“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”[Col 3:17; NKJV]
To perceive Christ’s spiritual power to heal us and others through us, both physically and spiritually, we must first understand His “name”. When using the name of Jesus Christ to heal, cast our demons etc. most Christians concentrate on the AUTHORITY in the name itself.
Notice, in the following verse, that Jesus said He did all “works in His Father’s name”, because obviously, that is who He is. He is one with His Father in all things. “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.'” (John 10:25; NKJ).
Yet, Jesus did not heal, cast out demons or raise the dead, by saying, “in My name”, “in My Father’s name”, or “in the name of Jehovah”:
(Luke 4:40-41) “When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. (NKJ)
(Matt 14:14) And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. (NKJ)
[NOTE: Jesus had compassion on the multitude (not just the sick), and therefore “healed their sick”]
(Mark 6:4-6) But Jesus said unto them, a prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. (KJV)
All of Christ’s works, even when done through us, are for one reason:
(John 17:11-13) “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as we are. While I was with them in the world, I keptthem in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. (NKJ)
We are kept in the name of God, so that we are all one. Just as Jesus was one with His Father, we are one with Him:
(1 Cor 6:17) But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (NKJ)
(1 Cor 12:7-13) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks {Gentiles}, whether slaves or free– and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. (NKJ)
(Eph 2:18) “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” (NKJ)
(Eph 4:3-7) “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (NKJ)
The Apostles, though they constantly taught that all works were in the name of Jesus Christ, often neglected to specifically say, “In the name of Jesus Christ you are healed, raised from the dead etc. Please notice this below:
(Acts 8:18) And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money” (KJV)
[NOTE: Jesus said today, April 6, 2009, that this is why we lay hands on the sick! The Holy Spirit is transferred to the savedsick person, and the healing spiritual power comes through the Holy Spirit in/through both the healer and the sick.
(Acts 5:15) “so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. (NKJ)
(Acts 9:40-41) But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. (KJV)
(Acts 19:11-12) Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. (NKJ)
(Acts 28:8) And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. (NKJ)
This is not to say that they never healed by saying the name Jesus Christ out loud. This is evident in the following verses:
(Acts 9:34) And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. (NKJ)
(Acts 3:6-8) Then Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them– walking, leaping, and praising God. (NKJ)
Below, we read that not only healing, but also signs and wonders were the stretched out hand of God, for the purpose of having His Word spoken boldly. It is the Word, Christ Jesus, that saves one from death and causes Eternal Life. Man’s conversion into Christ’s Life, His Salvation, is God’s goal; and the wonders, miracles and healings are in order to confirm God’s presence in His Salvation and teaching.
(Acts 4:29-37) And now, Lord {Christ Jesus}, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; andthey were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
Those present, in the above verses, were in one accord prior to God’s great power manifesting on, and in His children. Those in the congregation all possessed the heart of Christ in them. None was selfish, or self concerned. God’s goal of Salvation for all mankind, through God’s love, had become their goal also. What does this have to do with the name of Jesus Christ? We are about to find out.
As you read the following article, concentrate on the definition of ‘name’, the fact that He has given us His name as our own, and what Christ actually gave us when He gave us His name. Then, and only then, will you know what it is to be healed, or heal others, in His name. To heal others, we must have the heart of Christ Jesus in us, through His Holy Spirit. To do the “works” of Christ consistently, we must be in the image of Christ in our hearts and natures. We must be in one accord with, and in submission to, the Will of God. Christians are endowed with His power through His nature, His heart, in us. We complete His Will and “Works” by EXERCISING His heart’s nature.
LORD: [also discussed below, under NAME]
We can only understand the name of “Jesus” when we understand name “LORD” (Hebrew, Old Test). Notice that it is in all CAPS. This is the way it has been presented in the KJV Bible, and many other Bibles. The name “LORD” in all caps indicates the entity Yehovah/Jehovah, which is His Hebrew name, as many of you know. Literally defined, it means ETERNAL SELF EXISTENT. It comes from a word literally meaning, “TO EXIST, i.e. be or become, come to pass” (Strong’s Concordance). This is the only name for God that is attributed with the ability TO GIVE LIFE. Notice, He is SELF Existent (sustaining) forever! He was the beginning, and He is never ending.
