16 Oct Name Tag (Discovering the Power in the Name of Jesus) – Part 2
My son, Johnathan, just turned 10 years old. We love him dearly and therefore we chose his name wisely. My favorite New Testament character is John. I have always desired to emulate his intimacy with the Lord. One of my favorite Old Testament characters is Johnathan. I have always desired to emulate his loyalty. Intimacy and loyalty are the characteristics I wanted deeply embedded into the fiber of my son, Johnathan’s “chemistry”. This is why we named him Johnathan! The Bible tells us that a good name is rather to be chosen than silver or gold (Prov. 22:1). There is something significant in a name!
Last week we began our discussion and shared with you “4 Nifty Nuances of the Name”:
1) The significance of the name (Matt. 1:18-21).
This week let’s continue…
2) The superiority of the name (Phil. 2:9-10).
Here the Bible tells us, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.”
Now, how did Jesus receive the “name above every name”? Jesus received the name above every name through two primary principles:
1. Conquest (Col. 2:15)
2. Inheritance (Eph. 1:19-23)
First, let’s take a look at conquest. The Bible tells us, “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” The Greek language of this verse indicates something very powerful. Jesus Christ through His death, burial and resurrection totally defeated the devil! In the time in which this was written, when one army defeated another the victorious army would capture the defeated king. Then they would strip him naked to humiliate him and to show he was no longer carrying any weaponry. They would cut off his thumbs to reveal he could no longer hold any weaponry. Then they would cut off his big toes to indicate he could no longer stand in battle. Then the victorious army would parade him around the conquering city, “making a shew of him openly.”
This is exactly what Jesus Christ did to the devil! He defeated him once and for all! This is conquest!
Secondly, let’s look at inheritance (Eph. 1:19-23). Here the Bible says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 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: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.”
Notice in verses 20-21. When Jesus was raised from the dead he was placed “far above” all demonic power and authority. The Greek word translated “far above” is the Greek word huperano. This Greek word means “far above in place or rank”. At this point, please allow me to make a statement that may initially shock you. Jesus is not the head of the devil! “But Pastor Jim, say it ain’t so!” It is so! Jesus is not the head of the devil. Jesus is head of the church (see v.22-23)! You are head of the devil (see v.23)! When Jesus was raised from the dead He told us, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 28:18-19).
What part of “all authority” doesn’t Jesus have? He has all authority and has delegated that authority to you and me. That authority is given to us in the form of Jesus’ name! The Bible says, “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for they lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Ps. 138:2). In this verse, one can plainly see God has magnified His Word above His name!
As a pastor, I watch so many people using the name of Jesus and many times without productive results. Primarily this is because these precious people use the name of Jesus like a lucky rabbit’s foot without really understanding the Word behind the name. The Book of Acts reveals to us a story of a family that used the name of Jesus without knowing the word behind it:
“Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded” (Acts 19:13-16). As you can see, the sons of Sceva had slightly less than productive results. Anytime you leave a house naked and bleeding, this is not a good day!
As you can see, it is imperative to know the principles of conquest and inheritance, and to have a deep revelation of the Bible that backs these principles. Then when you use the name of Jesus, you will experience the results Peter and John did.
Acts 3:1-16 tells us of this account: “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I non; but such as I have give I thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them in the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our father, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead: whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”
From these verses, it is clear that it is not just His name, but “faith in His name” that produces results!
The Old Covenant reveals to us a story that illustrates the balance of delegated authority and our participation in it. In Joshua chapter 10, Joshua and his army clearly defeated enemy armies. He then told his captains to put their feet on the neck of the five defeated kings and participate in his victory. Similarly, Jesus Christ has defeated sin, sickness, fear, poverty and depression. Even though all have been clearly defeated, if we don’t use our delegated authority and put our spiritual foot on the sin, sickness, fear, poverty and depression…by faith…one or all of these enemies could stand up in our lives! We participate in Jesus’ victory by faith in the name of Jesus and by faith in the Word of the Living God! There is superiority in the name of Jesus!
Next week we’ll continue our series on “Name Tag”.