IN THE NAME OF JESUS
by
Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (10/18/2013)
“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” (The Acts 2:38, King James Version [Peter preached]).
Greetings in the Name of Jesus,
My brothers and my sisters, we stand on the precipice of change as modern change agents. What we do today will effect real change? In the Name of Jesus. Jesus effected real change two thousand years ago in his public ministry.
Today, in the spirit of change, neighborhoods manned themselves with home command stations to speak out for change. My brothers and my sisters, those neighbors became community activists to improve what the United States government already established in the constitution and bill of rights. Fundamentally, those neighbors refused to accept a fly-by-night excuse for why their cherished government no longer meant the same to them as it meant to their parents and their parents' parents. What was the meaning for the lack which purported to stand for an abundant living society?
Why could the leaders no longer speak to the mountain and move the mountain, if the mountain stood in their way of what their forefathers built then rejected their right to improve upon what was built.
Congress had to give the power of the people back to the people because they failed to represent. When in doubt, act. Job (12:2) said, “...No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. This bit of wisdom took back the power of the people from the Congress of the United States of America (U.S.A.) and the technology of the opinion polls to save a president. Jesus saves.
The public ministry of Jesus went into the neighborhoods, the streets to heal, preach and teach.
The strategy to man up the neighbors of America with home command stations, brilliant in its conception turned up the inspiration of those who stood up to be counted when representation failed. Sometimes, a citizen must stand up for himself. Neighbors took action without a paycheck just in the love of Christ Jesus as stewards of what God gave them. The Acts 3:6 (KJV) said, “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I to thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (many were converted).
Why were today's leaders, incapable of representation, incapable of speaking to the mountain, incapable of doing God's business, incapable of effecting change? The Acts (4:10) said, “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” (Peter exhorteth repentance). Who said, “The only thing you have to fear, is fear itself”? In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) spoke to the consequences of fear in his first inaugural address. What did Jesus say and why must you authorize your works in the Name of Jesus? ---from whence cometh your “strength” (Job 12:13, KJV [Job's confidence in God])?
Do you believe in the Name of Jesus? The Acts (8:12) said, “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Philip preached). How many stood on the battlefield and were counted faithful true believers? Or, did you refuge yourselves in your homes for the saving of your flesh instead of in Jesus for the saving of your soul (Psalms 91:2, KJV [The Lord is my refuge])?
Apparently, Americans must become comfortable with manned up operation of home command stations as activists speaking out on the battlefield when their representation failed. Obviously, what FDR told the people 70 years ago, resonated today, therefore, it is not a new concept that sometimes the people must speak for themselves. Psalms (29:11) said, “The LORD will give strength unto his people;
2
the LORD will bless his people with peace” (Psalms 27; 28; 29, KJV [A prayer against enemies]). Lately, of recent due to lack of representations the world view of America seemingly is a dysfunctional and polarized country.
We must lift up the name of Jesus and magnify his name, in true representation for our failure to represent Jesus resulted in failure of our Congress to represent us. Why did we fail to represent Jesus? Jesus did not fail to represent God. God was well pleased and the works of Jesus were well done.
The Acts (19:13-17) said,
“Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon
them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the
Lord Jesus, saying We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul
preacheth...
And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and
Paul I know; but who are ye? …
And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also
dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the
name of the Lord Jesus was magnified” (Paul preached).
How many of you will God say, “Who are you?”, simply, because you failed to speak up for yourselves, to draw nigh to your God, intimately as a child to a Father, in a true relationship? Paul in his defense of himself at Agrippa spoke of his contrariness to the name of Jesus, “I verily with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 26:9, KJV [Paul's life as a Pharisee under the authority of the chief priests]).
What happened to Paul was what happened to many of the people who Jesus delivered and lead; “Follow me,” because there was a change in leadership. Paul became Paul under Christ Jesus and left the name, Saul under the chief priests because Jesus became the only high priest under the “order of Melchizedek” (Genesis 14:18-20):
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and
wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he
blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high
God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most
high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.
And he gave him tithes of all” (God encourageth Abram).
How well do you deal with change? Obviously, the change in the presidency and administration did not sit well with those who did not win the last presidential election but is this the way to behave, for if, you can not hold on to a four term presidency and administration, then, you should be able to hold on to Jesus, in the name of Jesus, for he is high priest, forever (Hebrews 7: 1-17 [“... For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec]). It happened and malpractice in misrepresentation should make you ashamed of yourself. Did not this happen with Satan?
Satan made the people believe he had heaven and earth and tried to make Jesus believe his nonsense as well yet Jesus stayed with his father, God Almighty and believed him, only. The holy word (Genesis) told you that God gave Abraham heaven and earth through Melchizedek and gave Jesus high priesthood, heaven and earth through Melchizedek. So, why do you remain in a delusional state of mind? You should not let Congress get away with misrepresentation for if they fail to represent the people, then whom do they represent? Do not let them get away.
Amen.
