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Thursday, June 25th, 2015
CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
2 Kings 8:1-9:13
Acts 16:16-40
Psalm 143:1-12
Proverbs 17:26
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1qveF2Q
Commentary from Pastor Mike White:
But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. – Acts 16:18
Jesus has given us authority over “all the power of the enemy” (Lk 10:19). All means all. Satan was little more than an annoyance to Paul. He put up with a demon-possessed girl following him around for several days, but finally got fed up. All he had to do to cease Satan’s irritation was command the evil spirit to come out of her in the name of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the most powerful name we can utter. Paul explained this to the Philippian church:
Therefore God also has highly 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, and 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. – Phil 2:9-11
Our ability to use the name Jesus Christ comes from relationship with Him. If we try and use His name without knowing Him, our efforts will be useless (Acts 19:13-16). But when we proclaim His name from a place of intimacy, Satan has to flee!
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the power of the Cross! Thank You for the power of the name Jesus Christ. I know that when I pray to You, in His name, the result is the same as if Your Son were praying my prayer Himself! Help me to build power in my prayers through relationship with You!
© Michael D. White, 2015. All rights reserved.