The Overwhelming Importance of Christians asking for things in God’s Will, in the Name of Jesus!

Today’s Scrip-Bit   24 August 2026   John 14:13.

John 14:13.         And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

It’s a brand new work week friends, and we’re all rested up, fired up and chomping at the bit, to get out there on this Monday morning in August 2026! I know some of you must be wondering what I smoke or drank to be so enthusiastic about a windy and somewhat cloudy Monday morning, after a rather inclement weekend, that spoiled a lot of our outside entertainment. To tell the truth friends, I didn’t smoke or imbibe any kind of alcoholic beverage or uplifting drugs, I just asked the Good Lord for the energy and enthusiasm to get out there and do good work for Him, to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world that He desires me to be, and He gave it to me.  

We keep forgetting what Jesus told us about asking for things. First off in the Sermon on the Mount He says: ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.’ (Matt. 7:7-8) So that’s the first lesson; if we want something, we must ask, seek and or knock for it. However, that does not refer to selfish, carnal, meaningless stuff. It must be things and stuff that fit into God’s will.

And having noted that proviso, we can now look to the gospel of John, where Jesus again informs us about asking for stuff. ‘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.’ (John 14:13-14) And as the scholars explain: ‘In my name means “as My Agent.” The promise of answered prayer is based on the disciple acting as the agent of Jesus’ will (cf. 16:23-26). The promise is for unlimited resources to do the works of God.’

Then in the very next chapter, where He mentions about Him being the vine and we the branches, Jesus again talks about asking. This time He declares: ‘If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto (for) you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.’ (John 15:7-8) Yuh see mih bredrin, it’s all about bearing good fruit for Jesus; not just satisfying our own sinful, lustful urges.

And in the following chapter in telling the disciples about His going away, Jesus says: ‘And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 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 to you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

These things I have spoken unto you in proverbs (figurative language): but the time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs (figurative language) but shall shew (tell) 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: For the Father himself LOVETH you, because ye have LOVED me, and have believed that I came out from God.’ (John 16:22-27)

Ah mih people, as we saw yesterday, it’s all about the name of Jesus, the inherent power in His name because of His selfless and marvellous works. There must be faith, a personal relationship to Christ, as well as submission to His Lordship, if we hope to ask for stuff and be granted it. Remember we’re mainly ambassadors for Christ; meaning we need to do the work He desires of us, and if we abide in Him, and His words abide in us, then He will give us the resources to do His will. It’s as simple as that! (smile)

And James, Jesus’ brother, further informs us about asking, when He declares: ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not doubting). For he that wavereth (doubts) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ (James 1:5-8) Words of absolute wisdom my brethren!  

But John has the last word from his epistle. (smile) ‘Beloved if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and LOVE one another, as he gave us commandment.’ (1 John 3:21-23) And now, having all of that knowledge about asking for stuff, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, confidently, but humbly and faithfully seeking divine aid to do God’s work.

Altogether: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise and thank You  this Monday morning for our jobs; jobs we sometimes don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose; keeping lives and families together. We also thank You Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm You’ve wrought in our weary souls over the weekend. It’s that rejuvenation of spirit which now allows us to sally forth with confidence into the evil and ungodly world, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s evil schemes.

But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing Your powerful, protective spiritual armour! We surrender our all to You, and humbly ask that You allow Your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit to lead and guide all Your servants, as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, thereby furthering Your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! Amen!’

And with our prayer being successfully answered, let’s go out and meet the enemy in battle, confident of our victory in Jesus’ name! Much LOVE!

to ask…to ask…and yet to ask in faith…in Jesus’ name…  

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit   10 June 2024 John 14:12.

John 14:12.       … he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; 

Welcome Monday! We’re up and about and just dying to greet you, to get out into the evil and ungodly world and so some good work for Jesus! So greetings, as we open this new work week, where things in the world have not really improved, possibly gotten worse, but with Christ in front, behind and beside us we can most definitely make some amazing changes, if we put our whole hearts, bodies, souls and minds into the work. 

For as Jesus said to the disciples after Philip asked Him to show them the Father. (John 14:8) ‘Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself (my own authority): but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works sake.’ (John 14:10 -11) 

And the scholars explain that last verse thus: ‘Works sake: Jesus reiterates what He had said to the Pharisees (10:38), but here His words fall on receptive ears. The works have evidential value to the unsaved (to convince of the truth), and the saved (to assure them of the truth.’ So even if you refuse to believe Jesus, there is enough evidence of the truth in the works themselves. And just to spoon feed us a bit, (smile) John 10:37-38 says: ‘If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.’ 

Then Jesus continues to the disciples: ‘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.’ (John 14:12) Yes friends, we are meant to do greater works than Jesus. That is greater in quantity, but not quality. In the sense that Christ’s ministry was primarily meant for Israel. But His followers were going to spread the gospel to the whole world. 

As He said to them in the Great Commission: ‘Go ye therefore and teach (make disciples) of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.’ (Matt. 28:19) That means we are empowered my fellow believers; empowered to take the gospel to all parts of the world, and there’s nothing to stop us but ourselves. Especially after Jesus made these momentous statements. ‘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 14:13-14) 

And the scholars explain those verses by saying: ‘In my name means “as My agent.” The promise of answered prayer is based on the disciple acting as the agent of Jesus’ will (cf. 16:23-26). It is also linked here especially in the accomplishment of the “greater works.” The promise is for unlimited resources to do the works of God.’ There we have it friends! That’s why we can confidently claim to have the power to do anything that God wills us to do. 

And Jesus tells us that all throughout the gospels. For example, in Matthew, after He had cursed the fig tree that had only leaves but no fruit, and the disciples marvelled at how soon it withered. He said to them: ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, if ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.’ (Matt. 21:21-22) 

So there’s absolutely no reason for us to doubt the amazing and awesome power that resides within us when we have faith, ask in prayer and believe! Let’s remember though that whatever we ask must be in the Father’s will, not just our selfish desires. I rest my case then for saying above that we have everything we need to go out this Monday morning and do whatever is necessary to forward the name of Christ and His Good News Gospel. So let’s get up and go and do our duty nuh. Jesus expects us to be good agents and ambassadors for His kingdom. 

And to help us in our endeavours in these tough times, let’s seek divine aid through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. Altogether now: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. Heavenly Father, You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems. Yes, we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face. 

So, we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading for wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems. Oh Father, please ease the pain of the many suffering from negative situations, show them Your awesome grace and mercy. And faithfully keep Your promise to prosper us if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’ 

And please remember that divine help depends to a great extent on us turning from our evil ways, and sincerely seeking the Lord’s face! Much LOVE!

…even a little faith…like a mustard seed…can move mountains…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien