Empowered by Jesus: Advancing God's Kingdom Together

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Jesus’ Name: Our Spiritual Authority

When you are born again and walking with Christ, you are given the right to use the name of Jesus—a name that carries immeasurable power, authority, and spiritual backing. Just as a power of attorney allows someone to act on behalf of another, Jesus has entrusted His followers to do business in His name, advancing His kingdom and confronting the enemy’s strongholds. This is not a mere phrase to tack onto prayers, but a profound spiritual reality: when you declare the name of Jesus, all the resources, victories, and authority of heaven stand behind you. You are not powerless in the face of spiritual opposition; you are equipped to bind, loose, and declare God’s will on earth, knowing that the name of Jesus is above every other name. [38:00]

John 16:23-24 (NKJV)
“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life or community where you need to boldly use the authority of Jesus’ name in prayer today?

Day 2: Expecting Spiritual Resistance: Advancing God’s Kingdom

Whenever you step out to advance God’s kingdom—whether in your family, your workplace, or your community—you will encounter spiritual resistance. The enemy does not give up territory easily; he fights to maintain strongholds of sin, brokenness, and wrong mindsets. But as a Christ follower, you are called to discern the source of opposition, put on the armor of God, and persevere in faith. Even when you face setbacks, confusion, or persecution, remember that the enemy’s resistance is a sign that you are making a difference for God’s kingdom. Stand firm, knowing that God has equipped you with spiritual weapons and that victory belongs to Him. [04:57]

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NKJV)
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Reflection: Where have you recently experienced resistance or setbacks as you tried to follow God? How can you respond with spiritual discernment and perseverance today?

Day 3: Suffering and Joy: Understanding Trials in Christ

Jesus warned His disciples that following Him would bring sorrow, persecution, and even misunderstanding from the world. Yet, He also promised that their sorrow would be turned into joy—a joy that no one can take away. As believers, we live in a fallen world and sometimes face suffering not because God is displeased, but because the light of Christ in us stirs up opposition. In these moments, do not equate hardship with God’s absence or anger; instead, trust that your suffering has purpose and that ultimate joy awaits you in Christ’s presence. [26:57]

John 16:20-22 (NKJV)
“Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.”

Reflection: In what area of your life are you tempted to feel abandoned by God because of hardship? How can you choose to trust His promise of lasting joy today?

Day 4: The Inheritance and Exaltation of Jesus’ Name

The name of Jesus is not only powerful because of what He accomplished, but also because it is an inherited and exalted name—bestowed by the Father, above every other name in heaven and on earth. When you pray or act in Jesus’ name, you are invoking the authority of the One who is heir of all things, the One who upholds the universe by His word, and the One before whom every knee will bow. This is the name that breaks every curse, shatters every stronghold, and brings glory to God the Father. [53:51]

Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV)
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Reflection: How does knowing the greatness and inheritance of Jesus’ name change the way you pray and live today?

Day 5: Assessing Readiness and Walking in the Spirit

Just as Jesus assessed the readiness of His disciples before revealing deeper truths, you are called to walk in step with the Holy Spirit, discerning when and how to share God’s truth with others. The Spirit of truth guides you into all truth, reveals what is to come, and empowers you to minister wisely and effectively. Not every moment is the right moment to speak or act; spiritual maturity involves listening to the Spirit’s prompting and being sensitive to the readiness of those around you. [21:21]

John 16:13 (NKJV)
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

Reflection: Who in your life needs encouragement or truth today, and how can you ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and timing in your words and actions?

Sermon Summary

There is a deep and abiding joy in the future for those who are rooted in the house of the Lord, building their lives on the solid rock of God’s Word. The name of Jesus is not just a phrase we use in prayer; it is a source of immense power, authority, and spiritual wealth. When we are born again and walk with Christ, we are given access to this name, which allows us to do business on God’s behalf and participate in the movement of His kingdom on earth. The heart of God’s work begins within us, as He seeks to conquer our hearts, uprooting pride, jealousy, and indifference, so that we are fully yielded to Him.

The spiritual battle we face is not a natural one, but a war for territory—territory in our lives, our families, and our communities. The enemy resists any attempt to reclaim ground for God, whether it’s breaking cycles of poverty, racism, or destructive mindsets. When we advance the kingdom, we should not be surprised by resistance or spiritual warfare. The enemy is like a squatter, trying to claim what is not his, but we are called to stand firm, discerning the source of our struggles and wearing the armor of God.

Jesus prepared His disciples for the reality that following Him would bring persecution and sorrow in a fallen world. He warned them not to be offended or confused when suffering comes, reminding them that their sorrow would ultimately be turned to joy. The world may rejoice in its own ways, but those who belong to Christ understand the deeper reality of God’s coming justice and the eternal joy that awaits.

