Stephanie Okafor - Jesus: The Name Above All Names

When Peter would say, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk. What he's revealing is the authority by which the miracle is happening. The name is not just about a signature. It's not just about a stamp on a postcard that causes the mall to be set. It's not just about the thing you say. And then Heaven is obligated to back you up because you said. In the name of Jesus. It comes from the place of revelation that when I say his name is as though I am acting in his stead. I am revealing the authority by which I'm doing what I'm doing. Welcome to plug pod with me Stephanie okafor and this is your invitation to return to what matters the most, and that is your relationship with the Lord Jesus. Now in today's episode, I'm going to be teaching about the name of Jesus. You see, he has been given a name above every other name. And this is so critical for rebeliever because if you're gonna walk in authority, then you have to understand what you received in his name. You see, Jesus will often say things like in John fourteen verse thirteen to fourteen. And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do that the Father may be glorified in the sun. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. And then in Mark sixteen, verse seventeen to eighteen, it talks about how and these signs will follow those who believe in my name. They will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover. So what does this actually mean, Because there's a lot that is available to a believer in the name of Jesus. And so is it that we can ask for anything and just simply attached in the name of Jesus at the end like a phrase or a signature. You see, it goes beyond that. First of all, there's something so distinct in the scripture that we read in Mark sixteen, because first of all, it talks about how and these signs will follow those who believe. Right, this is not just you know anyone, because you know, in the Spanish community, the name Jesus is known as Hajesus, and I found an interesting fact that over three million people around the world carry that name. Yet demons are not trembling whenever they call someone's their neighbor. Who might be Jesus. Right, So what is it about the name of Jesus. What is the difference between the person calling their neighbor and when Peter encountered the man who was lame and he says, in the name of Jesus, rise up and walk, what is the shift there? We're going to unpack that, right, and then so I think I think it's best that we break this up in two parts. There's so much to teach in this and so in part one, which is this episode, we're gonna talk about the name of Jesus. And in part two, which is the next episode, we're gonna continue in understanding our authority in his name. But let's go on a journey together. First of all, you have to understand that revelation grants access. Now I talked about Peter, when Peter healed the man who was lame, and he says, in the name of Jesus, rise up and walk. But let's actually read the text. So acts three, verse one to seven. It starts by saying, Now, Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer the ninth hour, and a certain man lame from his mother's womb, was carried, whom they laid daily at the gates of the temple, which is called beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple. Who seen Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. They did what you know, he just did what he's been asking for everyone. And fixing his eyes on him with John, Peter said, look at us, and so gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, silver and gold I do not have, But what I do have I give you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. Now Peter's statements are so intentional. First of all, he says, what I do have I give you. The name of Jesus was not something Peter was trying out. There was something he knew that he possessed in the name. There was a confidence he had from his revelation of the name of Jesus that it was able. It was something he knew that had been entrusted to him, and so because it has been entrusted to him, he had the ability to also release it. And so when he speaks to the man, he says, first of all, I don't have silver, gold, but there's something I know that I have. There's something that is within my that that I am a steward over, and I have the authority to release it to you and cause you to be healed. This is so powerful, right, And what this also speaks to is that you can have something can belong to you, but it's not accessible to you. Because in the spiritual realm you're gonna learn that inheritance without revelation is dormant. There are things we have as children of God, but if you don't have a revelation of what you have, it will remain dormant. And so you would listen to scriptures like my people perish because of lack of knowledge, and how can they perish when at the same time Ephesians one three will tell us, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. This is heavy. We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. But where in Christ you see revelation of Jesus, Revelation of the name of Jesus. Revelation in general is what activates faith. Revelation is what matures your faith. Revelation would reveal to you how to steward what you already possess in God. And this is why for so many people, you don't realize that Satan is trying to keep you small. That the more you're making excuses, the more you live in this pattern of you know, you're tripping over the same thing over and over and over again. You're not giving yourself to the study of the world, you're not giving yourself to prayer, and you keep making excuses for it. You don't realize that is deception because the enemy is not afraid of you being a Christian. He's afraid of you being a Christian who knows what they have in Christ. Just because you said yes to Jesus doesn't shake him until you know what you received. Because you said yes, there is a revelation that you will begin to walk in and that is what is a threat to the kingdom of darkness. You have to know what you have, right, because look at it. In Romans ten seventeen, it says faith comes by hearing, but hearing by the word of God. And so faith itself is not activated until there is something revealed that when you move in revelation, you will begin to realize that the things that used to cause you anxiety, you actually have power over it. Right. And so for every believer, we have an authority in Christ, but yet we're not producing the same results. Why is it that one person is praying in the name of Jesus and person a in person be and their lives look completely different. And I'm not talking about surface stains and material things. I'm talking about authority. Because could it be that one has a revelation of the Jesus they're speaking of, while the other is just practicing repetition, right, And so many people, many people know the name of Jesus from a linguistic perspective, but not the authority that flows from the person. You see, Jesus will say things like that when you ask in faith, ask without doubting, And sometimes that could feel like a hard thing, because you know, there are moments that you're praying about something, but if you're honest with yourself, there's a little seed of doubt in you, like is this actually gonna happen? And if it happens, you're like shocked? How are you shocked about something that you are praying about? Right, So it's revealing that there is a little seed of doubt. And even in general, there are times that we're praying about something, but if we're really honest, we're like, oh, Lord, I don't know if I'm gonna do this. I don't know how it's gonna work. There are times that the Lord will give you instructions and you are hesitating on moving in that instruction because doubt is present. Now, doubt is not this abstract thing. Doubt is not you know, how we say word, but we don't really sit with the meaning behind the word. We just say things like, man, I'm just struggling with some unbelief. I'm just struggling with doubt. But doubt reveals that you have more familiarity