AT THE NAME OF JESUS
Phip. 2:5-11
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: “IT’S A MIRACLE”
1. There were a couple of brothers who didn’t mind
getting sent to their room as punishment, because just outside their window was a huge old fruit tree.
2. The boys would close their door, raise the window, and climb down the tree. After an hour of playing in the field behind the house, they would climb back up the tree and then call downstairs and ask their Mom if they hadn’t suffered enough.
3. One day the boys overheard their Dad tell Mom that he planned to cut down the tree. "It hasn’t borne any fruit in years," he said. The boys panicked.
4. That afternoon they pooled their finances and bought a sack of apples and some black thread from the village market. After dark they spent an hour tying apples on the tree.
5. Next morning they waited eagerly for Dad’s discovery. "Mary!" he finally called out. "You’re not going to believe this. That old fruit tree is covered with apples. It’s a miracle."
6. The boys "high-fived" each other and felt very proud. Then Dad continued, "It’s a real miracle, considering that it’s a pear tree."
B. TEXT
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
C. THESIS
1. It’s amazing how the world tries to stifle the mention of the Name of Jesus.
2. “Then they [Sanhedrin] called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” Acts 4:17. “They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name” Acts 5:40-41.
HAS ANYTHING CHANGED? NO!
3. On his show “Home Improvement,” Tim Allen was told he couldn’t mention the name of Jesus in connection with a Christmas episode! It’s TABOO!
4. Chuck Colson wrote that "ABC officials chose to bleep out the word "Jesus" on its talk show, "The View." A guest who had a very successful weight-loss program exclaimed, “Thank you, Jesus, is all I have to say!" The network bleeped out Jesus’ name!
5. Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham, has created firestorms for his use of the name ‘Jesus’ in public prayers. As long as preachers pray to a generic God, or to Buddha, or Mohammed, or to Goddess Gaia – there’s no problem.
6. But if you say “Jesus” – stand by – the politically correct police will pounce on you in a moment. Isn’t it funny how those who lecture Christians on how we need to be tolerant, have zero tolerance for the name of Jesus!
7. Even the Church today is hesitant to say the Name of Jesus. Make no mistake about it, the devil is committed to silencing the name of Jesus and all Christians who are so bold as to lift up His mighty, saving Name.
8. The answer is not to back off in fear, but to be even more diligent to lift up the name of Jesus! It is a time to be bold and courageous, not timid and fearful. Why?
I. IT’S THE ONLY NAME RECOG. ON EARTH
A. POWER OF THE NAME OF JESUS
1. Every time a miracle took place in the N.T., it was because Jesus did it or because a disciple did it through the name of Jesus. Jesus prayed, “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave Me” Jn. 17:12.
2. We’re SAVED through that Name; (“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12). We become Sons of God by believing on His Name, Jn. 1:12. We are FORGIVEN through the Name of Jesus, Acts 2:38.
3. Jesus is PRESENT among us when we gather in His Name, Mt. 18:20.
4. We’re to do GOOD WORKS in the Name of Jesus, Mk. 9:41; “give a cup of cold water in My Name.”
5. PERSECUTION will happen to us because of the Name of Jesus, Lk. 21:12; Jn. 15:21.
6. We are to PREACH in His Name to all nations, Lk. 24:47.
7. HEALINGS are performed by the Name of Jesus; “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well" Mk. 16:17-18.
8. The Name of Jesus has power over the physical realm. Every kind of sickness yielded to that Name; leprosy, fevers, dropsy, and even death itself yielded to the Name of Jesus.
9. Of the lame man healed in Acts 3, Peter said, “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 given this complete healing to him, as you can all see” (vs. 16).
B. WHY DOES THE NAME OF JESUS HAVE THIS POWER?
1. IT REPRESENTS ALL THAT JESUS IS & STANDS FOR
a. The name of Jesus implies all the authority, character, rank, majesty, power, excellence of Jesus Christ. Forgiveness and baptism are received in the Name of Jesus because His Name embraces His work.
b. “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Acts 10:43.
2. IT REFERS TO “THE SPHERE OF HIS PRESENCE”
a. We can speak the Name of Jesus because Jesus is actually in us and with us; we’re not acting alone."Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Immediately Aeneas got up.” Acts 9:34.
b. Dutch Sheets says: “When you pray or lay hands on someone, you lay your hands upon them, but unseen to anyone are the hands of Jesus upon you, and His authority, power and healing are flowing into and through you.”
3. IT MEANS “IN THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS”
a. Because we are not acting alone, and trying to accomplish
his will in our kingdom actions, we can have the same authority as the believers of the early church. Nowhere in the New Testament does it ever say the gifts of the Holy Spirit will cease before Jesus comes.
b. You don’t have to be an Apostle to exercise the Name. “Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your Name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in My Name can in the next moment say anything bad about Me” Mark 9:38-39.
c. All that Jesus was and did when He was upon this earth is accessible through the Name of Jesus. We have the power to break strongholds, the power to release captives, the power to heal and deliver. Power in the Name of Jesus.
II. IT’S THE ONLY NAME RECOG. BY HELL
A. ACTION OF “JESUS” ON DEMONIC FORCES
1. The name of Jesus made the devils tremble; when they heard his name, they began to cry out, saying, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!" At the very mention of his Name, they began to quiver.
