And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made… – 2 Kings 18:4

Hezekiah was a brave and wise king. The bronze serpent had been made by Moses at God’s command. Moses was the leader who led Israel out of Egypt, who brought them the 10 commandments. The serpent reminded them of God’s mercy in a time of judgement.

This serpent was their spiritual heritage – something too sacred to dispose of. But, it had become a snare to the people; it had become a substitute for God, and as such it caused harm.

Hezekiah saw this and broke the serpent in pieces – the people needed to have their spiritual heritage broken in order for it not to become a snare and a stumbling block.

There are many stumbling blocks in our own spiritual traditions: things that somehow become more important than God, or His people: the way that we dress, our church government, views on communion.

Anything that takes our focus away from the proper worship of God and fellowship with His people, no matter how sacred it appears to be needs to be broken up and removed from our lives and our churches.

He said, “It is finished” – John 19:30

Despite its context, this verse is one of the most hopeful verses in Scripture! This is that crucial point in all of time where the focus of all eternity rest on the cross, and what was taking place between Jesus, the Christ, and God.

The one Greek word ‘tetelestai’ which is usually translated as ‘it is finished’ embodies all our hope: it has been accomplished. This is not ‘I’m finished, done for’, but ‘I have completed the very thing for which I came into the world!’ – what a difference!

Jesus is in control, and with this statement our salvation is purchased, our destiny is secured, the bride is betrothed. With this ‘accomplished’ heaven is assured for all who hope and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. – John 14:13

We have a promise from Jesus that whatever we ask in His name He will do. This is not a carte blanche that allows us to “name it and claim it” for our own personal ends. It’s been said often enough not to need repeating here that asking in Jesus’ name means asking according to His character and will, not ours, but Jesus explains the nature of asking in the follow on phrase: that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

The entire purpose of asking in Jesus’ name is that the Father may be glorified, just as Jesus glorified the Father by His actions on earth. This is very much the same sentiment as Jesus taught us the pray in the Lord’s Prayer: Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

We have been given a part to play in God’s unfolding plan for His creation! We, as His dependent creatures are to ask of God, and receive that God’s will would be done, that His Kingdom would come, not just with the second coming of Jesus Christ, but among us, His Church here on earth, but bringing glory to God in the heavenly places! Our place is to ask according to Jesus’ character and God’s will, to ask Him to work in His creation for His glory and our benefit.

As we move into another year one prayer is on my mind:

Lord build your Church and let not the gates of hell prevail against it

This is completely in keeping with God’s will, as He has already promised it (Matthew 16:18) and does not restrict God to our opinions on how His Church should be built. So let the coming year be one in which we take to prayer, not just any prayer, but specific prayer in His name and for His glory. Then we will see Him answer, as He has promised, and He will be glorified in His Church, both now, and for all eternity (Ephesians 3:21)!