The Prerogative of the Church

Introduction

Prerogative is a right or privilege to a particular individual or class. Another meaning is a faculty or property distinguishing a person or class. I want to propose to you that the Christian church has the prerogative of knowing God the Father through the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

Mark 16:19 NIV84

19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

Luke 22:69 NIV84

69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”

Hebrews 10:12 NIV84

12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

Because of these scriptural facts, the prerogative of all we do as the church, should be in the Name of Jesus.

Acts 19:1–7 NIV84

1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

Enter in the Name of Jesus (vs. 1-7)

We enter in the name of Jesus.

Religion or Relationship?

Why do you come to church? Is it because of religion or relationship? “Well,” you might say, “It’s the right thing to do!” If that is your answer, you are here for religion. If your answer is, “My momma told me to come,” you are here for religion. Acts 19 spells out the difference for us. Paul enters in Ephesus and he finds some people as identified as disciples. Just so you know, disciple comes from the Greek word mathetes which means a learner or a pupil. You can be a disciple of anything. Paul wanted to know to whom these were disciples? He simply asked, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Just so you will know, the New Testament does not recognize the possibility of being a Christian apart from having the Holy Spirit. In your outline, there are several passages to study that will clearly show you this.

John or Jesus?

Further discussion with these disciples revealed that they received the baptism of John. Look again at verse 4: Acts 19:4

Acts 19:4 NIV84

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

The first word for baptism is the Greek word bapto. The second word for baptism is the Greek word baptizo. You say, “What’s the difference?” I am glad you asked. The Greek poet and physician Nicander lived about 200 BC. He actually helped scholars understand this better with a pickle recipe that he had written out that used both words. In order to make a pickle, the vegetable should be first dipped in boiling water. This process was called bapto. Afterwards, it should be baptised (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. The first, bapto, is temporary. The second, the act of baptising, baptizo. produces a permanent change. John’s baptism indeed was for the purification of sins and a ritual that lead to a cleansing. It was bapto. However, being baptized in the Name of Jesus, reveals a permanent change and identifies the union and relationship with Jesus. The baptism of John the Baptist was religion. The baptism in the Name of Jesus is relationship. These disciples hear this so a second baptism for them takes place.

Sanctified or Set Apart?

Then Paul places his hands on them, according to verse 6, and the Holy Spirit comes on them. The laying of hands in scripture is a sanctification process and a process that sets apart one to a holy calling. The question becomes, were they sanctified or set apart? The answer is both! These disciples of John became disciples of Jesus. You and I have that same opportunity if we enter into a relationship with Jesus. When we enter in the name of Jesus, we will expect in the name of Jesus.

Expect in the Name of Jesus (vs. 8-17)

Acts 19:8–17 NIV84

8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. 11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. 13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. 17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

Three things stand out in this passage.

God Will Move

God will always move. He led Paul back to a synagogue where he had been before and previously taught. As the Holy Spirit began to move among the people, the Bible says some became obstinate (skleruno),which means hardened or stubborn. These folk publically maligned the Way, which means they spoke evil of the church. Even in the midst of this, God still moves. And when God moves, He will make a way.

God Will Make a Way

Paul takes the disciples with him and gives them daily discussions for two years. What would happen if you went to Sunday School everyday for 2 years? What would happen if you went to Sunday School at all? God will provide for you a deeper understanding of His word that will bring your deeper into a relationship with Him. God will make a way! This means that when the truth is revealed, evil cannot resist and will be driven out. When God comes in, we are changed from the inside out.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV84

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Are you allowing God to remove the evil and old out of your life?

God Will Not Be Mocked

Listen, God will not be mocked. There are multiple examples in scripture including one here in the passage we just read. The demons were cat-calling and making fun of the Name of Jesus. But God will not be mocked.

Acts 19:17 NIV84

17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

We can expect great things in the name of Jesus!

Therefore, we should be encouraged in the name of Jesus.

Encourage in the Name of Jesus (vs. 18-40)

Acts 19:18–40 NIV84

18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. 21 After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.” 22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer. 23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: “Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.” 28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater. 32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews pushed Alexander to the front, and some of the crowd shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today’s events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.”

God Calls Us to Holiness

I am reminded here that God calls us to holiness. You won’t be ever called to anything that He does not equip you to handle

Philippians 4:13 NIV84

13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Are you committed to the ways of God?

God’s People Are Committed

God’s people are committed.

God Uses Circumstances for His Glory

Many confessed Jesus Christ as Lord. Many left their evil ways behind them. God even intervened and used a city clerk to restore order. God will use all kinds of circumstances to quiet an anti-Jesus crowd.

Exit in the Name of Jesus (vs. 41)

And when He does, we will exit in the name of Jesus.

Acts 19:41 NIV84

41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

When we dismiss… we go

Taking the Name of Jesus With You

Teaching the Name of Jesus As You Go

Talking the Name of Jesus Wherever You Are