… and you shall give Him the name Jesus. Luke 1:31

There is power in the Name of Jesus. Intercessors pray in Jesus’ Name; worship leaders praise and worship His Name. Pastors lead the sheep in Jesus’ Name. In our darkest hours do we not secretly cry out the Name of Jesus? However, power in prayer, intercession and worship is more than saying “in Jesus’ Name.” Our souls are infants seeking sustenance from the Lord who then empowers us by His Name through the Holy Spirit. Power in Jesus’ Name to move God’s hand comes through the Word. It is written.

The first chapter of Luke reveals why Jesus’ Name is powerful.

1. v. 31… and you shall give Him the name Jesus. There is power in the Name of Jesus for Jesus was named by God. Both Luke and Matthew recorded that the angel Gabriel told Mary what to name her child. Since angels bring God’s messages to men, Jesus’ Name came from the Father. Before Mary knew anything else about her child, she knew the Name that God had given Him. His Name was divinely ordained and prophesied.

2. v. 32 …and will be called the Son of the Most High. There is power in the Name of Jesus because Jesus was royal. The angel said that He would be called (that is, he prophesied God’s intentions) “ the Son of the Most High” for the Lord God Himself would give Him David’s throne and a kingdom without end. Kings exercise power and authority in their name. In the Hebrew tradition, a person’s name manifested and was inseparable from his character. Thus, the Name of Jesus manifests the power of royalty, greatness and position.

3. v. 34 So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.… There is power in the Name of Jesus for it is holy. Gabriel told Mary that her child is the Holy One, the Son of God. The Jewish people were God’s Chosen People, a holy nation because God is holy. From Abraham’s burning bush in the desert to the present day, God’s Presence demands us “to take off our shoes” in holy fear and trembling. When asked how to pray, Jesus said. ” Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name”, acknowledging the Father’s holiness. To pray in Jesus’ Name is to acknowledge His divine holiness as the Son of God, for whom, At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, Philippians 2:10. Prayer too must take off its shoe and bow its knee at Jesus’ Name.

4. v 34. …. He will be called the Son of God. Ex. 20: 7. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. There is power in the Name of Jesus because His Name carries the full weight of God’s authority and brings God glory. The Lord told his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. “ (Mathew 28:18). In John 14:13-14 Jesus taught, … And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. Praying in Jesus’ Name we will not pray in vain because Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand, the position of authority. Through the Holy Spirit’s power we share in the authority of Jesus’ Name.

The Name of Jesus is not to be profaned. Jewish law forbade the utterance of God’s revealed Name, Yahweh. Thousands of years later, the Third Commandment is violated continuously. Christians are no longer under the Mosaic law, but we are not released from God’s divine commandments. We are not to use God’s name irreverently. Should we not also respect and honor the name of Jesus, God’s Son and our Lord ? If it is sin to speak God’s Name vainly or dishonorably, then may the Holy Spirit convict us whenever the Name of God’s Son is uttered disrespectfully or worse, when it become a foul profanity. Taking this a little further, when Christians pray and tack on “ In Jesus’ Name” at the end, “amen-ing” it like a post script, without intentionality, reverence or Godly fear, we dishonor the Name of Jesus and break commandment.

5. … and you shall give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21. There is power in the Name of Jesus because His Name alone means Salvation and fulfills the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 7:14: She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us.. As God Incarnate, only Jesus’ Name saves. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:14. Jesus’ Name becomes a stumbling block to those who do not believe in Him. Sadly, some Christians no longer pray openly in Jesus’ Name because they don’t wish to offend anyone. But the Lord’s Word can’t be clearer: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:16. Salvation comes through and solely by faith in His Name where all power resides.

6. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 There is power in the Name of Jesus because His Name fulfills all prophecy made about Him. He is Messiah – wonderful, mighty, everlasting Counselor, Father and Prince of our peace prophesied in Isaiah. He is the Salvation of Israel promised to Zacharias and Anna. In Luke’s last chapter, on the road to Emmaeus Jesus opens the eyes of two disciples who were “slow to learn all that the prophets had spoken. ” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself. L Luke 24:27

There is power in Jesus’ Name because when we pray in His Name according to God’s will, as He taught us, our prayer calls into existence what is not yet manifested. To pray in the Name of Jesus is to prophesy with power. How magnificent and beautiful to share in the Lord’s divine Name.

Therefore, in Jesus’ Name I do humbly pray. May the power of Jesus’ holy, divine, royal, saving and prophetic Name fall upon these words and upon those who read them!