In Jesus' Name
1. As an ambassador of heaven you have been sent in Jesus' name to a lost and dying world. You do not come in your own name. You come in the name of the King.
2. Jesus said He came in His father's name.
I have come in My Father's name. John 5:42
3. Jesus came to represent the Father. He made that very plain.
Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner, For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. John 5:19-21
4. Jesus said,
I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. John 5:30
5. And Jesus said,
For I have not come to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6:38
6. And Jesus said,
...I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him. John 8:28-29
7. And Jesus said, I do not seek My own glory. John 8:50
8. Jesus also said,
The works that I do in My Father's name (as a perfect representative of His Father), they bear witness of Me. John 10:25
9. Jesus said, ...Nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. John 8:42
note: One who is sent is an ambassador. Jesus was God's ambassador from heaven. Hebrews 3:1 says, "...consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus. An apostle is "one who is sent" or an ambassador.
10. Jesus Himself taught us what it means to represent God. We are to do nothing on our own authority. We are not to seek our own will. And we must not seek our own glory.
11. When Jesus was about to depart for heaven, He gave His disciples some last minute instructions...
And whatsoever 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
12. WOW! What a promise! But we are to use Jesus' name exactly as He used His Father's name. We are ambassador's. We do not seek our own will, or our own glory. Jesus' name is meant to be used for His glory - and the extension of His kingdom, not for personal gain. Jesus' name is the name of the Son of the Living God. As such it is the name of the Lord. We are not to take His name in vain. His name signifies everything that He is, and everything that He stands for. We are to use His name as an ambassador uses the name of his king!
P.S. Misusing Jesus' name is breaking the 3rd commandment!
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. Exodus 20:7