Dear Christian friends:

After astronaut, Scott Carpenter's three orbits around the earth news reporters asked Mrs. Carpenter if they prayed before his flight. She answered, "We thought it would be presumptuous to pray." They did not pray. Why? They thought is would be presumptuous. What does that mean? Too bold. Perhaps she felt they were not good enough to pray to God.

Many people do not pray to God and they have their reasons why. Some think it is not necessary to pray. They say, "God knows everything without my prayer and before I pray. If He wants to help me He can. Why should I bother Him with my prayers. Others don't pray because they have no faith in God, or because they are lazy. Many do not pray because they are afraid of God, sin quilt.

I think also we Christians do not pray enough. We misunderstand like the Carpenters or we are careless and lazy or we have very weak faith.

But God wants us to pray and anxiously waits for our prayers. He also promises great and wonderful blessings to those who pray. Here in our text Jesus Himself tells us to pray. He says, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." (John 16:23) So let us this morning with the help of God's Holy Spirit let us attend to:


Jesus says, "pray to the Father in My name." What is that, prayer in Jesus' name?

In our text Jesus Himself explains in verse 26, "At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you." Jesus does not mean that He will pray for us although He does that too. Paul says, "He sits at the right hand of God and prays for us." (Romans 8:34) So that is true and very wonderful that Jesus prays for us often when we fail to pray. But here in our lesson He says we ourselves can pray to the Father. We have a direct phone line to God Himself through prayer. Anytime, anyplace even more handy than a phone.

You perhaps think it is wonderful if you can phone President Kennedy for help. But here Jesus says we can call upon God. Even the deaf can call God. Many deaf can't phone, but any deaf person can pray.

But perhaps you think, "we are not good enough to bother God with our prayers. He is holy and we are sinners. He is too great, too perfect. He doesn't care for one small man like me."

But Jesus says He does. In verse 27, "The Father Himself loves you." Not only I love you, but the Father Himself loves you. Surprising and wonderful that our great God can love a sinner worm like me and you.

How come? Why? Jesus answers, "because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came out from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go unto the Father." (verses 27-28)

What does Jesus mean by these words, "I came from the Father and came into the world: again I leave the world and go to the Father." He is the Son of God born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate and was crucified dead, buried and rose again. That's what Jesus means here. You believe this and then pray. So God loves you and hears your prayer.

Prayer in Jesus' name means pray humbly confessing our sins and then trusting in Jesus, the Son of God who was crucified and raised again and ascended into heaven. When you pray with such faith, God hears and answers your prayers. You can pray with all boldness as dear children ask their dear Father. But he who does not believe in Jesus Christ cannot pray to God or expect God to hear his prayer.

So we who believe in Jesus Christ will not think prayer is of little worth. We will pray always as Paul commands us. Especially will we pray because of the precious promises of Jesus here. First He commands and invites us to pray and then gives promise to hear our prayers.

Jesus says, "Whatsoever anything you will ask the Father in My name; He will give you." This means anything that is good for us God will give us. Especially spiritual blessings. "Much more your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask." You say you don't understand the Bible? Pray for God's Spirit to lead you to understand.

Do you have doubts and temptations. Pray, for power to conquer your doubts and temptations. Is your heart full of hate, envy and jealousy? Pray for Jesus' patience and love. Is it hard for you to forgive and make peace? Pray for God's mercy and kindness to help you forgive and forget. Are you afraid about sickness and death. Pray for God's assurance.

Yes, anything you ask the Father in Jesus' name He will give that to you. And these wonderful blessings which the Father gives in answer to our prayer cause us to have full joy says Jesus in verses 24, 33.

24 "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Amen.