We’ve looked at serving and praying in Jesus’ name. This daily devotional, in a way, combines the two.
Nuggets
- When we ask in Jesus’ name, in His Will, and in agreement, our requests will be granted.
- If we are gathered in Jesus’ name, we are exalting Him and seeking His Will.
- Disciples can be mighty in small numbers when gathered in Jesus’ name.
- Prayers are answered when they are asked in Jesus’ name.
Devotions in the In Jesus’ Name series
We are looking at Wilkinson’s sermon entitled Doing All in the Name of Christ. We are looking at how we are to do the different things in Jesus’ name.
Resource
When we think about the phrase in Jesus’ name, we generally think about praying. Our next thought might turn to service.
When we apply that to the Church, we can see where they are combined. This is especially true when we look at a passage in Matthew 18.
Let’s jump in.
Let's Put It into Context
Here is a running list of nuggets for the series.
“Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Mt. 18: 18-20 CSB).
When we ask in Jesus’ name, in His Will, and in agreement, our requests will be granted.
In reading these verses, we may interpret it to sound like a criminal court. That isn’t the intent.
What it is trying to show is how merciful God is.
The thing is, in my mind, all three verses are all wrapped up together. So, let’s start at the end and go backwards.
Gathered in His Name
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Mt. 18: 20 CSB).
If we are gathered in Jesus’ name, we are exalting Him and seeking His Will.
We have to be seeking God’s Will in whatever situation we are facing. We don’t want to be asking for something that would be detrimental to our relationships with Him.
Before we even ask, though, we have to worship God. I’ve always heard it said that we need to bring the praise before we bring the prayer requests.
That is true. God isn’t a gum ball machine. We shouldn’t expect to put our quarter prayer in and pop out the answer we expect.
Our prayers need to be in Jesus’ name and His Will.
We know that the only way we gain access to God is through Jesus. I wonder if sometimes we think that only pertains to salvation.
Salvation is the gift of life through the deliverance from condemnation and sin to acceptance and holiness and changes us from being spiritually dead to spiritually alive.
- Sins are actions by humans that disobey God and break one of His reasonable, holy, and righteous laws and commandments, goes against a purpose He has for us, or follows Satan’s promptings.
- Holy means to be set apart — because of our devotion to God — to become perfect, and morally pure while possessing all virtues.
- Perfection means we reach a state of maturity because the combination of the spiritual graces form, when all are present, spiritual wholeness or completeness — holy, sanctified, and righteous.
- Spiritual graces are worldly morals that have been submitted to God to further His kingdom instead of enhancing this world.
- Sanctified means to be set free from sin.
- Righteous means we are free from sin because we are following God’s moral laws.
- Pure means not being sinful or having the stain of sin.
- Virtues are standards of moral excellence.
- Perfection means we reach a state of maturity because the combination of the spiritual graces form, when all are present, spiritual wholeness or completeness — holy, sanctified, and righteous.
- Holy means to be set apart — because of our devotion to God — to become perfect, and morally pure while possessing all virtues.
- Holiness is the transcendent excellence of His nature that includes elements of purity, dedication, and commitment that lead to being set apart.
- Purity means possessing God’s moral character, having eliminated the stain of sin.
- Spiritual death is the spiritual separation from God that occurred as a consequence of Adam and Eve’s original sin.
- The spiritually alive are those who have ABCDed, so they are no longer separated from God.
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
Glossary
We don’t have access to God while we are sinners. Sinners are all people who have not made a genuine profession of faith — who have not sincerely ABCDed. When we come in Jesus’ name and because of our belief in Him, we gain access to God.
Do we think after salvation, we are just good to go in approaching God? Don’t we realize we must still come to Him in Jesus’ name?
When we sidestep coming in His name, we sidestep Jesus’ authority. That means we aren’t mature disciples.
Jesus is right there to give us what we ask in God’s Will when we ask in His name. He is there to give us direction as the Head of the Church.
A Small Group
“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Mt. 18: 19-20 CSB)
Disciples can be mighty in small numbers when gathered in Jesus’ name.
It seems like the trend the last couple of decades has been to establish mega churches. Don’t we think there is might in numbers?
Jesus said that there was might in small numbers, too. It isn’t because of us. It is because He is in our midst.
What struck me was that two of the three has to agree for “it” to be done.
No, it didn’t have to be a unanimous decision. There was room for disagreement.
There wasn’t room for disunity.
When there is unity — even with differing opinions — Jesus is always present. He is faithful.
Jesus loves the small churches as much as He loves the large churches. He will bless them though they be small.
We can take that to the next step, then. Service isn’t dependent on size. Jesus expects small churches to serve Him, too.
We don’t have to put on a big display. We have to be faithful.
To me, what this is really saying is numbers don’t matter. It is relationship, faithfulness, and love. We have to believe in Jesus enough to ask in His name, regardless of the number doing the asking.
Asking in Jesus’ Name
“Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt. 18: 18 CSB).
Prayers are answered when they are asked in Jesus’ name.
Wow! That is a pretty bold statement. We ask on earth; it is granted in Heaven.
But, go back a second. We are asking in God’s Will. We are asking God to do what He was going to do anyway.
Of course, He is going to do it.
Broken record. I think it was in the last devotion I said this.
Prayers do not ask God to change His mind. Prayers ask God to change us so that we have His mind.
Making the Connections
One day, Jesus will use that power and authority to defeat Satan and those who do not submit to Him. All will see that there are consequences for not choosing Him.
How Do We Apply This?
- Foster unity within the church regardless of size.
- Pray for our benefit.
Father God. We as Your Church praise You for Your omnipotence. We thank You that Jesus is the Head of the Church. We pray for unity so that we may serve You in the ways You have ordained for us. Amen.
What do you think?
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