquestionably scriptural.According to John 14:13-14, ″Whatever you ask in my name, this I will accomplish, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son,″ is the central verse.Any request made in my name will be met with immediate action.″ Several times in the Bible, including John 15:16 and John 16:23-24, this principle is reiterated.In these passages, it appears that Jesus is stating that any prayer offered in his name would be assured to be answered by God.

How Is ‘in Jesus’ Name’ Misused?

It’s a term that gets thrown about a lot.And I’m not referring to when it’s employed just for the sake of repetition during mealtime prayers.The act of praying (or doing anything) in Jesus’ name is frequently employed as a means of forcing God’s favor; we are seeking to evoke God’s power over any and all of our actions and desires.In the name of Jesus, prosperity preachers will pronounce financial blessings toward their listeners.

In the name of Jesus, fraudulent faith healers will demand illnesses to vanish from their victims.Although our prayers are important, the book of James sends us a stern warning: ″You ask and do not receive because you ask in the wrong way, intending to spend it on your passions″ (James 4:3).To believe that we may call the name of Jesus in order to satisfy our own desires is to cheapen and exploit God’s love and mercy.Praying in Jesus’ name is considerably more profound and beautiful than the ″cheap″ form of the prayer that we hear so frequently.

So What Does ‘in Jesus’ Name’ Mean?

The act of praying in Jesus’ name is less about inserting the word at the conclusion of your prayer and more about placing your heart in the appropriate place when you pray.″ When you pray in Jesus’ name, you are mindful of two fundamental realities as you present your petitions to God: first, that Jesus is the Son of God, and second, that Jesus is the Son of God’s Father.1.Acknowledgement of His Intercession on Your Behalf There is a distinct difference between prayer in the New Testament and prayer in the Old Testament in this regard.John 16:24 informs us that Jesus told his followers, ″Until now, you have not requested anything in my name.″ ″Ask, and you will receive, and your delight will be complete.″ So, what is it about our prayers that is different now that Christ has lived, died, and risen from the dead for us?

When Jesus climbed to the Father’s right hand following his resurrection, he assumed the role of our intercessor and advocate before the Father (Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1; Hebrews 7:25).It is to acknowledge and remember that Christ is the only way—that our position before the Father is dependent only on Christ’s accomplished work—that we are praying in his name.We come to him in prayer, not as a result of our own deeds or merit, but rather as a result of Jesus’ death and resurrection.The use of the preposition ″in″ is crucial here.

It is a statement about our connection with Christ.We have taken up residence within him.His death, burial, and resurrection have brought us closer together.And now, even our prayers are being said ″in″ his honor and in his name.When we pray in the name of Jesus, we are confessing that we would be separated from God for all time if it weren’t for the work of Christ.

2.Submitting to His Authority The Apostle John, who wrote Jesus’ instructions about praying in his name on the palms of his disciples, writes something in the book of 1 John that may give some more explanation on what it means to pray in Jesus’ name, and it is worth reading.1 The Bible states in John 5:14-15, ″And this is the faith that we have toward him: that, if we ask anything according to his will, he will hear us.″ And since we know that he hears us in everything we ask, we may be certain that we will get the requests that we have made of him.″ Similarly to John 14:13–14, this gives the same assurance of prayer being answered.

And I feel that the term ″in accordance with his will″ is strongly associated with the phrase ″in the name of Jesus.″ We don’t try to coerce Jesus into answering our prayers; rather, we offer our demands to him in humble submission and wait for him to respond.Simply saying, ″In Jesus’ name, Amen,″ does not always suggest that you are sending your request to God in submission to, and in accordance with, God’s will and direction.In addition, your plea does not obligate Jesus to conform his will to yours.

  • In addition, merely adding the phrase ″If it is your will″ to every request does not suggest that we are making a request.
  • Praying in accordance with God’s will is the same as praying in accordance with his character.
  • It aspires to pray for things that Christ would want for us.
  • In other words, it is prayer in a way that sees life from God’s point of view.
  • There’s no doubt that prayer is an incredible, undeserved luxury.

What a privilege it is to be able to approach God at any time and from any location and present our pleas to him.However, we should be cautious of requesting ″in the wrong way, to spend money on your hobbies.″ Let us pray in such a manner that we recognize Christ’s intercession on our behalf and our oneness with him, and that we humbly match our petitions with his will and character in order to be effective.Aaron Berry contributes to the Pursuing the PursuerBlog as a co-author.You can read more articles written by Aaron and his colleagues by subscribing to their blog or by following them on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.His family and he presently reside in Allen Park, Michigan, where he is active in his local church and recently earned his MDiv degree at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary.

  • Aaron is married and has two children.
  • Image courtesy of GettyImages/Motorization

What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name?

Answer to the question ″And I will accomplish whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father,″ Jesus teaches about prayer in his name in John 14:13-14.You may ask me to do anything in my name, and I will gladly oblige.″ Some people misinterpret this text, believing that stating ″in Jesus’ name″ at the end of a prayer automatically leads in God always giving what is requested.This is effectively using the words ″in Jesus’ name″ as if they were a magic formula to perform miracles.This is completely incompatible with the Bible.

Praying in Jesus’ name entails praying with His authority and imploring God the Father to respond to our petitions on our behalf because we are praying in the name of Jesus, the Son of God.In the New Testament, praying in Jesus’ name is synonymous with asking according to God’s will.″This is the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to our prayers.″ If we know that he hears us—whatever we ask for—we may be certain that we will get what we requested from him″ (1 John 5:14-15).When you pray in Jesus’ name, you are praying for things that will bring respect and glory to Jesus.

Incorporating the phrase ″in Jesus’ name″ at the conclusion of a prayer is not a magic formula.It is pointless to say ″in Jesus’ name″ if what we are asking for or saying in prayer is not for God’s glory and not in accordance with His desire.It is more vital to pray in Jesus’ name and for His glory than it is to include specific phrases at the end of a prayer, according to the Bible.It is not the words in the prayer that are important, but rather the goal for which the prayer is offered.Prayer for things that are in accordance with God’s will is at the heart of praying in Jesus’ name, and it is the core of the practice.