with something else that other than Jesus. You have come into agreements with the enemy and not in agreement with Jesus. That is what it exposes. Right when the Lord tays, for example, you know, hey, I want you to move from this city to that city, and you are struggling with taking that leap of faith. Why are you struggling with it? Because you have come into agreement with the voice that says it's better to stay in what you know in the in what is common you have or what is familiar to you. You have a steady income. Here, things are making sense for you here rather than in the voice of God. Why because you don't know the one who is speaking. There is a lack of revelation about the one who was speaking to you. That you trust the enemy more than you trust him. You trust yourself more than you trust him. You trust the organizations or the companies or whatever it is that you have put your you know, literally, you put your trust in you give that more authority over in your authority in your life. Then you give God. That's what it exposes. You See, when the Holy Spirit began to show me this, it really like I had to look back on certain play areas in my life and I'm like, was I agreeing with the enemy over agreed with God? That's what It exposes. We're agreeing with the things that we have known for so many years. The enemy has told us it will always be this way. Then God tells you something different and it's hard for you to receive it. And maybe it's hard for me to receive it because I'm not really in tune with the one who was speaking. That. You see, it begins to expose how intimate we are with Jesus. You see, when you really know a person, there are certain things they would say. You could take it to the bank. You don't even have to doubt it at like even one bit. Like I would use the example of my husband. There are things I know that if my husband says A is A, B is B, I could run with it. Because whatever he's saying he's gonna do, he's gonna do that thing. I don't have to question it. I don't have to remind him. I don't have to say, hey, babe, remember you talked about us doing A and then B afterwards. If he said he's going to do it, he is going to do it? Why because I know him now. If he was a stranger, I may have to call him a couple times. I may have to question, like Hey, are you sure you can really do the thing you're saying you're gonna do. But when I have an intimate awareness, an intimate revelation of who this person is, I can take their word to the bank. I know what I can trust. And so doubt reveals not just about a lack of trust, because when we keep it in the language of men, God, I'm just struggling with my trusting you. No, it's revealing God, there's something I don't know about you. When we can give it the simplicity of the language, well, we can get to the root of it. Then we know how to ask for help from the Holy Spirit. Right, this is not about shaming anybody, because I've been there. I had to also look in my life about the areas where I struggled with believing God, and it was humbling to see that way. I need to deepen my walk with the Lord, because can you imagine? Consider Noah. Right, God instructs him to build an arc. They have never even seen rain. They have no reference for what a flood is. But Noah still believed God. Over what he has always known. That is why it makes sense when the Bible says Noah walked with God, the word of God. He held it at the highest level of reverence. It had the highest authority in his life. It had nothing to do. He was not worried about the people that will call him crazy. It was not about if his family would question him. And obviously he's humans, so yes, he may have his moments and all of that, but it never slowed down the process. Noah never stopped being obedient because of the naysayers. He had an intimate. Revelation with God that if the Lord is saying there is gonna be a flood, there is gonna be a flood. If the Lord is saying, Noah, build this arc and it's gonna save your family, he could take that word and run with it, regardless of what things look like. Right, And so what am I trying to say When we struggle, where we struggle to trust, God reveals areas that other voices have more authority than his right And why does this matter? Because you cannot walk by faith in Jesus if you don't know him. You cannot live a life of faith in him if you don't know him. Right, And so going back to this, you know the scriptures when it says that these things would happen to those that believe. If you're gonna really walk in faith, you have to know him. So it's not just knowing him as savior. You have to know the depths of who Jesus is. And this is why we give ourself over to the Lord. We give ourselves to the study of his word, we give ourselves to time and prayer, we give ourselves to you know, whatever it is that the Lord desires of us. Because when the Lord has authority over your life, you're more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. You're more sensitive to his leading, You're more sensitive to the revelation that things will just begin to not it's not just information, it would be revealed to your heart that wait, this is who God is, this is what this is who God is for me. This is not just about what the minister was saying. But I'm starting to realize, Lord, you are a man of your word, you are faithful, you are true. But why I'm saying this is because when we go back to this scripture, Peter is not invoking the name of Jesus. Peter is speaking from a place of revelation. Now, remember Peter was one of Jesus's disciples, so when Peter even calls him. First of all, when Peter says Jesus Christ, Christ is not the last name for Jesus, right, but Christ is actually speaking of him as the anointed one that administers all the purposes of God. So that's one part. Then Peter says that Jesus Christ of Nazareth, he's not trying to confuse the people. This is just not any Jesus. This is the Jesus you rejected. This is the same Jesus that walked amongst us and you rejected him. And guess what, he was not an ordinary man, that Jesus. That there is a debate about his life, whether you know, did he resurrect that someone steal his body. That Jesus is in his authority that this. Man will be. So when Peter says in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, he is revealing the authority in which he's walking, because guess what, a dead man has no power to act on the living. He is revealing that the Jesus you crucified, the Jesus that you rejected, it is in his authority because he has resurrected, he has ascended, and he has delegated authority to us. In his name to continue his works. It is so beautiful. So now what is it Is it about saying again? Is it about us saying, you know, we pray and then we say, in the name of Jesus. Is it that we say, you're healed in the name of Jesus. Peter was not invoking. It was not about invoking a name. He was revealing the authority that he walked in. So let's talk about first, why is all authority given to the name Jesus. Now, in the previous episode, I was teaching on the fact that Jesus the truth, that Jesus is God, right, that Jesus was not a man who became God, but rather God who became man. The scripture tells us that in Collosians two nine that for in him dwells all the fullness of the god Head bodily right. And so Jesus did not replace the Father, He reveals the Father. Right. It's so beautiful too, because even when you think about the throne room, whenever you see scriptures talking about the throne room, you don't see two competing thrones. There is one central throne and there are twenty four thrones around it. Where are the twenty four elders? And so you might be wondering because when the scripture says that, oh, he's seated at the right hand of the father, it's not that he's actually the Father is on the throne. Jesus is on the smaller throne. Known that seated that the right hand of the Father has to do with authority, right, because him and the Father at one. Jesus will say that when you have seen me, you have seen the Father. So guess who is on the throne Jesus. Look at scriptures. Revelation verse chapter four, verse two to four, it says, behold a throne set in heaven, and one sat on the throne around the throne where twenty four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty four elders sitting right. Later John will talk about how he's the lamb in the midst of the throne, right, he's not separated from the throne. He is the one on the throne right. So Revelations five, verse six, it says, and I looked and behold, in the midst of the throne stood a lamb, as though it had been slain. Look at that and so what is happening here. Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. And then the scripture also tells us that he is the word that became flesh, and that word was given a name, and the name was revealed as Jesus. So when we say the name of Jesus, because there are times where people will argue about and it's sad that we wouldn't even argue about these things. Why are we arguing about? You know, how to pray and all kinds of things, right, we should edify one another in them. But times people will say, like, oh, you have to pray in all the names of God. The totality of all the names of God is in Jesus. He is the He embodies the fullness of the Trinity. That's why the scripture. Let's go back to that scripture when it says for in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form. And so when we think about some of the names you know, attributed to God, when you think of Elohim, why which means mighty one creator? Yahweh I am who I am, the eternal, self existent one. I don't I which is Lord Master El Elyon, God must tie el Shadai, God Almighty. Yahweh Jirah, the Lord who provides Yahweh Rapha, the Lord who heals Yahweh Nisi. The Lord is my Bana. Yahweh Shalom, The Lord is my peace, Yahweh Sabah, the Lord of hosts, Yahweh Mekodishkim, the Lord who sanctifies, Yahwei Shama. The Lord is there. You don't have to say. Them one by one by one by one, and Jesus God reveals who he is. You can if you want to right, there's no it's not like there's a right or wrong way. But what I'm trying to explain to you, I'm trying to take us on a journey with this that the name of Jesus. When you say the name of Jesus, you are speaking about the healer. You are speaking about the provider. You are speaking about the mighty God. You are speaking about the one you sees. You're speaking about the one who sanctifies. You're speaking about the Lord who is my banner. The fullness of God is revealed in him. And then there was a name given to him. And then it says and at the name of Jesus, everyne must vow. Have you ever wondered that, why didn't it say in the name of God? Because God is not a name. God is a title. God reveals and refers to a supreme, eternal being, one who rules a governance. That's why the scripture also reveals lower case gods lesser gods. Right Exodus twenty, verse three, we're given the charge you shall have no other gods before me. Every God has a name. And if you're someone in this age, this time that we're in, that Jesus has revealed himself and you just say, like, you know what, I just believe in God, you don't realize this is deception because when you keep it vague, more often people. Are actually believing in Satan. When you keep it like this vague thing, because Satan guess what is also referred to as a god. Second Corinthians four, verse four. It says the God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ. God is not a name, So when it says in the name of Jesus, you are calling on the one true God, the one that every other God bows to, that they must come into submission. Of his word in the name of Jesus. You see, we were created as human beings. We were created to serve and worship God. And because of deception, corruption, and just you know the nature of sin that came into the world, we start to misappropriate the worship that is supposed to be for the one true God Jesus, and we start to give it to things that are supposed to be beneath Us. And your life will always reflect what you serve. I'm saying this because even for Christians, sometimes we get into this habit that in public spaces, on public platforms, we don't want to say his name, We just want to keep it vague and say thank you God, say his name. Let it be known, because what you're doing, you're pointing people to the one that saved you, the one that helped you, the one that led you, the one that directed you. Don't fall into the deception of just being a spiritual person. And what you don't realize is that that begins to make room for idolatry, that you start worshiping other things and you may not even know it. I will hear Christians, those that identify as Christians share about practices that belong to Pagans. And when I talk about Pagans, I'm talking of those who are in pagan worship. They're worshiping things that are less than, not just even less than Jesus. But when you are, if you are in Christ, it's beneath you. I'm hearing people that are Christian because they keep it vague. In public. You know, I just believe in God, you know. They just keep this, and then it exposes them and they start doing different types of practices. They start doing so when things that are literally opening them up to the demonochrome, and they would not know it because they have not come to the place where they recognize that. Jesus, if I call you Lord, that means you own me. That means I am yours. I am not gonna give myself to other things. That's the reason why many of us may have like landlords, right, because the place you live in, someone owns the land. They are the owner of that land, and so they're the ones you pay rent to. When you come into Christ, he becomes your lord, your owner. Right. I don't want to deviate too much, but I'm saying, I just believe someone needed that. Stop hiding his name. Stop trying to make your environment so comfortable that what you don't realize that you're actually walking in deception. God is not a name. God is just referring right to some of the things that we were sharing, a supreme, eternal being who rules our governance. But we need to know if you serve the one true God and to say his name right. So now let's. Talk about the fact that he has a name above all names. Philippians two, verse nine, two eleven. It says, therefore God also has exalted him and given him the name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those in heaven, of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. I just feel this so strongly. You know, before I go deeper into this, even when I talk about saying the name, there are some of you, And you know what is so beautiful is that when we are in Christ, the Lord is already ahead of this. Right now, I'm in this moment filming, but the Lord is, you know, is referred to as Alpha Omega. He's in the beginning and end of all things, so he already sees those that are tuning in, those that are listening in the VIA podcast. And there's some of you you need to repent, you need to come out of agreement. I see there were some of you who have actually done ayahuasca. You have given yourself to things see Aouaska, anything that gives you access to the spiritual realm. There was The best I'll explain this is there is a gatekeeper that opens the door. If what gave you access to the spiritual realm was not the Lord Jesus, it was demonic spirits. And the enemy is so crafty that he will paint it as a healing experience. But what you don't realize it is that it is to open you up to his influence. It is to open you up so that when you are because when you're opening that way, when you come back to yourself, you're not the only one coming back. There are demons that are going to start to find residents with you, to influence how you think, to influence your mind, to influence your business, to influence your way of life, and you would not even know it. Because you would just. Think about that, Well, maybe I just had this random thought and I see it so clearly. And if that is you, you know, I just if you're watching on YouTube, put in the chat. I repent. I need you to take a moment, pause this right now and take a moment to come out of agreement, recognize that Lord, what I did was wrong. Because I have been