LESSON 74
PRAYER
The authority in the Name of Jesus
1.goal
The saints will realize that the Name of Jesus belongs to them. That Name has authority on earth. They can use the authority in the Name of Jesus to bind the work of the devil and bring healing and deliverance to themselves and to others.
2.introduction
Philippians 2:9-10 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (NKJV)
Evil spirits have to bow to the Name of Jesus, for it is the Name above every other name. What a treasure we have in the Name of Jesus - and yet how we have failed to utilize what belongs to us. No work of the enemy need ever have dominion in our lives, if we will only exercise the authority we have in the Name of Jesus. All believers, not just preachers, have authority over demons in Jesus’ Name.
3.QUESTION
Do you believe that you have authority over the power of darkness in Jesus’ Name?
4.CONTENT
A.Satan is the god of this world and he has blinded men from seeing the glorious light of the gospel
2 Corinthians 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (NKJV)
The devil tries to blind men’s eyes. The unsaved were spiritually blinded by the god of this world. No intelligent person in his right mind will go through life wheeling and dealing in sin and just purposely plunge off into eternity and go to hell. If he does not want to accept Jesus, he is not in his right mind. He is spiritually blind. When the prodigal son came to himself or was in his right mind, he decided to go back home.
Luke 15:17 "But when he came to himself, he said, `How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! (NKJV)
B.Dealing with the devil in Jesus’ Name
Mark 16:17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; (NKJV)
Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (NKJV)
We have the right to use Jesus’ Name to exercise authority over the devil and all his works. Demons have to go at the mention of the Name of Jesus. We must have a key to unlock the door. In prayer, we must have faith in the Name of Jesus and in the Word. The Name of Jesus is our key. We can pray for our unsaved friends or relatives. We can say, “In the Name of Jesus, you foul demon that binds Mr. ... or Miss..., I bind you in the Name of Jesus. I claim Mr. ...’ s deliverance and salvation in the Name of Jesus Christ.” We can use the authority in the Name of Jesus Christ to bring healing and deliverance to ourselves or to others. We can say, “Satan, you who have bound my body for all these years, I break your power over my life in the Name of Jesus Christ, and I claim my deliverance and my healing in Jesus’ Name.”
C.Stay in the arena of faith
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (NKJV)
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (NKJV)
The Name of Jesus has authority on earth. We have the right to use that Name just as much as anyone else does. However, the devil is a liar and he tries to hold us in the arena of reasoning and thought. He tries to make us solve our problems with our minds. If we can stay in the arena of faith, then he is defeated. We should believe God’s Word with our spirit, from inside us, and then shut our mind off to doubt and unbelief and thoughts that are contrary to the Word of God, and believe with our heart. Jesus said in Mark 11:23, “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, `Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. (NKJV)”
D.Acting on what belongs to us: the authority in Jesus’ Name
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (NKJV)
We should exercise the authority that rightfully belongs to us in Jesus’ Name. Simply take your rights in Christ and boldly use what you know already belongs to you. Many of us own automobiles. At the end of a church service, you would not stand up and say, “I have a prayer request. I want you to pray that I will have enough faith to get in my car and go home.” You know your car belongs to you; and you have the title and the keys to prove it. All you have to do is drive the car. When you act on what you know belongs to you, then you will have results. The authority in Jesus’ Name belongs to you just as much as your hands and feet belong to you. Christianity is a supernatural relationship with a supernatural God who hears and answers prayers that is based on the Name of Jesus. If the supernatural is not wrought in our midst and if adverse circumstances are not changed by the power of God through our prayers, it shows that we simply have the form of godliness without the power (2 Timothy 3:5). We should pray for results by acting on the authority in Jesus’ Name. God is still in the same business of saving, healing and setting people free.
5.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
A.When you pray, do you pray to Jesus or to the Father in Jesus’ Name? What does the Word teach you about this? (John 16:23-24)
B.How would you pray for your unsaved friends’ or loved ones’ salvation?
C.Do you believe that the authority in Jesus’ Name belongs to you? How will you act on this Biblical truth?
D.Please share the blessings of last Sunday’s sermon?
6.MEMORY TEXT
Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (NKJV)
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