IN MY NAME
By John C. Carpenter
John Mark wrote, Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first
to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto
two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. Afterward
he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed
not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that
believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink
any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken
unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God (Mark 16:9-19). What does it mean when miracles are done
in the name of the Lord, and were signs, wonders, and miracles actually following the new converts to faith in Christ, as Jesus said
would happen?
In verse 17, the word signs is translated from the Greek word emeion, which means an indication ceremonially or
supernaturally, miracle, token, or wonder. In context, the best definition of signs is that they were a supernatural indication or
signification of the presence and operation of the Lord. Also in verse 17, the word name is translated from the Greek word onoma,
which means a name literally or figuratively, authority, or character. Merrill F. Unger in his Unger's Bible Dictionary gives a figurative
definition of the word name: Unger says that the name in Hebrew is sometimes used to signify the collective attributes or characteristics
of the object named. This is particularly the case with the divine name (Exodus 34:5). Our Lord says I have manifested thy name (John
17:6), where name embraces the whole diviine nature revealed by the Son. The expression name of God iindicates the entire administration
of God, by which He reveals Himself and His attributes to men. In the New Testament, the name of Christ refers to all that Jesus is
to men (Luke 24:47, Acts 9:15).
Biblical names can also provide identity, convey a message, reflect divine intention, reflect
God's promises, or carry deep symbolic meaning. Names can also imply purpose and destiny, can carry prophetic significance, can symbolize
transformation and change, or be covenantal signs between God and His people. Biblical names can also reveal insights into God's nature,
His promises, or His relationship with humanity. Although no one knows exactly and completely what in my name really means in the
scriptures, it appears that it refers to an act performed in the reputation, personality, character, will, essence, and authority
of the name represented. When anyone does something in the name of Jesus, Lord, Christ, or God, it is being done in the essence, personality,
character, will, and authority of Jesus, Lord, Christ, or God.
In our subject verses, Jesus was resurrected on the first day
of the week, and after His resurrection, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, who went and told others who had been with Jesus that
He was alive again. However, the others did not believe Mary when she told them that Jesus was in fact alive. After He appeared to
others, Jesus then appeared to His own eleven disciples and chastised them for hard hearts and unbelief at His resurrection. Jesus
then instructed His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Jesus added that when they preached,
those who believed and were bapatized would be saved from God's wrath, while those who refused to believe would be eternally damned.
Then Jesus said an unusual, and often misunderstood, thing to His disciples. He explained that those, and all, who were now converted
to believe in Him and the gospel message would show signs, or evidence, of their new found faith and Christ working in and through
them. Jesus explained that these new believers would, in the name of Jesus, and as supernatural evidence of their new faith, be able
to cast out devils, and would be able to speak with a new, different, or unknown language. They would also be able to take up or handle
serpents without being harmed, would not be harmed if they drank any deadly thing, and they would also have the ability to lay hands
on the sick and supernaturally bring about, through the name of Jesus Christ, their recovery and healing.
Based on our subject
verses, some in the Christian church believe that all believers in Christ were then and are currently able to perform these same miracles,
and more, in the name of Jesus. The belief is that miracles were being performed by all believers at all times during the entire new
testament era. But, is this idea really true?
This all sounds wonderful, but there seems to be a major problem with this teaching.
The problem is that since the time of Christ and in the apostolic age which followed, believers in the Christian church have not been
performing these miracles, as our subject verses seem to teach. Christ clearly performed many signs, and without a doubt, during the
apostolic age, the apostles and disciples of Christ, performed many signs, wonders, and miracles, as documented in the scriptures.
These miracles were evidence of their relationship to God the Father and Christ and His supernaturally working through certain men
and women. However, biblical evidence that all believers in mass have since the time of Christ performed consistent and numerous supernatural
signs, wonders, and miracles following their conversion to faith in Christ is just not apparent, or at a minimum, not well documented
in the bible. To my knowledge, it is absolutely unknown in the contemporary Christian church. There is no evidence in the contemporary
church that sign miracles by believers in Christ are actually happening.
With the apparent words of Christ to His own disciples,
are miraculous signs really not following all believers in Christ since the apostolic age? If this is true, why is this the case?
