I’ve been writing a book. The title of the book is The Incredible Power of Kingdom Authority; the subtitle—“Getting an Upper Hand on the Underworld.” And, I’m very excited about that book. And, as I was studying and writing this week, I was talking to myself, I guess, but considering, praying, thinking about the power—the authority—that is in the name of Jesus, because name stands for authority. And, I just decided that I would share some of that with you tonight.
Colossians 3, verse 16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Jim, that’s a great verse for a Minister of Music, is it not? And, I know that you know that verse by heart. That’s what we try to practice here. And, notice verse 17 says—and that’s co-joined with verse 16, obviously—“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,”—and here’s the phrase—“do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:16–17). The title of our study tonight is “All in the Name of Jesus.” Do all in the name of Jesus.
Now, why did God make you? Why did God create you? Well, you say, “God made us to serve Him.” Well, friend, if that’s why He made us, that was not that wise of a thing to do, because He could have made angels that would have done a much better job of service than we do—far better, more obedient. Now, we are to serve Him, but that’s not our chief purpose.
Why did God make us? God created us to worship Him. Why does God want us to worship Him? Because, God is love, and love is a reciprocal act, where God loves us, and we love Him back. And, that love is called worship. And, in order to be loved, love has to have a recipient. And so, God created us, that He might pour His love out to us, and that we might pour our love back to God. And, that’s the greatest thing that we can give God—is our love. If we give God our riches, He’s no richer. If we give God our strength, He’s no stronger. If we give God our wisdom, God is no wiser. If we give God our glory, God is no more glorious. If we give God our power, God is no more powerful, because God has everything. There’s nothing that could be added to any of the attributes of God. But, when we give God our worship, when we give God our love, that meets the desire in the heart of the Father.
Now, here’s some wonderful news for you: There are others that may be able to give God more riches than you; there are people who may be able to give God more wisdom than you; there are people who may be able to give God more power than you are able—but nobody can love God better than you can. Is that not great? Nobody has cornered the market on worship. If you want to worship God, have at it. You can do as good a job as anybody else. And, verse 16 is speaking of worship. Now, this is the kind of worship that we’ve been doing tonight: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly”— that’s preaching—“in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Now, that’s a church service; that’s worship. We have worship here at Bellevue Baptist Church, and I love it. But now, listen, folks. Worship does not end there; it goes on. And, notice, now, the next and—“And whatsoever ye do…”—now, there, he’s made his translation between preaching of the Word—teaching, ministry of the Word, singing, and so forth. Now, watch this—“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,”—what you say or how you act—“do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:16–17).
Now, verse 16 speaks of worship, but verse 17 is still speaking of worship. That means our worship does not end when we leave these doors and go out there into the world. We take our worship with us. And, when we come to church, we don’t merely come to church to worship; we bring our worship with us to church. We bring our worship to church. Real worship—please listen to this, because if you don’t, you’re going to miss the point of the whole message—real worship involves all of life. Real worship involves all of life—everyday, every place, whatever we do we do in the name of Jesus. Because, what is worship? Worship is doing things in the name of Jesus, doing “all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). So, that takes worship, and it adds worship to every area of life.
What is worship? Worship is doing everything in the name of Jesus, and giving God thanks. And, why? Why would I call that worship? Well, let me ask you a question: What is worship? Would you not say that worship is glorifying God? Hmm? Say yes. Okay, worship is glorifying God. Then, your work ought to glorify God; your friendships ought to glorify God; your banking ought to glorify God; your recreation ought to glorify God. And, if those things glorify God, then those things are worship.
Let me give you two verses, and I want you to write them down; you may want to turn to them tonight—1 Peter 4, verse 11—listen to this: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth:”—so, as I speak tonight, I ought to be speaking as a man of God, as the oracles of God—not in my own strength, but with the ability that God gives. But now, listen—“that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11). You see, everything that Adrian does, everything that you do, ought to glorify God, “that God in all things might be glorified.” Now, if God is being glorified in all things that I do, then all things that I do are worship, because worship is glorifying God. Are you following me?
