feeding . . . gathering . . . carrying . . . leading . (Isaiah 40:11)

Dear family,

On Sunday, as we continued our “ASK” series, I only had time to take a brief look at the contexts in which Jesus used the phrase: “ask in my name.” There are six occasions in the upper room discourse when Jesus speaks of asking in his name. The context is important for our understanding of their meaning. Jesus is celebrating the first communion as it were; he is about to walk to the cross and finish the work the Father gave him to do. The entire backdrop to the asking that Jesus is talking about is the work of redemption that he is going to complete through his death, resurrection, ascension and glorification. We should not be surprised to discover then that this asking has perhaps got something to do with asking for what Jesus died for. The recorded references are as follows:

John 14: 13-14 : 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 15:16 : You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 16:23, 24, 26 : 23In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. 26In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.

Jesus makes it quite clear to the disciples that he is going away but that when they see him again, (after the resurrection) an entirely new era will have begun which will bring them into a totally new experience of prayer. Up till now, they had been asking things of Jesus, they had been praying their Jewish prayers. But after the resurrection, an entirely new way of asking would be inaugurated. Post-resurrection they go from doubting questions to bold asking. Jesus will be physically absent, but by asking in his name they will continue to experience the presence of God. This is an extraordinary revelation. Asking is a sign of his presence. Asking becomes a vital link with Jesus. It’s almost as if asking replaces sight. Blessed are those who have not seen yet believe. But we know from Jesus’ words that those who believe ask. Post-resurrection asking is about to go heavenly, go holily ballistic. “Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also asking for us.” (Roms. 8:34) “Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to ask for them.” (Hebrs.7:24-25) What is it that will be the brilliant new revelation, the new key to prayer? Simply, they will now ask in Jesus’ name. And did they ever! Acts 1:14 “They all joined together constantly in asking…” What was it that Jesus said he would ask the Father for in the upper room? He was going to ask for the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. The story of the church begins with them asking the Father in Jesus’ name in an upper room for the same thing Jesus asked for – and the answer was the day of Pentecost!

“In Jesus’ name.” What does this mean? This is not complicated or difficult to understand. Why would it be if God is so eager to get us to ask of Him? He is not planting landmines on the way to the throne. On the contrary, there is a new access and we have a new confidence to approach. “Therefore since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens…let us approach the throne of grace with confidence…” (Hebrs.4: 14-16) “Therefore, since we have confidence to enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is his body… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” (Hebrs.10:19-22) If the enemy can challenge the grounds of assurance, we will lose confidence to approach, not avail ourselves of access and consequently cease to ask in Jesus’ name.

Simply and briefly, what are some of the things we need to understand about that phrase “in my name”? You can ask confidently in someone’s name if that someone has a claim on the one being asked. We have no claims on God. We cannot argue our desserts and merits. But when we ask on the grounds of Jesus’ claims of the Father, not least, claiming us as his inheritance through his obedience unto death, even the death of the cross; his claim and right to access to the Father; his claim of relationship with the Father; his claim upon the will of the Father because he only does what the Father wills… when I ask in the name of the one who has the claims on the one being asked… when I ask in the name of Jesus of the Father… when I am allowed as it were to sign my asking with his signature, then I am heard and my asking is acknowledged, received and responded to. Jesus gives us the right to use his name to access the resources of the Father and make our claim. So this means that we can never ask anything in Jesus’ name without being worshipfully conscious of the fact that Jesus is our mediator. We can never forget that eucharist was the context for Jesus’ teaching about asking. Here is a wonderful quote from a great evangelical theologian, Donald Bloesch (also quoted by Richard Foster in his book on prayer): “To pray in the name of Christ means to pray in the awareness that our prayers have no worthiness or efficacy apart from his atoning sacrifice and redemptive mediation” It is only through Jesus, it is only because of the price that he paid, that I can ask. All asking in Jesus’ name is grounded on the finished work of Christ. In the upper room, Jesus knew that once he fulfilled the will of the Father, once he had drunk of that cup, then the floodgates of asking would be opened for all. “In Jesus’ name” is therefore no cheap slogan. And it cannot be a rubber stamp on just anything we want to ask. Does the “whatsoever” we ask for pass the test of what Jesus died for, died to obtain for us?4

