The Power of Jesus’ Name

The Power of Jesus’ Name

“The Power of Jesus’ Name”

(Acts 4:1-12)

Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD

First Baptist Church Henderson, KY

(7-29-07) (AM)

 

  • Take God’s Word and open to Acts, chapter 4.

 

A few weeks ago we began a verse-by-verse study through the book of Acts.  The book of Acts records the action-packed events of the first church as it grows from Jerusalem to the utter end of the earth.  The events we’ll be reading about this morning in chapter 4 build upon what happened in chapter 3.  The Apostles Peter and John encounter a crippled man at the gate of the temple in Jerusalem.  They heal the man in the name of Jesus Christ.  The man, who was born crippled and is now over 40 years old begins leaping and walking and praising God.  People begin to gather around Peter, John, and the now-healed man and Peter brings to the crowd a stirring message about how this man was healed by the power of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.  We might think everyone would be pleased by these events, but let’s read what happens next.

  • Stand in honor of the reading of the word of God.

 

1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 

2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 

3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 

4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 

5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 

6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” 

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:

 9 “If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 

10 “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 

11 “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 

12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

  • Pray.

 

Introduction:

I want to speak to you this morning on the topic, “The Power of Jesus’ Name.”  The name of Jesus Christ carries an intrinsic power that makes possible the impossible.  Peter says that the name of Jesus Christ is what healed the formerly crippled man in our story and it is the name of Jesus Christ that continues to heal people today.  The strong name of Jesus Christ saves marriages today.  The strong name of Jesus Christ delivers alcoholics today.  The name of Jesus Christ frees those addicted to smoking, to drinking, to gambling, to pornography.  The name of Jesus Christ gives us hope.  And most importantly, the name of Jesus Christ saves our souls from the bondage of sin that would send us to hell.  In the words of the gospel chorus:

 

There is strength in the Name of The LORD

There is power in the Name of The LORD

There is hope in the Name of The LORD

Blessed is he who comes in the Name of The LORD!

 

This morning there are three important truths for us to think about as we reflect on the power of Jesus’ Name.  First, let’s consider:

 

I.  The Expanding Witness of the Saints (1-4)

 

The key verse that unlocks our understanding of the entire book of Acts is found back in chapter one.  In Acts 1:8, Jesus says (and you can say it with me if you know it), “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the utter end of the earth.”  The book of Acts records the spread of the gospel, through Christ’s witnesses, from Jerusalem to the end of the earth.  It all happens as followers of Christ are filled with the Spirit and share the gospel with others.  This is what I mean by the expanding witness of the saints.  Look again at verses 1-4.

 

1 Now as they (Peter and John) spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 

2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 

 

We might think that everyone would be pleased to see this man healed who had been crippled for over 40 years, but that was not the case.  The very “religious people” in charge of the events there at the temple were not pleased at all.  One of the reasons they are not pleased is because Peter and John are just, as verse 13 tells us, “uneducated and untrained men.”  It’s like these religious leaders are saying, “Who do these guys think they are?  They have no right to do supernatural things.  They’re not one of us!”  But even more importantly, we note that a group called the Sadducees are among them.  See that at the end of verse 1?  “The Sadducees came upon them” and they were (verse 2), “greatly disturbed that they (Peter and John) taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”

 

There are two main groups of Jews in the days of the early church.  There are the Pharisees and the Sadducees.  We read more about the Pharisees in the Gospels, in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  We don’t read as much about the Sadducees in the Gospels.  Now in the Book of Acts, however, the roles are reversed.  We read less about the Pharisees and more about the Sadducees.  And the reason for that is because the Sadducees are particularly upset that the Christians are going around talking about the resurrection of Christ.  And the reason they are upset is because they do not believe a resurrection of any kind is actually possible.  The Sadducees did not believe in any kind of afterlife at all.  As someone said, “That’s why they are ‘Sad, you see!’”  The Sadducees.  But it’s true, the Sadducees did not believe in an afterlife, so they very much resented these Christians going around talking about something they did not believe was true.  So what happens?  Verses 3-4

 

3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 

4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 

 

You see here the expanding witness of the saints.  The spread of the gospel continues no matter how great the persecution against Christians.  We’re going to be seeing evidence of this truth again and again as we go through this book.  The Bible says in verse 3 that the religious leaders “laid hands” on Peter and John.  They arrested them and put them in jail until court in the morning.  The key here is verse 4, “However, many of those who heard the word believed, and the number came to be about five thousand.”  Luke is the writer of the Book of Acts and this is Luke’s way of telling us that no matter how greatly God’s people are persecuted, the witness of the saints continues to expand.  In spite of the fact that Peter’s sermon is cut short by his and John’s arrest, people were saved.  So many were saved that the number of believers has now expanded to about five thousand.

 

Chapter one tells us there are about 120 believers.  In chapter two the number grows to about 3000 believers.  Now in chapters 3 and 4 the number grows to about 5,000 believers.  By the way, don’t let anyone tell you that God isn’t interested in numbers.  At First Baptist, we count people because the Bible counts people.  And the Bible counts people because behind every number stands a precious soul.

 

So we read how the power of Jesus’ name leads to the expansive growth of the church.  You can lock-up the messengers in prison, but the power of the message continues to change lives.  The expanding witness of the saints.  The second point is related to the first.  Number two, let’s look at:

 

II.  The Empowering Work of the Spirit (5-11)

 

What is it that empowers the Christian to share the good news of the gospel?  It’s the empowering work of the Spirit.  Peter and John were put into prison because of the terrible offense of preaching the resurrection of Jesus.  Watch what happens the next morning at their “court date.”

