Power in the Name – To Approach God
Power in the Name – To Approach God.
Seminary professor Dr. Robert Webber once commented that a synonym for worship in the Scripture is the expression “call upon the Name of the Lord.” And in the Bible, praise is seen as “the fruit of lips that confess His name,” as described in Hebrews 13:15. In worship, prayer and praise, the Name of Jesus is the Door to the Father, the way to approach God in our daily life and communication with Him.
“Jesus said to them, ‘I AM the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).
“I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:23-24).
“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. At that moment the curtain of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Matthew 27:50).
“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – their Lord and ours.” (1 Cor. 1:2-3).
“Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20).
“He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18).
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13).
What does it mean when we pray “in Jesus’ Name?” We seem to end our every prayer with that phrase, and perhaps it has become so familiar that it has lost some meaning. To pray in Jesus’ name is to pray into the Person of Christ in this way:
- under His authority and Lordship;
- according to His purpose and will;
- in and to His honor;
- in line with His character and righteousness;
- to represent Him through the prayer;
- to join with His life and power;
- to express faith in Him;
- to bring all the truth of Jesus to bear on the contents of the prayer;
- to pray into the life of Christ, inside his Person.