Sermon Central
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The Power In The Name Of Jesus Series
Contributed by Stephen Schwambach on Jun 18, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: Just what amazing power IS there in this Name that is above every name?
THE POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS
August Series: “Past, Present and Future”
BTCC • August 22, 2004
Raise your hand if you’ve ever heard somebody get really mad and yell:
• “Buddha!”
• “Mohammed!”
• “Hare Krishna!”
• “Ron Hubbard!”
• “Shirley McClain!”
• “George Bush!”
• “John Kerry!”
• “Hitler!”
• “Saddam Hussein!”
• “Billy Graham!”
• “Mother Teresa!”
Raise your hand if you’ve ever heard somebody get really mad and yell:
• “Jesus!”
Why?
• Because when you’re as mad as you can get –
o You automatically reach for the most powerful name you can find to express the full extent of your anger
Is it a SIN to use the Name of Jesus as a curse word?
• Absolutely:
o The 3rd of God’s 10 Commandments says, “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” Exodus 20:7
So why do so many people still DO it?
• Because “JESUS!” is the most powerful Name on earth
It is 100% WRONG to use the Name of Jesus as a curse word…
• But if you THINK about it…
o In reality – it’s a crude form of WORSHIP!
• The person who uses it is saying:
o “I’m really mad…
o “And I’ve gotta let it out –
o “Jesus, there is NOBODY like You!”
We’re going verse-by-verse through the Book of Romans
o P. 802…Zchurch virtual Bible
WHO is the “stumbling stone” this passage is referring to?
• JESUS!
o In 1 Corinthians 1:22-24, Paul writes, “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Why do people stumble over Jesus?
• People stumble over Jesus because…
Notes:
#1 – JESUS’ NAME IS ABOVE EVERY OTHER NAME
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
“You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
When they hear these verses from the Bible, some people get all huffy:
• “It’s not fair to OTHER RELIGIONS to say that”
But the truth is –
• The supremacy of Jesus’ Name is a statement of FACT
o “FAIRNESS” has nothing to do with it
• Let me show you what I mean
What is the largest animal on earth?
• Does anybody know?
IMAG 01 – Blue Whale and Calf
Sure! The BLUE WHALE!
• According to the Guinness Book of World Records:
o Newborn calves are 20-26 ft long and weigh up to 3 tons!
An adult whale can grow to a length of 115 feet and weigh more than 190 TONS!
IMAG 02 – Finding Nemo Blue Whale
Or as MILLIONS of us now think of them…
• Like THIS!
o The big old guy Dory called over when she was showing Marlin how to speak whale!
Kind of slowed them down for a bit when they were Finding Nemo!
What if somebody heard that and said, “That’s not FAIR to the guppy in my aquarium!”
• That would be a totally irrelevant objection, wouldn’t it?
o Why? Because we’re dealing with REALITY here – not political CORRECTNESS
• Even if every animal in the world got together and signed a PETITION it wouldn’t change the reality:
o The blue whale is BIGGER than every other animal on earth!
• Period!
Let’s go to birds –
• What’s the LARGEST LIVING BIRD on our planet?
IMAG 03 – North African Ostrich
Right again – it’s the NORTH AFRICAN OSTRICH
• Males of this sub-species have been measured up to 9 feet tall, weighing 345 pounds
o Contrary to popular folklore they do NOT hide their heads in the sand when they’re scared!
• Why? They don’t HAVE to!
o They’re the FASTEST bird on land – they’ve been clocked at 45 mph!
But what if some woman OBJECTED to the Guinness Book of World Records claiming that the Ostrich is the world’s biggest living bird?
• “Why that’s not fair to my PARAKEET!”
o Would she have a CASE?
• Could she sue the Guinness Book of World Records in COURT?
o Might be a little tough to find a LAWYER…
Even if she did, she couldn’t WIN could she?
• Why not?
o All the defense would have to do is hold up her parakeet…
