“Now God worked miracles by the hands of Paul.” – Acts 19:11
Jesus said, “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14; cf. also John 15:16; 16:23-24, 26). That’s a pretty provocative and powerful statement. But there’s’ more. Jesus used that phrase “in My name,” to describe how children should be received (Matthew 18:5) and to describe how His presence would be in the midst of His followers (Matthew 18:20). Jesus said the Father would send the Holy Spirit “in My name” (John 14:26). The name of Jesus is powerful. In the name of Jesus countless souls have been saved from sin and spiritually birthed to a new eternal way of life. People have been healed, people have been transformed, people have been incredibly impacted for good to the glory of God, in the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus opens the door to answered prayer. The name of Jesus speaks to us about how we should receive people, even the littlest of them. And most importantly, when people meet in the name of Jesus, Jesus shows up and makes His presence known.
But Jesus also warned that in the Last Days many would come “in My name, saying ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:5). This tells us that the name of Jesus can be abused, misused, and can actually be an instrument of deception. That’s incredible. That the precious name of Jesus can be coopted and misused to deceive people is a terrible strategy of the adversary.
What does Jesus mean when He says, “in My name”? What is the proper interpretation of that powerful three-word phrase? Well, in answering that question we first should understand what the phrase, “in My name,” is not. “In My name” is not a magical incantation that when used as a punctuation on something we request of God or do “in My name,” the name of Jesus, we are guaranteed Divine delivery. Though many people try, we cannot twist the arm of God and enslave Him to our beck and call simply by uttering those three little words “in My name,” or the common adjunct, “in the name of Jesus.” Using the name of Jesus in this way is a misinterpretation. Using the name of Jesus in this way is a misuse of the name of Jesus and borders on blasphemy.
So, what does “in My name,” or “in the name of Jesus,” mean? Jesus said, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (John 16:13). Jesus said of the Holy Spirit that He would “teach you all things, and bring to remembrance all things that I said to you,” (John 14:26). Later in the New Testament we are told that the Holy Spirit reveals to us the wonderful things God prepares for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:10). The Holy Spirit helps us to understand spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:13). The Holy Spirit enlightens us in daily life (1 John 2:20 and 27).
One of the things the Holy Spirit teaches us is that the name of “Jesus,” or the phrase, “In My name,” are not magical. You can’t simply ask for any outlandish thing and get it by punctuating your request with the name of “Jesus.” Unfortunately, the way some people use (i.e., abuse and misuse) the name of Jesus exposes a very shallow and unholy understanding of what the name of Jesus really means.
Magic is a mindset that if I put certain words together and use them at a certain time, in a certain way, for a certain purpose, I will get what I want. Mix a potion together a certain way and have someone drink it, and they will do your bidding. Repeat certain words and you can manipulate reality. There are people who view the name of Jesus the same way. The magical use of the name of Jesus is reciting what you want and then add, “in the name of Jesus,” and you will get what you want. Magic puts you in control. Using the name of Jesus magically is a not-so-subtle attempt to not only manipulate God but usurp His authority. If I think that I can get whatever I want and have God do whatever I want Him to do, simply by using the name of “Jesus,” then I have dragged God off His throne and reduced Him to a cosmic bellhop, and I have replaced Him on that throne. A magical mindset puts me in control.
The abuse of the name of Jesus is nothing new. From the beginning people have been trying to purchase or commandeer the power bound up in the name of Jesus. Some have even attempted to purchase it with money! We call that “Simony.” And that is where we will pick up our study of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit Acts in Ministry and Miracles Not Magic
The name of Jesus is not magical. You cannot use Jesus’ name to get whatever you want. The name of Jesus is not a spiritual winning lotto number. The name of Jesus means something so much deeper and profound than being a winning ticket to get whatever our heart desires. I will prove that in this study.
