Have We Been Hoodwinked?

When I began to work at Hewlett Packard back in April of 1980, I quickly learned that in order to stay in the top of their field as a leader in the electronics industry, they had developed Standard Operating Procedures for just about everything they did!  When I stepped into supervision about six months later, I was handed a thick brown binder entitled “Personnel Processes and Guidelines.”  I was told that this was the holy grail of management and needed to become very familiar with its contents.

That book was what some termed as a living document and was under constant scrutiny and revision.  I can hardly remember a week going by without receiving an inner-office envelope that contained sealed updates that were to replace certain sections of the book.  Whenever any situations or questions came up regarding anything to do with an employee, we were told to go to the book, read what it said and to follow the written process.  Like I mentioned before though, some of the procedures in the book were meant to serve as guidelines and left some discretion to the management team.  But even those guidelines were to be followed in a particular way and with the overall intent and purpose of the Standard Operating Procedures listed in the binder.

As I continued to study about the power, authority and anointing that is inherent in the name of Jesus today, I began to realize that God has actually given believers His Standard Operating Procedures for living our lives in that name!  I get the idea that this was a well-known and actively practiced process in the daily life of the early church.  Throughout the book of Acts you see an almost continual reference to the name of Jesus.

Peter told the lame man that he didn’t have any silver and gold on him, “but what I do have I give to you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (Acts 3:6 ESV)  Then in defense of his actions, he later told those accusing him of doing wrong, that it wasn’t anything he did to make the lame man well but declared that it was “his name – by faith in his name – has made this man strong…” (Acts 3:16 ESV)

When the first Jerusalem believers got together to pray after some persecution, they ended their request to the Father by asking for continued strength and anointing to do His work “while you stretch out your hand to heal (through them), and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus…” and the Lord let them know that He heard them by literally shaking the building they were gathered in! (Acts 4:30-31 ESV)

We also see many other examples of the Apostles, church leaders and church members doing mighty works in the name of Jesus.  Like I said, to operate in the supernatural in His name was just Standard Operating Procedure to them!  So, once again I ask… What did they know that we seemed to be mostly missing today?  I talk to people all the time who call themselves Christians who give more credit to and talk about angels and the biblical saints of old more than they do the name of Jesus!  What’s wrong with this picture?

Have we been hoodwinked?  I think that it is time to get back to the basics and find out all that we can about what it means to be a born-again, Spirit filled, power-packed and anointed believer who has legal claim and right to actively use the name of Jesus in everything we do or say… after all… isn’t that what Paul was talking about when he said that “Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him?” (Colossians 3:17 God’s Word ©)

Is that really true… and/or even possible in today’s world?  Or was Paul just trying to pump us up knowing that it really wasn’t possible?  I DON’T THINK SO!  I believe that if God said it (through the anointed writings in His Word), then it is true and that I CAN DO IT!  

HOW ABOUT YOU?  Have a great day.  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What or in Who’s NAME am I expecting to live my daily life?”