Acts 3: 1-26
Notes
Transcript
Hidden in Christ
Hidden in Christ
Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Introduction:
In Acts 3 we see the first healing after the resurrection.
They are on Mission. To make the message of Jesus known. To let the world know that there is a saving!
They have been equipped with the ability to speak in tongues.
And they have been authorized to use His name.
And the first time they disciples say “In the name of Jesus..” after the resurrection. What does it mean? When I say “in the name of Jesus” what am I saying? Abracadabra? Who can use it? When can someone use it?
I believe the first question we need to ask is
“Who can use the Name of Jesus?”
Maybe more than 10 years ago I ran into a situation. I was with two older people, they were both christians, but not pastors. And one person was praying, and they prayed saying “In the name of Jesus”
You can’t use that. The impression was that the gentlemen who used the term “in the name of Jesus” was not mature enough to use that in prayer.
We will revisit that story. But to answer this question. If I asked you, who are you? What would you tell me? What is your status with God right now? Where do you stand with Him. Did you know that believers are only referred to as Christian’s three times. In fact most of the letters do not begin to all the “Christians” of Corinth. But it says to those who are “In Christ”
“In Christ.” Okay maybe you will say okay there isn’t really a difference there. Its just a more theological way to say Christians.
Almost every single identity in the world is related to what you DO. (teacher, student, engineer, worship leader)……
You may even say you are a christian because you do the christian things. But this identity is based not in what you do, but “Where you are” you’re location.
So ask yourself the Question are you “In Christ” ?
You are animated by Jesus.
He is the source of everything good in you.
Let’s go to the Word’s of Jesus in John 15:4-7
Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.
I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
It seems clear here that: We can do nothing without Him. But He can do anything we ask of Him.
How can I be in Him!? When I struggle with sin? Jesus telling us to remain in Him, repeatedly. You are animated by Him. You are empowered by Him. Let me just be on the ground and try to bear fruit by myself.
How do you know you are in Him. Does Sin actually bother you? That’s a good sign.
Deliberately going on sinning is unconscionable for the christian.
Even if you are weak, you have the desire to honor God.
“Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted”
Can I give you this powerful reminder?
the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.
After a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live.
On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you.
Don’t you realize you are in God? The triune God is enveloping you. What an amazing truth! This is why He says.
And when you are in Christ. You’re different. You talk a little different, you act a little different, your life is about different things, because you’re connected to a life source.
So let’s revisit that scenario…. Billy is in Christ. And even to Him Jesus has a promise.. If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Billy doesn’t need to be perfect he just needs to stay in Christ. Some of us, we make this so complicated… No Billy has to do this, and this, and then ask the pastor’s permission, and attend seminary, and understand all of Romans and Revelations. No, our faith is not in our intelligence or our actions, but in a person. In a person that we are in. Demons are going to attack you. What demon can disturb those who are in Christ?
So who can use the name of Jesus: Those who are “in Christ”
Next Question: Why do we use the name of Jesus?
You may have realized a tension when you read these verses. Anything, really? Anything?
And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
First off, No other prophet spoke like this. No man that has ever lived. Abraham, Moses, David. None of them said, ask stuff in our name. And WE will do it. But realize, that he does it for this reason so that the Father would be glorified when the Son is. Do you see that God being recognized or glorified is the best thing that can happen to you and our world?
But what is the effect of those that Abide in Christ?
You want to glorify the Father!
So even what you pray for is a little different!
But here’s the thing. When you are in Christ.. Something happens to you. You desire different things, You become all about his mission.
That’s what he states in these verses.
Thats why Peter must have been cringing on the inside when they came to Him in Acts 3:11-12
While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the portico named Solomon’s, completely astonished.
But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why are you staring at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?
This man was listening to Paul as he spoke. Paul looked at him intently and saw that he had faith to be made well,
and he said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” And the man leaped up and began to walk.
When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us!”
And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, since he was the chief speaker.
Moreover, the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out
and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men, of the same nature as you, preaching the gospel to you, to turn from these useless things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them.
This is the reality of someone who realizes that He is in Christ. It’s almost cringeworthy. Don’t you see it is God. It is Faith in the name of Jesus that healed this man. It’s not me
The Bible says that we died and our life is hidden with God in Christ.
But there are many people that don’t want to stay hidden.
And you know what. I’ll be the first to admit my weakness in that area. We want people to say good job, we want the praise, we want the applause.
What is best for you, is if Jesus is glorified in your life.
Realize that the purpose at the end of the day, of all these prayers is to Glorify Jesus. Our prayers become about, I just want Jesus to be glorified. The reason we ask for things change. So let’s go back to that example with the
He gave us this name to help us accomplish a mission to make Him Known.
Talking to my friend who works in College Ministry. College students seeing Demonic dreams. But there needs to be a group of people bold enough like Peter and Paul to pray in the name of Jesus for these people. It all points people back to Jesus.
But too often we believe the name of Jesus is a tool that we use to make our lives easier and better. There is a problem with this. And it is best explained with an analogy.
Example of Teacher in School and their Authority. At the end of the day, it is not our authority. It is his authority that we are borrowing. I have no power to ask students to do something that is not in the best interest of the School.
What was the mission? To preach the gospel to the ends of the Earth, to make CHRIST known!
We are borrowing his authority to do just that.
What did the name of Jesus accomplish in Acts 3? The man was healed. And the signs pointed to the main thing. All the signs the symbols point to one thing and It’s what Peter delivers this sermon and tells the people to repent. He glorified the name of Jesus.
It did not turn into a healing event, it did not turn into anything else, but the testimony of Jesus. Which is the mission!
Jesus in everything. Not a menu Item. He is in everything. From Him and to Him are all things. We are in Him. The Mission is about Him.
Worthy of it All.
Anything struck out to you from this passage?
Have you ever prayed in the name of Jesus? Do you have any hesitations about praying in the name of Jesus?
How is a man being a healed by Faith in christ, a shadow to other spiritual realities?
What does Faith do in the believer?
What will God one day do in the World?
How is being “In Christ” an identity that is different from simply being called a “Christian”
How does this change the way we conduct ourselves?
What does it look like to “remain” in Christ?
What would the world miss out on if Christians did not pray in the name of Jesus?
Paul and Peter both immediately turned the attention to God, when people began to praise them? What is the danger of Christian leaders not being “hidden in Christ”
How can we be hidden in Christ?
6. Do you think Christians use the name of Jesus for things not related to God’s mission?
7. In John 14:12-14. Twice it is mentioned that WE will do greater works, and twice it is mentioned that JESUS will do it. So when we pray for healing, and someone is healed… who did it?
a. What does greater works mean?
