“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly,
I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He
will give you.”
John 16:23 (NKJV)

READ: John 16:16–24

In the above Bible passage, Jesus talks about that day in which believers—His disciples—would not direct their requests or prayers to Him but to God through His name. We are now in the
day He talked about.

The word ‘day’ in the passage refers to a dispensation—a period,
time, season, or era in which prayers would be directed to God the
Father through Jesus’ name.

Believers are not to ask Jesus for what they need, but God (John 16:23). The prayers should be directed to God the Father. However, the prayer would have to be channelled through Jesus Christ; we ask in His name (John 16:23). If you are asking Jesus to do something for you, you are missing it. You should ask God the Father, but through Jesus’ name (John 16:23).

If a prayer reaches God’s throne through Jesus’ name, it would be given special treatment and attention. Any prayer that would be honoured or answered by heaven must come through Jesus’ name (John 14:6). Not Mary’s name or the name of any saints. There is no other name through which man can be saved, or through which God can be accessed, except through Jesus’ name:

“NOR IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED.”
Acts 4:12 (NKJV)

No other name is recognised in heaven through which a prayer can be honoured or answered (John 16:23). The name of Jesus is honoured because of what He did—the sacrifice He made and the price He paid (Philippians 2:5–11). Jesus’ humility and obedience to God the Father caused His name to be exalted above every other name in heaven, on earth, and under the earth (Philippians 2:9–11).

Note these important points:
• He paid the price for mankind’s sin—He was the atonement, propitiation, or appeasement for our sin (1 John 2:1,2).
• No name is recognised and honoured in heaven, on earth, or underneath the earth except the name of Jesus (Philippians 2:9,10).
• You can only access or reach God through Jesus’ name (John
14:6).

It is unfortunate that many are bound with the shackle of religion
and they are praying through the names of the leaders of their religions. Some who claim to be Christians are also deluded and they pray in the names of some notable men in their denomination whom they consider as saints.

Who is a saint?
• A saint is someone who is born-again.
• Someone who accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
• Someone who has established a relationship with God through
Jesus Christ.
• A person is not declared a saint after his death, when his work might have been assessed and verified as qualifying him to be declared a saint.

You are a saint the moment you accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord. This can be seen in most of the epistles written to different churches in different nations in the time of the early apostles; they addressed those epistles to the saints:

“TO ALL WHO ARE IN ROME, BELOVED OF GOD, CALLED
TO BE SAINTS.” - Romans 1:7 (NKJV)

“TO THE SAINTS WHO ARE IN EPHESUS, AND FAITHFUL
IN CHRIST JESUS.” - Ephesians 1:1 (NKJV)

“TO ALL THE SAINTS IN CHRIST JESUS WHO ARE IN PHILIPPI, WITH THE BISHOPS AND DEACONS.”
Philippians 1:1 (NKJV)

“TO THE SAINTS AND FAITHFUL BRETHREN IN CHRIST WHO ARE IN COLOSSE.” - Colossians 1:2 (NKJV)

We could see that all the churches and people to whom the epistles
mentioned above were addressed are believers in those churches,
not the clergy.

Thus, if you are a born-again believer in Christ Jesus, you are a saint! No saint should be made equal with Jesus Christ to the point that you pray in the saint’s name. The only name through which God can be accessed is Jesus’ name (John 14:6). Whatever you ask in Jesus’ name shall be done by God the Father (John 16:23).

Reflect:
• Are you praying directly to God the Father through Jesus’ name,
or have you been directing prayers elsewhere?
• As a born-again believer, do you fully understand and walk in
your identity as a saint?

Peace!

The Edification Daily Devotional for June is out.
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EdificationDailyDevotional