Now, you might think I’m trivializing worship. I am not trivializing worship. What I am doing is magnifying our daily life, Monday-morning religion. Somebody wrote these words: “They’re praising God on Sunday, but they’ll be all right on Monday. It’s just a little habit they’ve acquired.” No, no, no. You see, we bring our worship to church. We carry our worship with us. And, when we get outside the doors of this church, we’re still worshipping. Let me give you another verse. Listen to this one; it is a key verse in all of the Bible—1 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 31—listen to it: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Now, boy, that’s going to eliminate some things, isn’t it? “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Some of you have a nicotine habit. “Well, Pastor, is there a verse in the Bible that says, ‘Don’t smoke cigarettes?’” Not that I can find. Somebody said, “Will smoking cigarettes send me to Hell?” No, it’ll just make you smell like you’ve been there. “Can you find a verse of Scripture in the Bible that says, ‘Thou shalt not smoke a cigarette?’” No, but I’ll tell you what to do. Next time you light one up, say, “Lord, to Your glory; I’m smoking this for Your glory.” Can you do that?
When you’re watching a television program, should you turn it off, or leave it on? You ask yourself this question: Is what I’m doing—is it glorifying God? You say, “Pastor, that is extreme.” You just got it. That is extreme. Listen to what he says here: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). That means your dinner is to be an act of worship, and washing the dishes after dinner is to be an act of worship. Somebody told me that Mrs. Billy Graham has a sign over her kitchen sink that says, “Divine services held here three times a day”—washing dishes to the glory of God—whatever you do. Now, listen. This is not Adrian; this is Paul: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Again, 1 Peter 4:11: “that God in all things may be glorified.”
So, tomorrow morning, you kids go to school. You go to school for the glory of God. When you go to work, your going to work ought to be an act of worship. Now, we’re under this roof tonight, but tomorrow you go out to the cathedral of the sky, and every place that you go ought to be an act of worship. You see, what we’re talking about is taking the so-called secular and sanctifying it, and taking the everyday and edifying it, that God in all things is glorified. We don’t just come to church to worship, turn it on, and then turn it off.
Now, this is a concept that has to get out. It has to get in our heart and in our mind. Do you know what the average Baptist concept was, when I was a kid growing up in church? If you wanted to be, I mean, a super, really over-the-top Christian, here’s what you did: You were faithful every Sunday to go to church. You took the Lord’s Day and gave the Lord’s Day to Jesus. And then, you were faithful in your finances. You gave Him one-tenth of your income. And, people said, “You know, God has one-seventh of my time and one-tenth of my income.” And, they were saying, “It’s like a pie, when you slice that pie up. And, one-tenth of the financial pie belongs to God, and one-seventh of the calendar pie belongs to God.” So, God gets one day a week, and God gets 10% of our money.
Now, that is a non-biblical concept. Listen to me: The whole pie belongs to Him—not one-tenth. It all belongs to Jesus—not one day; every day belongs to Jesus. We don’t do some things that are religious and other things that are not religious. God’s not going to lift out one piece of pie and judge it. God’s going to judge what you did with every penny that He’s trusted you with. God is going to judge what you’ve done with every moment that He has given you. And so, when you come to stand at the judgment seat of Christ for rewards, do you know what He’s going to look at? Not only the sermons you preached, or the songs that you sang, or the lessons that you taught in Sunday School—He’s going to look at your school grades; He’s going to look at your home life; He’s going to look at your business life; He’s going to look at your recreation; He’s going to look at your hobbies; He’s going to look at all of your life, because He says, “Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all to the glory of God” (Colossians 3:17).
