What’s in a Name?
In the Name of Jesus there is Giving (Acts 3:1-10)
In the Name of Jesus there is Humility (Acts 3:11-16)
In the Name of Jesus there is Refreshing (Acts 3:17-20)
In the Name of Jesus there is Hope (Acts 3:21-26)
In the Name of Jesus there is Power (Acts 4:1-7)
In the Name of Jesus there is Courage (Acts 4:8-22)
Slide 1
What’s in a name?
In our culture today, we may not think that names carry much meaning or are that important.
Why then do
Expecting Parents
When expecting parents are considering names for their children, they buy books of names to see what names mean.
They get input from relatives.
They think of people they know and don’t want to give their baby a name of someone they did not like very much.
They write out the name to see how it goes with their last name.
Women
Women often do the same thing with potential last names.
They write out their first name along with the potential last name to see how it sounds.
We care about what our name is.
Reputation
As we grow up, it is
not so much how our name sounds,
but how our name gets affected by our actions, or our reputation that is evoked by our name.
When people are looking for a job, it is more helpful to know someone that has a good reputation with the prospective employer than a bad reputation.
Hi, Joe So and So sent me and told me you might need someone.
If Joe So and so is known to be a good worker and a person of integrity, then his name would carry some weight.
If Joe so and so was a thief who stole from the company, then using his name would say something negative to the prospective employer about you.
Commander in Chief
As Commander in Chief, the name of the President of the U.S carries with it power and authority and responsibility.
If he gives a command, things happen, versus
if Scott Kircher gave a command to our military.
That would mean nothing.
So, like it or not names matter.
The name that we carry around with us will speak something to those who know us or know someone closely related to us.
The Name of Christ
The same is true for us as a Christian. As a Christian we carry around with us the name of Jesus.
And there are benefits and responsibilities to claiming the name of Christ.
Unfortunately, there are some who don’t take their responsibility seriously.
Each of us probably have examples of seeing or hearing about a Christian or at least a person calling themselves a Christian, doing something or acting in some way that brings dishonor to the name of Christ and thus to all Christians.
That is not the way it should be or that it has to be. When we put our trust in and receive Jesus as Savior we have available to us the power of the Holy Spirit to change us and make us more like Christ.
Plugging into the Power
We talked last week about how to plug into that power as Christians. As we
Pray together and
Study the Bible together and
Have fellowship together,
God works to draw us into deeper relationship with Him and the church becomes more effective at reaching people with the gospel and raising them up to be mature followers of Christ and the name of Jesus is exalted.
So what does a mature follower of Christ look like?
What does taking on the name of Jesus Christ do in our lives?
For those who are Christians, what are areas of our life that might need more attention from Jesus as we follow and become more like Him?
Over these next 2 weeks we are going to be talking about what is in a name, specifically, What is in the name of Jesus?
What are the responsibilities and benefits of claiming the name of Christ and what that looks like in our life?
We are going to be looking in Acts 3 and 4 (p. 772) at the story of a man who
Slide 2
has been crippled since birth and how Peter and John exemplified for those who claim the name of Jesus,
what we should doing and
how we should be living.
Let’s begin reading in Acts chapter 3.
Acts 3:1-10
1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer-at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
The first thing we see is that
In the Name of Jesus, We Should be Givers
Slide 3
Acts 3:6
Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
Notice here, it is not talking about money.
They did not have any money. “Silver and Gold I do not have.”
God doesn’t expect us to give what we do not have, but He does expect us to give to those who have need of what we do have.
If it is not money,
What are ways that we can Give?
Slide 4
Well, sometimes it may be money. As God shows us need and has given us resources, we need to be willing to sacrifice and give.
But more regularly, I believe that He wants us to be givers as a way of life, giving of ourselves.
For instance, this man was in need of healing. While I don’t believe that individual people have the gift of healing, God still does heal people miraculously.
He does that in response to people’s prayers.
So one way we can be a giver is by giving
Time in Prayer for Someone
Slide 5
John 14:13 talks about praying in Jesus name.
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
A privilege of being a Christian is praying with the name and authority of Christ.
James also tells us to be praying for one another.
James 5:16
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
When we give of our time in this way, we glorify God and benefit those we pray for.
Another way we can be a giver is to give others
Compassion
Slide 6
Jesus was a man of compassion and we need to be like Christ so we need to be people of compassion.
Matt 9:36
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
There are people in this world,
In this community
In this church
That are hurting.
What they have need of is some compassion.
