TEACHING

When you seek God's forgiveness for your sins, that forgiveness is granted because of the worthiness of the blood of Jesus. His perfect blood washes away your sin. His cross is the gateway to our forgiveness and our entrance into Heaven.  We owe everything to Jesus.

A disturbing pattern is developing in our country.  Pastors leading great congregations of people are praying on television with sincerity and fancy words, and then ending their prayer with a simple, "Amen."  No mention of the Name of Jesus. They fail to ask the Father to grant those prayers based on the worthiness of the blood of Jesus. No mention of the Name of Jesus. We are granted the privilege to approach the throne of Almighty God and make our requests only by His Name.  Instead, their prayer ends with a simple, "Amen."

Did they pray too long and run out of time, and so they rushed to the end of their prayer?  Not at all. They are choosing to pray politically correct prayers.  You see, when we pray the Name of Jesus, it brings fireworks.  The Name of Jesus offends the delicate ears of those who are going through the motions of religion.  Those who grudgingly acknowledge there is a God, but refuse to bow the knee to the Son of God.  Failing to pray the Name of Jesus offends God. I guess the great question becomes:  Who are we willing to offend?

The cross through which we are forgiven was the plan of God the Father.  John 3:16 is more than a group of words to memorize. It is the simplest expression of why we are forgiven. "For God (the Father) so loved the world that He gave His only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) will not die but will have everlasting life."  Have you ever considered what that entailed for the Father? The Father placed all the filth and debt of our arrogance, immorality, pride, boasting, cheating, treason, and rejection ––all our sin––onto His perfect Son Jesus so that the Father could forgive us.

We respond by running to God casually and occasionally, when we need something because we've made foolish choices based on selfishness. We treat the Father like He is our sugar daddy, our rich grandfather in Heaven who fixes our messes. Worst of all, we deliberately choose not to ask in the Name of Jesus because ... well, you know ... that Name offends people. What a sad commentary that even believers are ashamed to claim His Name. We need to search ourselves. Are we ashamed to speak the Name of Jesus?  Are we showing our children and grandchildren a bad example?

How many people in your life know that you are a Christian?  How many people hear you speak the Name of Jesus? If your family members, close friends, neighbors and co-workers were asked to describe you, would they include "definitely a Christian" in their description?

Jesus clearly taught that believers will love and honor the Father and the Son.

John 5:22-23:  "The Father has given the Son absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent Him."

1John 5:1:  "Everyone who loves the Father loves the Son."

1 John 5:20:  "We know the Son of God has come and He has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with God because we live in fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ."

God's Word is clear.  Loving the Father is demonstrated by loving and obeying His Son, Jesus. To love the Father we must love the Son too. Praying to God without asking in the Name of His Son Jesus, whose blood has allowed us access to God's throne, is offensive to God. Jesus encourages us to pray in His Name so that the Father will be glorified (John 14:13-14)  God has given us the Name of Jesus as a precious gift. Teach your children and grandchildren to love Jesus. Pray often and aloud in your home.  Speak His Name. Honor His Name. Pray in His Name.

"Father, thank you for the precious gift of Your Son. Thank you that we are invited and encouraged to pray in the Name of Jesus all day. Help us to teach our children and grandchildren to pray and to love your Son, Jesus. Help us to always honor Father and Son. In the Name of Jesus, we pray.  Amen."