Someone who takes the name of another gives up his own name because it has no value. The use of someone else’s name always supposes the surrender of our interests to him whom we represent. We are only His Ambassadors acting on His behalf, for His glory, and His purposes. Never for our own. We speak and act according to the agenda of the one who sent us, never for our own agenda.
Walking in Jesus Name means that we have given up our own name and, with it, our own independent life. Anyone who acts in the Name of Jesus must do so apart from his own personal agenda and desires. We must say and do only that which we see and hear from Jesus Christ himself. In a similar manner, Jesus, while he was on Earth, only acted in the name of the Father. In this way, He set an example for us to follow.
“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19)
Jesus acted in the name of the Father. He did nothing on His own. He did ONLY what he saw the Father doing. In this manner, Jesus shows us what it truly means to act in the Name of another. Jesus always leads us by example, and never tells us to do anything that he has not done first.
Jesus also prayed an amazing prayer for all believers. He prayed that we would have the same relationship with Jesus that He has with the Father. He prayed for unity among believers, that we would be unified in Him, acting single mindedly on His behalf. Notice the purpose for this unity - to glorify Jesus, to make Jesus known, so that others would believe in Jesus.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me…” (John 17:20-23)
Paul gives a great example of this unity, and describes how we are “in Christ”. He describes God’s people as the “Body of Christ”, of which Jesus is the head. The hand cannot act independently of the head. The head guides and directs the actions of all of the members of the body. If a finger is cut off from the body, it has no power, it has no ability to act. In the same way, we must remain in Christ, unified as His body, acting under His headship. When we do anything else, we are not acting in His authority.
“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought… One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas ”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?” (1Corinthians 1:10-13)
The Church has become so divided today, with literally hundreds of denominations. Pastor’s compete against each other, fighting over members. Christians see people from other denominations as strangers and accuse them of wrong doctrines and each sect claims that they are right where others are wrong.
Also, each church follows the headship of its “pastor”, and as such, acts according to his/her will. This idea has been passed down to us through tradition, claiming that the pastor is “our covering.” Meaning that he is our authority. But, I have yet to find this concept in the New Testament. Everything that I have read points directly to Jesus being our only authority, and that our obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit takes precedence in our lives.
Some will say that we are told to “submit to the ruling authorities”, which is true, but we are told to “obey the LORD”. The word submit is very different than the word obey. We can submit to authority and at the same time disobey that very authority. Daniel is a perfect example of this. He was submissive to the king, but he refused to worship the pagan gods. He also continued to pray to the One True God when he was commanded specifically to stop. Daniel was not rebellious, but he did not obey the command of the king when it contradicted the word of God.
Similarly, Jesus, Paul, Stephen, the Disciples, and many other christians in the New Testament were submissive to the governing authorities, yet they did not obey them when that obedience meant going against the will of God.
It is also interesting to note that these “ruling authorities” are always referred to outside of the context of the Church. There is never any mention of ruling or governing authorities within the Church, in fact Jesus says bluntly that there should not be any such authority among us. When the “sons of Zebedee” asked Jesus for the privilege of sitting at his right and left hand, they were asking for authority to rule. They were seeking power, and Jesus explained that this is not the way of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus called them together and said, ”You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. But you are not to be like that. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28, Mark 10:42-45, Luke 22:25-27)
We are again told to follow the example of Christ, serving and giving of ourselves, and walking in submission to God. It is important to realize that Jesus opposes the idea of rulers in His people.
It is important for us to remember, that the church is God’s people. Many pastor’s get it in their mind that the church belongs to the pastor, and say things like “my people”, “my church”, and “submit to my authority”. But Jesus opposes such things (as does the entire New Testament).
Again, to do something “in the name of Jesus” is to act ONLY in obedience to the will of God. Acting in His Name requires us to humble ourselves, die to ourself, give up our own will and agendas, and live in service to Christ alone. Many people claim that Jesus is their LORD, but they do not live like it. Many people ask for things in His name, but they ask for things that He did not authorize.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)
Our Father in heaven!
May your Name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us the food we need today.
Forgive us what we have done wrong, as we too have forgiven those who have wronged us.
And do not lead us into hard testing, but keep us safe from the Evil One.
For kingship, power and glory are yours forever.
Amen.