Power of Jesus' Name Pt1

In Acts 3:11-26 we find the second sermon Peter preaches. It is a powerful sermon that will actually have two parts. Next Sunday we will look at the second part. Listen to the direct and powerful words which Peter shares with his audience…

Acts 3:11–26 NASB95

While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all. “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. “But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. “Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you. ‘And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ “And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. “It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ “For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

Power In The Name of Jesus!

I was January 19, 2002 (almost 18 years ago) that Lisa abandoned her old name and took on my last name. No longer moving forward would she identify as a “Thompson” from that day forward she would now identify as “Johnston”. For just a moment consider the implications of that in relation to God...

Adopted into His family we take on His name

Bound together in the marriage of the Lamb we take on His name

Our identity is in Christ!

Some will recognize the quote from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet when Juliet states to Romeo… "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

One might argue that when it comes to the name of Jesus it is not so much the name as it is Who the Name is representing. Homer Kent Jr states it well this way:

“Peter does not mean that there is some magical power was associated with the proper name “Jesus”. “Name” often stands for “person”, and includes all that the person is and does. Thus, “faith in His name” (vs16) means faith in Christ and His power to heal.”

We find that scripture itself puts a great emphasis on the “Name” of Jesus.

In Acts 4:12 Peter in his second part of this sermon states...

Acts 4:12 NASB95

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Paul states in Philippians 2:9-11 what man will do at the name of Jesus...

Philippians 2:9–11 NASB95

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Did you notice the variety of Names for Jesus the Messiah in Peter’s brief sermon here?...

Vs 13 Servant

Vs 14 Holy / Righteous One

Vs 15 Prince of Life

Vs 16 Jesus

Vs 18 His Christ or His Messiah

Vs 19 Lord

Vs 25 The Seed

Vs 26 Servant once again...

What triggered this message and the emphasis on the power of Jesus…

An Outcast Creates Opportunity

A 40 year old cripple man from birth

An outcast, set aside, left to begging for whatever he has

NOTHING to offer man, or God

Peter sees past the physical need to the spiritual need

Peter and John see God present an opportunity for the Gospel

“In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene— WALK!

Complete Work… jumping, running, muscles , balance all of it!

What Jesus does here and in our Salvation is complete!

People are amazed… taking note of this cripple man. They are all gathering around together… Large Crowd (use your life events to point people to Christ)

Peter’s Question of Direction

Verse 12… leading them to think about this…

Don’t look at us… Look to God

Do we take every opportunity to point people to Christ?

Ask questions to get people thinking…

Peter Describes Jesus

As Peter describes Jesus in a powerful way through comparison he takes them back to their roots...

God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob (Israel)...

His Servant / one delivered and disowned

Released by Pilate / Condemned by Jews

The Holy and Righteous One / Exchanged for a Murderer

The Prince of Life / Put to Death

Prince of Life… Resurrection witnessed

Able to offer true life!!!

Peter’s Direct Answer

Peter ask a question of direction but then he gives the people a very clear answer to his question. He describes this Jesus, their Messiah and then he states in Acts 3:16 :

Acts 3:16 NASB95

“And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Now they know! Their Messiah had come, BUT… their Messiah had to suffer? Peter explains this should have been known...

Ignorance IS NOT Bliss!

Peter seasons his words with verse 17… However he clearly identifies that ignorance does not excuses one from sin!

God had declared these things before… through the prophets

He would suffer Isaiah 53

Refreshing that they looked for in the Messiah's coming comes through “repentance”

He reminds them of what Moses states… Heed the message of the one who comes like me

Moses brought the law to the people, the One who came He fullfilled the Law

Listen to His message!!!

Peter takes the people all the way back to Samuel and the prophets after him and states they all declared what is happening NOW!

Stop looking He has come!

Peter takes his listeners to the Promise of the covenant with Abraham, the father of Israel… The “Promised Seed”

This Seed will bless ALL Families of the earth… beyond Israel

The Promise has been fullfilled

The blessing of this promise is found in Jesus Christ

Oh the blessing that comes “on the basis of faith in His Name”. Faith… have you placed your faith in Jesus?

The Power of His name… do you identify with Him or do you still find yourself identifying with who you were?

What a grievous thing to be children of God Almighty, the Bride of Christ and to not live in that truth!