 

5 And it came to pass, on the next day that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 

6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 

 

By the way, remember that this is the same group of folks who convicted Jesus Christ just a few weeks earlier, sending Him off to die the horrible death of crucifixion at Calvary’s cross; the same folks.  Peter and John are going to face the same people.  They must have thought they would face the same fate as their Lord.

 

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” 

 

Now again, I’m thinking Peter and John may be shaking in their boots.  They had seen what had happened to Jesus.  Here is this powerful court seated before them.  There they stand.  What will they say?  How will they answer the question, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”  Look at verse 8:

 

8 Then Peter (don’t miss this!), filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 

9 “If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 

10 “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 

11 “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 

 

See the boldness in Peter?!  Someone said, “He doesn’t see a ‘court,’ he sees a ‘congregation.’”  He sees these folks gathered together to hear his case, a powerful group of people who hold his fate in their hands—and he shares the gospel with them.  What makes that kind of boldness possible?  See it again in verse 8: “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit.”  There it is.  Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit.  The empowering work of the Spirit!

 

The Bible teaches that we receive the Holy Spirit the moment we trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  The Spirit of God literally comes within our bodies and lives with us for the rest of our lives.  It’s a one-time event and He never leaves.  But what makes the difference in Christian living is the degree to which we are filled with His presence.  To be filled with the Spirit means that we are completely controlled by the Spirit.  The Spirit has full reign over our bodies.  So we regularly yield to the Spirit within.  I often pray, “Holy Spirit, fill me.”  That is, “Control me.  Guide me.  Make yourself known within me and through me.”  I find when I pray that way, the God does the very thing I ask.  The Spirit of God takes control of my body.  He moves in me and through me.

 

Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit and the empowering work of the Spirit gives Peter a boldness that enables him to share the gospel before a powerful, intimidating group of people.

 

And God gives Peter the very words to say.  Maybe Peter remembered what Jesus had told the disciples back in Luke 12:11-12.  Jesus said, “When they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.  For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

 

So as Peter yields himself to the control of the Holy Spirit within him, the empowering work of the Holy Spirit guides Peter as to what to say.  And Peter finds himself sharing the gospel with complete clarity.  In essence, what Peter says in verse 10 is, “The crippled man was made well by the name of Jesus Christ.  The same Jesus of Nazareth whom you crucified and God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands before you whole.”

 

Then Peter quotes from Psalm 118:22 and says that Jesus is “the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.”  Someone is constructing a building, one stone at a time, and he finds a stone that he doesn’t like.  He rejects it as useless for his building.  He doesn’t like it.  He throws it aside.  Later, he discovers that that very stone he had cast aside would be the perfect stone to be used as the cornerstone, the most important stone to make possible the soundness of the entire building.  Peter says to these religious leaders, “You guys are like that builder.  You have rejected the most important Person in all the world, the very One who makes possible our entire salvation.”

 

That kind of boldness comes from the empowering work of the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit within you can lead you to say and do things you otherwise could not.  How can you share Jesus Christ with your buddies, with your friends, with your family, with your supervisor at work?  By being filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

We’re reflecting on the power of Jesus’ name.  We’ve read about the expanding witness of the saints, the empowering work of the Spirit.  See with me thirdly:

 

III.  The Exclusive Way of Salvation (12)

 

Peter ends his brief gospel presentation with something of an invitation.  He makes clear the fact that salvation is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Look again at verse 12:

 

12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

 

I highly commend verse 12 to you as a memory verse.  Please take time to memorize this verse.  It is so important.  It makes clear the exclusive way of salvation.  Salvation is found only in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  That’s it.  Peter says, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

 

If that’s true, and it is, it ought to affect everything we do every single day.  Truth is, the majority of us believe verse 12 is true.  We do!  The problem is that Satan attacks us where we are vulnerable, where we are weak.  So while we know that verse 12 is true, that Jesus is the only way people can be saved, Satan tries to get us to thinking that we don’t really need to share that truth with people today.  Satan gets us to thinking we have more time.  Someone else will tell them.  Or maybe, somehow, God will overlook the fact that some will be saved some other way.  Peter shares the exclusive way of salvation.  He says, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven,”—no other name; Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed, Allah, Gandhi—no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

 

J.C. Ryle, brings the implications of this truth to our doorstep this morning.  Listen to his challenge to us given the number of people around us without Christ as Savior:

 

There are millions and millions in this miserable condition—millions in foreign lands, millions in your own country, millions who are not trusting in Christ.  You ought to feel for them if you are a true Christian; you ought to pray for them; you ought to work for them, while there is yet time.  Do you really believe that Christ is the only way to heaven?  Then live as if you believed it.

 

Look around the circle of your own relatives and friends: count them up one by one, and think how many of them are not yet in Christ.  Try to do good to them in some way or other: act as a man or woman should act who believes his friends to be in danger.  Do not be content with their being kind and sociable, gentle and good-tempered, moral, and courteous; be unhappy about them till they come to Christ, and trust in Him: for you ought to be distressed over their condition.  Leave no one alone who is without Christ—take every opportunity to reaching them.  I know all this may sound like enthusiasm and fanaticism.  I wish there was more of it in the world: anything, I am sure, is better than a quiet indifference about the souls of others, as if everybody was on their way to heaven.   Nothing, to my mind, so proves our little faith, as our lack of feelings about the spiritual condition of those around us.

 

No other name but the name of Jesus,

No other name but the name of the Lord;

No other name but the name of Jesus

Is worthy of glory, and worthy of honor,

And worthy of power and all praise.

  • Stand for prayer.

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