October 2, 2023
Getting What You Need, Not What You Want
“Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. 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. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father.” John 16:23-25 (NASB)
Are you familiar with the Christian term, “Name it and Claim it!” In verse 22, many have used this verse to ask God for anything and receive it. This leaves the believer who embraces this with a dangerous theology. It also obliterates the deity of God. Not all things are in God’s will for Him. His job is not to provide or make a person happy, wealthy, etc. In the past, this teaching has caused quite a few Christians to shipwreck their faith after not receiving something they prayed for or sought. They are heartbroken when a preacher tells them they can have it all, but in reality, receive nothing in return.
“Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” During this time, the disciples would experience grief, followed by sorrow of losing Jesus. He promised it wouldn’t be long though. When He returned for a short time, they would be happy (or rejoicing at His appearance). Even when Jesus left them for heaven, the time would come when they would receive the Holy Spirit who would let, “no one will take your joy away from you.” By the Holy Spirit’s indwelling of the believer, the disciples would have Jesus who would never depart from them again. It would be permanent. 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.” “After His departure and sending of the Spirit, believers will no longer ask Him since He is not present. Instead, they will ask the Father in His name”[1] (‘His’ emphasis is on Jesus). This is because Jesus's work on earth was complete. He no longer has to do anything else. His perfect sacrificial death and resurrection were accomplished to the Father’s approval. But does it mean we can ask for something and get it? Newman gives the proper perspective; “On the basis of this observation, the meaning seems to be that after Jesus leaves, the disciples will no longer have to ask him any questions, because the Holy Spirit will be able to guide them into full truth.”[2] We receive things and leadership from God, within His divine will. It even works this way in prayer. Interestingly enough, this is the same method of prayer: praying through the Spirit of God, in Jesus' name to the Father. The same is true for the answer from God. It is channeled from the Father, and exposed to us via the Holy Spirit. Why make it any harder than this?
The issue scripture addresses here is not on what a person can receive from God but the communication of God to the believer. It is not about “stuff.” It is about speaking to us. It is about leadership, not what he or she can receive. To do so reduces God to a genie, who is there at their beck and call. It reduces God to our own making and that simply isn’t true. He is God!
[1] (MacArthur, John, 1997), 1584.
[2] Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1993). A handbook on the Gospel of John (pp. 514–515). United Bible Societies.