The Powerful Name of Jesus

Introduction

Background: At this point, Jesus has ascended to Heaven, the New Testament Church has been born, but the gospel is still only being spread to the Jews. There is no Gentile church established until the Apostle Paul takes his missionary journeys. People will get into these opening chapters of the book of Acts and will try to make it fit into the Gentile church, and while there are many principles that can be found here in the first half of Acts, it’s always important that we know this is a book of history, and right now it is emphasizing the Jewish people.

Context: Peter and John are together and have formed a dynamic mission team. They are the two, along with James, that saw Jesus transfigured on the mount. Even though all the disciples fled, John was there at the foot of the Cross. Peter was the only one that mentioned in his denial, for his flight in the face of persecution, and for his restoration from Jesus. He is the one that Jesus says, “On this Rock I will build my church.” Jesus has laid the foundation, and Peter is the first master builder that will go out and lay the foundation for these churches. Later, Paul will also become a master builder and will lay the foundation for Gentile churches.

What we are going to see in this text, and where everything else will flow, is we are going to see Peter and John observing a 3:00 prayer time (9th hour), we are going to see a lame beggar sitting by the gate of the city. This gate is the gate called “Beautiful”. This gate was made of Corinthian Bronze, stood roughly 75 feet high, 60 feet wide, and was decorated and inlaid with gold and silver.

This beggar is carried there every day, is laying there, and he is panhandling inside this beautiful gate because he knows the people coming through have money. He also knows that it is Jewish custom to give to the poor and needy, and walking by this beggar on your way to temple without giving to him would be unlikely.

Kind of like when you might be fighting like cats and dogs to get out of the house, into the car, on the way to church, but when you get to church, you’re Facebook ready…perfect family.

Now, the point of this chapter and of chapter 4 is to show us the ministry of the Apostles…but more importantly, it is is to show us the Power found in the name of Jesus.

Today, we are going to see that He has the power to heal, and He has the power to Redeem.

I. Brings us from Weakness to Strength

Acts 3:1–10 NKJV

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

1. Our Weakness

We are all men and women who were at one time sitting on the outside of that beautiful gate. The Bible says that from his mother’s womb this man was lame and needed to be carried. Well, the same is true for us, that from birth we are weak, and we are unable to walk righteously.

We are in so many ways like this beggar because we don’t posses anything of value.

Here is that man, and he is sitting outside of that Beautiful gate, and he is collecting alms.

What I see is that these alms that he is collecting are a lot like the good works that we do.

Our Good Works

People all over the world believe that if they do the right things that they are gaining everything they need to live full and sustained lives.

Fortune 500

You’ll see these Fortune 500 companies advertise that you can find your purpose and fulfillment by working there. When people interview, they want people to tell them that selling their product or doing their business is going to bring meaning to their life.

Family and Land

You’ll have people tell you that their family is their fulfillment, that surrounding yourself with people you love and who love you is what brings ultimate joy. That if you go and buy a big piece of land, build a family complex, and live natural and wholesome lives then everything you could have ever wanted will be fulfilled.

Money, Power, Doing Good

It could come in the form of having the most money, having the highest position, or doing the most good whether that’s giving to the poor, promoting education in impoverished areas, healing the sick, or what they would call making the world a better place.

Just Like the Alms

But all of these good things that the world holds on to are just like those alms. Now, you see, a lame beggar in this day was a burden on his family. There was no way that he could ever provide for himself. Those alms that he is getting, well, those aren’t enough to support him or to give him any shot at a normal life. They are just the crumbs that a beggar would get.

All of these things that we do, every person from birth, whether they are physically lame or not, whether they are rich and powerful, whether they accumulate land with wonderful families, and whether they have all the money and power in the world, every person from their birth is weak, unable to stand, and stuck outside of that beautiful pearly gate.