No doubt, the scriptures appear to teach that throughout the entire new testament era, from the apostolic era to this day, miracles
should be happening in the name of Jesus Christ as evidence and verification of the presence and operation of Christ and the Holy
Spirit within all men and women believers in Christ. Jesus specifically taught some of His disciples, Ye have not chosen me, but I
have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye
shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you (John 15:16). Jesus later added, in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name:
ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24). Shockingly, the Lord even told His disciples that they would
not only perform miracles, but that they would do even greater [mightier] works than He did: Believest thou not that I am in the Father,
and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto
you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [Greek, meizon, literally or figuratively larger,
big, strong, elder, greatest, more] works [Greek, touton, of or concerning these persons or things, they, this, those] than these
shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified
in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it (John 14:10-14). Did Christ's disciples actually perform more numerous
and mightier miracles than the miracles Christ performed – cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, healing the sick, causing the lame
to walk, and giving sight to the blind?
As we mentioned, when we honestly examine the so-called miracles performed in the modern
day church, there is no clear evidence of miracles being done in the name of Christ. We must also admit that there are some in the
church who would argue the point that miracles are actually being performed by believers in Christ, including newly converted believers.
We must be honest, and admit that without a doubt, some individuals are probably experiencing miracles at the hand of God when it
is God's sovereign will; but it appears that these miracles have occurred at the volition of God the Father and not due to the annointings,
actions, will, or ministries of man. We must also admit, though, that if verifiable miracles are happening in the contemporay Christian
church, these signs and miracles are few and far between, and not occurring in all believers. Dangerously so, many church leaders,
especially those of the word of faith and charismatic persuasion, are promoting the idea that miracles are regularly occurring in
their churches and to their members. In most, if not all, of these cases, this promotion is nothing short of fantasy, cunning manipulation,
and deception on the part of the involved ministers. Many false ministers are promoting the idea of regular miracles in their churches,
but these ministers often have hidden motivations: the advertising of alleged miracles attract bodies, notoriety, influence, power,
and, not least of all, money.
In the modern day Christian church there are many false ministers who are not truly seeking God,
His will and His power, but are interested only in self-promotion, ego, self-will, prosperity, position, and power, among a hundred
other reasons. They are not prayerfully and spiritually seeking the well being of the flock, but of themselves. As many understand,
there are those in the church who are not concerned about feeding the flock of God, but feeding themselves. Jesus clearly warned,Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church
of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among
you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears (Acts 20:28-31).
Jesus
elesewhere warns of false ministers in the Christian church. Speaking to false leaders of the Jewish church, the Pharisees, Jesus
said they entered into the sheepfold by some other way than the door, and as a result He considered them to be thieves and robbers(John 10:1). He added that the Pharisees were strangers whom the true sheep of Christ will not follow, but will flee from him: for
they know not the voice of strangers (John 10:5), and that they were hirelings, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not,
seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep (John 10:12). Jesus summarized His chastening of the Pharisees with these words: The thief [the Pharisees] cometh not, but for to steal, and to
kill, and to destroy: I [the Christ) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10).
Many false shepherds in the contemporary church are stealing [Jeremiah 23:30], killing [see Ezekiel 34:3], and destroying [see Jeremiah
12:10, Isaiah 9:16] the true flock of God.
In writing the church in Rome, Paul warns, Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them
which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not
our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple (Romans 16:17-18).
Christ warned His disciples that in the end times many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many (Matthew
24:5).
WHY ARE MIRACLES IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST NOT HAPPENING
IN THE CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN CHURCH?
Considering the words
of the Lord Jesus Christ in our subject verses, we should ask, why does it appear that miracles performed in the name of Jesus are
not happening within the modern day Christian church, although some church menbers and church leaders are insisting and teaching that
they are. Again, we should also ask why for the last two thousand years have all believers in Christ not been regularly performing
the miracles mentioned in Mark 16 of our subject verses, as Jesus said they would? Although, no one knows for sure the answer to this
question, there may be multiple reasons, but only two that we will mention.
