Christian Mission Outreach

For the first part of my life, from childhood to my mid-thirties, when I needed help in prayer, I usually called on the name of a saint in heaven. That is how I was raised, and I was very devout in doing this. But then I heard of what Jesus was doing, especially in our area of the world and how Father God was sending His Holy Spirit upon groups of people who were called  Charismatics because they were receiving the gifts or charisms of the Holy Spirit. My cousin, a Charismatic Catholic, asked me if I would like to receive the Holy Spirit too. After all, John the Baptist had told the people to go to Jesus. “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16)

When I said that I would like that too, he laid hands on me and I received a baptism of the Holy Spirit with the gift of prophecy. After that, from time to time, I began to hear Holy Spirit speak to me in His “wee small voice.” One of the first things He said to me, more than once, was,

“Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

I found that this word is in the Bible in Psalm 124:8.

That was when I began to call upon the name of the Lord, beginning by asking Jesus for help when I needed it, especially by using His name, Good Shepherd. You are probably familiar with the twenty-third Psalm. Plus Jesus even said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) Jesus certainly did that. So I would often call on Him using the chorus of a little song by Mary Lu Walker which we sang with the children’s choir at Mass, (I attended a Catholic church in those days,)

“Lead me Shepherd, lead me. I’ll follow where You go. Lead me Shepherd, lead me. I’m safe with You, I know,” and I would see Jesus’ shepherding of my life.

What a surprise this was! If I needed prayer, I would notice that someone would phone me asking if I needed prayer. Plus other things happened that were more than coincidence. I began to see that God wanted us to call on the name of Jesus as the help of Christians, later learning that His name alone was the Father’s plan for our lives. To call on the name of saints in Heaven, even the mother of Jesus, would be treating them as idols.

“Do not fear, nor be afraid; have I not told you from that time, and declared it?

You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me?

Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.” (Isa. 44:8)

Because of the humble obedience of Jesus in going to the cross so we could be saved, “therefore God 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.” (Phil. 2:9-11) He has no rival or equal. Mankind is only made “according to [His] likeness.” (Gen. 1:26)

I began to learn that there was power in the name of Jesus and “Once, twice, three times I have heard, ‘Power comes from the LORD.’” So the Lord trained me by calling on His name to handle insects like big spiders which sometimes creeped into our home. I would declare to them, “You are out of this house or under my feet, in Jesus’name.” and either I could usher them out the door, or they presented themselves so I could scoop them up with a tissue and step on them. I also used His name for protection from a large dog which liked to run to my backyard fence. I did this remembering that Adam had lost the dominion over creatures that God had given him. But for those who believe, Jesus has restored dominion authority in Christ.

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13)

Jesus’ name has power, even over evil spirits, just as He had 2,000 years ago. “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18)

Jesus also told His disciples “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47) Since His name has power to save, multitudes have done this over the centuries.

“And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21)

His name has been the 911 name to call in all types of emergencies in our day. We do not have to fear. The night before He died, Jesus promised another Helper for Christians, so He would be with us always. Instead of being with us physically as He was with His first disciples, He is with us spiritually through His Spirit. Our triune God is One and we are still expected to do His will. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.” (John 14:15-18)

Receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire has made such a difference in my life. I have the blessed assurance that Jesus, by His Holy Spirit, is not only with me, but He is within me and upon me. Thank God I know who to call. And I am never alone.