Return to: Prayer-related Questions and Answers What does it mean to pray in the name of Jesus imply?

What Does it Really Mean to Pray in Jesus’ Name?

Numerous things are accomplished in the name of Jesus throughout the Bible.Because of His name, the devils were rendered helpless in Luke 10, and we witness demons being thrown out in His name in Mark 16.Healing, salvation, baptism, and justification are all possible in Jesus’ name.As it is said in Colossians 3:17, ″And whatever you do, whether in word or action, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus.″ Consequently, it should come as no surprise that we would be called upon to pray in the name of Jesus.But why is this so?What does it mean to pray ″in His name″ imply exactly?

  • The following is what Jesus says to His followers in John 14:13-14: ″Whatever you ask in my name, this I will accomplish, that the Father may be glory in the Son.″ Any request made in my name will be met with immediate action.″ ″You will ask nothing of me on that day,″ declares Jesus in John 16:23.
  • ″Really, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will grant you.″ ″Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will grant you.″ You wouldn’t believe how many people take these passages out of context!
  • In truth, there are a variety of ways in which we might misinterpret and abuse the act of prayer in Jesus’ name.

When we say ″in Jesus name, amen,″ God is bound to perform our bidding.The first is the most apparent, and it is to regard God as our own cosmic concierge who must do our bidding anytime we say the magic phrase, ″In Jesus name, amen.″ And there are many people who sincerely hold and teach this viewpoint.You have professors who are part of the ″name it and claim it″ movement who believe that they can move God’s hand with the force of their words (enriching themselves in the process).By now, I’m sure it’s no longer a surprise to you when someone speaks of ″claiming″ promises that God has not made, when they ″declare″ the benefits that God would pour upon them, or when they use the phrase ″In Jesus’ name″ as though it were some sort of spiritual enchantment.In no way should we treat the name of our Lord as if it were a magic formula, or as if it were a critical element in a spell that would compel God to perform our will.

The Lord is not your Servant, as you believe.You have been given to Him.Allow that fact to be mirrored in your prayers and meditations.Nevertheless, I believe that the great majority of you who are reading this will see it as the man-centered false gospel that it is, and that only a small number of you will be in risk of asking in Jesus’ name for a private aircraft.So, what are the chances that we may misinterpret Christ’s words, ″If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it,″?However, many of us make the opposite mistake: rather than taking these words as an incantation, we just add on ″in Jesus name, amen″ at the conclusion of our prayers without giving them any thought at all to their significance.

While others may overestimate the value of the promise, we are more likely to underestimate its significance.Our use of the word has become routine; it has become something we do to ″wrap it up.″ It provides an added depth of spirituality to our prayers, but we don’t give it much consideration when we are hearing or saying them.No doubt many of you have done the same as I did at various points in your lives as well.In many cases, we are successful in compressing the meaning of this phrase to just four syllables, depriving it of the power that it should have had.

We are not interested in doing either of these things.We certainly do not want to misuse the promises that God has made to us, but we also do not want to take them for granted, as some do.In order to correctly interpret these passages, what is the key to remembering them?Because it is repeated twice in these passages, it is possible that you have previously observed it.Jesus promises that ″anything you ask in my name″ will be done, and that ″if you ask me anything in my name,″ He will do it.We have both the authority and the provisions for this promise contained within this one statement.

Our central question must be: “What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name?”

For the purpose of determining the answer to this issue, I’d like us to consider three characteristics of what it means to pray in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:

1. Praying In Jesus’ Name Means We Approach God Based on His Merit, Not Our Own

As Christians, everyone of us is ″in Christ″ in some way.Our ruptured connection with a holy God has been repaired by this alone, and it is this alone that permits us to approach Him in prayer and enter into His presence in worship.Our own names have no authority or privilege unless they are associated with Christ.When an FBI agent arrives hammering on the door, he doesn’t shout ″Open up!This is Carl!″ or anything along those lines.″Open up, FBI!″ he shouts instead.

  • Carl’s name does not elicit the same response as the name of the business that he is attempting to represent.
  • With the exception of the FBI’s authority, Carl’s name is meaningless on its own merits.
  • For us, it’s the same situation.

You and I have no legal standing to approach the courts of God, much alone make any demands, unless we are accompanied by the name of Jesus Christ.When we have a correct knowledge of who God is, we will be astounded to discover that we may bring our pleas before His throne in His majestic presence.In contrast, we are not, are not, and are not on our finest days.He is Holy, Holy, Holy.Nevertheless, praise be to God for the fact that in Christ we have been made a new creature, that our sins have been forgiven by His sacrificial death on the cross, and that our connection with God has been restored by imputing Christ’s righteousness upon us.

We have a mediator between us and God in the person of Jesus Christ.In this way, the writers of Hebrews might declare, ″Let us therefore come near to the throne of grace with confidence, so we may receive mercy and find grace to assist us in our time of need.″ When we pray in the name of Jesus, we are acknowledging that we do not have the authority to talk with God the Father on our own, and we are rejoicing in the fact that, through our Savior, we have the ability to communicate directly with the Creator of the universe.If we want God to hear our prayers, we must abandon any notion that we have any claim on Him based on our own characteristics or achievements.The act of praying in Jesus’ name implies that we are doing it on the basis of His merit and worthiness.We should be able to claim the name of Christ because we should be able to acknowledge the magnificent grace that has been bestowed on us by God.

