What does it mean to ask in Jesus' name?

What does it mean to ask in Jesus name?
John 14:13-15 "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. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

This does not mean that we will get what ever we ask for just because we end our prayer in Jesus' name. In his name includes
in his person. In other words does your prayer line up with Jesus the person. Would he fully agree with your prayer? If not the
prayer is not really in Jesus' name. We might have intended for it to be in his name, but for this to be true it must line up with
Jesus' mind and interest. Following is the definition of the word "name" found in this passage.

Thayer's Lexicon
3686 onoma-
1) name: universally, used of proper names
2) the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in
the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, that is, for one's rank, authority, interests, pleasure,
command, excellences, deeds etc.

As you can see that in Jesus name means more than tacking the word "Jesus" on the end of a prayer. Following are some
scripture references that also show that it means more than simply an attachment of the word "Jesus".

Col 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the
Father.

Matt 18:5 "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;

Matt 18:20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst."
(See also Matt 19:29, Acts 2:21, Acts 2:38, Rom 1:5)

All of these references imply more than just using the name Jesus. Also all of these references come from the same Greek
word found in Thayer's Lexicon as shown above. In his name implies all that is found there in the definition.

What is praying in the spirit?
Eph 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,

In the context here Paul is talking about the Christian taking up the armor of God to stand against the forces of darkness. To
pray in the Spirit is to pray in the power of the Spirit. It is much like praying in the name of Jesus. The prayer that the Holy Spirit
inspires will indeed be answered. The Holy Spirit plays an important part of our life as a Christian. We are told the Holy Spirit
will teach us Lk.12:12, Jn.14:26.
Then in Rom.8:26 we read "for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with
groanings too deep for words;"
The Holy Spirit actually intercedes for us because we do not know how to pray. In Matt 10:20 we are told that there is a time
that the Holy Spirit can actually speak through us. ("For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in
you.)

When we are in tune with God our prayers can be inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is a powerful
prayer because it is lined up with God's will and it will be answered according to his will. We find a similar passage in

Jude 1:19-20 "These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building
yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit".

Some people lean toward the idea that praying in the Spirit is the same as speaking in tongues. This could be since the gift of
tongues is from the Holy Spirit, but I do not believe that it is limited to that since the context in Eph.6:18 and in
Jude 1:19-20 is not about the gifts of the Spirit. In both cases the context is exhorting the Christian to stand firm in his faith in
the midst of opposition from the enemy. In this we need to be empowered in our prayers through the aid of the Holy Spirit.

What is the correlation between prayer and faith?
The Bible shows us there is a connection between prayer and faith. To understand this connection I believe that it will be helpful
to understand what faith is.

Webster's Collegiate Dictionary TENTH EDITION
faith n, pl faiths [ME feith, fr. OF feid, foi, fr. L fides; akin to L fidere to trust--more at bide] (13c) 1 a: allegiance to duty or a
person: loyalty b (1): fidelity to one's promises
(2): sincerity of intentions 2 a (1): belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2): belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b
(1): firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2): complete trust 3: something that is believed esp. with strong
conviction; esp: a system of religious beliefs syn see belief -- in faith : without doubt or question: verily faith vt (15c) archaic:
believe, trust                                             (See also Heb.11:1)

As you can see for the Christian faith includes allegiance, complete trust and loyalty to God without doubt or question. For a
successful prayer life this should be the position that the person praying should take. Not only should the person believe in the
existence of God, but their allegiance, trust and loyalty should be in God also. As this becomes the position taken by the person
praying their prayers will line up with the will of God.

Ps 37:4-5 Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also
in Him, and He will do it.

The first part of this passage is often quoted and misunderstood. Think about this a minute. If you truly delight yourself in the
Lord will not your desires be for God's will to be done? The desires of your heart would not be for worldly things, but rather for
the things of the spirit. Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4) Notice the
second part of the passage in Ps 37:4-5 requires commitment and trust in the Lord. The passage does not just say that God is
going to fulfill the desires of your heart. As you delight, trust and commit to him your desires will change to his desires and then
he will fulfill his purpose.

As we can see in the following two passages faith is an important aspect in our relationship with God. Keep in mind that by
Webster's definition faith for the Christian faith includes allegiance, complete trust and loyalty to God without doubt or question.

James 1:6-7 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by
the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of those who seek Him.

Some people have made the mistake of putting their faith in their own prayer. It is not by our power that the prayer is
answered. It is not just because we have prayed something and believe that it will come to pass that will make it happen. God
is the one who has the power to make it happen. Our trust should be that God has the ability to make it happen, not just our
faith in the prayer. Keep in mind that if the motives of our heart or wrong our faith will make no difference. (James 4:1-3)

Following are some examples that show that it is faith in the Lord, not faith in the request.
Matt 9:28-29 And after He had come into the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe
that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." Then He touched their eyes, saying, "Be it done to you according to
your faith."
(The faith here was placed in Jesus' ability to give them their sight.)

