Have you noticed? Churches today acknowledge that there is a place for Jesus in the salvation message but the authority of Jesus and using His name in EVERY THING that we do -- in both word or in deed -- are being quickly diluted. In fact, lots of people are willing to talk about God. Sadly, many of these do not search the scriptures to know who God is. Neither are these seeking Jesus and His righteousness so that they can be empowered by the authority that is in His powerful name. The last book of the Bible -- the Revelation of Jesus Christ -- warns the churches (and believers therein) about the importance of enduring for His name's sake in the latter days.
John records what he hears: "I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false ... [but] you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake and have not grown weary." (Revelation 2:2-3)
Indeed, we are to persevere -- and endure for His name's sake -- indeed, the precious name of Jesus and not grow weary. Jesus said, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it." (John 14:13-14)
So what does this mean? For starters, we should always ask/pray in Jesus' name.
Jesus said, "At that day ye shall ask in My name, and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you -- for the Father Himself loved you because you have loved Me -- and have believed that I came out from God." (John 16:26-27)
Look at the example in Acts 3. Herein, Peter and John were going up into the temple for it was the hour of prayer. A certain man who needed to be carried to the temple was laid at the door, asking for alms. His situation was that he could not walk from his mother's womb. The man sits, expecting to receive alms from the duo.
Peter said to him, "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
And Peter took him by the right hand, and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. Needless to say, the people who knew the man from birth were shocked. Seeing their reaction, Peter asks the men of Israel:
"Why marvel ye at this? Or, why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. Ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you. And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses."
Peter and John knew by faith the authority that they had in Jesus' name.
"And His Name through faith in His Name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by Him, hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." (Acts 3:16)
This man was made whole because these two disciples prayed for the man in Jesus' name. Jesus -- neither is there salvation in any other. (Acts 4:12) Jesus -- the only name under heaven whereby we must be saved. Jesus -- "in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7) "But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:13)
But praying in Jesus' name for healing and miracles is only the beginning. The apostles also cast out demons in Jesus' name. In the book of Mark, John answered Jesus, saying, "Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us." Jesus said, "Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part." (Mark 9:38-40)
Similarly, we preach remission of sins in Jesus' name. "To Him give all the prophets witness -- that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43)
We are also justified / glorified in His name. Luke writes that Jesus opened their understanding that they might understand the scriptures. He said unto them, "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24:45-48)
There are other scriptural examples as well. In Matthew 10, we are instructed to give a glass of cold water in His name. We are also to receive little children in His name. In other words, we trust in Jesus' name.
So why then, when it comes to water baptism by immersion do churches move away from Jesus' name, even when every single person who was baptized in the Bible was baptized in the name of Jesus. Indeed, the first 3,000 people to be saved on the Day of Pentecost, asked Peter, who was standing with the eleven, "What must we do to be saved?"
His answer was clear. These had to be baptized in the name. His name. The name of Jesus who the apostles knew firsthand was the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was God in the flesh. This is why Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized EVERY ONE of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)
You see, when Jesus said, "Whatsoever you do in both word and deed," it was not intended that we stop at prayer. Rather, whatsoever we do included water baptism in Jesus' name too. In these last days, we need to return to our first love, and endure His name for His sake. Let him who hath ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.
John records what he hears: "I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false ... [but] you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake and have not grown weary." (Revelation 2:2-3)
Indeed, we are to persevere -- and endure for His name's sake -- indeed, the precious name of Jesus and not grow weary. Jesus said, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it." (John 14:13-14)
So what does this mean? For starters, we should always ask/pray in Jesus' name.
Jesus said, "At that day ye shall ask in My name, and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you -- for the Father Himself loved you because you have loved Me -- and have believed that I came out from God." (John 16:26-27)
Look at the example in Acts 3. Herein, Peter and John were going up into the temple for it was the hour of prayer. A certain man who needed to be carried to the temple was laid at the door, asking for alms. His situation was that he could not walk from his mother's womb. The man sits, expecting to receive alms from the duo.
Peter said to him, "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
And Peter took him by the right hand, and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. Needless to say, the people who knew the man from birth were shocked. Seeing their reaction, Peter asks the men of Israel:
"Why marvel ye at this? Or, why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. Ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you. And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses."
Peter and John knew by faith the authority that they had in Jesus' name.
"And His Name through faith in His Name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by Him, hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." (Acts 3:16)
This man was made whole because these two disciples prayed for the man in Jesus' name. Jesus -- neither is there salvation in any other. (Acts 4:12) Jesus -- the only name under heaven whereby we must be saved. Jesus -- "in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7) "But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:13)
But praying in Jesus' name for healing and miracles is only the beginning. The apostles also cast out demons in Jesus' name. In the book of Mark, John answered Jesus, saying, "Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us." Jesus said, "Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part." (Mark 9:38-40)
Similarly, we preach remission of sins in Jesus' name. "To Him give all the prophets witness -- that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43)
We are also justified / glorified in His name. Luke writes that Jesus opened their understanding that they might understand the scriptures. He said unto them, "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24:45-48)
There are other scriptural examples as well. In Matthew 10, we are instructed to give a glass of cold water in His name. We are also to receive little children in His name. In other words, we trust in Jesus' name.
So why then, when it comes to water baptism by immersion do churches move away from Jesus' name, even when every single person who was baptized in the Bible was baptized in the name of Jesus. Indeed, the first 3,000 people to be saved on the Day of Pentecost, asked Peter, who was standing with the eleven, "What must we do to be saved?"
His answer was clear. These had to be baptized in the name. His name. The name of Jesus who the apostles knew firsthand was the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was God in the flesh. This is why Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized EVERY ONE of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)
You see, when Jesus said, "Whatsoever you do in both word and deed," it was not intended that we stop at prayer. Rather, whatsoever we do included water baptism in Jesus' name too. In these last days, we need to return to our first love, and endure His name for His sake. Let him who hath ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.
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