Two friends were admiring a new tablet computer that one of them had bought. The purchaser had just one problem: how to unlock it and use it! With a swipe of a finger, her more knowledgeable friend touched the screen and quickly unlocked it, opening up a bright menu of resources.
In the material realm, we need to learn how to operate things, and the same is true in the spiritual realm. What do we need to know to unlock the resources of God’s power when we pray?
First, we need to know to whom we direct our prayers. Jesus Christ taught his followers to pray to his Father in heaven.
Matthew 6:9:
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
God, our heavenly Father, is the One to Whom we pray and give thanks. We can see that our greatest example, the Lord Jesus Christ, directed his prayers to God.
Luke 6:12:
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Matthew 26:53:
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Once we know to Whom we direct our prayers, we then need to know how to claim God’s power in prayer. As his earthly ministry unfolded, Jesus taught his followers about what his life, death, resurrection, and ascension would make available. He taught them the power they would have in prayer, instructing them to claim, in his name, those resources that would be available.
John 14:13,14:
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 15:16:
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
John 16:23,24:
…Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
These verses clearly show the right that every born-again believer has today to use the name of Jesus Christ. This is the how of unlocking the resources of God’s power! We pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ, because God gave Jesus a name that is above every name.
Philippians 2:9,10:
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him [Jesus], and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.
To simply say “the name of Jesus Christ,” however, is not all that is necessary. We need to claim the power in his name. We must believe that when we are praying in his name, God will answer our requests. All power is energized by believing, and it is up to us to believe. Believing is action. We can receive answers to our prayers when we know what’s available from God’s Word and go to our heavenly Father with reverence, believing His Word.
Ephesians 3:14:
For this cause I bow my knees [in reverence and pray] unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Like learning how to unlock the resources of a new computer, in the spiritual realm, we also need to get knowledge and instruction. When we know what the Word of God says, we can act upon that Word and get the desired results. As we pray to God and claim the resources available in the name of Jesus Christ with believing, we will see powerful, positive results—God answers our prayers.
To learn more about unlocking the power available in the name of Jesus Christ, see our Bookstore section to order The New, Dynamic Church. Enjoy reading “Your Power of Attorney” and “Key to Power.”