The name of Jesus represents the love of God, and in His name we love. Apart from His name, we could have never received His love, even though God freely gave it. If a person rejects Jesus, he also rejects the love of God. Jesus represents the Father. Jesus Himself said, “He that has seen Me, has seen the Father” (John 14:9) Furthermore He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by Me”(John 14:6). The Father revealed His love to us through His Son. He also gave us the Name above all names. Because of love, we have His name, and through His name we have the Father’s love.

God is love. Because that is His nature, it is also the nature of the Name of Jesus.

When we bless others in His name, we are extending His love to them.

A name represents its owner. That representation gives authority to others to do the things as if the person himself were doing them. However, that authority it limited to specific things. For example, when a person signs his name on a Proxy, he is giving someone permission to act on his behalf. The action is limited to the specifics of the Proxy. Acting beyond its intended purpose is illegal. That being said, our authority is limited to the will and character of the Father. Understand that when we claim or invoke the name of Jesus, we are representing Him.

[bctt tweet=”Anything we do outside of love is an illegal use of His Name!” #Jesus]

Every principle of the Kingdom operates by love. Jesus underscored that truth in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” If we are to represent His name well, we need to love others well. If the actions of God are the result of His love, then our actions should correspond to His as well.

For those of you who may question the Father’s love: do you have authority in the name of Jesus? Shouldn’t that tell you something? God freely gives good and perfect gifts . If anything obligates Him, it’s His love. You might say His word obligates Him to act; however, He gave His word out of love. Remember He is love, and so is His name. For His name represents Him. Think about it!

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Another requirement alluded to in part one was desire. That is to say, in order to grasp the things of God we have to be willing to know and receive them. For some, the trouble with understanding spiritual matters calls for a change in their thinking and lifestyle. This is called repentance, and frankly, the reason some do not grasp the things of God is that they do not want to repent. They like the status quo regardless of the consequences. Similarly, people like things in neat little packages, which means that truth can really mess with their theology. Understanding Godly principles requires a willingness to let go of false reasoning, also known as “strongholds” (see 2Corinthians 10:3-5). Please keep in mind that we are accountable by God for what we know; however, we must realize that we may also be accountable for what we do not know. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee . . .” (Hosea 4:6, KJV). It is one thing to be ignorant, but it is entirely different to be willingly ignorant. The former may be a defense, while the latter may have dire consequences.

A very helpful thing to grasping the things of God is studying the Bible for ourselves, as the Holy Spirit leads. While the Lord has given us teachers, it is always good to study what we are taught by others. Never take anyone’s word for it, no matter how well respected he may be. We need to be as the Bereans were in the days of the Apostle Paul: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11, KJV). They did not study to disprove Paul, which genders to unbelief, nor did they try to prove him correct. They simply sought the truth, and received it. The more we seek and receive the truth, the more we will be given.

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But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (emphases added, 1Corinthians 2:9-14, KJV).

One of the steps to grasping the things of God is knowing that they are beyond natural reasoning, therefore, they require the Holy Spirit to understand them. Thus it is written, “The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” This leads to a second step in grasping the things of God, having a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This is an act of faith, not an act of the intellect. Romans 10:9-13 says,

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Notice that the Scripture says that if we believe with our heart; it does not say with the “mind.” Entering into a right relationship with God requires faith that is rooted in the heart, as it is written in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (KJV). John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (KJV). As we enter into that relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ, He in turn gives us the Holy Spirit Who teaches us all things. When we have the Spirit, 1Corinthians 2:14 can apply: “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (KJV). In essence, we need the mind of Christ to grasp the things of God. This is accomplished by receiving the Holy Spirit, and by allowing Him to instruct us.

God is very faithful. To those who are not sure if there even is God, ask Him to reveal Himself to you. If you are sincere, He will reveal Himself. To those who already have that relationship, yet struggle with understanding the things of God, begin with deepening that relationship. This means spending time with the Father, and sitting at the feet of Jesus. Ask Him to open your understanding as you open up the Bible. He reveals spiritual matters to those who really want to know them.

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