The Power Of A Name Acts 3

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" is a commonly quoted part of a dialogue in William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, in which Juliet argues that the names of things do not matter, only what things "are". The name of a thing does not matter as much as the quality of the thing. What we choose to call something matters little, what is of the most importance is the quality or the person behind that name. There is power in a name but only because of the association or relationship it has with the person or object being described.

Has ever there been a name more powerful, more magnificent, more mysterious than the powerful name of Jesus Christ? There has never been, neither will there ever be one greater than Jesus Christ. For at the sound of His name the demons flee, the sick are healed, the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf begin to hear, and the dead are raised. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Him as the Lord; for there is no other name in heaven or on earth that has the power to save the souls of mankind. 
Peter and John demonstrate the heart of the Christian life and the ministry of the church. Notice there is a major contrast between chapter 2 and chapter three. In chapter two Peter is the preacher as opposed to chapter 3 where he is a personal worker. The ministry in chapter two was toward the multitudes, in chapter three it was focused on a lame beggar. Yet the results are the same.  Let’s look at some of the key points of this passage relating to the Name of Jesus Christ. 

I. The Name of The Lord Is Sufficient v 1-10 

First let us remember that the name of Jesus is all we need. Even when our treasury has run dry and our resources are all but gone He is still God. It is very likely that Peter and John had very little earthly resources. What is more likely is that they understood they were not simply to give out handouts to improve people’s standard of living. While God is concerned with meeting our physical needs He is far more concerned with our spiritual need. For eternity is far longer than our present life.
Society is eager for a free handout; we feed off of other people. The beggar was expecting money from Peter. What he did not know was that God wanted to give him something far better: everlasting life. In our ministry to others let’s not become distracted by monetary needs or our own lack. Rather be concerned with the spiritual deficit in our community. 
The society of Peter’s day was not expecting God to move and when He did it filled them with amazement. Because Peter and John were not focused on what they did not have but rather where focused on offering the transforming power of the Name of Jesus it lead to revival. Let us have the same mindset.

II. The Name of The Lord Is Unchanging v 11-15

Peter changed their rejoicing and amazement into opportunity. When we serve those in need and show them the love and power of Christ there is always the possibility of the miraculous. Often times we focus on the natural when God wants to pull us toward the Supernatural. God’s power is never changing. He is the same Today yesterday and forever. He never changes. The same power he showed in bringing down the walls of Jericho is still at work today. The same Grace he gave to Abraham is still available to us today. The same wisdom and foresight he demonstrated in providing redemption for Adam’s fall is still freely offered to us all today. 
Peter told all those who were standing there that they should not stand in amazement, there had every opportunity to accept Christ when he was here on earth but rather they choose to disown him v 14. He told them that the same God that their forefathers served is the very same God who raised Christ Jesus from the dead. God does not change He is still perfect in love and perfect in wrath. He is unchanging.
In the Old Testament, God reveals Himself to man in seven names.  Each of these names begins with Jehovah.  To the Jews, the name Jehovah was so holy that it was never said by anyone except the High Priest in the Holy Place on the Day of Atonement.  Seven is the number for perfection and God is a perfect God.  God is called other names but only seven names are His redemptive names.  When God commands that we “preach the Gospel to every creature,” He means that we tell the good news of His redemption.  His seven redemptive names reveal what our redemption includes.  
Let’s look at these seven names.

1. Jehovah-Shammah:   “The Lord is present.”  or “made nigh by the Blood of Christ.”
2. Jehovah-Shalom:  “The Lord is our Peace.”  This is in the Attonement because of Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV) “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
3. Jehovah-Ra-ah:  “The Lord is my Shepherd.”  He became our Shepherd by giving His life for us, His sheep.
4. Jehovah-Jireh:  “The Lord will provide.” or will provide a sacrifice.  Christ was our sacrifice on Calvary.
5. Jehovah-Nissi:  “The Lord our Banner”  or Victor.  He defeated principalities and powers on the cross.
6. Jehovah-Tsidkenu:  “The Lord our Righteousness” He opened the way for every sinner to receive the gift of righteousness.
7. Jehovah-Rapha:  “The Lord that heals thee” or “I am the Lord thy Physician.”  This is in the Attonement because 1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV) “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.”

It is under these seven names that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This means that all of these above names, God is still the same today.  With God revealing Himself to man in these names, we have the right to peace, provisions, righteousness, His presence and even healing.  It wouldn’t be right to change I am the Lord that heals thee, to I was the Lord that heals thee.  God wants all of these names to be sent “to every creature.”  Psalm 107:20 (NKJV)“He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions”

III. The Name of The Lord Is Mighty To Save v 16-26 

God is mighty to save. It is not his will for any to perish but for all to have everlasting life. I could not say it better than Peter did as he spoke to the people of Jerusalem saying:

 “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also.  But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.  Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you. And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God [e]made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

God is present and He wants to bring healing to your spirit. He is mighty to save, full of grace, power, and mercy. God is also a just God. We must choose today who we will serve. Do you need a touch from God today? He is more than able. Come now is the time to turn and follow Him.