THE LORD WORKING WITH THEM
One possible reason
that true, verifiable miracles are not occurring in the contemporary Christian church is that ministers are, in essence, really not
involving the Lord, Himself, in their prayers and ministry. They are not seeking Him and His will in prayer, nor are they depending
upon His presence or His power, but on their own will, efforts, ministry, and power. During prayer requests, they may, out of tradition
and expectation, utter the words in His name or in the name of, but in the minds of many of these ministers, these words are hollow,
and nothing but catchy witchcraft terminology that reflect their complete actions apart from the Lord. No Lord, no signs, wonders,
and miracles.
Even our subject verses reflect the essential involvement of Christ in the performance of signs and wonders, as
should always be the case. After the Lord had spoken unto His disciples, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand
of God (Mark 16:19), And His disciples went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working [Greek, sunergeo, to be a fellow worker,
to co-operate, help, work with, labor together with, or work together] with them, and confirming the word [that Christ had just spoken
to them] with signs following (Mark 16:20). After the Lord told His disciples to go and preach the gospel, and that signs would follow
those who believe, we are then instructed that the Lord was not only working together with, and side by side, with His disciples through
the exercising of His will and power, but that the signs He had promised would happen, actually happened, just as He had said. His
word, that is, the message that Jesus had just spoken to them that signs would follow believers, was clearly confirmed. Today, many
ministers are trying to accomplish signs, wonders, and miracles within their own will, words, and power, and no such miracles are
happening. They are excluding God. They are praying in the name of Jesus or the Lord, or God, for this or that, and this or that are
not manifested.
Many false ministers who are trying to create their own worldly signs [evidence that God is working through them,
and that they are anointed, as they call it] are completely leaving Christ out of the equation. They are not truly abiding in Christ,
His will, and His power. Jesus emphatically taught that our abiding in Him and He in us is essential: Abide in me, and I in you. As
the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are
the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man
abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you (John 15:4-7).
Even the
Jewish leader Nicodemus understood the connection between miracles and God. We read, There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus,
a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: forno man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him (John 3:1-2).
THE WORKS THAT I DO IN MY FATHER'S NAME, THEY
BEAR WITNESS OF ME
A second possible reason that regularly-occurring, verifiable, supernatural miracles are not happening in
the contemporary Christian church is that God did not intend for miracles to continue after the ascension of Christ and the apostolic
times. The Christian idea, belief, and doctrine that supernatatural gifts, which were originally intended to provide signs, or evidence,
of God's presence and working, in the new testament have ceased to function, is referred to as cessationism. While cessationists believe
God still performs miracles today, and we can imagine and assume that He probably occasionally does, they also believe that God the
Father does not empower and equip individual believers in Christ to perform miraculous sign miracles as evidence of His presence and
working, as He did in the apostolic era.
Cessationists use a few scriptures to justify their beliefs. To the church in Corinth,
Paul wrote Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether
there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then
that which is in part shall be done away (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). They also rely on Ephesians 4:7-13, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians
2:20 and 3:5, and Hebrews 2:1-4.
Moses wrote, the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and
the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy
son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs [miracles] which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I
am the LORD (Exodus 10:1-2), as well as, Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and
swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes
have seen (Deuteronomy 10:20-21). In Ezekiel we read, In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt
speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD (Ezekiel 24:27).
The apostle
John wrote, Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of
God, he could do nothing [miraculous]. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?
And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the
Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him,
and it is he that talketh with thee” (John 9:32-37), Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in
my Father's name, they bear witness of me" (John 10:25), and, Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost
thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that
I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me” (John 10:24-25).
Additionally, in the book of Acts, we are instructed with
these words: Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved [exhibit, demonstrate, credit, prove] of God among
you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22), as well
as, And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching
forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the
place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God
with boldness” (Acts 4:29-31).
During the time of Christ, some saw the miracles Christ performed as evidence that God the Father
was with Him and that He was the Christ, and they believed, but many saw the signs and did not. Jesus complained to them, Except ye
see signs and wonders, ye will not believe (John 4:48), I said unto you, That ye also have seen me [and the signs and wonders that
I have done], and believe not (John 6:36). Jesus heartily pleaded with those around Him, especially the Jews, If I do not the works [signs
and wonders] of my Father, believe me not. But if I do [these signs and wonders through the will and power my Father], though ye believe
not me [in spite of seeing the signs and wonders], believe the works [signs and wonders as evidence of who I am]: that ye may know,
and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him [and that I am Christ] (John 10:37-38).
