What’s In A Name?
How To Use the Name of Jesus
11/17/04
I. Introduction
In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Romeo delivers a monologue outside of Juliet’s window in which he’s obviously battling within himself the controversy between the house of Capulet and the house of Montague exclaims, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” And certainly a rose, if it were called a tulip or a poopyflower, would still have the same sweet smell, but while Romeo dreamt about a world where name’s had no meaning, Juliet’s family name carried with it a hatred for Romeo’s family. And in the names of their respective families was a feud that would ultimately lead to their deaths. So, should we take names lightly. Perhaps, it doesn’t matter when dealing with your name or mine, but the name of Jesus is a different issue altogether.
Tonight’s message is called “What’s in a Name? How to Use the Name of Jesus” and we’ll discover the power and possibilities of using His name the right way.
II. The Un-Way
Exodus 20:7 7"Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
Many of us have heard the Ten Commandments in the King James Version where it says, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” Well, what does that mean?
The phrase “in vain” has two meanings: (1) without success or result or (2) in an irreverent or blasphemous manner.
There’s a story in the book of Acts about some people who used the name of Jesus in vain, that is without success or result. Let’s check it out.
Acts 19:11-17 NLT 11God gave Paul the power to do unusual miracles, 12so that even when handkerchiefs or cloths that had touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and any evil spirits within them came out.
13A team of Jews who were traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus. The incantation they used was this: "I command you by Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!" 14Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. 15But when they tried it on a man possessed by an evil spirit, the spirit replied, "I know Jesus, and I know Paul. But who are you?" 16And he leaped on them and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and badly injured.
17The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored.
So this team of Jews tried to use the name of Jesus on an evil spirit, and it backfired. They were Jews, but vagabond Jews, that were of the Jewish nation and religion, but went about from town to town to get money by conjuring. They strolled about to tell people their fortunes, and pretended by spells and charms to cure diseases, and bring people to themselves that were melancholy or distracted. So they came upon this man who was possessed by an evil spirit and they said, I command you by Jesus whom Paul preaches; not, "whom we believe in, or depend upon, or have any authority from,’’ but whom Paul preaches; as if they had said, "Let’s try what this Jesus name will do.’’ The evil spirit gave them a sharp reply (v. 15): "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Or in other words, “I know that Jesus has conquered principalities and powers, and that Paul has authority in his name to cast out devils; but what power do you have to command us in his name, or who gave you any such power? What have you to do to declare the power of Jesus, or to take his covenant and commands into your mouths, seeing you hate his instructions?’’
So these priests were using the name of Jesus in vain and it got them beat up.
So, that’s one way not to use the name of Jesus – someone who doesn’t believe in Him, depend upon Him, or have any authority from Him trying to use it. That, in essence, is witchcraft. So, it’d be like a wiccan trying to put a hex on you in the name of Jesus…it would be without success and it would probably get them in big trouble.
Another un-way is in an irreverent or blasphemous manner, which we all should know. Most of the movies you watch demonstrates this case in point. The character gets upset and makes a derogatory remark and says “Jesus” or “Jesus Christ!” or “Jesus H. Christ.” That’s irreverent and blasphemous. If you catch yourself doing that same thing, beware. You know when you’re being irreverent. You stump your toe and yell, “Jesus.” You get scared and “Jesus” slips out, that’s irreverent, don’t do it. It’s the un-way. If you’ve let it slip before, go ahead and make the correction and say, “I’m not doing it anymore.”
So, what’s the right way?
III. Name Above All Names
Philippians 2:9-11 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The name of Jesus is above every name. The name of Jesus carries with it supreme authority in the universe. No other name is higher.
One way to use His name is when you’re praising. We glorify His name. We lift His name on high. We sing to Him and about Him. And that’s a great way to use the name that’s above all names.
IV. The Power of His Name
Another way is found in the John 16.
John 16:23-24 NLT “23At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. The truth is, you can go directly to the Father and ask him, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.”
We are authorized to pray to the Father, in the name of Jesus. We MUST use His name in prayer. We don’t pray to Jesus, we pray to God, in the name of Jesus. By using Jesus’ name, we’re guaranteeing that our prayers be answered. If we pray, “Dear Jesus,” or “for Jesus’ sake, amen,” then we’re using his name in vain- without result or success. A lot of people use the name of Jesus in vain because they don’t know how to use it.
But this is another way, by praying in Jesus’ name. You see, our position “In Christ” gives us the same standing with the Father that Jesus has, which means that when we pray in Jesus’ name, it has the same effect as if Jesus were asking God for us.
John 14:12-14 12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
The name of Jesus is our legal authorization to receive any blessing from God. When we use His name, Jesus personally sees to it that our requests are granted.
Are some of your prayers ever “unanswered?” If so, you’re probably not praying IN JESUS NAME like the Scripture says.
V. Do It Like He Did
Alright, another way we use His name is to do His works. We have authority in His name to do His works.
Mark 16:17-20 NLT 17These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in tongues. 18They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them."
We cast out devils, speak with tongues, go unharmed, and lay hands on the sick all in His name.
If you encounter someone who’s demon-possessed, you can cast out devils in Jesus’ name. Now, demon-possession is very real. Do we encounter demon-possessed people every day? No. But if ever we should, we can know what to do.
You can be baptized in the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues in the name of Jesus.
You can go unharmed in the name of Jesus.
You can lay hands on the sick and expect them to recover in the name of Jesus.
These last three things are things you can and should be doing in the name of Jesus. If you’ve never been baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, you can. If you have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and you don’t make it a practice to speak in tongues, you should. You can expect to go through dangerous situations and come out unharmed in the name of Jesus. You can and should be praying and laying hands on sick people that you encounter and use Jesus’ name. So, how do you pray for a sick person? You lay your hands on them, preferably where the pain is coming from if possible, and you can say something as simple as “Be healed in the name of Jesus” and you can expect that person to be healed – sometimes it’s instant, sometimes it takes time to manifest, but either way it’s in His name that you do it. It’s not your touch that heals the person; it’s His name.
I remember one time I was at my aunt’s house and she was cooking and at some point she sliced her finger pretty good and blood was going all over the place. She screamed and I came in the kitchen and she asked me to pray for her finger. I said a simple prayer like the one I said earlier, and she immediately went to the bathroom to get a bandage. Once she came back from the medicine cabinet, she said, “It’s amazing! When I got to the cabinet to get a bandage, my finger stopped bleeding, and it’s all because you prayed for me.”
But it wasn’t because I prayed for her; it was because of His name. Results come because of the name of Jesus.
What are some other ways to use His name?
Salvation is in His Name.
Acts 4:12 NLT 12There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them."
We preach in His Name.
Luke 24:47 NIV 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
We make disciples in His Name.
Matthew 28:18-20 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Baptism is to be in the name of Jesus.
Acts 2:38 38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Demons are subject to us in the name of Jesus.
Luke 10:17 17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
VI. Miraculous Use of His Name In the Early Church
A man lame from birth was instantly healed.
Acts 3:1-7 NIV 1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk.
Faith in His Name brings miracles.
Acts 3:16 NIV 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
The religious leaders feared the use of His Name.
Acts 4:17-18 NIV 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." 18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Paul and Silas deliver a girl from a devil in the Name of Jesus.
Acts 16:16-18 NIV 16Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
Many signs and wonders were worked among the people.
Acts 5:12,16 NIV 12The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 16Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
The apostles prayed that signs and wonders would be done through the Name of Jesus.
Acts 4:29-30 NIV 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
If the apostles can work miracles and wonders through the name of Jesus, then we, too, when we know how to use His name, can work miracles and wonders. Amen.
Let’s pray.
