WHAT AN ASSURANCE JOHN 14:12-14

Joseph Scriven was born in Ireland in 1819. He was educated and received a degree from

Trinity College in Dublin and became a teacher. With plans to settle down and soon to marry,

life was good for Joseph. Unfortunately, the day before his wedding, his future wife

drowned. 

The grief was more than he could bear, so Joseph moved to Canada to start over. There, he

met and fell in love again, with Eliza Rice, and planned to be married, again. It is unthinkable

that you could lose so much in one young lifetime but weeks before they were to be wed,

Eliza became sick and died from her illness. Joseph was only 25.

From this heartache, and through faith in his God, a mission was born. Joseph took a vow of

poverty and began to help the poor and the handicapped in any way he could. For ten years

he made himself available to come alongside those that were in need and he found comfort

and purpose in serving.

Then, unbelievably, heartache would strike again! His mother, still in Ireland and Scriven in

Canada, became very ill and he did not have the funds to help her or to go and be with her.

He penned the words to this poem for her and it has since comforted, encouraged and uplifted

generations! Joseph penned the words..

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
Oh what peace we often forfeit!
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer
Sisters and brothers, the overall theme of this inspired hymn, is saying to us the best remedy

for a troubled heart, is to take it to the Lord in prayer, He’s a friend who sticks closer than a

brother. Jesus, just like any good friend would, was explaining to the disciples, the unity and

uniqueness of the father and the son. jesus said that knowing him and seeing him was the

same as knowing and seeing the father. Because, the father is in the son and the son is in the

father. This is the doctrine of INTERPENETRATION- it means union with, consecration to

the same end, THE FATHER AND I, We are one in will, one in word and one in works. Jesus then

transition to say, whosoever believes in me can share in this union.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also;

and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

AN ASSURANCE OF AUTHORIZED POWER

The verily, verily assures us that this is a solemn announcement to each and every believer

who believes in me. The word believeth denotes the act and process of faith, which is the

absolute dependence upon and reliance and confidence in the Word of God and the God of

the Word. Those who believe on Him would perform miracles like He did and even greater

works.

It is clear that He refers to miracles, healings, signs, wonders, and mighty acts of power. His

work consisted of healing all manner of sickness and disease, casting out devils, raising the

dead. He controlled the elements, multiplied food, walked on water, turn water into wine.

All these works, we shall do also, because each believer shall be ensued with power and

receive the Spirit without measure.

  He said to the disciples in Luke’s Gospel, Behold, I give unto you power to tread on

serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any

means hurt you.

 The word of God says, God did not give a spirit of fear: power.
 Can I say to somebody that the church carries the EXOUSIA, which is the
authority and the Dunamis, which is the power.
 A license firearm holder, when he discharges his weapon in a just manner, he has
something to protect him, which is the license that he carries from the government.
 But the believer’s authority, is not from the government, but the one who says all
authority is given, therefore, the WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT
CARNAL…
 THESE ARE THE SIGNS OF THEM WHO BELIEVES, THEY SHALL LAY
HANDS ON THE SICK, CAST OF DEVILS, TAKE UP SERPENTS.
Jesus mention, not only will be able to do what I did, you shall do greater works. This is

UNLIMITED ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The works were not greater in QUALITY, BUT

RATHER IN SCOPE AND QUANTITY. Peter preached one sermon and 3000 sinners were

converted in one day. Doubtless it was to the world-wide proclamation of the gospel, the

salvation of so many souls and the building the building of the church. BECAUSE IT IS

GREATER TO SAVE SOULS, THAN TO HEAL BODIES. Heaven rejoice over one sinner

who repents.

AN ASSURANCE OF AUTHORIZED PRAYER

If we want see greater works, the church must continue in prayer. Which leads me to my

second highlight from the text. Jesus gave His Apostles an ASSURANCE OF

AUTHORIZED PRAYER.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in

the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

This not a magic formula that we automatically attach to our prayer request, guaranteeing that

God will answer. To ask in Jesus name is not simply to insert His name at the end of the
prayer. It is to ask in accordance with His mind and will. It is to ask for those things that are

pleasing in God’s sight. Which will glorify God, bless mankind and be for our own spiritual

good.

The name of someone, in the sense that the Bible authors used it, was what the person stood

for, the substance of their character, or their authority. So to pray in the name of Jesus, is to

pray within the character of Jesus.

 It’s to allow father to know, I come before you, not in my own power, not in my own
righteousness, not in my own capability. I come before you in the authority of Jesus,
your Son, who gave me access
 I come on the merits of Jesus, not on my own merits, I come not because im flawless,
but because Jesus is flawless, therefore hear, not because of me, but because Jesus.
 A father brought his children to an amusement park and bought an entire roll of
tickets…the name of Jesus is powerful
 I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH…NO ONE COMMETH TO THE FATHER BUT BY
ME
The word whatsoever is NORMALLY used to emphasize a point. Or anything, you asked in

my name, without limitations or reservation. UNLIMITED ANSWERS

 Pray in Jesus name, moves the hand that moves the world. It will shake the gates of

hell and establish the will of God on earth as it is in heaven.

I conclude with this quote from Leonard Ravenhill “”

The church has many organizers, but a few agonizers, many who pay, but a few who pray,

many resters, but a few wrestlers, many who are enterprising, but few who are interceding.

People who are not praying and praying. The secret of praying is praying in secret. A worldly

Christian will stop praying and a praying Christian will stop worldliness. Tithes may build

the church, but tears will give it life. That is the difference between the modern church and

the early church. In the matter of effective praying, never have so many left, so much, to so

few. Brethren, let us pray!