Too often the church and Christians have used the name of Jesus in a very carnal self-serving selfish way. For instance, “in the name of Jesus,” Christians concoct self-serving prayers demanding worldly indulgences in many forms. From financial windfalls to brands of luxury cars, romantic success to a curse on enemies, everything, and anything their heart desires can be had, they think, “in the name of Jesus.” Such prayers should remember first that no one is in any position to “demand” anything from God. Second, but just as importantly, that is not the meaning of “in the name of Jesus.”
When genuine or even counterfeit Christians misuse Jesus’ name in this way, they expose their spiritual immaturity or bankruptcy. If Jesus taught us anything, it is that it’s not about “me” it’s about “Thee.” That is the fundamental truth bound up in the name of Jesus. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus, not ourselves. We need to focus on what His will is for us, not what we want for ourselves.
There is a passage in Acts that makes this point powerfully. When those unknown to Jesus try and use his name against the dark forces of the devil, they are beaten to a pulp and stripped of all their earthly possessions, including their clothes. What is the right understanding of the name of Jesus? Let’s consider the passage to find out.
Acts 19:11-20 – “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.”
Notice, the blessing of handkerchiefs and aprons by God so that people were healed by them was an “unusual” thing. Today and throughout history people have tried to manipulate such things to their own advantage by making them a common occurrence. Charlatan ministers send prayer cloths and other items through the mail to solicit money from people. “Kneel on this cloth and pray in the name of Jesus, and your prayers will be answered.” This and other similar cheap tricks are an obviously ridiculous misuse of an unusual method used by God in Acts. God can still do such things today if He chooses. But it is questionable if God is in much of what some ministers are claiming today (19:11-12). It’s never a good idea to presume on that which God calls “unusual,” and try to make it usual. It’s never right to take what God calls “holy” and make it common.
This passage introduces us to the concept of “magic” (Acts 19:19). It’s interesting that the word “magic” (Greek periergos) means working all around, meddlesome, busybody, trifles, curious esoteric arts. These magicians meddled in people’s affairs offering to help people manipulate their personal circumstances. “Need money to pay a bill? I have just the trick for that.” “Someone against you? I have just the formula to gain the victory.” “The object of your affection isn’t responding to you the way you’d like? I have just the potion to remedy that and inflame romantic passions.” These magicians played on people’s ignorance and superstitions profiting at every opportunity they could create.
Magic involves deception. Deception is an area the devil is very privy to. In fact, Jesus referred to the devil as the father of lies and deception (John 8:44). Deception is used in military strategy. But when deception is used to push false information to manipulate and take advantage of people, that is sinful.
Magic is akin to sorcery. The idea behind dark arts is that by doing something I can get what I want. If I do “A,” then I will get “B.” In other words, it is a way to control and manipulate reality. It is a way to determine your own destiny and control the destiny of others. It is a way to play “God.” Such manipulation is called sinful by God (Deuteronomy 18:10). Whenever we try to circumvent God’s sovereign position and authority by inserting ourselves in His place, that is rebellion, that is sinful. When for all intents and purposes we remove God’s option to say “yes,” or “No,” to our requests, that is sinful. That indeed is the nature of the original sin of Lucifer (cf. Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28). That is at the core of magic, sorcery, and the occult. When we disregard God’s prohibitions and begin to heed to hissing words of the serpent, we are headed for trouble. When we buy into the lie that, “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil”, we jump out of the loving protective hands of our Creator and into the boa constricting choke hold of Satan the serpent (Genesis 3:5).
The name of “Jesus” is not a name that can be used magically. You can’t just name the Name and poof; you get what you want. That is apparently what we see in the rest of this passage. The Spirit won’t allow the name of Jesus to be abused and misused. There are consequences for trying to abuse or misuse the name of Jesus. This passage shows us the bankruptcy and impotence of magic. It shows us the alternative victory of the gospel over the occult practices (See also Acts 8:9-24; 13:6-12; 16:16-18). Compared to the gospel and work of the Holy Spirit, the magicians saw their empty arts and burned their wealth of wizardry books (Acts 19:19). They provided the ashes when God provided the beauty (Isaiah 61:3).