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2. Praying In Jesus’ Name Means Seeking to Please Him, Not Ourselves

If a servant pretends to speak in the name of the king, but then acts or talks in a way that is contrary to the king’s wishes, he is acting outside of the power that has been delegated to him by the king himself.In the same way, our place in Christ is important.Whenever we pray to God in the name of our King, we must be careful not to ask for anything that Jesus Himself would not want.In our prayers to God, we realize that we can bring any number of petitions to His attention, but we also recognize that when we approach Him in prayer, we should desire the same things that our Savior does.We are putting our wants in the shadows of His.When we pray ″in Jesus’ name,″ we are expressing our desire to pray in a manner that is compatible with Jesus’ wishes.

  • ″And this is the trust that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us,″ 1 John 5:14-15 says of God’s willingness to hear our prayers.
  • To pray in Jesus’ name entails making requests in accordance with His will, which is a fundamental aspect of what it means to pray in His name.
  • Our assurance that, when our request is in accordance with and in surrender to His plan, He will undoubtedly answer our prayer is the governing aspect of this promise.

And what is the will of Christ?″For I have come down from heaven, not to execute my own will, but the will of him who sent me,″ Jesus declared in John 6:38.As a result, Jesus came to fulfill the desire of the Father.And what is the Father’s will in this matter?39-40: And it is the desire of him who sent me that I should lose nothing of everything that he has given me, but that I should raise it all up on the final day, as he has said.

In order to fulfill the will of my Father, I will raise him up on the last day in order that everyone who looks at the Son and believes in him may have everlasting life.When we pray in Jesus’ name, we should pray for the things that please Him above all else, regardless of what we are praying for.It was Christ’s desire to carry out the will of the Father, and it is the Father’s desire to collect a people for Himself, with the goal of extending His kingdom and giving Him glory.Consequently, to pray in Jesus’ name is to pray in the manner in which Jesus would pray.This implies that we should only pray for spiritual things (such as our own sanctification or that someone else would come to know Jesus) and not for practical things (such as that our interview will go well, that our car will make it to the next gas station, or that our baby will just fall asleep) if we believe in the Trinity.In no way, shape, or form!

″Do not be worried about anything,″ we are instructed in Philippians 4:6, ″but in everything, via prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.″ By all means, pray for everything and everything — and pray nonstop.We, on the other hand, do not pray for things that are opposed to God’s plan or make claims to promises that He hasn’t made or fulfilled.When we pray, we want to be sure that we are praying according to Jesus’ will.This scripture does not provide a method for bringing God’s will into alignment with your own, but it does promise power in prayer when you bring your will into alignment with God’s.

Prayer is like to a guy in a rowboat pushing on a rope that has been attached securely to the shore of the lake.While he isn’t dragging the land towards him, he is drawing himself toward the land.As we progress in Christ, our petitions in His name will become increasingly aligned with God’s desire, as we are influenced by His Word and come into closer relationship with Him via prayer.The act of praying in Jesus’ name entails praying in line with the will of God and praying in submission to the will of God, respectively.Neither of these precludes us from demanding things that are opposed to God’s will, nor does either of these prohibit us from accusing God of wrongdoing when His perfect will turns out to be different from our own.Our prayers are not only offered on Christ’s behalf and in accordance with His desire, but they are also offered in order to bring glory to God the Father.

3. Praying in Jesus’ Name Means Treasuring God’s Glory, Not Our Desires

In addition to the condition ″in my name,″ there is additional qualification in this text.Take a look at John 14:13 once more: What you ask in my name, I will accomplish to the best of my ability, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.″ In order to bring honor to the Father, Jesus Christ came to bring glory to the Father, who is glorified in the Son.This reality is encapsulated in John 17:4, when Jesus declares, ″I exalted you on earth, having completed the job you assigned to me.″ ‘And now, Father, please glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world was created.’ When it came to His earthly mission, Christ’s primary objective and purpose was to bring glory to God; as a result, He established the pattern that we, as His followers, are to follow.In prayer, our primary objective should be for God to receive the glory due to His response to our prayers.As a result, we refrain from praying for things that do not bring God honor or that are in opposition to His revealed will and character.Do your prayers reflect a sincere desire to see God glorified?

  • How would you know if it’s true?
  • One way to measure our faith is to look at how we respond when our prayers seem to go unanswered.
  • Do you find yourself becoming dissatisfied, or do you find yourself content to rest in God’s will?

Why not consider the possibility that God, in His great wisdom, will earn more praise from you for honestly enduring your trials rather than for having them removed?Isn’t it possible that God’s timetable differs from ours, or that what He believes is best is not the same as what we believe is best for us?God cares about us too much to give us everything we ask for in return.Is it something you’re comfortable with?All of God’s holy will will come to fruition, and we are confident that everything will work to that goal, which is to bring glory to God.

Our negative responses to prayer delays or going without the object of our prayers reveal that God’s glory is not the genuine goal of our hearts, but that we are more concerned with our own desires than with God’s honor.However, if our primary goal is to glorify God above all things, our attitude to unanswered requests will be significantly different.As Christians, we can pray sincerely to God, putting our faith in Him to achieve great things, but also resting certain that the Judge of all the earth will do what is right.Certainly, continue to come confidently to the throne of grace, to be persistent in your prayers, but believe that God’s response will be the greatest possible conclusion for your situation.

Conclusion

To pray in Jesus’ name implies that we approach God on the basis of Christ’s worth rather than our own, that we aim to please Jesus rather than ourselves, and that we place God’s glory above our own wishes.Praying in line with and obedience to God’s plan is the only prayer that will be answered.In addition, after reviewing the biblical qualifiers for this promise, I am hopeful that you would conclude that it is still sufficiently big.What exactly do we have in this section?What exactly is it that we are being told?You have been given the authority and privilege, through Jesus Christ, to boldly approach the throne of grace and make direct requests of a Holy and all-powerful God on your behalf!

  • As a result, it’s no surprise that the Lord shared this message with His distressed disciples after informing them of His imminent departure from the world in the upper room.
  • He has not abandoned us to fend for ourselves in this world, but has supplied us with direct connection to the Father – and He has given us the Holy Spirit, who: assists us in our times of difficulty.
  • Because we do not know what to pray for in the way that we should, the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that are too deep to put into words.

