112. Do what Ask
John 14:13, 14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 15:16 Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 16:23, 24 Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you…ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Four times in this one discourse Jesus promises that God will do it or give it, whatever you ask. The result will be that God will be glorified and that your joy will be full. Four times He says: “Ask in my name.”This is a condition: if you ask, then Jesus will do it or the Father will give it. Part of the condition for the fulfillment of this promise is not only asking, but also asking in my name.
In the name of Jesus means coming to God through faith in Jesus the Son; it also means in accord with the will of God, in line with the mind of Christ, asking the same thing that Jesus would ask. If we know Jesus and know His will we can ask “whatsoever” and God promises to give it. It looks easy and simple, but it is really is harder and more complicated that it appears. The key is to know the will of God before we ask; then ask in line with God’s predetermined will in a matter, and, of course, He will give it. God wants to effect His will in our earthly affairs and get His will done on earth, as it is already determined in heaven. The amazing thing is that God uses frail and ignorant human believers to work His will on earth, prompting us to pray His will in His name.
Instead of ending our prayers “if it be thy will,” we might be better to determine the will of God ahead of time and pray with confidence: 1 John 5:14, 15, “If we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
We naturally resist this promise because we cannot believe it, but we may have to be careful that we are not doubting God’s word and promise and fighting against the goodness, mercy and kindness that the Lord wants to give us, so that we may be full of joy. Surrender to the will of God, ask for it, receive it, and be full of joy.
This four-fold promise of Jesus may be one of the most life-changing promises we can ever hear and believe.