In Jesus Name, Amen
When I was younger I was having a conversation with someone that I knew, but wasn’t very close with. As the conversation ended and we began to part ways I said, “Bye, I love you.” I was horrified. I began to stutter and stammer trying to explain what had just happened. Saying those words had become so engrained to my sign-offs with people that they slipped out at the end of a conversation with someone that I barely knew.
That reminds me of another common sign off that we have: In Jesus name, Amen. Those four words tend to close off every one of our prayers. Unfortunately, those words have become the words that we say with the least amount of thought about it. It’s just habit at this point. In reality though, those three words, in Jesus name, are the three most important words you say when you pray.
We don’t see any prayers in the NT that close with those three words, so where does it come from and what difference does it make? We say in Jesus name primarily because of what Jesus taught us about prayer in John 14-16. He repeats over and over in those three chapters prayer in his name: “Whatever you ask in my name” (John 14:13), “Whatever you ask the Father in my name” (John 15:16), “Whatever you ask of the Father in my name” (John 16:23). The repetition teaches us just how important it is to approach God in prayer in Jesus name. Why is praying in Jesus name so important? I’ll give you four reasons.
1. We Have Access to God in Jesus’s Name.
Every time we pray in Jesus name we are reminding ourselves how and why we can come near to the throne of God and make reverent, humble requests for ourselves and others. We can’t pray in Jesus name and think that we someone got there on our own. Every prayer in his name is a chance to remember that it is through the gospel of Jesus Christ that we have reconciliation with God and access to God.
Before you pray, every time you pray, remind yourself of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. You are approaching God based on his merits, not your own.
2. We Pray in Jesus Name Because Apart from Him, Our Prayers Accomplish Nothing.
Without Jesus, nothing is guaranteed in prayer. Jesus told his disciples plainly in John 15:5, “apart from me you can do nothing.” Without union with Jesus, the disciples would never produce in fruit for God. The same is true with prayer. Apart from Jesus in prayer, your prayers aren’t guaranteed to accomplish anything.
God wants to work through our prayers, but not the prayers that we offer up in our own name. He works through prayers offered up in Jesus name.
3. We Pray in Jesus Name Because Doing So Brings God Glory.
One thing has become clear as we have studied the gospel of John together on Sunday mornings: Jesus wants to point people to God the Father. When we pray in Jesus’s name we are joining Jesus in his mission to bring glory to God. Jesus tells us in John 14:13, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Jesus promises to put his signature on and perform the prayer requests that we offer in his name so that the Father will be glorified in him. So then, our prayers in Jesus name aren’t just in his name, they are for his name.
4. We Pray in Jesus Name So That Our Joy Will Be Full.
When we pray in Jesus name, God the Father and God the Son get the glory. But what do we get? We get fullness of joy! Jesus tells us in John 16:24, “Ask (in his name), and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
Christ increases our joy as we pray in his name and receive the requests that we ask. Why wouldn’t we want to pray in his name?
Savor Those Words
Don’t let in Jesus name become a throw away line at the end of your prayers. They aren’t our sign off to God in prayer. They are the most precious words that we will say when pray. Let them remind you of why you can pray in the first place. These words are not an afterthought in prayer, they are the doorway to prayer. So when you are finishing up saying a prayer, don’t rush through the last four words. Slow down. Cherish them. Think about them. Savor them.
That reminds me of another common sign off that we have: In Jesus name, Amen. Those four words tend to close off every one of our prayers. Unfortunately, those words have become the words that we say with the least amount of thought about it. It’s just habit at this point. In reality though, those three words, in Jesus name, are the three most important words you say when you pray.
We don’t see any prayers in the NT that close with those three words, so where does it come from and what difference does it make? We say in Jesus name primarily because of what Jesus taught us about prayer in John 14-16. He repeats over and over in those three chapters prayer in his name: “Whatever you ask in my name” (John 14:13), “Whatever you ask the Father in my name” (John 15:16), “Whatever you ask of the Father in my name” (John 16:23). The repetition teaches us just how important it is to approach God in prayer in Jesus name. Why is praying in Jesus name so important? I’ll give you four reasons.
1. We Have Access to God in Jesus’s Name.
Every time we pray in Jesus name we are reminding ourselves how and why we can come near to the throne of God and make reverent, humble requests for ourselves and others. We can’t pray in Jesus name and think that we someone got there on our own. Every prayer in his name is a chance to remember that it is through the gospel of Jesus Christ that we have reconciliation with God and access to God.
Before you pray, every time you pray, remind yourself of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. You are approaching God based on his merits, not your own.
2. We Pray in Jesus Name Because Apart from Him, Our Prayers Accomplish Nothing.
Without Jesus, nothing is guaranteed in prayer. Jesus told his disciples plainly in John 15:5, “apart from me you can do nothing.” Without union with Jesus, the disciples would never produce in fruit for God. The same is true with prayer. Apart from Jesus in prayer, your prayers aren’t guaranteed to accomplish anything.
God wants to work through our prayers, but not the prayers that we offer up in our own name. He works through prayers offered up in Jesus name.
3. We Pray in Jesus Name Because Doing So Brings God Glory.
One thing has become clear as we have studied the gospel of John together on Sunday mornings: Jesus wants to point people to God the Father. When we pray in Jesus’s name we are joining Jesus in his mission to bring glory to God. Jesus tells us in John 14:13, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Jesus promises to put his signature on and perform the prayer requests that we offer in his name so that the Father will be glorified in him. So then, our prayers in Jesus name aren’t just in his name, they are for his name.
