Using My Name

Scripture: John 16:23-27 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. 25 “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. 26 Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. (John 16:23-27 NLT)

Jesus had called these guys to follow him. He had modeled for them his relationship with the Father. He had told them and reminded them, again and again, that he was in continual contact with his Father through prayer, through listening, and through remaining submitted to his Father’s will, and staying sensitive to the leadings, guidings, and promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Now he is telling them something that they can’t fully grasp, but that they can believe and trust. He’s telling them that after his death and resurrection (Big hurdle number one! They’ll have to go through that first!), the same relationship he has with the Father will be opened to them. And he’s telling them (and we’ve been getting glimpses of this for a couple of chapters already) that the same Holy Spirit that descended on him at his baptism and never left him will descend on them at an unspecified time after his ascension to heaven (there’s another hurdle! How can they even imagine what he means by that?!). And he’s telling them that the Holy Spirit within and upon them will give them access to the same communication with the Father and the same leadings, guidings, promptings, and empowerment that made his ministry possible.

And they will speak directly to the Father (My Father, Your Father, Our Father), just as he did. Continual communication. Using the same channel Jesus used. Their spirits would become communication senders and receivers tuned to the same channel Jesus communicated with the Father on! Seriously! And the same leadings, guidings, promptings, and empowerment that Jesus received through his spirit from the Holy Spirit would be accessible to them. Username: JESUS.  Password: I love you Jesus and I believe you came from God. Do you wish to Login?

Prayer:

Father, Please teach us how to ask, using Jesus’ name. That our joy may be full!