Prayer For Surviving In A Hostile World Series

Alliance Church

Pastor David Welch

“Prayer promises for survival in a hostile fallen world” John 16:7-15

How do we rise above the lure of the world?

Jesus touches on the essential resources for living in a hostile world all through his final moments with his followers.

1. Develop a settled realization of the depth of God’s love.

2. Deepen your understanding of His word (My words abide in you)

3. Live in unity with and love for other followers.

4. Wait for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who guides and empowers.

We spent two sessions on the ministry of the Holy Spirit. For a moment look at the particular aspecs of His ministry emphasized by Jesus.

• He will encourage as Jesus encouraged. (14:16)

• He will be with us and in us forever. (14:16-17)

• He will teach us all things and bring them to our remembrance (16:26)

• He will bear witness of Jesus (15:27)

• He will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (16:7-11)

He will guide into all truth by disclosing truth from the Father. (16:13-15)

The key to survival in a hostile world emphasized by Jesus just before his departure.

• Know his love.

• Know his word.

• Walk in love for one another

• Walk by the Holy Spirit

There is one more element of vital importance to add. Perhaps the most important.

5. Keep in constant communication with the Father

In reality, this may be the most important factor to not just survive, but also thrive, in a hostile fallen world.

I. Examine the passages

"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14:13

"If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. 14:14

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. John 15:7-8

"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. John 15:16

"In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 16:23

"Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. 16:24

"In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. John 16:26-27

Repetition indicates importance. The Bible does not needlessly waste space. If there is repetition it is for an important reason. Here Jesus repeats the instruction and promise regarding talking to the Father seven times in this brief period of time before He takes on the sin of the world. Let’s spend a brief moment on the key elements in these passages.

A. Our Part

“ask”

To make an impassioned request. It communicates the idea of a strong desire for something leading one to make a strong request. The term was used mainly by a subordinate to a superior. Creature to creator. Slave to master. Child to parent.

Jesus encourages us to ask the Father. He urges us to petition the Father for our every need. James indicates that the resin we do not have is because we do not ask James 4:2

B. Qualifiers

• “ask in my name”

What does this phrase really mean? It goes deeper than punctuating our prayers with “in Jesus name amen!” It has more to do with relationship than rhetoric. Asking in someone’s name assumes a special relationship with that person. Try asking for access to the white house in the name of Bill Clinton. The first thing they will require is proof that you have some sort of relationship.

To go to the Father with a request in Jesus name assumes several things.

1 – I have a personal relationship with Jesus and he with me.

2—He has authorized me to use his name.

We may have a personal relationship but that doesn’t mean that you have been authorized to sign my checks.

3—It assumes that what I am asking is on behalf of Jesus and in harmony with his desires.

The sons of Sceva in Acts 19 confronted demonic powers using Jesus name and Paul’s name. They knew the right words but had no personal relationship with the person. The demons felt no compulsion from the Father to obey them. In fact they found themselves left to their own power and lost the confrontation. It is important that when we come to the Father as Jesus encouraged, anything we ask be requested on behalf of and in harmony with Jesus whose name we claim to embrace.