A Biblical Guide to Prayer - Part 5
Questions about Prayer – Part 2
· What does it mean to “Pray in His name”?
IN the gospel of John there are two passages where Jesus instructs us to pray in His name.
John 14:13, 14 And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
John 16:23-27 And in that day you will ask Me no question. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in My name. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full. These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will speak no more to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.
First, let me state what praying “in His name” does NOT mean. Jesus is not giving us a blank check with His signature that is drawn on the bank account of heaven waiting for us to fill it in with anything we desire. He is not advocating some “name-it and claim-it” theology as some would want you to think. Though there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12) praying by continually using “In the name of Jesus” after every request does not make our prayers any more powerful, nor effective.
In addition to that, Jesus is also not teaching us here to end every prayer with the phrase “In His name” or “In the name of Jesus I pray.” Using the phrase “In Jesus’ name” at the end of our prayers in not some incantation that causes God to hear, nor is it the postage due which sends it quickly to the throne of heaven.
So just what does it mean to “Pray in His name?” I believe that it is to be understood in two ways. First, it is through Jesus that we have access to the Father. Only through Jesus (being in Christ and covered by His blood) can we approach the very throne of God. So to “pray in His name” is to pray in Jesus. If we are in Christ then we are praying in His name.
Secondly, to pray “in His name” is similar to “calling on the name of the Lord” and when we do this we are calling on all who He is and praying in conformity to all who He is. Thus, when we “pray in His name” we are praying in accordance with who He is and what He desires. As we continue to seek Him, grow in our walk with Him, and delight in Him more and more He places His desires in our heart making them ours (Psalm 37:4). As this happens we find ourselves praying in accordance with His will – according to His name.
The Scriptures give us clear indications of what His will is (for instance 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:18) that is why it is best to pray the Scriptures for then we are praying in His will. However, we don’t always know what His will is for a particular situation. Though we might want a particular thing or result in a situation this may not be what God wants; it may not be what is best for us (see Rom 12:2). Jesus, in His human flesh – did not want to undergo the crucifixion – but He willingly surrender to the Father’s will (Luke 22:42). So, though we may ask God for a specific request, it should be asked in submission to His will, thus we should always follow Jesus’ example and close our request with “not my will but Thine be done.” God knows what is best neither you nor I do. I don’t know about you but I don’t want my will to be done, I want His, for that is what is good, acceptable, and perfect.
· What does it mean to “Pray in the Spirit”?
Again, let me first state what it is not. To “pray in the Spirit” does not mean that we are to go into some kind of out-of-mind/out-of-body, euphoric trance and utter words that we cannot explain. The Bible does not teach that people have different private prayer languages or tongues. We see no examples of it in any of the prayers in the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 14 the Apostle Paul does talk about praying in tongues but this is in regards to the assembly/gathering of the church congregation. And he makes two very clear conclusions on the issue, 1. Don’t speak in tongues if there is no one to interpret and, 2. Speak in a language that all may understand so that all may be edified and instructed. Paul stresses the importance of worshipping God with the spirit and the mind. People can act spiritual by performing strange acts but still be void of truth in their minds and hearts – this is not biblical worship, it is adulterated emotionalism that deceives the weak and immature.
To “pray in the Spirit” is very similar to “praying in His name.” We must realize that God is not a God of confusion or disorder and that He would not give us different methods of formulas for prayer as some believe and teach. The phrase “in the Spirit” is used several times in the Epistles.
Romans 8:9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
Ephesians 2:22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
Philippians 3:3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,
Colossians 1:8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
1 Timothy 3:16 And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, Beheld by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
1 Peter 4:6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit;
Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
One of the Holy Spirit’s primary functions other than the work of regeneration in us is to glorify Christ (Jn. 16:14). One of the ways that He does this is by revealing the mind of Christ to us (1 Cor. 2:12, 13) in doing so we come to understand the will of God. As we understand the will of God and walk in His will we are walking in the Spirit – we are thus glorifying Christ.
To “pray in the Spirit” is in contrast to praying in the flesh or according to the flesh. Thus to “pray in the Spirit” is to be in submission to God, His will, His purposes and to pray accordingly. When we do not know how to pray we are told that the Spirit prays for us (Rom. 8:26, 27). This is not with some unintelligle verbal babble but with groanings too deep for words. When the Spirit prays for us He does so according to the will of God (v27) for He is only going to do that which pleases and glorifies God. So to, if we are to pray “in the Spirit” we are to pray according to the will of God.
By God's Grace ~ Through God's Word ~ For God's Glory!
Chuck Long
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