Speak the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ

[sarah123]

I had a conversation with my eldest son last week concerning the power of God against the evil spirits and evil foe that invade the lives of God's people in various attacks and avenues.

(He has been saved for about 2 years now and is growing with leaps and bounds... his wife is not saved yet and they are expecting a baby in June.)

He told me that if he ever feels an evil presence, no matter where he is, he will say out loud, "in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, all evil leave from here right now." he says immediately the sense of evil is gone.

I know the same happens with me when I pray and ask God to remove all evil in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I don't like speaking out to the evil but to God and ask Him to remove the evil...

Anyone have thoughts on this?

In our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ,
Sarah

[nightingale]

Dear Sarah

I am not sure about this, so if someone can correct me, please do so.

I have not found any where in the scriptures where God gives us the power to dismiss demons.
James 4:7 tells us, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you"
I believe the only way to avoid demon activity in your life is through our faith in Jesus Christ and holding on to God
I can't find anywhere it says we have power over demons or satan...please anyone jump in and correct me if I am wrong, please back up your response with scriptures. Thank you
Sis Debbie

[George]

I believe you are correct Sister Debbie. The ability to cast out or ward off demons in the name of Christ appears to be an apostolic gift or at most a sign gift no longer granted after the First Century.

The only mentions of the casting out of evil spirits after the Gospels is the one found as follows:

(Act 19:13) Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. (Act 19:14) And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. (Act 19:15) And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

In this case you can see that when someone other than either our Lord Himself or one of the apostles tried to do this the evil spirits did not even recognize them. Exorcising of evil spirits is no longer necessary because of the fact we have the tools to fend off the devil by use of the resistance mentioned as you gave.

It is possible to adjure Jesus to take something away from us but we cannot petition the devil directly by invoking our Lord's name.

In Christ,
George

[nivek]

One of the things I try to be careful of is: do not take liberty with things that God has not given or promised us. Obviously that would be offensive to Him and could set a bad example for other Christians or unbelievers.

But, I also really wonder if God hasn't given us so much more than we realize and we leave many things at the table, so to speak. This is one area that I think there is probably enough scriptural support for that we shouldn't just dismiss it.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;
(Phillipians 2:9-10)

Every knee will bow at the name of Jesus, things in heaven (angels), things in earth (people, eventually), and things under the earth (demons). So, the power of the name is well established. The question remains as to whether we should or are allowed to use it.

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
(John 14:12)

This is an astounding statement. Jesus healed untold thousands, cast out demons, and raised the dead. And if we only believe in Him we will do all of these and greater things still. I don't see most Christians doing this (and, granted, there are some abuses by those who are). For the specific topic at hand, Jesus dealt with demonic activity several times. So, we should too when appropriate. But should we use His name to do it? Note that the verse from the Gospel of John above continues with...

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it].
(John 14:13-14)

We are not quite there yet. This mostly speaks to Sister Sarah's point about asking God to remove the evil for surely this includes sending away demonic activity...

19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
(Luke 10:19)

Now, I realize this last statement was spoken to the seventy who were commissioned by Jesus to heal, cast out demons, and preach the kingdom of God. But, consider what Jesus spoke to the eleven remaining disciples.

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
(Mark 16:15-18)

This is very, very similar to the commission to the seventy. And it is specific about doing it in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It seems pretty clear to me. We are to do the things Jesus did and greater things. It seems we have power given to us by Jesus over all power of the enemy and power to tread on serpents and scorpions (symbols of evil). And everything in the universe will bow to the name of Jesus.

Lastly, to speak to George's point, I believe that in Acts 19:13 the men the demons spoke to were not Christians and had no right to use the name of Jesus in the first place. I guess I don't see this scripture as necessarily removing the name of Jesus as one of our tools (as Christians) to resist the devil.

Jesus Christ paid the price to defeat death, sickness, and the enemy and reconcile us to the Father. We should stand in that victory and use the gifts and graces He has provided us.

Submitted for your prayerful consideration and critique.

Brother Kevin