Power in the Name of Jesus

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk…
Acts 3:6

When Peter and John left their home on that particular morning, they had no idea what awaited them on their journey. They were walking toward the temple in order that they may pray. They went with the expressed purpose of being blessed, yet before the day was over they would be the vessels God would use to bless someone else. Enter the lame man. As he lay at the gate called Beautiful, he did not realize that this would be the day he would hear the most powerful words that would ever grace his ears. Peter and John made their way to the Temple and passed by this helpless man who sought money, yet that day the men presented him with a miracle. They spoke these words to him, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” The Bible says the lame man arose walking, leaping, and praising God. This day he heard the most powerful words he would ever hear and they changed his life. What were the words that possessed such power? They were not “rise up” or “walk”. It was not the word “Nazareth” that changed his life. The words that forever altered this man’s life and eternity were “the name of Jesus Christ”. There was no power in the word “rise” or in the word “walk”. There was no power in the name of John. There was no power in the name of Peter. There was no power in the Temple. The power was in the name of Jesus Christ.

It was the power in the name of Jesus Christ that changed my life. It was not the preacher. It was not the church. It was not the drugs or the bottle. It was the name of Jesus Christ. There is power in that name. To the nation that needs forgiveness, there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. To the parents of a rebellious child, there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. To the home that is ruptured by sin, there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. For the marriage that is broken, there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. For the church that is cold and indifferent, there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. For the preacher who feels inadequate, there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. To the Christian who has given up hope, there is power in the name of Jesus Christ. There has always been power and there will always be sufficient power in the name of Jesus Christ.

Timothy's Charge

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust…
I Timothy 6:20

I have heard the story of a young servant who was summoned to the palace of his king in the late hours of the night. It was unusual for the king to make such a request at that hour, so the servant knew the call must have been one of gravity. As the young man arrived at the gates he noticed the distressed look upon the faces of his fellow serfs. He was hurried to the king’s chambers where he found the feeble king settled upon his bed, breathing deeply, and grasping an object in his hand as if it were the key to life and death. As the young man made his way to the king’s side, he immediately recognized the object, which the king was clinging to; it was the Kingdom’s Regal Sword. This particular sword had stood for many years as the symbol of the king’s authority to the throne. As long as a member of the royal family or a trusted associate possessed the sword, the dynasty would remain. The king knew the results of losing the sword or mistrusting it to an unworthy associate. If the day came that the sword fell into the hands of the enemy, the dynasty would cease to rule. The problem facing the king was that he had no heirs, his health was failing him, and soon he would succumb to the hand of death. He knew of one person to whom he could entrust the Kingdom’s Sword. As he took hold of his young servant’s hand, he laid the sword in his grip and said something like this, “Keep that which is committed to thy trust.”

The apostle Paul whispered the same words to Timothy. He knew the day would come when he would no longer be alive to sound the warning against apostasy and blasphemy. He committed this task to Timothy and charged him not to drop the ball. Paul had deposited much into the life of Timothy and charged Timothy, not to let that deposit be voided by loose living or spiritual compromise. The same charge is being sounded throughout our generation. We are seeing the older men of God pass off of the scene. Yet, the young men who follow behind them have done everything but “keep that which was committed to our trust.” We have attempted to color the gospel a different color in order to be popular and in doing so, we have defiled that which God laid to our trust. Today, resolve to lift up high the old-fashioned gospel of Jesus Christ and “keep that which is committed to thy trust.”

The Importance of Today

Boast not thyself of tomorrow…
Proverbs 27:1

The wise man speaks a thought that no mortal man wants to ponder. It seems to be a thought that bears morbidity, yet it is absolutely necessary. This thought we speak of is living as if today is our last day. It is not natural for men and women to concentrate solely upon the events of the current day. We are wired as humans to think of tomorrow’s dealings. What will the calendar hold tomorrow? Will I have a better day tomorrow? Simply stated, it is human nature to think about tomorrow. Now before moving further, we must deal with the fact that some would take this passage to mean that they should negate to plan for tomorrow and live exclusively for the pleasures of today; this would clearly display their foolishness. The scriptures teach that a wise man plans for the affairs of tomorrow. Solomon here warns not against planning for tomorrow, but rather against priding ourselves for the certainty of tomorrow. The word “boast” in our text means to pride or to praise. He is teaching that we should not praise what actions we will do tomorrow because tomorrow may never arrive for us on this earth.

