SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1110

“Ask in His Name”

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. – John 14:13-14

Our reference Scripture, out of context, appears to be a blank check for us to get whatever we desire in the Name of Jesus. Far too many of us use the holy name of Jesus as some type of magical incantation without reverence for the person of Jesus Christ.

However, in the totality of Scripture we learn that, yes, there is power in the Name of Jesus, but that power originates in the person of Jesus Christ. The name ‘Yeshua’ (Jesus) was a common name in biblical times but there was only one Yeshua Nasraya – Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God, Lamb of God, the second Person of the Triune God, Our Lord and Savior.

I and the Father are one; …Whoever has seen me has seen the Father…- John 10:30; John 14:9 

It is the person of Jesus Christ that sets His Name above all other names and it is in the Name of the person of Jesus Christ that we are to ask, seek and knock.

…Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:5-11

To ask in faith and confidence in His Name we must have a personal relationship with Jesus. Religion and religious rituals are insufficient and cannot be a substitute for the continually abiding presence of Jesus in us.

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. – Psalm 105:4; John 15:7

The Word of God tells us about the seven sons of Sceva who were beat up severely by a demon possessed man when they attempted to invoke the Name of Jesus by proxy. (Acts 19:13-16) Jesus also warns us of the danger of using His Name without a relationship with Him personally.

…“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ – Matthew 7:20-23

We are living in some seriously challenging times. Anarchy and political turmoil are prevalent in our country. Evil from the very gates of Hell appears to have been unleashed upon the world. We must repent of worldliness and return to our first love, Jesus, our Lord. Pray in the power and authority of the Name of the person Jesus Christ for peace and restoration of our land. Pray in His Name for protection from all evil.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…; And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. – James 4:8; 1 John 5:14-15