But what does asking in Jesus’ name say about us? This is where it gets amazingly awesome. In a sense, we are Jesus’ representatives, we are his ambassadors. He has given us a passport with his name and insignia on it that gives us total spiritual diplomatic access to the heavenly throne. When we ask in the name of Jesus, it is, as it were, as if we are asking in his place, in his stead, on his part. It’s as if he made the prayer. He makes our prayer his prayer. All of who he is, all of his titles, all of his character and nature, all of his personhood, all of his works, all of his words are applied to what is being asked for. In a theology of prayer, one writer put it that to pray in Jesus’ name was “to ask a thing of God the Father on the foundation of the revelation which Jesus has given us of himself and his work.” It’s a perfect triple A! We have been accepted by him, we have been appointed as his representative to ask the Father and we have been fully authorized by being given all the rights of access and claim that he has. No wonder we can be bold and confident! But to be his representative, to be able to ask personally for ourselves in is name, it means that we can only ask what is concordant with his will. We will ask for what he wants. We can only ask what he himself would ask for – “his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Roms. 12:2) Foster puts it like this: “It means that we are making the kinds of intercessions he would make if he were among us in the flesh.” It’s like saying that it’s what Jesus would ask for at the night of prayer! When Jesus says, “Ask what you will” it is already founded on the assumption that your will, like his will, is only to do the will of the Father. Asking out of our own willfulness does not carry the promise of being answered. Summarizing what I have said, praying in Jesus’ name is about: having a full assurance of his saving work for us, and being in full accord with his will for us.

This means that “whatsoever”, “anything” and “what you will” is in fact conditioned by whatsoever is within the scope of his work, by anything that is his desire for us, by whatever we will of his will for us. Basic to understanding Jesus’ words about asking “in his name” in the upper room is the fact that they are predicated on the conditions he mentions: intimacy (Jn.14:2); abiding (Jn.15:7); indwelling word (Jn.15:7); believing (Jn.14:12); loving and obeying (Jn.15: 9-10); being solely motivated for the glory of God as the outcome (Jn. 14:13-14). Our asking is not primarily determined by how well we know ourselves, and our needs. It is primarily determined, if it is going to be in Jesus’ name, by simply how well we know Jesus. Furthermore, Jesus links this asking to doing his “works” and to our bearing “fruit”. These two things are inextricably linked. The “actings” of God (the works) are related to the “askings” of the disciples (ask in my name). The continuity of Jesus’ work is going to be through effective asking. Period. It is not our wants here that are fueling the asking but his works! If you have a desire to do Jesus’ works, to be fruitful you will ask in Jesus’ name. “He will do…I will do…ask” (Jn. 14:12- 13). So what can we assume dominates our asking? Asking for what we need to do the work of Jesus! Asking for the work of Jesus to be manifest! Asking for what we need to bear fruit, fruit that will last! Is this what dominates our asking or do we never get out into God’s world out of the garage of our own private world. Asking in his name is the fuel for working in his name. “Whoever wants to do the work of Jesus must ask in his name.” (Murray)

The difference between mature and immature asking is the knowledge of Jesus. The difference between godly and fleshly asking is intimacy with Jesus. Before Jesus told the disciples that they could ask in his name, he called them friends. Why? Because everything he learned from the Father he had made known to them. It is intimacy that is the context for learning the heart and will of the beloved, which means we know what to ask for. I have already emphasized in this series the fact that asking is all about relating. Thus it is a committed and intentional and deep relationship with Jesus that will inevitably be long on asking in his name. Intimacy expresses itself in intercession. Abiding overflows in asking. Love for others fuels our asking. Friendship with God tutors us in “the master’s business” (to use Jesus’ phrase) which informs us of his will which feeds our asking. By the way, so much is asking a delight of intimacy that Jesus says to ask so that your joy may be full. That’s joy in the asking, not conditional on the answers! By the way, all the conditions for asking “in Jesus’ name” produce joy. When Jesus laid down the pre-conditions of loving and obeying for asking he said: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (Jn. 15:11) You see, to pray in his name, is essentially to be in union with him, to be so identified with him, and he with us, that we share the name. His name becomes our name for the purposes of accessing, approaching and asking. His ID is ours and it is not identity fraud!