27 In addition, he who examines hearts understands what the Spirit’s thoughts are, since the Spirit intercedes for the believers in accordance with the will of the Father.(See Romans 8:26-27 for more information.) We not only have the right to make petitions to a God who will graciously listen to them before discarding them, but we also have the assurance that our prayers will be answered if we ask in line with God’s will.Christ, who lived and died and established an example for us to follow, is more than a role model.He is our role model for life.It is our mission to follow the resurrected Lord, who sits at God’s right side, listening to and responding to our petitions.

Whatever we ask in the name of Jesus, our Savior will accomplish.

Three Responses to Rightly Understanding Praying in Jesus’ Name

So, how should we conduct our lives?What should we do in response to a reassessment of what it means to pray in the name of Jesus?Allow me to offer three improvements to your prayer life in order to bring it into line with what we have learned from God’s Word: First and foremost, let us make a conscious effort to remember the significance and power of the words ″in Jesus’ name″ as we end our prayers.May us be reminded of the magnificent truth of the Gospel and the incredible opportunity we have through Jesus to communicate directly with God each and every time we hear or speak it.What is going through your mind while you pray?Are you hurrying through these words, or do you recognize how appropriate it is to present our pleas before God under the flag of Christ’s name?

  • SECOND, let us strive to make our prayers more like the One in whose name we are offering them, by refining the character of our prayers.
  • Allow us to intentionally shape our pleas in the manner in which Christ would present them, and to do so in surrender to the will of God, when we pray.
  • When you pray, do you primarily bring God a list of things to accomplish?

Instead of this, are you communing with the Father, offering Him praise and sending Him petitions that will assist the advancement of His kingdom and glory?Third, let us not overlook the importance of prayer in our everyday life.When thinking about what it will be like in paradise, D.L.Moody said, ″I suppose the amazement that I made such little use of the power of prayer will be, I think, the marvel that I made such little use of the power of prayer.″ Are you going through the day — or even days – without saying a prayer?Surely you and I would consider that a larger loss than being without food or drink for a day!

Hopefully, we will come to appreciate the importance and privilege of prayer enough to not want to miss even a single hour of it.Don’t let the enormous privilege that is yours in Christ slip away from you.Take your time while approaching God, and do not be embarrassed when placing your prayers before Him.Instead, we may confidently approach God’s throne of grace, bringing all of our demands to His attention and believing that He will act in mighty ways that are worthy of His great name.

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What It Really Means to Pray ‘In Jesus’ Name’

Although the phrases are well-known, do we really comprehend their significance?We do it on a regular basis.Perhaps on an automatic basis.Even if it is unintentionally.Many Christians pray ″in the name of Jesus.″ It’s a regular conclusion to our pleadings.″Whatever you ask in My name, the Father will grant you,″ Jesus promised His disciples, and it’s something many of us learned to say very early on in our praying lives (John 15:16, NIV).

  • But what exactly does this mean?
  • And, more importantly, are we utilizing it correctly?
  • Upon moving into a retirement residence, my father signed a stack of documents allowing me ″power of attorney″ over his affairs.

It was, of course, meant to serve as a precaution.As soon as he became incapable of paying his own bills, making his own decisions, or even signing his own name (as was eventually the case), I was given the authority to act on his behalf, with the understanding that I should (if at all possible) consult him and always act in accordance with his preferences.To pray ″in Jesus’ name″ is similar to what it means to say ″in the name of Jesus.″ It is not an addition to the original document.It is not a punctuation mark.Essentially, it is the authority to speak and act on Jesus’ behalf, with the awareness that we should constantly confer with Him and act in accordance with His will.

As Jesus said twice in the Garden of Gethsemane, ″Not My will, but Yours be done,″ it’s an echo of his own pleas towards the end of His life (Luke 22:42, NIV).Alternatively, as He informed His people, ″I am powerless to achieve anything on My own.″ I make my decisions based on what I hear.The reason my judgements are correct is that I don’t strive to accomplish what I desire but rather what the one who sent Me wants″ (John 5:30, GWT).It’s for this reason that, in the words of Mother Teresa, ″Listening is the beginning of prayer.″ In agreement with this, author Robert Benson says, ″I need to pay attention, to listen for the prayer of God that is rising in my heart, possibly for the prayer that I should be praying rather than the prayer that I am praying.″ ” If I’m going to sincerely pray ″in the name of Jesus,″ I need to start by asking questions and listening carefully to hear what Jesus is saying.My aim is to think in accordance with His ideas and then act in accordance with His will.When my prayers are focused on what I want, how I want it, and when I want it, I will begin to experience the fulfillment of Jesus’ promises about prayer, promises that seem to go unfulfilled when my prayers are focused on what I want, how I want it, and when I want it.

Not that God doesn’t occasionally take me by surprise by answering such requests as well.In the meanwhile, I’m hopeful that the number of prayers I pray in my own name will diminish and that I will get more accustomed to listening for the prayer of God that is rising in my heart and praying it…in Jesus’ name.

What Does It Mean to Pray in Jesus’ Name?

Throughout the whole Old Testament, there are numerous examples of prayer as well as encouragements to pray.Following that foundation, Jesus establishes the significance of prayer in His name in the gospels: ″I will accomplish whatever you ask in my name so that the Father’s glory may be revealed through the Son’s sacrifice.If you ask for something in my name, I will make it happen ″Jesus said this in John 14:13–14 (New International Version).″You have not requested anything in my name up to this point.You will obtain everything you ask for, allowing your happiness to be full ″ (John 16:24, NIV).So, what precisely is Jesus saying here, exactly?

  • Is it expected that we complete every prayer with the words ″in Jesus’ name, amen″ or something similar?
  • Is there another meaning to this?
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What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name?