A profound truth is that Jesus has given us “power of attorney” to use His name. Just as a legal power of attorney allows someone to act on another’s behalf, Jesus entrusts us with His name, backed by all the authority, resources, and glory of heaven. This is not a light or casual privilege; it is a call to represent Him faithfully, knowing the weight and value of the name we bear. The name of Jesus is inherited, bestowed, and made great through His obedience and victory. Every knee will bow to this name, and every tongue will confess His lordship. As we advance God’s kingdom, we do so not in our own strength, but in the mighty, matchless name of Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. The spiritual battle is about territory, not just personal struggles. The enemy resists any attempt to reclaim ground for God, whether in our lives, families, or communities. Recognizing this helps us persevere when we face resistance, knowing that advancing the kingdom will always provoke opposition, but God’s authority is greater than any squatter’s claim. [04:57]
2. Suffering and persecution are not signs of God’s displeasure, but often the result of living as light in a dark world. Jesus warned that the world would sometimes hate or misunderstand us, not because we have failed, but because the spirit of antichrist is stirred by the presence of Christ in us. Our calling is to remain faithful, trusting that our sorrow will be turned to joy in God’s timing. [15:32]
3. The Holy Spirit is our guide into all truth, revealing God’s heart and preparing us for what is to come. Spiritual readiness is essential; just as Jesus assessed the disciples’ readiness to receive deeper truths, we must be sensitive to the Spirit’s timing in our own lives and in sharing with others. This discernment is a mark of maturity and partnership with God’s purposes. [21:21]
4. Jesus has given us the authority to use His name, much like a power of attorney. This means we are entrusted to act on His behalf, backed by all the resources and authority of heaven. Understanding the weight of this privilege calls us to act with wisdom, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility, knowing that the measure of our authority is found in the value of His name. [26:57]
5. The name of Jesus is above every name—by inheritance, by bestowment, and by accomplishment. When we pray, serve, or confront the enemy in Jesus’ name, we are not invoking a formula, but standing in the authority of the One who is heir of all things, exalted above all, and whose victory is complete. Our lives are meant to honor and advance the reputation of this name, making it great in our generation. [53:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Opening Prayer and Surrendering Our Hearts
[04:57] - The Battle for Territory: Understanding Spiritual Warfare
[08:30] - Recognizing the Enemy’s Resistance in Our Lives
[12:18] - Turning to John 16: Jesus Prepares His Disciples
[15:32] - Suffering, Persecution, and the Spirit of Antichrist
[17:48] - Responding to Conviction and the World’s Reaction
[21:21] - The Role of the Holy Spirit and Assessing Readiness
[26:57] - Jesus’ Promise: Sorrow Turned to Joy
[32:00] - Asking in Jesus’ Name: Power of Attorney Explained
[36:45] - Types of Power of Attorney and Spiritual Application
[41:30] - The Name of Jesus: Inheritance, Bestowment, Accomplishment
[46:15] - The Authority and Backing of Jesus’ Name
[50:00] - Making the Name Great in Our Generation
[53:51] - Living and Advancing in the Power of Jesus’ Name

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 16:16-24 (NKJV) — 16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”
17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?”
18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”
19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’?
20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Hebrews 1:1-4 (NKJV) — 1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV) — 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Observation Questions

In John 16, what does Jesus say will happen to the disciples after He goes to the Father, and how does He describe their coming sorrow and joy? [26:57]
According to Hebrews 1:1-4, what are some of the ways Jesus is described, and what does it say about His name?
In Philippians 2:9-11, what does God do for Jesus after His obedience, and what is the response of all creation to His name?
The sermon talks about the enemy fighting for “territory” in our lives, families, and communities. What are some examples given of this spiritual battle? [04:57]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus warn His disciples that they will experience sorrow and persecution? What does He want them to understand about suffering as His followers? [15:32]
The sermon compares the enemy to a “squatter” who tries to claim what isn’t his. How does this image help us understand spiritual warfare in our lives? [04:57]
What does it mean that Jesus gives us “power of attorney” to use His name? How is this different from just using His name as a phrase in prayer? [26:57]
The sermon says the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and helps us discern when to share deeper things. Why is spiritual readiness and discernment important in advancing God’s kingdom? [21:21]