looking at this in such a broad perspective. I'm just like, well, everything leads to God. Every No, there are many gods in this realm. There are many gods. There is one true God, but there are many lower case gods. So you can just say everything is leading to which God are you speaking of? Because if it's Jesus, he is not that wide. It's a narrow gate. There are things that he will begin to tailor and govern your life. You're not going to go to a place and the shaman or the person who is performing the ritual does not even believe in Jesus. He believes in the universe, he believes in Mother Nature, and he believes in things that he will never share with you, because that's what's actually influencing and opening doors for the experience you call healing. I sense this so strongly because you're this is almost like a matter of life and death, because the Scripture says that there is a way that it's wise for us to take, but in the end is destruction. And you don't realize that what is influencing you to take that route are spirits that you invited when you were doing spiritual practices. But yet you say you're a Christian. Take a moment, come out of agreement with that and dedicate your life truly and wholeheartedly. One of the questions that people often ask me is, Stephanie, how do I actually study the Bible? When we desire to go deeper, sometimes it can feel a little intimidating. And I'm here to tell you about an amazing Bible study too, and it's called Logos. It's an incredible app that helps you engage with scripture in a more meaningful way. So, for example, you can type in what does the Bible say about holiness and it will give you scripture, scholarly insights, historical background, and so much more. Logos helps you to understand what you're reading and why it matters. So, whether you're new to the faith or you been following Jesus for some time. This is gonna help you study the world with so much confidence. And we have received such an incredible gift for every plog pod listener. You can use Lagus today for free for the next sixty days. All you have to do. Is go to Lagos dot com backslize Stephanie to get started. Now let's go back into the episode. So when the scripture talks about how he has a name above every other names, and look at that. So in Philippians to nineteen eleven it says he has been given a name that is, you know, every need would bow to in heaven, on earth and those under the earth. So let's start with in heaven. So this is really talking about how the name of Jesus is superior in every realm in the heavens. Every principality, our ruler, spiritual force is subject to his name. This is why, as believers, we don't have to fear witchcraft because they have a master. We have a master. Our master is greater than theirs. Right, we don't have to fear spiritual opposition or whatever, because the one who I am in is greater. Whatever you want to whatever warfare is presented is because I'm actually the one in victory and you are trying to come against me to shake me off my stand of victory. You see, Warfare is so interesting because when you think about I don't know if you guys like to watch like movies, you know, like medieval Times and stuff like that, but war is often due to territory. One wants to claim a territory that one is already in, right, And so the warfare when we look at spiritual warfare, I'm in victory because I'm in Christ And a lot of times the warfare is for the enemy trying to convince me that I am not who I am. Oftentimes it's a warfare against identity. I remember there there was a man of God who talked about how he had this encounter where the Lord Jesus came to him and while the Lord Jesus was speaking to him, a demon was in between them and he couldn't and Jesus did not stop speaking. Jesus just kept on speaking as though the demon was not in between them, and he was just like what like, He's like, I can't hear, I can't hear, right, So the demon was blocking him from hearing what the Lord was saying. But the Lord kept speaking as though nothing was in between them. And later on when he asked the Lord that why did he keep speaking when the demon was there, and the Lord revealed to him because you have the authority to cast it out, you have the authority to tell it where it needs to go. So it's not gonna It's not gonna stop what the Lord wants to say. The same thing in the Garden of Eden. You may wonder why is it that the serpent. Could you know that the enemy could access the serpent to speak to Eve, to Adam and Eve or you know, well Eve, but Adam was there, right, Why is it that that was allowed in the garden. Well, because they had authority over it. God will not be threatened by what he has authority over. So you have the authority, and a lot of times the enemy, the warfare is about your identity. If you know who you are, I'm actually the enemy. If I'm speaking on his behalf, he's in trouble, right, and so we Because Jesus has a name above every other name in the heavens, then it says on the earth, no matter how great a person is, so It's so interesting that oftentimes, when you just look at the practicality of it, we tend to give people more reverence than we give God because they have a great name on the earth. And I'm sharing this. Because there are times that there's there's industries that the Lord will send you to, and you have to know that when you are in Christ, you don't have to compromise. You never have to bow to that which is against the ways of the Lord in order to advance the things of God. Never. If you stay, if you stay true to yours, to what the Lord has told you, you keep your integrity, God is able to get you wherever you need to be. You see, there's a story in Daniel three about these three Hebrew boys and the buke Neza, you know, was such a powerful king. He had a. Great name on the earth. And he's thinking that because he has such a great name on the earth, he could detate, dictate how what people worshiped, and he wanted people to worship him. And these three Hebrew boys said no, and he's thinking, well, do you like I have a great name? Put them in the fire right. They were like, sure, throw us in there. But there was one grater than the boocanza that even when he thought that they would throw them in the fire, the people who threw them in died while they were in there. And a fourth man appears, and they're having a time of their life. And you know what was said about that fourth man in Daniel three twenty five. It says he was like the son of God. When you recognize that the Jesus you serve is greater than any great name on the earth, you are not scared to let go of opportunities that will cost. You your soul. You are not worried about things you have to say no to because you're worried. You're scared about, oh my gosh, what am I missing out on? When you know the Jesus you serve, you see oftentimes you know, I'm in La I pastored, you know, in this city for years, and one of the things I would often see is how people would compromise. They will take on, you know, roles, whether there's an acting or they will do certain things within the industry that is against their faith. And what they don't realize, you see, the Bible will say you can either serve God or Mammon. And what they don't realize, because here's the truth. If no money was connected to it, you won't. Take the deal. If the thing that you're doing, if it would not pay you, would you do it? Would you do it with your head up high? Would you do it and be proud of it? If it didn't give you any money, if it didn't give you any fame, if it didn't give you any influence, will you do it and be proud that you did it? And if you can't, say yes, you are serving mammon. That money became your god? And how did money become your god? Because you were connected to someone who had a great name that offered you a position, and you lost sight that there is one who is greater than even that name on the earth. And if you stay true to who you are, they are better doors he could open up for you. Many people compromise because they don't truly believe that the one they serve. You see, we say it with our words, but actions reveal