The Power and Authority of Jesus’ Name: Speaking Life, Binding Darkness

I recently heard Charity Gayle’s song “I Speak Jesus,” and its lyrics stopped me in my tracks: “I just wanna speak the name of Jesus / Over every heart and every mind / ‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence / I speak Jesus.” The song pulses with a truth I preached about earlier this year in a sermon titled “The Power of Prayer in Healing and Faith“—the unrivaled authority we’ve been given to use Jesus’ name. It’s not just a song or a sermon point; it’s a biblical reality that transforms how we live, pray, and confront the enemy. Let’s unpack this authority, why it matters, and how we wield it through speaking His name, binding, and loosing.

The Name Above All Names

Philippians 2:9-10 declares, “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” (NKJV). This isn’t poetic exaggeration—Jesus’ name carries supreme authority. As the song says, “Your name is power / Your name is healing / Your name is life.” Why? Because Jesus reclaimed what Adam lost. Genesis 1:26 gave humanity dominion over the earth, but sin handed it to Satan (Luke 4:6). Then Jesus came, defeated Satan through His death and resurrection (Colossians 2:15), and restored that authority to us (Matthew 28:18-20).

In my sermon, I highlighted Mark 16:17-18: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons… they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Jesus gives us His “power of attorney”—a legal right to act in His stead, as if He were here. When we speak His name, we’re not begging; we’re exercising delegated authority backed by heaven’s throne.

Binding and Loosing: Our Authority in Action

This authority isn’t passive—it’s active through binding and loosing. Matthew 16:19 records Jesus telling Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:18 extends this to all disciples: “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” In the Cotton Patch translation, it’s even clearer: what we bind or loose in the physical realm aligns with the spiritual realm.

“Bind” means to forbid or restrain; “loose” means to allow or release. When Charity Gayle sings, “Break every stronghold / Shine through the shadows / Burn like a fire,” she’s echoing this power. We can bind addiction, fear, or depression in Jesus’ name—commanding Satan’s grip to break (James 4:7: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you”). We can loose peace, healing, and freedom, unleashing God’s will on earth (Luke 10:19: “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy”).

Why Us? The Responsibility of Authority

People often ask, “Why does God allow disasters or sickness?” As I said in my sermon, God gave us authority on earth—He permits what we permit and forbids what we forbid. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us our fight isn’t against flesh but “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age.” Satan’s the default ruler here (2 Corinthians 4:4), but Jesus flipped the script. John 16:33 says, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He’s handed us the keys—His name—to enforce that victory.

This isn’t about God micromanaging every storm or sickness; it’s about us stepping up. Ephesians 4:27 warns, “Do not give the devil an opportunity.” If we don’t bind his schemes, he’ll take ground. But when we speak Jesus’ name, we reclaim it—over families, streets, even “the darkness over every enemy,” as the song proclaims.

Biblical Examples: The Name in Action

Scripture shows this authority at work. In Acts 3:6, Peter tells a lame man, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk”—and he does. In Acts 16:18, Paul commands a spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her,” and it flees. These weren’t suggestions; they were declarations rooted in Jesus’ authority. Even the early church prayed boldly in Acts 4:29-30, asking God to stretch out His hand “to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

How and Why to Use It

So how do we use Jesus’ name? It’s simple but not casual. First, know your authority—study Mark 16:17, Luke 10:19, and Philippians 2:10 until it sinks in. Second, speak with faith, not fear. Hebrews 11:1 says faith is the substance of things hoped for; when you say, “I bind anxiety in Jesus’ name,” believe heaven backs you. Third, align with God’s will—1 John 5:14-15 promises that prayers according to His will are heard. Why do it? Because His name breaks strongholds, heals hearts, and brings life (John 20:31: “These are written that you may believe… and that believing you may have life in His name”).

In my sermon, I shared how this hit me preaching about healing—people came forward, trusting prayer in Jesus’ name to loose God’s power. Like “I Speak Jesus” says, it’s for “every soul held captive by depression,” every family, every mountain. It’s not magic; it’s authority we’re called to wield.

A Call to Speak

Charity Gayle’s song isn’t just worship—it’s a battle cry. “Shout Jesus from the mountains / Jesus in the streets.” That’s our mandate. Matthew 28:18-19 starts with Jesus saying, “All authority has been given to Me… Go therefore.” We go in His name, binding darkness, loosing light. I’ve seen it—an elder I know, healed four times, prays with that authority. Who’d you call in crisis? I’d call him, but better yet, I’d speak Jesus myself. You can too. What stronghold needs breaking in your life? Speak His name—share your story below. Let’s loose heaven on earth together.