Tommy Tenney on Invoking the Name of Jesus: Magic Equation or Presence?
 

I have begun reading Tommy Tenney's latest book "The Ultimate Comeback: How to Turn a Bad Night into a Good Day".

I am being thoroughly blessed by the Word and thoughts he shares in this book.

The central theme of his third chapter "I feel Stripped, Bare and Dry: Is there a way back?" is that the genesis of being restored starts in God's presence.

In this chapter he also makes some interesting comments about invoking the name of Jesus, worship, prayer and even a quip about standards. Considering his heritage
and some of the discussions we've had here lately I thought I'd share some excerpts and quotes from this chapter.

Lastly, please do not mistake these excerpts to be the basis or tenor of the book ... it would be unfair to mischaracterize a book that is mainly written to encourage the believer by showing us how to comeback from life's curveballs and failures ...

they are simply quotes I selected to share from a portion of one chapter.

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Page 32,33
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"When all seems lost, find yourself in the presence of God.

The genesis of your restoration is an encounter with the presence of God. The maintenance of your restoration is
connected to continued exposure to the presence of God"

Avoid Rigid Man-made Ritual and Mechanical Mantras

"Let me warn you that our discussion about God's presence is more than mere words or rigid man-made ritual. Don't
expect to lean on some mechanical mantra of deeper Christian experience, thinking in it you will find the secret
of God. People have made this mistake for untold generations. It is not about and equation or fleshly formula- it's about relationship.

In the apostle Paul's day,people who should have known better mistook the act of "invoking the name of Jesus" for the
reality of KNOWING JESUS. They had no relationship with Jesus.

Seven sons of one Israel's highest ranking leaders fancied themselves to being the ancient "ghost busters" and demon
exorcists.

The name of Jesus isn't some magical equation- there is a presence attached to it. You cannot disconnect the Lord's presence from His name and expect that name to retain restorative powers. It is powerless to invoke the name of Jesus to do the will of man."

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pages 34,35
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"Being in God's presence answer's questions before you even ask them. Learn to retreat into His presence. "The name
of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe"

"Do you know that worship is the art of hanging out with God?"

"Too often we fall into the rut of thinking there is such a thing as 'bad' worship or 'wrong' worship. The only
qualification I can think of are those Jesus gave us- to worship the Father"in spirit and in truth"

"Worship is how you act in the presence of God. Prayer is the language you speak when you are worshipping."

"When we talk about worship, we often insist on adding recommended or required body positions, music styles,
clothing guidelines, class curriculums and countless other rules and regulations."

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page 36
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"Prayer isn't a matter of mechanics; it is a matter of understanding.

When you invoke the name of Jesus, do not use it like an "abra cadabra" magic equation or manipulative incantation taken from a child's cartoon or occultist text. When you invoke His name, you are calling for his presence. And that's that.

When my wife calls my name throughout the house, or when she calls me on my cell phone, she is doing more than merely calling my name. She is calling my presence. She isn't interested merely hearing my voice on a recording, or seeing my picture pasted on a life-sized stand up poster.
She wants me!"

Do you want His Benefits or His Presence?

"When you invoke the name of Jesus, you connect His presence with that precious name. If you love His presence, you will act differently toward Him than if you all you really want are the benefits connected to His name.

You don't really love Him if all you want to do is steal God's credit card, to prostitute the name of Jesus, to line your pockets or protect your future. You just love His stuff and the seemingly unlimited bank account that comes with it."

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page 38 and 39
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"The purpose of preaching and teaching is to raise up worshippers. It is to equip us for the work of the ministry, not merely provide work for ministers. Even the Westminster Catechism speaks of the duty of mant to worship and enjoy God.

I'm not trying to merely teach you how to say a little magical eqation "in the name of Jesus". If you say His name and disconnect His name from His presence, then it's just another name. The restoration of the almond rod that budded was directly connected to the presence of God, not the name of the tent."

"Worship and prayer from the midst of trouble can usher you into His presence, and it is precisely in His presence where you
will find a starting point fo the "way back". Yes, there is a way back!"

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page 39
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"There were other people named Jesus during the Lord's earthly ministry. Jesus- Yeshua or Jehoshua - was not an uncommon name in that
day. If you say His name, and you disconnect His name from His person, you are merely saying ordinary words without supernatural effect.

When you say the name of Jesus and you have a relationship with Him, you invoke the very presence of the Lord into the situation!