truth. If I truly believe that Lord, you have a name greater than any name on the earth, I'm not gonna be scared about missing out on something if it's gonna cost me my soul and you might be that person and you're watching this, take time with the Holy Spirit to know what you must walk away from, what you may need to speak about. Right. Sometimes it's not just us walking away from it, but it's also how we help others that have watched us make wrong decisions and reveal to them there's a better way. There's a better way of trusting God. It is not worth your soul. Right. And then the scripture says, even under the earth, It was so interesting while I was studying for this, the Lord began to show me was a young lady who has been oppressed by it was I saw your family. It's like your family. People in your family had been serving literally a deity, a god from the water. In my culture we call it the marine kingdom. Right, And when the scripture talks about under the earth, we only think of maybe it's about you know, death and darkness and enemies defeated, but it's also talking about the waters. It's also revealing that the demonic activities even beneath the earth, in the waters, that Jesus is above it all. And you have been feeling crazy, like how do I overcome this thing? Because there has been so much warfare, and you know that it's because you chose not to go that direction, and they're like calling you towards it that they want you to be a part of this witchcraft, right, And I want you to know that you are not crazy, But you have to believe the Jesus you serve. None of what you're going through is foreign even to the Bible. I literally began to there are things I wanted to pull out just to encourage this person. And in Ezekiel twenty nine, from verse one to three, look at what it says. In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, son of Man, set your faith against Pharaoh, King of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. Now check this out. The prophecy is about a man, But is it right? Speak and say, thus says. The Lord God. Behold, I am against you, oh Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And then guess what it says, after old great monster who lies in the midst of his rivers. This is so incredible because you would think that it was just about a man in the natural, but you see our warfare is not with flesh and blood, but principalities and powers that manifest through flesh and blood. You see, even when you think about Egypt, the Egyptians worshiped all kinds of deities. That's why the judgment that came up against the Egyptians were actually a judgment against their gods. Right when you look at Exodus twelve says against all the gods of Egypt, I will execute judgment. I am the Lord, and some of those gods where things that were served in the waters, there are demonic activities that happens even in the waters. And I'm laying this foundation because again, what is this pointing to. In every realm, Jesus reigns in every realm. The name Jesus is above it all. When you believe that there is a different level of confidence in which you pray, in which you see life, that you will not be shaken by whatever creature is trying to show up in your dreams because you know that the name of Jesus is above it all. The same way that the Lord executed judgment against the gods of Egypt, all victory is now in Christ, all of it. He has defeated every power through Christ, every power. So now let's understand the meaning of this name. How do we actually, you know, our unpack more of how we exercise authority. But what does it really look like? Is it? Again? Does it mean at the end of my prayer all I have to say is in the name of Jesus and then poop. It's not It's not about a signature, right, So what is in the meaning of a name. Let's look at Philippians to verse verse nine. It says, therefore God has also has highly exalted him and given him the name, which is above every other name. Now, that word name in the Greek, it means several things. It means name, it means title, it means office, it means person, it means authority and reputation. This is beyond saying a name. It is it's speaking to the person. It's speaking to their essence, it's speaking to their authority, is speaking yes to their name. And for the sake of this teaching, I want to summarize this in two key things, name and authority. Now, and I'm gonna let's just continue to unpack it and I'll explain why those two key So number one name, right, a name reveals a prophetic identity and assignment. Right in scripture, a name is never random. You will see that a name carries meaning, it carries purpose, it's pointing to the prophetic assignment of the individual. You know, Proverbs eighteen twenty one says that life and death are in the power of the tongue. Now, can you imagine what happens when what your name is is being You know, people speak that every day when they're speaking to you, right, And so the meaning of your name carries way because if your name means bitterness, so every day people are calling you bitter. Every day they're speaking that over you, speaking that over you. Why because that is what your name and bodies and so the name of something it matters to God because it's revealing identity and often points to destiny. Right. If you remember, you know when John the Baptist his father Zachariah, when the Angel came to him and was speaking to him about the son he would have. You know, there were all these questions and all of that, and the Angel makes the man mute, and he's like, look, you will call him John, And you know, his tongue was released. When finally, you know, the wife is pregnant, she gives birth, and they're asking what is his name? What is his name? And he writes on a sheet of paper that it would be you know, John, and then all of a sudden, boom, his tongue was loose. Why was it so you know important that he would name his son John, Because now, remember John the Baptist was the one who was assigned to prepare the way of the Lord. And John literally means that the Lord is gracious. Right, it means there's two key things that I was looking at John. One, you know, Yahweh is gracious and another is Jehovah is a gracious giver. And so his name was a revelation. Of God's grace. Right. Why is this significant because that was the message before his ministry even began. That would be the message of John's life. He is pointing people to the grace of God. He is pointing people to the one that literally, you know when the Bible talks about how we are saved by grace because Jesus, because of the sacrifice of Jesus, we would have the ability to come into the family of God. So John's name is literally his assignment. He's pointing people that the Lord because because of the grace of God, we can be reconciled back to God. So his name was not just this random thing. His name was revealed by the Lord unto the Father. Right, So names are not something that you and I'm saying is also encourage parents you know or those that you know you desire to be parents. You don't give your children random names because you like how the initials are you know, or it sounds cool or whatever you want to seek the Lord concerning their names, because names often point to a prophetic assignment. Right, So what is the name Jesus? Right? The name Jesus means. Yahweh saves or the Lord is salvation. Right, what is it pointing to the fact that he would rescue humanity from death into eternal life. Now, why is this so important? Because even in my one twenty one it talks about how you shall call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins. Why is it important that we understand this about Jesus Because if you're gonna believe in him, you're gonna believe in his mission, You're gonna believe in his identity that Jesus saves. If you if there's anyone in your life, whether within proximity, maybe someone you don't even know you just see them through social media, that you have written off, if they are industries that you have written off, if there are people's cities that you have written off, do you really. Know the Jesus you serve. Because there is no one that