Victory In The Name Series

Title: The Name of Jesus – 2

“Victory In The Name”

Text: Philippians 2:9-11

This morning we talked about when Jesus actually received the inheritance of the power and authority of the Name. We went through the Scripture and found that Jesus inherited the authority of the Name the day that He rose from the dead. We also talked about what Jesus went through to be given such a powerful Name. He had to experience spiritual death for each of us. That means that the Father literally forsook Jesus and turned His back on Him. He became sin for each of us. He paid the ultimate price for our salvation.

I. PAUL’S PRAYER

Jesus has been given a Name that is above every other Name. Paul was praying a prayer for the Church at Ephesus in the first chapter of Ephesians. He wanted them to see something, to understand something. So, he prayed that the eyes of their spirit would be enlightened to truths that they would never be able to figure out in their heads. I want to read that prayer to you because it is the same prayer that I have for us at Calvary concerning the Name and the power behind it.

Ephesians 1:17-23; “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 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: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”

Notice that in connection with His being raised from the dead, the Name is mentioned. Paul’s prayer was not just for the Church at Ephesus. This is a Spirit-given prayer. It belongs to believers everywhere. It is a prayer that the eyes of our spirits might be enlightened to some things. Paul did not ask that the eyes of minds would be opened, he said the eyes of our spirits. We have to get the knowledge of God’s Word down in our spirits, our hearts, down on the inside. We cannot get it with our mentality. Our minds are not great enough to grasp it. God wants us to know some things in our hearts.

I want to read this Scripture from a different translation to help us understand it a little better. The Moffett’s Translation says:

Ephesians 1:17-23; “May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, grant you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation for the knowledge of Himself, illuminating the eyes of your heart so that you can understand the hope to which He calls us, the wealth of His glorious heritage in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of His power over us believers – a power which operates with the strength of the might which He exerted in raising Christ from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavenly sphere, above all the angelic rulers, authorities, powers and lords, above every Name that is to be named not only in this age – but in the age to come. He has put everything under His feet and set Him as head over everything for the church, the church which is His Body, filled by Him who fills the universe entirely.”

Jesus has not only been given a Name at which every being in three worlds must bow and confess His Lordship, but God seated Him in the highest place in the universe and made Him to be head over all things.

For what purpose? The Bible tells us the purpose. It is for the Church! Jesus has been given this Name for the benefit and the use of the Church.

In Paul’s prayer we find that the Name of Jesus has literally been handed over to us. He has given it to us. It belongs to us! Do you really get that? We have been given the Name to use at our disposal. That means whatever need we have, we have been given a Name that everyone and everything has to listen and obey at the mention of that Name. We have the right to use that Name against our enemies. We have the right to use that Name in our petitions. We have the right to use that Name in our praise and worship. That Name has been given to us!