The Strong Name of Jesus

The Strong Name of Jesus

Acts 4:1

I have decided to follow Jesus; 

I have decided to follow Jesus; 

I have decided to follow Jesus; 

No turning back, no turning back

These words have been sung by countless thousands at Billy Graham crusades popularized by George Beverly Shea. The words are a simple testimony of an Indian believer in the 1800s. Nokseng, a Garo man, who was part of a vicious headhunter tribe in the Assam region of Northern India converted to Christianity. A missionary from Wales came with this family to reach the Garo people with the gospel. Nokseng and his family accepted Christ which outraged the chief. The chief wanted to make an example of Nokseng and his family so no one else in the tribe would follow Jesus. The chief brought him before the people and demanded that he renounce his faith but he refused. Seeing his resolve the chief brought forward his children and said recant or they would be killed, but Nokseng simply replied, “I have decided to follow Jesus and there is no turning back.” 

When he refused, the children were executed by archers. After seeing his children killed, he said, “The world can be behind me, but the cross is still before me.” The chief then brought forward his wife and she was pierced with arrows. The man stood in the power of the name and said, “Though no one is here to go with me, still I follow Jesus.” Then the man was executed. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back. 

The Welsh missionary returned to the village to find his first converts murdered, but a revival had overtaken the village. Those who murdered Nokseng and his family repented and believed in Jesus Christ. When the Lord quickens our hearts, awakening us to our sin and condemnation. When we realize the Lord Jesus came to pay for our sin in our place on the cross and to take our death in the tomb. And when we realize that Jesus was raised from the dead to give us hope for eternal life, abiding with us in the Holy Spirit. When we understand the love of God in the gospel that saves us from the wrath, we simply and boldly say, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.”

The story of the church is the story of countless sinners saved by grace who decided to follow Jesus without turning back. On the night Jesus was betrayed, Peter said to Jesus, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away. Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And only a few hours later, Peter had denied Jesus three times. Peter was a coward until the resurrection. When he saw Jesus alive after his death, Peter finally believed, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.” True conversion is a miracle. It changes our very nature. We are given faith to believe and given faith to persevere.

 Has the seed of faith fallen on good soil? Jesus said some gospel seeds fall on rocky hearts which spring up quickly with great joy, but, “they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.” Can you say, “I have decided to follow Jesus, there is no turning back?” Or have you decided to follow Jesus, up until it's hard? Or inconvenient? Or against what you want? Jesus gave his life to us and he demands us to give our lives to him. 

I was sitting at lunch this week and a dear brother said, “We need persecution.” No one really wants persecution, but persecution reveals whether we kinda believe in Jesus or we really believe in Jesus. And our culture will give us the opportunity as it grows in hatred of Jesus and his Word. Will you follow when persecution rises in Jesus name?

Persecution in the Name of Jesus 

Peter and John were going to the temple to pray and met a lame man from birth at the temple gate. When the man asked for alms, Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And the man’s ankles were made strong and he began leaping and shouting for joy. A crowd gathered and Peter proclaimed the gospel of Jesus who died and was raised from the dead. Everyone was amazed at what had happened, but not everyone was happy. Acts 4:1–3

[1] And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, [2] greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. [3] And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 

The leaders of the temple were greatly annoyed because they were proclaiming the works of Jesus and the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees were a sect of Judaism that did not believe in the resurrection from the dead and held closely only to the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. The priests and the captain of the temple were responsible to oversee worship of the temple. 

Remember how the lame man was excluded from the temple because he was lame. He could not enter the gates until he experienced miraculous healing. Luke is helping his readers see there is a transition happening from the worship being centered at the temple to being centered on the new temple, Jesus Christ. God’s presence no longer will be centered at the physical temple, but on Jesus Christ. Jesus is our temple. The priests and the captain of the temple did not understand but felt threatened by the teaching. The key reason for the persecution and arrest of Peter and John was their faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And the reason for our persecution today will be the same.

When we believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, we are testifying that Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. He is the ONLY resurrection and the life. To believe in the resurrection is to believe in the exclusivity of salvation offered in Christ. There may be some of you who want to believe in Jesus but also want to believe there is another way to heaven. The resurrection makes other paths impossible. The resurrection publicly declares God has accepted the sacrifice of the atoning death of Christ for sin. The resurrection opens the path to eternal life. You can’t have the resurrection of Jesus Christ and salvation in something else. And this is the rub for our society. People are fine with you following your path, but it is outrageous, narrow, hateful, and bigoted to say Jesus is right and everyone else is wrong. But do not be mistaken, the resurrection declares that Jesus Christ is the LORD. And this is why as Christians we say, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.” We can’t turn back because there is no other way. 

