Thursday, October 29, 2009

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.

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