03.25. "For The Sake of The Name"

For the Sake of the Name

It means more than that. We are heard for His sake He is the petitioner He ever haveth to make intercession for us. In the Apocalypse He is represented as taking our prayers and adding to them of the fire of the altar that makes them prevail. He told His disciples He was going to the Father, and that He was going to pray on their behalf, and whatever they asked of the Father in His name the Father would do it. Not for their own sake, but for His sake they would be heard. When I was in Leeds a man came a long way to look over a factory in which he was interested He wrote to the firm, and his request was politely declined. He went to the factory and presented his card. It was returned, and he was refused admittance. No argument could get him beyond the little shutter in the outer office. He told his disappointment to a friend, who suggested I might be able to help him. He came to see me. I gave him my card, and wrote to the head of the firm. Next day he presented his request, and handed in my card, and immediately every door opened to him. His petition was granted, but not for his own sake. The head of the firm saw me in him. In some such way we pray in Christ’s name. He indorses our petitions and makes our prayers His own, and "the Father hears Him pray." We are not heard for our much loud shouting Neither are we heard for our fine phrasing, nor our much weeping. Neither are we heard for our good works, nor for our self-denials. Prayer in His name is heard for His name’s sake. In the secret inner chamber we ask, seek, and knock in His holy name, and present our prayers in the sure confidence of His wonderful and glorious word: "Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you,... that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15:16) "Ask, and ye shall receive." (John 16:24)