We come to the Father...for Jesus is our secured relationship with him (John 6:44-46, John 14:5-7, John 17:1-3)...so we are always heard by our loving Father because we are in Christ, and Jesus is always heard. (John 11:41-43) We have an audience with not just God, but our loving Father, and the closest most intimate relationship possible, at his right side and in Christ...Oneness. (John 17, Colossians 3:1-3). We ask of him, because we have that relationship through the most excellent work of Jesus, the loving work we celebrate this weekend...Easter. (Matthew 20:18-20, John 3:15-17)

It is God who has said he will be our God (Ezekiel 37:26-28), and will heal us his people (Luke 13:31-33, Jeremiah 33:6), and if we ask anything in Jesus name he will do it for us (John 14:13-15). We won't ask anything too hard for him, because nothing is too hard for him, even the manner in which we pray or ask. His Holy Spirit perfects our prayers (Jude 1:19-21)

The Lord understands our hearts first, and has served us first. We seek the kingdom of heaven first to get our minds ready for current expectation, and his righteousness as permission to live abundantly in Jesus name as family. As family, we are secure in asking our Father to heal young Caleb, a four year old boy struggling for life (Matthew 8:7-9), because we know he has done it already in Christ (Isaiah 53:4-6, Jeremiah 17:13-15) and has granted us the authority even to call the dead back to life in Jesus name (John 14:11-13).

In Christ everything is perfect, holy, and we enjoy wholeness John 14:26-28.  And though we may not see it, we must proclaim the truth in Christ always. We are not trying to be holy...we are holy! (Hebrews 12:10) Yes, the world system, the one perishing before our eyes challenges us for sure, but Christ is everlasting and in us. Our wholeness or holiness is not dependent on our performance but our faith in Jesus.

In Christ our heart carries the authority and power of our family name. 'In Jesus name' is not merely a mantra we chant to manipulate or even encourage our loving Father to do for us, but the acknowledgment of the greatest family in heaven and earth, headed by Jesus, and crowned by our Father who is holy, whole, and living. (1 Peter 3:17-19) Our family lives, no matter what the world's system of thinking and believing says! The world says, you can't just march up to people and say 'live'...but that is exactly how the family Jesus rolls. (John 14:16-18) We are living souls, and spiritual beings with the power of the Holy Spirit, and the authority Jesus has secured for us. (1 Peter 2:4-6, Matthew 28:18) So in that authority, 'in Jesus name', as part of the family Jesus, I say live Caleb, and live abundantly to tell the story of Jesus who loves you dearly.

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Otrie