Acts 4 The power of a name

Acts 4 The Power of a Name

Acts 4:1-22

As they were speaking to the people, along came the priests, the chief of the Temple police, and the Sadducees. 2 They were thoroughly annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming that “the resurrection of the dead” had begun to happen in Jesus. 3 They seized them and put them under guard until the next day, since it was already evening. 4 But a large number of the people who had heard the message believed it, and the number of men grew to five thousand.

5 On the next day their rulers, the elders and the scribes gathered in Jerusalem, 6 along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander and all the members of the high-priestly family. 7 They stood them in the midst.

“How did you do this?” they asked them. “What power did you use? What name did you invoke?”

8 Peter was filled with the holy spirit. “Rulers of the people and elders,” he said, 9 “if the question we’re being asked today is about a good deed done for a sick man, and whose power it was that rescued him, 10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man stands before you fit and well because of the name of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead. 11 He is the stone which you builders rejected, but which has become the head cornerstone. 12 Rescue won’t come from anybody else! There is no other name given under heaven and among humans by which we must be rescued.” 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Thumb print on paper at the end

Group extra

Dominant theme: We carry the name of Jesus

Function statement: Because I bear the name of Christ, it is pivotal that I live a life that reflects his character well.

Homiletical plot: names hold power and meaning, and since I bear the name of Christ, I must wear it correctly.

You might be wondering what that large piece of paper out in the lobby is for, thinking, It seems all Pastor Justin does is sit in his office and come up with crazy wacky ideas and change things left and right.

You might be asking, Are we really going to have to do some random activity after church just so Pastor Justin can actually manage to land his sermons point well?

Well, you would be right. But we will get to that later, first, I want to talk to you about names.

For most of history, names had more purpose than just what you used to get someone's attention. They mean something, literally and figuratively. For example, Eden means delight, or paradise. The name Jacob means foot grabber, because jacob grabbed his twins foot as he was coming out of the womb. I Bet that is not what you expected your name to mean, huh Jake?

Justin means someone who is just, fair, and righteous.

Which either means my parents had incredible foresight, or incredibly low expectations for the rest of you.

Regardless of why, I am thankful to be named Justin and not foot grabber!

Really though, names bring meaning. This is why Germany does not let anyone name their children Hitler, because that name carries meaning before the person ever does anything.

That is why the US, which actually has far more lax rules than most countries, has several states that bans some names outright. Queen, king, Jesus Christ, santa claus. Majesty, 1069, etc.

There have to be quite a few kids around cursing up a storm because their parents wanted to name them queen, or king, which isn’t great, but it sure is better than Tupacalypse. Yes, somewhere there is some kid crying himself to sleep because their parents had to much love for Tupac.

In fact, names carry so much weight that in the Bible we actually see several names get changed for a variety of reasons. Sarai meaning my princess, gets changed to Sarah, which means princess to all.

One really special name change that matters to us is actually the name Joshua in the book of Numbers. Joshua is one of the spies that go into the land of Canaan and comes back and gives a good report on Israels ability to take hold of the land and cities.

Because Joshua, whose name was originally Hoshea, meaning Salvation, was faithful to God in his testimony to the people of Israel, God changed his name to Joshua, or Yeshua. meaning YWHW saves.

What is truly extraordinary about this is that the name Jesus, is the greek translation of Joshua. So Jesus’ actual Hebrew name was Joshua, which, if you have followed me to this point, means every time we say Jesus we actually are saying YWHW saves.

Both of which are better names than foot grabber!

God has many other names as well. We know of YWHW which means I am who I am. In the story of Hagar who is cast out by her master and is wandering the wilderness soon to die, she encounters God who protects her and guides her. So she gives God a new name for the first time

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El Roi, meaning The God who sees.

We also know from the gospel accounts that Jesus is also to be known by a different name, Immanuel, meaning God with us.

He is also called the prince of peace, the king of kings, the wonderful counselor.

In fact the scriptures give us so many names that there is a different name you can call upon in all your different circumstances. When you feel powerless you can call upon.

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El- sahddadi meaning God almighty,

When you need provision call upon Jehovah Jireh, which means God will provide

When you are sick call upon Jehovah Rapha meaning the God who heals.

When you need guidance, call on Jehovah Rohi, My God my shepherd.

When you need to submit to God you can call him Adonai, meaning Lord.

