The Mighty Name Of Jesus Series

When we speak the precious and powerful name of Jesus, it’s not a magic word. We must be wholly submitted to Jesus to use it. - Dean Sherman(1)

The name of Jesus is the most powerful weapon in spiritual warfare. Jesus is the Word (Jn 1:1, 14), and by the Word and through His holy name “the worlds were framed” (Heb 11:3). The very name by which the entire universe came into existence, is the name through which prayer is answered (Jn 14:13), and the name at which demons tremble and flee (Mk 3:11; Jas 2:19). The Apostle Paul declared in Philippians 2:9-11:

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

When believers pray they conclude by citing or speaking the holy name of Jesus, because He promised to be present in power among His followers and answer their prayers whenever they acted in His name. Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20); and “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (Jn 14:13)

The reason why believers are commanded to proclaim the holy name of Jesus is to invoke His power and authority in their circumstances. Jesus is no longer present in bodily form to rebuke the works of the devil; however, He is present within His followers by the indwelling Holy Spirit to aid them when they need His assistance (Acts 1:8-9).

Jesus informed His disciples of how He would ascend into heaven (Jn 16:16); but He encouraged them that they would no longer have need of His physical presence, for He declared, “In that day . . . whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you” (16:23). Well, “that day” has arrived; and Jesus has given a mandate to His followers to go forth in His name winning the lost to Christ (15:16).

Jesus granted us power to preach the gospel; however, He also bestowed power to overcome the forces of darkness. John declared, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn 3:8b). Noel Richards states, “There is power in the name of Jesus . . . at His name the demons flee; at His name captives are freed . . . at His name God’s enemies shall be crushed beneath our feet; for there is no other name that is higher than Jesus!”(2)

In Acts chapter 16, we read about how Paul and Silas were being harassed by a demon-possessed slave girl who kept following them, disrupting their ministry efforts. The Bible says, “But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And he came out that very hour” (Acts 16:18). Like Paul, all Christians have power over the enemy and his evil forces in the name of Jesus.

The name of Jesus is a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare; however, His name must not be taken lightly or used inappropriately. It’s unwise to utilize a weapon without first knowing its intricate workings and being properly trained in its use. In our message tonight we’ll be shown how to properly handle the name of Jesus; and we’ll also be shown “what not to do” in using His holy name.

A Correct Use of Jesus’ Power (vv. 11-12)

Some of us may argue or even deny this point but, according to Scripture, Jesus granted His followers the ability to perform amazing signs. In Mark chapter 17, Jesus said, “In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues . . . they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mk 17:17b, 18b). In Acts chapter 19, which is our primary text, we can observe Paul freely exercising this unusual, yet amazing, spiritual authority. We read in verses 11-12:

Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them (Acts 19:11-12).

Right here, Paul utilized the “spiritual gifts” of healing and miracles (1 Cor 12:9-10). Jesus promised His followers that they would be endued with power from on high (Lk 24:29), and that this power would be granted them by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). The Bible says that this same power is available to believers today, in Jesus’ name, through the gifts of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 12:1-11). However, some believers reject this power, believing it’s currently unavailable or that it’s the work of the devil.