“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”
John 15:16
Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Acts 19:13-15
What does it really mean to pray “In Jesus’ Name?” It’s not just a tagline at the end of a prayer we add to try to make our prayer more holy. Yes, there is power in saying name of Jesus, but there’s even MORE power in abiding in Jesus so much so that your whole life is directed and covered by Him.
I was thinking the other day about how much business I conduct for my husband. He is quite capable of doing all his own paperwork, cashing checks, etc. but it is also something he has entrusted me to do because he knows I can handle it, and it gives me joy to take things off his to-do list. I do so much financial business for my husband that quite frankly, if he ever did endorse his own check and take it to the bank, they’d probably think it was a fraud! Of course, there are many times due to very strict policies I will call and try to conduct business for him and they will tell me that I don’t have access to his files or information since I’m not him. And then my husband rolls his eyes, gets on the phone and politely but firmly tells them he gives me full authority to do whatever it is I’m trying to do, and to let me have access to EVERYTHING they would give him. Once he proves his identity to them, all it takes is a few words and then I have the doors opened to me on his behalf.
This is what I believe Jesus is saying. He sent us to go and advance the kingdom and to bear fruit. He is sending us on assignment. And there are times when we encounter roadblocks, and people don’t know we’re His. And we can say the name “Jesus” like it’s an access password, just like some distant acquaintance can say, “Well I know Curtis so he would be totally cool if I signed for this package of his.” But it doesn’t work that way. Anyone can claim to KNOW someone, but does that someone KNOW you? And did that someone employ you to do work for them? It’s one thing to say, “I know Jesus and in His name I declare!” It’s quite another thing for Jesus to get on the line and give directives on my behalf saying, “Yep, this one’s my agent, I sent her on this mission and YES I give her permission to do anything I would do!” If someone else got caught forging my husband’s signature, you can better believe they’re in big trouble. But if I got caught doing the same, my husband would cover me and say that I was standing in for him.
“Jesus, let us as your children be so in tune with you, and so intimately connected to you that this is the position we find ourselves in when declaring and asking things in Your name!”