“In My Name” – In the name of Jesus. When Jesus spoke of praying in His name, He wasn’t giving us cart Blanche to fulfill our every carnal desire. To do anything in the name of Jesus means to do it the way Jesus would do it. To ask anything in the name of Jesus is to ask for something Jesus would ask of the Father. “In the name of Jesus” means in the nature of Jesus.
Jesus said that when two or three gathered in His name, He would be there (Matthew 18:20; Luke 9:48). Jesus said that whoever does a kindness to you because you are His and known by His name, they will be rewarded (Mark 9:41). He said whoever receives a child in His name was receiving Him (Matthew 18:5; Mark 9:37). Jesus loves children. Jesus said we ought to be gracious with those who do a miracle in His name because the one that does such cannot soon speak evil of Him (Mark 9:39). Jesus spoke of signs that would follow those ministering the Great Commission in His name (Mark 16:17). But He also warned that in the future false christs would come “in My name” (Matthew 24:50; Mark 13:6; Luke 21:8). Therefore, it’s important to be aware of what it means to do something in the name of Jesus.
When Jesus taught His disciples that “whatever you ask in My name, that I will do. . .” it meant, to do something according to His nature, or the way He would do it. Can you picture Jesus waving His coat over a bunch of people to knock them down, in His name? Is that what Jesus was talking about when He spoke of asking for things in His name? I doubt it. Jesus didn’t trifle with people or stoop to perform just to attract a crowd. In fact, the devil tempted Jesus to do just that, and Jesus rejected the offer (Matthew 4:5-7). Jesus was never an entertainer. But there are many today abusing His name who have turned the church into a circus. They are clowns.
We know what Jesus would do by the Holy Spirit who leads us. Jesus qualified what “in My name” meant saying, “that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). When we do that, glorify God, then it is true, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14). The Holy Spirit comes “in the name” of Jesus.” The Spirit comes and leads us in the way Jesus would do something (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit leads us in holy paths. When we are in alignment with all of this, then we will be fruitful in the name of Jesus (John 15:16; 16:23-27).
Another aspect of “in the name of Jesus” we need to consider is whether we have the proper Jesus at all. There are many groups (e.g., cults; religions) who claim to believe in “Jesus.” But naming the Name of Jesus doesn’t guarantee you have the right Jesus. There are groups who believe in what Paul referred to as “another Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4). For instance, Mormons (i.e., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) say Jesus is a separate god from the Father, Elohim. They hold that Jesus is the brother of Lucifer. Jesus and Lucifer according to them are the product of the sexual union of Elohim and Mary. They also believe that Jesus was married. That’s not the Jesus revealed in the sixty-six-book canon of Scripture. That is what Paul said was “another Jesus.”
There are a host of other groups following “another Jesus.” Jehovah’s Witnesses flat out reject that Jesus was or is God and say He is a created being. They claim Jesus is Michael the archangel. The once popular Unification Church (i.e., Moonies) say Jesus was a perfect man, but not God. They teach that Jesus failed in His mission and Reverend Sun Myung Moon came to complete that mission. Christian Science says that Jesus is not the Christ, but only someone who displayed the “Christ idea.” They do not believe Jesus is God because they do not believe God could become a man in the flesh. The Baha’i cult teaches that Jesus is one of many manifestations of “God.” The New Age movement sees Jesus as a spiritual model, an ascended master or guru, an avatar. He is nothing more than a New Ager who tapped into divine power like anyone else can. All these groups use “another Jesus.” Hinduism teaches Jesus is just one of millions of gods. Islam teaches Jesus is a prophet to be respected but not worshipped as God.
Some of these groups diminish the importance of Jesus if they mention Him at all. L. Ron Hubbard’s Scientology, which has such famous followers such as John Travolta and Tom Cruise, rarely mention the name of Jesus. According to Scientology, Jesus and the crucifixion are fictional. They say Jesus was a good person, but not essential to attaining higher spiritual enlightenment. To them Jesus was not a “thetan” or one freed from mental defects. Hare Krishnas don’t view Jesus as important. To them He was only a vegetarian teacher who taught meditation. Transcendental Meditation teaches Jesus was not special, only that He had a “divine essence” that He was able to discover.
