Every day when we rise in the morning, we must thank God. It is not merely something religious, but it is the great truth for us, because there is power in the name of Jesus. People may deny it, people may rebel, people may reject it, but if it were not for God, we would not have risen. It is God who decides who rises in the morning and who does not. Therefore, we must all be grateful to God.
Matthew 1:21 says: “She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:23 says: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which means, God with us.
In Matthew 16:16, Simon Peter answered: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Of all the ambitions a person may have — political ambition, ambition for wealth, ambition for power — nothing can surpass the power in the name of Christ Jesus. In other words, the more you believe in the name of Jesus, the more power and authority that name will have in your life, because all things are possible for the one who believes.
It is therefore sad to see that people, who are God’s creation, due to lack of knowledge or rebellion, do everything to believe in idolatry and witchcraft. They spend money, make sacrifices, put their trust in participating in dances and worship of false gods, while they know very well that it only satisfies their flesh. Because when need, sickness, or problems arise, it is the name of Jesus that is mentioned.
The need for Christ Jesus in our lives is greater than water and food, because without Him we have nothing. That is why it is clearly written in Romans 1:28–32 what will happen to those who do not consider it necessary to acknowledge Christ Jesus in their lives.
It is also written in Galatians 5:19–21 that those who practice the works of the flesh will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But it is also important that Romans 10:13 says: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Salvation comes only and exclusively in the name that is above every name — the name of Christ Jesus.
Therefore, God Himself presented the plan of salvation to the whole world (John 3:16), without excluding anyone. Everyone is included, because with God there is no discrimination. Everyone is welcome, so that whoever believes in Christ Jesus will be saved and receive eternal life.
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
In the name of Christ Jesus there is salvation, healing, and deliverance. In the name of Jesus the chains of the devil are broken. In the name of Jesus lives are changed, because He is the Name above every name, the Name at which every knee must bow and every tongue confess that Christ Jesus is Lord.
This is not a time for hardness of heart, stubbornness, or unforgiveness, but a time to fear God and give Christ Jesus first place in our lives, because He deserves first place. Without Christ Jesus we are nothing.
We may have possessions, but we need the presence of Christ Jesus.
Pastor Marcel Balootje