We read in Exodus 20:7,"Never use the name of the LORD your God carelessly. The LORD will make sure that anyone who carelessly uses his name will be punished.” (GW)
We have been studying in details as to how the moral laws of God as given in the Old Testament, are still applicable to believers of the new covenant, though some have been wrongly led to believe that these are of no relevance for them today. This we realize is a misunderstanding because the moral laws of God are enduring for all generations, and do not get invalidated with time. It is only when we live in obedience to God’s moral laws do we become beneficiaries of His divine blessings, and when we refuse to do so we become susceptible to the curses of sin and disobedience. Though the grace of God is what has saved us, it does not therefore nullify the moral laws of God, and man’s responsibility to obey them. God cannot ignore sin as He is a just, and faithful God.
When one opts to disobey these moral laws of God knowingly or unknowingly, they will surely have to face the consequences of the same. For instance, if there is a person who is unschooled and has no idea about electricity, and in his ignorance, places his fingers in an electric socket, he would most certainly receive an electric shock. His ignorance or lack of knowledge, does not exempt him from bearing the effects of his action.
For example, the command of God in Exodus 20:7, to not take the name of the Lord carelessly or in vain, and that one who does so is in danger of punishment, still stands. These moral laws were not abolished by Jesus, but were explained in further detail so people could comprehend the law as it was truly meant to be understood.
Let us observe how this law in Exodus 20:7 was rephrased by Jesus when he taught his disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9, “You should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, help us to honor your name.” (CEV) He was teaching them to pray that the name of God the Father, be revered or honored instead of it being used carelessly. By so explaining this law, Jesus emphasized that it is not only crucial that God’s name should not be used in vain, but equally important that His name be honored through our lives in every way.
The eminence of God’s name
We will study in detail to understand about the significance of God’s name, and also about the power that is manifested in His name.
The meaning of the name Jesus
We read in Matthew 1:21, “She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus [He Saves], because he will save his people from their sins." (GW)
The above verse was the message that Joseph received from the angel in a dream, that Mary would give birth to a son, and he would give him the name ‘Jesus’ for He would save His people from their sins. This name was not chosen for Jesus by Joseph or Mary, but by God the Father Himself.
As parents we realize that when our children are born, we are endowed with the privilege to name them as we desire, and we take pride in it. But for Jesus, His name was decided by God the Father, which clearly endorsed the fact that Jesus was first the Son of God, before He became the Son of man. The name of Jesus as given by God the Father had a meaning and purpose.
It is a good thought for parents to remember that when naming children, we too should do so with prayer, and give them names that are meaningful.
We read in Acts 4:12, “Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone.”(CEV)
There are three significant words we take note of in Matthew 1:21 and Acts 4:12, which as we study in depth, we will understand the significance of who Jesus really is to us. These three words are:
1. Sin
2. Salvation
3. The name of Jesus
1. Sin
• Sin is crossing the boundary set by God
The word ‘Sin’ as translated from the Hebrew and Greek languages has two explanations. Firstly sin is defined as crossing the boundary that God has set for us.
To understand this let us take an example from the game of cricket. When the bowler comes to bowl to the batsman, there is a line drawn on the ground, which specifies the limit to which he can proceed, before he bowls. However, if for some reason he oversteps that line, it is considered a ‘no ball’.
So also, God has described these boundaries to us through the various moral laws that He has given to us. The command do not take the name of the Lord carelessly is also one such boundary that God has set for us.
Here’s another example about boundaries between countries. There is a clear boundary that separates India and Pakistan. Between the two boundaries is a vacant land referred to as no man’s land. As long as the soldiers are within their boundaries they are safe. It is only when the soldiers cross that boundary, do they become targets for the attack from the other side. As long as they stay within the boundary, or even in the so called no man’s land they are safe.
God’s commandments are our safe boundaries, and as long as we don’t cross them, Satan has no power over us. If we are constantly under the attack of the evil one, the implications are that we are living in sin, crossing the limits that God has set for our own safety.