is too far gone for him to reach. As long as there is breath in a person's body, there is the opportunity for them to get saved. How you treat the people that you just feel are you know what? Write this person off is actually more telling on you because again, if you're gonna move in the authority of his name, you have to believe in his name. And to believe in Jesus Number one, you have to know that the Lord you serve has the power to save. You. Don't write people off. Even Jesus will say, I did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. Now, I know that there are many things. You know, when we think about how things were in the Old Testament Old Testament, it will tell you things like you know, would suffer not a sorceress or a witch to live? You know, And I'm Nigerian growing up. We grew up in those types of prayers where you pray for the witch to die. You know, you're like, there was this church. I won't say the name now because they're still very much active, but if you're Nigerian and you've lived in Nigeria, you know the church. The prayer points is always die by fire, die by fire, Die by fire, Die by fire, die by fire. It's crazy. We're Christians. When I think about it now, I'm like, oh my goodness, because we are stuck in a place. You see, when when the Bible would say things like you know what, suffer not a witch to live, do not permit a sorceress to live, it reflects first of all, God's judgment against those practices. Right, that's true. It's these are practices that align people with demonic powers, right, and the people who are you know, witchcraft and all the things that they're doing in the territory. You have to understand that. Until Jesus showed up on the scene, no demon was ever cast out, none, no prophet before Jesus ever cast out a demon. And so the presence of a witch because the Kingdom of Darkness had some you know, they had a stronghold on territories. And the enemy. Why witchcraft is so dangerous to those times is because you have the Bible talks about how you know the Lord has the earth, has he given to us right? And so those who have authority on the earth are literally you have to be flesh and blood, and so the enemy requires flesh and blood to partner with his agenda. And Jesus has was not on the earth yet, right, he has not come to proclaim the kingdom. Now in the proclaiming of the kingdom, we see the realities of the Kingdom of God, people being set free. Right, whatever the Kingdom of Darkness has done to people there being, you know that they're finding their freedom in Christ. But before Jesus, you have to understand, no demon. Was ever cast out. What does that tell you? The Kingdom of Darkness was gaining territory, and so where there was a witch, it was suffer not a witch to live. Let the judgment come upon that witch. Now. But in Christ it's no longer about oh, let them die nowday it's about their redemption. Because for those in. Christ, now we have we can proclaim the Kingdom of God and cause people to be liberated from that oppression. That it's not about the Kingdom of Darkness taking territory. That when you have people in Christ in the land, that we can now gain those territories back to God for God, for the will and the purposes of God. And so it's no longer about, you know, just judgment, because at the end of the day, look, God, God is a mighty judge, right, and for whatever acts people commit, you know, there are consequences for their actions, right, And sometimes does it lead to that, sometimes when you know a witch is just unrepentant, Yes there's judgment. I'm not talking about that, but I'm saying, but under the New Covenant, there is hope for redemption. That is why in the Old Testament you will see how Elijah will call down fire. He was there was no rebuke, nothing of the sort. But when the disciples wanted to all down fire on the Samaritan village, Jesus rebuked them. And he's rebuking them because he's like, look, your posture is not in alignment with my mission. Because his very presence reveals. Another way that God with us. And now God is delegating that authority through us that it's not just about a witch not living, but maybe we could intercede for the witch. Maybe we can begin to pray for them. At the end of the day. Listen, the Lord would be the judge over the matter. He is a better judge than I am. He is a better judge than you are, because we don't even know what led the witch into witchcraft. There is redemption. When Jesus got arrested that Peter cut off the ears I believe. Of one of the soldiers. You know what Jesus did, corrects Peter and he heals the ear of the man who is arresting him. It's a different way Jesus saves when I see, you know, I'm seeing this culture where people are so quick to write people off. I'm not saying that you know you don't you turn a blind eye to evil. That is not what I'm saying. But I'm saying the person, as long as they have breath in their body, there is hope. And for some reason, I feel so. Emotional saying this, because it's as though we have lost the heart of Jesus concerning people. It's crazy because the very thing, the very people that killed g I mean, not that they had the power to kill him. But let's just say the people that persecuted him, what was driving them was a religious spirit. And that same religious spirit is going to arise even more in these last days. And that is a scary thing because these were people who believed what they were doing was actually good, that they knew that they were doing it for the cause of God. And you don't realize how far away you are from the heart of God. And I want to take a moment to even speak to people who are so quick to just get on social media because everyone has access to a phone and a camera, to get on YouTube, to get on Instagram, to get on TikTok, or wherever you do your thing, before you start to speak about the person, and have you prayed for them before you want to call them out in everything they're doing. Listen, I'm not taught. I'm never in agreement with evil. Never. There are many things that you know, Yes, we have the responsibility to divide, right to rightly divide. But what I'm saying is that don't fall under the influence of a religious spirit, because some of the people you write off are people that God's eyes are upon, are people that the Lord is after and where are the people that will intercede? You see the heart of God. The Bible says that, oh my goodness, that God does not desire for anyone. It is not his desire that anyone will perish. But we are seeing a generation of Christians that are waiting. To see people fall. I was I was on social media the other day and there's a there's a preacher who I admire, and I saw he posted something and someone literally put in the comment, I can't wait for the scandal that will cause this man to fall. Why because they believe that, no, this is just too good to be true. He's just he's not this person. You know, something is gonna come out and he's gonna fall. And I'm like, and. You think this comment is glorifying Jesus? You really think this comment glorifies the Lord walking in authority. It's not just about saying a name. You have to believe leaving that name in the next episode. There are many things were going to unpack, but if I would just share a snippet is because if you're not aligned with the mission of Jesus, you will not walk in his authority. And his mission is people. If you don't have a heart for people. If you don't have a heart to see people saved, you will not walk in his authority. And so do you believe that truly Jesus saves? Can we get back to the place to say, God, break my heart for what breaks yours. When you see someone who is far from God and that person has influence or whatever, it is even that much more heartbreaking because that is influence. That those are talents that should be used to truly glorify the Lord before you publicly condemn them, Why not take some time to pray. Listen, the only role model in scripture is Jesus. Everything in the Bible points to him. So whatever example you want to use, can you see that example in Jesus. Will Jesus call things out as they were? Yes, he