Bringing in the harvest…
The Name of Jesus in the prayer of a believer
“And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in my name [as presenting all that I am], so that the father may be glorified and exalted in the son” – John 14:13 (Amplified Version).
“And when that time comes, you will ask nothing of Me [you will need to ask me no questions]. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that my father will grant you whatever you ask in my name, [as presenting all that I am]” – John 16:23 (Amplified Version)
The Name of Jesus is a powerful key via which we, as Christians, can receive answers to our prayer. However, it is not just using the Name that makes it work. That’s why too many people use the Name and nothing comes forth. Such people make it seem as though the Name holds no power. It is using the Name with an understanding of the Name that causes the Name to work. Until you understand the power and authority in that Name, nothing works for you. You can shout the Name from morning to night and nothing will happen. A lot of Christians pray and at the end of their prayer, they say “in Jesus Name we’ve prayed”. Yet they don’t understand the Name. A gun will only shoot in the hands of a man who understands how to use it. If you don’t understand how to use a gun (knowing how to load it and cock it), it can never work in your hand no matter how you pull the trigger. So also, if you don’t understand how to use the Name of Jesus to fight the devil and get what you want, you will call the Name and nothing will happen.
There are three things that will help you to engage or use that Name and it will work for you. Let us take a look at these three things carefully.
Understanding what it means to pray in the Name of Jesus
Being outstanding in life is simply a direct product of understanding. When you act based on understanding, you get remarkable results. Now, what does it mean to pray in the Name of Jesus? When you do something in the name of somebody, legally speaking, you are not the one who did it. It is the person (who you did it for) that did that thing. If you buy a house in the Name your son, legally speaking, your son bought the house. Also, if there is a law that says every child under 20 who buys a house will get 20% discount and you buy a house in your son’s name, who is under 20, you will get that 20%. If you had a company and you send your staff to buy a car, he will buy it in your companies name and the receipt will be in your company’s name. Also, if the car company has a policy that every company that buys a car will get another free car, that staff of yours will get two cars because he is buying in the company’s name. So also, when you pray in the Name of Jesus, legally speaking, it is Jesus that is praying. So every thing that answered to Jesus in prayer must surely answer to you. When you pray in Jesus Name, God (who is the Judge of the universe) legally sees it as if it was Jesus praying. So he responds to your prayer the way he responded to the prayer of Jesus. How did God answer to Jesus’ prayer? By answering always. In John 11:41-42, the bible says “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me”. So God always answered Jesus’ prayer. So when you pray in Jesus’ name, God surely answers your prayer because legally speaking, you are not the one making that prayer but Jesus. That’s why Jesus said in John 16:23, “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”. So praying in the Name of Jesus is more than just saying “In Jesus Name I’ve prayed” after prayer. You must understand what you are saying.
Understanding the authority in the Name of Jesus Christ
Having understood what it means to pray in the Name of Jesus, you must also understand the authority in the Name of Jesus. Praying in the Name of Jesus puts you in the place of Jesus. If you don’t understand the authority in that place, nothing will happen. If I were to take the place of the President of the United States of America and I don’t understand the authority and powers of that position, then I could as well remain like any other citizen. Friends, the authority in the Name of Jesus is the same as the authority of Jesus. Jesus literarily placed all his authority in His Name and then gave it to us. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth”. So Jesus has all the authority that exists. You might say, “Jesus said heaven and earth only. What about the authority in hell?”. Well, as at the time Jesus said this, Jesus had died and gone to hell to strip the devil of all authority he had. So there was and there is no authority or power in hell. Jesus has all the power and he placed it in his Name so that we can have his Name and use the power in His Name to get what we want. Jesus has all the authority that exists and put it in that Name. So therefore, His Name has all the authority. That’s why Philippians 2:10 says, “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”
It is this authority that guarantees the use of the Name. Until you understand that all power that ever exists is in that Name, the Name will never work for you. The authority in that Name can perform what ever miracle you want. It can bring to you what ever you desire. All you need to do is to engage that Name with an understanding of what it carries. One of my most revered mentors once gave a testimony of how he engaged the Name of Jesus. He was in a hotel room with his wife and while they were in, armed robbers attacked the hotel. He started hearing gun shots. When the robbers got to his room, they jacked the door open and pointed their gun at him, ready to shoot. He stood near the door and faced them. Then he pointed his finger at them and said “In the Name of Jesus!” The moment he said that, the robbers screamed and ran away. He engaged the Name with understanding and it worked for him. So when you engage the Name in prayer, with an understanding of the power and authority in the Name, it will surely produce results.
The person of Christ
For you to engage the Name and its authority, you must take upon you the person of Jesus. In other words, you must be like him. His nature must become your nature. It is when you take upon yourself the nature of Christ that you can stand in the place of Christ and engage His power and authority through His Name. If you try to use the Name without having the person of Christ, you will end up using it in vain. In Acts 19:11-16, the seven sons of Sceva used the Name of Jesus without having the person of Jesus. Neither did they have understanding of the authority in the Name. Rather than casting the demons out, the demon cast all of them out of the building! They came in complete but they left the building naked and wounded. Friends, if you don’t have the person of Christ, you will use the Name and nothing will happen. You’ll just end up a cheap prey to the devil.
So how do you get the person of Christ? The only way to get the person of Christ is via the word. Jesus is simply an express image of the word. So the word is Christ. The bible referring to Jesus in John 1:14 said, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”. So Jesus and the word are the same. For you to get the person of Christ into you, you must get the word into you. The word of God must dwell in you richly, changing and conforming you to the ways of Christ. Until you take in the word of God to the point that it begins to change you and transform you, you can’t get the person of Christ into you. When you get the person of Christ by the word, you begin to walk like Jesus, talk like Jesus, think like Jesus, respond like Jesus and so on. You just become like him. People see you and see Christ in you. So when you have taken upon yourself the person of Christ via the word, you position yourself in the place of Christ and when you use the Name, everything that answered to Christ will surely answer to you.
These are the things that cause the Name of Jesus to answer to you when you use it in prayer. First, an understanding of what it means to use the Name of Jesus Christ. Then an understanding of the authority that the Name of Jesus carries. And finally, taking upon you the person of Christ.
Oluwaseun Okikiola
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