It was Shakespeare who first penned that much loved and oft quoted line “What is in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” And yet people give an almost magical power to the name “Jesus” even though that is not the name He was actually known by. All the Apostles. His disciples and the first churches they established knew Him by His actual Hebrew name of Jeshua (also rendered as Joshua). Which is also His Prophesied name in Zechariah when he identifies Joshua as the one who bears the name of “the Branch” who is to come:-
Zechariah 6:11-12 / AV
11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; 12 And speak unto him, saying, "Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:"
And yet today more than ever we find more and more people preaching and teaching, and believing that there is POWER “in the name of Jesus”. That, if we but ask/declare/command/demand/pray/believe/heal/etc. “in the name of Jesus” it must surely come to pass because we have uttered those magical words, “in the name of JESUS!!!!” But they forget those who will come to Jesus saying:-
“... have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I (Jesus) profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23 / AV)
For not all who cry “Lord, Lord” shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven but only those who do the WILL of the Father:- Matthew 7:21 / AV 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. When the Bible tells us to ask "in the name of Yeshua"(Aka Jesus) it is not declaring there is power in the name “Jesus” (Or "Jeshua"). What it is saying is that we do these things as servants of Christ - by the AUTHORITY of Jesus - and not by our own authority. HOWEVER, to act by the authority of Jesus we must first BE servants of Jesus and HAVE His authority to do that which we are doing in HIS name. It must also be God’s will that we should do it. If a person is not a born again servant of Christ, has not been given authority by Jesus to do things in HIS name, or is not acting according to the will and command of God then the words "in the name of Jesus" are just words and nothing more. Not only are they of no effect but they can be dangerous to the one who thinks all you need is to utter the words "in the name of Jesus" as some in the Bible have already found out much to their dismay:- Acts 19:13-16 King James Version (KJV) 13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
And yet today more than ever we find more and more people preaching and teaching, and believing that there is POWER “in the name of Jesus”. That, if we but ask/declare/command/demand/pray/believe/heal/etc. “in the name of Jesus” it must surely come to pass because we have uttered those magical words, “in the name of JESUS!!!!” But they forget those who will come to Jesus saying:-
“... have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I (Jesus) profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23 / AV)
For not all who cry “Lord, Lord” shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven but only those who do the WILL of the Father:- Matthew 7:21 / AV 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. When the Bible tells us to ask "in the name of Yeshua"(Aka Jesus) it is not declaring there is power in the name “Jesus” (Or "Jeshua"). What it is saying is that we do these things as servants of Christ - by the AUTHORITY of Jesus - and not by our own authority. HOWEVER, to act by the authority of Jesus we must first BE servants of Jesus and HAVE His authority to do that which we are doing in HIS name. It must also be God’s will that we should do it. If a person is not a born again servant of Christ, has not been given authority by Jesus to do things in HIS name, or is not acting according to the will and command of God then the words "in the name of Jesus" are just words and nothing more. Not only are they of no effect but they can be dangerous to the one who thinks all you need is to utter the words "in the name of Jesus" as some in the Bible have already found out much to their dismay:- Acts 19:13-16 King James Version (KJV) 13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
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