There’s Power In The Name Of Jesus!

THERE’S POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS!

Acts 3:16

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. PAUL HARVEY told the story of a 3-year-old boy who went to the grocery store with his mother. She sternly told him, “No chocolate chip cookies; don’t even ask!”

2. In the store she put him in the shopping cart seat, and they went down the aisles. He was quiet until he got to the cookie aisle. When he saw all those chocolate chip cookies packages, he said, “Mom, can I have some chocolate chip cookies?” She said, “I told you not to ask. No!”

3. Later, she accidentally went back to the cookie aisle. He asked again. “Sit down & be quiet; I said, ‘No!’”

4. Finally, arriving at the checkout, the boy knew it was his last chance. He stood up and shouted as loud as he could, “In the name of Jesus, may I have some chocolate chip cookies?”

5. Everyone around him laughed and applauded, and with the help of the other shoppers, the little boy left the grocery store with 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies! God DOES answer prayers prayed in the name of Jesus!

B. TEXT

Peter said [about man healed @ Beautiful Gate] “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 completely healed him, as you can all see” Acts 3:16.

C. THESIS

1. We’re continuing our series on Spiritual warfare today looking at the Name of Jesus. We’ll see the 1). Importance of the Name, 2). Why this Name has power, and 3). How we can use the Name of Jesus.

2. The title of this message is, “There’s Power in the Name of Jesus!”

I. WHY THE NAME OF JESUS IS SO IMPORTANT

A. NAMES ARE IMPORTANT

1. IDENTITY. You’re standing in a crowded, noisy room—and someone says your name. Instantly you zero-in to find the source - because that combination of sounds is connected to your identity. Family members travel long distances to go to the Vietnam Memorial where they search for their loved one’s name. When they find it, they run their fingers over it or make a tracing on paper. Why? Because people’s names are precious!

2. In the Bible, most names have spiritual significance.

a. “Moses” means “drawn out.”

b. “Esau” means “hairy” or “red.”

c. “Jacob” means “heel grabber.”

d. “Peter” means “rock.”

3. The same is true of the names of God; they capture some of God’s character/nature. Elohim connected to ‘Creator;’ El Shaddai means ‘Almighty God;’ Adonai means ‘Lord’ or Master; Melek means ‘King.’ Jehovah or Yahweh - “I AM” – expresses His nature as “Self-Existent One,” outside of time, and who’s a covenant-keeping God.

B. THE NAME OF JESUS HAS SPECIAL MEANING:

“The angel said, ‘You shall call his name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins’” Mt. 1:21. “Jesus” means “Savior,” but ‘Jesus’ is much more than that! His Name has creative and spiritual power, and it shakes the spiritual realm when it’s spoken aloud. That’s why...

C. THE WORLD TRIES TO STIFLE THE NAME OF JESUS

1. On his show “Home Improvement,” Tim Allen was told he couldn’t mention the name of Jesus in connection with a Christmas episode! It’s TABOO!

2. ABC officials chose to bleep out the word "Jesus" on its talk show, "The View." A guest who had a very successful weight-loss program exclaimed, “Thank you, Jesus, is all I have to say!" The network bleeped out Jesus’ name! https://www.faithwire.com/2017/10/31/controversy-erupted-after-the-view-bleeped-out-jesus-but-everyone-missed-this-hosts-amazing-line-about-the-bible/

3. Lt. Cmdr. Wes Modder, a Navy Chaplain to Navy Seals for 15 years, was told he couldn’t pray in the Name of Jesus at Navy Ceremony. https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/navy-chaplain-censored-dont-pray-in-the-name-of-jesus

4. Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham, has created firestorms for his use of the name ‘Jesus’ in public prayers. As long as preachers pray to a generic God, or to Buddha, or Mohammed, or to Goddess Gaia – there’s no problem.

5. But if you say “Jesus” – stand by – the politically correct police will pounce on you in a moment. Isn’t it funny how those who lecture Christians on how we need to be tolerant, have zero tolerance for the name of Jesus!

6. It wasn’t any different than the 1st Century, when the Jewish leaders forbid the Apostles “to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” Acts 4:18.

7. Even Church people, today, hesitant to say the Name of Jesus. Make no mistake about it, the devil is committed to silencing the name of Jesus, so all the more we should speak it out, if only to antagonize the devil!

II. WHY DOES THE NAME OF JESUS HAVE THIS POWER?

A. GOD MADE IT THE MOST POWERFUL NAME