Gleans from Monday Bible Study with Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
DLBC Old Ketu, Lagos HQ
25th June 2018
STUDY 55 – THE FATHER’S ANSWER TO PRAYER IN THE SON’S NAME
John 16:23-33; Matthew 7:7-11; Mark 10:35-39; Luke 8:23-24
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Be of good cheer!
Jesus as the Son of the Father is our Saviour, Redeemer and the One that reveals Heaven and the heart of the Father unto us; and when the Son speaks, the Father listens and when we pray in the Name of Jesus, the Father answers. At this time, the disciples were receiving great revelations that would be of tremendous and great benefits to them and to the whole Church after the departure of the Master. He was preparing them for the extended period of His physical absence from the earth, showing them that things would be as good, even much better than when He had been with them in the physical. “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you” (John 16:23). They would have to ask the Father in His Name, unlike when they asked Him directly, but that this change would be better, greater, wider, richer, fuller and deeper – a new approach. They would not go directly to the Father without Christ or go to Christ directly without the Father. The new approach was to go to the Father through Christ; they must not slide back to the old way. In the past they asked Him or the Father directly, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:7-11). In Mark 10:35-39 James and John made direct request of him and in Luke 8:23-24 when a storm arose, they cried out to Him directly and He stilled the storm. He told them that direct asking was now nullified and after His departure, anything they asked must be to the Father in His Name and the Father would give them. He said it was expedient that He went away as they would have wider level of answers to prayers. How was that? They would ask – (1) as Sons in the Family having been born again and He is their Father; (2) as Kingdom citizens having repented and been translated into the Kingdom of His dear Son with all provisions now their right; (3) as Ministers of God for whatever they needed in ministry; (4) as Helpers, in the work of soul-winning; and (5) Apostles, promoted from disciples, to preach, heal the sick and do great and mighty work in the Kingdom.
At that day, when they would not see Him in the physical, alone but filled with the Holy Ghost, they would ask the Father in His Name (not in the name of any Church founder, angel or personality) and He would give them. He repeated it to them. (John 16:23-24,26,27). The Heavenly Father loves you as well, and whatever you ask in the name of Jesus, He will give it to you and your joy will be full.
3 points:
POINT 1: OUR CONFIDENCE WHILE PRAYING IN HIS NAME
John 16:23-27; 14:12-14; 15:7,16; Mark 16:17-18,20; Luke 10:17-20; John 14:26; Acts 3:6-9,16; 16:16-18; Philippians 2:5-11; Ephesians 3:20,21
The confidence, trust and assurance we have that when we pray to the Father in Jesus’ Name, He will answer. You are the one that can put a limit or restriction on your prayer. There is no limitation in the mind of God, His promises and in the provision of Calvary, “WHATSOEVER ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you” (John 16:23). Whatsoever you ask the Father in the Name of Jesus, He will give it to you. So you can begin to plan what you are going to ask the Father, and that prayer you pray to the Father in the Name of Jesus will be answered. “At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: FOR THE FATHER HIMSELF LOVETH YOU because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” (26-27) The Father Himself loves you: think and meditate on this. You love Christ and this gives you assurance that the Father loves you, and He will answer your prayers.
Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall be do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:11-12). The works of Christ you will do, so if you have not started, you will start today to do greater exploits for Christ. “And WHATSOEVER ye shall ask IN MY NAME, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ASK ANY THING in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14). Do not go about as an orphan; there is no famine or scarcity in Heaven and the Father wants to answer your prayers. Pray with confidence, joy, expectation and assurance and whatsoever you ask in His Name, the Father will do it. There are conditions for answered prayers – you must abide in Him and His Words in you, and go and bring forth fruit and your fruit should remain (John 15:7,16). (Mark 16:17-20) Signs shall follow them that believe in His name for they will cast out devils, raise dead and heal the sick. The confidence and trust we have is that when we ask in His name God will answer. (Luke 10:17-20)
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). Salvation, sanctification, Holy Ghost baptism, healing, deliverance and answers to prayers are all in His Name. How did the Apostles apply this? “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). There is power and authority in that name, and miracles are wrought, yokes broken through that name. It is the Name that gives us the answer, not our stature, nor position. “And his name, through faith in his name, hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.) (Acts 3:16) Here is the reason why that Name is mighty and God always answers prayers prayed in that Name. Jesus sacrificed and gave himself for the salvation of sinners. God therefore gave him a name above all names, be it demon, cancer, disease, sickness and any mountain. (Philippians 2:5-9). “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). Your Red Sea will part, mountains will move, your sorrows will be taken away and those tears will be dried in Jesus Name.
What do we ask as Disciples, Christians, Witnesses, Servants of the Lord, Workers in the Vineyard of God, Christian Leaders, Pastors, Apostles? The list is endless but include the following; (1) Righteousness; (2) Grace; (3) Understanding; (4) Victory over temptations; (5) Courage to confess Christ and not to deny Him; (6) Fruitfulness; (7) Power; (8) Guidance; (9) Opportunities; (10) Wisdom; (11) Christian Experiences of Salvation, Sanctification and Holy Ghost; and (12) Help in Crises
“And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME, HE WILL GIVE IT YOU” (John 16:23). Here is like a man that goes into a bank with a cheque signed by an individual that has an account in that bank, the cheque will be honoured on the basis of his name. So likewise when we pray in the Name of Jesus, it implies: (1) By His Authority; (2) On His Account; (3) On His Reputation; (4) On the basis of His Status and Standing in Heaven; (5) On the basis of His Titles – Shepherd, Saviour, Final Sacrifice, Emmanuel; (6) On His behalf; and (7) For His Name Sake, for His glory.
