Asking Anything

Peng: I am praying that Team A wins tonight's Cup Final.

Yong: I support Team B, and I have been praying from the beginning that they win!

Chia: Well there will only be one winner tonight. How is God going to answer both your prayers?

Peng: Well I have faith in my prayers.

Chia: Really?! So how much have you betted on Team A?

Peng: Nah, I don’t bet!

Yong: So much for faith. I have betted $500 at 7:3 odds that Team B is the Cup Champions.

Chia: Only $500? And not all your money and more? And also what makes you so sure God hears you and not Peng?

Yong: I am not sure about Peng, but I am just taking Jesus' word simply and at face value, and claiming what He had promised. He said if we asked anything in his name, He will do it.*

*[John 14:14].

Peng: I sincerely believed that God hears me too, and I have certainly also prayed in Jesus' name. But I see what Chia is driving at. Surely one of our prayers will not happen, and one of us will be taking God's name in vain. But Chia, didn’t Jesus said that you can ask anything we want? How then do we have this contradiction?

** [John 14:14; 15:7; 15:16; 16:23,24]

Chia: Well Jesus did indeed say we can ask anything, but did Jesus say that anyone can ask anything, and He will do it.

Also remember the story in Acts? In that story some Jews tried to cast out demons in Jesus name, but the demon said, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"*** and jumped on them and beat them.

So it is clear that it is not the thing asked that matter but the one who asked that makes the difference.

In the gospel of John some of these things that marked the person whom God will grant anything are those that have faith in and loves Jesus, remaining and abiding in Jesus, possesses the Holy Spirit, and asking in Jesus' name.

*** [Acts 19:13-16]

Yong: So then in this light, how, or rather, who should pray for the outcome of tonight's Cup Final? And do we not all conclude our prayers in Jesus name? Are we not asking in Jesus name?

Chia: Well if you are then how come one of your prayers will certainly not be answered. Asking in Jesus name is not saying the words, "In Jesus name", like some mantra or magic word. Asking in Jesus' name is asking as if Jesus would have asked himself, or asking in the authority and representation as Christ's servant on earth.

So when the demons are commanded to leave in Jesus' name, it is the same as if Jesus himself had commanded the demons. So if you do not have the authority from God to be his servant, you are in no position to represent Jesus and to ask anything in his name.

Yong: So how then do we pray?

Peng: Thy will be done, thy kingdom come ...?

Chia: Do you not think that this might be an inappropriate thing to pray at all? There may be things that we should not pray for. For example what good will it brings to anyone if either Team A or Team B wins? Will God be glorified?

And the people that win their bets tonight will glorify whatever god or gods they have prayed too. And God's name indeed will have been used in vain, debased to be made equal with any other gods'.

We will then have prostituted the promises of God for our earthy lusts for money and wealth. And we have abused God's gift of prayer, intended for God's work, bearing fruit and for our equipping, strengthening and sustainment, for something base and worthless.