#67 “Understanding the Power in the Name of Jesus”

(It’s Not a Magical Formula)  

“But there was a man named Simon, who had formerly practiced magic arts in the

city to the utter amazement of the Samaritan nation, claiming that he himself was

an extraordinary and distinguished person.  They all paid earnest attention to him,

from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that exhibition of the power of God

which is called great intense. And they were attentive and made much of him, because for

 a long time he had amazed and bewildered and dazzled them with his skill in magic arts.”

[Acts 8:9-11]

Amplified Bible (AMP)  

Hocus pocus - a generic term used by magicians, Presto Change - change at once usually used imperatively, as in a magician's command indicating a change is occurring suddenly and as if by magic or perhaps you remember this one “Open Sesame” - Which is a magical phrase in the story of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" in One Thousand: these three term have been used for hundreds of years in movies, children’s books and cartoon as magical phrases for gaining access into secret passages or performing magical tricks. Although they are factious, many people come to think of, “in the Name of Jesus” as one of these magical phrases when they pray.  They believe that this name will open the secret door, or instantaneously change the situation from one thing to another. However, when it doesn’t work they think they must have gotten it wrong. 

 

Is the Name of Jesus some magical catch phrase that makes things happens? The answer is NO!  We cannot pray any old kind of pray and then through in an “In Jesus Name” at the end and think that it will somehow magically work.  Don’t think that this phrase alone is all it takes to get your prayers answered because that is not true.  Some think that by tacking “in Jesus Name at the end of a prayer will somehow make God pay closer attention to the prayer and perhaps even answer it more quickly than one without it.  Is the name of Jesus a seal of approval stamped on our prayers designed to get Gods attention? When we are instructed to pray in Jesus’ name does that mean the name or word J-E-S-U-S?  You do realize that the name “Jesus” is just what we call Him in the English language right? There are some many other translations of the name Jesus, so it could not simply mean the name itself.  Therefore it can’t simply be the word or name Jesus that matters but rather what the word or name represents that counts. 

In the Latin language there are thousands of male children named “Jesús” does this make them the Savior of the world? No, just as naming your child Barak Obama or George Bush would not make them the President of the United States. The names themselves want mean anything without the authority that goes with the name. So too are we not effective when praying just because we use the Name of Jesus.  Nevertheless when you understand the importance of who Jesus truly is; you can appropriate His power and authority by faith, in which He is.  Do you remember the story of the sons of Sceva told in the book of Acts 19:13-17?

-      “Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, went doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.”

 

It not enough just to know the name of Jesus and say it, because, there is no authority behind the words you say. If you walked into a bank and there before you were two men with guns holding up the bank, would they stop just because you called out, “Stop in the name of the police!” No, they wouldn’t and you would no doubt get yourself killed. Why? Because, you have no authority behind what you say because you’re not a police officer; therefore, there is no legal weight of authority behind what you say. The same is true when we use the name of Jesus. Actually you would be guilty of impersonating an officer of the law, which is a crime. So too when we use the name of Jesus there must be a legal right to use the authority which accompany the power in His name; otherwise there would be no results from using the name of Jesus.

Just as you would need some form of ID to walk into a bank and with draw money for your bank account; which proves you have a legal right to make a withdrawal. So too you need to be identified with Jesus Christ before you have legal authority to back your prayers made in Jesus Name.  

-          Are you in right standing with Christ?

-          Have you been washed in the Blood of the Lamb?

-          Have you been born again?

-          Do you truly know who Jesus is?

-          Do you believe in His name and it’s authority and it’s power? 

Or are you like the sons of Sceva just going around using a name you heard someone us, expecting it to work for you like it worked for them? What is the difference between you and them? They actually know Him and have a personal relationship with Him. They know His word and live, talk and walk in it daily. They know His Father and are in agreement with His Fathers plans and will for this earth. This is why you can’t pray in Jesus name and expect some hocus-pocus to take place but many people do and then when they don’t received what they prayed for then they are baffled. The name of Jesus is not a Magical Formula, or magician’s bag of tricks. It only works through “Covenant” but that’s tomorrow’s lesson!

 

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we go deeper into Your word and truth open our eyes to who Jesus Christ truly is and the power and authority we have when we are in right standing with Him and Your word. Father when we pray and we will pray in Jesus name let your authority and power accompany the name of Jesus and accomplish what we send it to do. Father we don’t want to be frauds and phonies pretending to be something we are not so bring us into right alignment with Your word and truth. We don’t want to be like the sons of Sceva just using the Name of Jesus because we heard someone else using it. Give us genuine relationship with Jesus Christ to know Him for who He truly is. Thank you, in Jesus name we pray Amen!!!

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace! 

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