Using the Name of Jesus II

Monday 9 October
READ: Prov. 18:10
MORE LESSON:  Col. 3:16-17

The phrase, ‘in the Name of Jesus’ is not just a theological recitation to punctuate prayer or a church cliche to make people feel good. The Name of Jesus is not a magic word you hurriedly call out to for safety, at the slightest surprise or incident. The Name of Jesus is not the name of another prophet or good man of some high religious pedigree. The Name of Jesus is a place in the spirit. It is a place of authority and spiritual government, and our anchor text plainly confirms it. It says that in righteousness, we can run to the Name of the Lord and find safety. What does that mean? If you ponder a little more on our conclusion from the first part of yesterday’s study, you will find the answer. The Name of Jesus is the Authority of Jesus, therefore, running to the Name of the Lord Jesus is placing a demand on the Authority of the Name of Jesus in times of trouble. This is as a soldier would run to a strong tower during a fire threat at the war front.

Don't wait for things to happen when you have the power to dictate what happens by using the Name of Jesus. Run to the Name of Jesus! Go for it! Don't make the Name of Jesus an alternative. Those who run to the Name of Jesus will find all that they need in the Name of Jesus. To use that name is to deploy, to engage, to activate or commit the power of Jesus to work. This is important because the power and value of the Name of Jesus is not only determined by the owner of the name but also by the user of the name. This is what makes one Christian different from the other. The Name of Jesus on your lips will only be as potent as your relationship with Jesus is, because delegated authority feeds on relationships.

In the same way that you cannot go to an occasion in the name of someone you do not know; it would be impersonation and sheer deceit to use the Name of Jesus when you have no working relationship with Him. This is the reason why many ‘Christians’ go about powerless even though they call the Name of Jesus all the time. God gave us the Name of Jesus to live by. From the Cross of Calvary to the end of time, the devil and his cohorts will never forget the colossal power in the Name of Jesus. So every time you come face to face with darkness, boldly and with full conviction in your heart, relentlessly use the Name of Jesus.

Prayer/Action
*Decree that you are set free from any form of demonic oppression by the divine power in the Name of Jesus
*Ask the Lord for grace to be more intimate with Jesus and stronger in authority over life circumstances.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, I refuse to be a victim of evil circumstances this month, in the name of Jesus.

Using the Name of Jesus I

Sunday 8 October
READ: Jn. 20:31
MORE LESSON:  Acts 3:1-9

It's impossible to measure the value of spiritual power wrapped up in the Name of Jesus. Every believer in Jesus Christ has access to unlimited advantages as well as dominion over all the works of the enemy simply by invoking the power in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, Son of the Living God. God honours the Name of Jesus. A revelation of the true power in the Name of Jesus will bring an end to demonic oppression and manipulation in the lives of men. The real superman is not the one in Hollywood, wearing a fancy red and blue cape. He is the Christian who knows how to use the Name of Jesus.

The real spiritual kings and nobles of the earth today are not those who live in palaces and state houses, but those who have gained mastery of the Name of Jesus by revelation and use. Getting hold of the power in the Name of Jesus and using it to change our world requires that we embrace a few basic truths.

First, we must believe in the Person, ministry and finished works of Jesus with all our hearts. It must be settled in our spirit that Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of God, born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life, while He walked the earth doing miracles and wonders. We must also believe that He died on the Cross of Calvary for the redemption from sin of mankind; and that He went  down into hell, disarmed the devil of all his power, and God raised Him up from the dead on the third day. Also believe that He ascended up into the clouds to the tabernacle of God in Heaven and purged it with His precious Blood. He is now seated on the right hand of the throne of God in Heaven, with all power over Satan, sin, hell and the grave.

Secondly, we must understand that the Name of Jesus is synonymous with the Person of Jesus. All the power of Jesus is conferred on His name. It's common knowledge that you cannot separate a man from his name. When a name is called, it is the person who bares the name that responds. Simply put, the Name of Jesus is given to the Christian with the assurance that using the name will produce the same responses and results that Jesus desires from that life. Use the Name of Jesus repeatedly and consistently. Don't stop using it until you emerge victorious. There is no defeat for those who use the Name of Jesus. The world is about to be shaken and turned upside down again as it was in the days of old through men and women, boys and girls who will use the Name of Jesus with conviction and confidence.

