Jesus� final discourse on prayer took place within the context of the Paraclete Passages (John 14:15-21; 14:26-27; 15:26-27; 16:7-15). These promises concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit had to do with many things in the lives of Christ�s followers, not the least of which would mean a new economy of prayer. I want us to consider at least four components of New Covenant praying as emphasized by Jesus in His final message on prayer.

Approaching the Father
"In that day," said Jesus, "you will no longer ask Me anything." The phrase "in that day" appears twice in this context, referring to the time when the Holy Spirit will come and influence the praying of believers. When Jesus said, "You will no longer ask Me anything," He was reminding them that He would no longer be with them physically and visibly. But with the Holy Spirit indwelling and illumining and guiding them, they would have no need to ask Him anything. So it would be to their advantage that He depart in the flesh in order to return to them in the Spirit. With the Holy Spirit abiding in their hearts, the Father and the Son would be approachable at all times and in all circumstances. "The Father Himself loves you," Jesus assured them, "because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God."

No apologies would be necessary in approaching the Father. As His redeemed children, purchased by the precious blood of His Son, we are not intruding or interrupting Him when we come before Him in prayer. "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:14-16). The inspired writer here argues for an approach to the Father that is one of confidence because of our standing in Christ. We are not approaching the Father as a stranger but as a blood-bought child who is in favor because of Jesus and what He did for us. Christians, think of it! We are invited to share in that holy intercourse between the Father and the Son and to participate in the intercession of the Son before the Father. Our relationship with the Holy Spirit can be such that we are assured an understanding of how to pray in unity and in sympathy with our interceding Lord. In so doing the will of God is prayed to pass here on earth even as it is in Heaven.

In the Name of Jesus
"I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "My Father will give you whatever you ask in My name" (v. 23). All true believers are given the name of Jesus. What a powerful name! In commissioning His Church to go into the world to carry His message and work His works, Jesus wanted His followers to realize that He was not leaving them powerless; they would invoke His name and the Spirit would release His power in and by and through them. Jesus intends us today to operate in the power of His name, just as any company executive would delegate authority to go out and conduct business for his enterprise. The members of the Jewish Sanhedrin and the people of Jerusalem soon learned that the same power by which Jesus had conducted His ministry was present with His disciples for continuing His work. It was "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" that Peter and John ordered the crippled beggar at the temple gate to rise up and walk (Acts 3:6). May a Spirit-cleansed, Spirit-filled Church today return to the same precious understanding and reverent use of the name of Jesus. When it does, we will learn that "the kingdom of God is not in word but in power" (I Cor. 4:20).

For the Sake of the Kingdom.
This final discourse on prayer takes place within the context of the Great Commission. Jesus was preparing His apostles to take charge of His work on His departure. He told them: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever � the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells in you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you" (John 14:12-18).

There was no doubt in the minds of the disciples that such promises were made to them for the express purpose of working to advance the Kingdom of God. The temptation to use prayer for the building of their own kingdom would come, but they realized that the kind of prayer power Jesus had promised them was for advancing His kingdom. So, it is the business of the kingdom of God that should take up most of our praying. The promise that the Father would give the believer whatever she or he asked in Christ�s name was not a blank check for indulging the desires of the flesh or bringing into reality every vision of human imagination. Such a promise is the certification that the Spirit of Christ, living in us, desires to pray through us the very prayers that the interceding Savior is praying in Heaven, and that the Father�s purpose is to be glorified in granting answers to such prayers. We should be amazed at the realization that we are invited to participate in the Throne-life of our Lord � yes, we may have a part in ruling and reigning with Christ here and now through intercessory prayer. But as we come to join our Lord in His intercession let us consider the counsel of my friend and prayer partner Wesley Duewel: "A throne is a place where royal answers are given, where needs are presented and discussed. It is a place where the King makes decisions. Remember, when you are a child of God, you do not come as a roving beggar, hoping to get crumbs and leftovers. You come as a prince and member of the royal family. You come as an official of the King�s court. You come as the Kingdom partner of the Son of the King" (Mighty Prevailing Prayer, pp. 45-46).

In the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Our Lord�s promise to us that we would know this kind of power for prayer is conditioned by our relationship with the Holy Spirit. We must be "filled with the Spirit" � not grieving Him, not quenching Him, not ignoring Him � in order to receive His enlightenment to know how to pray according to the will of God, in order to be energized by Him so that we do not faint, and in order to be emboldened in our faith so that we refuse to be denied.

May God give us men and women in all of our churches and ministries today who will take the time in their praying to become enlightened by the Holy Spirit as to Christ�s agenda for prayer, for only in doing so can we specifically concentrate on the will of God in our praying. And may we learn how to tap the energy of the Spirit for the sometimes long drawn-out hours, seasons, days and nights of intercessory prayer, so that we can prevail and not faint or quit. And may we also experience a holy boldness, a sanctified audacity that refuses to be denied. The midnight mediator (Luke 11:5-8) was boldly insistent on getting bread to feed his friend, and "because of his boldness," Jesus said, he was given all that he needed (v. 8). The widow kept knocking at the unjust judge�s door (Luke 18: 1- 5) and was finally heard because she would not stop knocking. The kind of bold faith this widow demonstrated is the kind the Son of Man would love to find when He comes again, but He wonders if He will find it (Luke 18:8). It is the kind of faith given to the Spirit-filled that will prompt them to "cry out day and night, even though the Lord tarries with His answers" (Luke 18:7).

-- James W. Tharp, Editor

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Revised: February 25, 2004.