In the early nineteenth century, police officers in England confronted fleeing offenders by yelling, ″Police!Stop in the name of the law,″ which meant, ″Police!Stop in the name of the law.″ Even if the offender couldn’t see the police, he or she understood who was ordering them to halt and by what authority they were doing so.This officer was dispatched to the scene in order to uphold the law with the authority of the monarch.Interestingly, it is remarkably similar to the experience that Peter and John had in front of the kings, elders, and scribes in Jerusalem: The following day, their governors, elders, and scribes gathered in Jerusalem, together with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, as well as everyone else who belonged to the high-priestly family, to discuss the situation.Inquiring as to ″what power or by what name you did this,″ they demanded of the prisoners when they had brought them into their presence.

  • When Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, he addressed the crowd and said, ″Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and let it be known to all of the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from Because they couldn’t send an email or make a phone call in an era where powerful people could, they transmitted their commands through agents who were authorized to speak on their behalf.
  • When the ambassadors issued commands, they did so with the authority of the person in charge of the delegation.

All authority in heaven and earth

When Jesus presented the Great Commission to the disciples, He began by establishing his authority by saying, ″I am the Son of Man.″ And Jesus appeared to them and said, ″Come, follow me.″ ″Everything in heaven and on earth has been handed to me as a result of this revelation.Follow Jesus’ order to ″go and make disciples of all countries″ by baptizing them in his name (the Father’s name, the Son’s name, and the Holy Spirit’s name), teaching them to obey all that I have taught you.You can rest assured knowing that I am with you always, until the end of the age ″(Matthew 28:18–20, New International Version) Why is it so important to communicate to the disciples that He has now assumed universal authority?Because He has ascended to the throne of glory and established His deity.He is now delegating that power to them, and they will be despatched to various locations across the world to speak on His behalf.They have been elevated to the status of ambassadors, enabled to speak on Christ’s behalf.

  • But keep in mind that he emphasizes that he has power both on earth and in heaven.
  • And he urges us to put that authority to work in our prayers!
  • Consider the scenario in which you wanted to obtain a bank loan but did not have the necessary collateral.

The bank need a co-signer to ensure that you will be able to pay back the loan, thus they require one.This is a person who offers security for the loan in the event that you are unable to repay it.Interestingly, it is extremely similar to the part that Jesus performs in our prayers.Even though I am unable to enter God’s throne chamber and begin asking for things on my own power and righteousness, Jesus is willing to sign off on my requests.People who have been redeemed are now able to use the authority that He has earned.

Despite the fact that it is not necessarily something we conjure by using the words ″in Jesus’ name,″ it is ours by faith when we are His.

Has Jesus written us a blank check?

Many organizations have borrowed the teachings of Jesus and twisted them to their own ends.They assert that if we are praying in Jesus’ name but are not seeing results, it is because we are doing some sort of error.After all, they claim, Jesus promised to accomplish everything we ask in His name, and He has fulfilled that promise.Is that correct?Is it possible to use Christ’s words as a blank check in prayer?No.

  • No, not at all.

Understanding ancient education

Exaggeration and hyperbole were common in ancient Near-Eastern teaching, and they continue to be so today.When they intended to emphasize the importance of a certain topic, they would do it in a forceful and unnuanced manner….This is something you’ll see a lot of throughout Proverbs.Consider the following verse from Proverbs 22:6: Start youngsters off on the path that they should follow, and they will not stray from it even when they are adults.When you read this, it appears as though everything is crystal obvious.Is it, however, a guarantee that if you raise your children properly, they will never rebel or make poor judgments as adults?

  • No.
  • It is not a promise, but rather a fundamental concept.
  • The way people in the Near East would place an exclamation point on an important notion was by exaggerating the importance of it.

This is something Jesus does as well.If you listen closely, he makes a frightening succession of comments while talking about temptation.″If you find that your hand is causing you to stumble, chop it off.It is preferable for you to start life with one hand than it is for you to enter hell with two hands, where the fire never goes out.And if your foot is causing you to stumble, cut it off immediately.

It is preferable for you to begin life disabled rather than to have two feet and be sent into hell as a result of your condition.In addition, if your eye causes you to stumble, you should remove it.To have one eye and be cast into hell is preferable to having two eyes and being thrown into hell, according to the Bible ″(Mark 9:43–47, New International Version).Without a certain, Jesus is not implying that we should chop off our hands and feet, or that we should shut our eyes.It is His desire to express the seriousness of sin, and He accomplishes this by proposing the most unthinkable solution.A large portion of the crowd, the most of whom were illiterate, took note of this and remembered it afterwards.

They would return home with this lesson firmly entrenched in their memories.(If you’re interested in learning more about how to deal with temptation, check out the post ″Lessons from the Temptations of Jesus.″)

The importance of authority

When Jesus promises that anything you ask for in His name will be granted, he isn’t making a blanket declaration.It’s a matter of principle.It is so important to pray in Jesus’ name and with His power that Jesus expresses himself in the strongest possible terms.We are well aware that God will not answer any prayer that is offered in Jesus’ name.Unless you specifically beg God to approve of your transgression, it is unlikely that this will occur.Things that are prayed in Christ’s authority must be in accordance with God’s will (for more information on what God wishes, see 20 Bible Verses on Discovering God’s Will for more information).

  • There are a variety of elements that influence our prayers, but Jesus wants us to understand that approaching God as His ambassadors with His authority has a significant impact on the effectiveness of our prayer lives!
  • When has God provided an answer to your prayer?
  • Please share your tale in the comments section.

