Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly
that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and
Christ.''
What an awesome Scripture! Assuredly means it’s a sure thing, it’s a done deal. It doesn’t get any surer than that.
When Peter stood and proclaimed this message on the day of Pentecost he
didn’t have all of the revelation of the New Covenant that was to be
revealed as time progressed. He stood up with the knowledge that Jesus
was Lord and Christ. Glory!
He shook up Jerusalem with this message. He was given a name to proclaim, the name of Jesus.
Christ means the messiah, the anointed one. The nation of Israel
knew exactly what Peter was saying. He was declaring boldly that Jesus
was the anointed one whom the Scriptures declared. He was the One they
had been looking for, yet the religious leaders rejected and crucified
Him.
Peter had this revelation and understood the power that was being
backed by the name of Jesus. This name has been given to us as
well. Peter quoting the prophet Joel declared in…
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
This is the Name that gives us access to the throne of God. Jesus has
gone to the Father and because of this we have the privilege of praying
and asking in His name.
Jesus said this as recorded in Johns Gospel.
John 16:16 "A little while, and you will not see Me and again a
little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.''
John 14:14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
You notice He didn’t say I would consider it. He said I would do it. I
know this could be taken out of context. You can not ask outside of
God’s will for something with any confidence and expect it to come to
pass. There are scriptural boundaries for this.
1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.
He hears us when we ask according to His will.
John 16:23 "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. 24. "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask,
and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
He is saying we can ask, and that we should ask in His name. He wants us to be joyful. He loves us more than we can fathom.
The Apostle Paul had deep revelation of the power and authority that was given in and through the name of Jesus.
Philippians 2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and
given Him the name which is above every name, 10. that at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those
on earth, and of those under the earth, 11. and that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father.
This is the name we must declare. This is the name that breaks strong
holds, and destroys yokes when yielded by a faith filled believer.
Acts 16:16. Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain
slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought
her masters much profit by fortune-telling.
17. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These
men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way
of salvation.'' 18. And this she did for many days. But
Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in
the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.'' And he came out that
very hour.
The 7 sons of Sceva found out that using the name of Jesus without proper authority will get you in deep trouble.
Acts 19:13. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it
upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had
evil spirits, saying, "We adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul
preaches.'' 14. Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a
Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15. And the evil spirit
answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know but who are
you?'' 16. Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped
on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they
fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in
Ephesus and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was
magnified.
Yet when the name of Jesus is used by a faith filled believer, the
forces of darkness had to obey. This authority was given to Jesus
and Jesus turned around and delegated this authority to us the Church.
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit,
20. "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded
you and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'' Amen.
Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on
serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and
nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are
subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in
heaven.''
Christians often ask God to trample on the scorpions and serpents in
their life, yet He has given us the authority to do this. We must take
hold of this God given authority and use it as we have been
commissioned to. If we won’t, no one will. We are the ones who are
given authority by Jesus Himself to fulfill His great commission. If we
don’t know or understand that authority, then what good is it?
It’s no good to anyone if it is not used is it?
There is authority granted to every believer through the name of Jesus.
Authority is delegated power. The very source of our authority comes
from Christ’s resurrection and the seating of Christ by God at His
right hand.
Ephesians 1:20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from
the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
We don’t actually possess the power, yet God’s power works in and
through us as yielded vessels. We must learn to yield to God and His
Word and be obedient to the Holy Spirit.
Then, we are walking in the authority that we have been given. Christ
is seated at God’s right hand and we are seated with Him in heavenly
places. Glory. (Ephesians 2:6)
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that
works in us,
This power works in us. Yet, we have a part to play in this as
well. We must be obedient and yield to the Holy Spirit. We must
believe. Jesus said this…
Mk 16:17. "And these signs will follow those who believe:
In My name they will cast out demons they will speak with new tongues
18. "they 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.'' 19. So then, after the Lord had spoken
to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand
of God.
20. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working
with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
These signs shall follow those who believe. It is not just the anointed
preacher with the gifts of the Holy Spirit operating within his or her
ministry, but these signs shall follow those who believe. Begin to
declare I’m one of those who believe, I’m a believer,
therefor these signs shall follow me.
I also would like to point out that it said these signs shall follow, it didn’t say these signs might follow.
In another example of faith in the name of Jesus, Peter said this of the crippled man…
Acts 3:16 "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this
man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through
Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Faith in the name of Jesus made him whole, the name that is above every name!!!!
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