Understanding the Name of Jesus

THE NAME OF JESUS

1 - How it came into our Possession.

The 3 Great Possessions of the Church that are ours in the New-Covenant through the Blood of Jesus and are central to the success of the Church (as demonstrated in the Book of Acts) are (1) the Word of God, (2) the Name of Jesus (the Son), and (3) the Holy-Spirit. These are the  KEYS of the KINGDOM that Jesus promised us in Matthew 16:18-19: “On this Rock  (faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God) I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (He promised us total victory over the powers of death and hell). And I will give you the KEYS of the KINGDOM of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 

These Keys are the possession of the Church and they give us access to Heaven’s grace, power and victory in Christ. They are truly the Keys to our success, for through them we can bind (stop) satan’s operation and loose (release) God’s operation in our lives and ministries. What we do (enforce) on earth through the Keys, will be backed up by the power of Heaven, for the Keys represent delegated authority and power given to believers. "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together IN MY NAME (this is one of the Keys), I am there in the midst of them" (                   Matthew 18:18-20). 

These Keys work together: “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak (1) YOUR WORD, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through (2) THE NAME OF YOUR HOLY SERVANT JESUS." And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with (3) THE HOLY SPIRIT, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:29-31). 

1. The WORD of God reveals to us what we have in the New-Covenant. It brings FAITH. We can possess something but without knowledge of (faith in) it, we will not enjoy its benefits. Likewise, we need the WORD of God to give us knowledge and FAITH in the NAME OF JESUS and the HOLY-SPIRIT. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of God” (Romans 10;17). 

2. The NAME of JESUS is our authority giving access to all that is ours in Christ, our key to the riches of heaven. "Whoever BELIEVES on Him (through the WORD) will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is RICH to all who call upon Him (in faith). For ‘whoever calls on the NAME of the LORD (JESUS) shall be saved" (Romans 10:11-13) 

3. The HOLY-SPIRIT communicates these riches to us, when we use (call upon) the NAME of JESUS in faith. Everything that belongs to Christ and that is in Christ (His character, acheivments, resources, grace, wisdom) is in His NAME. God has deposited all power and authority to Christ’s account and it is in His Name. Jesus, in turn gave His Name to us believers, so that we can go to Heaven’s ‘Bank’ and through the NAME draw upon His riches. It is our Key (of authority or right of access) to every blessing. God’s Power (the Spirit) always works through Authority (the Name).  The Word brings faith in the Name, so that when we call upon His Name, His SPIRIT works and releases the blessing.

We must pray for a revelation of the Name: what it contains and how it is the possession of the Church for we are named by His Name as the Body is united to the Head and shares its Name (Acts 3:6, 4:12).

1. The Name was promised to us by Christ in His ministry: 

“Whatever ye shall ask            (demand) in My NAME, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask (demand) anything in my NAME, I will do it” (John 14:13-14).  

“ In that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father IN MY NAME, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing IN MY NAME: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:23,24).

2. The Name was purchased by Christ in His death and obtained by Him in His resurrection: 

“He humbled himself, and              became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. Wherefore God also has highly exalted him (in the resurrection), and given Him the NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, that at THE NAME OF JESUS every knee should bow of things (beings) in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: and every tongue confess that JESUS is LORD to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:8-11).            

"His mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVEall principality and power and might and dominion and EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED, not only on this world, but also in that which is to come: and has put all things under His feet” (Ephesians 1:19-21). 

“When He (Jesus) had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as He has BY INHERITANCE obtained A MORE EXCELLENT NAME than they.   For unto which of the angels said He at any time, “You are my Son, this day have I begotten thee?” (Hebrews1:3-5). We are joint-heirs with Christ! 

3. The Name was then given to the Church by Christ in His Great Commission: 

“All AUTHORITY is           given to Me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). “            Go ye (therefore) into all the world and preach the Gospel....these signs shall follow them that BELIEVE IN MY NAME, in My NAME they shall cast out demons, ...they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover” (Mark 16:15-18).

