Praying in Jesus’ Name / The Gospel of John

 

Praying in Jesus’ Name

John 14:13-14 June 25, 2023

I. Introduction:

A. Prayer has been a gift that God has given man since the beginning of time.

But in the upper room discourse Jesus introduces a dimension, an element to

prayer, that is essential for his people to navigate life between the time Jesus

returned to his Father and when Jesus comes back to receive us to himself.

1. It is a dimension of prayer that many of us do mindlessly as we repeat

words that we really do not understand what they mean.

2. It is a dimension of prayer that explains for us why so many of our prayers

go unanswered, but if we begin to practice it, we will see many more

answers to our prayers.

B. Please turn to John 14 where this new dimension to prayer is found.

1. We learned last week that the backdrop and driver to the discussion in the

upper room discourse is Jesus’ announcement that he is going to return to

the Father and later come back for them.

a) In this discourse are the essential things they needed to know while he

was gone and they were apart from him

2. Then we come to the next section of this chapter where Jesus talks to them

regarding his oneness with the Father.

a) We are not going to cover this section this morning because a few

weeks back when I introduced the book of John to us I had a complete

message about Jesus’ relationship with the Father as seen in the book of

John.

b) We learned that Jesus and the Father not only were close to one another

but that Jesus was fully equal with and one with the Father. We see the

same thing here again.

c) If you were not here, I would encourage you to go to YouTube to view

that. Even more importantly, this is not only a passage to reread but

also one to memorize and meditate on!

C. However, I am going to read this whole section this morning as a reminder to

some of the important things we learned that morning and because right at the

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end of it, Jesus speaks about this promise in prayer that we want to look at this

morning!

1. Read v4-14.

a) Note in v11-12 he speaks about if you do not believe me about what I

am saying about my oneness with the Father and that Jesus dwells in

the Father and the Father dwells in Jesus, then at least believe on

account of the works you have seen me do.

b) Then in v13-14, we see this prayer promise in this context.

D. Overview of our key passage this morning is simply this:

1. V13 is the promise; v14 restates it in summary form.

2. In v13 we see three things:

a) The content of our prayers

b) How these prayers are answered

c) And the motive to our prayers

• This morning I want to break down this promise phrase by phrase because these

twenty words are packed with millions upon millions of words worth of

meaning, application and testimonies of its truthfulness for us! Let’s start with

the …

II. Content to our prayers

A. Reread v13a – emphasizing “whatever”

B. This is an amazing promise – “whatever you ask!” Wow!

1. But to be honest with you there are many things I have asked God for that

were never answered!

2. Can any of you relate to that?

3. If Jesus said that, then why is that the case?

C. The next phrase explains for us why so many of our prayers are not answered.

1. Read 13a – emphasizing “in Jesus’ name”

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2. For most of us, we add on “in Jesus’ name” at the end of our prayers as

magical words that if we add them to our prayers then we will get what we

want.

3. But here is the reality – “in Jesus’ name” is the qualifier for whatever, it

both limits the ” whatever” and enhances what “whatever” means.

D. A name represents all of who someone is, along with their character, all they

have, their rights, privileges and authority and even their reputation.

1. To do something in someone’s name means you are doing something in

behalf of that person as their official representative.

E. Now when I connect along with limit and enhance the meaning of “whatever”

with Jesus’ name that means that I would be asking for the things that Jesus

would ask for in this situation. They are things that are in line with his

character and his agenda.

F. Let me build on that a bit more by the context and a few other places this

promise is repeated.

1. We already have seen in this passage that the context to this promise is

doing the works of Jesus.

a) So the first thing I would ask about my prayers is, are they not only

consistent with what Jesus would ask but is it to further his work and

kingdom or my own welfare?

2. Look at John 15:7 – read

a) So here, we see that the “whatever” is in the context of those whose

lives are filled with and controlled by God’s Word.

b) So I must ask are my prayers consistent with God’s Word or even are

my prayers driven by and full of God’s Word

3. Read John 15:16

a) So here, we see that the “whatever” is in the context of bearing fruit for

God, fruit that remains.

b) So I must ask, are my prayers consistent with the things that bear fruit

for God?

c) In a few weeks, we will spend a big portion of the message seeing what

bearing fruit for God means.

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4. John also wrote the book of 1 John and he addresses this same topic in 1

John 5:14-15. Read

a) Here the anything and “whatever” is limited by God’s will

5. So to be able to apply this promise and actually see answers to our prayers

we must ask things that are in accordance with the character of Jesus, the

work of Jesus, God’s Word, bearing fruit for Jesus and according to God’s

will rather than just whatever we want!

G. This has big implications for how we pray about the sick and about troubles

both our own and the troubles of those we love.

1. Have you ever considered what we ask God for at those times? – usually it

is for health and deliverance and God fixing things

2. How often have you considered how Jesus would pray for that situation – a

great practice to do before you even pray?

a) When we need healing, delivering or fixing Jesus might pray that:

(1) He might even pray that our sickness or dying would bring glory to

God rather than God would heal us.

(2) We would endure these times in faith and gratitude before God.

(3) Use these things and times to

(a) Open doors to bring the gospel to the lost or model for the

believer how Jesus would walk in these times

(b) Make them more like Jesus

(c) Teach them to rely upon his Spirit rather than themselves.

H. Praying in Jesus name is more about praying for what Jesus wants than

praying for what we want! It is praying as a representative of Jesus! It is

asking what Jesus would ask for. It’s prayers consistent with his heart for the

things that he cares about. It is praying Jesus’ heart for Jesus’ work!

• The second we see in this passage is …

III. How these prayers are answered

A. I am going to deal with the two other aspects of this verse much more quickly

than the first. Reread v13b

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B. Note here how the prayer is answered. Jesus says “and I will do it” –

1. Jesus is the one who answers our prayers; he does what we are asking for!

2. Seems so simple, clear and we say of course. But I believe that in most of

our minds and practice we

a) See our prayers as a means of God seasoning our efforts with his

blessing as we go about what we are doing rather than expecting Jesus

to do a miracle here.

b) Like our prayers result in God pouring out of a saltshaker of blessing

upon what we do.

• The final part of this verse speaks about

IV. The motive in our prayers

A. Read v13c

B. It is when the motives of our prayers are that God would be glorified that we

see this promise go into operation.

1. Remember what James 4:2-3 says

2. Two reasons we are not experiencing the presence and power of God in

our lives are because we are not asking God for things and secondly we are

asking for things for our own benefit rather than God’s glory

C. Finally, in this part of the verse we get some insight into how God is glorified.

1. Many people think God is glorified by us doing things excellently. We

should give our best of what we do out of our worship of God

2. But what brings God glory is when Jesus does something for and through

us rather than what we do for God!

3. Note how 13b and c flow together.

V. Conclusion

A. So when you put your prayer life up against this passage how does it look?

1. Are you praying for what Jesus would want or what you would want?

2. Are you looking for Jesus to actually intervene in your life and do

something or are you just hoping he will add his blessing to what you are

doing?

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3. Finally, are you asking God to do these things so he would be glorified or

so your life would be more comfortable and happy?

B. I would ask you in closing to consider something you have been praying about

for a while that is just seems God is not answering it.

1. Consider what Jesus would pray about this situation in light of his

character, his purposes, his work, his word, his will and his glory.

2. Start praying about it in that way and expect Jesus to show up and do

things that only he can do.