How often do we conclude our prayers with the phrase “in Jesus’ name” without really understanding what that statement means? For some it may be recited more out of habit than any declaration of faith. In effect, it becomes a way of simply saying, “I’m done praying now.” But as we read this passage of Hebrews, we are shown that it means that Jesus has been given “a more excellent name…” even than the angels. In quote after quote from the Old Testament, we discover the true prophetic meaning of these passages. In them we hear the Father give “names” to His Son Jesus. And then once we’ve seen the wonder of Jesus’ name, we’ll marvel all the more that He has given us the right as His disciples to pray “in His name.” The implications of this truth are enormous and if we lay hold of it for ourselves, it will dramatically change how we pray. In fact, it will teach us to expect God to answer every prayer we pray. And hopefully we never again close our prayers with the words, “in Jesus’ name” without a burst of faith filling our hearts.
1. Definition: “Name”
• The name by which a person or thing is called.
• The title which describes the relationship a person has with others.
• The title which expresses a person’s true character or nature

2. “A more excellent name”: What has the Father said about Him?
• Son (v 2, 5, 8)
• Firstborn (v 6)
• The One who angels worship (v 6)
• Eternal King
• Sinless (v 9)
• The One baptized in the Holy Spirit (v 9)
• Yahweh (v 10)
• Creator of earth and heavens (v 10)
• Eternal (v 11)
• Unchangeable (v 12)
• Rightful heir (v 13)
• Son of Man (vs 2:6-8)

3. The Great Commission: What did Jesus say?
“All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on earth…” (Mt. 28:18)

4. Here’s what Paul says:
• Eph. 1:20-22
• Php. 2:9-11
• Col. 2:10

5.The problem: Though the Father has ordered all things to submit to His Son, it’s obvious that many things are still in rebellion.
• “He left nothing that is not subject to Him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to Him.” (Heb 2:5)

6. But here’s the incredibly good news. He has given His disciples the privilege of asking the Father in His name.
• Jn. 16:23-28
• The key to answered prayer and the release of power is to pray and minister in His name.
• What does this mean? Here are three main elements:
- “Father I believe what you have said about your Son. I have submitted to Him as His disciple and am now seeking to fulfill His will. Please answer my prayer as if Jesus Himself were asking you.”
- Faith in Jesus
- Submission to Him as His disciple
- Confidence that the Father wants to answer my prayer.

7.How does this change the way we pray?
• The focus of our faith is in the power of Jesus, not ourselves.
- “Do you believe I am able to do this?” (Mt. 9:27-29)
- Do you believe the Father would answer my prayer? When you come in My Name it’s as though I were asking Him.
- Faith is easy when you focus on Jesus rather than yourself.
• We pray as disciples wholly submitted to Him.
- We prepare ourselves by submitting to His commands (forgive, Mt 6:14; confess, Jas 5:16; cleanse our motives, Jas 4:3).
- Before we pray we seek His will just as He sought His Father’s (Jn 4:34; 5:30; 6:38).
A. “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us, and if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” (1Jn 5:14, 15)
B. “Your kingdom come, your will be done…” (Mt 6:10)
• We boldly ask and expect our prayers to be answered because it is as though Jesus Himself were asking the Father.
- “For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes…” (2 Co 1:20)
- “…all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.” (1 Co 3:22, 23)
- Our ultimate request is for God’s will to be done. We aren’t afraid of His will because we’ve learned to trust Him completely.
- In fact we expect Him to do more than we’ve asked because He is “…able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think…” (Eph 3:20)
- The more humble and trusting our heart is, the freer we are able to ask anything because we are just as happy to be told “no” or corrected. In fact, we prefer to be told “no” if we ask amiss. Above all, we want His perfect will because He knows best.
• We keep requests before Him as long as necessary. Not because we doubt He heard us or must be reluctantly pushed into helping us, but because we realize there are spiritual factors at play which affect how long it may take to see His answer. We also respect people’s right to say “no” to God, so sometimes His will won’t be done in a situation but He will still cause all things to work for good for us in the long run.

8. Application
This privilege in prayer that Jesus has given us of praying “in His name” is the foundation of all effective ministry. Prayer is where everything begins, so a disciple must learn to build prayer into his or her life:
• Daily conversations with God
• Personal devotions (listening more than talking)
• Corporate agreeing prayer with other believers

9. Questions
1) What new insight did you learn about prayer from this message?
2) Describe when and where you regularly make time to pray.