John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
John 14:13-14 “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
As believers, we often go before the throne of God and present our righteousness in times of sickness, tribulation and trouble, which is not enough. Therefore, many prayers go unanswered.
In contrast, the new to Christ aware of their sinful nature only present the righteousness of Christ, receive wholeness and all prayers answered. Christ Jesus said that we have not asked in His name, but that now let us ask in His name and it will be answered.
No other righteousness can save or be accepted by the Father in heaven except the righteousness of Christ. Even when we perceive that we have been wronged, we are to forgive and should only present the righteousness of Christ for restoration. This mindset changes the way we see ourselves, others and the spiritual battles we are constantly engaged in.
Rejecting self-righteousness and presenting only the righteousness of Christ Jesus makes us see the true nature of the cross, the blood and our salvation. Jesus Christ died for everyone’s sin, when we are wronged it is Christ we are forgiving not the person who wronged us, with this knowledge it is hard to approach the Throne of God with how we are victims and expect justice based on how we acted. Assured Justice before God the Father can only be attained through the name (His righteousness and Blood) of Jesus Christ.
People who are not Christians get healed easily when prayed for in Jesus name, yet mature Christians find it very hard, largely because we perceive that we have served God well and deserve our own righteousness apart from Christ. If our service is not the pure work of the Holy Spirit, then it is worth nothing before God; holds no standing for Justice. No matter how we have been treated, our case of right and wrong cannot stand before God. It is written “the Just for the Unjust”, this is the mind of Christ Jesus.
It does not matter what they do to us or how they wrong us daily or mistreat us, the only thing that matters and brings joy to our hearts is what Christ has done for us. What Christ has done for us supersedes all things; meditate on it day and night. If someone stole a cent from you, it would not faze you if you had a chest of Gold and diamonds. Our Treasure and pearl is to own and be owned by Christ, all creation and existence belongs to Jesus Christ. There is no Greater Gain in all eternity than Christ Jesus; the greater is eternity and the lesser is temporary.
“The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy”
– Steal: Steal the Word of God from our minds and hearts.
– Kill: Slander us once he has stolen the word which is the light unto our feet, as we fall.
– Destroy: Replaces the Word of God with lies, self-righteousness, suspicion, unforgiveness, distrust, evil imagination and anger.
Not presenting the righteousness of Christ is the main reason we have unanswered prayers in the church and in our congregations.
My prayer is that we ask only in His name, His name is His righteousness. When we truly deny ourselves, we then can only present Christ; His love, His righteousness, His faith, His Grace, …. by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Let the helmet of Christ’s salvation guide our minds, Christ the word of God be in our mouths and the breastplate of Christ’s righteousness guide our hearts.
We should own or depend on no other righteousness but that of Jesus Christ; this makes forgiveness easier, no matter how good we are our own righteousness is worth nothing before God the Father; As the bible says we have all fallen short, none is Holy. Our righteousness is not external, Christ Jesus’s righteousness is external and is a free gift, when presented in the light (repentant heart) brings victory always.
