He had made them an elect people, that they might be the interpreters, custodians, and witnesses of His name. When they dishonored it in their own land and degraded it among the Gentiles, He redeemed and restored them for the sanctification of His name. (Google image,Man praying with Bible)
"I do not this for your sakes, but for Mine holy name's
sake which ye have profaned among the heathen,
whither ye went. And I will sanctify My great name."
Our Lord speaks in terms of Deity: To pray in Christ's name means something more than adding "for Christ's sake" to our petitions.
The name expresses personality, character, and essence. The person is in the name. Prayer in Christ's name is prayer according to the quality of His person, according to the character of His mind, and according to the purpose of His will.
To pray in the name of Christ is to pray as one who is at one with Christ, whose mind is the mind of Christ, whose desires are the desires of Christ, and whose purpose is one with that of Christ.
Such correspondence and identification with Christ secure the balance and interpretations of the promises given to prayer. The absolute and unconditional promises find their relativity and conditions in Him.
In the Old Testament prayer was conditioned upon urgency, intensity, and sincerity. God was found of men when they cried unto Him out of a great need; when they sought Him with all their heart, and when there was sincerity of purpose and motive.
Men found that God required truth in the innermost soul, and that they were not heard if they regarded iniquity in their hearts, or came to Him with insincere pretenses upon their lips.
Our Lord demanded importunity and forgiving spirit of all who prayed. In prayer in Christ's name all conditions are unified and simplified in Him. Sincerity is tested in the name. Motive is judged in the name.
Prayer is proved in the name. Prayer is sanctified in the name. Prayer is endorsed by the name, when it is in harmony with the character, mind, desire, and purpose of the name.
That is why in John 15:7 the words of Christ are interchangeable with His name.
"If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall
ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
It is something like the word of the Psalmist:
"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give
thee the desires of thine heart;"
Or that of John: "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not,
then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we
ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments,
and do those things that are pleasing in His sight"
(1 John 3:21- 22).
Prayers offered in the name of Christ are scrutinized and sanctified by His nature, His purpose, and His will. They are endorsed by Him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let's pray-
Father, help us understand that You reveal Yourself through Your name, and just what that means for us today.
We see that Your purpose for Your people, the Israelites, was for them to be interpreters, custodians, and witnesses of Your name wherever they were.
The name of Jesus expresses Your personality, character, and essence. Our prayers are also to come in His name, and according to the quality of His person, according to the character of His mind, and according to the purpose of His will to glorify You, Father.
No doubt, it is the same for us today! When we degrade it among our neighbors, family and at work, You're willing to restore us for the sanctification of Your name, if given opportunity to do so.
For us to pray in the name of Christ is to pray as one who is at one with Him, and whose mind is the mind of Christ, whose desires are the desires of Christ, and whose purpose is one with Him.
We find the Old Testament prayers were conditioned upon urgency, intensity and sincerity. You were pleased with those who cried unto You with all their hearts with sincerity of purpose and motive.
May we remember today that prayers offered in the name of Christ are still scrutinized and sanctified by His nature, His purpose and His will, before being endorsed by Him.
We see that Your purpose for Your people, the Israelites, was for them to be interpreters, custodians, and witnesses of Your name wherever they were.
The name of Jesus expresses Your personality, character, and essence. Our prayers are also to come in His name, and according to the quality of His person, according to the character of His mind, and according to the purpose of His will to glorify You, Father.
No doubt, it is the same for us today! When we degrade it among our neighbors, family and at work, You're willing to restore us for the sanctification of Your name, if given opportunity to do so.
For us to pray in the name of Christ is to pray as one who is at one with Him, and whose mind is the mind of Christ, whose desires are the desires of Christ, and whose purpose is one with Him.
We find the Old Testament prayers were conditioned upon urgency, intensity and sincerity. You were pleased with those who cried unto You with all their hearts with sincerity of purpose and motive.
May we remember today that prayers offered in the name of Christ are still scrutinized and sanctified by His nature, His purpose and His will, before being endorsed by Him.
We thank You for helping us understand better the importance of knowing what our purposes are, and for how our prayers are to be handled by Christ Jesus, Who sits on Your Throne in our place, interceding for us.
We pray in His name, Amen.
Today's next 5 posts of 100 things Our God Is . . .
Today's next 5 posts of 100 things Our God Is . . .
31. Jesus of Nazareth
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32. The Door of the Sheep
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33. The Way, Truth & Life
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34. The Prince of Peace
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35. The King of Kings & Lord of Lords
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In case you didn't check out Nancy Demary's link: Jesus Christ - A Wonderful Savior on the 14th, #20 Praying in the Name, above is her link again!
Today's quote-
~ John Blase- "We can get so wrapped up in our challenges and trying to figure them out for ourselves with our often-limited perspective that we miss the abiding presence of the risen Christ. From remote hillsides to grocery store aisles and everywhere else in between, He's Immanuel—God right there with us, an ever-present help in trouble."
Today's question-
What can you do if you find it hard to memorize Scripture?
One thing I've begun to do, is to pick one-sentence verses. I'm finding so much power in each of them, that I'm awestruck at how they are affecting my life and those I share them with!
Th following are the first 10 of what I've written down to go over and over, to let them feed my soul:
#1- Phil. 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."
#2- Prov. 16:23 "The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips."
#3- Prov. 19:20 "Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end."
#4- Prove. 4:13 "Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life."
#5- Matt. 5:48 "Be perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Spoken by Jesus)#6- Ps. 147:3 "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."
#7- Ps. 18:32 "It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect."
#8- 1 Tim. 6:6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain."
#9- Ps. 119:114 "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."
#10-Is. 35:5 "Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees."
Do you see what I mean? Each day a new verse spoke to me in a personal way. I'm working on #14 today, (see Prov. 18:10), so hope to add many more over time! Underlining special words in each verse helps too. I plan on getting a small notepad that will fit my purse to put them in, so I can utilize waiting times!
Won't you read some of mine, and then start picking your own choices of verses to work on? May you make an effort to hide God's Word in your heart and mind! The Spirit will help you recall them when needed. (I recalled one today after praying for someone!)
Today's sermon spotlight-
MARCH 3, 2019
The Power and Wisdom of God
Speaker: Jamie Sinclair
Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:18–1:31
Upcoming posts-
#22 For the Sake of the Name
21st- Thursday's post by Samuel ChadwickThe Choice
23rd- Saturday's post by Max Lucado
#23 Pray in the Spirit
26th- Tuesday's post by Samuel Chadwick
#24 The Fellowship of the Spirit in Prayer
28th- Thursday's post by Samuel Chadwick
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| Springtime baby fawn |
Helpful ways the Lord helped me in my marriage
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