Whatever You Ask in My Name

In one paragraph

Brad Yates preached from John 14:11-14 on the subject of prayer, working through what Jesus means when he promises to do whatever his disciples ask in his name. The message pushed back against the idea that prayer is a mechanism for getting what we want, and made the case that prayer is first and foremost about relationship and dependence on God. Brad opened with a question most people have...

Read together

1. John 14:11-14 primary text for the sermon on prayer
2. John 14:13 key verse broken into three points on power, premise and purpose of prayer
3. 2 Corinthians 12:9 cited to support the idea that weakness is an advantage and dependence on God is the goal
4. James 5 referenced as a great chapter on prayer and pointing back to Elijah
5. 1 Kings 17 Elijah praying to shut up the heavens for three and a half years
6. Romans 8:28 cited as part of a framework for understanding unanswered prayer
7. Genesis 50 cited alongside Romans 8:28 for understanding unanswered prayer
8. Luke 11 location of the Lord's Prayer, also referenced as Jesus modeling prayer
9. Matthew 6 location of the Lord's Prayer and God knowing what we need before we ask
10. Matthew 6:8 God knows what we need before we even ask
11. 1 John 2:4 partially quoted in connection with keeping God's commandments as an act of obedience
12. Matthew 7:9-11 Jesus asking which father would give his son a stone instead of bread, to illustrate God giving good gifts
13. John 15 Jesus saying if you abide in me, referenced to support praying and abiding leading to greater accomplishment
14. 1 John 1:9 if we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will purify us from all unrighteousness, used in the ACTS model under confession
15. Colossians 3:17 closing benediction: whatever you do in word or deed do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus

Talk about it

1. Brad said that 'the power of prayer is that God gives us himself, and it's the greatest thing he can give us.' Do you actually live as if that is true, or do you find yourself measuring the value of prayer by what you get out of it? What has shaped that in you?
2. Brad described prayer at its core as 'an admittance of your lack of self-sufficiency' and said that in our culture we use 'an unholy trinity of time, talent and money to be self-dependent.' Where do you see that pattern most clearly in your own life, and how has it affected your prayer life?
3. Brad made a distinction between what he called 'walkie talkie prayers' throughout the day and a dedicated, unhurried time with God, comparing the two to snacks versus a real meal. Which one describes most of your prayer life right now, and what gets in the way of the other?
4. When it comes to prayers that seem to go unanswered, Brad said the purpose of prayer is not to get God to satisfy our desires immediately, but to set our hearts on the things that will satisfy us ultimately. Has there been a time in your life when an unanswered prayer eventually made sense in light of that? What did that teach you?
5. Brad closed by saying he has stopped trying to just be clever and productive, and instead wants to 'be faithful with the inputs and trust God with the outcomes.' What would it look like practically for you to apply that in the area of prayer this week?