HEART OF THE MATTER

Tag: peace

  • The Power of Jesus’ Name: Authority in Heaven and Earth

    The Power of Jesus’ Name: Authority in Heaven and Earth

    The name of Jesus is unlike any other; it is the most powerful name both in heaven and on earth. This name carries immense weight and authority, recognized by both humans and demons. Demons tremble at the name of Jesus. It is the name that compels every knee to bow and every tongue to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. God declares, “This is my beloved Son, whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) Creation and heaven bow before Him, and they exalt the name of Jesus.

    Unfortunately, we have grown too familiar with this name, often treating it as common and forgetting the power it holds. Jesus said, “If you ask for anything in my name, it shall be given unto you.” This name, above all others, carries significance because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. He paid for the sins of the world, and it is only through Him that we can enter into eternity. Jesus proclaimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” In His name, we receive salvation and find rest.

    The name of Jesus is powerful. Lame men were healed, blind eyes were opened, hearts were transformed, and the dead were raised through the power that dwells in His name. Today, many misuse this name and take for granted the authority that Jesus has given to those who believe. There is no other name greater or more glorious. When we acknowledge Jesus, God acknowledges us. Jesus warned, “If you are ashamed of me, then I will also be ashamed of you before my Father.”

    Peter and John encountered a beggar at the Beautiful Gate as they were on their way to the Temple. The man, unable to walk, sat there begging for money. When he saw Peter and John, he asked them for help. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said, “Silver and gold have I none; but what I do have, I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And the man did just that. (Acts 3: 1-10) Many others were also made whole in the name of Jesus. We are more than conquerors; we are victorious when we place our hope and trust in His name.

    The name of Jesus serves as a weapon in the midst of battle. Heaven recognizes and supports those who believe in the power of His name. When His name is called, even demons pay attention and respond. The disciples rejoiced when they returned, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Jesus replied, “Do not rejoice that spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17).

    When we abide in Jesus and He in us, we can achieve all things. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. The name of Jesus should be on the lips of every believer, every day, in every circumstance. It empowers us to cast out demons, heal the sick, and raise the dead. It is not by our name, but in the name of Jesus, that God receives glory, and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. We are participants in bringing about God’s kingdom. The name of Jesus offers hope to the hopeless, healing to the sick, and life to the lifeless. Let us not treat it as common, but instead revere the great name of Jesus.

  • THE BETTER ONE

    THE BETTER ONE

    I prayed to God one morning, something I had committed myself to doing since I resigned from my job. ] My only vehicle was totaled, and I was crying out God about some financial hardships that I was facing. I emptied the contents of my heart to the only one who would help me. As I lay in bed, my face was wet from tears. I asked God to hear my cry for a job. In that moment, He spoke to me. He reminded me of the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10:38-42.His presence is never bizarre and always pleasurable.

     The story is about one sister named Martha. She was distracted and worried about preparing dinner for her guest. She was also worried about many other things. The other sister, Mary, quietly sat at Jesus’s feet, taking in the peace of his presence.  Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her with everything she had to do. Jesus replied, “There is only one thing to be concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

    God said to me, “You have chosen the better one, and it will not be taken away.” Spending time with God should be a priority in the life of a believer. He reminds us so often to pray without ceasing. Our Father in heaven knows all things and will supply our needs. We become distracted by the many things that go on in this world. God is often placed on the back-burner or omitted altogether. We can find many things to do, but time with God is rarely on the list. We become weighed down with the cares and worries of this world. This often leads us away from the Father. It leaves us farther from Him.

    God desires for us to spend time with Him. He wants us to get to know Him. He also wants us to come into an understanding of who we are in Him. God is a good Father who deeply cares for his children. After the revelation, God gave me an image of a child that had been missing for a long time. The parents’ yearning and longing for that child’s return are unbearable. But when that child finally returns home, the parent is ecstatic. They don’t want the child out of their sight. They want to be with with the child always. They want to spend as much time with the child as they can, maybe every waking moment.

    This is how God sees us. We have been apart from him for so long. He just wants to be with us. He wants to spend time with us when we return. We, as His children, have a special place in God’s heart, we are in the center of it. God has been growing me and showing me what it means to be a follower of Christ. I have learned that believers of Jesus Christ must condition themselves to the submission of the Word. They do not give in to the flesh of the world.

    Spending time with God helps us make the right decisions, helps us be peaceful, and remove stress. God is in charge and loves us. He works everything for the good of those that loves him who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) When we know him, it helps you rest better. We can rest in the peace that God provides( John 14:27) God got this! Many things cause us to become distracted, and wander off from God. Let’s be mindful to choose the better one.