Day 16: John 14: 1-14
“Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14.1) These are words that have been of comfort to Christians down the ages, both in times of national crisis and personal crisis. Jesus says these words to the disciples because they are on the brink of a crisis and Jesus is preparing them not just to survive the crisis but to see that it will lead to amazing things.
The crisis ahead is that Jesus is going to die – this is going to be pretty devastating and confusing, but Jesus is about to tell them that it’s actually better that He should no longer be with them. He makes some incredible promises:
1. That they will do even greater things than he had done (Really? Yes really!) (verse 12)
2. He will do anything they ask in his name (Really? Yes really!) (verse 14)
Now it’s important to see the link. These greater works can be done BECAUSE at the cross Jesus is going to conquer sin and death and will then be resurrected and ascend to be seated at the Father’s right hand in the place of authority. Then his disciples, empowered with the Holy Spirit that he will pour out, will do these greater things “in his name”.
So what does “in his name” actually mean? I don’t think it’s just a few magic words to add to the end of our prayers! “In his name” means with his authority. A policeman may shout to a fleeing villain “STOP in the name of the law”. The policeman has the authority of the law to command the person to stop.
Jesus has given us his authority. In this sense we have exactly the same authority as Jesus. I think that too often we pray “begging” prayers when we should be praying with authority. We have authority in Christ and we need to live in it. In our bibles Jesus rarely prayed for healing or deliverance. More often he commanded it. Why? Because he had authority to do so and Jesus has given us that same authority (“in his name”).
At last year’s Rise conference the first session with Pastor Joe Vatucicila was amazing. He spoke on authority and I noted these three statements that he made:
Storms are going to come but you need to rise above the storm to take authority.
Question: Are we rising above the storm of our current circumstances or being swamped by them
How you deal with pressure determines your authority.
Question: What pressures do you face right now that you need to rise up and have authority over?
Before we have authority on the outside we need to have authority on the inside and conquer the inner storm.
Question. Is there an inner storm right now that you need to conquer?
We can rise up with authority over our circumstances. We can rise up and pray with authority for those around us – for our family, our neighbours, our towns and villages and our nation. We can expect the greater things that Jesus promised.
Why not take a moment to do that right now!
Nick Reynolds
Academy Student