What does it mean to pray ″In Jesus’ name″

The phrase ″pray in Jesus’ name″ refers to the offering of prayer to God the Father via the person and mission of Jesus.If someone prays in Jesus’ name, it means that he or she has accepted Christ as Savior (John 1:12) and has been justified by faith in Christ (Romans 3:28; 5:1).This indicates that he is a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17), who has been indwelt by God (John 14:23), and has been re-born.Because Jesus lived a faultless life (1 Peter 2:22) and suffered our sins in his body on the cross, he has the authority to pray to God through him (1 Peter 2:24).The label ″authority″ is also used in this context since Jesus has been given authority to go to God the Father, and we who are in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:22) have been given the same authority as well.People frequently conclude their prayers by saying ″in Jesus’ name, amen,″ which means ″in Jesus’ name, amen.″ This is what they aim to do: they intend to approach God the Father via Jesus, relying fully on his work and perfection since, after all, he is God manifested in the flesh (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 2:9).

  • ″Whatever you ask in My name, I will accomplish, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son,″ says Jesus in John 14:13–14.
  • You can request anything in My name, and I will fulfill your request.
  • Furthermore, the term ″in Jesus’ name″ denotes a position of authority.

In Acts 4:7 and 10, religious authorities interrogate Peter about the authority with which he cured a sick man.Acts 4:7, 10, and 11.And once they had positioned them in the center, they started to question them, ″By what authority, or in what name, have you carried out this action?″ … ″I want you to know, and I want all of Israel to know, that this man stands before you in excellent health in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, who you crucified and who God resurrected from the grave.″ Consequently, it should be evident that ″in Jesus’ name″ is a term that denotes authority, and when we pray in his name, we are praying in his authority because we have entirely trusted in what Christ has done on the cross to forgive us of our sins, and so we are praying in his authority.

What Does It Mean to Pray in the Name of Jesus?

9/10/2017 Dean Sam Candler delivers a sermon.Year A of the Proper 18 ″For whenever two or three people get together in my name, I am present among them,″ Jesus said.The Bible says in Matthew 18.20 that I come to you in the name of Jesus.How many times have you heard the name Jesus spoken in the last few days?“Jesus!″Honey, you dropped the drink on the floor!″ ″Lord Jesus, have pity on me!″ says the penitent.

  • ″Please, for the love of Jesus, keep your mouth shut!″ ″Jesus, look at the enormity of that cyclone!″ says the narrator.
  • ″Jesus, Good God, take a look at the traffic!″ said the preacher.
  • The only thing we want to do is come to you in worship, Sweet Jesus.″ ″I command you to be cured in the name of Jesus!″ ″Would you take a look at it, Jesus Christ?″ The list goes on and on.

The number of ways in which we might invoke the name of Jesus Christ is virtually limitless.Hey!The list would be incomplete if Ricky Bobby did not say something about the unusual prayer that he prayed in the movie Talladega Nights (2006).However, the video clip is far more amusing than I can convey in my own words, but the gist is as follows: The grace is said by Ricky Bobby, a race car driver, during the chaotic and disorderly family meal: ″Dear small newborn Jesus,″ he says.We just want to express our gratitude to you, or JEE-sus, as our southern counterparts refer to you…″ Then he continues to express gratitude to Jesus for a slew of things that I am not permitted to discuss from the pulpit!

When he begins to speak again his wife Carley Bobby interjects and says ″Hey uh.You should know, sweetheart, that Jesus did mature.You are not need to refer to him as a baby all of the time.″Praying to a baby seems a little strange and off-putting.″ Ricky Bobby: I’m Ricky Bobby.″Take a look, I really adore the Christmas.″ I believe Jesus is the finest, and I’m saying grace.Saying grace can be directed at the adult Jesus, the young Jesus, the bearded Jesus, or any other Jesus you want,″ explains the author.

″Do you know what I’m looking for?″ she says.I want you to make the most of this grace opportunity so that God would allow us to win tomorrow.″ Consequently, Ricky Bobby continues the grace, making certain to thank Baby Jesus for all of the money he has earned, as well as to acknowledge his commercial sponsors during the grace!(As you may recall, the story continues from there!) In what way does praying in the name of Jesus differ from other forms of prayer?What exactly does it mean to come together in the name of Jesus mean?

Does this imply that we may ask for everything we desire and expect to receive it?Is the name of Jesus only a magical name, a talisman endowed with supernatural powers, or something more?Or is the name of Jesus like a secret password to God’s computer and internet account, allowing you to log in and access everything you want whenever you want?″Open, Sesame!″ is a good example.I believe that remarkable words have always captivated people’s attention.While many people associate the magic word ″hocus pocus″ with magicians, it really derives from individuals making fun of the Medieval Church Mass, which was usually conducted in Latin.

  1. ″Hoc Est Meus Corpus,″ which translates as ″This is my Body,″ was pronounced by the priest during the Mass at the point when the bread was transformed into the Body of Christ.
  2. It was a magical moment in the service.
  3. People, like Ricky Bobby, made fun of such terms.
  4. They imitated those words, and the result was ″Hocus Pocus,″ which means ″Hocus Pocus″ in English.
  5. With those words, you could transform bread into a human body, and you could conjure up a rabbit to appear out of nowhere.
  • The majority of us, on the other hand, take our prayers seriously.
  • We have no intention of being disrespectful or parodic.
  • The act of praying signals our intention to enter some form of sacred time and space, even if it does not appear to others that we are entering such a time and space.
  • And we frequently resort to prayer during the most difficult of circumstances, such as when someone we care about is ill or dying.
  • We need to be prepared when the weather becomes severe, such as when a storm is approaching.
  1. When we have lost our jobs or our marriages, we are depressed.
  2. While praying for assistance in dire situations, it is logical that we would say anything to express our gratitude.
  3. If there is a chance that a magic phrase may be of assistance in our prayer, we shall employ it in our efforts.

If there is any power in the name of Jesus, we will put it to good use.Whether it’s the newborn Jesus, the infant Jesus, a teenager, a young adult, a bearded Jesus, or an elderly man Jesus, we have something for everyone!And do you know what else?It is precisely the complete life of Jesus, the entire life of Jesus, that is being discussed.When we pray in the name of Jesus, we have the ability to do great things.

