Wednesday, June 11, 2014
In His Name
When we pray, it is common for us to end our prayer with something like, “in the name of Jesus” or in some way mentioning the name of the Lord. There are many scriptures that talk about the name of Jesus, but I have wondered about this idea.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I have wondered what this meant to those that heard this originally may have thought. In verse nine Paul says God gave Him a name above every name. Why would this matter and what would the original readers of this letter thought of this comment? If they were Jewish, they would have had many examples from David and others in the scriptures they had at that time.
Psalms 61:5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
6 Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.
7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
David said he received the heritage (the inheritance) of those that fear God’s name. In verse eight David says he will sing praises to His name, and that somehow this makes it possible for David to live (perform his vows). Two points here. Singing praises to God’s name must be a weapon of spiritual warfare because it results in our ability to live. Secondly, Jesus was not born yet, but there is the concept of the name of God being important. The word “name” in Hebrew indicates position. David was speaking about praising the position of God, because that is what a name does for us. It gives us the position of the person. David does this in yet another psalm.
Psalms 83:13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord.
17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.
In this passage David is asking that his enemies be destroyed in a mighty way so that all men may know that the one and only one that has the position of being the Self Existent (Eternal) One is the most high over everything in the world. Again, this is before Jesus.
When Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians, this was the frame of mind it was falling on in those readers. They understood the idea of “in the name of” referring to position. It is a phrase that calls upon the authority. And when Paul said there was a name above every name, it was His Jewish name Yeshua, which means Jehovah is salvation or wholeness. When we pray or say something in the name of Jesus, we are saying that we are speaking for the King, the Self Existent Eternal One who is wholeness. That is the power of what we are saying when we battle our enemy in prayer and praise.
Prayer
Father, we exalt You as the Most High God. Thank You for defeating and destroying our enemies. Please forgive us when we do not use Your name to produce Your kingdom in the earth. Please help us to be better representatives of Your kingdom. We ask that You bring Your kingdom in our lives today with healing, deliverance, and abundant provision that all men may know that you alone are God. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.