NINTH DAY.
The Name of Jesus the Power of Intercession.
“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name. At that day ye shall ask in My name: ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” – John. xvi. 24, 26.
During Christ’s life upon earth. disciples had known but little the of power of prayer. In Gethsemane, Peter and the others had utterly failed. They had no conception of what it was to ask in the name of Jesus, and to receive. The Lord promised them that in that day which was coming they would be able to pray with such a power in His name, that they might ask what they would, and it shoruld be given to them.
“Hitherto nothing.” “In that day ye shall ask in My name and shall receive.” These two conditions are still found in the Church. With the great majonty of Christians there is such a lack of knowledge of their oneness with Christ Jesus and of the Holy Spirit as the Spint of prayer, that they do not even attem to claim the wonderful promises Christ here gives. But where God’s children know what it is to abide in Christ and in vital union with Him, and to yield to the Holy Spirit’s teaching, they begin to learn that their intercession avails much and that God will give the power of His Spirit in answer to their prayer.
It is faith in the power of Jesus’ name, and in our right to use it, that will give us the courage to follow on where God invites us to the holy office of intercessors. When our Lord Jesus, in His farewell gave His unlimited prayer promise. He sent the disciples out into whe world with this consciousness: “He who sits upon the throne, and who lives in my heart, has promised that what I ask in His name I shall receive. He will do it”
Oh, if Christians but knew what it is to yield themselves wholy and absolately to Jesus Christ and His srvice, how their eyes would be opened to see that intense nad unceasing prayertaloes is the ensential mark of the healthy spiritual life; and that the power of all prevailing intercession will indeed be the porton of those who live only in and for their Lord !
BLESSED Saviour, give us the grace of the Holy Spinit, so to live im Thee, and with Thee, arid for Thee, that we may boldly look to Thee for the assurance that our prayers are heard.
AMEN.