The scriptures are clear that in
both the old and new testaments, God the Father and Christ each performed miracles to reveal and verify who they were, that they were
divine, and did so in a loving effort to ultimately draw unbelivers to themselves. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of
God our Saviour; will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4). But, are sign miracles
applicable throughout the entire new testament age and to all believers in Christ for all times?
With the ascension of Christ
into heaven, and the death of Christ's apostles and disciples, it is certainly possible that God the Father no longer found it necessary
to reveal Himself and his Christ. The cessationists may be right. After all, the ultimate purpose and goal of performing miracles
intended to provide evidence that He was God was to bring unbelievers to faith.
MY WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN YOUR WAYS, AND MY
THOUGHTS
THAN YOUR THOUGHTS
Again, if we are honest with ourselves, and others, we must conclude, based upon our own observations of what
is going on inside the contemporary Christian church, especially within some large media based churches, that there are, for two reasons,
few, if any, true sign miracles happening today in the name of Christ.
First, some ministers are intentionally creating and promoting
the idea that signs and wonders are occurring in their churches, when in fact there are no true miracles of God happening within their
churches. The truth is, there are no true healings, no true speaking in tongues [most so called tongues in the church are worldly
and fleshly gibberish and nonsense], no true raising the dead, no true prophecies revealed or interpreted, no true prosperity, no
miracles, no true casting out of devils, and prophetic words do not bear good fruit. In some churches, individual congregants are
even speaking forth false, so-called, prophetic tongues, and when after a season, no interpretation is offered, the minister's wife
suddenly interprets the false tongues with her own interpretation, a false interpretation that always conveys and promotes the idea
of success, healing, growth, health, wealth, or prosperity of the church and minister.
While some of these false ministers are
attempting to display supernatural, miraculous signs and wonders within their own churches, they are actually not relying upon the
will, love, grace, and power of Christ, but they are attempting, unsuccessfully, to perform these sign miracles within their own will
and strength, and for their own ungodly, worldly, and personal gain. Paul warns that there are men of corrupt [Greek, diaphtheiro,
thoroughly rotted, ruined, defiled, decayed, or perishing] minds, and destitute [Greek, apostereo, deprived of, despoiled, defrauded,
or kept by by fraud] of the truth, supposing that [worldly] gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself (1 Timothy 6:5).
Secondly,
we must also conclude that true, planned, verifiable, consistent miracles do not appear to be happening in the modern Christain church,
and that sign miracles performed by so-called contemporary apostles and prophets are no longer occurring within the church. It could
very well be that, on a regular basis, God the Father does not need or want regular occurring miracles anymore. The cessationists
may be right. There are cessationists, and there are anti-cessationists, but we all must accept the conclusion that no one actually
knows the answers to these questions. None of us really know the complete mind and will of the Lord. These answers are known only
to our Father in heaven. As Paul taught, For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even sothe things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:11). Similarly, Isaiah adds, For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).
When we examine the fruit of the contemporary Christian church,
and are truthful about what we see, we have to conclude that if true, verifiable miracles performed in the name of Christ are happening
in this new testament era, these miracles are few and far between. Scriptures also present the idea that God's probable purpose, as
has been His motivation over time, in doing such miracles, is to reveal Himself in the effort to bring the sinner to faith in God
the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ; with one intended result – salvation. AMEN.
THE CHRISTIAN HERALD
A
Judeo-Christian Bible Study
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves
therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands,
ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning,
and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall
lift you up”
(James 4:7-10).
“For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of
the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator [Greek, mesites, a go between, an internunciator,
reconciler, intercessor] of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the
first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also
of necessity
be the death
of the testator”
(Hebrews 9:13-16).
“If the world hate
you, ye know that
it hated me before it hated you. If ye
were of the world, the world would love his own: but
because
ye are not of the
world, but I have chosen you out
of the world,
therefore the world hateth you”
(John 15:18-19).
“Wherein in time
past ye walked according to the
course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit
that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we
all had our conversation in times past in the
lusts of our flesh,
fulfilling the desires
of the flesh and
of the mind; and
were by nature the children of wrath,
even as others”
(Ephesians 2:2-3).