Grace Fellowship Grace Fellowship ChurchChurch

Pastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

John 15:16John 15:16

Predestined to Glorify Predestined to Glorify God!God!

Protocol for PrayerProtocol for Prayer

John 15:16,John 15:16, “ “You all yourselves did not choose Me, on the You all yourselves did not choose Me, on the

contrary I Myself have chosen you all and contrary I Myself have chosen you all and appointed you all for the purpose that you might appointed you all for the purpose that you might keep on going out (under the authority of God’s keep on going out (under the authority of God’s Word), and you all might keep on bearing fruit Word), and you all might keep on bearing fruit

(Divine Good Production), and your fruit, it might (Divine Good Production), and your fruit, it might keep on remaining (with the result of eternal keep on remaining (with the result of eternal

rewards), for the purpose rewards), for the purpose that whatever you all that whatever you all ask the Father in (the sphere of) My name (God’s ask the Father in (the sphere of) My name (God’s

protocol plan for our prayers), He (God the protocol plan for our prayers), He (God the Father) may give to you all (answered prayers).”Father) may give to you all (answered prayers).”

God gives us power and God gives us power and provisions for the fulfillment provisions for the fulfillment of His Pre-designed Protocol of His Pre-designed Protocol

Plan for our lives, through Plan for our lives, through preparation, application, preparation, application,

rewards, protocol and rewards, protocol and assurance.assurance.

Principles of Praying Principles of Praying “In His Name”“In His Name”

When Jesus used the term When Jesus used the term “name”, He signified the “name”, He signified the

ideas of being, personality, ideas of being, personality, and character. and character.

Therefore, “In the sphere Therefore, “In the sphere of My name”, conveys the of My name”, conveys the concept of praying in the concept of praying in the sphere of His ownership, sphere of His ownership,

protection, presence, protection, presence, power, glory, etc. power, glory, etc.

That is, offering prayer that That is, offering prayer that is in agreement or harmony is in agreement or harmony with the manifested nature with the manifested nature

of Jesus Christ.of Jesus Christ.

This also means to pray by This also means to pray by His authority, to ask on behalf His authority, to ask on behalf

of Christ, as belonging to of Christ, as belonging to Him, as authorized by Him to Him, as authorized by Him to

approach the Father. approach the Father. Heb 4:16 Heb 4:16

This is identification with This is identification with the person of Christ. To the person of Christ. To pray “in His name” is pray “in His name” is

tantamount to praying in tantamount to praying in union with Christ. union with Christ.

To pray “in My name” is to To pray “in My name” is to pray from the vantage point of pray from the vantage point of a new and exalted position, the a new and exalted position, the

position we occupy in Him.position we occupy in Him.2 Cor 5:14-21; Gal 6:15 cf. 2 Cor 5:14-21; Gal 6:15 cf.

Rom 6:23; 1 Cor 1:30; Rom 6:23; 1 Cor 1:30; Gal 3:26; Eph 1:allGal 3:26; Eph 1:all

Rom 6:23,Rom 6:23,“For the wages of sin is “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of death, but the free gift of

God is eternal life in Christ God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”Jesus our Lord.”

1 Cor 1:30,1 Cor 1:30,“But by His doing you are in “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and us wisdom from God, and

righteousness and righteousness and sanctification, and sanctification, and

redemption.”redemption.”

Gal 3:26,Gal 3:26,“For you are all sons of “For you are all sons of

God through faith in Christ God through faith in Christ Jesus.”Jesus.”

This was a new and This was a new and startling concept reserved startling concept reserved for “that day”, (i.e., the for “that day”, (i.e., the

Church Age). It was Church Age). It was something that until that something that until that point they had not done. point they had not done.

Once the “in My name” praying Once the “in My name” praying began, Christ’s personal began, Christ’s personal

intercession would not be intercession would not be necessary to give validity to our necessary to give validity to our prayers, John 16:23-26, although prayers, John 16:23-26, although

He maintains that role, Rom He maintains that role, Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25; 9:24; 1John 2:1.8:34; Heb 7:25; 9:24; 1John 2:1.

A. H. Strong, “Christ and the A. H. Strong, “Christ and the believer have the same life. They believer have the same life. They are not separate persons linked are not separate persons linked

together by some temporary bond together by some temporary bond of friendship; they are united by a of friendship; they are united by a tie as close and indissoluble as if tie as close and indissoluble as if

the same blood ran in their veins.”the same blood ran in their veins.”

Because the believer is always Because the believer is always positionally “in Christ”, the positionally “in Christ”, the

fact that six times Christ fact that six times Christ conditioned prayers in this conditioned prayers in this

way indicates that the way indicates that the condition is more than being condition is more than being

positionally “in Christ.” positionally “in Christ.”

Therefore, it means that a Therefore, it means that a believer is to pray, believer is to pray,

consciously aware of his consciously aware of his exalted position in Christ.exalted position in Christ.

There is nothing wrong There is nothing wrong with ending a prayer with with ending a prayer with

the phrase, “in Jesus’ the phrase, “in Jesus’ name, amen”, or the like.name, amen”, or the like.

But, you may want to But, you may want to repeat the phrase at the repeat the phrase at the beginning of a prayer, beginning of a prayer, reminding yourself at reminding yourself at

the outset that you the outset that you are “in Christ”. are “in Christ”.

The real issue is to make sure The real issue is to make sure that you pray “consciously that you pray “consciously

aware” of being “in Christ”. aware” of being “in Christ”. The issue is the mentality of The issue is the mentality of

your soul when praying, being your soul when praying, being highly aware of your eternal highly aware of your eternal

union with TLJC.union with TLJC.

Grace OfferingGrace Offering

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

Sunday, September 19, 2010Sunday, September 19, 2010

Tape # 10-103Tape # 10-103

Predestined to Glorify God, Part 8 Predestined to Glorify God, Part 8 Upper Room Discourse, Part 417Upper Room Discourse, Part 417

John 15:16; 2 Cor 5:14-21; Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25 John 15:16; 2 Cor 5:14-21; Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010