DAY 11: There’s Power in the Name of Jesus: Breakthrough

Praying in Jesus’ name demonstrates our faith in God’s power to act when we believe that Jesus’ name is more than just a grouping of letters but a representation of who He actually is. Jesus was a very common name in first-century Israel. The only thing that sets apart the name of Jesus of Nazareth is the Person it belongs to and what He did for us. In Christ “all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” Colossians 2:9–10 (NKJV). Jesus is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” Hebrews 1:3 (NKJV).

But where there is no faith, no relationship, or no submission to His lordship, the name Jesus is nothing but a word. By faith, the disciples performed miracles, signs, and wonders in the name of Jesus. We have the same power Jesus has, the power of the Holy Spirit, within us when we place our faith in Him as Lord. There are those people who attempt to perform miracles in the name of Jesus without placing their faith in Him. “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name” Luke 10:17 (NKJV). “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus” Acts 4:29–30 (NKJV).

What we need to know is that breakthrough is not something we sit around and wait for. Breakthrough is God waiting on us to respond in obedience to what He has already commanded and already promised. Breakthrough happens when we take the first offensive step against the barriers in our life. Breakthrough happens when we say, “I’m going to trust that God is going to supernaturally do the impossible.” God does the breakthrough, but He’s waiting for us to take that first step of faith. We’ll discover God’s power of breakthrough and understand more about how it works in our lives. My prayer is that as we journey in this series together, more of us will have the courage to step out and believe in God’s supernatural power of breakthrough for our everyday lives.

The name of Jesus, the one who saves His people from their sins, denotes all the power of the mighty Creator Himself. Jesus gives believers the authority to serve, work, and pray in His name when we do so believe in Jesus’ saving power and desiring God’s will. Jesus, with the authority of the Father, exercised power to save sinners, and His name is the only name we can call on for salvation. “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” Acts 4:11 –12 (NKJV).

As adopted sons and daughters into God’s family, Christians experience God’s saving grace through faith in the Person of Jesus. When we call on Him, we participate in His power and find it. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe” Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV).

We have to believe in God’s goodness, that God has already willed the breakthrough for our life. Then we actually become “agents of breakthrough,” unleashing God’s supernatural power to change our impossible situations in our homes, workplaces and relationships.

The Name of Jesus succeeds above every name in heaven or earth. There is far more power wrapped up in this one Name than you may even realize. Smith Wigglesworth once said, “There is power to overcome everything in the world through the Name of Jesus. Christ sits at the right hand of God, where He intercedes for us. “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV). He says to ask for what we need and gives us authority to enter the throne room at any time and speak with the Father. Everyone who trusts in the Savior has the right to use Jesus’ name.

We are wise to guard ourselves from the temptation to misuse the name of Jesus. The Bible tells the intriguing story of a group of seven Jews in Ephesus who attempted to cast out demons using the name of Jesus. These men did not know Jesus. They were not believers. Instead, they sought the admiration of others and an opportunity to make names for themselves. They had not submitted to God and thus failed to cause the spirits to flee. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” James 4:7 (NKJV).

Once, a demon mocked the seven exorcists, who were essentially trying to perform magic tricks using “Jesus” as their incantation of choice: “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” the evil spirit taunted. Then the evil spirit empowered the man it possessed to beat the would-be magicians until they were bloody and naked. “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded” Acts 19:13–16 (NKJV). These seven men attempted to misuse the power in the name of Jesus for their own gain, but we serve a God who will not be manipulated and cannot be fooled. “With Him are strength and prudence. The deceived and the deceiver are His” Job 12:16 (NKJV).

One of your most powerful weapons of warfare against the enemy is to worship the Lord and give Him thanks — even before you see the victory come to pass. Confident in the name of Jesus and the power of your prayers, you can let your requests be known to God. We must be willing to obey Him and embrace that He is willing to do the impossible in us and through us for His glory so that more would come to know Him. No matter what we’re facing, God promises to show up in our difficult situations in a way that declares and reveals His glory and goodness.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, we see him unleashing God’s power in impossible situations. He also appointed 12 young apostles and taught them to do the same. How did Jesus teach them? He demonstrated the love and goodness of God in action by preaching the gospel of love and forgiveness, healing the sick, and setting people free from demonic oppression. Then Jesus required His disciples to do the same; for His goal was to help them understand that they were supposed to be agents of breakthrough too.