Volume 48   Number 8                                                         August 2006

When you look up the original word for prayer, the meaning is literally, “to wish.” When the Father above commands His children to pray, He seeks to know our wishes, or desires. If our desires are in accordance to His Will, we have the promise that they will be granted. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” (I John 5:14).

“The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.” (Proverbs 10:24).

What do you wish for? “The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.” (Proverbs 11:23). Your objects of desire are a true indicator of where your heart is. True disciples continue in truth, and their desires revolve around the purifying hope of eternal life with Christ. The wishes of a genuine disciple of Christ are determined by His Second Coming, not by the deceitful lusts of the old man which are constantly being whetted by Madison Avenue sales techniques. “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalms 37:4).

A question is asked from time to time concerning the way our prayers are worded. Is it necessary to use the phrase, “in the Name of Jesus”, or something similar, at the end of a prayer? To answer this question we must first take note that the phrase “in the name of Jesus” is a Bible term used 6 times in the book of Acts. The phrase “in the name of the Lord” is used 44 times in the Bible, with most of the 15 references in the New Testament referring directly to Jesus Christ. The phrase deals with the things that pertain to Jesus and His character, as well as the authority inherent in His Name. Your own name is the same: It has a reputation, and bears authority regarding your own things which is why you sign your own name on important documents. Your signature, or name, means you approve and agree to whatever is written. By the same token, the name of Jesus is the authority for everything that is pleasing to God. But if any word or deed is not done in the name of Jesus, it will not be approved of by the Lord. “And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” (Colossians 3:17).

When we consider all that is said on the role of Jesus in mediating between God and Man for our salvation, it is only right that all who hear us pray understand that the only reason the Father hears us is because of the great work His Son did and continues to do for us. We read in Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing “he ever liveth to make intercession for them ...”. Another important passage is John 16:23, 24: “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” This passage says a lot. Jesus was always pointing to His Father, and the Father always pointed to Him. When we use the term “in the Name of Jesus”, or something similar, we are conveying a key element in prayer without which none of our other words really have any validity. The timing is interesting here, indicating a definite change in our praying after Jesus finished His work of redemption. This goes along with other areas of our spiritual life, including baptism which changes from “John’s Baptism” to “Baptism in the Name of Christ” after Pentecost. Later in I Corinthians, Paul would speak of how careful he was so that no one would say that Paul baptized in his own name – Christ is not divided and whatever we do should be done in His Name.

Going back to Colossians 3:17, “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.” This could almost be considered a direct command to always use the wording in prayer, but even if it is not exactly an imperative to say ‘in Jesus Name’, the use of the phrase is certainly in harmony with this verse. Take this verse along with what Jesus said in John 5:22, 23: “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which hath sent him.” It is the good pleasure of God that we honor Him by honoring His Son – it is the most amazing plan ever made that God would work out our salvation through His Son! This is truly an awesome and powerful thought for the human mind!

We can’t see the Father, Son, or the Spirit in our spiritual worship (John 4:24), but they are all involved in our prayers. May we all appreciate the privilege of prayer, as well as the Person in Whose Name we pray: Without Jesus, our prayers would never be heard!