“Lord Jesus, help us that we will not hesitate to take the name of Jesus in all situations and circumstances. Help us that we will be prepared to pay the cost of living under the name of Jesus. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
Act 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
We had taken time yesterday to gaze on Jesus and see His glory. We understood that Jesus, who is enthroned far above all principalities, rule, power and names, not only in this age but also in the age which is to come, has made Himself fully available to His church.
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Every tongue will, one day, confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Today, it is not so. Our task, as His church, is to make known the name of Jesus.
The Lord had promised us that in His name, miracles will take place in and through the lives of those who believe. Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; (18) they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
There is power in the name of Jesus but we must be careful that the name of Jesus is not just a method or means of exercising and performing miracles.
We see the incident of the Jewish itinerant exorcists who thought that they could eradicate evil spirits from people by taking the name of Jesus. Acts 19:13-16 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” (14) Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. (15) And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” (16) Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
The Lord has warned us. Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ (23) And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Taking the name of Jesus involves us living according to His will. To live according to His will is to surrender to Him as King. We are citizens and subjects of His kingdom and He is our Lord and Master. Our entire life is under His authority and rule.
Even the ministry that we are doing for Him cannot be what we think is ‘good ministry’ but must be entirely His will. Yes, the Lord loves people and He does not want anyone to perish. We carry His pain in our hearts as we minister to people. Yet, at all times we must be led by His will for the tendency will be to do what pleases us.
Our outward actions may seem good in the eyes of people, just as we read in the above passage. Nevertheless, the Lord knows our hearts and He knows if what we are doing is according to His will or not. If what we are doing is not according to His will then we are not His.
Taking the name of Jesus also involves letting the world know, in no uncertain terms, that we are citizens, subjects, representatives and ambassadors of Jesus and His kingdom. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind as to who we are and to whom we belong. Our position and perspectives, on all matters, must be made known to the world that we belong to Jesus.
They will be angry with us for the ways of God are contrary to the ways of the world. They will harass, trouble, and seek to harm us for our position as those who live under the banner of Jesus. We must determine, beforehand, that whatever the cost may be, we will remain faithful to the name of Jesus.
Mark 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Will you lift the name of Jesus?