Let us take the concept that is so prevalent today that it is okay to tell lies to get out of a messy situation. In so doing people have also termed these as white lies, those which they think apparently will hurt no one. For instance when someone is late to work because of oversleeping, they conveniently lie and blame the traffic. These sins, may seem insignificant, but every time we step over the boundary that God has set for us, we become vulnerable to the attack of the enemy in our lives. We should therefore not be surprised or blame God, when things get out of hand, and we are overwhelmed with troubles. John summarizes this in 1 John 3:4, this way“....for sin is the violation of Law.” (WNT)
• Sin is missing the mark
Secondly, sin is missing the mark or missing God’s purpose for us to lead a righteous life.
In a game of football for example, the aim of the entire team is to pass the ball, until it reaches the goal on the opponent’s side. Even if the ball gets really close to the goal, but swerves away from it, they have missed the goal. So too God has a plan and goal for each one of our lives, and the common goal for each one of us is that we should lead a righteous life that God desires for us.
Many of us are struggling with sins that are obvious to us, to others, but these sins are evident mainly to God, and we have thereby missed the mark that God has established for us. We read again in 1 John 5:17, “All unrighteousness is sin.” (ASV)
• The consequences of sin
When a person works, they get paid a wage either at the end of the day, week or month, depending on the kind of work they are engaged in. Similarly, the word of God is categorical that there is a definite wage or consequence for sin as well. In Romans 6:23 we read, “For the wages of sin is death;” (KJV) It does not mean that when one sins, they immediately fall down dead, but what happens as a result is that we lose out on the presence of God, missing out the purposes of God, and if we continue in sin we will ultimately get separated from God eternally.
When Adam and Eve sinned, they did not face death immediately, but the ill effects of their disobedience was that they were separated from God’s presence, and that’s when all their problems began. The only boundaries that God set for them were the commands to not eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and to tend the garden. When the serpent lied to Eve, he deceived them, made them cross the boundary set by God, and thereby brought them under his control. By heeding the words of the serpent, they and all mankind after them had to encounter all of the evil consequences of sin, including death.
As long as we walk in obedience with God and stay within the boundaries He has set for us, we are secure. But when we decide to disobey and live in sin, we open up ourselves to becoming the targets of the evil one, and miss out on the presence of God in our lives. The schemes of Satan are always deceptive, and will often come through those whom we are closely associated with. Once the enemy lures us into sin, he traps us, and evicts us from the presence of God, thereby making us vulnerable to his evil attacks.
The effects of being entangled with sin, and enslaved by Satan is that death takes over, and we are separated from God. Once we are out of God’s presence and protection we become susceptible to the onslaught of the evil one which includes curses, sickness, disease, demonic possession and death itself, which are the consequences of sin.
• Salvation
Salvation is to break free from the power and the consequences of sin. When we are saved, the consequences of sin will also be broken from our lives. Once some men brought a man who was a paralytic to Jesus, and we realize that the reason for his condition was sin. Jesus said to him, ‘your sins are forgiven you’ and when his sins were forgiven, Jesus commanded him to take up his mat and walk which he did instantly. When the root of sin was cut the man was healed and delivered both spiritually and physically.
In case we had an unwanted creeper in our garden, which was overgrown and a nuisance, all we would do to destroy it would be to cut off the connection with its root. For a few days, the plant may look green on the outside, but within a short time the plant will completely wither, because we dealt with its roots. So also, sin has power and consequence but when it is broken, we will be set free.
Many people are in bondage to various issues in their lives, sickness, frequent death in the family, financial instability though they earn well, and often these are related to sin and its effects. It is therefore, necessary to take note of these enslavements, allowing the Lord to intervene, to bring about deliverance and healing into such unforeseen situations.
2. The name of Jesus
In Act 4:12 we read, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." (NLT)
We looked at what sin is, we also realized that salvation is the way for us to be set free, and this salvation is found in no one else but Jesus. The name of Jesus alone can save sinful man from the power of sin, and its vicious consequences on our lives for He alone paid the price for our sins.
We also read in Philippians 2:9 -11, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”(ESV)
The word of God is forthright that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth, that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. In other words, everyone will come to total surrender at the name of Jesus, and this will be to the glory of God the Father. The name of Jesus is above every other name, a name that is above every form of sickness, infirmity, oppression, possession and want. We can name anything in this world, but everything will be in total subjection to the name of Jesus.