All these groups try to use the name of Jesus to their own advantage in one way or another. They may mention Jesus to lure people into their trap, but because they lack the Holy Spirit, there is little truth in what they believe. We need to be a Berean, students of the word in the power of the Holy Spirit who expose such false teachings and prevent the abuse of the name of Jesus. If you don’t have the genuine Jesus, you can’t benefit from His name. And the only way you can have the genuine Jesus, is by the enablement of the Holy Spirit.
Miracles vs. Magic
The Greek word translated “miracles” in Acts 19:11 is DUNAMIS. (Strong’s # 1411 – doo´-nam-is). Sound familiar? This is the same word used by Jesus to describe the baptism with the Holy Spirit when He said:
Acts 1:8 – “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The word DUNAMIS means, “miraculous power, ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.” [1] The thing to remember here is that power to do the genuinely miraculous is Spirit empowered, engineered, and directed, it is not magic or something to be manipulated by humans for their own selfish ends. Genuine God glorifying miracles are a product of the leading and work of the Holy Spirit. True dunamis, true power to do the miraculous, is a product of the Holy Spirit who brings people into an eternal relationship with God in Christ through the gospel of God’s grace.
It appears that some in Acts viewed the unusual practices of God as magical practices rather than authentic Spirit empowered works done by the apostles. But the work of the Spirit is not magic!
What is magic? One dictionary states:
Magic is “the science or practice of evoking spirits or inducing the occult powers of nature to produce effects apparently supernatural.” It formed an essential element in many ancient religions, especially among the Persians, Chaldeans, and Egyptians. The Hebrews had no magic of their own. It was so strictly forbidden by the law that it could never afterward have had any recognized existence, save in times of general heresy or apostasy, and the same was doubtless the case in the patriarchal ages. The magical practices which obtained among the Hebrews were therefore borrowed from the nations around. From the first entrance into the land of promise until the destruction of Jerusalem we have constant glimpses of magic practiced in secret or resorted to not alone by the common but also by the great.[2]
Another dictionary states:
Magic and sorcery attempt to influence people and events by supernatural or occult means. They may be associated with some form of *divination, though divination by itself is the attempt to use supernatural means to discover events without influencing them . . .. The magician tries to compel a god, demon, or spirit to work for him; or he follows a pattern of occult practices to bend psychic forces to his will. There is no doubt that magic and sorcery are not always mere superstitions but have a reality behind them. They must be resisted and overcome through the power of God in the name of Jesus Christ . . .. Magic is a rival to true religion, though it can be practiced in conjunction with false religious ideas. True religion centers in the personal experience of the one God, with an attempt to live a life that is conformable to his will. The believer walks humbly with his God, prays to him, and is prepared to accept the circumstances of life as the sphere in which to glorify him. Magic, on the other hand, deals with lower supernatural beings, or attempts to force issues by using psychic forces, irrespective of whether the issues are for the glory of God. The following practices come under the specific condemnation of the Bible. [3]
Such practices are an abomination to the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:11-12). What does this passage tell us about magic and occult practices? It tells us that the power of the Spirit is far greater than any occult practice.
The Spirit versus the Magical Mindset
What does this passage tell us about the nature (which is contrary to the Holy Spirit) and the ineptitude of the occult?
First, the Spirit does not work through hirelings to manipulate people. “Exorcists” here are described as “conjurers” (EXORKISTES – Strong’s # 1845 – ex-or-kis-tace´) meaning, “one that binds by an oath (or spell), . . . conjurer; exorcist.” [4] These were people who went around for hire to bind people or manipulated people by using oaths and spells. They were trying to use the name of Jesus to manipulate people to do things against their will (19:13). It’s interesting that some in the church today practice a “binding and loosing” way of “spiritual warfare,” that is far different than the actual binding and losing mentioned by Jesus which had more to do with sharing the gospel and setting people free from their sins than putting handcuffs on imaginary devils (Matthew 16:19; 18:18). The Spirit does not bypass the will of people. The Holy Spirit persuades and reasons. The Holy Spirit does not force people to respond against their will.