Now, doing something to the glory of God is giving God worship, because what is worship? It is glorifying God. So, when you go to work tomorrow, on your job, doing whatever you do, whether it’s building widgets or selling whatchama-call-its, whatever you do, if you do it in the name of Jesus, then that is worship, and God is receiving glory for that. Now, that means that there is no ground that is not holy ground and there is no time that is not sacred time to the child of God. Oswald Chambers said, “In all natural things we are to be spiritual, and in all spiritual things we are to be natural. Therefore, we’re to be naturally supernatural and supernaturally natural.” Isn’t that good? In all spiritual things we’re to be natural; all natural things, we’re to be spiritual. Therefore, we’re naturally supernatural and supernaturally natural.
Let’s think a little bit about being supernaturally natural. I like people to be natural. I don’t like people to act spiritual. We’re not actors. You don’t act spiritual; you are spiritual. Do you ever see people kind of turn it on and turn it off, when they come into church? They act one way inside and another way outside.
I’ve seen preachers do that. I’ll be sitting up there, you know, with the preacher, and he seems like a normal, natural guy. We’ll be talking. “Great crowd here tonight. We’re going to have a good time. What do you want to do after the service?” Just talking, having a good time. Then, all of a sudden, it’s time for the service to begin. “Dearly beloved…” And, you know, he talks like he has a steeple stuck in his throat. And, I wonder what happened to that guy between here and there. A transformation took place. He’s now acting spiritual.
No, we don’t act spiritual; we are supernaturally natural, and we are naturally supernatural. In all natural things that we do—all of our work—we do them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
So, that brings us to the main point: What does it mean to do everything in the name of Jesus? I want to tell you three things that it means to do everything in the name of Jesus. Therefore, the everyday is edified; the secular is sanctified; and God is glorified. And, that is worship—worship here, yes, but worship day by day.
I. Is it Consistent with the Personality of Jesus?
Number one, you ask yourself this question: Is this deed, is this act, is this habit—is it consistent with the personality of Jesus? Is it consistent with the personality of Jesus? That means, if I’m going to do it in the name of Jesus, could I sign Jesus’ name to it? Is it consistent with the personality or the character of Jesus?
When little kids get a baseball bat, their favorite baseball player, many times, his name is on the bat, whether it be Mark McGwire or somebody like that. If he’s a great star, the people who sell the bat will get him to put his signature on the bat, or on the glove, or whatever. And, if it’s Michael Jordan, his name might be on the basketball. And so, when these people put their name on that piece of sporting equipment, what they’re saying is, “Look, I endorse this. I, as a superstar, say that this fits what my standard is for this particular piece of equipment.” Now, frankly, I doubt that is true. I doubt that Michael Jordan plays basketball—or did play basketball—with a kind that you might buy in a toy store, but the point I’m making is this: that that is supposed to say, when that person puts his name on that, that “this is consistent with who I am.”
Now, when I want to know whether or not I can do something, I don’t have to go through the Bible to find a chapter or verse that tells me I can do it or I can’t do it. Have you ever had anybody say, “Can you show me in the Bible where it’s wrong to gamble?” Sure. Or, “Could you…” somebody will say to you, “Can you show me in the Bible where it’s wrong to go an R-rated movie?” They’ll ask you questions like that. Listen. The Bible is nota rulebook; the Bible is a guidebook. The Bible is not a book of minute laws; it’s a book of great principles. And, I’m so grateful that the Bible is not a book of minute laws. If the Bible were a book of minute laws, I couldn’t bring mine and carry it into the pulpit, and I’d have to have a wheelbarrow to bring it in here—or maybe a truck—with all the laws that would have to be in it. No, God gives us principles, not rules. Rules are for kids—rules are for kids.