Someone to spend time with them.
Someone to listen to them.
Someone to empathize with them.
We give of our time to be with them and help them in their needs, we show them that we care about them.
The world is full of takers, people who want only for themselves.
Jesus was the greatest giver. He gave his life for ours.
He
wants us to be givers and he has
enabled us to be givers.
When we do, we find that
as we give,
we receive so much more.
Campaign illustration
I have talked to some people through the campaign we just finished up.
So we should be givers in the name of Jesus.
Ask yourself, have I been giving of myself or am I just being a taker?
If you haven’t been the giver God wants you to be, then pray and ask for the strength to be a giver and experience the joy that comes with that.
Continuing on
Let’s continue on and see what other responsibilities or benefits come with the name of Jesus.
Acts 3:11-16
11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
Another responsibility we have is that
In the Name of Jesus, We Should be Humble
Slide 7
Peter and John had been given the gift of healing. They healed this man who had been crippled from birth and this guy was about 40 years old.
They could have easily taken credit for this or sought to benefit from this gift.
But they don’t. They turn people’s attention to the One who really did the healing, Jesus Christ.
Acts 3:16
16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
These were men of humility.
We should be people of humility.
Point people to Christ in what you do
As God has gifted each of us and we use our gift to further His kingdom, we need to continually point people to the source of our gifts, Jesus Christ.
When we are able to excel in business or in finances, we need to give glory to God for our talents.
Taking credit for things that God does through us is stealing.
God is the one who should get the glory for the good things that Happen through us.
Pride in general is a negative character trait. Nobody likes people who have undue pride.
The type of pride that says look at me, I am somebody.
Well, I have news for you. If it wasn’t for God, you wouldn’t be anyone special, let alone, be period.
He created us and sustains us.
We need to find our value in Christ.
When we become prideful, we are saying look at me instead of look at Christ.
Peter and John set a good example for us here.
We use opportunities that God gives us to use our gifts and talents to let others know about Jesus.
True Humility is basically just honesty.
We recognize the truth that we are nothing apart from Jesus and we acknowledge that before others.
In Jesus Name, we should be Humble.
Reading on in
Acts 3:17-20
17 "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you-even Jesus. (from New International Version)
We see not only that we should be givers and be humble,
but a benefit we receive when we put our trust in Christ is
In the Name of Jesus, we are Refreshed.
Slide 8
When we turn to the Jesus in repentance and seek forgiveness for our sins, we can have times of refreshment.
We can be refreshed by the fact that we no longer have to strive
to work for our salvation because whether we know it or not, that is what we are trying to do before we accept Christ as Savior.
Coming to Christ, we can be refreshed and find rest.
Jesus says in
Matthew 11:28
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Jesus gives us rest and He quenches our thirst and refreshes us.
John 7:37b-38
"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
When we find Jesus, we find refreshment in terms of eternal life as a gift.
In times of Spiritual Dryness
But we can also find refreshment in Jesus name as a Christian during times of spiritual dryness.
We can find it
in the word and
through prayer,
but more often than not, we find it
through Jesus working through other Christians to encourage you.
If you have been a Christian for a while, I am certain that you can think of a time that you were dry and weak with nothing left and the Lord sent someone to you and you were encouraged and refreshed by it.
Paul wrote about this type of refreshment.
2 Corinthians 7:13-14
In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
1 Corinthians 16:17-18
17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also.
We find refreshment in Jesus Name through other Christians that Christ sends into our lives to encourage us during times of spiritual dryness.
Maybe that is you today.
You are spiritually dry. You need refreshment.
God has you here today for a purpose.
He wants his church to be a place filled with people whom He can use to refresh one another.
This was the point about last weeks sermon on helping us plug into the power of Christ. When we can be
better connected in fellowship together, we will
better be able to be used by the Lord to refresh one another.
Salvation
Or maybe you need to find rest from your striving to be good enough to earn your spot in heaven.
First, you can never be good enough.
Second, you will drain yourself trying.
Find rest in Jesus Christ.
Find rest in the name above all names.
The name that every knee will bow to and every tongue confess
The name of Jesus Christ
Receive Him as your Savior and be refreshed and find rest in Him.
If that is you today, You can pray along with me and just tell God the things you believe in your heart.
That you know you are a sinner
That you know Jesus is the Savior, the Son of God.
That you know He died on the Cross for you
And that He rose again 3 days later.
Confess that to Him and receive the refreshment that can only be found in the Name of Jesus.
Let’s pray.
