THE NAME OF JESUS

Isaiah 9:6, Acts 4:12, Luke 1:31-33

We give thanks to God for the grace he has granted us through the semester to explore
different topics and see that we come into all that He wants for us this season. Today, we
will be exploring the Name of Jesus.

What is a Name?

A name is what someone bears or what someone is called. We all have our names and
anytime we hear our names wether it is in the class, home or anywhere, we answer to
that name. Name can be a label or nomenclature, everything around us bears a name.
However, the word name goes beyond being a label or a tag, name means functionality.
Scripturally, where we see the real definition of a name was before the fall, it was when
God brought the animals he had formed to Adam to see what he would call them.

Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field,
and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them:
and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

Genesis 2:20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to
every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

So, we see Adam gave names to all cattle, fowl and beasts, but cattle, fowl and beasts
are already names, meaning Adam was not just naming them as a label, he was defining
how each and every animal will function in this ecosystem called earth. He gave them
their manner of expression, he defined their being. Name also refers to as content, or
function. This is the reason it is possible for someone to bear the name Peace, but she is
very stubborn in the natural; it is possible to someone to bear the name Joy, but she is
always sad. So, name is higher than what a person bears, it is a nature that can be lived
out.

The Name of Jesus

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for
he shall save his people from their sins.
Immediately, after the angel told Mary what name the baby will be called, he went on to
define the functionality or operation behind that name… he shall save his people from
their sins. So, the name Jesus is attached to a task. The name Jesus is highly operational
in that he shall save his people from their sins; this is to show that Jesus name was not
just a label.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall
be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty
God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

We see from the verse above that Jesus is called so many names. Much more, he does
not just bear these names, he lives or acts out these names. Jesus is not just called
wonderful, he is full of wonders. He is not just called counselor, he gives counsel
through the Holy Spirit. He is a mighty God because many acts were done in his name.
We are going to see in details where the operations of the name of Jesus cuts across.

That Name—In Salvation

There is no salvation apart from the Name of Jesus, and apart from the Lord Jesus
Christ. It is the One Name through which the sinner can approach the Father.

MATTHEW 1:21,23

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save
his people from their sins ....

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his
name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

ACTS 4:12

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven

given among men, whereby we must be saved.

You cannot come to Him in any other way than by the Name of Jesus. "That is narrow,"
some people say. If it is narrow, then it is narrow. That is what the Bible teaches. There
is "none other name" that gives man a hearing before God's throne.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by

me" (John 14:6).

He is the way. There is no other way to the Father. There is no other way to salvation.
There is no other way to heaven. There is no other way to truth. There is no other way to
God.

In My Name Cast Out Demons

The very first sign Jesus said would follow the believing ones is, "In my name shall
they cast out devils" (Mark 16:17). In other words, they shall exercise authority over
demons. He did not say that this sign would follow preachers. It is not just ministers
who have authority over demons in the Name of Jesus, but all believers. Believers
should know that they have this authority. The Bible, our textbook, records the
following example. In the Name of Jesus, Paul cast a demon out of a possessed girl, set
her free, and stirred the city of Ephesus to its very foundation.

ACTS 16:16-18

16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of

divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by sooth

saying:

17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are servants of the

most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I

command thee IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST to come out of her. And he came
out the same hour.

Notice that this damsel was "possessed with a spirit." Paul did not speak to the girl. He
spoke to the spirit. He said to the spirit, "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to
come out of her. And he came out the same hour" (v. 18). That spirit had to come out.
No possibility existed of its not doing so. Remember that

Philippians 2:9,10 says, '"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a

name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of

things [beings j in heaven, and things [beings in earth, and things / beings} under the

earth."

That spirit had to bow to the Name. Demons have to go at that Name. It is the Name

that does it. And that Name has for the Church today the same power it had then. What

a treasure we have in the Name of Jesus—and yet, how we have neglected it.

The Name: Possession of the Church

All the authority, all the power, that was in Jesus is in His Name! And He gave His
Name to the Church. The early believers knew what they had—and they used it. Peter
and John, going into the Temple about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, passed by a crippled
man begging alms.

ACTS 3:3-6

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but SUCH AS I HAVE give I thee: IN

THE NAME of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

What did he have? He had the Name that is above every Name. "IN THE NAME of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."

He had the Name. We have the Name. The Name today is just the same. "Well, I use the
Name and nothing happens," you say. You never took time to study the Word to see
what is involved in the Name; to see what is back of the Name. It is not to be used like
a magic charm. It is not to be used like a rabbit's foot. You must know what is invested
in that Name. You must know what is back of that Name.