KNOWING JESUS BEYOND NAME CALLING MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

WEDNESDAY 24 AUGUST 2022

Have you ever been in direct contact with a person who, overtime, radically changed the way you think, reason, act, and make things happen in your life and in the world around you? If so, that is a true knowledge that has given birth to an uncommon encounter which leads to drastic change in your life. This is what happens when you know Jesus beyond just His acquaintance and name calling. There is great power often generated and made available in you through an in-depth knowledge of His person.

Reference: Acts 19:13-15 English Standard Version (ESV) 'Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims." Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?"'

In Ephesus, Paul worked so tirelessly in such a way that the Word of God went out to all who lived in the region around the market places and town centres. He entered the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading the people about the kingdom of God. At a point, he took the disciples with him, to reason with them in the hall of Tyrannus everyday. This continued for two years, until all the residents of Asia heard the Word of God, both Jews and Greeks.

Handkerchiefs and aprons touched by Paul became special and precious because of their use in healing people. However, the Seven sons of a Jewish high priest (the Sons of Sceva) tried to deal with evil spirits by using the Name of Jesus without really knowing Jesus, and they were severely beaten and afflicted. To them "the Name of Jesus" was often by used by Paul, and so they assumed that it was just a formula to perform wonders. But their humiliating experience shows that there's a difference between calling or mentioning the Name of Jesus, and knowing the power in or behind the Name of Jesus (see Acts 19:11-20 ESV). This means that the Name of Jesus is highly activated among those who have known, honoured and encountered the surpassing mystery behind it.

No wonder part of Paul's heartfelt prayer for the Christians in Ephesus reads: "And [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength which He produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come." (Ephessians 1:19-21 AMP). Beloved, the power that rests upon a Christian in relation to knowing Christ beyond just the ordinary knowledge of His name is surpassingly great.

Indeed, knowing Jesus beyond name calling makes all the difference. In Philippians 3:10 (NIV), Paul says, 'I want to know Christ- yes, to know the power of his resurrection...' The greek "noun" word for "know" in the very context of this Scripture is considered as "Epignosis" which denotes "Exact or full knowledge, discernment or recognition that empowers, strengthens and powerfully influences the knower because he has greatly participated in mastering the object known. And note that the power of Jesus' resurrection is the highest level of divine power and ability. You can only know the fullness of this power by dying fully to the flesh and becoming like Him in His death. That way, you gain access to His resurrection power that keeps you practically alive to God and grants you access to extraordinary manifestations as you mention the name of Jesus.

The power of resurrection is a great deal of power. When you encounter it, it practically puts you in charge and hands over to you an absolute dominion, such that principalities, powers and spiritual wickedness in high places bend on their knees when you mention the Name of Jesus. It is much more than speaking in tongues or praying in the Holy Ghost. Praying in the Spirit makes tremendous power available, but to experience the greatness of divine power, it can only come through a personal encounter with Christ that grants you deeper intimacy with the God that raised Him up from the dead.

Psalm 66:3 (NKJV) reminds us of this superior level of power. It reads, Say to God, "How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You." This is the weight of power Paul identified and functioned with. It does terrible harm to enemies and satanic agents. So Paul became outstanding by encountering the resurrection power of Jesus.

Today, this power is accessible by exact and precise knowledge of Christ and its available to every Christian who is willing to pay the price of knowing Him beyond mentioning His Name. It will not just practically place you far above every principality and authority and power and dominion for your own benefits, it will also position you for kingdom exploit. Get to know Christ by always desiring a personal encounter with Him; it will make all the difference!

Scripture Reading - Philippians 2:9-10; Colossians 2:10; Ephesians 6:12. James 2:19.

Guided Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for blessing me with your beloved Son Jesus, and for inspiring me to know Him more through your Word. By yielding to your Word, I consciously develop my faith to know Christ and the surpassing power associated with His resurrection. As I increase in His knowledge, I'm empowered with everything I need to walk in absolute dominion and fulfil my glorious destiny in Jesus' Name, Amen.