A father took his children to the county fair one day. Since they were obviously not interested in the prize pig or calf, the father bought a whole roll of tickets for the various rides at the fair. As each of the children approached a ride, they would hold out a hand to get a ticket from their father. A tone ride, after all his children had received tickets, a strange boy whom the father had never seen before came up and held out his hand, obviously expecting a free ticket.
The father drew back his roll of tickets towards his chest. He wasn’t’ about to give this boy a ticket. Upon seeing this, the man’s son Stephen turned and said to his dad, “It’s Okay Dad, this is my friend. I told him you would give him a ticket.” Do you know what the father did? He gave the boy a ticket in Stephen’s name. That boy had no right to a ticket, but since his son had said he would do it; the father honored the name of his son by giving that strange boy a ticket.
You know, I can’t help but to think just how important our given names are. Then I think about just how critically important the name of Jesus really is! Throughout scripture, given names to Gods people was critically important. It portrayed the iconic name to resemble who that individual was and is. If you were to live a life of turmoil, evil and disgust, your name was a reflection of it. In some sense our given name not only represents who we are, but who we represent in how we both live our lives and ultimately who we serve.
When someone says the name Donald, I assume it’s meant for me, but there are thousands of Donald’s around the world. According to Social Security Administration since 1923 to date, the most common male name in the country is James, and the female name is Mary. Donald ranked 16th from the first 100. Continent of African, you would find names like Omar and Imene. In Europe there is Noel and Amelia, then some other countries are Noah and Olivia, and the list goes on. The preacher in the book of Proverbs tell us “A good name is to be more desired than great wealth; Favor is better than silver and gold.” The Hebrew word name here is shame, meaning a given name. What this means it’s the name that is obtained from a source or origin, meaning we each was given a name, to be identified as who you are. Our names help identify us who we are by way of both pronunciation and identification. A good example I think of this is told in the Gospel of John when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out, wake up, be risen this day!” If Jesus was to say any other name, I often wondered what would have happened?
But regardless of what name was given to us, have you ever thought about what name do we truly live under? What name do we live by? When we get a bill in the mail, is that who we truly are? When someone calls out your name, do we acknowledge that name, or do we live under another identity? I remember when my grandmother died, we had an awful time in settling her affairs as I always knew her as Naomi. But her birth certificate was Doris. She lived by the name Naomi, that’s who everyone knew her as! In starting our journey today friends, we are going to look further into how and why we should live in the name of Jesus.
As Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, where does our names fit with His? Nothing on earth can compare to His name for sure, but have we really took thought about how we are to live as a Christian by living in His name? Listen to Paul’s first letter to the people of Corinth “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought for a price: therefore, glorify God in your body.” Paul identifies us as not only that we are in body, but that body belongs to God, we are His! Then we are not only His, but we have been bought for a price.
In a quite possibly unexpected starting point in reference to living in Jesus’ name, we are going to look at a piece of scripture that I delivered a few weeks ago, about Gods greatest commandment. Just before the Gospel of Matthew chapter 22, we find Jeus entering Jerusalem as the coming messiah to the people, He cleanses the temple of its den of thieves, then we hear of His authority being questioned by the elders of the church, while Christ gave them parables to describe their evil desires and intent while proclaiming who the son of man truly is. Near the end of chapter 22, it was a serious question to be sure, but a lawyer asked Jesus a trick question in an attempt to throw him off. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And Jesus wasted no time in responding. And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Now, before we continue, I want to elaborate on a few things. First and foremost, the law the elders were questioning Jesus about was indeed the laws of Moses which God delivered to the people from mount Sinai, and what was then enforced throughout the Old Testament. The answer Jesus gave they already knew, or should have known, yet they failed to realize its importance. Secondly Jesus did not create these ‘new’ commandments! Jesus did not reinvent the wheel! Jesus delivered God’s words to the people through His name, the name of God. Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18 is what Jesus quoted verbatim. When we think of Gods greatest commandments, we tend to forget just how important that we live these commandments in His name, and how true it is. To live the Christian life, is to live in Jesus Name, to Pray in Jesus Name, to declare in Jesus Name. John 15:4-11 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another. John 14:6 Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Through the name of Jesus Amen.
Repeatedly in Scripture we read, "In my name," "In Jesus' name," or "In his name." The devils were powerless because of his name (Luke 10:17). The demons were cast out in his name (Mark 16:17-18). Healing occurred in his name (Acts 3:6, 3:16, 4:10). Salvation comes in his name (Acts 4:12, Rom. 10:13). We are to baptize in his name (Matt. 28:19). We are justified in his name (1 Cor. 6:11). Everything we do and say is done in his name (Col. 3:17). We pray in Jesus’ name, which He has invited, urged, and commanded us to do in his name and has promised incredible results. John 14:13-14 and John 16:23-24 are some of the most powerful verses in all of scripture related to prayer. In fact, when most of us pray we conclude with the phrase, "in Jesus' name." And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it…. And on that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
In loving God with all our being and loving our neighbor as ourselves, what does it truly mean in Living in Jesus Name? There are a few things I would like to leave with you today, in hopes you can continue to grow closer to Christ.
1. We are admitting our name isn’t enough. When we live in Jesus' name we come boldly before God because of the power of his name. It’s the name above all names. It would be like a bride coming from abject poverty to marry a wealthy husband. At that point the woman takes the name of her husband and all that entails. She no longer acts in her name, but in his. We act according to Christ Name. We become one in His name.
2. We assume Christ identity. Jesus has literally given us his name. When we use that name, we confess that He is mine and that I am His. It is like going to the bank of heaven, knowing we have nothing deposited. If we go in our own name, we will get absolutely nothing. But Jesus Christ has unlimited funds in heaven's bank, and he has granted us the privilege of going to the bank with his name on our checks.
3. We pray and live in His authority. We are like the child who picked up a policeman's hat, wandered out onto a busy intersection and began to direct traffic. The people in the cars followed the child's direction because they respected his position of authority. To pray in his name is to ask by his authority; and to ask by his authority is to ask in accordance with His will as revealed in his word.
4. We submit to his will. Jesus' authority rested with His submission to the Father, so our authority rests with our submission to Him. To ask in His name is to ask according to His nature, and His nature is one of submission. This, by the way, is why prayers that ask for things contrary to the Word of God will never be answered.
5. We are representing Him and His interests here on earth. It is much the same as the legal arrangement known as the power of attorney. In such matters one person may represent another in His absence. They act on their behalf. Jesus has given every believer unlimited and general power of attorney in all matters and with the right to use His name in every situation, and to live according to His will using His name.
In 1492, Columbus was ashore in San Salvador, placed a banner there “In the name of Jesus Christ” to dedicate this new land. In 1607, the new colony of Jamestown was dedicated by Robert Hunt who placed a wooden cross at the very spot they landed and dedicated it in the name of Jesus Christ. Hernando Cortes in 1521 did the same thing in Mexico and King of Spain. Again, and again stakes were driven in the earth with banners flying high, In Jesus Name.
Living in Jesus Name! The Name above all Names! This is who we are friends to live in Jesus’ name. When we align our lives to Gods, then nothing is impossible. I urge you friends to think, whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him "Do it all to the glory of God." That is who we are as Christians, and who we are as servants, of the living God whose name we live by and cherish. Amen.