Apostolic Friends Forum - Invoking the name of Jesus

In a Study on Prayer class, we were told praying "In the Name of Jesus" did not mean we needed to use that phrase each time we prayed.

The Bible shows us times when the phrase, “In the name of Jesus” is spoken. Here are two examples:

Quote:

Acts 16:18 “Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus the Christ to come out of her!" “
Acts 3:6 “But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus the Christ, the Nazarene-- walk!"”

There are times in the Bible when someone doing something “in the name of Jesus” does not indicate they went about always proclaiming, “In the name of Jesus.” Here are some examples:
[quote] Colossians 3:17 “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of our Master, Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” [Are we always needing to go about our day saying, “In the name of Jesus.” every time we do or say something? No.]

Ephesians 5:20 “… always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Master, Jesus the Christ to God, even the Father” [Are we needing to be always be saying, “In the name of our Lord Jesus the Christ.” as we thank God? No.]

1 Corinthians 6:11 “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of our Master, Jesus the Christ and in the Spirit of our God. “ [Are we only justified if the name of Jesus is spoken? No.]

1 Corinthians 5:4-5 In the name of our Master, Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Master, Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh …”

Matthew 10:41-42 “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward." [I doubt they were going about saying things like, “I receive this righteous man in the name of that other righteous guy, Mike.” Or, “I give this cup of water in the name of the disciple, Margaret.” These two verses alone should show doing something in a name means something other than needing to invoke or say a name.][/quote]

Therefore, sometimes we see doing or saying something in the name of Jesus does not indicate an invoking or saying, “In the name of Jesus.” This being the case, do we assume the following verses could possibly tell of doing something while being in Jesus, without needing to actually say, “In the name of Jesus.”?

Quote:

James 5:14 “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of our Master.”

James 5:10 “… take the prophets who spoke in the name of our Master.”
2 Thessalonians 3:6 “… now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Master, Jesus the Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life.”

Acts 19:5 “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Master, Jesus. “

Acts 9:28 “And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Master. “

Acts 9:27-28 “But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Master on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Master. “

Acts 5:40 “they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus”

I bring this up because I see Christians that feel compelled to say, “In the name of Jesus.” after each prayer. As though their prayer will not be heard, or at least be as effective, if they do not use the Name.

The same seemingly being necessary when commanding demonic forces. Consider Acts 19:15 “And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" “ If the evil spirit knew Paul, was it necessary for Paul to always give an order followed by “In the name of Jesus.”? I doubt it very much. So, do the evil spirits KNOW us such that we do not always need to invoke the phrase or name?

Does God not honor or hear our prayers if we do not use the phrase, “In the name of Jesus?”

When showing us how to pray (the Lord’s Prayer), Jesus did not continue His prayer example with, “And I ask all this in the name of the Lord.”

I ask this because it seems like many of us need this method or ritual to feel confident in praying or commanding. I ask this because it seems some of us have what amounts to a superstition about needing to pray the phrase or name, or we will not be heard by God, or the demons.
Is invoking the phrase or name always necessary? If not, then when do we saved children of the King need to ever say the phrase or name?
If it is to be always used when showing our authority, when and what are those times of authority?

Personally, I do not feel the need to have the ritualistic use of the phrase, “I ask this in the name of Jesus.” after each prayer or commanding of a demon. I know God already knows I am His and in the family of God. So do the demons.

What do you think?
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