UNDERSTANDING POWER PRINCIPLES
POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS - POWER PRINCIPLE THREE
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this lesson you will be able to:
• Explain the importance of names in Bible times.
• Identify the greatest name which is above all others.
• Identify the meaning of the name "Jesus."
• Explain how Jesus got His name.
• Identify Biblical guidelines for using the name of Jesus.
KEY VERSES:
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things 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)
INTRODUCTION
You have learned of the power and authority given by God to Jesus Christ and how Jesus delegated this same power and authority to believers. One of these powerful spiritual principles is the use of His own name. This teaching focuses on power in the name of Jesus.
THE IMPORTANCE OF NAMES
In Bible times names had an importance they do not have today.
• In many modern cultures, a name is often used only as a personal label.
• In Bible times, great significance was attached to a person's name.
• The name given was often determined by some circumstance at the time of birth (Genesis 19:22). Sometimes the name expressed a hope or a prophecy (Isaiah 8:1-4; Hosea 1:4).
• Because of the importance of names in Bible times, God changed the name of several people.
• He changed the name of Abram to Abraham in view of his destiny:
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. (Genesis 17:5)
• The name Abraham meant "father of a great multitude."
• Sarai to Sara
• Jacob to Israel .
• Simon is called "Peter"
• Saul becomes "Paul." Their names reflected their destinies in God's plan.
• Because of the importance of the meaning of names, God selected a very special name forHis only Son.
THE NAME OF JESUS
The name of Jesus was given to the Son of God when He came to earth in human form. It was given in obedience to the command of an angel to Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus:
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
The name "Jesus" means "Savior." Jesus had other names too. He is commonly called
Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus, Lord Jesus, and Lord. These are also combined into the title the"Lord Jesus Christ." "Christ" means "anointed One."
Jesus is once called "Emmanuel," which means "God with us." Jesus called Himself "The Son of Man" and He is often called "The Son of God" in New Testament writings. John calls Him "the Word" and "the Lamb of God."
There are many other titles given to Jesus, such as the "bread of life," the "light of the world," etc. Each of the names given Jesus is important in understanding His position and ministry.
But our Lord is most commonly spoken of by the name of "Jesus" throughout the NewTestament. It is this name to which we refer in this chapter on power in the name. It isthe name of Jesus, sometimes combined with His other names, that is used in thedemonstration of God's power through believers in the book of Acts.
HOW NAMES ARE OBTAINED
There are three ways great men obtain their names:
BY BIRTH:
Some people are born with a great name. They are born as a prince, princess, or child of a great tribal leader. They may be born into a family with a name known for great wealth or political power. They inherit their great name through their parents.
BY ACHIEVEMENT:
Some people make a great name by their personal achievements. They become great writers, inventors, politicians, and leaders.
BY CONFERRING:
Other people receive a great name because it is conferred upon them. They are given a great name by another person. For example, a poor woman may receive the name of a rich politician when she marries him. A king or tribal leader may give a title of importance to one of the people in his kingdom or tribe.
HOW JESUS GOT HIS NAME
Jesus received His name in all three ways that great men receive their names on earth:
BY BIRTH:
Jesus received His name by birth, through inheritance from His Father:
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High; Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:1-4)
Jesus inherited a name greater than any other being in the universe. His name is greater than any king, president, or tribal leader. It is greater than the name of any angel in Heaven.
BY ACHIEVEMENT:
Jesus also received His name by achievement because he conquered all the power of the enemy: And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:15)
BY CONFERRING:
Jesus also received His name by having it conferred upon Him:
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things 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)
THE GREATEST NAME
The name of Jesus is the most powerful name in the universe. It is above every other name:
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name. . . (Philippians 2:9)
. . . Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. (Ephesians 1:21)
POWER IN THE NAME
Jesus left His followers with the great mission of reaching the world with the Gospel message. He also left them with a special power to enable them to fulfill the mission. He gave them authority to use His own name:
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. (Matthew 28:18-20)
When a person gave his own name to another, it meant that the two of them were joined together in close unity. An example is when God gave His name to Israel:
The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto Himself, as He hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in His ways.And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee. (Deuteronomy 28:9-10)
To be sent or speak in someone's name is to have his authority:
Therefore thus saith the Lord of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life,saying, Prophesy not in the name of the Lord, that thou die not by our hand;Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will punish them. . .(Jeremiah 11:21-22)
Evil men sought to kill Jeremiah because he prophesied in the name of the Lord and theyknew his prophecy had God’s authority behind it.
