The Name's Power Over Demons Series

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; ¶ “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.