Undoubtedly, there is power in the name of Jesus. However the statement “in the name of Jesus” is not a magic formula, one that anyone could use to have what they want or when everything else fail them or as the most fashionable thing to do.
The “sons of Sceva” learned the hard way, as it were. The story is in Acts 20:13-22. We are told that seven sons of Sceva, who were what I would could “professional exorcists”, went around driving evil spirits. However, they mistakenly thought that “in the name of Jesus” was the newest most powerful formula around judging by what they had seen happening when apostle Paul used “in the name of Jesus” in his ministry.
However, one day, and this must have been their unlucky day, the bible says the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you? Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.’
I often hear people say that “there is power in numbers”. Obviously this is not true when it comes to the spiritual realm where one (human being) plus God is always the majority…(I hope you get the point).
The seven sons of Sceva used “in the name of Jesus” as a formula but, unlike Apostle Paul, they did not have the presence or backing of Jesus with them. Consequently, instead of spiritually beating the evil spirits, they got physically beaten by them using the possessed man! The men attracted evil upon themselves in trying to cast out evil spirits. I pray that this does not happen to you, in Jesus’ name!
Please note carefully what the evil spirits said: “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” In other words, what makes you think you have the power or authority to command evil spirits?
What gave Paul authority and power to command evil spirits? Let’s hear from his own words: Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God.” It is hard to read the verse and fail to recognise that apostle Paul knew, he was conscious of the fact that, the Lord Jesus was alive in him and was the one behind the amazing work he went around doing “in Jesus’ name”. And, he was not the only apostle with this understanding.
Remember the early days of the church in the book of Acts? Acts 3, the NIV titles the chapter “Peter heals the Crippled Beggar” and thus draws the focus on Peter. However we get a totally different view when we hear Peter himself explain the healing: Acts 3:12, “When Peter saw this, the said to them: ‘Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?” Note that Apostle Peter categorically refuses to take credit for the miraculous healing.
Instead, He goes on specifically stating, verse 6, “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.”
It is important to note that Peter is saying that the name of Jesus and the faith that comes through him, not from him, hold the key to the miraculous healing. Moreover, when threaten by the temple’s leadership on account of the healing, Peter added the following, Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men [males & females] by which we must be save.” It is important to understand that the name of Jesus is the gift to men and it stands for his person.
I believe that saying “in the name of Jesus” when he is/lives in you is another way of inviting his manifestation or inviting him to act for His glory.
Is Christ (Jesus Christ) in you and do consider yourself crucified or dead to the world with him? Your answer has to be yes, if you are a genuine Christian, for you to be sure of his presence or backing when you minister “in the name of Jesus”. And if you are a genuine Christian, I want you to know that Satan and the whole Kingdom of darkness know about you. They know that the name of Jesus in your mouth is spiritual dynamite indeed when combined with the faith that comes through him (Jesus Christ).
Lord grant us the grace to know that you live in us so that we can let you touch the world through the agency of our own lives, in Jesus’ name!