And when we come together in the name of Jesus, there is strength in our numbers.However, it is not only the repetition of the name ″Jesus″ that has the ability to transform.It is the recall and recollection of Jesus’ entire life, from beginning to end.In order to encapsulate the fullness of Jesus’ life and ministry, the abbreviated name of Jesus is intended to signify all he did, everything he said, and everything he experienced.To assemble, to pray, in the name of Jesus is to recall the complete life of the Lord Jesus Christ.Prayer in the name of Jesus, as a result, entails bringing to bear all of the truth about Jesus’ life and mission on the issue you are presenting to God via prayer.

  1. And, unfortunately for us, there were many occasions in Jesus’ life when he was not happy or joyous, as was the case at times.
  2. As Ricky Bobby shown, when we pray in the name of Jesus, we are not only reminiscing about the wonderful tale of Jesus as a baby, as we did.
  3. But we’re thinking about his ministry as well as some of his tougher statements.
  4. And we are bringing not just the story of Jesus’ resurrection, but also the tragedy of his crucifixion, into our collective prayer.
  5. That fullness of Jesus is exactly the kind of power we are looking for in this world.
See also:  What Did Jesus Look Like On The Cross

The name of Jesus implies a great deal – certainly more than any one of us can comprehend in our own minds.Not only does the name Jesus connote the pleasure and beauty of Jesus, but it also connotes the Cross of Jesus.Every knee shall bow at the mention of Jesus’ name…A season of humiliation, to receive a name, from the mouths of sinners, to whom he came, gratefully bearing it, spotless to the end, he returned victorious, When he died away from death.Carole Maria Noel wrote the lyrics of Hymn 435 in The Hymnal 1982, which is available online.

  1. When we call on the name of Jesus, we are confessing that we, too, may be humbled for a while, if only temporarily.
  2. It’s possible that we’ll pass through the valley of the shadow of death as well.
  3. It’s possible that we’ll have to pick up our Crosses as well.
  4. The Cross, how I love thee!
  5. When people come together and pray in the name of Jesus, they are praying in the name of the Cross.

But take a look at this Cross.Certainly, the Cross of Jesus has served as a site of anguish and suffering, but for us Christians, it has also served as an indication of surprise and altered expectations—a strong indication.What appears to be death turns out to be life.

Consider the actual physical construction of the Cross, with each beam having two points on either side of the centerline.The ramifications of your problem might occasionally be one way, but they can also be the other way around.That is what the cross looks like.

It’s either up or down.Either to the right or to the left.It is a combination of factors.It is not simply about what I desire on an individual level.

As a result, when two or three people assemble in the name of Jesus, there is a far larger likelihood that we will remember more about Jesus than if only one person gathers in Jesus’ name.When there are more individuals there, the name of Jesus becomes stronger, more accurate, and more full, as each person contributes to the recalled depiction of Jesus.That is why a genuine Eucharist, a true communion, and a true community always necessitate the presence of more than one person.In the words of Jesus, ″When two or three get together in my name, then I am there with them.″ Amazing things happen when two or three people get together in the name of Jesus.Miracles happen.God accepts our sacrifices and transforms them into something else.

  • As a result, just because we pray in the name of Jesus does not indicate that we will get our way.
  • Praying in the name of Jesus indicates that we receive Jesus’ direction and that we follow that direction as a group, as a community.
  • It’s a high-stakes prayer!
  • The path of Jesus is completely filled.
  • Up and down the stairs.
  • Both to the right and left.

Both vertical and horizontal orientations are possible.The road of Jesus is the only way that leads to salvation.Certainly, in the name of Jesus, some ridiculous things have been done in the past, some of which were done in error.Tragically, there have also been instances of horrible deeds being committed in the so-called name of Jesus.

Nonetheless, there have been many more beneficial and nutritious acts done in the name of Jesus.Wonderful things have happened!Hospitals, schools, and humanitarian acts of mercy and generosity are all examples of this.Thank you for your kind donations to the victims of storms and floods!

Every time we come together in the name of Jesus, whether it is a group of two or three or five thousand, we come together in the name of hope that is larger than despair, in the name of life that is greater than death, and in the name of love that is bigger than tragedy.AMEN.

What Does It Mean to Pray in Jesus’ Name?

There is a great deal of power in the name of Jesus Christ.Calling on Him in prayer, on the other hand, is not a magic wand that will magically grant us our desires.Rather, it is a signal that we are setting down our own wishes as well as our preferred method of getting things done..We make a commitment to God to follow Him and to bring Him honor by doing so.In his piece for Crosswalk, Roger Barrier elaborates on this concept.″Some people misinterpret this text (John 14:13-14), believing that the phrase ‘in Jesus’ name’ is equivalent to a magic formula,″ Barrier explained.

  • ″There is nothing that could be further from the truth.
  • Praying in Jesus’ name entails praying with His authority and imploring God the Father to respond to our petitions on our behalf because we are praying in the name of Jesus, the Son of God.
  • The act of praying in Jesus’ name entails praying in accordance with God’s desire (1 John 5:14-15).

″Praying and meditating through the names of Jesus helps us to increase our worship, foster spiritual growth, and strengthen our relationship with Jesus.″ The phrase ″in the name of Christ″ has two meanings.

What Praying in the Name of Jesus Really Means

  • 1. When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are reminded to rely on His strength and His will. Believers are encouraged to make requests that are in line with God’s purpose and plan for their lives. To do so, we must first inquire of Him as to whether or not our prayers are in accordance with His desire. God uses a variety of techniques to reassure his people that they are on the right road. For example, He may enhance correct desires while decreasing bad ones
  • another option is that He will use His Word to redirect a Christian’s steps or affirm that they are on the right path
  • and yet another potential is that He will use His Word to confirm that they are on the right path.