Remember when your kids were little, and, finally, you got to the place where you thought you could go out and leave them by themselves without a babysitter? You know that time—“Should we? Should we not? Will they be all right? Well, we’ll only be gone an hour or two.” You remember when you were leaving them home by themselves? What did you say to them? You got them in, and you began to lay down the rules— remember that? You said to them, “Now, don’t let strangers in the house.” You said to them, “Now, don’t play with matches.” You said to them, “Don’t do this, and do this; and, you be in bed by such-and-such a time.” You gave them a lot of rules. Why? Because, they’re children. Rules are for kids.
Now, if you have grown children in their 20s or their 30s, you don’t say to them, “Now, don’t play with matches. Don’t let strangers in the house.” You don’t say that. I hope you don’t have to say that now. If they have lived with you, if they are mature enough, they have a sense of what is right and wrong. And, basically, in many things, they just sense that from you by the way that you live.
God doesn’t give us a list of do’s and don’ts. Those are for babies; they’re for immature people. And, if God were to give us a list of do’s and don’ts, it wouldn’t apply to us; if it applied to this century, it wouldn’t apply to the First Century. If it applied to the First Century, it wouldn’t apply to this century. You’re not going to find, in the Bible, anything about not driving through a school zone at 100 miles an hour; that wouldn’t apply. If you were to find a verse in the Bible that says, “Don’t go to an X-rated movie,” can you imagine people in Colossae saying, “What is an X-rated movie? What does that mean, ‘Don’t go to an X-rated movie?’” No, God gives us a principle. What is the principle? It is the name of Jesus. Could you sign Jesus’ name to it? Could you say, “This is consistent with the personality of Jesus; I could sign Jesus’ name to this”? If you could, then you can do it for the glory of God.
Now, if God gives us little laws—minute laws, you can find loopholes in laws, but you can’t find loopholes in a principle. And, one of the great principles in the Bible is we do everything in the name of Jesus. And so, if you’re wanting to know if there’s a habit, an association, an investment, anything that you do—if you want to know what is right or wrong—could you sign Jesus’ name to it and give God thanks for it? Now, think about it. Could you sign Jesus’ name to it and give God thanks for it? Isn’t that what it says?
Look at it again—look in verse 17: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,”— number one—“do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,”—number two—“giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). Anything that you couldn’t sign Jesus’
name to, and say, “God, I thank You for it,” you have no business doing it. You girls, if you have a boyfriend, and a relationship with him that Jesus is not pleased with, if you can’t thank God for it, if you don’t believe he’s God’s gift, then you have no business keeping company with that young man. If it’s a business investment, Mister, if you cannot sign Jesus’ name to it, if you cannot give God thanks for it, you have no business doing that, whatever you do. So, that’s the first principle—to do all in the name of Jesus. Is it consistent with the personality of Jesus? Can I imagine Jesus being involved in this thing? Can it have the smile of Jesus, the character of Jesus?
II. Does it Claim the Power of Jesus?
All right, number two—here’s the second thing of doing all in the name of Jesus— number two: Does it claim the power of Jesus? Not only the personality of Jesus, but does it take the power of Jesus to get it done? You see, name stands not only for “personhood,” but it also stands for “power” and “authority.” Now, John 14, verse 14, is a key verse here. Jesus said, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14). That means, “Anything that has My name behind it, then My power will take over.” He doesn’t say, “If you ask anything in My name, then I’ll give you the power to do it.” He says, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14). The Jesus in you will take over.
There is incredible power in the name of Jesus. When you bring your life into saying, “I want to do everything consistent with the person of Jesus, the personality of Jesus,” then you can begin to add His name, and receive His power. When Jesus was here in His earthly ministry on this Earth, He sent His representatives out to share—to preach— the Kingdom. And, here’s what happened—Luke 10, beginning in verse 17: “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” (Luke 10:17)—the demons, the devils. Every time you see devils plural, it means “demons.” There’s one devil, many demons. “Even the [demons] are subject unto us through thy name.” There is incredible power in the name of Jesus. You see, it’s the name that gives authority. We practice that every day.
