What was Jesus referring to when He said "hitherto"? He was saying, "Up to this point, up to now, you have 'asked nothing in My name'". John 16:24. Analyzing this, we find help in John 15:16, where He said, "ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you."
Notice the little word "may" that comes at the end of this verse. Why does Jesus say "may"? He's reminding us that asking and receiving of the Father depends on certain conditions being met. In other words, God can only respond to our request if we prepare the way, and there is only one way. And what is that one way? Meeting His conditions! What are these conditions? Combining John 15:16 and John 16:23,24, we find a glorious blanket promise that includes anything and everything without reservations. Notice the following statement:
"But to pray in Christ's name means much." It means that we are to accept His character, manifest His spirit, and work His works. The Savior's promise is given on condition. "If you love Me,' He says, 'keep My commandments.' He saves men, not in sin, but from sin; and those who love Him will show their love by obedience."
Praying in Christ's Name
To Pray in Christ's name means much." Recall that Jesus had said that up to that particular moment they had not asked in His name. I wonder, Have you ever asked, really asked, in Jesus' name? "To pray in Christ's name means much. It means that we are to accept His character." What's that? His character of love. That's what we call sanctification, which is the practical impartation of the character of Christ, and is what God wants to do for us. Sanctification follows justification, includes the crediting of His character to our account, and continues the rest of our lives as God keeps giving, and we keep receiving, the character of Jesus Christ.
Continuing, "To pray in Christ's name means much. It means that we are to accept His character, manifest His Spirit (--it gets harder as we go; I would suggest more beautiful, but also more binding upon us--) and work His works." What was His work? Reflecting the love of God. What should be our work? Reflecting the love of Jesus. That's why He said, "This is My commandment, 'That ye love one another" John 15:12.
It all comes back to this matter of love. If we have this love we will be abiding, because it is impossible to reflect this love and not abide. Jesus said, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me" John 15:4. The branch must receive love from the Vine in order to reflect love. It cannot be manufactured; it cannot come from anything except the genuine stock. So we are told, "To pray in Christ's name means much. It means to accept His character, manifest His Spirit, and work His works." This "anything" promise is genuine, but it is given on condition of the love that we have been studying about.
Perhaps you are asking, "What does this mean on a practical basis?" It means surrendering to the Lord, accepting Him because we recognize our need, and saying "Lord, please enter, I accept You." If we are praying honestly, if we are willing to accept His character, if we are willing to live His life and do His work, than we can pray in the name of Jesus as He encouraged His disciples to do, and have every expectation of obtaining the answer.
Now, why did Jesus say that the disciples had not been praying in His name prior to that time? Because they had not felt the need to do so up to then. Though they cherished His physical presence and sought to be close to Him, though they felt uncomfortable away from Him, they were wholly unacquainted with the need of His indwelling presence. The didn't know about the need to be born again any more than Nicodemus knew about it. Though the disciples had been with Jesus a long time, they still didn't understand. I wonder if things have changed very much in our day? Though many of us have been members of the church for a long time, we sadly neither understand the need to be born again nor the need to have the old animal nature die.
This study is so very important for us to understand and tells us the reason our prayers are not answered. It's so important for us to know these things and apply them to our lives if we want to have the pure joy of heaven in our hearts. Surrendering keeps coming up again and again and it's because most people do not surrender their ALL to God on a daily basis. It's a very important duty of the Christian. Surrender and Abiding, Sooooo important!! If you have to, go over these lessons again and again until you have it down so well you can share it with anyone to help them on their Christian journey. People need to understand the basics of obedience and surrender and prayer and answers to prayer. Please reread if you have to. None of us want to be lost for eternity and this is one very important study, actually all of them are, so be patient and get it all down pat for your own eternal good. Grandma Joan
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