What a man thinks is bringing him fulfillment in his life is really just what is getting him by. All of these things are nothing more than alms given to the poor. They cannot sustain you, they cannot provide for you, they are full of pity and full of obligation, and they are not able to lift you up out of your weak and sinful state.

Here’s what the Bible says: Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

There are no good works that can save a man, but only the power of Jesus Christ can save a man. Only relying on His name can save a man. There is no other way. Not money, not power, not families or lands, but only Jesus Christ.

Now, we have seen our condition is like that of a lame beggar…now I want you to see The Power Found in the Name of Jesus

2. His Strength

Notice there in v. 3-4

Acts 3:3–4 NKJV

who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”

This is so obvious the power of God at work in the life of Peter. This is the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Can you imagine that big beautiful gate…it’s there on the East side of the temple, and outside this gate is beggar after beggar after beggar. They are all gathered there at the time of prayer to collect their alms. There are a multitude of beggars, but there are only two men that we know of filled with the Holy Spirit present there.

Of all the beggars there asking Peter and John for alms, they call out to this man and say, “look at us!”

a. Men Searching for anything

There are all kinds of people in this world and they are searching for anything and everything. This lame beggar didn’t just go after Peter and John, but after everyone who passed by him. This beggar is just like so many of us, he is seeking something of temporary satisfaction and he is calling out to any opportunity that passes him by. He wasn’t looking for God, he was looking for that next blessing.

b. God Searching for Men

But then notice that Peter says, “look at us!” After passing by all these beggars, he calls to this man and demands that he look at them.

There are these beggars, and their heads are down, they are defeated, they are asking for alms randomly as people pass by, and these men filled with the Holy Spirit say, “look at us!”

Friends, there are no men searching for Jesus Christ, but Jesus Christ is searching for men. By His Holy Spirit, God is searching for the lost.

Romans 3:10–11 NKJV

As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.”

And just like Peter commands this lame and weak beggar to “look at us!” So, the Holy Spirit of God commands the sinner who He is calling to repentance, “Look at us!” Referring to the Holy Trinity.

Friend, man is not searching for God, but God is searching for man.

Now notice again v. 5

Acts 3:5 NKJV

So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

This is how we treat God. This is how we get today what we call false converts. When God commands them, “Look at us!” They put out their cup for alms, expecting to receive something they could obtain from anywhere else.

We are a people who lack understanding…we expect to receive something from God, but now it is time for you in your life to start expecting to receive God Himself, and not something from Him.

Those alms would have only lasted for a little while. The blessing that we ask God for is only going to last a little while…but when we receive God Himself, then there is no misery in that blessing.

Proverbs 10:22 NKJV

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

This is just as true for your finances as it is your life and joy. When we want to go and work to receive favor with the world, it always comes at a cost of pain and sorrow. When our blessing is God and His presence, and then His provision, it is a blessing that comes without burden. It is a blessing that comes without sorrow.

How is that? The world is full of sin, the presence of God is filled with peace.

Philippians 4:7 NKJV

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

So much of what people need, so much of what the church needs, is to quit seeking the next blessing and to start seeking the presence of God.

Peter says to this man, “I have no money, but in the name of Jesus I command you to walk. Peter grabs this mans hand, and he begins to walk.

Notice there in v. 7

Acts 3:7 NKJV

And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

This issue of healing There is this miraculous healing that has taken place, and there are some things you should know.

The televangelists that claim they are of the ministry of healing are a bunch of phonies. This healing, and the healing that the other Apostles performed was a power and a ministry given to them to solidify their position as representatives of the Word of God.

That is, that these 12 Apostles, and later the Apostle Paul, were given the authority to speak on behalf of God. No one today possesses that ministry.

Stephen and Barnabas also healed and performed miracles, both times an Apostle was with them.

When Jesus heals you of your inability to stand, He gives you a strength that is amazing.

I’m not talking about physical strength, I am talking about spiritual renewal. What this man displays in his ability to stand and to walk, and to praise God, is a picture of what God does on the inside of a person when they come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. He takes your weakness, He takes those alms, He takes those good works, and He gives them substance.

