"A Second Opinion"

Every day someone is diagnosed with an incurable disease, terminal illness, or something that requires a major operation or surgery.  The shock of this news can be a life changing experience.

When people receive this news and unfavorable reports, many like to get a second opinion on the situation.  Some people have lost confidence in doctors with all the recent mistakes and malpractice suits that have been going on.  But some people just don't agree with the doctors, and search for a doctor who agrees with their point of view on the situation.  It's like this: one doctor says you need to have surgery, and you don't want to have surgery.  So you search for the "second opinion" of a doctor that agrees with you.

This made me think of how God searches for a "second opinion" that agrees with Him.  So many of us are living by sight instead of by faith.  Many of our thoughts, actions, and emotions are being ruled by the 5 senses.  But God is looking for us to be in agreement with him so that His culture, nature , and way of doing things can forcefully advance in the earth.  

When our thoughts, decisions, and emotions are in line with His, that is when we will see the power of God and results in our lives.

"In The Name Of Jesus"

What does it mean when we say "in the name of Jesus"?

When we were children, or in some of our earlier experiences with church, we were told to pray in the name of Jesus and God would answer.  We got older and more in tune to the relevancy of our spiritual lives and found out, that this is not always the case.  Many prayers have gone unanswered, with people looking for results because they said the "right words".

In biblical days, a name of someone was what a person stood for; was the substance of their character or their authority.  In general, a name is a word or words used that describes and also distinguishes one entity from another.

Many Christians and followers of Christ think that they are doing something spiritual, but end up doing something religious and superstitious in saying "in the name of Jesus" in prayer.  There is a big difference in just saying "in the name of Jesus", and praying in the name of Jesus.

To pray in the name of Jesus, what we are doing is acting in His authority, in His stead, and according to His command.  When we do anything that is consistent with His desires, we are testifying to the name, nature, power, and substance of God. 

When we say, "in the name of Jesus in prayer", we generally don't mean, "I am praying in the authority and mind of Jesus Christ".  We are primarily just saying, "i'm done", or amen.  It has become the "Christian" exit to prayer.

There is power in praying in the authority of Jesus Christ, by the authority He has given us; that's consistent with His character, desire, and will.

It's like a police officer saying, "stop in the name of the law".  He has that authority given to him.  But take away that authority or when the police officer is off duty, the same saying does not have the same meaning.  Without the mind, power, and authority of Christ, the saying doesn't have the same meaning.

If you are thinking with the mind of Christ, and that is your attitude, it doesn't matter what you say at the end of your prayer, God hears you because of His principles and intent for our lives.

There is a big difference between saying in the name of Jesus, and praying in the name of Jesus.  Let us be mindful to do all things with not only in words, but with the Mind of Jesus Christ.