You have a checking account? How many of you have a checking account? Let me see your hands. You have a checking account. All right, now, you write a check. Let’s say it’s a hundred dollars. You write a check for a hundred dollars and give it to somebody. They can take that check that has your name on it, carry it down to the bank, and give it to the bank, and the bank will give that individual some of your money. Why? Because, you put your name on that check. That means I have given the bank the authority to take my money and give it to this individual. See, the name stands for the person that signs the check. Your name represents you. Now, suppose the check bounces. They don’t put the check in jail; they put you in jail.
You see, the check only represents you; the name represents you. When we talk about the name of Jesus, you don’t disassociate the name of Jesus from Jesus. The name of Jesus represents Jesus, as much as your name on that check represents you.
And, when a policeman stands up, and here’s an 18-wheeler truck coming down the road, and he blows his whistle, and holds up his hand, and that truck stops—implying, or he may even say it, “Stop in the name of the law.” Now, what’s he stopping that truck with? Now, maybe he’s 150 pounds. He’s not stopping an 18-wheeler truck with 150 pounds of skin and bones. He is stopping that truck with authority. And so, when I live my life in the name of Jesus, it means I don’t do anything that I could not sign Jesus’ name to and give Him thanks for; and, it means, therefore, when I can sign His name to it, and give Him thanks for it, I can do it with the authority and the power that He gives me. And, when I ask things in His name, then He lines up Himself behind me.
A. Things You Can Do in the Name of Jesus
Now, let’s look at some of the things that we can do, therefore, in the name of Jesus.
1. Wives are to Submit Themselves to Their Husbands
Look, now, in verse 18: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord” (Colossians 3:18). Now, how can a wife submit herself to her own husband, as it is fit in the Lord? In the name of Jesus—in the name and the authority of Jesus. This is not slavery; this is not subjugation; this is not humiliation to a wife; this is not superiority to a husband. The word submit is a Greek word that means “to rank underneath”; and, it is a military word—like you have a general; and then you might have a major; and then you might have a captain; and then you might have a lieutenant; and then you might have a sergeant; and then you might have a whatever, coming on down to a private. It doesn’t mean that one is superior to the other; it means that one outranks the other in the chain of command—the line of authority and responsibility.
Now, the private and the general are of the same worth, but they have a different rank. The Bible teaches that we’re all equal in Jesus. Galatians 3, verse 28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). What is submission? Submission is one equal voluntary placing him or herself under another equal, that God may, therefore, be glorified. How do you do that? The only way I know is to do it in the name of Jesus. Now, so, wives are to submit to their husbands in the name of Jesus.
2. Husbands are to Love Their Wives
Husbands are to love their wives in the name of Jesus. Look, in verse 19: “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them” (Colossians 3:19). And, this word for love here doesn’t speak of romantic love, although that, certainly, you ought to do that. This is agape love—sacrificing and serving love. Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” It literally means “He gave Himself up for it.”
And so, how am I going to love Joyce? As Jesus loved the Church. I don’t have what it takes to do anything as Jesus did it. The only way that I can do anything as Jesus did it is for Jesus to do it in me and through me. Isn’t that right? And, remember what He said: “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14). And, it is the Jesus in me that is to love Joyce. It is the Jesus in Joyce that allows her to take her place by my side in a submissive spirit.
3. Children are to Obey Their Parents
Now, what about children? Look, in verse 20: “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:20). Well, that’s fine. You obey your parents in all things. But, go right back up to verse 17: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). Put those together. How are children to obey their parents? In the name of the Lord Jesus.
Did you know we’re very foolish if we don’t teach our children to be Spirit-filled? I mean, if we just simply say, “You do this because a good child obeys mother, obeys father.” That’s just half of the equation. Teach them to obey in the name of Jesus. Teach them that obedience is an act of worship. Teach them that we obey, because we can sign Jesus’ name to that obedience. And then, teach them that, when we can sign Jesus’ name to that obedience, Jesus’ power moves into that. And so, the measure of this obedience is right, and the motive is to please the Lord.
