March
1, 2003
CHRIST'S
PRAYER PROMISES
"I
tell you, he who has faith in me will do what I am doing;
and he will do greater things still because I am going to
the Father. Indeed, anything you ask in my name I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask
anything in My name I will do it" (John 14:12-14, NEB).
Jesus
"was deeply anxious for His disciples to understand for
what purpose His divinity was united to humanity. He came
to the world to display the glory of God, that man might be
uplifted by its restoring power. God was manifested in Him
that He might be manifested in them. Jesus revealed no qualities,
and exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith
in Him. His perfect humanity is that which all His followers
may possess, if they will be in subjection to God as [Jesus]
was.
"And
he will do greater things still because I am going to the
Father"
(John 14:12). "By this Jesus did not mean that the disciples'
work would be of a more exalted character than His, but that
it would have greater extent. He did not refer merely to miracle
working, but to all that would take place under the working
of the Holy Spirit" (The
Desire of Ages, pp., 389, 390).
The disciples
were not yet acquainted with the Saviour's unlimited resources
and power. He said to them, "Indeed,
anything you ask in My name I will do, so that the Father
may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name
I will do it" (John 14:13, 14). "So
far you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive,
that your joy may be complete" (John 16:24). "If
you dwell in Me and My words dwell in you, ask what you will
and you shall have it" (John 15:7).
On another
occasion, Jesus said, "I say to
you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you
receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand
praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him,
that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses"
(Mark 11:24-26).
"These
things I have written to you who believe in the name of the
Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,..
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we
ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we
know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have
the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:13-15).
He who
believes in Jesus will do what Jesus does and His prayers
will be answered.
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