In Jesus Name

(Acts 4:1-12)

In this world there are many religions, cults and sects. They all operate in the name of some so called deity or god and they invoke the name of their so called gods for all manner of things.

By their gods they seek help, wealth, power and so on. But their gods are deaf and silent and give them nothing for they are not true gods. Rather they are the fiction and fantasies of men.

But there is one name known among men that is all powerful. There is one name given among mankind that has great power for the owner of that name is neither deaf, dumb or blind to what occurs in this earth. This name is the only name by which a person can be saved and find salvation for it is through faith in this name that all good things are received, and in due time, eternal life.

That name is…Jesus.

The Name of Jesus

Peter and John healed a man born a cripple by invoking the name of Jesus and calling on His power to heal the man. There were some five thousand men who witnessed this healing including a number of the Sadducees, priests and the captain of the temple.

These religious leaders were greatly annoyed at Peter and John for they were teaching the people in the name of Jesus in the temple. So they arrested them and held them over night.

One of the things we learn as we walk the Christian walk, is that we will suffer persecution when we speak in the name of Jesus. It is to be expected for when we walk according to His teachings and live in accordance with His way we expose the evil of this world and condemn it for the sin that it is. And the world will fight back by bringing all of its own power and authority against the believers as happened with Peter and John. But the power of this world is nothing compared to the power and authority in the name of Jesus.

Authority in the Name of Jesus

The high priest, rulers and elders of Jerusalem came together the following day to examine and judge Peter and John over this act of healing. They asked an interesting question of them saying in vs 7,

And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

Their question was asking about the authority under which they had done this healing. Where did they get the authority? Who gave them this authority and power to heal and do this miraculous sign?

In truth it was a ridiculous question for these were supposed to be men of God and they should have known that the only power and authority that could heal a man like this could possibly come from God. In fact they did know this but would not admit it, just as they would not admit the power and authority that Jesus had to heal and preach the gospel of salvation.

It is one thing to have the power to do something, but it is quite another to have the authority. The disciples, when Jesus was still alive, could do nothing until Jesus gave them the authority. Look at the time when Jesus sent the twelve out to preach in Matthew 10:1.

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

Although they had the power to do this work for the Holy Spirit was with them, they were not able to carry out the work until Jesus gave them the authority to heal and cast out demons. And once the authority had been given, it was in the name of Jesus that the unclean spirits and all sicknesses and diseases became subject to the disciples through the power of the Holy Spirit within them.

Likewise it was when Peter and John invoked the name of Jesus over the man born crippled that he too was healed, for they had the authority to do this and the Holy Spirit gave the power.

Using the Authority of Jesus Name

We are instructed to ask God for all that we need in the name of Jesus. Paul wrote that we should utter the “Amen” through the name of Jesus too.

Why? Because that is where the authority comes from to receive all that God offers. When we pray and seek The Lord in the name of Jesus, God hears our prayers and answers them. When we utter the name of Jesus in our prayers we recognise His divine power and authority to do all things. We humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and subject ourselves to Him in the name of Jesus.

The name of Jesus has great power and authority and it is not to be taken lightly. As Peter and John stated in this section of scripture in vs 12,

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

The power of the name of Jesus is the power of salvation. The authority in the name of Jesus is the authority to stand before God in Jesus name as new creations being transformed into His image. And it is only by the power of the name of Jesus that we can come to the Father, forgiven of our sins and reckoned righteous to learn how to live in Christ and walk in the love of God.

There is no other power or authority on earth by which a person can achieve these things. It is all by the name of Jesus which is why He said at the time of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18,

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

And we have access to that power and authority through the name of Jesus. There is nothing outside His power and authority and control. And there is nothing that He will not and cannot do for His people if they have faith and believe when they ask. He hears our prayers and knows our needs and will provide all good things in accordance with his will. Even when we are being disciplined by The Lord, it is for our good and He will not allow us to suffer beyond what is necessary to learn the lesson being taught.

His power and the authority of His name rule supreme. Nothing will stand against Him for God the Father has given all power and authority to Jesus and we have access to all of that in the name of Jesus.

(Image sourced from https://management4best.blogspot.com.au/2010/04/project-authority.html. Unsure of the original author/creator of the image and will update if anyone can provide the correct link)

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