Only God's presence can transform life's greatest failures into our greatest triumphs.

There is power in the presence of God. And that, my friend, is where the process of restoration begins."

Sounds like a great book.

When we call His name our God comes.Its not magic.
Here is what the bible says:



Psa 91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.


Psa 91:16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Its not magic.Magic is not powerful.Its more than magic.Its power and annointing and a mighty thing that is too glorious to explain with
mere human words.BTW I remember Brother TF Tenny preaching a camp
in La saying that knowing the name of the chief shepherd was everything.He even went as far as to preach that if you knew his name and pulled on His tent cord that He would answer.Its knowing who He is.If you are apostolic
and understand salvation and that experience is active in your life you
know that power.Its the power of God.The bible remains true and men remain liars.

Exactly. Too many christians are looking for magic instead of miracles.

I agree calling on the name of Jesus is not magic, if we have a relationship w/ Him or sincere desire to commune w/ him, ... doing so will summon the very person of and presence of Jesus ... hence the name represents all that He is ...

Yet the name alone without His presence and everything He is ....
are just words ...

simply verbalizing it like the sons Sceva... without knowing Him ... is a powerless display that can mean your detriment...

I understand the demon gave them the smackdown and left them in their birthday suits. I guess this is what is meant by not using the Lord's name in vain?

The question is .... do some today do so simply in imitation of the those that do have a relationship or desire to commune w/ the Almighty... thinking they have a magic jeanie?

Oh ...but when a child of God calls .... Jesus comes in the house ...

Excuse me as I shockamoo for a little bit.

Its not really fair to compare the sons of Sceva who were not believers in Jesus with Christians who are. Im sure most Christians are not thinking in terms of a magic formula but rather in terms of loyalty to Christ.

Does anyone else agree w/ Mikey?

I submit not all professing Christians are believers. Some are sympathizers, some are ritualists and others are posers.

Daniel,
You can't separate Jesus from His name.When you call His name He comes.
People who have never known Him have gotten down on the sides of their
beds or down on their knees in desperation and said that powerful name
and behold He came to them.His name is attatched to the bearer of that name.That is why in Him we live and move and have our being.That is why
we can say as baptised believers that we are part of the body of Jesus
Christ.Not just a group but His actual body.His blood washed body.That
is why salvation in His name is so essential.It cements in the fact that
it is the only Name given among men whereby we can be saved.It is
why every knee shall bow and every tongue confess.
Your dad did more for you than to leave you silver or gold.He left you
the knowledge of that name and who is attatched to it.

The name is undoubtedly attached to the person.

A sinner who has sincerely believed and calls upon the name of the Lords shall be saved ....

John says

Quote
And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us
Quote:
I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

As does Joel:

Quote:
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

As does the Psalmist:

Quote:

• Psalm 116:4, "Then called I upon the name of the LORD [YHWH] ; O LORD [YHWH], I beseech thee, deliver my soul."

As does Paul:

Quote:
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

As does Ananias:

Quote:
"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

As does Peter:

Quote:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Daniel that would mean that He has the power to go and get those who
are calling His name and bring them to truth.That happened in my life.

I had the opportunity to read this book about 4 or so months ago prior to its publishing. It was a good book. I will say that I enjoyed it much more than his other "Chaser" books.

Why would he have to "bring" them to the truth ... WHEN HE IS THE TRUTH?. He's the whole package.

Daniel calling His name is not all there is.You can call my name and I can
come but if you will not listen to my voice and take my hand I cannot
help you up.If we are close enough and you are bleeding and dying I may
carry you but if you are kicking and screaming and refusing to come I
cannot make you.

Calling His Name w/ no relationship indeed is ineffective - a point Tenney made in the book.

But Jesus doesn't have to carry us to the truth ... if you are in His arms you are IN TRUTH.

The idea that our doctrine supercedes a genuine relationship w/ Christ ... is worrisome.

I didn't get that from the quotes you provided. However, being converted to Christianity doesn't necessarily mean one possesses "all truth", does it? If it does, then what would you say about these scriptures?

Act 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Act 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? (They were already "believers") And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.


Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

"Guide you into" implies a process...that takes time...don't you agree?

Yes but one is guided into all truth ... not to truth .... no one denies a spiritual maturation process... that comes w/ relationship .... but not simply by being indoctrinated.

"You are married to doctrine and have divorced youself from Deity." - Jeff Arnold, BOTT, 2007