Ask Anything in My Name

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13–14)

As we pursue Christ and continue His mission in the world by sharing the gospel, letting our light shine before people, loving our neighbours, and extending forgiveness to our enemies, we can ask Jesus for whatever we need and He will give it to us. God has promised His children, “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it.” The condition in this text for this promise is “Ask in my Name!”

If we look at other verses in scriptures we see other conditions to Jesus’ promises.

John 15:7, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

1 John 5:14–15, “If we ask anything according to his will He hears us. 15 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.”

Mark 11:24, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

There is only one condition mentioned in John 14:13–14: “in my name.”

Is Jesus saying we can ignore all those other conditions taught in other parts of the Bible: abide in Him, ask according to His will, believe His word? Or are all these included in the meaning Ask in my name?

Looking at the whole counsel of the Bible we can conclude that they are all included. Jesus is telling His disciples: I give you my Spirit to empower you to accomplish my will on earth. God fills His children with the power of the crucified and risen Christ. He promises His followers that we can ask for anything in His name for this mission — for the glory of our Father in Heaven.

Jesus is asking us at Coastal Church to ASK!

“In my name!” That is, for Christ’s glory and not ours. Because of His divinity, infinite worth and unfathomable payment with His blood shed on the cross we get to ask God. God is including us in His plan of redemption and reconciliation of all things to Christ (Col. 1:20).

Put every prayer request through that filter — Jesus’ sacrifice, Jesus’ teachings, Jesus’ fame, Jesus’ worth. God promises that every prayer will be answered if they are Christ-centered, Christ-exalting and ultimately for His glory.

Challenge & Application

The challenge to all Christians is to ask God and rely on Him to empower, guide and provide for us in a way that will bring glory to our Father in Heaven.

• Ask God in Jesus’ name for strong finances so that you can help those in need.
• Ask God in Jesus’ name for courage so that you can stand against injustice.
• Ask God in Jesus’ name for boldness so that you can be a witness for Jesus.
• Ask God in Jesus’ name for wisdom so that you can help bring transformation to our communities.
• Ask God in Jesus ‘ name for greater love so that you can love your unlovable neighbours.

And today some of you reading this blog are drawn and enabled by God to believe and ask in Jesus’ name for forgiveness of your sins and receive eternal life. Through repentance and faith in Jesus’ name, death, burial and resurrection we receive the right to become children of God (John 1:12).

There is no greater ASK than asking God by faith in the Son of God for salvation, “for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).