What does it mean that there is power in the name of Jesus?
The name of Jesus is the most powerful name there is. God gave Jesus the "name that is above every name" (Philippians 2:9). Why is this name so powerful? It is because of the sacrifice He made—through living a perfect life, dying a sinner's death, and being resurrected. Jesus made a way for all of humanity to be saved and made right with God: "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13; cf. Acts 4:12). The literal name "Jesus" is not inherently powerful; it is powerful because of Jesus Christ, the person, God incarnate, who made a way for our salvation. When we talk about the name of Jesus, we are talking about Jesus Himself, His character and the things He does.
Because of Jesus' sacrifice, God gave Him the most powerful name there is. Philippians 2:8–11 says: "And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." The name of Jesus compels us to worship Him and bring glory to God. Each person will one day come face to face with Jesus and will confess that He is Lord.
It requires faith to believe in the power of Jesus' name (Hebrews 11:6). Without faith, His name will not be powerful. With faith, the name of Jesus is the most powerful name there is. We are instructed in the Bible to pray in the name of Jesus and with His authority (John 16:23–24). In John 14:14, Jesus says: "If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it" (see also 1 John 5:13–15).
By faith, the disciples performed miracles, signs, and wonders in the name of Jesus (Luke 10:17; Acts 4:29–30). We have the same power Jesus has, the power of the Holy Spirit, within us when we place our faith in Him as Lord.
There are those people who attempt to perform miracles in the name of Jesus without placing their faith in Him. In Acts, the seven sons of the priest Sceva attempted to cast out demons in the name of Jesus without actually believing in Jesus. They had no power over the demons because they were not walking in the power of Jesus. Instead they ended up bleeding and badly beaten by the demon possessed man (Acts 19:13–16). There is no sure method to guarantee a miracle every time we pray for someone, but we can also be sure that God will not honor the power within Jesus' name if it is not accompanied by faith that Jesus Christ is Lord. Again, the power of Jesus' name is not the name itself as if it is a magical formula to produce certain results. Rather, the power of Jesus' name is the Person of Jesus. When we belong to Him through faith, we can rely on Him and know that His power is at work in us.
As believers, we are fully convinced of the power within the name of Jesus. When we pray, we have the power of Jesus at work within us. Our lives as Christians are lived from a place of acknowledging the power in Jesus' name: "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17). The powerful name of Jesus makes it possible for all people to be saved, healed, and delivered. Psalm 115:1 reminds us: "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!"
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