You see, a name matters. In the world it is a little bit different, but we have not really advanced that much. If I shoot a basketball and yell CURRY! You know what that means, it brings a certain prestige and energy. Or growing up when I would catch a pass over someone, we would yell Moss!

Every time I would throw a perfect 20 yard spiral to that kid running an out route I would yell BRADY! And dance a little jig of pride. Unfortunately the 9 years old at the park don’t view with the same excitement .

But Names really do matter.

If I show up in a Ferrari that will give you a widely different expectation of me even before I step out of the car compared to say, a Toyota.

If i show up riding a Harley you are going to say, pastor, it is a little early for you to have a mid life crisis isn’t it?

All these things imply something. An Apple Watch speaks, but a Rolex shouts.

SLIDE Air Jordan

If I put this on the screen, you all know what it means, even if you were born after he retired or never watched a game of basketball in your life. This is not a logo; it's an icon. It's a symbol of status, prestige, and excellence.

This explains so much of our text. Imagine the scene. While teaching and preaching they are suddenly and violently, without the opportunity to make any kind of defense or argument, grabbed by the coats and dragged off into the night and thrown in a dark cold dungeon cell chained to a wall, left there without any clues as to what is happening.

Until the next day, when just as suddenly, they are grabbed and dragged before the most powerful religious council in all of Judea. There before these two young men in Peter and John, lie the respected and feared Annas, Caiaphas, and the rest of the entire council. A council full of men who, just a few months ago dragged Jesus before this same court and yelled, “crucify him, crucify him!”

These religious leaders look sternly with a deep scowl of frustration at them, amazed at how two lowly, uneducated fishermen could create such a large disturbance, and ask, not how did you do it.

But by whose power did you do it? Whose name did you invoke, and under whose name did you do it for.

And Peter replies, filled with the Holy Spirit and a confidence stemming from the very power of God himself, the name of Jesus. It was literally through the name of Jesus that Peter and John did the healing that got them before the magistrates to begin with. Both in the name of and with the power of Jesus of Nazareth.

In fact, in the ancient world names and icons had even bigger values attached to them. Is this not why Jesus, when questioned about if the people should pay taxes, pulls out a Roman coin and says, “Whose icon is on it? Whose image?”

Because an image, an icon, a picture, a name, truly does matter. And it carries weight.

Under Emperor Decius around 250 AD he instituted a new law making it where every inhabitant in the Roman empire had to sacrifice to the Roman gods. If they did they would receive something called a libellus, which was a signed certificate with the image of the Emperor that allowed them to trade, buy, and sell in the marketplace. Without this, they would not be able to buy and sell.

This is why many scholars believe this was the Mark of the beast written about in the book of Revelation. It was an image, a name, put on a sheet of paper that literally kept you from getting food or not.

Names were also used in the ancient world for incantations. The way you controlled the gods, the way you could command them to do what you wanted was to learn their names and repeat it over and over again in some kind of ritual.

This is not even simply an ancient idea; there is an entire, extremely popular anime called Death Note about a supernatural notebook that kills anyone whose full name is written in the book.

Think about it this way: when your child has truly lost their mind and goes over the top, do you just call them by their first name? No, you know Momma's mad when the full name, first, middle, and last name comes out.

Once again, names matter.

So, what do you think of when you hear the name Jesus? A white man with gorgeous blue eyes, chiseled abs, and long flowing brown hair? Or a caramel-skinned Middle Eastern man who looks like he hasn't eaten for days, with thorns around his head, a spear in his side, and nails through his hands? Do you think of a moralistic good teacher, or a messiah?

What do you think of God? Do you think of a long robed long white bearded man with an angry scowl and a lightning bolt in his hand, ready to smite any evildoer, or do you think of a gentle, loving, compassionate, and patient Spirit?

Does the name of God conjure up images of paddles and sticks smacking you from behind as tears form in your ducts, or does it conjure up the loving warmth of a spiritual father that helps you rest peacefully at night?

Does the name God bring to mind eternal fires and hellish demons or images of a new creation, a loving city filled with followers of Jesus?

Let's get a little more serious, does the name Jesus bring up images of a variety of different forms of abuse and pain, does it evoke heavily armored crusaders with a red cross on their shield and a sword dripping with blood as they strike down another enemy of the church, or do you think of the man of peace, with thorns wet from the blood from his own brow, who was peacefully arrested who declares that all who live by the sword, die by the sword?

