THE POWER OF JESUS NAME: Acts 3:1-16 + 4:1-20
Today we’ll talk for a little while about the power of the name of the Lord Jesus.
First of all I want to read us the account of the lame man that was healed, and how the religious leaders of that day rebuked Peter and John for proclaiming Jesus, and the using of His name.
ACTS 3:1-16
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. –3:pm—and let me say that the Jews had certain appointed hours that they would go to the temple to worship, 3 times a day--- Psalm 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. –3 pm- 9 am-12 noon-
2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: --not that Peter helped him up, its much the same as in John 2; “the water pots that held the wine that was water was changed, in that miracle had nothing to do with the pots--- and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them** into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. 11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, --out of joy and HAPPINESS--all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?—notice peter and John let it known right away that they were not the reason this man was healed--
13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; --Barabus-- 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.—let me say that “this faith” was that of Peter and Johns faith in the Lord Jesus, the lame man didn’t even know who Peter and John were until then and knew very little about Jesus.—
Now lets read of the response of the religious leaders:
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Acts 4: 1-20:
1And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.—let me say that the Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead—
3And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. –this is not counting women and children--
5And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
--Well we notice the people that were present were Annas, the senior ex-High Priest, his son-in-law Caiaphas, the present High Priest, John, Alexander, and other kinsmen of the High Priest who cannot be identified with certainty. They were not at all concerned that a man was healed or that a sermon was preached, but in what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
7And when they had set them** in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11This is the STONE which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
--LETS NOTICE THAT Peter refers to Jesus as ‘THE STONE”
Jesus talking to Peter and the men there with Peter in MATT.16:16-18 we find 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock –speaking of Himself--I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it
The Rock is Christ. The church is built upon Christ. We have Simon Peter’s own explanation of this. In 1 Peter 2:4, referring to Christ, he writes, “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.”
Isaiah 28:16, 16Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: -
Then Peter goes on to say in our text in Acts.4: 12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16Saying, What shall we do to these men? For that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Let me remind us that the Heavenly Father honors His Sons name, the Heavenly Father will not answer a prayer that does not recognize the Lord Jesus. We’ve all heard the old saying that our prayers get no farther that the ceiling if it’s not in his name.
Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
How many times have we heard people pray real nice and sincere prayers and fail to ask it in His Name?
Some where in every prayer, it don’t necessarily have to be at the end of our prayers, but some where in our prayer we must ask it in His Name if we want God to honor that prayer.
We can talk all day long to God, but it must be in JESUS NAME.
God does hear the prayer because He is God, but He will not honor that prayer if we fail to honor His Son, the Lord Jesus.
And let me say right here that praying to Mary or any other dead Saint is a disgrace to God and His Son, let us pray to the One that paid it all, the One that died for our sins, the One that rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of the Father, He is the only One that God will recognize in His presents, this is how we know that the Father will hear and answer our prayers and then its according to His will.
Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;--
Lets realize that that a Mediator is One that is a go between, a Spokesman, an Advocate, He represents us to the Father, the Father will hear our prayers because of Him.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1 John 2:1--- And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Every thing that the Father does for mankind is for Jesus Name sake.
Ephesians 4: 32 --God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
1 Corinthians 5: 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Corinthians 6:11 but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
I’m afraid that most of us don’t realize what we’re doing altogether when we speak in His Name, it has become as though it’s really not such an important undertaking.
Many times His Name is used, as just some thing a religious person ought to do, we often act as though it’s not really not all that important.
But let me say to us all dear heart that Jesus Name is the most powerful, the most Holy name that has ever been uttered.
Many time people take His name, and use His Holy Name in vain. There are even Preachers that we hear many times use His Holy Name in a vain manner, they’ll say such things as, ”God bless you” in a passing way, and many other ways in vain, in a negative manner without even realizing what their doing and saying.
His Name is uttered many times as just a fill word, any time His name is uttered in a disrespectful way, it is not pleasing to the Father, He is not pleased at all.
Philippians 2: 5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
You’ve heard me say many times that this world is full of all kinds of religions, people that worship a tree can say thy have religion, there’s many religions but only one salvation.
Even His name means, “Savoir” Matthew 1: 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Its not Mohammad, its not Buddah, or Confucius, its not the Mormon prophet, its not Mary, its not how many “hail Mary’s” you may chant or how many Jesus wafers you may eat or how many beads you care to count, its not beating ones self across the back and causing your self to bleed, all such as these are nothing more than futile works.
Well how can we be saved?
Romans 10:9-11 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him*** shall not be ashamed.
Listen dear heart we’re surely nearing the time of the rapture of the Church, did you hear what Lewis Farrakhan called Barrack Hussein Obama? He referred to him as “the Messiah” have you ever heard such blasphemy?
There’s only One Lord Jesus Christ and He is the Savior.
Acts 16:30-31 --Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house
