(Act 3:16) 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. (Act 2:21) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Act 2:38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
There is so much to say about the Name of Jesus that books have been written and books can be written without exhausting the wealth of information available on the Name.
We try to restrict ourselves to a few noteworthy points drawn from the miracle, message and meaning exposed to us in and 4 by Peter.
(Act ) 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.
Peter had something he was able to give to the lame man.
He admitted that it was not by his own power or holiness.
He quickly pointed to the source of the healing miracle.
(Act ) 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?
1. THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE LAME MAN.
a. His expectations were ordinary.
b. His expectations were natural
c His expectations were at a lower, accustomed level
2. THE EXCLAMATION OF THE CROWD
a. They had just witnessed the unexpected
b. Their everyday normality was disturbed
c. Their lives would never be the same again.
3. THE EXAMINATION OF THE COUNCIL
a. They were astonished at this display of power.
b. They were disturbed at the reaction of the people
c. They were perplexed and in anxiety about the consequences
4. THE EXPLANATION OF THE MIRACLE
a. The denial by Peter of any personal power or holiness.
b. The direction of attention away from themselves
c. The declaration of the real reason for the miracle
(Act ) And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
Their answer was by the name of Jesus and by Him alone
(Act ) Be 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.
No other name but the name of Jesus can bring Salvation
(Act ) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
THE BELIEVER AND THE NAME OF JESUS!
The name of Jesus is not a talisman, or a good luck charm. The Name is not to be treated lightly. It must be remembered that this Name packs behind it all the authority in heaven and in earth and earth may be limited but heaven is unlimited!
As already stated by many writers and drawn from the Word of God, Jesus obtained His name by Inheritance, by Conquest and it was bestowed upon Him by the Father.
1. BY INHERITANCE
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (4) Being made so much better than the angels, as HE HATH BY INHERITANCE OBTAINED A MORE EXCELLENT NAME THAN THEY.
2. BY BESTOWAL
Php Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And 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: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
3. BY CONQUEST
Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; (17) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (21) FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITY, AND POWER, AND MIGHT, AND DOMINION, AND EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED, NOT ONLY IN THIS WORLD, BUT ALSO IN THAT WHICH IS TO COME: (22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (11) In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (12) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (13) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (14) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (15) AND HAVING SPOILED PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS, HE MADE A SHEW OF THEM OPENLY, TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN IT.
Note that the principalities and powers that we wrestle against are the same Jesus defeated and is above. They are under the feet of His Body which is the church…which is you and I.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (11) Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (13) WHO HATH DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS, AND HATH TRANSLATED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON: (14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (15) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
As noted we have been delivered from the authority of the enemy. We are no longer subjected to his rule. We have been given the name of Jesus to use. That Name has all the authority of heaven and earth behind it. When you stand in His name against the powers of darkness be aware that you are clothed in authority from His throne. Be aware that His Name carries weight and irresistible power. Be aware that He gave you permission to use His name.
A police officer is nothing by himself as a human being but when backed by the law and authority of the whole USA he becomes a force to be reckoned with. The authority that you have is greater. The Roman centurion recognized this when he compared the authority he had with the authority of Jesus.
Luk Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. (2) And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. (3) And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. (4) And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: (5) For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. (6) Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: (7) Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. (8) For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. (9) When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (10) And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
It caused Jesus to marvel! A Gentile had recognized the authority and Jesus placed the reason directly on the man’s faith! It takes faith to recognize this authority! It takes faith to act on this authority! It takes faith to accomplish anything by this authority. And as the Word says in SO THEN FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.
Not by some tear jerking sentimental song or story but by the Word of God.
Not by some preacher’s reputation but by the Word of God
So let us saturate ourselves prayerfully in the Word of God. Let it seep through our very being, the fabric of our whole man. Believe His Word and in believing we will act on it. This authority cannot be bought or sold not cannot be traded for anything. It comes by the Holy Ghost saturated Word of God made effective by fervent prayer!
Act And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, (30) By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. (31) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
