By Whom We Have Received Grace and Apostleship ... For His Name - Part 1196

"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation and another builder thereon. But let every man taketh thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 3:10-11)

We read in Acts 9 about Saul, "yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord" and how he went to the high priest and desired of him letters to Damascus, so that if he found any disciples along the way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. (Acts 9:1-2)

But notice the Lord Jesus had a different plan for Saul, including the changing of his name to Paul. The record does not end there. In Damascus, there was a certain disciple named Ananias, and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias, arise and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus ...." (Acts 9:10-11)

Consider for a moment this situation from the perspective of Ananias. He was a disciple of the Lord, and exactly one of the disciples that Saul was determined to slaughter. I am sure as soon as he heard the Lord speak the name Saul, he began praying, aware of how many disciples of Jesus had met their death because of this one man. Indeed, Stephen, a table servant for the Lord and full of the Holy Ghost was stoned because of Saul. (Acts 7:1-60)

The Lord knowing the thoughts of Ananias, said, " .... for behold, [Saul] prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him that he might receive his sight." (Acts 9:11-12)

Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem, and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy name. But the Lord said unto him, "Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel, for I will shew him, how great things he must suffer for My name's sake." (Acts 9:15-16)

What is His name? What name was Jesus referring to when He said "for My name's sake"? Certainly not father, son and holy spirit as man-made institutionalized religion suggests today, whereby the roman catholic church inserted their own deception by rewriting Jesus' words in Matthew 28:19 knowing that people would not actually read Matthew 28:18-20 to see the error of their ways.

Still, the disciples of Jesus pressed forward in spite of the threatening culture and seemingly endless slaughter of disciples. These disciples knew in their hearts whom they worshiped and were not willing to stop preaching Jesus just because the leaders of the day commanded them not to teach or preach in the Name of Jesus. (Acts 4:15-20)

And the other point worth noting here? That when the disciples were up against the threatenings of the world, they prayed. They lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, "Lord, Thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is, who by the mouth of Thy servant David hast said, "Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ. For of a truth against Thy holy child Jesus ...." (Acts 4:24-28)

The disciples prayed and said, "And now Lord, behold their threatenings, and grant unto Thy servants that with all boldness they may speak Thy Word, by stretching forth Thine hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done by the Name of Thy holy child Jesus." (Acts 4:29-30)

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake the Word of God with boldness. The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul ... and with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:31-33)

It is from this spiritual place -- whereby he recognized Jesus to be Lord over all -- that Ananias was able to press forward in the mission in which Jesus was sending him. Even though the final outcome may be losing his life, Ananias knew who was in control.

Thus, as Ananias stated clearly when he entered into the house, and put his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord [even] Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 9:17)

And immediately there fell from Saul's eyes as it had been scales, and he received sight forthwith and arose and was baptized. (Acts 9:18) Moreover, after he received meat, and spent several days with the disciples, Saul/Paul was strengthened, "and straightway, he preached Christ in the synagogues", that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the prophesied Son of God who is now both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-18; I John 5:7)

In other words, the foundation in which our salvation is built is indeed Jesus Christ. The same yesterday, today, and forever -- the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. The King of kings and Lord of lords. One God Almighty and His name is Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)

We need to clothe ourselves too in the righteousness of Jesus so that each and every step we take is for His glory.

Yes, "neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

If you don't know Jesus today, open your new testament and read about the goodness and mercy of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. On the day of Pentecost, the people asked Peter (standing with the eleven other disciples) what must we do to be saved? To obtain eternal life? To experience the peace and joy that is inherent in these "ignorant and unlearned" men that must have been with Jesus to have become who they are. The answer was simple.

"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:37-38)

If you can't find a church which believes in baptism in Jesus name, ask a friend to baptize you through immersion in the water (buried with Christ into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead to walk in newness of life -- Romans 6:1-11) so that you can -- like the disciples - become fully clothed in His righteousness.

As Jesus said, "ALL POWER is given unto Me in heaven and in earth ..." (Matthew 28:18)

The prophet Daniel wrote afore, "I saw in the night visions, and behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him, and there was given Him dominion and glory and a kingdom that all people, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." (Daniel 7:13-14)

One Lord, One faith, One baptism. Stand in the offering plate.