Power to the People: There's Power in the Name
We’re kicking off a brand new August series at VFC! Throughout Power to the People, we’ll discover more about being vessels of God’s power and love to the world around us. The Holy Spirit is in us and He wants out! The goal of this entire series is to help us, as a church, get a revelation and reminder that God in heaven has empowered us to live on Earth, operating by His Spirit, to impact and change the world in which we live. Amen!
When we look at the world around us, it’s clear to see that we don’t need more theologians or YouTube preachers or Instagram clips…what the world actually needs is the power of God. No in theory, not as a concept, but as a present tense, experiential reality that God on high would interact with and interrupt society in and through His church.
Here’s some good news today…that power is not just reserved for pastors and teachers–His power is intended to be on the inside of every single believer and to, in response, be outworked through us in every sphere of our lives. As we lean in to what God is doing in this series, let’s become even more set on fire with the power of God and release His power into the world around us!
There’s Power in the Name
Let’s take a look at our foundational scripture for There’s Power in the Name to get us started:
Acts 3:1-10 (NKJV) 1Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you:
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Here we see a pretty amazing story about two guys, Peter and John, and the power of God at work. At timestamp 6:41 in There’s Power in the Name, Pastor Eric shares a story from his childhood that highlights what it’s like to feel powerless…and we’ve all been there! As you’ll hear in his story, at his most severe time of powerlessness and desperation, we see the power in Jesus’ name prevail victorious.
Like Pastor Eric, in times of weakness, strife, powerlessness, and desperation, we too have a name that we can call on! There is absolute power in the name of Jesus. Amen!
In our foundational scripture, we see Peter and John doing the work Jesus instructed them to do, just 40 days after his ascension into heaven. Check out what Jesus said to them before his death and resurrection:
Mark 16:15-18 (NKJV) 15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Here’s the deal: Like Peter and John, we can take Jesus as His word. When Jesus tells us that there’s power in His name and when we speak His name, the miraculous will take place. When we stand in faith, this is absolutely true! We are called to release the power of Jesus Christ in His name!
Whether we’re facing a bad doctor’s report or a painful health condition or even a bad break up or depression or anxiety or financial challenges–no matter what mountain we face, we have an answer…His name is Jesus. We have been empowered with His name!
So, how do we experience God’s power even in moments that we feel powerless? To answer that question, Pastor Eric shares 2 simple truths with us in There’s Power in the Name to help encourage our faith and challenge us to see the power in the name of Jesus at work in our lives.
Discussion:
Peter and John were not studied theologians or practiced teachers. How can we apply their acts of faith to our own lives?
Think about a time in your own life when you’ve felt powerless or defeated. How has Jesus resurrected you from your struggles?
1.Know What You Have
Acts 3:6 (NKJV) Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Like Peter, we need to know what we have. In There’s Power in the Name, Pastor Eric shares the difference in meaning of the two Greek words from this verse. “I do note have” and “I do have” are two totally different words! Check this out:
“I do not have” - Hyparcho - “to have on hand, to have ready.”
“I do have” - Echo - “to own or possess, to have and to hold.”
What Peter is actually saying to the lame beggar in verse 6 is, “I don’t have any money on me at the moment, but I actually own and personally possess something that I will give you right now and it will radically change your life.”
How do we have personal ownership over an intangible object? The answer is simple: faith. In faith, we have the revelation of the power of the name of Jesus! As born again believers, that power has been given to us directly through Jesus’ resurrection.
We have ownership of the power in Jesus’ name. It’s important to remember and understand that there’s a difference between knowing something and having something. Lots of Christians know the name of Jesus. They tag His name on the end of prayers, sing His name in songs, wear His name on a t-shirt. Having the power of the name of Jesus is different. And the difference is faith.
Acts 3:16 (NIV) By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
Peter understood the power of the name and he applied his faith. He remembered the words Jesus’ spoke in the verses below and applied them to the lame beggar’s situation:
John 16:23 (NKJV) “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.”
John 14:13-14 (NKJV) 13And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
These verses are a promise for us! As we speak by faith, in the name of Jesus according to God’s Word and in alignment with His will, we can have an expectation that things will change! Jesus has empowered us with His name to do the same works that He did when He was on earth.
It’s time to stir our faith! There is power in the name of Jesus and that power has been given to us to release His will here on earth. “His kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” How does that happen? It happens when we go out and speak the Name. So, let’s go!
Think of it like this: Jesus has given us the power of attorney in His name. When we speak the name of Jesus, it’s not just a rabbit’s foot or a genie bottle–”in Jesus’ name” is not just a term we throw around and hope that it works. The name has nothing to do with the letters J-E-S-U-S; the name signifies the man that stands behind the name. When we speak His name, it’s as if we have the ability to speak all of Jesus in a moment.
We are ambassadors for Christ–let’s be empowered and encouraged in knowing that we have the name of Jesus!
Discussion:
In the past, when have you, in faith, implemented your power of attorney in the name of Jesus?
When someone prays over you in the name of Jesus, how does it make you feel?
How does knowing that you have the name–not just know the name–make a difference in your life?
2.Give What You Have
Acts 3:6 (NKJV) Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
It was one thing for Peter to recognize that he had the name, but he also gave the name to bless someone else. This is the point of the power in the name of Jesus! It’s so important to notice in this story, and especially in the world we live in today, there is a need beyond the physical.
In the case of the lame beggar, he needed money or alms to help him get by that day. But Peter recognized that what this man needed tomorrow and the week after that and the month after that was actually an encounter with Jesus!
As believers, we are called to do more than just charitable works and good deeds. We were not just put on this earth to do good works and help lift the load; we were put on this earth to be empowered by the name of Jesus and take His name, His gospel, His goodness, to the world around us! People need the name and we have the God-given authority to give the name through His Son Christ Jesus. When we give the name, we actually give the power of God. Praise the Lord!
Luke 10:17 (NKJV) Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
In this passage, the disciples gave the name and the power of God was released. Men and demons all tremble at the name of Jesus; all of hell shakes when His name is spoken. Amen! In There’s Power in the Name at timestamp 27:58, Pastor Eric shares a relatable, albeit hilarious, metaphor that paints a fantastic picture of the mighty power in the name of Jesus.
Darkness cannot preside where the name of Jesus is exalted. No matter the magnitude of the fear we’re facing or the uncertainty filling the world around us, the name of Jesus is more powerful than any attack the enemy could ever send against us.
Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV) 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Lots of things have names, but Jesus has the name. Cancer may have a name, sickness, discouragement, hopelessness may have a name, confusion, distress, they all have a name. But His name is greater. His name is above every other name. Jesus said that if we ask anything according to His will and in alignment with His Word in His name, it shall be ours. It’s time to start giving the name!
Discussion:
How can you give the name to others in your world this week?
How has the name been given to you in the past?
Acts 4:16-20 (NKJV) 16saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”
18So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
Even at the very beginning of the church, the enemy tried to shut down Jesus’ name being spoken. If we look around the world we see that the enemy still wants to shut down the name of Jesus, in our schools and our government and our workplaces. But we are a church, just like the early church, that will rise up and speak the name anyway!
Let us not hold back or be timid but instead go through our weeks with boldness and courage. We have the name, now let’s give the name!
Acts 4:12 (NIV) Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Prayer:
Father, we love you. As we gather around your Word, we are reminded of its power and that your Word is living and active–it pierces the division of soul and spirit and bone and marrow. We pray that as your Word goes forth, it does not return back void, but that it would accomplish the work for which you said. Please give us eyes to see and ears to hear the truth so that we may continue through our week transformed. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen!