Today is the day of importance. How many have said, “Tomorrow I shall call upon the Lord and be saved,” yet tomorrow does not arrive and they exit this world unprepared for the next world? How many boast that they will pray tomorrow and yet tomorrow they awake in eternity? How many have praised that tomorrow they will go to church and yet tomorrow never dawns? How many have longed to whisper, “I’m sorry” or “I love you” to that loved one just to find that tomorrow comes too late because in the night their loved one slipped away. How many have gone to bed angry just to find their loving spouse has been chilled by the hand of death in their sleep?

Oh, my friend, if you could hear the urgency in my voice to know this very moment is all you have, then you would truly heed this warning. Let today be the day you deal solemnly with a thrice-holy God because tomorrow may not come. Let today be the day you bid your loved ones your affection because tomorrow may not come. Do not let today pass until you have reconciled with your spouse because tomorrow may not come. Oh, dear Christian, run into the arms of God with a repentant heart, because tomorrow may not come.

The Men of Kirjath-jearim

And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD…
I Samuel 7:1

Oh, the deplorable state that the children of Israel had been living in. The armies of the Philistines had stolen the visible object that allowed the children of Israel to know that God was among them and that He was pleased with them. Now because of apathy and sin of the Israelites, the Philistines had whisked away the ark of God, which gave Israel the assurance of God’s presence, power, and protection. The absent ark not only had emotional ramifications such as fear, doubt, and despair, but also spiritual implications. For without the ark of God, the worship of the Israelites was as meaningless as the worship of the Baalites upon Mount Carmel. How foolish the children of Israel would have been to attempt to worship without the presence of God. It would have been like trying to sing a song without notes. Like trying to light candle without the presence of a wick. No my friend, it would have been impossible and vain.

The men of Kirjath-jearim were aware of the seriousness of this condition and grew tired of the apathy of their nation. The Philistines had caused a reproach upon the children of Israel and the men of Kirjath-jearim were not going to take it any longer. With one accord, the men marched with resolve to retrieve the ark of God. They were willing to make the sacrifice to retrieve the presence and power of God, which they did with rapid success. Now, some would say, these men were extraordinary men and that is the reason they dared such a task. How wrong you are. “Kirjath-jearim” literally means, “city of woods”. The men of Kirjath-jearim were woodsmen and lumberjacks. They were just common men. They were not overly educated nor overly talented. No, they simply were desperate once again for the presence of God and were willing to risk life and limb to retrieve it.

Oh, that there were some men and women who desired to see the presence and power of God upon their nation. Oh, that we would join in one accord and march into the land of the enemy and retrieve what is rightfully ours. Do not let the devil tell you that you are incapable because you lack the talent or education. God needs not the sharpest knife in the drawer. For in the hands of an omnipotent God even the dullest knife is a deadly weapon

Drawn to Duty

Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel…
I Samuel 13:19

Oh the tragedy and calamity that is found in such a small portion of scripture. Wrapped up into this one phrase is the possibility of Israel’s defeat and the reason for that possible defeat. As King Saul readies himself to make battle against the armies of the Philistines, he is given word by one of his assistants that there are no blacksmiths available for service. The coals of the blacksmiths had been extinguished. The ring of hammers against the anvils had since been silenced. No longer were there sparks of productivity coming from their tents. Why was such news detrimental to the morale of the Israelites? This halt in labor by the blacksmiths led to the armies of Israel having no swords or weapons to fight with in their battle against the Philistines. Whether or not the smiths compromised their trade to go the land of the Philistines or were forced out of their duty makes no difference because their failure to perform their job had far reaching consequences to the armies of Israel. Yes, their duty was menial, but it had great repercussions.

Oh how serious is this issue in our life. Is it not our failure to perform the small tasks on our spiritual journey that keeps us from succeeding? Are not the small foxes the ones that spoil the vine? The small failure on our part could lead to the grand failure to many in the army of God. How minuscule are the tasks of prayer and Bible meditation, yet we fail to consistently do them? These are the small foxes that ruin the life of the believer. Oh my friend let this be the day your heart is drawn to your duty. There are weapons to be made so that we can battle the spiritual powers of Satan. It is time we heat the coals of the Spirit of God and thrust the dull weapon of our life into His midst so that the process might begin by which we are made dangerous for the cause of Christ and wieldable by the Holy Ghost.