One of the greatest keys to spiritual power is the name of Jesus. We often fail in ministrybecause we depend on our own ability to deliver someone. It is not our name, position, orauthority that carries the power. Our power is in the name of Jesus.
Mere chanting of the name over and over can be little more than a ritual. It becomes vainrepetition similar to that practiced by the Pharisees and scribes in Bible times. The nameof Jesus is not some magical phrase. You must have faith in the name. The disciplesemphasized this after a powerful healing recorded in Acts 3. Peter said:
. . . And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong.(Acts 3:16)
We have chanted the name of Jesus like a ritual, but our faith in the name has been weak.
How can this be corrected? How can we move beyond mere repetition of the name ofJesus to faith in the name which results in power? The Bible says:So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.(Romans 10:17)
Your faith in the name of Jesus can be increased by hearing what the Word of God saysabout that name. Through the Word you can understand the authority behind the nameand Biblical guidelines for proper use of His name.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS
The name of Jesus is used. . .
FOR SALVATION:
The greatest power in the name of Jesus is the power of salvation from sin. It is onlythrough His name that salvation comes:
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for Heshall save His people from their sins. . . (Matthew 1:21)
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name underHeaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
He that believeth on Him is not condemned; but he that believeth not iscondemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the onlybegotten Son of God. (John 3:18)
You cannot be forgiven of your sins in any other way--only through the name of Jesus.
You cannot gain access to God except through Jesus:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
When presenting the Gospel it is important to emphasize that salvation comes onlythrough the name of Jesus. Confession of the name of Jesus is important to salvation:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe inthine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouthconfession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)
The power to become a child of God is through the name of Jesus:
But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them gave He power to become thesons of God, even to them that believe on His name. (John 1:12)
SANCTIFICATION:
Not only are you cleansed from sin and justified through the name of Jesus, you are alsosanctified. Sanctification comes through the power of God which continues to work inyou after salvation to enable you to live a holy life. In I Corinthians 6 Paul speaks of theevils of sin. He says. . .
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but yeare justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.(I Corinthians 6:11)
Previously, these Corinthians lived in these sinful practices. Now they could live a holylife through sanctification which came through the name of Jesus.
IN PRAYER:
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, thatyour joy may be full. (John 16:24)
"Hitherto" means "up until now." Up until the time Jesus spoke these words, Hisfollowers had asked nothing in His name. At this point He established a new relation withthem. He told them to ask God for things in His name:
. . . Verily, verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in myname, He will give it you. (John 16:23)
What a powerful promise! Whatever we ask In His name, we will receive.
But this promise has to be taken along with the other principles of prayer taught in theBible. We can never isolate one verse on a subject without considering all that is taughton that subject in the Word of God. The Bible teaches you cannot ask selfishly:
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it uponyour lusts. (James 4:3)
You must also be living righteously before God. If you sin, you are to confess and prayfor forgiveness:
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may behealed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.(James 5:16)
You cannot continue to live in sin and think just because you ask in the name of Jesus youwill be granted your requests. It is the prayers of righteous men and women that availwith God:
If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, andit shall be done unto you. (John 15:7)
This means if you are abiding in Christ you can ask and it shall be done. If you arewalking in obedience to God's Word, then you can ask in the name of Jesus.
Praying in the name of Jesus is also subject to God’s will. Jesus prayed:
Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not mywill, but thine be done. (Luke 22:42)
In the weakness of human flesh, Jesus did not want to suffer. He wanted the cup ofsuffering removed, but He submitted His will to God's will.
In some matters clearly defined in Scripture, we know the will of God and exactly how topray. In other matters we can express our will, as did Jesus, then submit our will to Hiswill--all in the name of Jesus.