Children, those of you in the choir, those of you sitting out there, teenagers, listen to me: Clean up your room in the name of Jesus. Do your homework in the name of Jesus. I’m not being facetious. I’m being very serious and very practical. Do your homework, that Jesus will be gloried, and do it with the authority and the power that He gives.
4. Be a Good Parent in the Name of Jesus
Now, you parents who are wrestling with being good parents, be a parent in the name of Jesus. Look, in verse 21: “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged” (Colossians 3:21). The same word that’s translated “fathers,” here, is translated “parents” in Hebrews 11, and applies, I believe, both to mother and father. You know, children don’t always have an easy life. And, he says, “Fathers, don’t provoke your children to anger.”
You say, “Well, those problems they have—they don’t understand the problems that I have.” That makes no difference. Their problems are big to them. Now, you want God to be interested in your problems, don’t you? Come over here, and let me ask you a question: Are your problems big to God? No, they’re not big to God, but you want God to be interested in you. And, you have to be interested in your children, just as God is interested in you. If a kitten is hurt, if a toy is lost, if there’s a disappointment, be interested in those children. Love them.
Fathers—I have watched fathers, now. I’ve tried to discern what makes a good father, and I have determined that a good father—one that has children that will adore him—is a person who is incredibly strong and wonderfully gentle. Kids want dads to be strong. I don’t necessarily mean that they have to bench press a certain amount. But, they want their dads—you know, “This is my dad. My dad can do it. My dad understands. My dad is smart.” They want a dad they can look up to, but they don’t want a dad who barks at them, and who slaps at them, and pushes them, and shoves them around. That’s terrible. Can you imagine—especially if there’s a little guy, three or four—and that’s when their personality is being formed—can you imagine what it is like to have a great big hulking man berate a little child like that?
All right, I want to ask you a question. Suppose, in that door, right now, somebody walks in here who is 15-feet-tall. Have you ever seen a 15-foot-tall man? We’ll make him 20-feet-tall. This guy is 20-feet-tall; and, when he talks, it sounds like thunder. And, he comes up to you, and he begins to swat you like Godzilla—and to bark at you, and to shove you, and to pick you up, and say, “Goochie goochie goo.” I mean, can you imagine what it would be like to have a 20-foot-tall individual? Well, that’s what you’re like to a child. I mean, you are four times—and, Webb, you’re worse than that—the size of one of these children.
You’ve got to be gentle with these children. And, how do you do that, dads? How do you do that, moms? In the name of Jesus.
5. Serve Honestly, Heartily, and Hopefully, in the Workplace
And then, when you go to work tomorrow—look, in verses 22 through 24: “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh;”—now, he’s not talking about some spiritual pastor, but he’s talking about a master according to the flesh—“not with eyeservice,”—we would say, today, “not a clock-watcher”—“as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;”—now, watch it—“and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”—verse 22 says you’re to serve honestly; verse 23 says you’re to serve heartily; verse 24 says and you’re to serve hopefully—“knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward…”—folks, when you go to work tomorrow, and you work for your boss this way, there’s a hidden paycheck, and you have to wait until you get to Heaven to collect it—“knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:22–24).
When you go to work tomorrow, you’re not going to work tomorrow for the person who gives you your paycheck. You are serving Jesus. I hope you believe that. I tell you that will put more joy in your step tomorrow. If somebody barks at you, you can say, “Well, I’m suffering shame for Jesus’ sake.” If it gets tiresome, you’re saying, “Lord Jesus, I’m going to stick it out. I’m going to have patience—endurance—for Your sake. I am doing this, Jesus, in Your name.”