4. The Name was the demonstrated by the Church as being in her possession in the Book of Acts. 

“Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I HAVE I give you: 

IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST...rise up and walk”                            (Acts 3:6). 

“His NAME through FAITH in His NAME has made this man strong...” (Acts 3:16). 

“By the NAME of JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised...does this man stand here before you whole... Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven GIVEN AMONG MEN, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:10,12). 

We might possess something, but unless we know it does us no good. One of the greatest possessions of the Church is the NAME OF JESUS. A Name stands for the whole Person: His character, wealth, status, achievements are all in His Name. Everything He is and owns is in His Name. Through Jesus’ completed work in His Life, Death and Resurrection, God has put every blessing (abundant and eternal life, all power, glory and authority) into Jesus’ possession, in His NAME. Satan knowing the power in the NAME has tried to blind the Church to it. We should research in the Word to find out the value of the wonderful NAME of JESUS. Everything we say or do should be in the Name of Jesus (Colossians 3:17) 

2 - What the Name means (its SIGNIFICANCE).

We need to know what is behind the Name of Jesus , and what it means to God, demons and men.

1. WHAT THE NAME MEANS TO GOD. God is impressed with the Name of Jesus, for it is the Name of a perfectly righteous and holy Man. He said: “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” In His Name is perfect proven righteousness. Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient, even unto death on the Cross (Phil 2:6-8). Therefore God gave the Man Jesus all acceptance, blessing and power, bestowing all honour, glory and authority to His Name (v9-11). God fully values and approves of His Name. When the Name of Jesus is spoken in heaven every knee bows. If we have His Name (being named with His Name), we can come to God in His Name (on the basis of His righteousness) and be heard before the Father as if it were Jesus Himself. We have immediate access in His Name, for the Spirit takes us into the Throne-Room (Hebrews 4:16). 

If you do something in another’s name it is as if they were doing it, for indeed they are - through you. If I came to the Queen in my own name, I would not be accepted, but if I came in the name of the Prime Minister, I would be accepted because I come on the basis of His standing. It would be as if the PM himself were coming. I would have the same access as the PM. 

Jesus gave us wonderful promises that we can use His NAME in prayer: “In that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father IN MY NAME, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing IN MY NAME: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:23,24). 

This puts prayer on a legal basis. Jesus was speaking of the day of the resurrection when every blessing was put into His account in His NAME. Our name is our authority. We can only access our bank account through our name. Our name is our authority that unlocks what is in our account. So, Jesus’ NAME is the authority that unlocks heaven’s riches. This scripture shows that Jesus has given us His NAME to use in prayer, granting us the right to draw on Heaven’s resources in Christ. Those who come to God in their own name have no right of access to the Throne, but believers now have the right to come in the name of Jesus and we will be accepted and heard as if we were Jesus Himself. All of heaven doors are opened and we come right through. Using the NAME of Jesus gives us authority to come to God and receive what we need. The Father hears us for He honours the Name. He hears us as if we were Jesus Himself, for we come in the righteousness in His Name. Thus the Name gives us the right of access to God and His grace.

(2) WHAT THE NAME MEANS TO SATAN. It means terror! It reminds him of when Jesus was ‘given the NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME, that at the NAME OF JESUS every knee should bow of beings in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord’ (Phil 2:8-11) at His resurrection, when through the working of God’s mighty power in Him, He ‘spoiled principalities and powers (stripped them of their authority)                   , making a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it’ (Col2:15). It speaks of his defeat, when he had to bow the knee to the Name of Jesus (a foretaste of his future eternal punishment that was now made certain). The Man Jesus was given all authority and power by God (Matt 28:18), which He then used in total conquest of satan (1Cor 2:6). 

Thus Jesus said: “I am He that lives and was dead and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1:18).  “His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised him from the dead, and set him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, power, might and dominion and EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED, not only on this world, but also in that which is to come, and has put all things under His feet” (Ephesians 1:19-21).  