will call them some of them. People say you brother vipers. You know he will talk about how you belong to your father the devil. But guess what, He still died for those brother vipers. He still died for the ones he said you belonged to your father the devil. He still died for them. Why Because as long as there's breadth in their body, there is hope for redemption. And so I charge that to you. If there's anyone you have written off, whether you're know them personally or you don't, it actually reveals that you don't believe this about Jesus, because. Jesus saves period. No one is ever too far off for him to reach. Right. And then second thing is authority, And why am I summon it up with name and authority Because even when you think about, you know, the person of Jesus, the office of Jesus, the reputation of Jesus, you it really is revealed through the authority of Jesus. Right In Matthew twenty eight eighteen, it says, and Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Jesus is not talking about partial authority. He's talking about all authority, right, And so we have the authority that we have in him, or that we have because of him, is because we are in him. And so when we say that the name of Jesus is actually about it, it reveals the fact that we are now representatives of him. That when I pray, it is as though Jesus is praying when I'm when I'm what I'm believing for, you know, I'm speaking in his stead. When Jesus gives us his name. When he says whatever you ask in my name, it's not just about reciting a phrase or reciting a name. He is saying basically that when whatever you operate from the position of my mission, my will, my. Purpose, I will do it. And so the authority we have is delegated from him for the works that he continues to do through us right, and so acting in his name is about operating from his authority. So if Jesus has been given all authority, has been given a name that is above every other name, and then he says to us, whatever you ask in my name, I will do it. And we'll unpack that more in the next episode. But what Jesus is pointing to is the fact that you are now functioning by my authority. And so when Peter would say, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk, what he's revealing is the authority by which the miracle is happening. So can you say it? When you pray, say the name. It's a beauty. Say the name. But the name is not just about a signature. It's not just about a stamp on a postcard that causes the mail to be said. It's not just about the thing you say, and then Heaven is obligated to back you up because you said. In the name of Jesus. It comes from the place of revelation that when I say his name is as though I am acting in his stead. I am revealing the authority by which I'm doing what I'm doing. So when I'm praying for healing, and I'm praying for healing in the name of Jesus, the revelation of doing that is not just repetition. It's not just mimicking what I've seen other people do. It's not just doing what has been passed down. It is me acknowledging the fact that I am set by God, I am in Christ, and in this moment, Jesus, you are a healer and I am. Believing you to do this through me. I am doing this by your authority. And if I believe you have all authority, guess what. This is not just about lip service, Jesus. I believe you have all authority, because here is the practical aspect of it. If you are praying for someone that is dealing with the demonic oppression, and you are commanding the demon to leave. What are you doing? You are telling the demon to be obedience to the authority of Jesus. Why because you believe Jesus has all authority, which he does. Now, if Jesus has all authority that you are so convicted that even demons should tremble and obey, does he have authority over you? If it is truly your conviction, then when I pray for the sick, I am commanding the spirit of infirmity. You have to be obedient to the word of the Lord that says by his stripes we are healed. You have to be obedient. I am doing this in the authority of Jesus. So I am commanding obedience from you. But I am my obedience because if I'm living in disobedience, I don't really believe he has authority. Because if he has all authority, now, first of all, understand this, he does have it. Now, what I'm talking about is belief. If I believe he has all authority, then it should start with me. And if it doesn't start with me, I don't believe it. How can I command obedience from a vessel that is disobedient. Do you see why there is a lot there is a lack of power amongst many. Not because there's a lack of power in Christ. No, there is a belief problem. Because if you really believed that all authority belongs to Jesus, he will have authority over me. It's so interesting that there's a story of this. Centurion, you know, and let me It's in Matthew chapter eight, verse eight to ten. And basically this Roman centurion, you know, his servant was sick and he goes to Jesus and Jesus is like, oh, yeah, let me go with you. He says, no, no, no, no, no, just speak a word. You don't even have to go with me. And look look at this, and from verse eight it says the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, but only speak a word and my servants will be healed. Then check this out, for I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. When Jesus heard it, he marveled and said, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel. The centurion understood authority because he lived under authority. He understood it because he embodied it. There was a faith produced from his revelation about what he lived. And Jesus said, I have never I have not seen this great faith in all Israel. The man knew. He says, I also am a man on the authority. He understood it when you give yourself, when you submit yourself to the authority of the Lord, when you begin to pray, it flows from a place of conviction because you start to realize that, no, my life is tailored Jesus, you own me. Jesus, I am submitted to you. I live for you whatever you desire of me, whatever you ask of me, even if it's painful. I'm not gonna delay. When you get to that place in God, you will begin to see how you're the level in which the level of authority you walk in would be so different because it's not you see, there's so much deception in our world and in our lives. The Bible will even talk about how the heart is deceitful above all things. Who can know it because many things we think we believe, we don't. The average Christian will tell you, I believe that Jesus all authority. He has been given a name that is above every other name, and that the name of Jesus. Every niche shall about that we know the whole verse. But have you bowed? If every niche shall bow but yours a standing? Do you really believe. You cannot command obedience and you are disobedient? Now here's the interesting part. There are times that the Lord will do things for the sake of his name, because perhaps the person who you're praying for their faith is actually what is pulling from the Lord, not really not you. There are times that there are things the Lord will do for the sake. Of his name. And if you begin to confuse that with God confirming you, then you know you will be shocked in the last days, because that's when it says, not everyone who says to me, Lord Lord shall enter the kingdom. But he who does the will of my Father in heaven. What is Jesus talking about? You need to know the difference between when I do something for the sake of my name and between those who are living on the authority. He says, but he who does the will of my Father in Heaven. That means your own life is under the government of. The Holy Spirit. If you live a reckless life. If you live a life that is just you know, you have no conviction about the you know the word of God, and there are things you just you play around with obedience and you're dealing left and right and whatever. And you think because you prayed for a few people and healing broke out and things are happening, you think that is God saying He's okay with your lifestyle. No, there are things that God does for the sake of his