In His Name

Acts 3:1–10 ESV

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

In Jesus’ Name

Title of today’s sermon — “In His Name”

Here is a question for us all to ponder about — “Why do we conclude our prayers the same way in saying, ‘in Jesus’ name’?” Have you ever thought about this?

I imagine many of us are like me in that this is just the way we were taught. No explanation; simply, “do as I do” deal — And probably most of us are on the same boat — Never thought twice about it.

However, there is a powerful meaning behind this coda, “In Jesus’ name I pray.”

First, it was Jesus who taught us to pray this way:

John 14:13–14 (ESV)

13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

It makes sense! “In Jesus’ name we pray,” and we get/receive answer to our prayers! Unfortunately, this creates more heresy or very least, confusion — It appears that we summon Jesus to fulfill our wishes!

I’ve heard it explained like this by a pastor:

When my father entered a retirement community, he signed a sheaf of papers granting me “power of attorney.” It was, of course, a safeguard. If he became unable to pay his own bills, make his own decisions, or even sign his name (as eventually happened), I was empowered to act on his behalf, with the understanding that I should (if possible) consult him and always act in keeping with his wishes. That’s something like what it means to pray “in Jesus’ name.” It’s not an addendum. It’s not punctuation. It’s empowerment to speak and act on Jesus’ behalf, with the understanding that we should consult Him and always act in keeping with His wishes.

In other words, at the heart and core of this metaphor/analogy is that Jesus is the authority — Everything starts with Him and everything comes from Him.

And that includes the power (dynamis) we’ve been hearing about the past 6 weeks.

Remember the mighty rushing wind and fire that fell on heads? — It’s not some advanced 4D technology fooling everyone.

Speaking in tongues? — It’s not a result of some high spiritual acumen by these men.

Preaching boldly? — It’s not anything unique or special to one person.

The power is from the authority that is Jesus Christ.

And the first couple of chapters have been building up to it now. We’re really going to see this power of Jesus on display through the Church (or apostles).

This is what we find in our text/passage where a man born paralyzed/lame suddenly leaps up from the ground all from a prayer that ends like the prayer we pray, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

Lame Beggar

We are introduced to a beggar at the temple gates asking for money and encounters Peter and John.

Acts 3:1–2 ESV

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

Let’s fill in the blanks real quickly as there’s a transition of what we read last week and now.

Peter had just given a powerful sermon which brought 3,000 people to Christ (to be born again).

Following the message, Peter gave 3 simple instructions (or rules):

Devote to the Word of God.

Fellowship with the people of God.

Worship together.

How God Wrecked Me

I need to make couple of confessions — God has been wrecking me all week. As clear as He can ever be, God humbled me repeatedly.

Listen to this — You would think Peter and the apostles are ready to rest after being with 3,000 people; instead, they’re off to the temple to pray.

For most of us, them going to the temple to pray is nothing more than a transitional sentence, reading that we’ll bypass it, but to me it’s a conviction I can’t ignore.

After PIF service, my usual routine, is to go home and nap.

But Peter and the apostles teach me (and us) a valuable lesson — Spirituality is sustained through unceasing prayer!

Perhaps God is not only speaking to me but surely some one here needs to hear this too! Amen?

And here’s how God wrecked me again.

Earlier this week, I made a visit to a local homeless shelter.

Yearly donation located in Union City — It was my first time going to drop off the check.

Outside (court area) were many waiting to be called. Can I be honest? I felt so uncomfortable...

I rushed in and rushed out.

When I returned is when I began prepping for this sermon and I realized God had placed before me an opportunity live this out, but I squandered it.

Here’s what cut me to the heart — Peter said to the beggar “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.” Peter gifted the beggar with Christ.

I, too, have Christ. The greatest gift I can ever give to anyone in need. But I dropped off silver and gold and squandered the chance to give Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Everyone, I share my shame and failure with you in hopes that you’ll learn from my mistakes.

God Meets Us Where We Are

But thank God He meets us where we are — Look closely at the circumstance of this lame beggar and you’ll see a reflection of yourself in him (hopefully).

In Acts 4:22, it tells us that he was 40 years old. Put that into context.

Since the day he was born, for 40 years, he never walked and was carried everywhere (and it’s not like he had a wheelchair). Think how burdensome that must’ve been.

And what’s interesting is that through experience, he learned that being at the gate of the temple was ideal — Praying people going in and out was the most merciful place he can be.

You see, this statement of God meeting us where we are comes in two folds:

He meets us here at church because this is the most merciful place.

Yes, you can meet God at home, at work, in your car, or anywhere else for that matter; but let us not downplay the overwhelming reality that if you want to meet God, church is where you want to be.

Peter and John could’ve easily stayed where they were or could have gone home to pray but they chose the church (the temple).

So, can we hold church to a higher priority in our lives? Can we lessen the Sunday absences? And maybe even consider an extra day of worship?

He meets us in our current state of mind and condition; in other words, He confronts us in our sin.

Let me paint a broad stroke of what sin is — It’s you becoming the god of your own life.

But have you stopped to look at yourself? You are a terrible god of your own life.

Meeting God isn’t always a pleasant experience.

Jeremiah gave the perfect illustration when he calls God the Potter and we the clay. The clay must go through a process of wedging and fire (2,345 degrees Fahrenheit!).

Look At Me

Therefore, meeting God where we are is more than a passive encounter, but an active one.

Acts 3:3–4 ESV

3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”

This is the active encounter I’m talking about — Before the impossible happens (the miracles, signs, and wonders), the possible must happen first. And that onus is on us. That responsibility falls on us.

Because here lies a profound theological truth.

It has been predestined for this lame beggar to be healed on this day. I say this because we read in Acts 4:28 about Jesus’ resurrection, how that was predestined, as a follow up response to the lame beggar’s healing.

This simply echos James’ teaching:

James 2:17 ESV

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Peter and John said to the beggar, “Look at us”. It doesn’t seem like much, but that’s the works. That’s the active encounter. That’s the possible which must happen.

And when God meets you where you are, the onus is on us to look at Him.

Church, think about how everything all connects now.

Do you want to see the power of God in your life? Do you want to see miracles, signs, and wonders? Do you want to see your life radically transformed? Do you want the church afire?

Jesus specifically reminded us through the bronze serpent story in Numbers by saying in John 3 to look upon Jesus just as the Israelites looked upon the bronze serpent for the power of God to take place.

And when you look upon Him, may the words of Peter ripple through your heart, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

The beauty is in His name! The authority is in His name! The power is in His name! Hallelujah!

In His Name

And let the response of His name from this beggar be the very response of our church today.

Martyn Lloyd Jones calls this response as “a display of authentic Christianity” — The leaping of joy, the shout of praise, the filling of wonder, awe, and amazement; this is what the church afire looks like.

This is what a follower of Jesus ought to look like.

Oh how far we’ve gone away from this — So many Christians are downtrodden, so many are depressed, so many are joyless, so many are conflicted, so many are broken, and so many are faithless.

The church in the world has become about their name and not His name.

The church in the world has become a therapy session and not a healing revival.

The church in the world has become weak and fragile as it has placed its faith in silver and gold and not in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

It is time for the church to rise up and walk!

It is time for us to champion the name that is above all names!

It is time for us to declare His authority and victory!