2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
As I read through God's Word, I cannot help but wonder how we lost sight of the power of Jesus' Name. The modern Church uses the Name, but somehow it doesn't seem to hold the power that it did in the early Church. Many have simply dismissed this by saying, "God no longer does the miracles and healings that He did then," but that's not true according to Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) which says, "Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is (always) the same, yesterday, today, (yes) and forever (to the ages)."
Jesus told His followers in Mark 16:17- 20 (Amplified), "He who believes (who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth) and is baptized will be saved (from the penalty of eternal death); but he who does not believe (who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth) will be condemned. And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; they will pick up serpents and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied (it) Amen (So be it)."
Jesus also said in Luke 10:17-19 (Amplified) that, "The servant returned with joy, saying, Lord even the demons are subject to us in Your Name! And He said to them, I saw satan falling like a lightning (flash) from Heaven. Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and physical and mental strength and ability over all the power that the enemy (possesses) and nothing shall in any harm you."
Jesus made the above statements even before His resurrection saying, "My Name is above all names." How much more is it higher now, in the new creation people? Peter and John used the Name of Jesus at the Gate Beautiful and stunned the people with it's power, in Acts 3:16 (Amplified) which says, "And His Name, through and by faith in His Name, has made this man whom you see and recognize well and strong. (Yes) the faith which is through and by Him (Jesus) has given the man this perfect soundness (of body) before all of you."
Has Jesus' Name lost it's power or have we lost the sight of that Name? We use His Name in prayer and preaching, but then argue among ourselves as to what that Name is capable of doing. We've denied the Super-natural ability of His Name, in almost every aspect of its Super-natural authority. We no longer cast out demons, but medicate them into submission. We've all but forgotten healings and miracles, recommending good doctors instead. Thank God for good doctors, but they still haven't taken the place of His Name and faith in His Name.
As the new creation, we not only have His Name to use in authority and power, but we are actually "in Him," too. What have we lost in our modern Church that has take His place, as far as the Super-natural is concerned? We still believe for the new birth, but have almost limited the Name to only that. Are we afraid to teach the miraculous to the people any longer, or are we more afraid of our own failures? Even Jesus said that, "It is not Me, but the Father in Me Who does the works." We have this Father , in the form of the same Holy Spirit, living in us.
The Name of Jesus is "above all names." It is above the name of cancer, Aids, or any other disease that satan has brought upon humanity. As far as God's concerned, it's not hard to heal any disease. We have lost sight of the Word and it hasn't lost any power, because Jesus is the Word and He doesn't change. We've allowed our own government to determine when and where we can speak the Word. The early believers ran into the same world government in Acts 4:17 (Amplified) which tells us, "But in order that it may not spread further among the people and the nation, let us warn and forbid them with a stern threat to speak any more to anyone in this Name (or about this Person)."
We are bold enough to speak the Name of Jesus in church, but we are warned not to "offend others, other gods, or ideas by speaking His Name in public places." I'm not advocating becoming obnoxious about religion, but about being bold enough to speak His Name and to have faith in His Name. The world will never consent to the use of Jesus' Name and His is the only Name that will change the world. Even in many Christian circles we have bowed a knee to political correctness instead of Biblical Truths, so we won't offend other believers. We've allowed the Name of Jesus and God to be removed from our schools, public places and now from the Pledge of Allegiance and perhaps our money. Some schools won't allow staff or students to say "Merry Christmas" or to celebrate Easter and Christmas.
Even if the Church doesn't realize the power of Jesus' Name, satan does and he's trying his best to silence the use of Jesus' Name among the people. As new creation people, we were made to herald the Name of Jesus and prove His Name with signs, power, and wonders. We name holidays and street signs after famous political persons and it's frowned upon to disgrace or defame those names. Why are we so intimidated by the world's idea about where we might speak His Name?
Society doesn't care if you speak of God, because this can mean their god, or any god, but the Name of Jesus causes even the timidity in Christians. The masses are in religion, but the power IS IN HIS NAME. It doesn't matter what name if above denominational church doors, because without the Name of Jesus and faith in His Name in their doctrine, it's only a religious bunch of people.
As new creation people, let's understand that we are "ingrated" not only in Jesus, but into His Name as well. The potential of who we are in Him and His Name, has yet to be revealed to the world.
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