name, but even for that person, they will still be limited. And I'm talking about I'm talking about when things are done by the spirit of God, and I'm not talking about things that are done by demonic spirits. By the spirit of God, right, And that's a whole different topic. But I just sense that because a lot of times we have quesquestions about you know, you see someone living recklessly and it's like, well, but there's so much power flowing from that person. First of all, there are things you may not know because demonic spirits are also deceptive. They will show you the appearance of people being set free, but when you actually know the people, they're not, They're bound. Right. I'm talking about things that happened by the spirit of God. If the spirit of God is going to flow through you in a way that we begin to see the greater works that Jesus spoke about. We also have to live under that authority. You See, when the Lord began to show me this erect me, I was repenting about things I did not even know. I said, Lord, if there are things you know, I just repent it all. I said, Father, God, show me myself, show. Me my heart. Wherever I have delayed obedience. Help me to grow in the knowledge of you, because if I see you right, it changes everything. Help me to grow. Teach me your ways, Lord, because what I'm saying is a spiritual health check, because when you know where you are on the spectrum, then you know the help you need. This is not about woe is me, No, it's so that we approach it with humility that Lord, I want to get to the place I want. I want to be the person that speaks your word with conviction. If I truly believe in your name that has all authority. Lord, you should have authority. Over me. Every part of my life. Whatever you say, I'm not going to delay in my obedience. See that's why again, when I tell you that you know when you find yourself in cycles of disobedient, cycles of you know, falling under the same patterns of sin over and over again, and you make it about like Jesus knows my heart. God is merciful. Of course he is merciful. You know. And Jesus does not just want to know your heart. He wants to transform it, He wants to abide in it. What you don't realize is that these are part of the tactics of the enemy to keep you small, that you will never know who you are in God. And so we come up with new excuses every day, new phrases, new ideologies, new ways to make ourselves comfortable in foolishness, when we should be in the place of prayer, saying, Holy Spirit, help me, help me, Lord, help me to walk this life right. It has to start with a desire to truly want it, and the Lord will help you. I'm not talking about, you know, being like legalistic or not, none of that. I'm talking about asking the Spirit of God to help you. To be the real. Deal, not just in some areas, but in all areas right. And so, yes, the Lord has a name that is above every other name. That is why I even Remember, if you've studied about David and Goliath. When David came against Goliath, what did David say, I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts. Now, the name Jesus wasn't revealed then, but we knew of the god that David was speaking of. That's why David, a little boy, would run towards a giant, because he knew the authority in which he was. He was gonna kill Goliath in He was not killing Goliath by the strength of the stones in his hand. He was not killing Goliath by how skilled he was with a slink and the rock. He was not killing Goliath by you know, his experience of being a man of war. He was. He killed him because he came in the authority of the Lord. That you would not oppress the Lord's people any longer. And that's why that stone just supernatural. Is like the angel of the Lord just found its way wherever. That's even if he accidentally just threw the stone, it will find its way into that man's head. But what I charge you with is know where you are if there are areas, if you if you're the person who has been writing people off, ask the Lord to give you his heart for people. Ask the Lord to begin to break your heart for what breaks his. Yes, you're gonna, yes there are things, there is evil in this world, and we're not gonna turn a blind eye. Yes, you're gonna call it out all the things. But what I'm saying is that don't write off people. Don't write them off when it comes to the authority that Jesus has. Let us starting you, let us starting you right. And so next week we're gonna really go into this further because there's just so much to it that I knew that putting in one episode would just be a lot, But I'm excited for that on the next episode. Now, if you have not up to Jesus as your Lord and savior, and maybe you stumbled into this, or maybe you're watching and you realize that, man, I've just been spiritual. You know they're not really that I've committed my life to the Lord Jesus, then I just want you to hang on and we're going to pray with you. If you're watching this, then I believe that there is a hunger in your heart. There is something that has moved you with a desire to want to make Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior. Now this is not just a decision that we make out of being convinced by something, but there is a conviction of the Holy Spirit that ministers to us that I need to be saved from this path of destruction that my life has been on. I need to be saved from this sinful nature to come into life, to receive the life of God. Salvation is about an exchange that the Lord has put that sinful nature on the cross. When we believe what Jesus did, when we believe that he died and he was raised up with all victory and all power. You see on the cross, Jesus took captivity, captive. That's what the Word of God says. And what is that captivity Everything that has tried to keep you bound, including that sinful nature that we have received as from the fallen man. You see, when man fell, he took on the nature of sin. And that is the image that every other man has been born into. But in Jesus you have righteousness. You can be made righteous in Christ. And salvation is to be saved from death into life, to come out of bondage into freedom. And so I want to pray with you. But I want you to know that as you say yes to the Lord, you are saying yes to his life. You are saying yes to the ways of Jesus. You are saying yes for Jesus to live in and through you. Your body, your life becomes a for the Holy Spirit, and he wants to express the nature of Jesus through your life. And so just join with me in prayer, because this will be the start. But salvation is a journey and we're gonna have There's gonna be a link in the description, especially if you are listening to this or you're watching this from YouTube, You're going to see this in the description, and I want you to click on that because it's going to help guide you into things about what comes next, how to study the Bible, just little things that are going to be very beneficial to your walk with the Lord. And so I just want you to pray with me, Lord Jesus, and just repeat after me. And when I say repeat after me, it's not just for you to just use words and they're empty before you after this prayer, meditate on those words and just really ope have a moment of personal prayer with the Lord and let the Holy Spirit minister to you beyond what I could do. And so just repeat after me, Lord Jesus, I confess with my mouth as I have believed in my heart in this moment, that indeed you are the son of God, that when you came to the earth and you are crucified on the cross, that you put to death my sinful nature. And as I receive you, I receive your life. I receive the righteousness, the righteous nature that you have brought to give me. I exchange the sinful nature for the righteous nature. And so, Lord, come into my life and make my life your home. Have your way in and through me. Whatever is in me that is not pleasing to you. Convict me of these things. Lord, that I will not identify with the way of the flesh, but I will come in agreement with the way of life. I choose life. I choose you in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen, mm hm m hm H