The point is this, that without the power of Jesus in your life, without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, you are powerless and you are without substance. You are without hope. You will be on the outside of that beautiful gate with no hope of walking in.

Notice there in v. 10

Acts 3:10 NKJV

Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

I want to tell you that the best defense of the saving power of Jesus Christ is a life that has been changed in a way that amazes people.

When you from begging and collecting alms, to walking and singing praises to God, people are going to take note. They are going to see you, they aren’t going to believe it, but they are going to have to accept it because it is right in front of their eyes.

Romans 6:4 NKJV

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The person that has been made strong, that has been saved by God, should strive in their life to know Him and to honor Him, to walk in that newness of life, not like they used to walk, but as God has now called them to walk.

So, not only does the powerful name of Jesus bring you from weakness to strength, it brings you form Self-Righteous to Condemned

II. From Self-Righteous to Condemned

Acts 3:11–13 NKJV

Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.

1. Peter Glorifies Jesus

Now, right here, the Apostle Peter could have taken all the credit. Everyone around him is amazed, they have seen him do this miracle, and Peter has the option to claim self-righteousness.

I’ll tell you the difference between a mature believer, an immature believer, and a lost person.

A mature believer gives all the glory to God. That’s what Peter did here.

Acts 3:12 NKJV

“Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?”

Peter then begins to preach about Jesus to these Jews to condemn them.

An immature believer may with their mouth point to Jesus, but in their heart and as their message progresses, they will turn the attention to themselves. Their testimony and their version of the story will be “me, me, me, I, I, I.”

A lost person will either scrutinize or will be amazed and open to receiving the Gospel. That’s why, church, at every opportunity, we must point to Jesus in everything that we do. Empty of self = full of the Spirit.

2. Peter Convicts the Sinner

Peter brings a serious charge against the Jews here. This is not a message we would preach in America, because this was Peter speaking to a Jewish audience, a people who had every chance to see the King of Glory and to receive Him, but instead they nailed Him to a cross 50 days earlier.

He says,

Acts 3:14–15 NKJV

But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

People must be convicted

Now, here is a reality of life, that people don’t like when you talk about sin and conviction. They don’t like when you talk about something that they have done that has put them outside of that beautiful gate.

However, no person can understand they need to be saved unless they first understand that they are condemned.

This is why I say that the name of Jesus brings us from self-righteousness to condemnation, because that is the first step in conversion.

It’s not that people are not condemned when they don’t know the Lord, it’s that they do not know they are condemned if they don’t know the Lord.

That’s why the Bible describes it as “lost”, “blind”, “without understanding”, because in a persons mind they are the best thing to exist since sliced bread. They are self-righteous.

But when a sinner comes face to face with the Maker of the Heavens and the Earth, they have no choice but to see their desperation and their sin filled life.

The Christian’s Self-Righteousness

This is something else that is a danger for the Christian. Christian, don’t be naive enough to believe that you are not self-righteous. The reason that a daily quiet time is so important, the reason why dwelling in the presence of God is so important, is that any man, any woman, no matter how faithful and strong willed, can be brought down into the depths of sin.

There was King David, first, he was a man after God’s heart…then he was a man of war, an adulterer, a murderer, and he did it all believing he was justified. He wasn’t ever going to repent if Nathan, the prophet of God, didn’t come to convict him.

We don’t have prophets now, we have the Holy Spirit. To spend each day with the Holy Spirit is to spend each day shaking off all of that self-righteousness.

Peter’s Evidence

So, here is Peter, he has provided the evidence of his standing with God by healing this man. When the people come to him in amazement, he points them to Christ, talks with them about their crucifixion of savior to open their eyes to their condemnation, and then he says that by faith in the name of Jesus, you can be just like this lame beggar, you can be made new. You can be given the strength to walk…you can live your life as a testimony of the goodness of God.

