When Jesus said, "whatever you ask in my name, that will I do" was he speaking to future generations or to his disciples? How about when he said "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you."
Jesus did not make any allowances for failure. He said he would do anything asked in his name so the Father would be glorified. How do we account for all the failed requests made "in Jesus' name?"
Do we understand what it means to pray in the Name of Jesus? It certainly does not suggest the repetition of a phrase that has no more relationship to the prayer, than a label has to the package to which it is attached. It does not convert an unholy request to a worthy one. It does not open a door in heaven. Like praying for our food to nourish our bodies will not change a potato chip to a carrot.
"In His Name" means that the prayer must have His sanction or endorsement before God. "In Jesus' name" means the prayer is as one Jesus would pray. Prayer offered "In Jesus' Name" or in his stead cannot fail Jesus promised, someone.
Dr R. A. Torrey said: "To pray in the Name of Jesus Christ is to recognize that we have no claims on God whatever, that God owes us nothing whatever, that we deserve nothing of our God; but believing what God Himself tells us about Jesus Christ's claim upon Him, we ask God for things on the ground of Jesus Christ's claim upon God."
As with any activity our lack of study leads to not knowing how to study, not being able to study. Do we know how to study? We need to understand what the author is saying. We must understand what the author means. Who is he speaking to? What do they hear him saying? To whom and under what conditions did Jesus promise? Did he leave himself a way out.
Is it possible Jesus' promise has been misapplied all these years and we have added an empty phrase, the kind Jesus warns against?
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