Sermon Tone Analysis

The Power Of The Name Of Jesus

Introduction

1.

The emphasis in Acts 3 and 4 is on the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 3:6, 16; 4:7, 10, 12, 17–18, 30).

a.

A name, of course, implies much more than identification; it carries with it authority, reputation, and power.

b.

When somebody says, “You can use my name!” you sincerely hope the name is worth using.

c.

If an order is given in the name of the President of the United States or the Prime Minister of Great Britain, those who receive the order know that they are obligated to obey

2.       But the name of the Lord Jesus has /all authority/ behind it, for He is the Son of God (Matt.

28:18).

a.

Because His name is “above every name” (Phil.

2:9–11), He deserves our worship and obedience.

b.

The great concern of the first Christians was that the name of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, be glorified; and believers today should have that same concern.

3.       As we study this section, we should note that the Jewish emphasis is very pronounced.

a.       Peter addressed Jewish men (Acts 3:12) and called them “children of the prophets and of the covenant” (Acts 3:25).

b.

He referred to the Jewish fathers (Acts 3:13) as well as to the prophets (Acts 3:18, 21–25).

c.

The phrase “times of restitution” (Acts 3:21) is definitely Jewish and refers to the messianic kingdom promised in the prophets.

d.

The message is still going out “to the Jew first” (Acts 3:26) and is presented in Jewish terms.

4.       Keep in mind that Acts 1–10 describes a gradual transition from Israel to the Gentiles and from “Jewish Christianity” (note Acts 21:20) to the “one body” made up of both Jews and Gentiles.

a.

It took several years before many of the Jewish believers really understood the place of the Gentiles in God’s program

b.

This understanding did not come without its conflicts.

5.       The contrast between Acts 2 and 3 is interesting:

a.       Peter the preacher—Peter the personal worker; multitudes—one poor man; ministry resulting in blessing—ministry resulting in arrest and persecution.

b.

The events in Acts 3 are an illustration of the last phrase in Acts 2:47, showing us how the Lord added to His church daily.

6.

While the Holy Spirit is not named in this chapter, He was certainly at work in and through the Apostles, performing His ministry of glorifying Jesus Christ.

a.       John 16:13-14 "13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear,/ that/ shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew/ it/ unto you."

7.

There are three stages in this event, and each stage reveals something wonderful about Jesus Christ.

! Power of the Name

1.        *Amazement: Jesus the Healer (Acts 3:1–11)*

a.       Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer,/ being/ the ninth/ hour/.

i.

Peter and John

1.

They were partners in the fishing business: Luke 5:10 “And so/ was/ also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon.

And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.”

2.       They were there at the mount of transfiguration: Matthew 17:1-2 "1And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light."

3.       They prepared the last Passover for Jesus: Luke 22:8 “And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.”

4.       They ran to the tomb on the first Easter Sunday morning: John 20:3-4 "3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre."

5.       Later, they would minister to the Samaritans who believed on Jesus Christ: Acts 8:14 "14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:"

6.       Now that they were filled with the Holy Spirit, the Apostles were no longer competing for greatness, but were at last working faithfully together to build the church: Psalm 133:1 "1A Song of degrees of David.

Behold, how good and how pleasant/ it is/ for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

                                                             ii.

The believers were still attached to the temple and to the traditional hours of prayer

1.       9AM, Noon and 3PM

2.       Psalm 55:17 "17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice."

3.       Daniel 6:10 "10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."

4.       This was at the ninth hour or 3 PM.

5.       Acts 3:1

6.       Acts 4:3 "3And they laid hands on them, and put/ them/ in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide."

b.      Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

                                                               i.

There were nine gates that led from the court of the Gentiles into the temple itself.

Scholars are not agreed, but the Beautiful Gate was probably the “Eastern Gate” that led into the court of the women.

ii.

Made of Corinthian bronze, the gate looked like gold; and it certainly was a choice place for a lame man to beg.

c.       Acts 3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

d.      Acts 3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

i.

Peter and John were not so caught up with large crowds that they had no time for individuals.

ii.

Nor were they so busy in ministry that they could not pray.

iii.

They had learned their lessons well from the Lord Jesus (Mark 1:35; Luke 8:40.)

iv.

Amy Carmichael said, “It’s the individual touch that tells.

He [Jesus] doesn’t love in the mass, but in ones.”

v.

Census worker came to the door and asked the woman how many children she had:

1.       “well there’s Bobby, and Susie, and Micheal, and…”

2.       I didn’t ask you to name them, just how many are there

3.       The mother responded, “They don’t have numbers, they’ve got names.”

vi.

Aren’t you glad that God loves you?

e.      Acts 3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

f.        Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, 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.

i.

There was a purpose behind the miracle: Jesus and the apostles never performed miracles simply to amaze the people.

This wasn’t the circus.

ii.

The medieval Scholar Thomas Aquinas visited the pope in Rome.

The pope showed off all the treasures from around the world.

1.

The pope said, “You see, brother Thomas, we cannot say as the first pope “silver and gold have I none”

2.       Thomas replied, “No, nor can you say, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.’”

g.       Acts 3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted/ him/ up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

i.

Since the believers had pooled their resources (Acts 2:44–45), the two Apostles had no money to give; but money was not what the man needed most.

*                                                            ii.

**He needed salvation for his soul and healing for his body, and money could provide neither.*

iii.

Through the power of the name of Jesus, the beggar was completely healed; and he was so happy and excited that he acted like a child, leaping and praising God.

h.