SortingBeans

Can we invoke the blessings of God?
Seems like a reasonable question, yes? Maybe it is a little elementary to ask such a question? Some of the greatest life lessons are learned in the elementry years. Although I believe this is one of the basics of Christianity, I believe it is deeply theological. We have the ability to call upon God, right? Then shouldn’t we believe that we can invoke His blessings? After all, Jesus said,

“What ever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified
in the Son” John 14:13

I would like to comment on this verse with a question: How can the Father be glorified in the Son if the Son does what we ask? I would humbly submit that the Father is glorified when it is asked in the name of the Son. So the next question would be: What does it mean to ask in the name of Jesus? Is it not simply ending your prayer in the common words, “In Jesus’ name”?

Answer: I do not believe so. Although, this should be encouraged to do – to literally pray in the name of Jesus – I do not believe it justifies our petitions. With that said, I believe we as people, at times, petition to God out of selfish ambition – whether we are presently aware of it our not. Also, I shall say that I do not believe it possible for any person to “call” on God for blessings without God causing that person to call upon Him. This is due to a little 4 letter word that many people blame for all the corruption in this world. It is the “fall” of man. Upon man (people) disobeying God, they were seperated from Him and unable to have the ability to reach God by their own efforts. This “fall” is also known as the origonal sin, found in Genesis and expressed in Romans. To put in more plainly, we should call this a total inability of man to reach God; or more commonly known as Total Depravity.

The human heart is incapable of any act of righteousness without the divine assistance of the Holy Spirit. And only by the Spirit does the Christian pray to God, for he cannot reach God on his own, therefore he needs God to enable him to do so. This is done through the work of the Holy Spirit in the regenerated heart of man. So, I conclude: we cannot invoke the blessings of God: God causes us to firvently pray to Him. Therefore, He gets the glory, not man,

“lest any man should boast“