POWER OF ATTORNEY

‭John 14:13-14 NLT‬
[13] “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. [14] Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”

God’s love for us is unconditional but prayer isn’t. God has set a boundary around our prayers, the name of Jesus. Unfortunately, much of the time we use the expression, “… In the name of Jesus…,” or “… In Jesus’ name…” either as a kind of “abracadabra” to get our prayers answered, or “signing off” as an “over and out” to complete our list of requirements for God to fulfill, and we add “amen” to ensure that God knows we have finished.

This may sound crude but I think it often sums up the way we anticipate God’s answers. We are confident that He has heard us because we have prayed ‘in Jesus’ name’.

Let’s examine the meaning of ‘name’ in the Bible. According to one definition, a name is a ‘prophetic utterance of character’. For example, God often named or changed the names of certain people to fit into their intended character after He had changed them, or to fulfill His plan for their lives. Jacob, meaning ‘supplanter – crooked or twisted’ became ‘Israel’, a ‘prince with God’. Simon, ‘one who hears’ became Peter, the ‘stone’.

God and His name are often used interchangeably in Scripture because His name represents His character. He gave His name to Moses, JHWH, to indicate to him who He would be to Israel as their God, the one who is who He is.

When we tack ‘in the name of Jesus’ onto the end of our prayers, we are not signing off or authenticating our prayers. We are using the power of attorney Jesus gave us to express our partnership with Him in His rule on earth. The use of Jesus’ name is an appeal to His character and authority as Lord. God has given Jesus, on the grounds of His perfect obedience to the Father, supremacy in everything in the universe.

‭Philippians 2:9-11 NLT‬
[9] “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

He is the only one who can authorise the answers to our prayers if they are in harmony with His character and will because every promise God has made has been fulfilled in Him.

‭‭2 Corinthians 1:19-20 NLT‬
[19] For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. [20] For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

Prayer, for us then, is to harmonise with His promises by our “amen”, “let it be so” that we declare ‘in His name’. Praying ‘in Jesus’ name’ means that we approach the Father through His appointed mediator, Jesus, and that we come to Him armed with Jesus’ authority to ask the Father for anything in harmony with Jesus’ character and will.

When we come to the Father in Jesus’ name, we filter out selfish demands, ungodly attitudes and motives, and prayers that are in conflict with the name and nature of Jesus. Any other use of His name in prayer is invalid.