Requests made in the name of Jesus are subject to the sovereign will of God. We askaccording to human reasoning and cannot always discern God's higher purposes:
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saiththe Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher thanyour ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
You will not always know the will of God and exactly how to pray. When you are not sureof the will of God, it is a good time to pray in the language of the Holy Spirit. The Holy
Spirit intercedes on our behalf according to the will of God:
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: For we know not what weshould pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for uswith groanings which cannot be uttered.
And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.(Romans 8:26-27)
Some will disagree with this Biblical teaching. They will say you can ask anything in thename of Jesus and it will be done. When you arrogantly pray without submitting yourrequests to God’s will, He may answer your requests, but it may not be in your bestinterests. He did this for the nation of Israel:
And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.(Psalms 106:15)
You must also realize that when you ask for something on behalf of another person thattheir will enters into the situation. Nobody, through prayer in the name of Jesus, can pushsomething on someone else which that person does not want. God does not take away thefree will of man. Another person's will and unbelief can affect your prayer for them.
In John 17 Jesus prays a great prayer concerning the men God gave Him as disciples. Allthese men received the same training. They saw the same miracles. They received thesame Word of God. But yet one of them was lost. Judas still had a will of his own, anddespite all he had heard and seen, rejected God's Word in unbelief.
Jesus spoke of the power of agreeing with others in prayer in His name:
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touchinganything that they shall ask, it shall be done of them of my Father which is inHeaven.For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst ofthem. (Matthew 18:19-20)
As part of prayer, thanks should be given in the name of Jesus:
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name ofour Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20)
You should also give thanks to the name of Jesus:
By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, thatis, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. (Hebrews 13:15)
IN ALL AREAS OF MINISTRY:
The name of Jesus is to be used in all areas of ministry:
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in
Heaven and in earth.Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.(Matthew 28:18-20)
And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast outdevils; they shall speak with new tongues;They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall nothurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.(Mark 16:17-18)
According to these verses, the following ministries are to be done in the name of Jesus:
Signs And Wonders:
All powerful signs and wonders are to be done in the name of Jesus. The disciples prayed:
. . . Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that withall boldness they may speak thy Word.By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may bedone in the name of thy holy child Jesus.(Acts 4:29-30)Preaching And Teaching:
Jesus said all power and authority was given to Him and through this powercommissioned preaching and teaching of the Gospel in His name:
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of theFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. . .(Matthew 28:19-20). . . Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise fromthe dead the third day:And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His nameamong all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46-47)
Because they recognized the power in the name of Jesus, enemies of the Gospel message
warned the disciples that. . .
. . . they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them,and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.(Acts 4:17-18)
But Peter answered:
. . . We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.(Acts 4:20)
The Disciples witnessed the power of God. The things they had seen and heard in thename of Jesus were a powerful force driving them to fulfill their ministries.
You are not only to teach in the name of Jesus, you are to teach about that name:
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdomof God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men andwomen. (Acts 8:12)Baptism:
New converts are to be baptized in water in the name of the Father, the Son Jesus, and the
Holy Ghost:
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of theFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. . . (Matthew 28:19)When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(Acts 19:5)
On the basis of that name, believers receive the gift of the Holy Spirit:
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in thename of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift(baptism) of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)
CASTING OUT DEVILS:
Devils or demons are the angels of Satan. They were formerly the angels of God whojoined Satan in rebellion against God. They are now part of the forces of Satan active onearth in many evil ways.
Demons can enter unbelievers and actually possess them. Demonic powers can oppressbelievers, but not possess them. Their Satanic powers are to be broken in the name of
Jesus:
And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast outdevils. . . (Mark 16:17)
When Paul was confronted with a demon possessed woman, He said to the spirit:
. . . I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And hecame out the same hour. (Acts 16:18)
Detailed teaching on demons and how to bring deliverance to those under their power andinfluence is given in the Harvestime International Institute course, "Spiritual Strategies: A
Manual Of Spiritual Warfare.”
