John 14:12-17
Has Jesus given us authority to demand that He jump when we
ask something of Him? Is Jesus saying
not my will but yours in regards to our asking for stuff, healing, broken
relationships, and the list goes on? How
absurd, or is it? Many have built a
theology on John 14:13-14, “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.” Many who are taught in this manner begin to
ask for all kinds of things, some have called them the “Name it and Claim it”
group, but before you or I who have looked a little deeper into God’s handbook
on life get too pious; a question should come into our mind, what are we
asking? And is our asking by faith in
His promises, or are we what Jesus refers often to as double-minded
person. And when we ask are we asking in
faith and do we believe the words Jesus has spoken in verse 12, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also
do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am
going to the Father.” (John
14:12 ESV)
I’ve come to this understanding that Jesus finds fault with
both the “Name it and Claim it” group, but He also has very harsh words for the
double-minded, and those who do not believe God will answer their prayers,
because they are not sure of His will.
It’s clear that Jesus has gone to the Father, and He is now seated at
the right hand of the Father, as our High Priest. Hebrews 4:15-16 should encourage all who made
intercession before the throne; “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted
as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne
of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
What should we consider before we pray? We should be seeking God’s will and nothing
less or more; Jesus looking to a cruel death on the cross prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I
drink it, your will be done." (Matthew 26:42b) God will not listen to the prayers of an
adulterous people, and the adultery being referred to, friendship with the
world, which is enmity with God. James
4:4-5 is very clear that when God sees us in that light, our prayers will not
be heard. Look at James 4:3, “You ask and do not
receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” As stated above we must believe
what Jesus has said, not what we feel, not based on our performance, but on the
authority of His written word, and James makes this very clear in these verses;
“But let him ask
in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea
that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he
will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all
his ways.”
(James 1:6-8 ESV) A side note to husbands, the apostle Peter gave
this wise word to us in 1Peter 3:7, that our prayers are hindered if we do not
honor our wives and live with them in an understanding way.
Can I be sure of the will of
God? Ask the Helper, is that not why
Jesus left Him to pray and has Jesus not told us that the Holy Spirit will not
speak of Himself but the very words and thoughts of Jesus. Listen to these words of Jesus: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will
ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither
sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in
you.” (John 14:15-17 ESV)
For you and I to do greater things
than Jesus we must first humble ourselves and do as Jesus did, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your
will be done."
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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