Second, the Spirit does not allow Himself to be used by people for self-serving reasons. “They took it upon themselves” indicates the root motivation for such practices was self-service. They were now trying to use the name of Jesus to serve themselves (19:13). This speaks of a fleshly, carnal, sinful motive. They were trying to use the name of Jesus to assert their power and bring notoriety or fame to themselves. Sadly, much attempted in the name of Jesus and supposedly by the Holy Spirit in the church today, is done in this way.
Third, the Spirit does not ever mix ministry or miracles with magic. The word “Also” connects the practice of the exorcists with that of the sons of Sceva a Jewish chief priest. Such practices were not corrected by the Jewish priests since seven sons of one priest tried to practice such things (19:14). The minister of God should never resort to such occult and magic schemes. What fellowship has light with darkness? None! (2 Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1). To combine magic with ministry is to resort to the works of the flesh which are in opposition to the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-25). Do magicians use smoke and mirrors? Do churches use smoke and mirrors? What does this mean based on our study?
Fourth, the Spirit does not permit the powerful use of the name of Jesus apart from a saving relationship with Him by the one’s using the name. The use of the name of Jesus without a saving relationship attached, is powerless in fighting demons. Notice, the realness of the “evil spirit” is not questioned, only the way in which the evil spirit is approached by the seven sons of Sceva (19:15). When unbelievers try to use the name of Jesus, it’s like a person with a presidential costume trying to present themselves as an authentic president, it will only result in embarrassment and foolishness.
Fifth, the Spirit of Jesus is to be relied upon when encountering evil spirits. It is the power of the Spirit in the authority of the name of Jesus that can evict evil spirits from the possessed and heal the sick (19:12,16). Evil spirits are not to be approached in one’s own strength. To approach evil spirits in your own strength is dangerous and doomed to embarrassing and painful consequences (19:16). We need to rely on the strength and authority of Jesus when fighting spiritual battles (Romans 16:20; James 4:7; 1 John 4:4).
Sixth, the Spirit will not allow the name of Jesus to be tarnished but will work to bring glory to Jesus’ name. The Spirit did not allow the name of Jesus to be tarnished by the attempted abuse of it but rather brought glory to the name of Jesus (19:17). The Spirit illuminated the people’s understanding and showed the futility of such attempts to misuse the name of Jesus. Earlier in Acts the Spirit not only exposed but severely judged those misusing the name of Jesus (Acts 5 and 8). It’s never a wise thing to misuse the name of Jesus.
Seventh, the power of the Spirit prevails over the power of the occult. The occult and magic are something that should be completely left behind by the believer. Don’t dabble in the occult or magic, the believer has no business in such things, burn your magic books! (19:18-19). Throw away your Ouija boards and Taro cards. You don’t need to check your daily horoscope. You don’t need to rely on unbiblical practices to know Gods’ will for you. Present yourself a living sacrifice to God and then you will know His will for you, then you will experience His power (Romans 12:1-2). Jesus has a better way for you. The word of the Lord prevails over the occult (19:20).
The ministry of the Spirit is not magical; it is far more powerful than that!
In the name of Jesus I challenge you to use the name of Jesus to secure all the spiritual wealth and wonder, work, and wisdom of Jesus. In the name of Jesus I pray we all walk as He walked and follow in His steps. In the name of Jesus I pray we would stop our silly sinful selfish pursuits and instead fully surrender to Jesus. In the name of Jesus, I pray we all live like Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen!
[1]James Strong, New Strong’s dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.
[2]William Smith; revised and edited by F.N. and M.A. Peloubet, Smith’s Bible dictionary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997.
[3]The New Bible Dictionary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1962.
[4]James Strong, New Strong’s dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.