GUEST COMMENTARY

Bryan Corbin

(Bryan is a prophet who resides and ministers in Southern Ohio.)

IN JESUS’ NAME

In the latter part of John’s gospel there is an account of Jesus trying to explain to His disciples that though He would leave them for awhile, He would return; and that when He did, they would have the ability to ask the Father for "anything" in the name of Jesus and receive it (John 16:24). A short time later in the book of Acts (3:1-10), we read of Peter and John exercising that ability at the temple gate called, "Beautiful"; where Peter tells a crippled man, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk". Word of this miraculous healing quickly reached the Sanhedrin, who inquired of them, "By what power or what name did you do this?" to which Peter replied, "It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified". He went on to tell them that there is "no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved". In fact, Peter’s explanation was so compelling that the religious officials didn’t ask them to stop ministering, but simply to stop doing it in Jesus’ name. Later in the New Testament Paul explains that the name of Jesus is above every name and that at His name, every knee "in heaven and on earth and under the earth" should bow (Php. 2:6-11). He goes on to exhort believers to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus (Col. 3:17). Just as the death of Jesus afforded us access to eternal life with the Father, by His name we’ve also gained access to the throne of God’s grace, where we can make our requests known to Him. With such incredible favor from our King, it would seem as though the Children of God would be unstoppable; and yet in spite of this amazing provision, we often seem to fall short of our goals.

The scripture gives us some examples of people acting "In Jesus’ Name" and failing to reach their intended mark. In the book of Acts (19:14) it tells of the seven sons of a Chief Priest, who attempt to cast out a demon in the name of "the Jesus that Paul preaches". Unfortunately for them, the demon possessed man could find no connection between them, Paul or Jesus and proceeded to overpower, beat and humiliate them. In the gospels we read of Jesus sending out His disciples to minister and of their subsequent recognition that the demons were subject to them in Jesus’ name (Luke 10:17); but later in the gospel we see them encounter a demon which they cannot seem to expel (presumably also in Jesus’ name). Jesus later explained to them that they would need to fast and pray before they could cast out such a demon. Finally, Jesus Himself gives an example in Matthew’s gospel (7:22-23) of people who will claim to have done many good things in His name and yet have no relationship with Him. He said such people would not even enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

The balance of the scripture would seem to support that merely evoking the name of Jesus is not enough to access the awesome authority and provision that comes with it. As the sons of the Chief Priest discovered, there needs to be a relational bond with Jesus before such authority can be granted; but the scripture would seem to indicate that even the existence of a relationship may not always be enough. The disciples were clearly in relationship with the Lord and had already demonstrated their ability to cast out demons in His name, when they encountered the demon that they could not evict. The need for prayer and fasting on their part indicates that their spiritual condition needed to change before they could access the necessary authority, as those actions would not have affected the spiritual authority of either the demon or of God. It does not appear that Jesus Himself was subject to this limitation, which is likely a testimony to His perfect submission to the will of the Father (i.e. I don’t do anything that I don’t see the Father do first…). As I prayed about this, I felt like the Lord said that the key for a believer to act "in Jesus’ name", is to be "in Jesus" (i.e. submitted to His will, reflecting His heart, enjoying unity with His Spirit…). If we as His children are not experiencing the fullness that Jesus’ name has gained for us, I’d submit that instead of searching for some hidden spiritual formula to unlock the storehouses of heaven, that we simply pursue greater oneness with Jesus. I pray that we would be one, as He and the Father are one. In Jesus’ name – Amen.