News from Potter's Wheel Ministries

We want to look at something that more times than not is over-looked by the average Christian. There are just way too many believers that simply do not understand what they have in the name of Jesus. In addition, many Christians believe that its just speaking or asking God for something in His name. This is so far from being the complete appraisal of what God has given us in that name. Therefore, we are going to look at a few things on this subject that I hope stirs you into an active participation within God's kingdom and that you will excel in the privileges that we have received in Christ Jesus.

The Bible is the place you want to go if you want to understand the kingdom principles and how they work here on earth. We also must understand that the Bible is not a man's opinion, but rather God's opinion about spiritual matters. God has established many golden promises throughout His Word in regards to us that believe on His Word, and they cannot fail us if they are followed based on God's directives. However, these promises don't just automatically unfold and appear in people's lives. Which is exactly why so many Christian's see very little results using the name of Jesus; because they don't understand what that name consists of, in all of its glory. The Bible tells us that Jesus' name is a name that is above all names; yet there are so many believer's that witness it day in and day out failing to accomplish what they want it to do in their lives or in the lives of someone they are praying for. I must point out right here regardless of the lack of results we may have not been experiencing, God's Word never ever comes back to Him void. His Word shall never pass away and we must grasp that the Word of God and Jesus are synonymous. Let's look at the Word of God and see if we can empower that name in your life.

Ephesians 1:17-23 (KJV)
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

I want us to extract all we can out of these verses of Scripture in the first chapter of Ephesians and allow it to release some liberating truths into your life. In verse (17), the apostle Paul has prayed that we may receive a spirit of wisdom and the revelation of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. There are a great many Christians that have a knowledge of things from God's Word because they have heard it taught to them over several years in their home church. Or they have learned much information from the many books and teachings that they have purchased from others. However, you must understand that having a knowledge of something does not mean you have a revelation of it. All believers in Christ have Jesus in them, but many do not have Him living through them. There is a big difference. The Bible teaches that knowledge puffs up a person, which is why it is necessary that we gain understanding or get a revealed revelation about the principle from God's Word that we are pursuing. Any unbiblical request using Jesus' name will not prevail to any satisfying results.

Our next verse (18), reveals to us that we need an inner enlightenment in order to know the calling that God hopes we will choose within this eternal life which we have received. This enlightenment revealed to us from the Holy Spirit will also enable us to know how rich and glorious our inheritance is in Christ Jesus. Then Paul under the influence of the Holy Spirit goes on to tell us that there is an exceeding greatness of power to those who believe. Let me reiterate that part again. To those who believe in that name that is above all names! This mighty power is according to His workings and not ours. You can't just be presumptuous and do or speak whatever you feel like. Remember it was Jesus that said He never spoke accept what His Father in heaven had spoken unto Him. Nevertheless, this is the same power that lifted Jesus from among the dead and made Him alive and to sit at God's right hand for evermore.

As we continue to read in verse (21), Jesus was raised above all principality and any powers that may attempt to flex their strength. There is no dominion that exists to which Jesus is not higher and greater in stature and honor. It goes on to enforce the undisputable truth about His all powerful name which no other name whether in this world, or the one to come will ever be able to oppose Jesus' limitless power. The next thing I want you to see is found in verse (22), God has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church. And finally verse (23), the Word of God says that we are His body, the fullness of Himself that fills all things!

In order for us to be successful when using the name of Jesus there must be a revelatory understanding of how great that name really is. Not just a conceptual idea of what it means. Jesus was unconquerable, and He defeated the enemy by taking the keys of death and hell from our adversary. As a matter of fact, the devil has been reduced to a piece of gum stuck to the bottom of Jesus' feet. Through the work of Jesus Christ on Calvary we have been elevated above the enemy as inheritors of all the spoils that Christ has taken back possession of. These possessions have been given back to us if we know and believe that they are truly ours. If you study the Word at all then you will agree that we are the body of Christ. It tells us that Jesus is the head over all things to the church which is you and me.

I get excited when I read how God put all things under Jesus' feet. My friends, the feet represents a physical part of His body which translates to you and me. So what does this actually mean? It reduces everything from principalities; to dominions; and all demonic powers, or their displays of might and makes them rendered useless. They are beneath us! In other words, the name of Jesus which we that believe and fully trust, and know by revelation that He has been raised far above all things. Therefore, because we are one with Him then we to are above all things. This is the power within the Scriptures that tell us that we are more than conquerors. This is why it says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Again it tells us that greater is He that is in us then he that is in the world. The Bible teaches that we are to be the head and not the tail. The lender, and not the borrower. We could speak on these things until Christ returned and still not exhaust them. That's how much He has given us in the volume of His Word. There is a mighty power in that name that supercedes any circumstance to which we may be facing or will face. Glory to God!

When that name is used by a believer who firmly knows what the Word of God declares is theirs without doubting in their heart, then nothing can stop the manifestation of its glorious fruit. An important note to make is that the power behind that name Jesus works only for those who believe He is who He said He is. If we speak in contradiction to the Word of God then we fail to believe what it really says. Therefore, that makes us a double minded person. The Scriptures tell us that when we do this, think not that we will receive anything from God. We cannot speak God Words one day and then turn right around and use words of doubt and unbelief the next. This approach will always nullify the promises no matter how many times you use His name over and over again. We must use that name Biblically are it will not produce what it was intended to accomplish. If we had a last name that placed us as a member of Bill Gates immediate family then we would have all the influences that his name was able to reach within this world. All of its clout, prestige, privileges, and power to purchase whatever you desired would be at your disposal. We need to get this revelation embedded within us, that we have been given a family name that has no limits in any sphere or realm of life. It is a name above all names! This name reaches far above all things whether here on earth or the world to come. What glorious privileges we have been endowed with by our blessed King!

Let me close with this valid point of reference that gives us a another look into why that name does not work in some people's lives. Remember the seven sons of Sceva who thought that they would cast out a few devils by using the name that Paul used? Well, remember what happened? The devil spoke out and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?" What happened next was the demonized person jumped on these brothers and beat them while ripping off their clothes as they fled. You can't have confidence in using what someone else told you would work if you have no revelation of its ability in you. There is therefore, no personal tried and proven relationship that warrants the ability or confidence for you to believe the performance of that information. This becomes the problem with a lot of Christians today as they have a great deal of knowledge that they can sit and discuss for hours, but they lack the intimacy that reveals revelatory understanding of what they truly have in Christ Jesus. Knowing and having are two very different positions. Just knowing about something has a classroom ability that accumulates facts and figures to talk about, whereas, the one who has the sustenance of it, will have an active participation in the workings of the kingdom principles and getting real results. My friends, this ought to be our greatest desire; to have Him ruling and reigning in our hearts through the revelation of His Word. When this happens there will be no failure in what that name can do in your life! Devils will flee; diseases will leave; and poverty will be no more. What's in that name that you use?