THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

MARCH 7, 2021

TOPIC: THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS

BY T. O. BANSO

“The name of Jesus has healed this man — and you know how lame he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has caused this healing before your very eyes” (Acts 3:16 New Living Translation).

There is ample evidence in the Bible that there is power in the name of Jesus. By this, I mean miraculous power – dunamis in Greek. Miraculous power is inherent in the name of Jesus. It is a name that must be hallowed and not be used frivolously. Believers must put their faith in the name of Jesus and expect that the name would do what they believe God for.

The Bible tells us the story of a forty-year-old man born lame from his mother’s womb and how the power in the name of Jesus healed him. Acts 3:2-3 says, “And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms” (New King James Version).

This man’s life was ugly by virtue of his unfortunate condition but he was always carried to the Beautiful Gate to beg for alms until one day when Peter and John were going to the temple for prayer and the man was asking for alms from them.

The lame man was expecting money from them. Peter and John raised his expectation when they fixed their eyes on him and Peter said, “Look at us” (verse 4 New King James Version). He gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. I am sure he must have been disappointed when Peter told him he didn’t have silver and gold (money). Surely, he was there for silver and gold. He could have felt that if he didn’t have silver and gold, he should move away so that he could beg for alms from other people coming behind him!

When Peter now added “but what I do have I give you”, the lame man would have been wondering what other thing could anyone give a beggar if not silver and gold. Nevertheless, Peter gave him what was greater than silver and gold. “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’” (verse 6 New King James Version). Please take note of that phrase: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The man must possibly be wondering: the name of Jesus!

While he was still probably wondering, Peter took him by the right hand and lifted him up. The Bible says immediately, his feet and ankle bones received strength. The man started leaping up. he stood and walked and entered the temple with Peter and John. He was walking, leaping, and praising God.

What was the key to this miraculous healing? Peter answered this question for us in his preaching in Solomon’s Portico after the healing of this man who also joined the duo of Peter and John in the temple. Peter said, “The name of Jesus has healed this man — and you know how lame he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has caused this healing before your very eyes” (Acts 3:16 New Living Translation).

There is power in the name of Jesus to save, heal, and deliver. The name of Jesus has the power to do what Jesus would have done in person if He was in the flesh doing His ministry today. But Jesus left the earth and gave the church His name. Faith in His name will do what Jesus would have done.

The next day when Peter and John who had been arrested were brought before the Sanhedrin, they were asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (Acts 4:7 New King James Version). They wanted to know by what power or name the man lame man was healed.

Peter answered, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:  If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus  Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole” (verses 8-10 New King James Version).

Peter unequivocally told them that the man was healed by the name of Jesus Christ. After deliberating on their matter, the Council called them and commanded them not to speak at all or teach in the name of Jesus. That command was like robbing them of everything they had.

Peter and John answered and told them to judge whether it was right in the sight of God to listen to them more than to God. He said they could not but speak the things which they had seen and heard. They couldn’t silence them. If the name of a person could heal, that name must be powerful. If the person has ascended to heaven yet His name can be used on earth and miracles happen, it is undeniable proof that there is power in the name.

The name of some persons who claim to be powerful can do nothing even when they’re alive and will never do anything supernatural when they’re gone. Those who call upon such names would be wasting their time like the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.

1 Kings 18:26 says, “So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, ‘O Baal, hear us!’ But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made” (New King James Version).  Nothing happened even as they had prophesied from after midday until the time of the evening sacrifice.

But when it was the turn of the prophet Elijah, he offered a burnt sacrifice unto God and called upon Him. The LORD answered him by fire. The fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench (verses 36-38).

There is power in the name of Jesus. In Acts 16, Paul, using the name of Jesus, cast out a spirit of divination from a slave girl. “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, ‘These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.’ And this she did for many days” (verses 16-18a New King James Version).

The masters of this girl were using her for business. Though what she said about Paul and Silas was correct, the spirit speaking through her was a demon spirit. “But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit,  ‘I command you in the name of Jesus  Christ to come out of her.’ And he came out that very hour” (verse 18b New King James Version). Did you see the outcome of using the name of Jesus? In the name of Jesus, you are delivered from any bondage of the devil.

The power in the name of Jesus totally delivered that girl but that caused a big problem for Paul and Silas. When the girl’s masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. They were brought before the magistrates. The multitudes rose up and beat them before they were put in the inner prison. But the Lord delivered them eventually and they were released.

There is power in the name of Jesus. Peter used the name of Jesus to heal Aeneas, a man paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. Peter said to him, “‘Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed!’ And he was healed instantly” (Acts 9:34  New Living Translation). By the power in the name of Jesus, an end came to the eight-year affliction in Aeneas’ life. An end shall come to every affliction in your life today in Jesus’ name.

The name of Jesus is above every other name and the power in His name is more powerful, more potent, and more effective than any other name.  Philippians 2:8-11 says, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,  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,  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (New King James Version).

Proverbs 18:10 says the name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. There is power in the name of Jesus. Romans 10:13 says whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. In Mark 9:38-41 and Luke 9:49-50, one of Jesus’ disciples, John, told Jesus that they saw someone who did not follow them but was casting out demons in His name, and they forbade him because he did not follow us.

Jesus told them, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side.  For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward” (verses 39-41 New King James Version).

The name of Jesus worked for the original apostles; it worked for the early church and it will continue to work. Have faith in His name and use the name in faith. There is power in the name of Jesus. Jesus said where two or three were gathered together in His name, He was there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20).

There is power in the name of Jesus. Jesus said in 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;  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” (New King James Version).

Whenever you mention the name of Jesus, expect results. “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (New King James Version).

John 16:23 says, “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you” New King James Version). Furthermore, Jesus said, “In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you” (New King James Version).

Jesus said, “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name” (John 15:16 New Living Translation).

There is power in the name of Jesus. I pray that the power. Have faith in the name of Jesus. Hallow the name. Use the name in faith as you obey the teachings of Jesus.  Use the name in faith and expect results.

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Thank You, Father, for the gift of the name of Jesus. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; I run into it and I am safe. At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. I command every negative thing in my life that has a name to surrender to the name of Jesus, the name that is above every other name. The power that is in the name of Jesus is activated in my life for positive outcomes in Jesus’ name.

(For over 400 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit: www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org