The Power of the Name

Introduction

Hudson’s red backpack - “I’m ready to go to school.” The power of a backpack?

Powerful namYou’ve had anxiety. You’ve had suffering. You’ve had hard days. What have you turned to for relief? A new car? A shopping spree? Ice cream?

You’re here this morning because you know where real power lies: in the name of Jesus.

You’ve received new stuff

In , reminded that Jesus has the power to make things new. There is power in the name of Jesus.

You’re here because you believe there is power in the name of Jesus. You’ve experienced it. You’ve trusted that Jesus has the power to forgive your sins, save you from eternal hell, and give you eternal life with Him.

You’re in this room because you believe there is power in the name of Jesus. You’ve experienced it. You’ve trusted that Jesus has the power to forgive your sins, save you from eternal hell, and give you eternal life with Him.

You believe there is power in the name of Jesus to break the chains of sin, to set you free from addictions, to give you joy instead of sorrow, to heal you from diseases.

Lots of powerful names throughout history: Alexander the Great, Mussolini, Hitler, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, etc. But none of them can do or have done what Jesus has done. He stands alone as the powerful God-man who can change your life right now.

The early church experienced the power of the Name of Jesus - pentecost, thousands saved, and miracles at the hands of the Apostles. is a demonstration of the Power of Jesus and two different responses to the Power of Jesus. Three truths about the Power of the Name:

1. The name of Jesus is hope for the hopeless.

Temple - people gathered at the temple 3 times a day to pray. Peter and John going to pray and preach.

A lame man - suffered since birth. Daily he was carried to the Beautiful gate to beg for money. Giving to the poor was expected from religious Jews, and the man daily hoped that someone who have mercy on him. Day after day, in the temple, the religious passed him by. Maybe he was tossed a few coins, but largely ignored. Hopeless life - day after day, week after week, year after year.

He stops Peter and John. “Will you help?” Imagine him half-looking at the ground as he asks. Not sure if they will help. Imagine Peter grabbing his face. “Look at me. I don’t have any silver or gold. I have something better. In the name of Jesus, get up and walk!” (vs. 6)

Confusion of the man. Really? Peter sticks out his hand - man gets up - first time in decades he walks. He leaps. He walks into the temple praising God!

The amazement of the crowd who had seen this man daily. How did this happen?

vs. 11 - The healed man clung to Peter and John. You can understand why. Were they the source of power?

Peter uses opportunity to share Gospel. Miracles point to Jesus! To crowd: “Why do you wonder at this? Oh yeah, it’s because you refused to believe in Jesus. You denied He was the Messiah, and you handed Him over to Pilate. You killed Him, but a death sentence could not keep Him down. He’s alive! If you would have believed, you would have understood precisely what just happened.”

Peter - “You acted in ignorance. (Peter could relate. How many times had he acted in ignorance?) You missed what God foretold through the prophets. Now repent! Don’t miss it this time!”

The entire nation was like the lame man yet they didn’t know it! They were hopeless. (Sins blotted out… vs. 10 The temple could not blot out their sins! The sacrificial system pointed to the One that they crucified. Failed to realize their insufficient sacrifices.

Peter’s sermon is an offer of RADICAL GRACE. “This temple you’re standing in, and the sacrifices that are daily made in this place have brought you no atonement. But there is One who will forgive you of your sins if you turn to Him!”

Beware of insufficient sacrifices! () Insufficient sacrifices:

Good works. (Giving alms.) “I’ve been a good person.” Have you?

Religious ritual. “I’ve given my time to the church.” So what? Religious obligation is not what God desires. (Woke up from nap to clean house and get out. Didn’t buy my house. What’s wrong with my house? “God - I’ve done all the work for you. Why do you reject?”

Don’t be ignorant to the true sacrifice! A sacrifice of radical grace and love!

A second chance! You are far worse off than you ever realized (rejected truth), but at the same time, you are far more loved than you could ever imagine. : But God… He’s offered you grace. These Jewish people had flat out rejected Jesus, but Jesus offered grace. Maybe you’ve flat out rejected Jesus, but there’s grace for you.

We all have a condition that’s far worse than being lame. We have hearts that are dead and need life that only the Spirit gives. At the name of Jesus there is hope for the hopeless.

For followers of Jesus, know that Jesus is the best you have to give. We need to help the poor, minister to the sick, etc. Jesus did that! But, we do it to point people to Jesus. At the end of the day, Jesus is the best we have to give.

Some of you feel like you have nothing to give, but if you are able to speak the Gospel, you have more to give than the wealthiest person on the planet who gives away millions but doesn’t give Jesus. Are you giving Jesus?