2. Luke 10:17 records, “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!" They were shocked by the power of the Name of Jesus.
3. The demons wouldn’t have obeyed if commanded in the names of Peter, James, or John. No; they probably would have laughed at them and ignored any other name; but the mention of the name of Jesus made them release their captives immediately. They became cowards whenever the name of Jesus came up.
4. HUMOR
a. Some of the worst names I know of belong to preachers. One minister with the Lebanon Christian Church in Lebanon, Indiana was named Harry Pitts.
b. Another pastor had the last name of O-D-O-R (Odor) like, “Whew!” If his first name had been John, Bill, or George, it would have been bad enough, but his first name was I-V-A-N: Ivan Odor! Even if you added “Brother” before it, it would be “Brother Ivan Odor.” Someone might answer, “You sure do!”
c. We don’t want to be known by our odor!
B. SOURCE OF THE SPIRITUAL WORLD’S KNOWLEDGE
1. When the Seven sons of Sceva, who were non-Christian exorcists, attempted to drive out evil spirits by invoking the name of Jesus, saying, "In the Name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out," (One day) the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know[Gr. ginosko], and I know about [Gr. epistamai – “understand”] Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” Acts 19:13-16.
2. How did the demons have ‘ginosko’or ‘intimate knowledge’ of the Lord Jesus? Because in eternity past, they had been angels who watched the Son of God create the heavens and Earth and cheered as He did (Job 38:7; Col. 1:16; John 1:1-2).
3. Since their creation, the angels had feared and obeyed the “Image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15), Who is the very embodiment of God (Col. 1:19; 2:9; Heb. 1:3). What a shock when these fallen angels found the Eternal One in human form! They could but tremble and obey.
III. IT’S THE ONLY NAME RECOG. BY HEAVEN
A. THE POWER OF ATTORNEY: ILLUSTRATION
1. A preacher was holding meetings in a city in Tennessee. One afternoon, while giving a message on "The Name of Jesus," a lawyer interrupted asking: "Do you mean to say that Jesus gave us the ‘Power of Attorney,’ the legal right to use His Name?
2. The preacher said to him, "Brother, you are a lawyer and I am a layman. Tell me -- did Jesus give us the ‘Power of Attorney?’
3. He said, "If language means anything, then Jesus gave to the church the Power of Attorney." "Then," asked the preacher, "What is the value of this Power of Attorney?"
4. He answered, "Whatever is behind that person -- whatever authority or power -- is delegated to you!" So we should begin to find out how much power and authority Jesus had.
B. THE KEY TO HEAVEN
1. Similarly, in Jesus name that we can boldly approach the throne! The Name of Jesus is a key to heaven in the hands of the man or woman who knows how to use His name correctly. Jesus said, “And I will do whatever you ask in My Name…You may ask Me for anything in My Name, and I will do it” Jn. 14:13-14. ILLUSTRATION:
2. Paul Borthwick, veteran missionary and minister, writes: “I was traveling from Boston to Denver, and the departure area for my flight was buzzing with stern-looking men in dark suits talking into their lapels. I asked a flight attendant what was happening. She replied, “Just wait. You’ll see.”
3. After we settled into our economy-class seats, two of the dark-suited men arrived in first class, followed by former President Gerald Ford. I sat a few rows away!
4. I thought, “I’ve never met a President before. I’ll go introduce myself.” But then I wondered, “Why would he want to meet me?” I didn’t even vote for him! Then I remembered that during my years in seminary, I had met President Ford’s son, Mike. So I marched toward first class.
5. Before the Secret Service men could stop me, I spoke boldly: ‘President Ford, I just wanted to meet you. I know your son, Mike.’ We talked briefly, mostly about Mike. Mike’s name gave me ‘authority’ to approach the President.”
6. He has given us His Name to use in prayer. When we use the Name of Jesus, it’s as if Jesus Himself is doing the praying.
C. USE OF THIS POWER
1. There are many storms in life, some we must rebuke in the Name of Jesus, others we must flee from, and others we must simply stand strong and persevere.
2. Don’t rebuke something that God is in fact allowing for our growth and development. But also, don’t accept something that the enemy has sent to harm or destroy us. The key is how to know when to reject situations or when to receive them as God shaping our lives.
3. There’s no part of the universe where the King’s name is without influence; the warrant from His throne may be executed among angels, and among devils, and shall have power among men.
4. “Where the word of a king is, there is power;” and where the name of the King of kings is on the proclamation, who shall be able to resist it?
CONCLUSION
A. CLOSING THOUGHTS
1. We represent Him; we go in His place. The Name of Jesus was, in the hands of Paul, what the Rod was in the Hand of Moses. If the Egyptians could have stolen the Rod of Moses, they would have stripped Moses of his weapon.
2. If the Jewish leaders could have stopped the apostles from using/teaching in the Name of Jesus, they could have robbed the early church of its power.
3. The modern church, having lost the power of the Name of Jesus, is reduced to the position of a shorn Samson!
B. THE CALL
1. What needs do you, your family, or your friends have? Have you interceded in the name of Jesus yet?
2. Do you have spiritual problems or chronic physical problems that you want to speak the Name of Jesus over and take His authority over?
3. Are you tired of letting the enemy silence you from mentioning the Name of Jesus in public and you want to pray for boldness?
4. Peter said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Paul said that if you “confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” Rom. 10:9-10. Have you done that?
