Message #15 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series
"The Deeper Life of Prayer"

by Kaye Johns

As we look at Jesus’ teaching on prayer, we see that He saved the best for the last--the most significant prayer promises for the last days and hours He was with His disciples.

Jesus was a methodical teacher. At the beginning of His ministry, He taught His followers the basic steps to build a solid foundation for a life of prayer. That prepared them for what He taught as steps toward a deeper life of prayer--fasting to build faith, praying in agreement with others, asking for the Spirit, being persistent and bold.

Finally, to the 12 disciples to whom He was entrusting His church, He promised that they could have whatever they asked in prayer, if [Mark 11:22-24, John 14:12-14, 16:23-26, 15:7,16] they would meet the conditions of the promises. One of these conditions He repeated six times [John 14:13,14; 15:16; 16:23,24,26]. How important to you think it is?

In John 14:14, Jesus stated it: "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." The promise, the condition, is to ask in Jesus’ name--according to His character, His nature, from His perspective. Why would something so important not have been included in Jesus’ initial teaching on prayer in His Sermon on the Mount? Why wasn’t it part of His model prayer? At that time, His followers didn’t know Him well enough to pray in His name. Do we?

Pray with me now -- Lord Jesus, help us to know You, that we may truly pray in Your name as we do now. Amen.

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