Prayer to God is to Prove Me
John 15:7-8
What is the purpose of prayer? Why ought we to ask God for things? One answer is that prayer is meant to prove me.
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#fruit
#prayer
#assurance
Published November 19th, 2015
Meditations
Bracket
Meditations
Why pray? Because it is meant to prove me. This answer is found in John 15:7-8. Jesus has been explaining to his disciples that he is going away, and encouraging them that this is actually a very good thing for them. One reason for this is that in the new arrangement, Jesus will be teaching them from within as he and the Father make their home in the disciples (and us) via the Spirit. The second reason that Jesus’ going away is for their good is found in the fact that he is going to the Father’s side, he explains. Returning there, no longer confined by the emptying of himself in taking on mortal humanity, the Son of God (along with the Father) will sit ready to answer our prayers with sovereign power. With that context (i.e. chapter 14), we meet this surprising and glorious purpose for prayer. As we abide in Jesus, we may ask God to produce fruit in our lives. Why? Because this is how God the Father is glorified, by us being proven true disciples through our fruitfulness. Or to put it another way, God’s glory shines forth as we are filled with Jesus’ joy (see verse 11). And so for this we pray! Doesn’t sound like a bad deal, does it? Perhaps this is new to you, and perhaps not. Either way, please let me encourage you to stop and pray—i.e. now—for Jesus’ joy to fill you today, to the glory of God!
notes
1403244883475 Meditations 1447938005 1447938042 Why pray? Because it is meant to prove me. This answer is found in John 15:7-8. Jesus has been explaining to his disciples that he is going away, and encouraging them that this is actually a very good thing for them. One reason for this is that in the new arrangement, Jesus will be teaching them from within as he and the Father make their home in the disciples (and us) via the Spirit. The second reason that Jesus’ going away is for their good is found in the fact that he is going to the Father’s side, he explains. Returning there, no longer confined by the emptying of himself in taking on mortal humanity, the Son of God (along with the Father) will sit ready to answer our prayers with sovereign power. With that context (i.e. chapter 14), we meet this surprising and glorious purpose for prayer. As we abide in Jesus, we may ask God to produce fruit in our lives. Why? Because this is how God the Father is glorified, by us being proven true disciples through our fruitfulness. Or to put it another way, God’s glory shines forth as we are filled with Jesus’ joy (see verse 11). And so for this we pray! Doesn’t sound like a bad deal, does it? Perhaps this is new to you, and perhaps not. Either way, please let me encourage you to stop and pray—i.e. now—for Jesus’ joy to fill you today, to the glory of God! notes 11447938005037
Bracket
editing
NT
John 15:7-8
esv
mine
If you abide in me,
If you stay closely connected to me
and my words abide in you,
and my words stay closely connected to you.
series
ask whatever you wish,
then you can ask for whatever you want [which will be what I want due to this abiding]
and it will be done for you.
and as a result it will be done for you [by the Father].
actionresult
conditional
By this my Father is glorified,
For , my Father is glorified
that you bear much fruit
by the fact that you are fruitful
and so prove to be my disciples.
and as a result prove to be my disciples.
actionmanner
ground
discourse
1403244883475 Bracket 1447937978 1447937996 editing NT 43 15 7 15 8 John 15:7-8 esv mine i53 If you abide in me, If you stay closely connected to me i54 and my words abide in you, and my words stay closely connected to you. i52 series i56 ask whatever you wish, then you can ask for whatever you want [which will be what I want due to this abiding] i57 and it will be done for you. and as a result it will be done for you [by the Father]. i55 actionresult 2 i51 conditional 2 i59 By this my Father is glorified, For , my Father is glorified i61 that you bear much fruit by the fact that you are fruitful i62 and so prove to be my disciples. and as a result prove to be my disciples. i60 actionresult 2 i58 actionmanner 1 i50 ground 1 1 1 1 b 619 esv 240 mine 378 100 90 discourse 11447937978735
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