Dear Partners and Friends,
Have you asked anything in Jesus’ name lately? Maybe you have said a prayer that started with, “I come to you in Jesus’ name…” Or perhaps you ended a prayer with a standard closing, “and we ask all this in the name of Jesus.” I am not saying either of these statements is incorrect. I use them both in prayer on a regular basis. What I am saying is this, we need to release faith in what these statements represent when we declare them.
Remember that faith is of the heart. It does not function in the mental arena. Therefore, we must have a continual deposit of the Word into the heart if we want a constant supply of faith. If we want a supply of faith in the power of the name of Jesus, we must deposit God’s Word that will produce that supply. When was the last time you listened to a sermon, read specific verses, or did a study on the power and authority of Jesus’ name? If you haven’t made recent deposits, the chances are you are declaring the name of Jesus without having the force of faith behind your words.
The name of Jesus represents His authority and position. God gave Jesus this name with all the governing power that this name currently possesses. At this very moment, Jesus Christ holds the name that is highest in power and authority throughout the entire universe! Wow!
“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.” – Philippians 2:9-10
Notice that the name holds the power that will cause every knee to bow. The authority in this name operates in heaven, in earth, and under the earth. The name of Jesus exercises governing power over every created thing! His name is THE NAME above every name. Jesus Christ is the Lord over all creation!
Notice the verse begins with the word “Wherefore.” The previous verses explain that Jesus became a man, humbled Himself in obedience to God’s will, and died on the cross. The Wuest translation says, “having become obedient [to God the Father] to the extent of death.” Jesus came to this earth and qualified as our legal redeemer. Jesus, who never sinned, became sin for us. You and I, who had never done anything that qualified to make us right with God, became righteous through Him. Because Jesus accomplished this, God gave Him the name, the position of authority to maintain that Lordship.
But that is not the extent of His name and power! Jesus has delegated His name along with its governing power to you and I. The church, the Body of Christ, has a right to use His name and authorize His will to be done. We have the right to use His name against our enemies. We have the right to draw on His name in our praise and worship. We have the delegated authority to utilize His name in our prayers and petitions! His name has been given to us!
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” – John 14:13-14
“Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I Am]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy
(gladness, delight) may be full and complete.” – John 14:24 AMP
Could it be that we have been speaking the words “in Jesus’ name” without the faith in all that His name represents? I believe that as we continue to build our faith in the governing power and authority invested in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will speak His name from a faith-filled heart, glorify the Father, receive immediate results and our joy will reach a complete fullness! Thank you, Partner, for being a Faith Builder!
