How much do you use the name of Jesus? You and I need to be asking all things in Jesus' name - just like the first disciples and apostles did! It was in the name of Jesus that they acted.

Jesus gave us His name as our authority for asking in. He gave us His name as the name of authority to command in and drive off the enemy in.

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask any thing in My name, I will do it.

He also gave us His name to make request to the Father in. He told us that by asking in His name the Father would grant us our request.

Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

A study of the book of Acts will soon reveal to you that the acts the apostles did were acts done in the name of Jesus. This was the name all those miracles were done in. It was in the name of Jesus that signs and wonders accompanied the Word spoken by the apostles. (Mark 16:15-20.)

You'll find one of the first and most exciting of examples of this when Peter brings healing to the lame man. (Acts 3:1-10.) The man was begging at the gate called Beautiful and he looked intently towards Peter and John expecting to get something. Peter then 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.

Signs are attesting miracles. They attest to the working and words of God. They confirm the word preached. They accompany the preaching of the word. Signs and wonders are by the power of the Holy Spirit and they come in the name of Jesus.

This takes place in fulfilment of the promises Jesus gave His disciples. He said,

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.

The time came following His death and resurrection when the name of Jesus was granted all authority over all things in heaven, in the Earth and under the Earth. (Phil.2:8-11) It was in the knowledge that His name was to have such authority that He gave His name to us. He gave the church His name to ask and to act in.

Nothing is able to resist the name of Jesus! It is now as it was spoken by the prophet Joel,

It shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.

This is all absolutely fundamental to our prayer life. It is so fundamental that we may rightly say that praying without praying in the name of Jesus is like writing a cheque without signing it!

The name of Jesus is to prayer as a signature is to a cheque - it validates it; it authorises it. The name of Jesus authorises prayer ensuring that its spoken petition comes to pass.

Study the name of Jesus in action. Take time to read the Book of Acts then follow the apostles into action using the name of Jesus as they and the other disciples did. Use the name of Jesus!