Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:12-13).Â
The apostle John detailed Jesus’ teachings on prayer in a way that isn’t found in the synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark and Luke. He records for us some of the things the Lord Jesus taught with respect to prayer in the New Testament, which would be after His death, burial, resurrection, and glorious ascension to the Father—a new dimension to prayer in a new dispensation.
Jesus said, in John 16:23-24, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” Here is the new rule for prayer today: in the New Testament, we direct our prayers to the Father in the Name of Jesus; we pray in the Name of Jesus.
This era, as described by John, is characterized by the new will or testament, certified and activated by the death of Jesus Christ, as affirmed in the book of Hebrews: “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth” (Hebrews 9:16-17). This new will is where we live now.
So, whatever you want today, whatever your desires may be, go ahead and ask the Father directly in the Name of Jesus. You don’t need angels to pray for you. Some people ask angels to pray for them, but angels will never pray for you because the Name of Jesus was never given to them; it was given to men. You have the authority and direct access to the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ. Therefore, ask and receive, that your joy may be full. This is the power and efficacy of prayer in the New Testament. Praise God!
Prayer / Confession
Dear Father, I thank you for the privilege of direct access to you, and the assurance that whatever I ask in the Name of Jesus is granted me. I walk in the depth of this authority and knowledge today; therefore, my joy is full as I receive answers to prayers, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further study
1 John 5:14-15; Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16
1-year bible reading plan
Ephesians 4:1-16; Isaiah 23-24
2-year bible reading plan
2 Timothy 2:11-26; Jeremiah 45
