In His Name

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Dear Friend,

Sometimes we Christians forget a key fact: We live, move, speak, act, react, and minister in Jesus' name. The meaning here is profound.

When Jesus sent the twelve apostles on their first mission, He endowed them with His very own authority and message, not something less. Why? So they could speak and heal "in His name." (See Mark 6:7-13.) That is, they could minister as His fully authorized agents, as He Himself would do, and as if He Himself were present. The Jewish proverb of the day was, "A person's representative is as the person himself."

And, in a very real sense, the Person Himself was there, accompanying His twelve agents, indwelling their gospel message, and infusing their simple act of anointing the sick with oil with His supernatural healing power. Consequently, people were saved, delivered, and healed precisely the same as if Jesus Himself prayed for them. How wonderful!

This concept of Christ being present in His representatives is emphasized at the close of Mark's Gospel.

After the Lord Jesus was "received up into heaven," His disciples "went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following" (Mark 16:29-20). To the unspiritual reader, this statement immediately presents an intellectual problem. How could Christ be in heaven and at the same time "with" His disciples on earth? By His Holy Spirit, who indwelt them and flowed through their every word and work!

And if we have received Christ, and the fullness of His Holy Spirit, the same is true of us today. We live in Christ's name. We move about in His name. We speak in His name, whether in conversation or counsel. We react in His name, to blessings and troubles as they come. We love people in His name. We forgive our offenders in His name. We stand against sin in His name. We attack heresy and defend true doctrine in His name. We minister in His name, whether by witnessing, evangelizing, or discipling. We bear our crosses in His name. Whether at home or on missions, we are the earthly embodiment - the "face," "hands," "voice," and "feet" - of Jesus in this world. This is why the church is called the body of Christ.

We are His agents, His authorized messengers, His earthly representatives, His appointed stand-ins. This prompts two thoughts.

First, we are responsible to represent Him well - truly, accurately possessing and demonstrating Christlike attitudes, speech, work, ministry, and reactions to the blessings and difficulties of life. For this, we need all of the Word and Spirit and grace of God we can lay hold of, and then some. Frequent study of the Bible, immersion in prayer, steady worship, a surrendered will, lots of honest self-examination, and several doses of humility daily is just what the Doctor ordered. That is, the Great Physician.

Second, if our identification with Jesus is true, close, and abiding, others will react to us as they would Him. Again, "A person's representative is as the person himself." Those who believe Jesus will believe us, those who love Him will love us, and those who disbelieve and reject Him will, well, not enjoy our company, avoid us, or worse.

On the other hand, if you are experiencing rejection because you are not consistently representing Jesus well, let this brief little sermonette prompt you to change. You probably already know what it is you need to change, so don't pray about it, or cry about it, or seek counsel about it, just do it. And your representation of Christ will be healed and your agency restored.

If you are experiencing prolonged, unreasonable, and unfair rejection because you are representing Jesus well, let this comfort you. You are one of Christ's earthly agents. You are as the Man Himself among His enemies themselves. You are receiving His rejection. And you are also in a place of great opportunity.

You see, Jesus is trusting you, His unlikely, humble agent, to share in His sufferings - not to bring redemption, as He did, but to bring a reviving visitation of His life, Word, and mercies to those who don't know Him or have fallen away from Him. So, my fellow agent, don't fail your Lord. Honor Him by continuing to trust, love, and seek Him, despite the unfairness, understanding why it has come. Meanwhile, forgive those who reject you for His sake, and He will honor you in His time and way ... in His name! All who suffer with Him will be honored with Him.

As one of His agents, I'm going to close this message in Jesus' name with His own words: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:11-12).

So, with His benediction, with His very Words, spoken in His name, be blessed!

GregSig2

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries

Last modified on Monday, 13 February 2023 15:05

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