Rom 4:19-22 And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a
hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in
unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to
perform. Therefore also it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

(Abraham's faith was placed in God's ability to accomplish what he promised.) For some related passages with emphasis on
faith you may also want to read Matt 9:22, Mark 10:52   Mark 11:21-2, Luke 7:48-50

Does this mean that God will not help the believer if there is a lack of faith?
As I look at and admire the disciples I am comforted to know that they also suffered the error of lack of faith.

Matt 14:28-32 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." And He said,
"Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became
afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took
hold of him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped.
(Peter walked on water for a short distance and then faltered in his faith and began to sink. Jesus gave Peter a mild rebuke for
not having enough faith.)

Mark 4:37-40 And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was
already filling up. And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do
You not care that we are perishing?" And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the
wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, "Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?"

In this example Jesus asked why they had no faith. Jesus indicates they should not have been afraid. Why? Because they
should have trusted him through the storm. How often do we find ourselves in a storm and suffer from lack of faith? Our focus
should be on the Lord and not the storm. I admit that this is easier said then done at times, but it is still the position that we must
take.

In Acts 12:1-17 We read that Herod had Peter thrown in prison. In verse 5 we see that "Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer
for him was being made fervently by the church to God." Then we are told of how an angel went and took Peter out of the
prison. Then in verse 12 we read that Peter "went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where
many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant-girl named Rhoda
came to answer. And when she recognized Peter's voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and
announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. And they said to her, "You are out of your mind!" But she kept
insisting that it was so. And they kept saying, "It is his angel." But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the
door they saw him and were amazed. "

What is amazing about this passage is that the church was praying fervently on Peter's behalf, but when Peter was rescued
they did not believe it and they were amazed. They were apparently praying according to God's will because He sent an angel
to rescue Peter. Yet even though they were praying fervently they showed a lack of faith because they did not believe it was
Peter when he showed up at the door. In scripture we see that faith pleases and moves God to respond. Yet at the same time a
lack of faith does not necessarily mean that he will not answer our prayers.

Beware of what is a contradiction to the word of the Lord
There is a lady that was praying to know what church to join. When she had finished praying the Jehovah Witnesses knocked
at her door. The lady mistook this as an answer to her prayer and joined with the Jehovah Witnesses. Since that time she has
had the truth explained to her in some detail, but she still clings to that moment as an answered prayer. Is God at fault? No! not
at all. She heard the truth, but rejected it on the basis of feelings not scripture.
In a similar case Joseph Smith the founder of the Mormon church tells us how he went into a grove to pray to know which
church to join. He then relates of a heavenly vision in which he was told to join none of them because they were all wrong. Since
then we are told that the true church was restored through him. Yet they do not teach of the same God, Jesus or gospel as we
find in the Bible.
In both of these incidences someone prayed to know of the true church. Both of these religions are opposed to each other as
well as historic Christianity and the teachings of the Bible. We are also warned not to make these errors in the Bible.

I King 13:18 And he said to him, "I also am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying,
'Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.'" But he lied to him.

In the context here the man of God declares "For so it was commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'You shall eat
no bread, nor drink water, nor return by the way which you came." Yet he listened to this man who lied to him declaring himself
also to be a prophet. Due to his disobedience to the Lord after listening to the liar the man of God was killed by a lion.

Following are some warnings for us that we should not fall into the same trap.

Prov 16:25 There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Matt 24:24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible,
even the elect.

Gal 1:8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached
to you, let him be accursed.

I Jn 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets
have gone out into the world.

2 Pet 2:1-3 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will
secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will
exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

2 Cor 11:3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the
simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

2 Cor 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no
wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise
themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds.

If these warnings tell us anything it is that we should not believe things that contradict what we find in God's written word the
Bible.

Prov 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (KJV)

God has answered my prayers at times in such a subtle way that I only recognized the answer by reflecting back and pondering
over it. At other times God has answered my prayers so clearly even though it was not an audible voice there was no doubt in
my mind what he said. I believe the key is to pray continually with an open heart and respond to the Lord when he speaks to
you. We may not always know how he directs our path, but if we simply trust him we will never regret it. As in any relationship if
you want it to grow keep the lines of communication open. God speaks to us in his written word and in our heart when we
communicate to him by prayer and sometimes through circumstances or other people. Our spiritual growth depends upon our
willingness to apply what he shows in our studies and prayers.