Grace Fellowship Grace Fellowship ChurchChurch

Pastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

Thursday, Thursday, September 16, 2010September 16, 2010

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

DoxologyDoxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Amen.Amen.

Memory VerseMemory Verse

Phil 2:5, Phil 2:5, “Have this attitude in “Have this attitude in

yourselves which was also yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.”in Christ Jesus.”

John 15:16John 15:16

Predestined to Glorify Predestined to Glorify God!God!

Protocol for PrayerProtocol for Prayer

John 15:16,John 15:16, “ “You all yourselves did not choose Me, on the You all yourselves did not choose Me, on the

contrary I Myself have chosen you all and contrary I Myself have chosen you all and appointed you all for the purpose that you might appointed you all for the purpose that you might keep on going out (under the authority of God’s keep on going out (under the authority of God’s Word), and you all might keep on bearing fruit Word), and you all might keep on bearing fruit

(Divine Good Production), and your fruit, it might (Divine Good Production), and your fruit, it might keep on remaining (with the result of eternal keep on remaining (with the result of eternal

rewards), for the purpose rewards), for the purpose that whatever you all that whatever you all ask the Father in (the sphere of) My name (God’s ask the Father in (the sphere of) My name (God’s

protocol plan for our prayers), He (God the protocol plan for our prayers), He (God the Father) may give to you all (answered prayers).”Father) may give to you all (answered prayers).”

God gives us power and God gives us power and provisions for the fulfillment provisions for the fulfillment of His Pre-designed Protocol of His Pre-designed Protocol

Plan for our lives, through Plan for our lives, through preparation, application, preparation, application,

rewards, protocol and rewards, protocol and assurance.assurance.

Principles of Praying Principles of Praying “In His Name”“In His Name”

1. Christ associates prayer 1. Christ associates prayer with productivity (fruit with productivity (fruit

bearing) even as He bearing) even as He associated it with “doing” associated it with “doing”

in John 14:13. in John 14:13.

2. We must accomplish 2. We must accomplish Christian ministry or Christian ministry or

service not merely by our service not merely by our asking, but by God’s asking, but by God’s

performance, “ask and it performance, “ask and it will be given to you.” will be given to you.”

3. We are instructed to direct 3. We are instructed to direct our prayers to the Father, yet our prayers to the Father, yet

both Christ and the Father both Christ and the Father are directly involved in are directly involved in granting our requests. granting our requests. John 14:13 cf. 15:16John 14:13 cf. 15:16

4. The “prayer condition” 4. The “prayer condition” is stated with a third class is stated with a third class condition (maybe), yet in a condition (maybe), yet in a

more probable future more probable future condition.condition.

Therefore, it is your Therefore, it is your volitional responsibility to volitional responsibility to

apply God’s protocol to apply God’s protocol to your prayer life, “in the your prayer life, “in the sphere of Jesus Christ”. sphere of Jesus Christ”.

5. Fruitful ministries are 5. Fruitful ministries are connected to and connected to and

dependent upon prayer “in dependent upon prayer “in Christ’s name.” Christ’s name.”

John Walvoord stated, “it is John Walvoord stated, “it is infinite in its possibilities, infinite in its possibilities,

infinite in its privileges; it is at infinite in its privileges; it is at the center of God’s gracious the center of God’s gracious provisions for our lives on provisions for our lives on

earth.”earth.”

6. Christ did not define the 6. Christ did not define the concept “in My name”, nor concept “in My name”, nor

do His disciples display do His disciples display any indication of any indication of

bewilderment over the bewilderment over the expression. expression.

7. Christ did not intend this 7. Christ did not intend this phrase, “in My name,” to phrase, “in My name,” to

be a fixed formula attached be a fixed formula attached to a prayer. to a prayer.

8. Those who hold a 8. Those who hold a talismanic conception of the talismanic conception of the phrase “in My name”, (i.e., phrase “in My name”, (i.e., think it holds special power, think it holds special power, especially power to protect especially power to protect

them from bad things), fail to them from bad things), fail to realize its true intent. realize its true intent.

Jesus referred to something Jesus referred to something deeper than simply a deeper than simply a convenient formula convenient formula whereby believers whereby believers

conclude their prayers. conclude their prayers.

9. What’s in a Name? 9. What’s in a Name?

9. What’s in a Name? 9. What’s in a Name? a) To the Westerner, a a) To the Westerner, a “name” is a device for “name” is a device for

identifying one individual identifying one individual from another.from another.

b) To the Easterner a b) To the Easterner a “name” expresses some “name” expresses some

outstanding and outstanding and particularly marked particularly marked

individuality.individuality.

1) The name can describe 1) The name can describe the nature of the person, the nature of the person, i.e., Emmanuel = “God i.e., Emmanuel = “God

with us”, Mat 1:23.with us”, Mat 1:23.

2) It points to 2) It points to circumstances surrounding circumstances surrounding one’s birth, i.e., Samuel = one’s birth, i.e., Samuel = “Asked of God”, 1 Sam “Asked of God”, 1 Sam

1:20.1:20.

3) It might refer to one’s 3) It might refer to one’s appearance, i.e. Esau = appearance, i.e. Esau =

“hairy”, or Edom = “red”, “hairy”, or Edom = “red”, Gen 25:25.Gen 25:25.

4) Among the Hebrews it 4) Among the Hebrews it was indicative of was indicative of

personality or character.personality or character.

10. When Jesus used the 10. When Jesus used the term “name,” He signified term “name,” He signified

the ideas of being, the ideas of being, personality, and character. personality, and character.

11. Therefore, “In the 11. Therefore, “In the sphere of My name” sphere of My name”

conveys the concept of conveys the concept of praying in the sphere of praying in the sphere of

His ownership, protection, His ownership, protection, presence, power, glory, etc. presence, power, glory, etc.

That is, offering prayer that That is, offering prayer that is in agreement or harmony is in agreement or harmony with the manifested nature with the manifested nature

of Jesus Christ.of Jesus Christ.

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchThursday, September 16, 2010Thursday, September 16, 2010

Tape # 10-102Tape # 10-102

Predestined to Glorify God, Part 7 Predestined to Glorify God, Part 7Upper Room Discourse, Part 416Upper Room Discourse, Part 416

John 15:16; 14:13-14John 15:16; 14:13-14   

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010