In Jesus' Name?

If you have been around church circles for any time at all you’ve heard at least someone, if not everyone, end a prayer with some variation of “in Jesus name.” For many of us the phrase has essentially become part of the word Amen; InJesusNameAmen. Many Christians wouldn’t dream of ever closing a prayer without the “required” prayer ending. Many use the phrase and have no idea why. Some people believe that if you leave Jesus name off that God can’t even hear your prayers.

So many Christians ignorantly use this phrase that I’d like to look at John 14 today and clarify what “in Jesus name” means when it’s used in Scripture.

“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” - John 14:13-14 (ESV)

The first point I want to make is that to pray in Jesus name, we need to pray according to Christ’s will, Christ’s purposes, and for the furtherance of Christ’s kingdom. Prayer was never designed to be used for our own selfish and shallow reasons. Jesus was NOT giving the Disciples, or us, a “name it and claim it” secret formula. To pray in Jesus’ name may be better described as, praying consistent with totality of Jesus Christ.

Let me clarify, have you ever heard the expression, “Stop in the Name of the Law?” It was often used in the old western movies. Thieves and crooks were supposed to stop when the sheriff yelled “Stop in-the-name-of-the-law.” Were the bad guys supposed to stop because of the magic words at the end of the Sheriff’s command? No. The expression was meant to demand compliance because of all the word “Law” is, all that it means, and all that it stands for. Similarly Jesus was telling His disciples (the men who knew His character better than anyone else) that God’s hand will move when they pray for things consistent with the totality of all that Jesus is, all that Jesus means, and all that Jesus stands for.

Secondly, we need to pray in humility.  Scripture says whatever we “ask” in Jesus’ name. Not demand, command, or even expect, but ask.  We want the results of our prayers to be based on Christ’s merit and righteousness, which is why we are to ask in Jesus' name and not our own. If the results of our prayers were dependent on anything we have done, anything we deserve, or any of our personal worthiness, we would be in serious trouble. God is not bound to action because we are skilled enough to follow some formula correctly (neither is Satan for that matter).

Finally, our prayers need to glorify Christ. This verse tells us that God will act on prayers so “that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” The things we typically pray for: health, safety, and security, are noticeably absent when prayer is modeled for us in Scripture. In fact in Matthew 6 we are actually commanded not to worry about these type things but to “seek first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness.” The prayers we find in scripture always down play self, and center on furthering Christ’s purposes and kingdom. If your prayers are more focused on yourself and the things that surround you rather than things that will bring glory to Jesus, you need to reevaluate your prayer life.

Even today a “name” is a precious thing. People will go to great lengths to keep theirs from being slandered or misrepresented. When a loved one dies we do things like make donations and start charities in their name. When we love someone we want to see their name and reputation honored and respected. Likewise our prayers need to honor glorify who Jesus is (His name), and not misrepresent His character or His will.

Do we have to use one of the Jesus-name variations at the end of our prayers? No, not specifically. As Christians, God will still hear our prayers if we leave the expression off, but we need to make sure we are seeking to honor Jesus’ name and glorify him with the content of our humble prayers. We need to make sure that first and foremost we are praying for God’s will to be done. Next, we need to study our Bible. The more we learn and know about Jesus, the better we’ll be able to truly pray consistent with totality of Jesus Christ - in His name.

You Are Not Jesus

Harvey Turner nailed this article. The church's current philosophy on friendship/service evangelism is an utterly powerless and a ineffective undermining of the Gospel. Tragically the church and "Love Chico" tend to "serve" up nothing more than empty self-deception.

Two Types of Friends

By Tim Connaughton

There are two types of close friends.  There is the one type of close friend that accepts you just as you are, and understands you, and readily comes to your defense every time.  And there is another type of close friend who offends you - the type of close friend who tells you that you are wrong, who doesn’t shrink back from holding you to a standard - whether or not you appreciate it in the moment!  

I am sure that we have all had these two types of friends in our lives at some point or another, but it highlights a far more serious matter in our relationship with Jesus.  We have to be very careful of reducing Jesus down to being just “our best friend,” or the one who “has our back.”  Why is this dangerous?  Don’t we want to consider Jesus to be closer than any other person in our life?  Yes, we absolutely want Him to be closer than any other relationship in our life - so long as we don’t make the same error that the folks in Mark chapter 6 (v. 3) made:

            "'Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?'

