Do You Operate In God’s Power and Authority?

Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt

John 14:14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

How about we start off this morning with a knockout punch promise and verse from Jesus? Are you ready? Then read: John 14:14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. This is Jesus speaking these words to His disciples. (They weren’t titled Apostles yet. I say that so you don’t “this isn’t speaking to me.” If you are a believer and follower of Jesus Christ – then you are a disciple and this does apply to you!) Again, He said, You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

That sounds like Jesus is making Himself a genie – a wish granter – the divine wishbone. He isn’t. He’s the executer and fulfiller of God’s will and purpose. He was preparing His disciples to continue on with His work in His name. So that they would know they were not abandoned and would not feel inferior, unqualified, and left alone, He expressed these words to let them know He would be with them and would help them. What they would execute would not be about them. It would be about bringing the good news of Jesus Christ and His power so that others would know they were sent from Him.

When Jesus ministered, He ministered with power. Luke 4:32 says, And they were astonished at Jesus’ doctrine: for His word was with power. The word power here is often translated authority. But it really implies both power and authority. We can see that if we look at another verse – Luke 4:36. Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power Jesus commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” The word for authority is the same word as power in the first verse. And the word for power in this verse means “miracle working power.” The bottom line – when Jesus ministered, He was doing what His Heavenly Father wanted Him to do with authority and power!

Now in teaching His disciples, He is preparing and instructing them in how they will continue His work – with authority and power. In that time of instruction, He says these mind-blowing and powerful words. If you pay close attention – you’ll see that He is saying them ALSO to you personally as a believer and disciple of Jesus Christ. He says: “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. (John 14:12-14)

Now, for far too many people, these words seem too far out to believe for themselves. It throws their mind in tilt. It shouldn’t. Jesus was saying that as you continue my work – reaching out to people and ministering to them and their needs in my behalf, then “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

For most believers, it only takes trying to apply this one time with less than satisfying results to discourage them from ever doing it again. “I was praying for my friend’s son to get better and I asked Jesus to heal him and it didn’t happen, so this doesn’t apply to me doing it.”

We aren’t responsible for the results. We are responsible to learn and know the Father’s will taught to us through the Word of God. We are responsible to following His leading in our hearts and respond in faith as He directs us. We are to believe and leave the rest up to Him.

Remember that Jesus walked in authority and power. He knew the Father’s will. He never doubted. He knew when the Father was leading Him. He never doubted. What you never see in the gospels is His years of learning to obey His Father up to the time of the start of His ministry. You and I are learning the word of God. You and I are learning to follow after the Spirit of God. Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Learning to do anything – especially learning God’s will and learning to follow and obey Him is a process. It happens through prayer. It takes courage and spiritual strength. But, will you try? Will you let God lead you? Will you learn His will so that you have the courage to pray over others with authority? Will you listen to others and pray for them according to His will? Will you be His hands and feet in this earth?

Over my 27 years of ministry, I have learned to keep my head and mental arguments of doubt and unbelief out of what I feel the Spirit of God is leading me to do – especially when it comes to praying for people. As a man, I’d like to try to fix everyone’s problems. What I can do is so minuscule and shallow. What God can do is beyond what I can ask or think including making the impossible possible. So, I try to mentally step aside and just pray and believe with them in faith according to God’s will. The testimonies that come back are amazing.

What the Lord taught me to do about ten years ago was to finish every time of prayer with people with this request. “I would like to ask you to please come back to me with your good report and testimony of how God helped you through this.” They agree to and they eventually do come back. I have had three people come back to me from prayers over two years ago, just this week. I’ll share one tomorrow.

Jesus meant it when He said, You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. He wasn’t lying. And He wasn’t giving us a permission slip to abuse this upon our own lusts. He gave us these words to help others in His authority and power! So do it!
More tomorrow…