John 16:24(NLT) - "You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy."

Have you known anyone to do something different than the way you would do it? I mean, their way works, but it's not your way. And, inevitably you try their way and it is way better than what you were doing?

Jesus had a similar situation.

Jesus looked at his 12 disciples in one of his last talks with them in John 16 and said, "you haven't done this before." Something strangely new would be on the horizon for the disciples, and they'd have to deal with it.

A new way of doing things always challenges the norm of complacency, the routine of mediocrity, and the comfort of tradition. Up until this point the disciples had been with Jesus and new him personally, but very soon, they would have to rely on the Holy Spirit to lead and direct them. (Acts 2, 3, 8, 10). They had never done it that way before. The norm was Jesus walking with disciples into a town and people who were sick and bound would come to Jesus and he would heal and deliver them. Now, this would change.

The new way they would do it:

They would do it in the name of Jesus: They would pray to the Father, in Jesus' name. Jesus himself had already told them that he came in his Father's name (John 5:43, 10:25), only now the disciples would understand that access to God came in the name of Jesus.

If we glance through the book of Acts and the Epistles, I'd say the name of Jesus worked!

If you've never prayed and called on the name of Jesus, today is a good day. I know, you may say "Brandon, my way is just fine..." I promise you, if you will surrender your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, it is a better way.

You've never done it that way before.... but give it a chance! Call on His Name!

Much Love,

Pastor Brandon Cox