Influencers Weekly Devotional- There's Power in the Name of Jesus

May 29, 2015

There is Power in the Name of Jesus     “I dedicate this devotional to the persecuted Christians of this world.  Let us never forget  our brothers and sisters who live and die with His name on their lips.” Rocky Fleming     "And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.” Acts 3:16 (NASB)     Several years ago when a team of Influencers and I went to Egypt to introduce the newly translated books and curriculum of The Journey to the Arabic world, we met a particularly delightful man.  In my mind, the thing that made him interesting was an exclamation he would often use, and it even stands out in my memory today.  Every time he heard of something that was gloriously of God he would say with a smile and joy, “In Jesus Name.”  It didn’t take much for him to see or hear something for which Jesus deserved credit.  He saw something gloriously from God throughout the day and we would hear him say those wonderful words often, even though we didn't necessarily know what he was seeing.  The fact is, our team started calling him, “In Jesus Name,” as a way to distinguish him from the other Christian Egyptians we were meeting, for the many Arabic names were hard to remember.  I could think of a lot of worse names to be called and have been called, and deserved to be called.  But never have I had the privilege to be nicknamed and identified with Jesus like this man was. So please know that our name calling of this man was with great respect and love.  But why did he identify himself with Jesus so readily and publicly?  I think I know why.   A Christian man like this man living in Egypt would have to be very courageous to speak so openly using the name of Jesus.  So, there must have been something else going on in this man to make him live so courageously … and dangerously.  Could it be that it was because he was a man living in a land where Christians are persecuted that he found comfort and protection behind the powerful name of Jesus?  Could this be what we were seeing, and why he was quick to use it?  Could there also be similar reasons around the world where other people are using His name for power and protection, even though it could bring on them persecution and even death?  Could it be that they believe it is His name and His power that is the only thing that is really worth putting their life in danger for, and it is His name and power that stands between them and an evil that can kill their body, but never touch their soul.  I believe this is exactly the case, and why even young Christian children would choose to be beheaded by the evil men of ISIS rather than deny Jesus.  The name of Jesus creates courageous men, and even courageous children.   Back to my friend in Egypt.  What would motivate a man to risk it all to be known as a man who uses Jesus’ name with worship and adoration, rather than with blasphemy and ridicule?  After all, we often hear people applauded and their words protected by law who blaspheme against the name of Jesus, and the Father’s name. But those who would glorify His name, such as my friend, are persecuted and scorned, even in this Country. Why is His name so hated by the non-Christian?  It is because His name is powerful and represents a great threat to evil.  Could it be that my friend in Egypt knows there is something greater to pursue with his life than a timid maintenance of a life with fear and intimidation, just to make it to old age?  Could it be that he is more concerned with how he is remembered in living his life for Jesus than turning his back away from him in shame by denying Him.  Could it be that he has found something that is indeed worth giving his life for?  I think the answer to these questions is “YES!”   This brings me to a question for you.  Would you like to be respectfully remembered like this man was by my team and me?  If you would want to be remembered with the respect that we have for him, it will require being identified with Jesus in good and bad times, and even in hostile circumstances, as this man was.  But the good news is, there is power in the name of Jesus, and it is a power His followers need to use, especially as we see evil expanding its influence around the world.  If that doesn't motivate you to understand better the power that is in the name of Jesus, maybe the following facts will:  
  • The fact is that the Man who carries this name in the Bible is the central character in the most widely read book in history.
  • The fact is He is the key figure and purpose of why this book was written. Of course, the book I speak of is called the Bible.
  • Jesus’ name has inspired the writing of many more books about the Gospel, which His name represents. His name has inspired sermons, prayers, benedictions, homilies, devotionals and vows over the last 2,000 years.
  • In His name, His followers have been willing to intercede into the most devastating disasters recorded in history, and have brought hope to beleaguered people. Why do they do this? Why? It is because His name brings hope.
  • The name of Jesus brings blessings. His name has healed millions of people.
  • His name has been used to open and close prayers, and open and close doors. His name authenticates the person in prayer, by their identification with Jesus. His name opens heaven’s doors so that the prayer of His followers can be a fragrance to the throne room of God.
  • Jesus told His disciples to ask anything of Him in prayer, and that is why we use the words, “In the name of JESUS I pray!” There is power in His name, and His name gets us heard.
  • His name has inspired and propelled missionaries all over the world since people saw Him ascend into heaven. His name has changed hearts and lives in the cultures they live in. His name has liberated the enslaved and made equal ground for all mankind. Jesus liberates, and in His name this has been done.
  • His name has brought peace. But His name has also brought division, for fear of what His name can do. His name has brought tremendous reprisal against Christians who carry His name. But, it will be in the name of Jesus that His Church will prevail.
  • The man Jesus, who carries this name, will stand beside His saints in heaven to wipe away all our tears, while saying to us, “Well done my good and faithful servants.”
  • There is power in the name of Jesus, for He lives up to His reputation.
  Those are only a small percentage of facts about Jesus’ name.  Most obvious today is how His name strikes fear into the hearts of evil and those who are led by evil.  Around the world, we see paranoid examples of how false religions are afraid of the name of Jesus.  They want to blot it out by persecuting His followers who carry His name.  They are jealous of His name, and as a result they want to exalt their false prophets and false religions over His name.  But I've got some bad news for those misguided souls.  They are waging war against the name of the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and the power of His name will stand against every ideological cause they have against His name, ever political compromise or degradation of the values His name represents, and every false prophet and his religion that seeks to silence a declaration of … “JESUS NAME!”   HIS family who carries HIS name will not, nor can they be silenced.  We cannot stop, nor will we stop declaring His name.  We know the truth.  His name moves mountains, calms storms, and lifts up the downtrodden and discouraged, while pulling down the arrogant and self-satisfied.  His name is the Alpha and the Omega of names.  His name is the beginning and the end of names, for Jesus was at the beginning of all things and He will be at the end when any manmade or demon inspired enterprise is ended.  This man and His name will stand the test of time, and the feeble assaults that evil men use to persecute or destroy those who speak His name will face the wrath of what this name can do.   We know the outcome of this life.  We know that HIS name and HIS deity will be recognized by all, and those who blaspheme HIS name and seek to destroy HIS name from the lips of HIS followers will understand just how powerful HIS name is when they come under HIS judgment.  They will understand the power of HIS name, but it will be too late to understand that HIS name that once represented redemption, forgiveness and hope, will then be judge, juror and executioner for those who have rejected HIS name, and persecuted HIS followers.   There is indeed power in the name of Jesus.  But like our persecuted family, do you now stand behind the power of HIS name, or will you stand before HIM and plead your case at judgment because you denied it?  One stance may bring persecution and death from those who hate HIS name.  The other will bring destruction of your soul.  Choose wisely, for there are a lot of things worse than death and persecution.  Those who are being persecuted around the world because they name the name of Jesus understand this.  That is why we hear their declaration, “In Jesus name,” even when it is the last words they utter.  Will you share their voice as we unite in pray for these people?  Let us pray for our brothers and sisters, In Jesus Name.   "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:33 (NASV)