JESUS: [also discussed below, under NAME]
Literally defined, the Greek name “Jesus” means, “Jesus”; and comes directly from the two Hebrew words, of which one is a name. These are: “Jehovah-saved”, which obviously comes from Jehovah/Yehovah (Eternal Self Existent) (+) “to be open, wide or free, ie to be safe; … to free or succor”.
NOTE: When discussing the name “Jesus”, we also must discuss the word “Salvation.”
Two words are used in the Old Testament to indicate “Salvation”; they are:
(1) “yeshuw`ah”: “literally defined as “something saved, i.e. deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity”. This word comes from the same word (second half of Jesus’ name) discussed above, “to be open, wide or free, ie (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor“.
(2) The second word, often translated as “rescue”, is translated elsewhere in the KJV Bible as, “deliverance, help, safety, salvation, victory”.
This word comes from two words literally defined as, and “to be open, wide or free, i.e. (By implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor; and “to be free; to halloo (for help, i.e. freedom from some trouble), and is translated elsewhere in the Bible as, “CRY (ALOUD, OUT), SHOUT”
The New Testament word for “salvation” is “soteria”, and is literally defined as, “rescue or safety”. This word is translated elsewhere in the KJV Bible as, “deliver, health, salvation, save, saving”.
It comes from a word meaning, “a deliverer, i.e. God or Christ:- KJV– savior”.
This word comes from “to save, i.e. deliver or protect:- KJV– HEAL, PRESERVE, SAVE (SELF), DO WELL, BE (MAKE) WHOLE”.] [from New Unger’s Bible Dictionary].
CHRIST and MESSIAH:
‘Christ’ is not Jesus’ last name. Both Messiah (Hebrew) and ‘Christ’ (Greek) mean ‘anointed’; and both come from words meaning ‘to rub or smear with oil’ We are also anointed in Christ: “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Cor 1:21-22; NKJ)
The Word “NAME“:
In the Old Testament, “Name” is literally defined as follows: “AN APPELLATION, AS A MARK OR (1)MEMORIAL OF INDIVIDUALITY; BY IMPLICATION HONOR, AUTHORITY, CHARACTER” (Strong’s Concordance Of The Bible).
(1) MEMORIAL: “That by which the memory of any person or thing is preserved… A memorial was also a record…; “book of remembrance {as in Book of Life(?)},”….” (from New Unger’s Bible Dictionary)].
[[NOTE: Jesus Himself said to take Communion {Eucharist} in memory of Him: [Luke 22:19] “And He {Jesus} took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance {memory} of Me.” NKJV] Suggested Reading: “The Soul Is In The Blood”, by God through Chris Williams.]
To wear the name of Jesus Christ, is to possess the “HONOR, AUTHORITY, CHARACTER” of who He is.
In the New Testament, the word “name” is literally defined by Strong’s Concordance of the Bible as such: “AUTHORITY, CHARACTER”. This word is translated elsewhere in the KJV Bible as :- CALLED… This word is a derivative of “TO KNOW”.
As we can see, the definition of ‘name’ in the Old Testament and New Testament agree. However, the New Testament opens the door, for the first time, so that all mankind CAN KNOW God, and be His nature. The New Testament teachings not only describe the character and nature of Christ Jesus, in detail, but also give us written instruction on how to be in agreement with His righteous Holy Spirit in us.
New Unger’s Bible Dictionary defines ‘NAME’ as follows: “embraces the whole divine nature revealed by the Son. The expression “name of God” indicates the entire administration of God by which He reveals Himself and His attributes to men; the glory and power of God displayed in nature…; and when God announces His mighty presence it is said, “Thy name is near (Ps. 75:1)… the expression “let everyone who names the name of the LORD”… means everyone who acknowledges Him to be what his name means, “THE LORD”. (from New Unger’s Bible Dictionary).
Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary says the following, regarding the word “name”: “A NAME SOMEHOW REPRESENTED THE NATURE OF THE PERSON… To know the name of God is thus to know God Himself (Ps. 91:14).
Today, a lot of emphasis has been put on knowing the TRUE/REAL name of God. God’s true name is His nature, which is beyond any one PHYSICAL name. This is why we are told we will receive a new name:
(Isa 62:1-5) For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory.You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD will name. You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD delights in you, andyour land shall be married. For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. (NKJ)
(Rev 2:17) “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”‘ (NKJ)
To “take the Name of the LORD your God in vain” {Blasphemy} is to act in any way that is inconsistent with the profession{nature and character; those things God, Himself, does} that he is the LORD God…
In other words, to “take the name of the LORD your God in vain” {Blasphemy} is to say that all that Jesus Christ did for you on the cross is NOT ENOUGH. This is what we are doing when we deny God’s (Jesus Christ’s, Christ Jesus’) ability to meet all our needs, including our good health, protection, etc.
Continuing…
Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Hallowed be Your name” (Matt. 6:9). Christians were described by the apostle Paul as those who “name the name of the Lord”… (from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary).
By definition, to ‘name the name of the Lord’ is to live the nature and character of the Lord. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says the following, “A ‘name’ is that by which a person, place or thing is marked and known…, so that ‘the name’ often came to stand for the person.
OLD TESTAMENT WORD {NAME} AND USE:
1. General:…”To set a mark”… besides designating persons, the name also stands for fame, renown, reputation, character gained or expressed, etc…. the ‘name’ is also equivalent to a ‘people’ or ‘nation’…; to speak or write ‘in the name’ signified authority…; to “CALL ONE’S NAME” over a place or People indicated possession or ownership…; to act ‘in the name’ is to represent… ‘To name’ is … ‘to say’…’to speak’… ‘to mark out’…’to call’.
An example of this is the authority the LORD gave Adam when He told him to name the animals, thus giving Adam authority over them. This also signified, to both our LORD and Adam, the authority given by God to man.
- The Divine Name:
Of special interest is the usage with respect to the name of God… He revealed Himself to Israel through Moses by a new name … — Yehovah/Jehovah… {Eternal Self Existent} “the nature of which should be shown by His manifestations on their behalf. The “name of God was therefore not a mere word, but THE WHOLE OF ‘THE DIVINE MANIFESTATION, the CHARACTER OF GOD as revealed in His relations to His people and in His dealings with them… The “name of Yahweh” was proclaimed to Moses on Mt. Sinai, “Yah, Yahweh, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth,” etc…; the name Yahweh… (so revealed) was His ‘memorial Name’…”.
His sole Deity was such an important element in His name that… ‘where Yahweh is said to record His name, or to put His name in a place (or person), some special divine manifestation is implied, making the place or person sacred to Him’…”
Have you noticed, in the Bible, how often Jesus said, “By your faith you are healed”? As God heals, He becomes one with both the person God is going to heal through, and the person God has said He will heal. The Holy Spirit is one with them as the healing occurs. This is why the one being healed must have faith in Jesus’ name and nature. They must have faith that Jesus Christ will heal them when the healer says “God said He will heal you”. The person being healed is to have a portion in God’s work along with the person healing them.
Our authority to heal, cast our demons etc comes ONLY as God tells us “to do”, or He confirms His will through the gifted person via His internal, or exterior, voice. You must hear God to do “His Works”, because when God works through man He is most often working “with” man. God’s “works” are not at random, nor by the will and word of man; but rather, under God’s direction. Man’s desire to “do the works of God”, and their reluctance to hear the voice of God, is actually one of the main causes these “works” have disappeared from the Christian congregation. Second only to our lack of love and compassion for each other. Our Father’s Spirit is the one who speaks, and He is the one who does the works through man. It is the same Spirit at work in all concerned.
