By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
FRIDAY – February 28, 2025
THEME: JESUS: THE KEY TO ANSWERED PRAYER
SCRIPTURE: John 14:13-14
“[13]And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14]If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
REFLECTIONS:
Pray in the name of Jesus. Place your request before the Lord Jesus for relief, deliverance, and help. John 1:1,3-4 reveals who Jesus is: “[1]In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [3]All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. [4]In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Thus, Jesus Christ is the center of our lives – our existence and life are anchored in Him. Verse 12 explains, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” Jesus, our redeemer, gives us access to the Father.
The thirteenth promise in the 101 Promises series provides instruction and direction on prevailing and answered prayers. Jesus declared in John 14:13-14, “[13]And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14]If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” Pray, but if you pray for answers, it should be in the name of Jesus. This does not mean you should simply conclude your prayer with “in the name of Jesus”; it is more than that. It means you believe in Him, live for Him, and trust His will. He explicitly enjoins all believers to pray in His name because it is by His merits that we can approach the Father. Any petition presented in His name deserves an okay. Interestingly, when we ask in Jesus’ name, He will do it so His Father will be glorified. He desires to be our intermediary if He bore our sins and burdens. The power of prayer emanates from the Lord Jesus Christ, humanity’s redeemer.
We encounter the phrases “whatever you ask” and “if you ask anything,” which imply that any need could be presented before the Lord Jesus for His intervention. There is no limit to “whatever” or “anything,” which is encouraging and reassuring. Yet, both words have some limitations if they are attached to “in My name.” In His name, you will ask according to His divine will and in consonance with His character. Nothing frivolous merits asking in His name. To ask in His name implies asking according to His will. When this is fulfilled, we can rest assured that He will hear and help us. The power of prayer is in the name of Jesus. To have the Father consider your petition, Jesus must be your intercessor.
We are privileged to ask anything in His name and receive it. That is excellent news! However, “anything” or “whatever” should be placed in the context of what will glorify God and will give meaning to our lives. The condition, therefore, is: does anything we ask give glory to God? When we live to the glory of God and bear fruit to His name, we have answers to our prayers – yes, no, or deferred. In John 15:16, Jesus explains: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” Ask in His name, and the Father may give according to how helpful it will be for your salvation and fitness for heaven. This promise gives us hope to ask anything and wait patiently on God.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 466 – “Wonderful Peace”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for the privilege to ask anything in the name of Jesus; pray that your prayer requests reflect your relationship with Him;
– Pray for your loved ones, family, colleagues, Church members, and neighbors on anything, especially that they will have a personal relationship with Jesus through prayer;
– Pray for the sick, the challenged, elderly, young people seeking employment, starving children, etc.; pray for the soon coming of Jesus Christ.
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