2. The name of Jesus is judgment for the proud.

Mixed response to Peter’s message - Sadduccees greatly annoyed (vs. 2). Peter preaching resurrection. Sadduccees rejected possibility of resurrection. For Sadduccees, Peter and John preaching a false message.

As they were arresting Peter and John - 5000 come to faith! What an invitation! Imagine the outrage of the Sadduccees!

Peter and John before high-priestly family. Annas and Caiaphas. Annas and Caiaphas were responsible for the death of Jesus! (,; ; , ) On the night of Jesus arrest, Jesus stood before both Annas and Caiaphas. Now Peter and John standing before the same men that crucified their master!

Filled with the Spirit - Peter speaks boldly. Face to face with the religious leaders who arrested Jesus. “You killed Jesus. But He’s alive. You don’t believe in the resurrection? Look at what God is doing! Look at us! Look at this formerly lame man. He is proof that Jesus is alive and at work!”

Reference to - Cornerstone - God is building a Kingdom - but the priests and their religion is not the cornerstone. Jesus is! Peter: In pride, you’ve rejected the Cornerstone. You’ve rejected the work of God.

Then - the slap in the face. vs 12 - “There is salvation in no one else...” “Annas and Caiaphas - salvation is not in you. You uphold the sacrificial system. You burden the people with the rituals fo religion. People are not saved because of you. You are not the real High Priests. Jesus is the real High Priest! He is the mediator between God and man! He provides the way through His death and resurrection!”

The priestly family shocked. They had nothing to say in opposition. (vs. 14) The miracle spoke for itself. (vs. 16) Yet, they don’t repent! Instead, they tell Peter and John to stop talking. Truth in front of them, but still reject! (I won’t believe Clemson is a better football team than GA no matter the championships.)

Only response: “Please don’t talk about Jesus anymore.” (vss. 17-18) Peter and John: “Yeah right. You think we’re going to obey you rather than God?” (vs. 19) High priests threatened them and sent them away. What else could they do? The miracle, the crowds… There was no way to punish Peter and John.

For the proud, the name of Jesus is judgment. For the religious leaders - objections to Jesus because in their pride they could not wrap minds around resurrection. Proud give all kinds of objections to Christianity even when truth stares the prideful in the face:

Christians think they are morally superior. (Better than us.)

Christians are hypocrites.

Christianity is arrogant. (1 way? Really? Not very inclusive. Yet Christianity practices inclusive exclusivity.)

Religion is personal. (What works for you works for you, and what works for me works for me.)

Christianity is a myth. (Creationism? Adam and Eve? A global flood? A resurrection? No way that is real!)

Christians are _________________. (Fill in the blank.)

Bottom line: If I become a Christian it will disrupt my way of life.

Whatever your objections, they will not hold up. Contrast between crowd and religious leaders. Crowd believes, but Caiaphas and Annas remained prideful. Maybe for you, truth has looked you in the face, but you continue to choose to ignore, reject, etc. You will face judgment. Today is a day of grace - an invitation to turn to God in humility trusting that Jesus died for your sin and rose again so you could be forgiven and given the gift of life. Do not let your pride blind you to the truth.

For you, Gospel is either good news or bad news. Which is it?

3. The name of Jesus is power for the faithful.

When released, Peter and John returned to friends and reported. Expected response: fear, let’s flee. Pray to God to take away persecution, to make life easier. Instead, pray for boldness. vs. 25-28 - Nations and kings rage against true King - but let us remain faithful! vs. 31 - God answered the prayer! Power for the faithful!

Why pray for boldness? Why not! Read - They knew the power of God! They were all in! After all, who was Caiaphas? Who was Annas? Who was Pontius Pilate? Tools in God’s hands to accomplish His redemptive purpose! (vs. 27-28)

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Caiaphas and the priestly family would lose everything because of their prideful rejection of Jesus. But, these early believers who in humility trusted the risen Lord would gain everything. And we, because of their boldness, would gain everything as well.

The boldness of the early church led to our salvation because they were willing to follow Christ in obedience even though it was costly.

Fifty years from now, who will look back and say because of the grace of Jesus and the boldness of His church at Northwood, I’m redeemed! Because bold Christians continued to share the Gospel even as the world moved further and further away from the truth.

Followers of Jesus, let us pray for what the early church had:

Boldness

Graciousness - to want to extend to people what’s been extended to us.

Tenacity - We just won’t quit.

Urgency - Now is the time.

Not a follower of Jesus? Three choices:

Deny - too proud to believe

Ignore - Maybe if I just ignore Jesus He’ll leave me alone. Doesn’t change the truth about you or Jesus.

Embrace - Embrace the Savior who died and rose again for you.