Understand there is power in the name of Jesus

There is power in the name of Jesus. Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth. He is seated at the right hand of God the Father in heaven, far superior to the angels, with everything placed under his feet. Jesus said his name had protected his disciples and kept them safe. Jesus commanded his disciples to go and make disciples and teach them to obey everything he commanded; his disciples drove out demons and healed people in Jesus’ name. Jesus expected that his disciples would drive out demons in his name: “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons…” (Mark 16:17). There are examples in the Bible of Peter and Paul using the wording “in the name of Jesus…” as included below. After Jesus ascended to heaven, the early disciples prayed, “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:30). There is power in the name of Jesus!

Knowing to invoke the name of Jesus isn’t enough. (Invoke: cite or appeal to Jesus as an authority for an action.) You need to have an intimate relationship with Jesus and be living in obedience to Jesus’ commands, to act as his representative and invoke Jesus’ name for the Holy Spirit to act. Only when you live in obedience to Jesus does he consider you a friend. Jesus explained that people who do miracles, prophesy, and cast out demons without knowing him, will not be considered part of the Kingdom of Heaven. There is a story in the Bible of seven sons of a Jewish priest who tried to copy Paul and invoke the name of Jesus and they got severely beaten by a man with demons because they did not know Jesus and did not have his authority.

Saying, “in the name of Jesus” is not only invoking his name, but is inferring “in the authority I have as a soldier in Jesus’ army”.

We must always remember to use God’s name well, and not misuse God’s name as instructed in the 10 Commandments; we must only use God’s name and Jesus’ name to do what he commanded.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20

After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrews 1:3-4

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Ephesians 1:22-23

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me.    John 17:11-12

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Luke 10:17

They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Acts 4:7-10

You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:14

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-23

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 the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then 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. Acts 19:13-16

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;  they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:15-18

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Exodus 20:7

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ….

 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them: “…. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.” Acts 3:1-6, 11-12, 16

Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. Acts 16:16-18

Prepared by Julie Young