“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” (John 15:16 NLT)
Before we study today’s verse, let’s take a look at a promise Jesus made in John 14:14. “Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (NLT)
Too often people take the verse to suggest, "If you ask anything, I will do it." We tend to overlook the most important part of this verse: "in My name."
Asking in Christ's name has two meanings.
First, believers are welcome to make requests that line up with God's purpose and plan. To do that, we need to ask Him if our prayers match what He already has planned for us. God has several ways of assuring followers that they are on the correct path. For instance, He may increase right desires or decrease wrong ones. Another possibility is that He will use His Word to redirect a Christian's steps or confirm that he is going the right way. God always makes His will plain to the man or woman who seeks to know it. And we know from Matthew’s Gospel that Jesus said if we were to seek first HIS Kingdom and HIS righteousness, all “these” things will be added.
Second, invoking Christ's name means that we desire to glorify Him instead of ourselves. James gives this warning: "And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure." (James 4:3 NLT) To understand that, let's consider those who are trying to pray their way out of a financial hole. The question is really whether a person wants to get out of debt so that he has more for himself or so that he can use the excess in God-honoring ways? Motives are apparent to God. He will not offer help until our heart is right.
But at the same time when there is glory in that which God will use us to work out His plan for another person, and we are willing, then all we do is not for ourselves, but focuses the attention on God. We cannot heal people. God heals people and He will use HIS people to show HIS Healing power. God will use HIS people to bring others to salvation. But it is only the risen Savior Jesus Christ who has defeated sin and death. God will use HIS creation to display HIS work.
In the name Jesus Christ, there is abundant power. However, calling upon Him in prayer is not a magic charm to get what we want. Rather, it is a signal that we are laying down our personal desires and our own way of getting things done. In so doing, we commit to follow God and bring honor to Him.
Obey God’s call and leading. Step in faith to see what God has planned. Trust God to work in the background to work out all the details. He already knows! Whatever happens when it is done in the precious name of Jesus Christ, God is glorified and HIS NAME is magnified.
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