POINT 2: THE CHARACTER OF PETITIONERS THROUGH HIS NAME
John 16:23-24,26-27; Leviticus 20:3,7; Deuteronomy 5:11; Psalms 74:18; Isaiah 52:5,11; Romans 2:24; 2 Timothy 2:19; Colossians 3:17; Acts 19:13-17; Psalms 50:16-22; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Peter 4:14-19
John 16:23,24,26 – The ‘ye’ He was referring to here are His disciples. Judas Iscariot was not here at this time nor the Pharisees and all the religious leaders. Those who profane the name of the Lord cannot pray in that Name of Jesus. We must honour, reverence, respect and be obedient to that Name if we want to receive answers to prayers prayed in that name of Jesus. (Deuteronomy 5:11; Psalms 74:18; Isaiah 52:5). Those who blaspheme the Name of the Lord are foolish people, and cannot pray in that Name to receive answers to their prayers. If your life is so dirty that you bring reproach to the Lord, and make people to blasphemy the Name of the Lord, you cannot pray in that Name. Our lives, and tongues must be cleansed and crucified so that when we mention the Name of Jesus, God will give attention to our prayers. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). Anything you are going to do, touch or talk, in your lifestyle and character, you make sure that it is glorifying unto the Lord, and whatsoever you ask the Father in that Name, God will do it.
Satan and evil spirits know those who are not really saved (Acts 19:13-17). And you cannot pray in that Name if you are a hypocrite, but if you are really saved, then you can pray in that Name and God will answer, the evil spirits will be cast out through you in the Name of Jesus. If you are living in sin, evil and not repented, if you say that you are using the Name of Jesus, it is a waste of time, because Heaven does not recognise those who are hypocrites, heart-hardened sinners, backsliders, online fraudsters, false representatives of Christ, adulterers, thieves, swindlers, fornicators, or cheats, God does not authorise them neither will He recognise them when they use that Name of Jesus. “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). When that has happened and then we are true disciples of Christ, true servants of the Master, servants in the harvest field, true labourers in His vineyards, stewards in His household, sons in the family of God, followers of the Master, and true warriors on the battle field for the Lord, then the Name of Jesus will be mighty and powerful in our mouths. “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.) (1 Peter 4:14-19). The Spirit of glory and power upon you.
POINT 3: THE COURAGE OF PERCEPTION THROUGH HIS NAME
John 16:28-33; 14:13-14
When you have proper perception of the Word of God and what He says He would do, that will give you courage and boldness to pray to the Father in His Name. He knows all things about you, and He will solve all the problems of your life in Jesus Name (John 16:30). Because of His Name, power and authority, mountains will move, but you must have the assurance that these disciples had, “Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God” “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:30,33).
They had perception, understanding and insights into the revelations that Jesus gave them.
There are four things here; (1) Their Perception – they knew that Jesus came from Heaven, and He was going back to Heaven – John 17:11,13; 16:25; 6:69. When you are sure of the promises of God and what Christ has provided, whatever the persecution, you are going to overcome; (2) Their Persecutions – the Lord was clear to them about these. Be of good cheer, don’t cry for the devil or sinners, you are greater and higher than them, so whatever they are doing, it will stop when you pray in the Name of Jesus. The Early Church despite their persecutions went everywhere preaching the word; (John 16:31-33; 15:19-21; Acts 8:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:12-14); (3) Their Peace – John 16:33; 14:27; Isaiah 26:3; 48:18; Philippians 4:7. Nothing will disturb your peace, the world and her problems will not disturb your peace. Peace in your heart, home and place of work; and (4) Their Prevailing – John 16:33; 1 John 4:4; 2:14; 5:4,18; Romans 8:37. You will prevail. You will overcome the world because He lives in you. All these sicknesses and things that frighten you before, every disease, demon, mountain, challenge, difficult and problem in your way, you have overcome. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37). Personalize it. Victory has come! It will happen tonight. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14). Make the prayer broad, ask for everything spiritual, physical, financial, ask in His Name, and that He will do in your life, family, local churches and Church at large.
Ponder on this! If you are living in sin and unrepentant, if you use the Name of Jesus, it is a waste of time, because Heaven does not recognise those who are hypocrites, hard-hearted sinners, backsliders, online fraudsters, false representatives of Christ, adulterers, thieves, swindlers, fornicators, or cheats. God does not authorise them neither will He recognise them when they use that Name of Jesus. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Reflection – Our lives and tongues must be cleansed and crucified so that when we mention the Name of Jesus in our prayers, Heaven will give attention. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Words on the Marble – Satan and evil spirits know those who are not really saved. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
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