Finally, when you hear the name Jesus, do you think of that loud street preacher with a bullhorn outside of the arena declaring that everyone is going to hell, or do you think of the man who stepped down to wash the feet of his disciples?

Why can the words Jesus and God evoke so many different names, so many different images? Because every person who has ever attended church, been dunked in the water, and said a prayer, now represents an image, an icon, of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Just as Peter and John said, the power with which we have, the healing we have done is through and by Jesus, because we are his messengers, we too as messengers.

2nd Corinthians 5:20 tells us we are ambassadors for God and his kingdom. When people see you, they naturally see him. For better or for worse. You are Jesus' hands and feet, and what does that mean besides you are his representatives?

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Bible teacher Warren W. Wiersbe says this

“Everything that Israel did brought either glory or disgrace to the name of their God.” - Warren W. Wiersbe

Why do you think God was so often upset at Israel when they did something wrong?

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Listen to what God says to the Prophet Ezekiel

“And wherever they went among the nations, they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’ 21 I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.

22 “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.” Ezekiel 36:20-23

In the eyes of the world, what Israel did, God did, because they were his people. It is estimated between 27 to 33 percent of adults in the US have experienced some form of church trauma, and a large percentage of the 40 million people who have left the church over the previous few decades have attributed it to church hurt.

In fact, one large survey that asked people who have left the church why they left the church, 42 percent of them said one of the reasons they left was church hypocrisy. And do you know what that means? It means an enormous number of people have looked at the Bible, looked at the church, and found the people in the churches wanting. They did not stand up to oppression and wrong doing. They told people to do this and then chose to live the opposite.

And then the third highest reason was religious bigotry, and the 4th was harm caused by religion in the world.

3 out of the 4 main reasons people walked away from the faith was because religious people, mostly Christians according to this survey, suck at being christians. If you want to know why so many churches in the US are closing, why so many youth and children have left, and why budgets are so low, look at how we represent Christ.

That is the number one culprit. Not Richard Dawkins and the New Atheism, skeptical authors were only 6%! It isn't being confronted with science that disagrees with traditional Christian views, it's behavior!

In the memoir book Severe Mercy, a couple who are exploring Christianity while they are students at Oxford write this in their journal

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“The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians—when they are sombre and joy-less, when they are self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths. But, though it is just to condemn some Christians for these things, perhaps, after all, it is not just, though very easy, to condemn Christianity itself for them. Indeed, there are impressive indications that the positive quality of joy is in Christianity—and possibly nowhere else. If that were certain, it would be proof of a very high order.”

The best argument for Christianity is Christians! When they live as if they have actually been transformed by the God of all creation. When they are moved by their core and work to imitate the character of Jesus. But so often it has the opposite effect, the greatest argument against Christianity is that there are so many people who carry the name and image of Jesus, but their lives look no different ten years later.

Think of it this way. The military all around the world, in order to be in accord with the Geneva Convention, must wear insignias, icons designating them both military and their country. They don’t have a choice. Everywhere they go, their uniform declares, I am an American soldier; I am a German soldier; I am an Australian soldier.

They do not get the option to take off the uniform and go to war. Everything they do while in that uniform, while serving the country, is a reflection on the country.

Read what God had to say through the Prophet Isaiah

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“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. This one will say, ‘I am the Lord's,’ another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord's,’ and name himself by the name of Israel.” Isaiah 44:3-6

You know, this is going to really embarrass me. But when I was younger and really “on fire” for my faith, I would take this verse so literally and so fervently that I would do it! Even up until like a freshman or sophomore in college, I would take a pen and write The on my left hand, and Lord’s on my right.

I am not sure what I was trying to accomplish. Maybe I was trying to show everyone I took Jesus seriously, or maybe I just wished people might notice me once in a while, i Don’t know.

But it certainly did not help me get any dates.

But you all are the Lord’s. Regardless of whether it is written on your hands, your hearts, or your foreheads, you are marked by the blood of Jesus. And in word or deed, you are to serve and honor God with your life.

If we remember back to our key text, in verse 13 these religious scholars, these trained professionals, these legal experts are baffled at the authority and confidence these two men speak with. And the only, and the only explanation they can come to terms with is,

They have spent time with Jesus!

They have eaten with, talked with, communed with God incarnate, and that is bound to leave a visible impression.