Let me explain this from our local context. Ooty being a hill station, there are many beautiful places, but sadly public are not allowed to some of these picturesque places for various reasons. However, if you know the person who is the in-charge of such a place that you wish to visit, and you happen to mention to the security personal at the check post that you know the main man personally and mention his name, chances are you may find that the gates are opened, to allow you to go through to visit the place, which was forbidden earlier. The one who refused entry changes his tone, his stance and allows you to pass, only because you cited the name of that person in authority.
• In the name of Jesus we have authority over sickness
Many of us have not fully comprehended the power that is available to us in the name of Jesus. When we pray with the authority given to us in the name of Jesus, no plans or schemes of the enemy can stand against us or overcome us. We have power over sickness and diseases in the powerful name of Jesus. Instead of running to others for prayer, we must recognize the power of God is right within us. If we believe in the name of Jesus, and use the authority that is available in His name, sickness will be healed, impossible situations will change and we can resist the devil, so that he will flee from us.
The name of Jesus makes a lame man walk
We read in Acts 3:16, “It was the power of his name that gave strength to this lame man.” (GNB)
As Peter and John went to the temple to pray, they met a lame man at the gate, who requested them for alms. Peter looked at him intently and told him that he had no silver or gold to offer him, but only the name of Jesus of Nazareth, in whose name he commanded the lame man to rise up and walk. The man who was lame for more than forty years, leaped up with joy and went rejoicing into the temple to worship God. The name of Jesus and the authority in that name is what healed, and restored that man. There is absolutely nothing that can stand against the powerful and mighty name of Jesus.
• In the name of Jesus we have authority over the devil
We read in Acts 16:16-18, And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain female slave who had a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing a large profit to her owners by fortune-telling. And she was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed and turning around, said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out immediately. (LEB)
There was a young girl who was possessed by demons, which helped her to foretell the future. Her owners made loads of money using these evil powers for their fortune telling business. Every day as Paul and Silas would go to the place of prayer, this young girl would cry out aloud saying, ‘these men are the servants of the Most High God who proclaim the way of salvation’ and this she did for many days. Paul was so annoyed that he finally turned around one day and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!’ The spirit fled from the young girl and she was totally freed from the evil spirit that possessed her. The name of Jesus brought deliverance to the girl instantly, from the evil spirit that controlled her, and ruined her life for many years.
The evil spirits are on the lookout for those who choose to deliberately walk in rebellion and cross the boundaries that God has set for us in His word. Also when a person in involved in unjust deeds, forgetting the purposes of God, they become vulnerable targets to the enemy. Only the name of Jesus has the power and authority over every evil spirit. The name of Jesus alone can bring liberation from every form of evil possession.
• In the name of Jesus we have authority over want in our lives
We read in John 16:24, “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (NKJV)
Jesus promised us that if we ask in His name we will most assuredly receive everything we ever need so that our joy may be full, so that all that is lacking may be supplied in fullness. No matter what our lack or need is if we boldly ask in the name of Jesus, He has promised to supply all our needs and make all our wants overflow with His richest blessings.
As we speak and declare the name of Jesus we have understood that we have authority over sickness, the devil and over all those situations which are wanting or lacking. The name of Jesus has power not only over the physical world, but also over the spiritual world that our physical eyes cannot fully fathom. Let us take the name of Jesus on our tongues, and speak His name with authority, and experience the victory that Jesus will bring in every area of our lives.
The disciples Jesus chose were ordinary men, many unschooled, but after the Lord Jesus was taken up to heaven, it was these disciples, who were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, who went out in the authority of the name of Jesus, that God used to turn the world upside down.
For those who feel they have overstepped God’s boundaries, and feel trapped in sin, there is a way of escape. In 1 John 1:9 we read, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NKJV) When our sins are forgiven the effects of sins are also removed from our lives. We will stand justified before the Lord. Don’t avoid going to church or being in fellowship with others because of sin, for this is Satan’s cunning plan to discourage us, and pull us down. Church is the place where the sinner can be transformed to a saint, and that is what Jesus specializes in.
Knowing that there is power in the name of Jesus, may we exercise that authority in His name against every situation, every sin, so that the Lord will break down every obstacle and He will give us victory in every single area of our lives. May we honor and revere the name of Jesus, who alone is able transform us inside out, enabling us to lead righteous and triumphant lives.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
