The term "invoke" generally refers to the act of calling upon a higher power, deity, or authority for assistance, support, or inspiration. In the context of the Bible, invoking often involves prayer, supplication, or calling upon the name of the Lord. This act is deeply rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, where believers seek divine intervention, guidance, or presence in their lives.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, invoking the name of the Lord is a common practice among the faithful. It signifies a deep reliance on God's power and presence. For instance, in Genesis 4:26, it is noted, "At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD." This marks the beginning of a tradition where calling upon God becomes a central aspect of worship and relationship with the divine.

The Psalms frequently illustrate the act of invoking God, often in times of distress or need. Psalm 50:15 states, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me." Here, invoking God is associated with deliverance and the assurance of His intervention.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of invoking takes on a more personal dimension through the person of Jesus Christ. Believers are encouraged to call upon the name of Jesus for salvation and help. Acts 2:21 declares, "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." This reflects the early Christian understanding that invoking Jesus' name is central to the experience of salvation.

The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of invoking the Lord in Romans 10:13, quoting the Old Testament: "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." This underscores the continuity between the Old and New Testaments regarding the power and necessity of invoking God's name.

Theological Significance

Invoking God is not merely a ritualistic act but a profound expression of faith and dependence on the divine. It acknowledges God's sovereignty and the believer's need for His grace and intervention. The act of invoking is often accompanied by prayer, worship, and a heart posture of humility and trust.

In Christian theology, invoking the name of the Lord is also associated with the presence of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:13-14, Jesus promises, "And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." This highlights the power and authority vested in the name of Jesus, which believers are encouraged to invoke in their prayers and petitions.

Practical Application

For believers today, invoking the name of the Lord remains a vital practice. It is an invitation to experience God's presence and power in daily life. Whether in moments of personal need, communal worship, or intercessory prayer, invoking God is a way to align oneself with His will and purposes.

The practice of invoking is also a reminder of the believer's identity in Christ and the access they have to the Father through Him. It is an act of faith that transcends circumstances, offering hope and assurance of God's active involvement in the lives of His people.(v. t.) To call on for aid or protection; to summon; to invite earnestly or solemnly; to implore; as, to invoke the Supreme Being, or to invoke His and blessing.332. anathematizo -- to declare anathema, devote to destruction
... to destruction. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anathematizo Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ath-em-at-id'-zo) Short Definition: I curse, invoke curses Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/332.htm - 7k

1941. epikaleo -- to call upon
... 14), calling (1), calls (1). appeal unto, call on, invoke. Middle voice
from epi and kaleo; to entitle; by implication, to invoke ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1941.htm - 8k

2127. eulogeo -- to speak well of, praise
... bless, praise. From a compound of eu and logos; to speak well of, ie (religiously)
to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper) -- bless, praise. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2127.htm - 8k

3870. parakaleo -- to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage
... From para and kaleo; to call near, ie Invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation
or consolation) -- beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3870.htm - 10k

1944. epikataratos -- accursed
... destruction. Word Origin from epikataraomai (to invoke curses on) Definition
accursed NASB Word Usage cursed (2). accursed. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1944.htm - 6k

2142. zakar -- remember
... burns (1), call to mind (1), celebrate (1), certainly still remember (1), come to
remembrance (1), confess (1), consider (2), extol (1), invoke (1), invoked (1 ...
/hebrew/2142.htm - 6k

7760. sum -- to put, place, set
... 1), formed and made (1), gave (2), give (7), grant (1), had (1), hunt* (1), impose
(1), impress (1), impute (1), inflicted (1), insert (4), invoke (1), keeps (1 ...
/hebrew/7760.htm - 7k

For to Invoke Angels Without Having Obtained a Knowledge of their ...
... Chapter V. For to invoke angels without having obtained a knowledge of
their nature greater than is? For to invoke angels without ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter v for to invoke.htm

That the God whom we Invoke is in Us, and we in Him.
... Book I. Chapter II."That the God Whom We Invoke is in Us, and We in Him.
2. And how shall I call upon my God"my God and my Lord? ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter ii that the god whom.htm

Christians must not Forsake the Church of God, and Go Away and ...
... Canon XXXV. Christians must not forsake the Church of God, and go away
and invoke angels and? Christians must not forsake the ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xxxv christians must not.htm

He Proclaims the Greatness of God, whom He Desires to Seek and ...
... Book I. Chapter I."He Proclaims the Greatness of God, Whom He Desires
to Seek and Invoke, Being Awakened by Him. 1. Great art ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter i he proclaims the greatness.htm

Psalm LXXV.
... 2. "We will confess to Thee, O Lord, we will confess to Thee, and will invoke Thy
name" (ver.1). Do not invoke, before thou confess: confess, and invoke. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxv.htm

On the Invocation of Saints
... the hardihood to erect, as a superstructure, the necessity of invoking the saints:
They only say that "It is good and useful suppliantly to invoke them;" and ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 24 on the invocation.htm

Book one in God's Searching Presence, Augustine Undertakes to ...
... Grant me, O Lord, to know and understand whether first to invoke thee or to
praise thee; whether first to know thee or call upon thee. ...
/.../augustine/confessions and enchiridion/book one in gods searching.htm

The Creed and the Lord's Prayer as Guides to the Interpretation of ...
... burdened by great misery and in deep need of mercy, a prophet, preaching of the
time of God's grace, said, "And it shall be that all who invoke the Lord's name ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter ii the creed and.htm

That Although not Understanding them to be the Gifts of God, they ...
... What need had women in childbirth to invoke Lucina, when, if Felicity should be
present, they would have, not only a good delivery, but good children too? ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 21 that although not understanding.htm

Book I.
... 2. O God, Framer of the universe, grant me first rightly to invoke Thee; then to
show myself worthy to be heard by Thee; lastly, deign to set me free. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/two books of soliloquies/book i.htm

Invoke (13 Occurrences)
... (vt) To call on for aid or protection; to summon; to invite earnestly or solemnly;
to implore; as, to invoke the Supreme Being, or to invoke His and blessing. ...
/i/invoke.htm - 10k

Bless (174 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To express a wish or prayer for the happiness of; to invoke a blessing
upon; -- applied to persons. 4. (vt) To invoke or ...
/b/bless.htm - 46k

Wish (141 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To frame or express desires concerning; to invoke in favor of, or against,
any one; to attribute, or cal down, in desire; to invoke; to imprecate. ...
/w/wish.htm - 36k

Undertook (14 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Acts 19:13 But there were also some wandering Jewish exorcists who undertook
to invoke the name of Jesus over those who had the evil spirits, saying, "I ...
/u/undertook.htm - 11k

Wandering (120 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Acts 19:13 But there were also some wandering Jewish exorcists who undertook
to invoke the name of Jesus over those who had the evil spirits, saying, "I ...
/w/wandering.htm - 37k

Itinerant (1 Occurrence)
... Acts 19:13 But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke
over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "We ...
/i/itinerant.htm - 7k

Immanuel (3 Occurrences)
... Judah, advancing as far as Jerusalem itself, but without complete success (Isaiah
7:1). Ahaz, a weak king, and now panic-stricken, determined to invoke the aid ...
/i/immanuel.htm - 16k

Inviting (2 Occurrences)

/i/inviting.htm - 7k

Invoked (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Invoke. Multi-Version Concordance
Invoked (6 Occurrences). Acts 15:17 so that the residue ...
/i/invoked.htm - 8k

Exorcists (1 Occurrence)
... Acts 19:13 But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke
over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "We ...
/e/exorcists.htm - 6k

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