Women of the Bible Lesson 12 Jael: A Story of Courage Part 10 Spiritual Weapons

2 Corinthians 10:4-6, “For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission and obedience [as a church] are fully secured and complete.” (AMPC) 

Today we will begin looking at our next spiritual weapon: The Name of Jesus.   

Philippians 2:9-10, “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. (NLT) (Italics mine) 

Ephesians 1:19-21, “And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, 

Which He exerted 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 and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.” (AMPC) (Italics mine) 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that name....! I love this song!!!  When I worship in my quiet times, I often sing it.  The name of Jesus is powerful.  As we see in the verses above, His name is higher than any other name.  At the name of Jesus EVERY knee must bow!!!! 

Noel Richards states, “There is power in the name of Jesus . . . at His name the demons flee; at His name captives are freed . . . at His name God’s enemies shall be crushed beneath our feet; for there is no other name that is higher than Jesus!”i 

Today I want to look at the authority we have been given as believers in Jesus Christ. Next week we will look at Biblical accounts of prayer made in Jesus’ name and the freedoms/miracles that praying in His name provides.  

First, we have been made kings and priest unto God. 

Exodus 19:6, “And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.” (NLT) 

1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (AMP) 

Revelation 5:10, “and didst make us to our God kings and priests, and we shall reign upon the earth.”. (YLT) 

Kings 

In the physical, a king is the leader in charge of the physical well-being of his people.  He oversees the law, and the protection of the people within his kingdom.  He reigns over his kingdom and his word (decree) is law.   

Job 22:28, “You will also decide and decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And the light [of God’s favor] will shine upon your ways.” (AMP) 

When a king speaks people listen.  As a king unto God, when a child of God speaks, people, angels, demons, and God himself listen.  As we have discussed in earlier studies, when we are speaking/praying/decreeing we must be speaking The Word! We must be decreeing things in accordance with the Word, not our own desires or choices.    

Kings also reign over their kingdom.  Merriam Webster online dictionary defines reign as: to possess or exercise sovereign power. As kings unto God, we too are called to reign in this life. 

We reign over sin. Romans 6:14, “Sin will have no power over you, because you aren’t under Law but under grace.” (CEB) 

We reign over the power of the enemy.  Luke 10:19, “Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.” (AMP) 

We reign over the flesh. Galatians 5:16, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (NIV) Galatians 5:24, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (NIV) 

Priests 

Priests are spiritual servants of the people.  In the Old Testament they were “mediatory agents between humans and God.”ii They were responsible for making all the sacrifices (offering up) before God on behalf of the people.  

The high priest was the only one who had access to the Holy of Holies.  When Jesus died on the cross, He obtained access for all believers to God.  No longer do we need a priest to go to God on our behalf.  We are the priests of God now.  As priests we can now “offer up” to God.  

We offer up praise.  1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (NIV) 

We offer prayer (intercession). 1 Peter 2:1-2, “First of all, then, I urge that petitions (specific requests), prayers, intercessions (prayers for others) and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in [positions of] high authority, so that we may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (AMP) 

Colossians 4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” (NIV) 

James 5:16, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (NIV) 

Second, we have been given Jesus’ Power of Attorney. 

The Oxford Languages online dictionary defines power of attorney as: the authority to act for another person in specified or all legal or financial matters.  

Power of Attorney is a legal document giving power of attorney to someone. The Word is our legal documentation that we have the authority to speak on Jesus’ behalf on the earth.   

Mark 16:17-18, “These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” (NLT) 

John 14:12-14, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (NLT) 

John 16:23-26, “At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. ‘I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.’” (NLT) 

Praying in the name of Jesus is powerful, because when we pray in His name we pray with His authority. There is power in the name of Jesus when we link our faith with heaven. When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are touching Heaven and changing earth!iii  When we pray in Jesus' name, we are representing His interests here on earth.   

"The name of Jesus is the gateway through which true prayers must enter heaven. His name is the 'pass key' that opens heaven’s account." Eddie and Alice Smith 

To represent Jesus on earth, we must know His will.  To know His will, we must know the Word.  We must align our prayers with the Word. We must also pray in unwavering faith.   

Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (AMP) To see His Kingdom and will on earth we must take our places of authority and use the power of Jesus’ name to enforce the victory of Calvary.   

In Matthew 18, Jesus tells his disciples that All authority has been given unto Him.  He then conferred that authority upon His followers and commissioned them to take His name to the ends of the earth!! That commission still stands today.  We are to take the Name of Jesus to the ends of the earth.  We are to walk in the same power and authority that was conferred upon the disciples.   

To conclude today, we have been made kings and priests unto God and we have been given, through the Word, Jesus’ Power of Attorney.  We are called to reign on this earth in the authority of Christ.  We have been given the responsibility to oversee the Kingdom of God on earth.   

Praying in Jesus’ name is not just ending our prayers by saying, “We ask all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen!”  Praying in Jesus’ name is aligning our prayers with the Word and then enforcing them by using the Name of Jesus as the seal of the authority we have been given! 

Works Cited: 

i Noel Richards, “There is Power in the Name of Jesus,” (1989) Kingsway Thankyou Music. 

ii https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/priest 

iii https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/praying-in-the-powerful-name-of-jesus.html