Authority of the Name of Jesus in Prayer

           Not uncommon to social media, people ask for healing requesting good vibrations or thoughts. Sometimes they may petition Mary, mother of Jesus, or angels for divine intervention. However, healing comes only through Jesus. As I pray for people, do know I call on the name of Jesus first and foremost with an expectation of faith. The hearts I make do not heal, rather Jesus working on behalf of my petition when I call on His name. The name of Jesus saves and heals (Acts 4:10). Let's take a look at why we invoke the name of Jesus in prayer and how it stands against frequent inaccurate petitioning for healing and deliverance. 

         The name of Jesus represents the highest name known to humanity. In Phil 2:10, the apostle Paul wrote, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;" (NKJV). Thus, His name has authority over things of the world--False gods, incantations, rituals, good thoughts, or positive energy cannot match the authority of His Name.

          In the early church of Acts, the apostles invoked the name of Jesus when associating His name with healing/deliverance (i.e., 3:6, 16; 4:30; 16:18). In the Old Testament, the Lord God answered by fire after Elijah called on His name in a challenge with the prophets of Baal (1 Kgs 18:20-40). That same all-powerful God of the Old Testament is Jesus in the New. Jesus is God. We find God's character, power, authority, and presence incarnated in Jesus. Because of His fullness, He works on the believers' behalf when they call on Him.

         God revealed Himself in flesh as Jesus. The name by which He chose to come by was Jesus (Mt 1:21, 23). Jesus means Jehovah-Savior. The angel Gabriel, God's own messenger, delivered the very name to Joseph in a dream. Joseph would call the child conceived of the Spirit upon Mary as Jesus (1:21).  

         While God favored Mary with grace, she could not dispense it. God manifested grace in the person of Jesus. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (Jn 1:14). In the fulness of the Godhead, we receive His grace. Thus, we cannot pray to Mary either.

        Likewise, people sometimes pray to angels for healing. Angels work on behalf of God's will. Under His authority and command, He may dispatch angels of healing. But, we should not pray to any angel. As God's express image, Christ reigns exalted over the angels. Hebrews 1:4 affirms that Jesus, "having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." Since His name bears the very nature and character of God, Jesus has a superior status over angels. 

         However, invoking the name Jesus does not suggest formulaic magic. When the sons of Sceva attempted to cast out demons by mimicking Paul's use of the Name, they did not meet with success. Unlike Paul, they did not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; therefore, they could not invoke the Name (Acts 19:13-17). 

         Faith activates prayer. When we invoke the name of Jesus in faith, He responds to our petitions. For example, the lame man's faith in the Name brought healing. Acts 3:16  says, "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” 

          If you have a prayer request, please feel free to post it below in the comment box. You also may e-mail it to me if you wish privacy through the contact form on the website. I keep all requests confidential. Additionally, I have a workshop planned for learning prayer fundamentals and another making a prayer heart. As I close remember, there is power in the name of Jesus. 

Jan Paron, PhD

December 30, 2021