Continuing…
“what He does is “for His Name’s sake,” in fidelity to and vindication of His revealed character and covenant relationship…; the great things He should do would be “for a Name” <Isa 55:13>; He would give his people a new Name, “an everlasting Name” <Isa 56:5>; to be “called by” the name of Yahweh is “to be his people” (2 Chr 7:14; Isa 43:7); it implies “protection,” etc…; to “call upon” the name of Yahweh was “to worship him” as God…; “To confess” His name, to “acknowledge him”…; to love, trust, act in, etc., “The name,” was to love, trust, etc., Yahweh Himself…;”
“Very frequently, especially in the Psalms and prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah, ‘THE NAME’ OF GOD STANDS FOR “GOD HIMSELF‘; to “forget his name” was ‘to depart from him’…”
- NEW TESTAMENT WORD {NAME} AND USE:
“… has frequently also the significance of denoting the “character,” or “work” of the person… “Thou shalt call his name Jesus; for it is he that shall save,” etc… The “name” of God has the same relation to the character of God as in the Old Testament… it is manifested by Christ…; to Him is given “the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow …. and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,”…”it is not the Name ‘Jesus’, BUT THE NAME OF JESUS {the total Being}” [Lightfoot]…; we have with reference to Jesus simply “the Name” (Acts 5:41), “worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name”; (James 5:14)…”in the Name”; (3 Jn 7), “for the sake of the Name”; the “Name of Christ” is equivalent to ‘Christ Himself’… it is the same thing as ‘His manifestation’… therefore ‘to believe on His name’ is to believe in Him as manifested in His life and word…; ‘in the Name of God’ means sent by God, as representing Him, with divine authority…
The ‘name of Jesus’ represented His ‘authority and power’ e.g. working miracles in His name, ‘By what name (or Power) have ye done this?’… The gospel, of salvation was to be preached “in his name,” by His authority AND AS MAKING IT EFFECTUAL (LK 24:47); sinners were justified “through his name”; (1)sins were forgiven “for His Name’s sake“…
(1) “Sins were forgiven for His Name’s sake”: Sins are forgiven for the increase and multiplication of God Himself (in us), His Body, His nation etc.”
“To name the name” of Christ was to belong to him <2 Tim 2:19>; the calling of his name on the Gentiles signified their acceptance as God’s people <Acts 15:17>… to “hold fast his name” is to be true to him as made known; to be “gathered together in his name,” to “do all’ ‘ things in his name,” is as “acknowledging him”…
- IN RELATION TO PRAYER:
The significance of the name of Jesus in relation to prayer deserves special notice. To pray in the name of Jesus, to ask anything in His name, according to His promises, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do”; “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask ….” <Jn 16:24>, is not merely to add to our prayers (as is so often unthinkingly done): “we ask all in the name of Jesus,” or “through Jesus Christ our Lord,” etc., but to pray or ask as His representatives on earth, in His mission and stead, in His Spirit and with His aim; it implies union with Christ and abiding {living} in Him, He in us and we in Him. The meaning of the phrase is, “as being one with me even as I am revealed to you.”
Continuing…
Its two correlatives are “in me” W. L. Walker comments in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia that “to baptize in’ or ‘into the Name‘ of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38; 22:16)…is ‘to call over them His Name'”…, as claiming them for Christ...”.
When we enter into the name of Jesus Christ, we have literally been “baptized” {fully submerged; Strong’s Concordance} into Him, all of Him. This is the ONE BAPTISM referred to in “<Eph 4:3-6> Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is One body, and One Spirit, even as ye are called in One hope of your calling; One Lord, One faith, One baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
God said through Paul,
“And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not {Christ’s} love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not {Christ’s} love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not {Christ’s} love, it profits me nothing.
Love {Christ’s} suffers long and is kind; {Christ’s} love does not envy; {Christ’s} love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
{Christ’s} Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide {Christ’s} faith, {Christ’s} hope, {Christ’s} love, these three; but the greatest of these is {Christ’s} love.”
[1 Cor 12:28-13:13; NKJV]
(Originally Published March 4, 1998, Updated and Re-Published October 27, 2007 & April 6, 2009)