And they took offense at him."

It is hard to believe that there is anything that can stand in the Lord’s way. In this section of scripture He had just come from healing, calling disciples, teaching multitudes, commanding the wind and waves, setting the demon possessed free, and even restoring a girl to life. (Mark ch. 1-5) But here, in this setting, in His hometown, where He was so well known, this is the tragic verdict: 

"And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.

And he went about among the villages teaching."   V. 5-6a

We must be careful about our willingness to only have Jesus around as long as He doesn't point out the lame and diseased parts of our life. Here we are warned so clearly concerning our tendency to embrace the Lord when He’s familiar and even does something for us (they remembered Him as their carpenter) - but then to reject Him when He begins to illuminate the spiritual problems in our life. It is good to have Jesus near, but only if He is allowed to be Lord.

Understanding Communion - Part 9

The Lord's Supper - The Proclamation

We tend flippantly use words like "celebrate" to describe our practice of Communion, but the reality is that Communion in most churches is a somber, repentant, time of self-evaluation and mournful remembrance.  That can hardly be described as a celebration in my book.  That limited approach does a disservice to Christ, the church and unbelieving observers.  Don't get me wrong, we do need to come to Communion with reverence and humility, but I think we need to remember the breadth of who Jesus is, what He accomplished and what we're worshiping him for.  We need to deal with our sin, yes, but we also need to joyously celebrate and proclaim the mighty deeds of our Lord before the church and the unbelieving world.             

I want to go back to 1 Corinthians 11:26 to conclude this series.  "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."  I want to make sure we don't miss the gravity of this verse.  So far we've focused on the meaning, the purpose and some of the how-to's of Communion, but there's still a big "what" we need to understand.  This verse clearly states we're to "proclaim" the Lord's death when we celebrate Communion.  Please don't miss this.  When we participate in Communion, Jesus' death (and by implication His life) is "proclaimed."  The gospel is at the very core of our celebration of Communion!  When we share in the worship of Communion with other believers, we're communing together in the gospel.  Similarly to when we were baptized, we're proclaiming our salvation for all to see, but it doesn't stop there.  We're also the proclaiming the totality of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Understanding Communion - Part 8

The Lord's Supper - Worthy or Judged?

Who is Jesus body for?  Christians.  Who did he shed his blood for?  For Christians.  His life and death were for us.  Who then, is even capable of understanding Communion?  Only Christians.  The Lord's Supper is such a high calling and we can learn from the Corinthian’s and make sure we're doing it correctly so that we don't find ourselves in need of the same correction as they were. 

1 Corinthians 11:27-34

                "[27] Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. [28] Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. [29] For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. [30] That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. [31] But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. [32] But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

                [33] So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—[34] if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come."

I want to point out that this passage is addressed to the church.  Paul is writing to Christians so it should really get our attention when he starts using words like: unworthy, guilty,  and judgment.  

This passage is often used by pastors to caution unbelievers from taking  Communion, but I just don't think the text supports that meaning.  If someone isn't a believer they're already under judgment and subject to God's wrath.  This passage is a warning to believers to get Communion right.  The key is in verse 32," When we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world."  Notice the result of judgment here is actually discipline.  It's discipline through instruction, training, and correction and yes, potentially even sickness or death. 

According to Hebrews 12:6, "The Lord disciplines the one he loves."  Romans 12:1 and Acts 17:13 teach us that there is an "acceptable" way to worship.  We're to worship not out of ignorance, but understanding.  Galatians 6:7 shows us that God will not be mocked.  All these truths seem to be touched on in 1 Corinthians 11.  There is a right and acceptable way to celebrate Communion and if God's people fail to discern correctly the Lord will discipline us. 

We often show ourselves unworthy by treating Communion ritualistically, indifferently, believing it saves us, or participating with a spirit of hatred or division... The list goes on and on.  We're not to come to Communion with anything other than a proper attitude of worship and brotherly love.  We must continually examine ourselves (not just prior to Communion), our hearts and our motives before the Lord (1 John 1:8-9).  Only then when we come to the Lord's Table will we be taking Communion in a worthy manner.