You say, “Well, what does putting caps on tubes of toothpaste have to do with the name of Jesus?” Listen to me. Whatever you do, do all in the name of Jesus Christ. And, when you do, it’s going to transform all of life. Friend, this is worship, because he says, “Whether you eat or drink—whatever you do—do all to the glory of God.” And, what is worship? Giving God glory. Worship is giving God glory. Yes, worship is singing songs. Yes, worship is studying the Bible, but it does not end there. We bring our worship to church. We take our worship with us—and when we go out tomorrow. And, we’re to live this way until Jesus comes.
III. Does it Culminate in the Praise of Jesus?
Now, here’s thirdly—and, very quickly—here’s the third thing it means to do it in the name of Jesus. Number one: You ask yourself, “Is it consistent with the personality of Jesus? Can I see Jesus doing it, smiling on it, approving it?” Number two: Does it require the power of Jesus to get it done? Does it claim the power of Jesus? Number three: Does it culminate in the praise of Jesus? Does it culminate in the praise of Jesus? That is, if we do it in His name; that means, for His glory.
When I, some years ago… Some of our Jewish friends brought me a beautifully engraved certificate, and it said, “Mr. Rogers, we have planted in the land of Israel a forest of trees—a grove of trees—in your name.” I so appreciated that, and I love the Jewish people. I love the Jewish nation. I love the land of Israel. And, these were planted. What they were saying is, “We’re doing this as an act of gratefulness and as a means of giving honor to you.”
Now, I want to ask you a question: Does your life—will your life tomorrow morning and all day Monday, and Tuesday, and Wednesday, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, before you get to church—will your life bring honor to Jesus Christ? You see, the reputation of Jesus Christ is at stake in your life. The only Jesus this world knows is the Jesus in you.
Did you know, the only thing you know about me, you know through my body? You say, “No, I know something about you through your books.” My body wrote those books. You say, “Well, I know something about you through your words.” My body speaks those words. You say, “Well, I know something about you by your attitude.” The only way you can tell anything about my attitude is the way I look, or what I say, or what I do. The only way you know anything about Adrian Rogers is his body has somehow let you know something about the man inside, right? Did you know the only way this world knows anything about Jesus is through His Body? We’re His body. There’s no other way this world can know anything about Jesus Christ except through His body. We are here to minister Jesus Christ. We are His body. The Christian is the visible part of the invisible Christ, and Christ is the invisible part of the visible Christian. And, therefore, the reputation of Jesus Christ—the reputation of Jesus Christ—is wrapped up in us, the way we live.
Some of you kids, you’re saying, “Well, I want my teacher to become a Christian.” All right, what about the way you do your homework and your schoolwork? Is that consistent with being a Christian? Some of you say, “My mom and dad—they’re not saved. I’ve been witnessing to Mom and Dad. They just won’t listen to me.” You know, they might listen to you, if you cleaned up your room every now and then, and did some other things. What I’m trying to say is, do what you do so that Jesus Christ will be glorified.
A lot of us have a little fish on our car—a bumper sticker, or whatever. Hey, if you’re not going to drive right, take the bumper sticker off—take the bumper sticker off. I see some people that have a little plastic saint on the dashboard, and I’ve often thought, “Man, you need to take that thing off the dashboard and put him behind the steering wheel. That’s where the saint belongs.” Listen. Every day, every way, every thought, every deed, ought to be giving praise to Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Now, that’s what it means to do everything in the name of Jesus, where it’s consistent with His personality, demanding His power, and resulting in His praise and in His glory. And, when we do that, then we’re going to be worshipping seven days a week, in every place, giving God glory and thanks. And so, don’t stop coming to church on Sunday, but bring your worship when you walk in these doors this coming Sunday.
Let’s bow our heads in prayer. Father, I thank You for Your Word tonight. And, Lord, I pray that You’ll help me in a very real way to practice what I have shared tonight, and, Lord, that in everything that I do, whether in word or deed, that I might do all to Your glory, and, Lord, that I might do it all in the name of Jesus, and give You thanks for it. In Your name—in Your authority—I pray, and we pray. Amen.
