“Whatever you ask the Father in my name . . .” (John 16:23)
Inasmuch as we do not have any prayers in the Bible that end with the words “in Jesus’ name,” we do see many other things that take place in Jesus’ name : We heal in the name of Jesus (Acts 3:6); we baptize in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38); we teach in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18). The closest thing we see to praying in Jesus’ name is found in our verse for today — the words which Jesus spoke on the night He was betrayed: “Whatever you ask the Father in my name” (John 14:13, 15:16, 16:23). Over the next two weeks, we will examine six reasons why these three words are the key component in the prayers we pray.
Key 1 – Access
The only reason we are heard by the Father is because we pray in the name of His Son, Jesus. Because we trust in Christ alone through faith alone because of His sinless life, sacrificial death, and supernatural resurrection, we have access to the throne of grace 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
When Jesus said, “I am the way” (John 14:6), we are to understand this biblical truth as the key that unlocks the divine door leading to our access to the Almighty Father in heaven. Our Lord was not ambiguous: “No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Through [Jesus] we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:18)
So . . . are you praying “in Jesus’ name,” knowing that you have been granted access to the Father and that your prayers are being heard? Let this truth encourage you to keep on praying in the name of Jesus as you enter into the most holy place, where the Father waits to hear from you in the great name of His Son.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 