Warren Weirsbe says it like this, “Calvary may have been man’s last word, but the empty tomb was God’s last word.”

Friend, sickness, trouble, divorce, financial turmoil, or the grave may have the final word in this world…but the empty tomb is Christ’s final word to those who will believe on His powerful name.

III. From Condemnation to Redemption

Acts 3:17 NKJV

“Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

What we see here is Peter offering the same hope that Jesus offers us, we see him speaking their language.

The City of Refuge

In the Old Testament, if a man were to kill another man without intent, there were designated places where that man could escape judgement and condemnation, to escape death and retribution. These were called cities of refuge.

In this cities, no one was allowed to harm the person that took the other’s life.

Jesus our Refuge

What Peter is doing here is preparing their hearts to receive Jesus as their place of refuge. And even though we don’t understand it, he is telling them plainly that there is a place where they can go where they can escape judgement for what they have done.

In v. 19-26, Peter is doing two things:

He is offering a national repentance for the people.

He is telling the Jews that it is in the will of God for them to repent and to believe in Jesus Christ as a nation, that God will then come back and establish His kingdom that He promised Abraham. You’ll see in Acts 4 that the leaders don’t repent, and so we know that God already planned to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles

He is offering individual repentance for the people.

He is saying to each person there, “come unto Jesus, and He will be your city of refuge.”

This also shows us that every individual person is important to God and is responsible to Him.

So many want the big stage and the big title, but they won’t give time to the individual. They won’t humble themselves to serve the one. The only reason that Peter got the opportunity to speak to the crowd was because he first cared for that one, lame beggar.

There is someone today and the Holy Spirit of God is convicting you right now. You may think that the crowd around you will protect you. You might think that by blending in you will be ok…but the Bible says that you are responsible for your sin.

Your wife may be saved, your husband may be saved, mom and dad, son or daughter, but you are lost…you need to come today to the city of refuge, you need to come today in repentance, understanding that you are not righteous but condemned, and you need to receive Jesus.

Finally, what we see in 4:1-4 is the redemption that Jesus will give.

Acts 4:1–4 NKJV

Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

The Sadducees

These Sadducees didn’t believe in the physical bodily resurrection. When Peter boldly declares that Jesus raised from the dead, and that he and John were a witness to it, they saw that as undermining their authority.

Instead of being honest and admitting that these two fisherman had power and a knowledge of the Scripture that could only come from God, they tried to cover it up and make it go away. They had no answers so they took Peter and John and took them into custody.

The City of Redeemed

So, there were these Sadducees that tried to lock away the truth, then there are the redeemed that embraced the truth.

The Bible says that 5,000 men were saved that day and came to faith in Christ. All of that started because Peter, by the power of the Holy Spirit, took the time to witness to one lame beggar.

Conclusion

If you have rejected Jesus in the past. If you have tried to pretend you are righteous in the past, God is patient with you and is giving you another chance just like he gave Israel another chance after killing His Son Jesus.

If you want to share the good news of Jesus and His life giving power, we must also talk about sin and condemnation. We must also talk about the sinful condition of man. If we don’t then people will never come to the light, understanding that they need a city of refuge to protect them from the wrath of Almighty God.

If we are going to reach our community, we are going to have to do it one person at a time. If we want God to send us out into the harvest, we are going to have to cut the heads of grain one by one. However, if we have 100 members all reaching people one at a time, we are going to see God do a miraculous work in our community.

God may be at work, but Satan is alive and well and working overtime. What we are going to see is that Satan will attack us from the outside, but his most damaging tactic is to attack right here from the church pew. Be watchful, be filled with the Spirit, so that Satan won’t use you for his dirty work.

There is power in the name of Jesus, and there is power in the word of God.

Romans 1:16 NKJV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

We have to preach the Word of God in every season, whether it is popular or not if we have any hope of reaching a lost and a dying world.