God constantly makes His will clear to the man or woman who strives to understand what He wants from them.Proverbs 3:5-6, Jeremiah 29:13, James 1:5 are examples of passages that support this idea.2.When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are reminded that we ought to exalt Him rather than ourselves.Invoking Christ’s name indicates that we want to be glorified by Him rather than by ourselves.″You ask and do not get because you ask with the wrong motivations in order to squander it on your pleasures,″ James warns (James 4:3).

  • Consider individuals who are attempting to pray their way out of a financial quagmire in order to better comprehend what I mean.
  • Whether someone wants to get out of debt so that they may have more money for themselves or so that they can utilize the extra money in God-honoring ways is an issue to consider.
  • God can see through people’s motives.

He will not grant assistance until our hearts are in the proper place.The following is an excerpt from ″One Big Request″ by In Touch Ministries (used by permission).Image courtesy of Thinkstock/Rawpixel.

What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name?

In Jesus’ name, anything you ask for will be granted to you, according to the scriptures (John 14:13-14).But what exactly does this mean?Many parents and churches, in an attempt to follow Jesus’ teachings, teach (typically by example) that every prayer should close with the words ″…in Jesus’ name, Amen″ at the end of the prayer.Is this, however, what Jesus had in mind?Some individuals take this concept to an extreme and repeat the phrase ″…in Jesus’ name″ over and over again throughout their prayer, such as this: Father, we come before you in the name of Jesus, to beg you, Father, to bless our time together, in Jesus’ name.And we offer our requests to you, Father, in the spirit of Ruth and her ingrown toenail, asking that you, Father, cure her in Jesus’ name.

  • And we bring you Carol’s ailing cat, who is in our care.
  • The cat has been throwing up all night, Father, and Carol adores the cat that you gave her; therefore, we beg that you reach down from heaven and touch her cat in Jesus’ name, Father, and release her cat from this ailment that is giving the animal and Carol so much trouble, in Jesus’ name……
  • And so forth.

While you might think I’m making light of requests for toenails and ill animals, if you’ve attended many prayer groups, you know that these kinds of requests are not uncommon.Even when Christians are able to eliminate all repetitions of the words ″Father″ and ″in Jesus’ name″ from their prayers, it is still extremely usual for most Christians to conclude their prayers with the phrase ″…in Jesus’ name, Amen.″ I’ll admit that I’m guilty of this.It is a habit that I am unable to quit.But why would I want to sabotage my own success?

Doesn’t Jesus tell us to pray in His name?

Yes, He does, in fact.Although we are instructed to use the magic words ″in Jesus’ name,″ this does not imply that we should liberally sprinkle them throughout our prayers or that we should even end off our prayers with these words.When we do this, we are using the words ″in Jesus’ name″ as if they were some sort of magical incantation by which we may obtain whatever it is that we ask for in our prayers.However, it is not at all what Jesus intended, and in fact, mindlessly repeating the words ″in Jesus’ name″ in order to get what we ask for in prayer is the polar opposite of what Jesus intended when He encouraged us to pray in His name in the first place.

What does it mean to pray “in Jesus’ name”?

Praise and worship ″in Jesus’ name″ refers to praying as though Jesus Himself were praying our prayers.When an envoy travels to another nation ″in the name of the king″ (or president), it is as though the king (or president) of that country is saying the words that the ambassador is delivering to them.The leaders of these other countries are expected to take the ambassador’s words as if they were spoken directly by the monarch (or president) of their respective countries.Obviously, the ambassador must be confident that what he says is exactly what the monarch himself would say before making his speech.If an envoy says anything stupid or disrespectful, he or she might easily spark a war, derail a commercial arrangement, or sabotage a treaty, to name a few possibilities.To be an effective ambassador, the envoy must be well acquainted with the mind, heart, and will of his or her sovereign to the point where the two minds are practically one.

  • ″In the name of Jesus,″ as the expression goes, implies ″with Jesus in mind.″ They are not magic words that will grant you everything you desire, but they are a state of mind that we must maintain when praying to God.
  • We must be so intimately acquainted with the mind, heart, and will of Jesus in whatever situation we are praying about that the words we speak are the same exact words Jesus would speak if He were the one making the petition to God.
  • We must be so intimately acquainted with the mind, heart, and will of Jesus in whatever situation we are praying about.

How to Pray in Jesus’ Name

I believe Jesus’ words in John 14:13-14 could be paraphrased as follows: ″However, when you pray, spend time thinking about what I value and what I have instructed you to do.Spend time thinking about how I lived my life, the kind of example I provided, the people I hung out with, the goals I sought to achieve, and the relationship I had with God.″ Take close note of everything I said and what I prayed for throughout my lessons.After then, make your desires known to God in light of what you’ve learned.Moreover, when you do, be confident in your demands, knowing that the words you use are the same phrases I am using.And when you pray in this manner, you may be confident that your requests will be heard.In the event that you are not fully certain that what you are praying is what Jesus Himself would pray, it is wise to include the little caveat ″if it is your will″ at the end of your prayers.

  • In this manner, when you have dialogues with God, you may tell Him what is on your heart and what is on your mind, but you are also telling Him that you trust Him to make the greatest choice since you do not know what is best for you.
  • In my perspective, the vast majority of the prayers we recite will be of the second type, in which we acknowledge that our hearts can be mislead and our brains can be darkened, and we thus defer to God’s judgment and choice.
  • Prayer with faith does not mean that we muster up so much ″assurance″ that God is compelled to perform what we ask.

Rather, to pray with faith is to present our requests to God in the knowledge that He loves us and will always do what is best for us, even if this means that we will not receive what we have requested.So let us refrain from praying with magical phrases in order to persuade or manipulate God into doing what we wish.Put an end to your use of magic words in your prayers.Instead, let us spend time getting to know Jesus’ heart and thoughts so that our prayers might be as effective as His, and then, when we pray, let us pray with humility and confidence, trusting that God will do what is best for each of us.Is it necessary for me to say ‘Amen’ at the conclusion of my prayers?

Do you want to pray like never before?

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