Thus within the Name of Jesus is His perfection of CHARACTER, His total AUTHORITY as given by God over all things, and His VICTORY over satan, all of which guarantee satan’s eternal judgement. Therefore satan is totally intimidated by the Name of Jesus! When we speak that Name, demons tremble and flee, for they are faced with their defeat. Jesus has given us His NAME to use against satan, along with his demons (Luke 10:17), works (e.g. sickness) and operations against us: 

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you shall ask (demand) in My NAME, that will I do, that the Father be glorified in the Son. If you ask (demand) anything in my NAME, I (Jesus) will do it” (John 14:12-14). 

This does not speak of prayer to the Father, but it speaks of us exercising our authority by using His Name to do His works in the earth. We give the COMMAND of faith (in His Name) against the enemy (as He did when He was here). When we do this, He will back us up with His power. When we use the Name of Jesus, the authority, power and victory of Jesus is present - so demons must bow and flee from us. Jesus received all authority and then delegated it to us by giving us His NAME to use in the earth: “Go into the world and preach the gospel....these signs shall follow them that believe IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:15-18). 

In His Name is all authority and victory over satan and his works! We don’t have to win the victory, but we simply enforce it by using the NAME. There is a big difference between a man speaking in his own name and speaking in the Name of a higher authority - like a policeman commanding us in the name of the Government (for he has all that power and authority backing him). We don’t submit to the man, but to the authority (the name he represents). 

Psalm 8 speaks of man’s authority and the NAME: “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy NAME in all the earth!” (v1). The NAME is given to man to subdue His enemies: “Out of the mouth of babes...You have ordained praise (declaring His NAME)...that you might silence the enemy” (v2). “For You have crowned him with glory and honour (the NAME).You gave Him dominion over the works of your hands...put all things under his feet”(v5-8).  Although Adam lost his authority, God’s plan for man to rule did not change. This authority was regained by the Man Jesus in His resurrection, and in Him and through His Name we reign in life (see Hebrews 2:5-11)

(3) WHAT THE NAME MEANS TO MANKIND (salvation for unbelievers and riches for believers).

(A). Unbelievers have access to salvation through the Name. 

“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him (in faith). For "all who call on the NAME of the Lord (Jesus) shall be saved" (Romans 10:12,13).   The Name means salvation: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other NAME under heaven GIVEN AMONG MEN, by which we must be saved     ” (Acts 4:10,12). 

Salvation is in Jesus’ NAME and when we call on the NAME of the Lord, that salvation is released to us. Christians are even defined as ‘those who call upon the Name’ (1Cor 1:2). The heart of Christianity is the confession of the NAME OF JESUS. When we confess ‘Jesus is Lord’ we are declaring that His NAME is above every name. 

(B) Believers now have through the Name, not only: 

1. Right of access to God’s riches in Christ. 

2. Authority over the powers of evil,                   but also: 

3. Ambassadorial status before men (2Cor 5:20), authority to fulfil the Great Commission (Mark 16:15-18, Matt 28:18-20). He is the head and we are the body and we carry His NAME and authority as we represent Him in the earth. It is like when when the Ambassador of the USA comes to the PM and speaks in the Name of the President, it is as if the President himself was speaking. When we witness, we speak in His Name and heaven stands behind us. We should know our dignity and authority from God, that Jesus is speaking through us and that they are not accepting or rejecting us but the One in whose Name we come. 

Conclusion: The basics of the New Covenant are: “This is His commandment, that we should BELIEVE on the NAME of His Son Jesus Christ, and LOVE one another” (1 John 3:23).  

The components of the content of the Name of Jesus as they unfolded in time: 

1. His Perfect Righteousness-through His Life and Death (character and achievement). 

2. His exaltation and glorification by God (on the basis of character and achievement) in His resurrection and ascension (all blessing was put in Him). 

3. His completed victory overall satan’s works through His life, death, resurrection and ascension (achievement). Jesus the resurrected Man, was given the supreme Name (authority) over all creation, for He alone was found worthy.  The NAME above all Names is possessed by a Man!  Thus in Him, Jesus has given us the right to use His NAME on earth to do His will: 

(1) To receive what we need (blessing) from Heaven in prayer. 

(2) To continue His works of healing and deliverance (exercising authority over satan). 

(3) To represent Him before men.