from THE KNEELING CHRISTIAN

                        By "AN UNKNOWN CHRISTIAN"

“Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If
ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John xiv. 13, 14).

This was something quite new, for our Lord said so. “Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name,” but now, “ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” (John xvi. 24).

Five times over our Lord repeats this simple condition, “In my name” (John xiv. 13, 14; xv. 16; xvi. 23, 24, 26). Evidently something very important is here implied. It is more than a condition–it is also a
promise, an encouragement, for our Lord’s biddings are always His enablings. What, then, does it mean to ask in His name? We must know this at all costs, for it is the secret of all power in prayer…

(1) There is a sense in which some things are done only “for Christ’s sake”–because of His atoning death. Those who do not believe in the atoning death of Christ cannot pray “in His name.” They may use the words, but without effect. For we are “justified by His blood” (Rom. v. 9), and “we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Eph. i. 7; Col. i. 14)….

(2) The most familiar illustration of coming “in the name” of Christ is that of drawing money from a bank by means of a check. I can draw from my bank account only up to the amount of my deposit there. In my own name, I can go no farther. In the Bank of England I have no money whatsoever, and can therefore draw nothing therefrom. But suppose a very wealthy man who has a big account there gives me a blank check bearing his signature, and bids me fill it in to any amount I choose. He is my friend. What shall I do? Shall I just satisfy my present need, or shall I draw as much as I dare? I shall certainly do nothing to offend my friend, or to lower myself in his esteem. Well, we are told by some that heaven is our bank. God is the Great Banker, for “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
cometh down from the Father” (James i. 17)….

But He bids us to remember that we should ask only for those things that are according to His will–only for that which will bring glory to His name. John says, “If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us” (I John v. 14). So then our Friend gives us a blank check, and leaves us to fill in “anything”; but He knows that if we truly love Him we shall never put down–never ask for–things He is not willing to give us, because they would be harmful to us…

(3) But even now we have not exhausted the meaning of those words, “In my Name.” We all know what it is to ask for a thing “in the name” of another. But we are very careful not to allow anyone to use our name who is not to be trusted, or he might abuse our trust and discredit our name….The great Heavenly Banker will not cash checks for us if our motives are not right. Is not this why so many fail in prayer? Christ’s name is the revelation of His character.

To pray “in His name” is to pray in His character, as His representative sent by Him: it is to pray by His Spirit and according to His will; to have His approval in our asking, to seek what He seeks, to ask help to do what He Himself would wish to be done, and to desire to do it not for our own glorification, but for His glory alone. To pray “in His name” we must have identity of interests and purpose. Self and its aims and desires must be entirely controlled by God’s Holy Spirit, so that our wills are in complete harmony with Christ’s will.

We must reach the attitude of St. Augustine when he cried, “O Lord, grant that I may do Thy will as if it were my will, so that Thou mayest do my will as if it were Thy will.”…

Child of God, does this seem to make prayer “in His name” quite beyond us? That was not our Lord’s intention. He is not mocking us! Speaking of the Holy Spirit our Lord used these words: “The Comforter . . . Whom the Father will send in my name” (John xiv. 26). Now, our Savior wants us to be so controlled by the Holy Spirit that we may act in Christ’s name. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom. viii. 14). And only sons can say, “Our Father.”

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From The Kneeling Christian, Chapter 6 “How Shall I Pray?” This is available for free download here.