Many Christians in America will turn back from following Jesus because of the pressure of our society. Sadly, maybe even some in this church. Peter and John were thrown into prison for speaking of the resurrection. One day we may as well. Or we may lose our jobs, our friends to be ostracized by our families. And if we stand for Christ, others will stand with us. Acts 4:4, “But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.” We do not know if this means the total men in the church is five thousand or five thousand new men believed, but we do know that many who heard the word believed. What a promise. When people hear the word about the resurrection some will hate us, but others will believe. 

How will we be able to stand when our day of persecution comes? 

Power in the Name of Jesus

Remember how Peter was gripped with the fear of man and denied Jesus in the presence of a young servant girl. Now Peter is going to stand before the religious elite, Acts 4:5–7,

[5] On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, [6] with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. [7] And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 

The leaders cannot ignore the miracle because everyone knew man. The leaders of the temple would have surely known the man who sat by the gate for the last twenty years. Peter and John were not afraid because they believed. Faith overcomes fear, beloved. Jesus told them they would be brought in front of rulers and not to fear for when it happens he would give them the Holy Spirit. Acts 4:8–12,

[8] Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, [9] if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, [10] let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. [11] This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. [12] And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 

There is salvation in no one else. There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Jesus alone saves.

Peter is no longer afraid. He does not cower in fear for he has decided to follow Jesus and there is no turning back. Peter is blunt of their place in the death of Christ. You crucified him, but God raised him from the dead. He then quotes Psalm 118:24 and applies it to Christ. Psalm 118:1-7 begins,

[1] Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever!

[2] Let Israel say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

[3] Let the house of Aaron say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

[4] Let those who fear the LORD say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.

[5] Out of my distress I called on the LORD;

the LORD answered me and set me free.

[6] The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.

What can man do to me?

[7] The LORD is on my side as my helper;

I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

And the middle of the psalm speaks on how God will be with his people as they face persecution and how the right hand of the Lord will give them salvation. The psalmist then moves on to the prophecy of the Messiah. The cornerstone was the large stone that connected two walls being the foundation of the entire building. Psalm 118:19–24,

[19] Open to me the gates of righteousness,

that I may enter through them

and give thanks to the LORD.

[20] This is the gate of the LORD;

the righteous shall enter through it.

[21] I thank you that you have answered me

and have become my salvation.

[22] The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

[23] This is the LORD’s doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.

[24] This is the day that the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

The day the Lord has made, is the day of salvation. It is the Lord’s doing. God sent Jesus to be rejected by the builders so that he could become the cornerstone of a new temple. Salvation will come through him and him alone, but it will come to all, Jew and Gentile. 

The power that heals the lame man is the same power that heals a lame heart. Friend, if you recognize your sin and your dangerous state before God, know that this is the day that the Lord has made for you. Today is the day of salvation. Today you can be forgiven. Our society is shocked when we say there is only one way and we are shocked when God says there is one way. For we know our sin and we know what we deserve because of our sin. We know we do not deserve salvation. We know we deserve punishment. And yet God has made A way! He sent Jesus to be rejected and scorned so we could be saved. It is marvelous in our eyes. It is shocking in the best possible way. We do not deserve salvation at all and Peter says, “There is salvation given among men by which we must be saved.” There is salvation in Jesus and only in Jesus. There is why we say, “Tho’ none go with me, still I will follow. The world behind me, the cross before me, no turning back, no turning back.” 

Have you decided to follow Jesus? I pray you will. Friend, don't be shocked that there are not many ways, but be overwhelmed there is a way. 

People in the Name of Jesus

When we come to Christ, we are changed. Peter once denied Christ, now stands with courage. People take notice when we stand for Jesus. And we can only stand for Jesus when we spend time with Jesus. Acts 4:13,

[13] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 

It was shocking and simple fishermen could turn the world upside down. Yet it was not really the fishermen but Jesus working through those men. Peter knew this. He writes in 1 Peter 2:4-5, “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” The church is being built up by God. Jesus will build his church. Beloved, our goal is not to transform the world, but love Jesus Christ. When we spend time with Jesus, we may change the world. God will do what he wants with our lives. Some may speak before presidents, some may live in obscurity. The passion of our lives should be to make much of Jesus. For to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain. And when we spend time with Jesus, our lives will be transformed and no one can deny it. The leaders saw the healed man standing beside Peter and John and they could not deny it but still tried to cancel them, Acts 4:14–18,

[14] But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. [15] But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, [16] saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. [17] But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” [18] So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 

Beloved, if we spend time with Jesus and speak about the resurrection, people will try to silence us. They will charge us not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. It will be called offensive and divisive. It will be called hateful and bigoted. The world will try to cancel us and we will be given a choice, salvation or safety. Will we choose to speak of salvation or will we choose our own safety? 