MINISTERING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Holy Spirit was given in the name of Jesus:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send inmy name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to yourremembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
Speaking with new tongues through the Holy Spirit is used as an example of His variousministries in this verse:
And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name. . . they shallspeak with new tongues. . . (Mark 16:17)
All the powerful gifts of the Holy Spirit are to operate in the name of Jesus. The gift oftongues is just one of these many spiritual gifts. It is used here as representative of all the ministries of the Holy Spirit since it was the first experienced when the Holy Spirit was given.
HEALING:
The name of Jesus is to be used in ministering healing to those who are sick:
And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name. . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18)Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. . .(James 5:14)
When Jesus died on the cross, He suffered not only for your sin but through His suffering and death, He obtained your healing:
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. (Matthew 8:17)Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.(I Peter 2:24)
Why is it so easy to accept salvation from sin through His name, but difficult for us to believe for healing through His name?
When the Disciples encountered a lame man at the temple gate, Peter said:
. . . Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. (Acts 3:6)
Peter knew the power in the name of Jesus. He knew there was healing in that name. He knew he had the authority to use that name--"Such as I have!" The power behind that name had been delegated to him by Jesus.
Funds are important in the work of the ministry, but lack of funds cannot stop the true ministry of the power of God. Peter and John had no silver or gold, yet they continued to minister in power through the name of Jesus.
These men had no budget for advertising their ministry in the city of Jerusalem. But the entire city became aware of it through the demonstration of the power of God. You canread about this in Acts 3 and 4.
In many modern ministries, more emphasis is placed on fund raising than on the power ofthe name of Jesus. The importance of finances in ministry is recognized, but the greateremphasis should be on the demonstration of God's power. Power through the name of Jesus is not affected by the presence or absence of finances.
FOR PROTECTION:
And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name. . . they shall takeup serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them.(Mark 16:17-18)
The Apostle Paul was bitten by a poison snake and it did not hurt him. You can read aboutit in Acts 28.
IN EVERYTHING:
The Bible says that everything you do is to be done in the name of Jesus:
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. (Colossians 3:17) When you do everything in the name of Jesus, even a simple task of serving is turned to a powerful spiritual experience. You can sweep the church floors in the name of Jesus. You can prepare food for your family in the name of Jesus. What you do is not as important as how you do it: Is it done in the name of Jesus?
SUFFERING FOR THE NAME
If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. . . all these things will they do unto you for My names sake, because they know not Him that sent Me. (John 15:20-21)
When the Disciples suffered because of the Gospel:
. . . they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach andpreach Jesus Christ. (Acts5:41-42)
The disciples were men who risked their lives for the name of the Lord:
It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.(Acts 15:25-26)
Although Jesus promised protection while engaged in ministry, it did not mean that the disciples did not suffer. Peter, Paul, and Silas were all in prison. These disciples were stoned and beaten, and Paul was once left for dead by enemies of the Gospel. When their ministries were finished, most of the disciples died as martyrs for the sake of the Gospel.
The same Peter delivered from prison later died for the sake of the Gospel.
Hebrews 11 tells the stories of great men and women who were delivered through faith.
But it also records the stories of those who died in faith for the Gospel when their ministries were completed. Peter tells us:
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit ofglory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but onyour part He is glorified. (I Peter 4:14) You will learn more about the power of the fellowship of His suffering in this series.
REIGNING BY THE NAME
Through the name of Jesus, you become part of the Kingdom of God:
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. (Colossians 1:12-13)
As part of the kingdom of Jesus, you receive an inheritance of power to reign in life:
For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17) You are to reign in life through the name of Jesus. You are to reign over the negative circumstances of life through the name of Jesus. You are to reign over all the powerful forces of the enemy through the name of Jesus!
THE FINAL REFERENCE
The final Biblical reference to the name of Jesus is found in the book of Revelation.
It speaks of the day when believers will be in the presence of their Savior in the new Heaven and earth:
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads.(Revelation 22:3-4)
-That name we have cherished. . .
-That name we have used in authority to minister and in which we have prayed. . .
-That name by which we have reigned in life. . . .
-THE NAME OF JESUS . . . Will become part of our identity for all eternity.
Dr Tg Badia