Pastorally yours,
Stuart

http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)

Announcements

MEN’S BREAKFAST: Men, you are invited to our monthly men’s breakfast, April 24th from 9-10:30. Join us for a time of fellowship and hearing the word. Our theme this year is “Overcoming.”

WOMEN’S MINISTRY:

Sunday, April 24th is the very last week to register for our annual women's retreat! The dates are May 1-2 and we'd love to have you join us. Our theme is “An Anchor for the Soul: Rediscovering our Living Hope.” Cost is $80 but scholarships are available. See us at the table in the lobby after church to register and contact Trudy Sharp if you have any questions - trudyrsharp@gmail.com.
Our Friday night Bible study this month will be this coming Friday (April 23rd), from 7-9 pm. Tritia Yuen hosts us for dinner and study. and we're looking at the book of Colossians. We look forward to you joining us - let Tritia know if you are planning to come, tritiayuen@gmail.com.

EVENING OF HEALING PRAYER: The Evening of Healing Prayer will be held on Tuesday, April 27th at 7:30 PM. This prayer service is open to all those currently attending a COSC homegroup. If you would like to schedule a 30 minute prayer appointment, or attend the service for a time of silent prayer, please call the church office by the end of this week, 202-544-9599.

For general questions or building use inquiries, send an e-mail to office@christourshepherd.org.

To communicate updates for the pastoral letter and/or the church bulletin, send an e-mail to ben@christourshepherd.org. The church bulletin will be completed by end of day on Thursdays.

GROUP LUNCH AFTER CHURCH: Nancy Chan and Andy Newens will be leading a Group Lunch After Church at COSI, 3rd & Pennsylvania SE. Look for Andy and Nancy outside in front of the church or meet at the restaurant.

HEALING PRAYER CONFERENCE: Judith MacNutt, of Christian Healing Ministries, will be leading a healing prayer conference at the Falls Church on May 5-6. For more information, visit www.thefallschurch.org/ healing.

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Ads will be posted for up to 4 weeks. After that time period,
please contact the church office to see if space will permit the
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HOUSING AVAILABLE: Looking for CF in Chinatown, beginning May 15. Sunroom-option to purchase furniture for room at discount. 2 blocks from metro, shops, grocery, restaurants Shared bathroom, W/D, A/C, 24-hour gym, high-speed wireless internet and cable, Shared with 2 roommates. We're looking for a CF in her 20's or 30's who's neat and friendly. $775/mo + utils (approx $65/mo) + small signing fee. Contact Erin, ehespe@gmail.com or Krystel, krystelp@gmail.com if interested.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: Room for rent—4 miles NE of church in Mount Rainier, MD. Looking for a male. Beautiful, clean and spacious 14x20 ft. private, upstairs room in renovated historic home. W/D, A/C, $500/mo. + 1/4 utilities. Near bus line. Contact trobry@msn.com.

HOUSING WANTED FOR MONGOLIAN INTERN: My name is Javkhaa Ganbaatar, and I am a Mongolian graduate student at Regent. Before coming to America, I served my home church in various roles. I will be interning with a Congressman between May 15-June 30 and am looking for a free or inexpensive room to stay in for maximum 4-6 weeks on Capitol Hill or Downtown. Please let me know if you need more information or have any questions, javkhlantugs.ganbaatar@cbn.org.

HOUSING WANTED FOR LEGAL AID INTERN: Christian Legal Aid of DC is searching for rooming for a male intern from Apr. 25—mid July. He is a single, 37 year old male, currently in the National Guard and in law school at Regent. Contact Brent McBurney ASAP if you have space available, brent.mcburney@gmail.com.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED: The ‘859 House’ is an after school meeting facility for about 17 boys ages 8-17, a space used for fellowship and mentoring. They are looking for a Computerwise volunteer to help with computer maintenance. Youth frequently use their out-ofdate computers for homework and other activities. Contact Dorothy Logans if interested, dorothy.logans@gmail.com.

NONPROFIT SEMINAR: Nancy Chan will be teaching a 5-hour non-credit seminar on program evaluation for nonprofits through NYACK’s Community Development Program here in DC, Sat. May 8 from 9am-3pm. The course will provide and overview of essential elements for outcome-based program evaluation gear towards the use of nonprofits. Please email Nancy nhchan@gmail.com for more details, including cost and registration.