This is not hypothetical. Many of your jobs will threaten you with silence if you speak of the resurrection. Even if you are wise, gracious, and kind, in the matter in which you speak, people will hate the message of the resurrection. The resurrection is exclusive. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. I am the way, the truth and the life and no man comes to the Father except through me.” There is salvation in no one else and there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. So will we be silent or will we say, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, not turning back.” Acts 4:19-22,

[19] But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, [20] for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” [21] And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. [22] For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old. 

The people of Jesus are a people of courage. We are called to be witnesses of the resurrection. Tho’ none go with me, still I will follow.

Prayer in the Name of Jesus

Peter and John spent time with Jesus but they also spent time with the church. They did not live in isolation as individuals but were part of a people. They, like living stones, were being people into a spiritual house, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a people who belong to God and our zealous for his Name. Peter and John came and reported what was said and then the church prayed together. Acts 4:23–30,

[23] When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. [24] And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, [25] who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,

and the peoples plot in vain?

[26] The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers were gathered together,

against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

[27] for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, [28] to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. [29] And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, [30] while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 

Let me make several brief observations from this prayer.

First, they acknowledged God’s sovereign control over everything. They begin,  “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.” Understand their reasoning, if God is the Creator, then why would I fear man who was created by God. We are naturally a fearful people and our fears are big when God is small. When we limit the power and the majesty of our God our problems and our fear grow. And yet how many times did not say, do not fear. And the solution to fear is good theology. Our God is the Sovereign Lord, the Creator and Sustainer of all life. Who should you listen to rulers and authorities or God? Good theology anchors us in the storms of life.

Secondly, they prayed Scripture. They quote Psalm 2 and then apply it. Jerusalem was set against Jesus. Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles and Israel all set themselves up against the Anointed, and don’t miss this, to do whatever God has planned and predestined to take place. Scripture anchored the apostles faith. They were not surprised when they experienced opposition from the worldly and religious authorities  because the Scripture said it was going to happen. Beloved, do not be surprised when the fiery trials come upon us as if something strange was happening to us. God will use all things in our lives for our good and his glory. We must count it all joy when we face trials of many kinds. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trials for he will receive the crown of life. Beloved, read and pray the Scriptures.

Thirdly, they asked God for boldness. They knew their own hearts. They knew they were a fearful people and they knew they needed God’s help. Notice they gave God credit for speaking in boldness as they said, “grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness. They knew God was with them before and asked God to continue to be with them. How many times have we lacked courage to speak of the resurrection? 

If Fountain Park in downtown Rock Hill reversed the aging process? If it was the fountain of youth, would you tell anyone about it? And we have been given the fountain of living water. Those who are in Christ will never be thirsty again for we have living water welling up to eternal life. It is hard to speak of Christ in a world that hates him. It is hard to speak of the resurrection in a world that wants to believe in their own way to heaven. It is hard so we pray for boldness. We pray God gives us courage to stand and not turn back.

Fourthly, they prayed God would continue to work through the risen Lord Jesus, “while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” The power is not in us.The power is only in Christ. We speak, God acts. We plant, we water, but only God brings the increase. And God will bring an increase. Jesus will build his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Do we believe in Jesus? Do we trust his words? Do we trust history? There is power in the name of Jesus. 

Lastly, let me just point out, God answered their prayer. Acts 4:31, “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” Beloved, God answers prayer. All throughout the book of Acts we see God doing miraculous things when the people of God pray. Busyness will sap your prayer life. Screens will sap your prayer life. Make the best use of your time for the days are evil. Be wise with the minutes and hours and days of our lives. Let us live as if we believe that God answers prayer.

We all have to make choices every single day. Nokseng and his family made a choice. Peter and John made a choice. The temple leaders made another choice. Everyday this world wants you to deny Christ. It wants you to turn back from your first love. After Jesus shared how he was the bread of life and how people must be willing to follow him and him alone, a group of disciples turned back and no longer walked with Jesus. Jesus looked at the twelve and said, “Do you want to go away as well?” Peter answered, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God?” They had decided to follow Jesus and there was no turning back. What about you? What have you decided? Have you decided to follow Jesus? Then, world behind you and the cross before you; no turning back, no turning back.