Power in the Name – Introduction

Power in the Name – Introduction.

“Whatever you say or do, let it be in the Name of the Lord Jesus, in thanksgiving to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17).

Names are empty unless they are filled by the person behind the name. The person and the name are inseparable, since one reflects the other, and we can’t imagine one without the other. One simply cannot separate the name from the person.  A name is only as good as its name holder. A name can indeed have power, but only if its name holder is powerful. A name can only represent righteousness if the person behind the name is truly righteous. A name can wield authority if the person with the name possesses legitimate authority.

Take the name of Jesus Christ, for example. His name had the power to heal only because Jesus Himself had power over physical ailments and the human body. His name had the power to cast out demons only because He had spiritual authority over the demonic world. The name of Jesus is able to offer protection only because He has the power to remain a spiritual refuge and fortress for those who follow Him. The name of Jesus opens the door to prayer only because He and only He gives access to God. The name of Jesus opens that door because He is the door. Finally, the name of Jesus is able to save souls because the Name Holder is the Author of salvation. For these reasons, all the saints and angels love the name of Jesus, they worship the Name, because they love the Person behind the name. Because Jesus is the Word, lovingly dwelling on His Name is equivalent to quoting the whole Scripture.

The name of Jesus is filled with singular power and authority, because the Man behind the name is uniquely powerful. Only Jesus can legitimately claim to bear ultimate authority over everything heavenly and earthly (Matt. 28:18). Only Christ has lived a life of human flesh yet had the Spirit of God, and who died and conquered death by rising from the dead man’s grave. Jesus is the supreme victor over all the enemies of God and man. Jesus has ultimate power, and so He has invested His power in His name. A king only has legitimate power and authority in his particular domain. The risen Christ’s domain is the entire universe. The name of Jesus carries a lot of weight, because it represents and carries the authority of the King of the World.

There is nothing to compare with the matchless name of Jesus:

(1.) “God put this power to work in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.” (Ephesians 1:20-21).

(2.) “Therefore God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11).

(3.) “When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” (Hebrews 1:3-4).

(4.) “Lord, who will not fear and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your judgments have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:4).

(5.). “To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of His call and will fulfill by His power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thess. 1:11-12).

If everything we do, in word and deed, is done in the name of Jesus, what does that look like, and why should we do that in the first place? If something is done “in His name,” which has power and authority, what does that practically mean? When something is done in His name, that word or deed is done:

• in His honor;
• as His representative;
• in line with His character;
• under His authority;
• with His power;
• for His sake;
• with faith in Him;
• with His approval;
• to further His will;
• with Him in mind.

Scripture reveals that the name of Jesus has the power to heal, to cast out demons, to protect the righteous, to save souls, and to pray to God in heaven. There is that much power invested in His name, because the Holder of that Name is the victorious King of the world, the risen Christ who has authority over all things in heaven and on earth.

The name of Jesus, though, is not a magical formula that can be used for your own purposes or against His will. His name will not stir anything good into action if someone merely wants to make a name for himself or who wants to simply wield power for his own purposes. His name is not intended for use to achieve something supernatural at the Lord’s expense. Faith in the Person of Jesus is what lies behind the power of His name. The power of His name is available when God wants it put into action and when someone is in relationship with Him, the power behind the name. Unbelievers cannot compel the power of His name as if by magic. Just saying the name, “Lord, Lord,” like a mantra does not draw you closer to the Lord God. The itinerant exorcists of Acts 19:13-16 tried that, and it didn’t work out too well for them.

There is a bit of a mystery regarding miraculous deeds done in Christ’s name. According to what Jesus said at the end of His Sermon on the Mount, it evidently is possible for a measure of powerful works to be done by some who don’t know God, who don’t have a relationship with the Power behind the name. In this passage, in Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus seems to believe that people were somehow able to prophecy, heal and cast out demons in His name. How did that happen? We do know that Jesus was not impressed by all those miracles in His name. For those miracles were accomplished by those who weren’t saved. They might have used the name of Jesus, saying “Lord, Lord,” but they certainly didn’t know the God they were invoking. It’s clear that performing miracles will not achieve salvation. And what is more important, doing impressive deeds or being saved for eternity? In this Scripture, Jesus strongly implied that the miracles being reported to Him were not “doing the will of the Father.” So some miracles may not actually be in the will of the Father. These miracles will not achieve salvation for the soul. The lesson here? Don’t seek the power of God without first seeking the Person Of Jesus.