I want to talk about the Power that is IN THE NAME OF JESUS. We learn so much from Philippians 2:4-9, “Look not every man on his own interests, but on the interest of others. Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God (one with Him), thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But he made himself of no reputation and took on the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men… He humbled Himself, and became obedient to death, even to death of the cross. Therefore – because he humbled Himself and was obedient to His Father, obedient even to death, this gave Him a position that nobody else can attain – therefore God has highly exalted Him and gave Him a NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME!
I want to show you the Authority and the Power that is in the Name of Jesus!
People ask me how is it that I see so many miracles, so many healings? My life has been truly remarkable, partly because of the length of time that I have been in ministry, and the intensity. Very few people have seen the miracles that I have seen and experienced, and I believe there is a strong Scriptural reason for this. It was only recently in prayer that I felt the Lord pressing on me that the authority that I have and the miracles I see, come IN AND THROUGH THE NAME OF JESUS. This is so important, because the Bible says here in Philippians 2:9, God has highly exalted Him and given Him a Name which is above every name – that in the Name of Jesus, every knee should bow, things in Heaven, things in the earth and under the earth, that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father!
God has put all Authority and Power into the Name of Jesus!
Look at John 14:13, where Jesus Himself says, “Whatsoever you ask the Father IN MY NAME, that will I do!” That’s powerful! Whatsoever you ask the Father in My Name, He will do it! In Philippians Paul is saying, God has given Jesus a NAME ABOVE ALL OTHER NAMES – because of His obedience to His Father, because He came and humbled Himself, and was obedient even unto death – in order to fulfil God’s purpose. And, because Jesus was sent to fulfil the purpose of God, because He was obedient, He was able to say, “Whatsoever you ask the Father in My Name, I will do it.”
People question, when we are praying with the sick, do we ask or do we command the sickness? Look at Acts 3, Peter and John are going up to the Temple at the hour of prayer. We all know this miracle, soon after the Day of Pentecost, of the healing of the man born crippled. He was asking for money, but Peter replies, “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, I give you: IN THE NAME OF JESUS OF NAZARETH, get up and walk.” This is at the very beginning of the apostolic ministry, immdeiately after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, after Peter had stood up and preached his first Gospel message, and it is the very first individually recorded miracle of healing. I find it interesting that Jesus Himself must many times have gone past this crippled man on His way into the Temple. But the significant thing is that Peter says, “I don’t have money, but I’m going to give you the one thing I have – IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, rise up and walk!”
This first recorded miracle of healing took place by the Authority and the Power that is in the Name of Jesus.
Peter took him by the hand and lifted him up – that’s action – and immediately the man’s feet and ankle bones received strength. He stood up, leaping and walking. I love this picture! Here is a man born lame, who’s never walked! I’ve had children myself. When they first learn to walk, they don’t do it like they eventually will. I can still picture my young children taking their early steps. But here’s a grown man who doesn’t know how to put one foot in front of the other! So he’s leaping and walking, amazed and shocked at the miracle that has happened to him!
Miracles drew the attention of the crowds in the life of Jesus and in the early Church. So a crowd ran together around Peter and the healed man, marvelling! Peter says, “Why do you look on us, as if by our own power or holiness we have made this man walk? The God of our fathers has glorified His Son Jesus” – glorified Him not only in the Resurrection, but in this miracle – “it’s through faith IN HIS NAME that has made this man strong… Yes, the faith that is in Him has given this man perfect healing in front of you all.” Acts 2:12-16. It’s absolutely clear – the healing came IN THE NAME OF JESUS and THROUGH FAITH IN THAT NAME.
How do I pray?
When I pray, whatever I pray – whether I’m praying for health, whether I’m praying over problems, anything – I always pray in the Name of Jesus. Just as He said in John 14:13, “Whatsoever you ask the Father in My Name, that will I do!” My prayer and my requests are in the Name of Jesus! I’m surprised there are people who don’t do this. I bring every request in the Name of Jesus: “Father, I’m asking You in Jesus’ Name…”