This is, of course, why Peter and John walked away, telling the religious leaders, we have no choice but to continue preaching and teaching about Jesus of Nazareth. Because we serve him, we are ambassadors to the world for him; all that we do reflects him.

So likewise it is for you as well. Knowing this, ask yourself: What does it mean to represent the King of‌ kings? What does it change to model King Jesus of Nazareth to the world? How does it change your life? How about how you talk to your neighbors? The people of the opposing political party? How does it alter how you speak to your wayward children or that 17-year-old fast food employee who did not bring out your food quickly enough?

How do you think you could change the kingdom of God for the better if you lived so much like Jesus that people could look at you, and like a tv that has been left on the same channel for too long, you have had his image burned on to you?

In the book Jesus and the Powers the authors write this,

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“The gospel calls us to believe in Jesus Christ, to belong to the Church and to build for the kingdom. If we perform that role properly, we will walk in the way of the cross, and build – right under Caesar’s nose! – things that challenge the edifices of totalitarian regimes, that show forth the beauty of God’s new creation, that demonstrate that there is a different way to be human, liberated from the lusts of pleasure and power, attaining a genuine human life by conforming to the image of the Son of God. We are to be a ‘kingdom of priests’ and a ‘royal priesthood’ in a world savaged by sin, ravaged by death, distraught with despair and destroyed by despots.” - Jesus and the Powers

Hopefully, together we can find the courage to take a stand and actually live like Jesus. I imagine for some of you; you have been halfway into following Jesus. Like an alligator that wants to stay in the water but also wants to sunbathe, you are one foot in and one foot out. Neither living by and in the presence of God, but still attending church as a passive observer checking out if this is all really worth it.

So at the end of the service we have a big sheet of paper out in the lobby and several ink pads. On the type of the paper it says, The Lord’s. And each and everyone of us has the opportunity, if we are really wanting to take Jesus seriously, to go to the ink pads, put our thumb on the pad, and by putting our imprint on this paper together, declare to everyone that we belong to God.

And by doing that, we declare to the world, just like Peter and John “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

So today, I hope you will join me by making the same declaration Martin Luther is remembered as saying while he was on trial ““Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.”

Without Life group, you are not doing church. You are going tochurch. But the goal of the Christian life is to do church, to be church, through acts of ministry and fellowship.

Historically and traditionally, Church was never something you went to. Church was something that you were. It was something that you did. The church is not a building. The church is the living body of Christ that is on mission to bring the kingdom of God down.

 So hoshea was the name of the second spy who went into cannan but trusted God. So Moses changed his name from God saves, to YHWH saves. Changing his name from hoshea to Joshua.

And of course Joshua is Greek is Jesus. So every time we say Jesus… we say YHWH saves.

To name the name of Jesus, and to invoke the holy spirit, is to claim to be the Temple of the living God, and that is bound to have consequences.

N. T. Wright

michael does not even rail and yell or insult the devil in Jude, but he invoked the Lords name. we cast out demons in the name of Jesus. story of people casting out demons in Jesus name who ahd never met Jesus.

do not take the lrods name in vain

he healed the man by the name

Homiletical turning point. You live by the name of Jesus, you carry that flag,

Everything that Israel did brought either glory or disgrace to the name of their God.

Warren W. Wiersbe

notes

name or power?

text says he speaks filled by a power, done in the name of Jesus.

let it be known to all of Israel”. we are not shy on this matter

names were used often times to control things. incantations. Yo uahd to know the name of a god to summon it. that is why Jacob orignally asks God, what is your name. and Moses asks what should I call you. Names have power. names have meaning. What does the name of Jesus mean? (possible plot) claimed Jesus was using the name of beezlebul. the name of barnarbas. What does the name of Jesus mean? crucify him crucify him. Abram to abraham. Sarai to sarah. Jacob to Israel. simon to peter for some of you the name may come with baggage of shame, trauma, and pain. but is that a meaning others put upon it, or what it really stands for to begin with? immanuel… who do they same I am? verse? abba wouldnt spell out or say the name YHWH

a little big or arrogance. YOU crucified. are not trying to mince words. (possible plot line)

you did this, God did this. compare and contrast between human and will of God. (possible plot(

You can not deny the goodness of God. where words fall short, where sermons end flat, where messages cease, actions and transformation still remains (possible plot)

cannot not keep from speaking (possible plot)

questions

do they not know why they are being questioned?