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| SEEK WHAT GLORIFIES GOD John 14:12-14 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. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. |
REVIEW Jesus announced He was going to the Father. The disciples knew Jesus’ next statement would be very important since He began by saying, Verily, verily—truly, truly: thus, they were to listen closely. Great power on earth. This magnifies his power more than anything, that he not only wrought miracles himself, but gave power to others to do so too. Though Jesus should depart, the work should not cease, nor fall to the ground; and it is still in the doing. That they should do greater works than these… The truth is the captivating of so great a part of the world to Christ, was the miracle of all. In what way they were to derive power from him, when he was gone to the Father—by prayer. They must demand nothing of him as a debt, but must be humble supplicants. Ask anything that is good and proper, anything provided you know what you ask. Ask in my name, being strangers, we have no name in heaven, being sinners, we have an ill name there; but Christ’s is a good name, well known in heaven. By faith in his name we many have what we will for the asking. Christ will aim at in granting, and for the sake of this will do what they ask. The wisdom, power, and goodness of God were magnified in the Redeemer when his apostles and ministers were enabled to do such great things, both in the proofs of their doctrine and in the successes of it. |
| PARTICIPATE IN JESUS’ WORKS John 15:14-16 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. | REVIEW Christ loved his disciples, for he took them into a covenant of friendship with himself. Though they often show themselves unfriendly, he is a friend that loves at all times. The more honour Christ puts upon us, the more honor we should study to do him; the higher in his eyes, the lower in our own. The great things relating to man’s redemption Christ declared to his disciples, that they might declare them to others. It is fit that Christ should have the choosing of his own ministers; still he does it. Though ministers make that holy calling their own choice, Christ’s choice is prior to theirs and directs and determines it. The treasure of the gospel was committed to them that it might be progagated; that you may go from place to place all the world over, and bring forth fruit. They were ordained, not to sit still, but to go about. They were ordained, not to beat the air, but to be instrumental for the bringing of nations into obedience to Christ. Those whom Christ ordains shall not labour in vain. The church of Christ was not to be a short-lived thing. As one generation of ministers and Christians has passed away, still another has come. Thus their fruit remains to this day, and shall do while the earth remains. “Whatever help from heaven you have occasion for at any time, it is but ask and have.” We have a God to go to who is a Father. We come in a good name. Whatever errand we come upon to the throne of grace, we may with a humble boldness mention Christ’s name in it. The answer of peace is promised us. What you come for shall be given you. We should offer prayer with the goal of seeking what Jesus desires and to promote what is close to His heart. |
| ENJOY IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO GOD John 16:23-26 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. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: |
REVIEW In the story of the apostles’ Acts we seldom find them asking questions, for they were constantly under a divine guidance. Asking questions supposes us at a loss, or at least at a stand, and the best of us have need to ask questions. The great thing Christ would lead them into was the knowledge of God. When Christ would express the greatest favour intended for his disciples, he tells them that he would show them plainly of the Father; for what is the happiness of heaven, but immediately and everlastingly to see God? It is taken for granted that all Christ’s disciples gave themselves to prayer. Their instruction, direction, strength, and success, must be fetched in by prayer. Asking of the Father includes a sense of spiritual wants and a desire of spiritual blessings, with a conviction that they are to be had from God only. Asking in Christ’s name includes an acknowledgment of our own unworthiness, and an entire dependence upon Christ. Christ had promised them great illumination by the Spirit, but they must pray for it. They must continue praying. “You have asked nothing comparatively nothing to what you might have asked.” See what a generous benefactor our Lord Jesus is; he gives liberally, and is so far from upbraiding us with the frequency and largeness of his gifts that he rather upbraids us with the seldomness and straitness of our requests. . They prayed many a prayer, but never so expressly in the name of Christ as now he was directing them to do; for he had not as yet offered up that great sacrifice in the virtue of which our prayers were to be accepted, the incense whereof was to perfume all our devotions. What we ask from a principle of grace God will graciously give, that hereby their joy shall be full. See how high we are to aim by prayer—not only at peace, but joy. Christ does more for us; that I will pray the Father for you. |