Application Questions

The sermon says the spiritual battle is about territory, not just personal struggles. Is there an area in your life, family, or community where you sense the enemy is trying to hold ground? What would it look like to reclaim that territory for God? [04:57]
Jesus warned that following Him would bring persecution and sorrow, but also promised that our sorrow would turn to joy. Have you ever experienced pushback or misunderstanding because of your faith? How did you respond, and what could you do differently next time? [15:32]
The sermon describes the enemy as a “squatter” who resists when we try to advance God’s kingdom. Are there any “squatters” (old habits, mindsets, or patterns) in your life that you need to confront in Jesus’ name? What practical step can you take this week? [04:57]
Jesus has given us the authority to use His name, like a power of attorney. How does this change the way you pray or serve others? Is there a situation right now where you need to act with the confidence and responsibility that comes with Jesus’ name? [26:57]
The sermon says the Holy Spirit helps us discern when people are ready to hear deeper truths. Is there someone in your life you feel led to share more with, but you’re unsure if they’re ready? How can you pray for discernment and sensitivity to the Spirit’s timing? [21:21]
The name of Jesus is above every name—by inheritance, bestowment, and accomplishment. When you pray or serve, do you think about the weight and authority behind Jesus’ name, or has it become just a habit? What can you do to honor His name more intentionally? [53:51]
The sermon challenges us to make the name of Jesus great in our generation. What is one specific way you can honor and advance the reputation of Jesus’ name in your workplace, school, or neighborhood this week? [53:51]

Sermon Clips

But Christ followers, warriors like us, we understand that and we're not going to give up because the enemy does some kickback, right? We're going to say, no devil, back up. And we have the name of Jesus that we can use and say, we bind you in the name of Jesus. [00:09:41] (17 seconds) #VictoryThroughWisdomAndFaith

But how many of you know the blood of Jesus, amen, can break every curse, can break every stronghold. And we as believers, we get to call on the name of Jesus and we can, we can dismiss the enemy's rules or the enemy's rights to things because of the blood. Somebody say the rights are broken, devil, right? Your rights are broken by the blood of Jesus. So claim the blood of Jesus, declare the blood of Jesus, declare the name of Jesus, right? What is, what are our greatest weapons? Our greatest weapons of advancement are the word of God, the sword of the spirit, right? It is also the word of God coming through our mouths, right? The, the, the blood of Jesus, right? Those are the, the name, the blood and the word. Those are our great weapons of advancing the kingdom. [00:11:59] (50 seconds) #SufferingRefinesFaithNotLove

Our God's will for us, isn't that it's going to be easy. It isn't that it's going to be, you know, God wanting to hurt us, but God will let us go through suffering because we get a crown over yonder, right? And because we're in a fallen world and it's going to glorify him, God doesn't control every single thing that's going on by his hand, but he does use everything for his will, right? So I know that's, that's going to be questionable for people, but, but the, the things that's happening on the earth are under the will of man until we implement the will of God, right? [00:14:32] (37 seconds) #HolySpiritRevealsGodsTruth

We may lose our joy or lose our happiness in this life but there's a time when our joy is never going to be taken away. We may have lamenting we may have burdens we may have you know we may see things in this world that's and we may suffer some things in this world even unto death but once we get over there somebody say hallelujah we get to we our joy will never be taken away from us. [00:32:53] (25 seconds) #PowerBackedByJesusName

So when we say in the name of jesus don't just tack it on oh in the name of jesus in the name of jesus no you got to know that there's power there's backing there's resources there's authority there's glory somebody say amen so so whom he hath appointed air of all things by whom also he made the worlds so this is jesus this is this name that we we can bear what's he done well I don't know if god can handle this have you ever heard somebody say that what did god do what did jesus do by whom he also made the worlds god god god's overwhelmed I I think not somebody say amen. [00:47:29] (43 seconds)

So when we say in the name of jesus it's not just the little jesus we may know I kind of I kind of get a little disappointed you know those little jesus's everybody's putting out there oh I just thought you need a little jesus there's nothing little about jesus I almost think it's a little bit I know their hearts right but I'm like I don't see jesus as this little jesus somebody say he's not a little jesus honey he's he's king and king of kings lord of lords he's the glorious powerful ruling and reigning mighty god somebody say amen he is our king of glory he's the one who's brought us up out of the pit he's the one who came off all came off that cross and came up out of that grave somebody say hallelujah he is mighty. [00:50:04] (49 seconds)

Think about this this is the mighty mighty name of jesus everything in heaven and the earth is going to kneel to him every tongue is going to confess jesus is lord that's power in that name amen that's glory in that name and we get to bear that name not to beat people up not to use it for our own good but to advance the kingdom of god. [00:56:00] (22 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the significance of bearing the name of Jesus?

How does Jesus's inheritance enhance his authority?

In what ways can believers activate spiritual power through Jesus?