You Are Privileged to Pray (14:12–15)

You Are Privileged to Pray (14:12–15)
I have seen a plaque in many homes that asks, "Why worry when you can pray?" One of the best cures for worry is prayer.

But if God is to answer our prayers and provide us peace in our hearts, there are certain conditions we must fulfill. The fulfillment of these conditions is a blessing in itself!

We are to pray in faith (v. 12). This verse is a promise that we have to claim, and claiming it is by faith. The double use of “verily” makes this announcement sound all the more solemn. It is an encouragement that Jesus did go back to the Father, for there He intercedes for us. This intercessory work He will speak of more later in His discourse.

The "greater works" would apply first to the apostles who were given the power to perform special miracles as credentials of their office (Rom. 15:18-19; Heb. 2:3-4). These miracles were greater in scope and quantity, but not in quality, for “the servant is not greater than his lord” (John 13:16). Peter preached one sermon, and three thousand sinners were converted in one day! The fact that common people performed these signs only added to their wonder and brought great glory to God (Acts 5:13–16).

Now, of course, these “greater things” are not done by the believer himself; it is God working in and through the believer: “And the Lord working with them” (Mark 16:20). "For it is God which worketh in you" (Phil. 2:13). Faith and works must always go together. This is because it is faith that releases the power of God in our lives.

Prayer works by means of love and obedience. “If I regard [see and approve] iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Ps. 66:18).

We don’t obey the Lord simply because we want our prayers answered as if we were children right before Christmas. We obey Him because we love Him, and the more we obey Him, the more we experience His love. To “keep” His commandments means to love them, cherish them, protect them, and obey them; “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).

Believed-in prayer is a wonderful balm for an aching heart. Meditate on Philippians 4:6–7—and put it into practice!

We are to pray in the name of Christ (vv 13-14). This is not a “magic formula” we automatically attach to our prayer requests, ensuring God will answer. To ask the Father anything in Jesus’ name is to ask what Jesus would ask, what would please Him, and what would glorify Him by carrying on His work. When a friend says to you, “You may use my name!” he is giving you a remarkable privilege as well as a tremendous responsibility.

The “whatsoever” of John 14:13 is qualified by all that God has revealed in His Word about prayer; so also the “anything” of John 14:14. God is not giving us a carte blanche; it is “in My name” that is the controlling factor. Knowing the name of God means understanding who He is and what He wants to do. God answers prayer to glorify His name; therefore, prayer must be according to His will (1 John 5:14–15). The first petition in the model prayer of the Lord is, “Hallowed be thy name” (Matt. 6:9). Every request made in God’s name shall glorify God’s name.

We must pray in loving obedience (v. 15). When you love someone, you respect their name and would never use it in a disparaging fashion. The important theme of love, appearing fifty-six times as a verb or noun, is significant in the gospel of John.