The name of Jesus is higher than all names.  It’s important to remember that fact as we enter into this new year.  The year 2020 was an interesting year filled with interesting problems and opportunities to give up hope, but for the Christian who is grounded in faith, it was an opportunity to remember that Jesus is on His throne.  

Again I’ll say that the name of Jesus is higher than all names.  Today, I want to look at the name of Jesus and the weight that it carries in the spiritual world.  

The Bible says, 

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12 KJV

Our fight is not with man, but our fight is with the influencer of man – Satan.

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

1 Peter 5:7-9 KJV

Just like we talked about last week, it takes faith to please God.  WE have to walk by faith and not by sight. The devil is walking about “AS a roaring lion” and he is looking for who he “MAY devour”.  Those are important words: “as” and “may”.  

“AS” a Roaring Lion

Jesus is the Lion of Judah.  He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  But Satan is the Father of all lies.  He attempts to parade himself AS a lion.  The counterfeit to the power that Jesus possesses.  In Luke, Jesus talks about his so-called “power”. 

18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luke 10:18-19 KJV

Satan is defeated.  

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Colossians 2:14-15 KJV

Jesus defeated Satan on the cross.  After three days and nights, he was raised to life again (and we with Him) to sit in heavenly places.  

“MAY” Devour

As we already saw, Satan is a defeated foe, but just like within any battle, if you turn around and give up the enemy will still try to kill you!  The same is with this spiritual battle.  

Satan is making trouble because he knows that his time is short. 

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

Revelations 12:11-13 KJV

The devil is here on this earth.   That much is a fact as we see here, but the Name of Jesus is higher than the devil or any of his cronies.  

Overcome by the Blood and Your Words

The blood of Jesus and the words of Jesus (the Bible) are the two most powerful things in all of creation.  In Revelations, Jesus is telling us how we overcome satan.  

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Revelations 12:11 KJV

The Blood of the Lamb

We gain access to the cleansing power of the blood of the Lamb – Jesus – when we become a christian.  Think about the old hymn “Have You Been To Jesus – Elisha Albright Hoffman”.

Have you been to Jesus? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb.  The salvation you and I have qualifies us to be in relationship with God and far from any interaction with the devil.  

OUR Testimony

This is probably the most important and misunderstood concept in Christian circles today.  Many christians unknowingly give the devil glory when giving their “testimony”.  You often hear these people start conversations like, “Back when I was 19, I got into drugs…”  

They proceed to tell you – and anyone else who will listen – about the 10,000 problems, sicknesses, addictions and junk that was hanging on them in extreme detail.  Then they finish it up with a 5 second explanation about Jesus and salvation.  

What is wrong with this picture?  These christians have good intentions.  They want to glorify God, but unknowingly they spent the greater part of 95% of the effort glorifying the devil!  They told all the ways the devil had them bound.  

I know the belief that if he will do it for me he can do it for you, but there is a better way. 

THE WORD of their Testimony

So what is Jesus talking about here.  You cannot overcome the devil or an addiction by the words of men.  It might make you feel better in the moment, but eventually when that bad habit or addiction wants to rear its head, you’ll find a person’s words less comforting.  

No.  Addiction is only broken by THE WORD of God.  There is anointing on the Word of God that breaks the yoke of bondage.  

27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

Isaiah 10:27 KJV

“The WORD of their testimony” is not all the bad things God delivered me from.  It is describing who you are IN CHRIST because of the Blood of the Lamb.  This is the time when you speak the Word of God.  That is the only thing that will truly break any man free from the hold of satan. 

“The WORD of their testimony” is…

• I’m healed because Isaiah 53:5 says, “…by His stripes we ARE healed.”
• Money flows to me because of what Malachi 3:10
• And so on.

You overcome the Devil by using the Word of God AS your testimony.

NOT telling how the word of God saved you.  You speak faith in the now and tell how the Word of God is working currently.  

Stand Fast in Liberty

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:1 KJV

So as each of us enters this new year remember this.

1. Christ defeated Satan.  Therefore, you have authority over the attacks the enemy sends your way.
2. Exercise authority and keep yourself in God’s will by guarding your heart and your mouth.  Don’t let your words put you away.

Stand fast in the liberty that Christ has given us.  Do this by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony.  The name of Jesus is higher than every other name. Don’t forget to put Him first in everything that you do.