4. We Pray in Jesus Name So That Our Joy Will Be Full.
When we pray in Jesus name, God the Father and God the Son get the glory. But what do we get? We get fullness of joy! Jesus tells us in John 16:24, “Ask (in his name), and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
Christ increases our joy as we pray in his name and receive the requests that we ask. Why wouldn’t we want to pray in his name?
Savor Those Words
Don’t let in Jesus name become a throw away line at the end of your prayers. They aren’t our sign off to God in prayer. They are the most precious words that we will say when pray. Let them remind you of why you can pray in the first place. These words are not an afterthought in prayer, they are the doorway to prayer. So when you are finishing up saying a prayer, don’t rush through the last four words. Slow down. Cherish them. Think about them. Savor them.
Mark and Hannah Martinez
Boulder, CO
Praise the Lord as you read this report: "In our last video, I mentioned a man named Cross who began attending our church. He came from a rough home life and
a checkered past of street racing and drugs. His only religious exposure was to the Jehovah's Witness movement. He has
been a DJ and recording artist who has done work with some of the leading names in Rap and Hip-Hop music. One day
he was riding on the city bus when a lady from our church struck up a conversation with him. She began witnessing to
him and invited him to church. Indifferent to her pleas, he gave the tract to his sister who called us, asking for a ride to
church. After Tatyanita came, she was so excited she insisted that Cross come to church with her. After a couple of weeks
of attending the services and hearing the Gospel, I met with Cross for lunch, and spent an hour sharing the Gospel with
him. I proceeded to ask him if he had ever personally trusted and called on Jesus for salvation. I was surprised when he
said, 'Actually, yes! Just yesterday.' He had heard enough of the Gospel to understand it, and when asked on the bus by
a woman if he had ever asked Jesus to forgive his sin and save him, he prayed in that moment to receive Christ as His
Savior. We have seen God work in this way time and time again, and we are truly blessed to have a small part in the
conversion of precious souls like Cross. Please pray for his continued growth as he has already experienced much
opposition since trusting Christ. Both Cross and Tatyanita are planning to be baptized in the next couple of weeks, along with Destiny. We have others
that we have conversations planned about baptism and membership as God continues to establish our church in the
Boulder Valley."
Church: you can reach out to this family at
info@bvbcboulder.com and follow their page on Facebook here.
a checkered past of street racing and drugs. His only religious exposure was to the Jehovah's Witness movement. He has
been a DJ and recording artist who has done work with some of the leading names in Rap and Hip-Hop music. One day
he was riding on the city bus when a lady from our church struck up a conversation with him. She began witnessing to
him and invited him to church. Indifferent to her pleas, he gave the tract to his sister who called us, asking for a ride to
church. After Tatyanita came, she was so excited she insisted that Cross come to church with her. After a couple of weeks
of attending the services and hearing the Gospel, I met with Cross for lunch, and spent an hour sharing the Gospel with
him. I proceeded to ask him if he had ever personally trusted and called on Jesus for salvation. I was surprised when he
said, 'Actually, yes! Just yesterday.' He had heard enough of the Gospel to understand it, and when asked on the bus by
a woman if he had ever asked Jesus to forgive his sin and save him, he prayed in that moment to receive Christ as His
Savior. We have seen God work in this way time and time again, and we are truly blessed to have a small part in the
conversion of precious souls like Cross. Please pray for his continued growth as he has already experienced much
opposition since trusting Christ. Both Cross and Tatyanita are planning to be baptized in the next couple of weeks, along with Destiny. We have others
that we have conversations planned about baptism and membership as God continues to establish our church in the
Boulder Valley."
Church: you can reach out to this family at
info@bvbcboulder.com and follow their page on Facebook here.
Sunday Morning Service
Sunday Evening Service
Check out the music and Scripture texts for this Lord's Day.
Get Connected
Plan To Invite Someone To Church This Sunday
Do you feel connected to the fellowship family? Perhaps you have been attending Fellowship for a short time or even a long time but have yet to get connected to a core group of people to go through life with. We were made to have fellowship with one another and develop deep and strong relationships outside of our immediate family. One small step to get you in the right direction could be to join us this Sunday for our Connection Group time at 9:45am. You can contact our church office and ask for one of our pastor's to help get you connected to a group that fits your stage of life.
You can invite someone to church any Sunday of the year—there's no need to wait for a special occasion. Your friends and family can join our community of believers at any time! Consider stopping by the church to pick up an invitation card, which can help you start a conversation with someone you know this week.
Read this Sunday's sermon texts.
Sunday Morning: John 17:1-26
Sunday Evening: Ecclesiastes 3
Sunday Evening: Ecclesiastes 3
Spend Time Praising God.
Why wait until Sunday to sing or listen to the songs of our faith? Check out our setlist for this Sunday and get ready to join with God's people in worship.
Book of the Month | The Prodigal God
No Midweek Service | October 29
Trunk or Treat | October 31
FBA Fall Festival | November 7
Communion | November 23
No Midweek Service | November 26
No Midweek Service | October 29
Trunk or Treat | October 31
FBA Fall Festival | November 7
Communion | November 23
No Midweek Service | November 26
Prepare your mind and heart with some Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs this week. Use our church playlist
through the week and be encouraged by the music we will sing as a congregation this Lord's Day.
through the week and be encouraged by the music we will sing as a congregation this Lord's Day.
Sunday Morning Service
God Is For Us
Sing
Before The Throne Of God Above
Revelation Song
Sing
Before The Throne Of God Above
Revelation Song
Sunday Evening Service
All My Boast Is In Jesus
Psalm 34
He Will Hold Me Fast
Psalm 34
He Will Hold Me Fast
To listen to this Sunday's setlist, use one of the platform links below.
