Title: The Name of Jesus – 8
“The Name’s Power Over Demons”
Text: Philippians 2:9-11
It seems as though the more I get into this message on the Name of Jesus, the more excited I become. I believe with all my heart that before we leave this place, each of us will be set free by the Mighty Name of Jesus. We have talked a lot about healing and salvation, but tonight I want to get into another subject. I want to talk about the Name and its power over the demonic forces that reign in our world.
The very first sign Jesus said would follow the believing ones is found in Mark 16:17; “In My Name shall they cast out devils.” This is not just talking about casting out devils from people who are possessed, it actually means exercising authority over demons. It is important to note that Jesus did not say that this sign would follow the preachers of the gospel. It is not just ministers that have authority over demons in the Name of Jesus, but all believers. Believers need to know that they have this authority.
The Bible gives us the following example. In the Name of Jesus, Paul cast a demon out of a possessed girl, set her free, and stirred the city of Ephesus to its very foundation.
Acts 16:16-18; ΒΆ “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”
Notice that this girl was possessed with a spirit. Paul did not speak to the girl. He spoke to the spirit. He said to the spirit, “I command thee in the Name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” The Scripture says the spirit came out the same hour. The spirit had to come out. There was no possibility of that spirit staying in that girl when Paul spoke those words.
Remember our text: Philippians 2:9-10; “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
That spirit had to bow to the Name. Demons have to go at the mention of that Name. It is the Name that does it and that Name has the same power now as it did back in Paul’s day. It hasn’t changed one little bit.
In studying this subject of the supernatural, especially in the area of the demonic, I am finding out that the Scriptures teach a great deal on this subject. It talks about their habits, their influence, and their power over men. There are a couple of things concerning the supernatural that I want to cover:
I. THERE IS A FIGHT
Ephesians 6 points out a fight. This spiritual fight is not with man; it has nothing to do with flesh and blood. To many times we get things confused and think we are fighting against people, the Bible is very clear on this subject. We don’t fight against men.
Ephesians 6:12; “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual wickedness in high places.”
If you read this entire passage, you will find that this conflict has everything to do with prayer. Listen to what Paul wrote to the Church of Colosse concerning a minister name Epaphras:
Colossians 4:12; “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”
The Greek word translated labouring in the King James Version is interpreted by other translations as striving. “It means to wrestle, to struggle, to fight.” Epaphras was always wrestling, struggling or fighting for the Colossians in his prayers.
The question is: Who was he struggling with? With whom was he agonizing with? Some of us think it was God. He was struggling with God to get the prayer to work for the church of Colosse. That is not true. It was not God he was struggling with. It is God’s will to bless men, that is found all throughout the Scripture, not to curse men. Prayer does not change God. God does not change.
James 1:17; “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
There is not even a shadow of turning with Him. God does not change and never will. We pray according to God’s will, which is the Bible, and receive the provisions He has made for us. But we do not strive, wrestle, struggle and fight with God. The wrestling is with the unseen force that is battling against the purpose and the plan of God. That unseen force is the devil and demons and all their activity. They fight against God’s plan. Some may say, well it’s just words, we still have to struggle and fight. It is not just words, if you think you are fighting against God, then you wonder if you will get an answer, but if you realize that you are fighting against demonic forces, then it makes you determined to pray and fight longer and you know that in the end you will receive your miracle and you will receive that which you are fighting for because God is on your side. We know that we are in a fight, but in this fight there are:
II. THREE NECESSARY STEPS TO VICTORY
A. YOU MUST BE A CHILD OF GOD
B. YOU MUST NOT HAVE ANY UNCONFESSED SIN IN YOUR HEART
I am sure that we all agree with the first two steps without any problem. If you have unconfessed sin in your heart, the demons will laugh at your prayers.
I John 3:21; “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.”
If you heart does not condemn you, you will also have confidence with God in the presence of demons. The problem we have as believers is not the issue of having unconfessed sin, it is the problem of once you confess it and ask for forgiveness, you spend the next week in mourning for that sin. The Bible tells us not to allow our heart to condemn us. If you messed up, confess it to the Lord and move on. Don’t allow the devil to bother you over your past life or past sins. If you have confessed it, you are forgiven.
C. YOU MUST KNOW THE POWER OF THE NAME OF JESUS AND HOW TO USE IT
Hopefully we have spent enough time in this subject for each of us to know the power behind the Name and how to use it. It all comes down to faith in His Name. The Name of Jesus will work just like it did in the days of the Acts of the Apostles. Dealing with demons will work now just like it did then.
Read the book of Acts carefully. Notice how the disciples used the Name. Underline, or write down, all the verses related to how they used the Name in connection with demons. You will begin to see what happened. When they spoke to those demonic forces, they had to leave instantly most of the time.
There are some here tonight that has been defeated and reeled in by the power of the devil. It is time that you rise up in that Mighty Name of Jesus, throw back the enemy and take your deliverance.
Once you are set free, you can then set others free. You will not be able to set others free until you get free yourself. Start dealing with the devil in your own life. I don’t mean you have to cast a demon out of yourself, you know that a believer cannot be possessed by a devil. But the enemy is set against you, just like he is set against me. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. Paul and the early church wrestled against the devil, if they did then, then we certainly do now also. But we shall overcome by the power of the blood. Jesus is the victor!
I want you to do something different with me tonight. I want you to follow me in a prayer. We will be set free from the devil’s powers tonight once and for all. It is time that you confess with your mouth because you believe it in your heart.
A PRAYER TO BE FREE
The Name of Jesus belongs to me.
In the Name of Jesus, I have authority over demons.
I refuse to be dominated by any demon.
In the Name of Jesus, Satan, I break your power
over my spirit, soul and body
over any way that you would try to dominate me.
And I proclaim my deliverance and victory.
You are a defeated foe.
Jesus dethroned you and all of your cohorts.
I am no longer afraid of you.
One time, Satan, you were my master,
and I was your slave.
But now I am your master in Jesus;
Because Jesus has made me master
over all evil powers, over all demons,
And I am free!
It is written,
Whom the Son has set free, is free indeed.
I’m free indeed!
I’m free indeed!
My Master Jesus said,
Ye shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free
Now I know the truth…Jesus has defeated you.
Demons, all evil spirits, and Satan himself are
subject to the Name of Jesus.
For every knee should bow,
Of things, or beings, in Heaven, in earth
and under the earth.
Heaven, earth, and hell know,
That God raised Jesus up from the dead
And has seated Him at His own right hand,
Far above all principalities, and powers,
and might, and dominion,
And has given Him a NAME!
ABOVE EVERY NAME!
And that Name belongs to me.
There’s Power in that Name!
There’s Glory in that Name!
There’s Majesty in that Name!
There’s Authority in that Name!
And I have a right to use that Name!
So, Satan, be gone!
Sickness, be gone!
Pain, leave my body!
All evil, leave me!
I stand free!
The truth has set me free!