Prayer/Action
*Ask God for full revelation of the unlimited advantages of the Name of Jesus.
*Declare that as you use the Name of Jesus, the impossible will become possible.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Any evil plantation in any part of creation targeted against me, be uprooted now, in the name of Jesus.

Anchor for Life

Saturday 7 October
READ: Heb. 6:9-20 
MORE LESSON:  Isa. 42:5-7

A boy was standing beside his father at a sea shore. He saw some empty boats on the water at the shore and wondered why they were left there. He turned to his father and asked, “Where are the owners of these boats? Don't they think the waves of the sea could carry them away?” His father replied, “No, my son, the boats are properly anchored”. While the boy was wondering what an anchor for a boat looks like and how it keeps the boat stationary on the water, another boat pulled up at the shore and the boy saw the fisherman lower a metal bar tied with a rope to his boat into the water. His father said, “There he goes, anchoring the boat! With that metal inside the water, the boat cannot be dragged away by the waves of the sea”. While the boy was still pondering how the anchor works, a huge wave came tumbling over the boats. He watched in amazement, and after a minute or two, the sea was calm, and all the boats were in place. 

Life sometimes can be like a boat at the sea shore beaten by waves occasioned by the problems of life. These waves have no respect for age, title, status, religion or culture. Just as boats and ships at the sea shore are able to stand the waves because they are anchored; you are able to withstand the problems of life only when you have an anchor. Without a life anchor you will be carried away by the waves and storms of life. The truth is that many lives are being carried away by terrible life's waves and storms because they have no anchor.

Friend, who is your anchor? Do you know Jesus Christ? Do you have trust in His Word? He is the only sure and steadfast anchor for life, as it is written, That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec: Heb. 6:18-20. Stay with Jesus today, and keep His commandments, and enjoy the promise, ...whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Matt. 7:24-25. God the Father also promised, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee: Isa. 43:2. Since it is impossible for God to lie, we can receive these promises as a sure anchor for our soul in the midst of life storms.

Prayer/Action
* Ask the Lord to release His word which is the anchor for your soul, in the mighty name of Jesus.
*Pray that the storms of life will not prevail over you, in Jesus’ name.
*Ask God to go with you on your journey of life, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, make me a symbol of strength and blessedness wherever I go this month, in the name of Jesus.

Praying all Prayers

Friday 6 October
READ: Eph. 6:10-24     
MORE LESSON:  Rom. 8:26-27

Since our focus is on Jesus' prayer, our study will be incomplete if we do not examine the issue of all manner of prayer. Jesus taught and prayed all manner of prayer. In His prayers you find praise, supplication, dedication, forgiveness, intercession, confession and corporate prayer. In some places, He taught the prayer of faith. Study more about the different types of prayer to find out when and how each is done. This  is because it is not only important to pray but to pray the right prayer at the right time.

Paul admonishes us to pray always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit. Only one or more types of prayer may be needed on one occasion. If you yield yourself to making supplication in the spirit, the Spirit will direct you to what is needed. But if you are ignorant of the types of prayer you will become limited in using them. Pray always! Pray all manner of prayer.

There is also the need to pray in the spirit; this means to pray in tongues or by the leading of the Spirit. Praying in tongues for at least one hour a day is healthy for believers and can turn both  your prayer life and destiny around for good. Many great men of God have testified of this and I have also found it to be fantastic! It should even become a habit for believers to constantly pray in the spirit.

But then, it is not every key that opens every padlock; there is usually a particular key for every particular door and padlock. When Daniel began to pray for the release of Isreal from captivity, he didn't start with petitions (Dan. 9:1-5). When Jesus prayed at Lazarus' tomb, he started with thanksgiving and Jesus prayer at Gethsemane was more of consecration.

There are as many types of prayer as there are needs. The same goes for songs; it is the occasion that determines the type of song. Even as a preacher, it will be strange to preach a funeral sermon at a naming fellowship or vise-versa. In all, the direction of the spirit must be the priority to the type of prayer for a particular need. Spiritual connectivity is the most important prerogative at prayer. It is like network to a phone call. No connection, physical and spiritual, no call.

Prayer/Action
* Ask for direction to pray appropriately always.
*Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you to pray and equip you with power to pray.
*Ask God to help you when you need to mention crucial issues of life in prayer.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
By the power that made the heavens and the earth, today will continue to be a memorial of goodness, strength, grace, abundance and celebration for me, in the mighty name of Jesus.