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GOOD NEWS Letters & SERIES Teachings>
1S-P3-"PRAY TO THE FATHER"
March 1, 2010
1S-P3-"PRAY TO THE FATHER"
MARCH 1, 2010
By: Pastor Abraham Bascon
SERIES: ASK-3 of 6
ASK-3 – JOHN 16:23 – What proof does the Bible give us that we are to pray to the Father and NOT to Jesus?
Jesus Himself is speaking in JOHN 16:23, He literally says: “IN THAT DAY (the day of your Salvation, the day that you become born-again.), Ye shall ASK me (Jesus) NOTHING. Verily, verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ASK THE FATHER in my name, HE (the Father) will give it you.” Very clearly spoken.
LUKE 11:2- Jesus is asked by his disciples to teach them to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And Jesus responds:
“When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven….”
MATTHEW 6:6 – “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
6:8-9 – “Be not ye therefore like unto them (the heathen v.7): for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ASK him.” (Our Heavenly Father already know what things we are in need of, before we even ASK Him!) Although the Father knows, He doesn’t just give us what we need. Why not, you ask Answer: Because, Jesus’ instructions to us were to pray to the Father or [ask the Father], in the Name of Jesus! When we do this, the Father is glorified! Why??? You ask again….
Because, in JOHN 14:13, Jesus, Himself says: “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do that the Father may be glorified! If ye shall ASK any thing in my name, I (Jesus) will do it!”
---NOW----THINK ABOUT IT----
Our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we even ask Him. He could just give it to you without you asking, but He doesn’t! Well, that tells us, that He wants us to ASK for our needs! And Jesus tells us: ASK the Father, and ASK in the name of Jesus! Because, when we ASK the Father in the name of Jesus, we are asking in faith! We are literally making a statement of faith. The Father is glorified when we do it, and because of our making this statement of faith, we are also pleasing God! [Without faith, it is impossible to please God!Heb.11:6] HEBREWS 11:6 – When we as in faith, we are pleasing God. We are making a statement of faith that says: When we come to pray to God, we are saying, “We believe that he is, [he exists] and that we believe [faith] God is a rewarder of those that diligently [to search out, to investigate, to crave and to seek after] seek him. Praise God for “THAT DAY” [the day of our Salvation, when we received the Holy Spirit and became Believers!]
When we ask in faith, in the Name of Jesus, we are saying: “I believe and understand what happens when I pray in the name of Jesus!” We MUST: 1. Be born-again; 2. We have to have faith in Jesus’ Name. Faith that Jesus has the authority for us to be able to have our spiritual transactions or requests met!
Praying “in the name of Jesus” is like a ‘spiritual’ credit card that has been issued to every believer. Just as a bank stands behind the credit cards that they issue; so, Jesus stand behind our requests! He says: HE will do it!
What POWER! When you use “the name of Jesus”, you have to understand its meaning and purpose, and what it means to use His Name! Why do you pray in the name of Jesus? Because you were taught that way? No! You pray in His name …Because:
1. As children of God, this is one of the daily benefits God loads us up with!
2. This is a directive of Jesus Christ Himself!
If we apply this in prayer, God says: We will have whatsoever we ASK! (Of course, our requests must NOT contradict the Word of God!)
ACTS 3:3-16 – Lame man asked for alms…. Peter fastened his eyes upon the man and said: “Look on us!” And, the man gave heed unto them, EXPECTING to receive something of them! [By looking at a person, you can almost tell if they have faith or doubt!] verse 6 – Peter’s statement of faith: “Silver and gold ….In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Immediately… the man began leaping, walking and praising God! How did this healing come about??? Because….. Apostle Peter used his “heavenly credit card” and made a “statement of faith” in v.6 “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!”
In Verse 16 – Peter confirms that through faithin His (Jesus’) Name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Faith “in the name of Jesus = Heavenly POWER here on earth, available to EVERY believer! LUKE 10:1 – The POWER to cast out demons and heal disease was not only appointed to the apostles; but, also to 70 disciples. They went and did what Jesus said to do! Verse 17 – they returned rejoicing over the POWER of Jesus’ name!
MARK 16:15 –Jesus gave this SAME POWER to US IN THE 21st Century! We, the Believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, have the “POWER OF ATTORNEY” to use the Name of Jesus! It is “WONDER-WORKING POWER!!”
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