In Acts 3, Peter and John had gone up to the temple at the hour of prayer, which was approximately three o’clock in the afternoon. There was a lame man lying at the gate of the temple. He begged for money from Peter and John as they came in.
Peter looked at the lame man, and said to him, “Look at us.” He looked at them expecting them to give him something. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you:”. Peter knew that he had something to give the man. He said, “I have something, and what I have I am going to give you.”
Then he said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Peter gave the man what he had, and what he had was the Name of Jesus. And as soon as Peter spoke, he took the man by the right hand and lifted him up and his legs were healed.
Peter makes it very clear how the lame man was healed. He was healed with the weapon of the Name of Jesus. Peter used the weapon of Jesus’ Name when he looked at the man bound with a stronghold of lameness. Then he had to reemphasize this truth to the crowd and tell them that it was the Name of Jesus; faith in the Name of Jesus that had made the man strong.
When you see the awe and the respect Peter had for the Name of Jesus, you begin to realize that the Name meant something very special to the early church. They did what they had to do for God in the authority of the Name.
Praise and worship should play a vital part in the life of the believer in relationship to the Name of Jesus. Praise will lead us into the mighty revelation of God concerning the Name of Jesus. Hebrews 13:15 says that we are to offer a sacrifice of praise to God continually.
A sacrifice involves something that is difficult to do. When things are going wrong, we are to offer a sacrifice of praise, we are to do it continually, every day of our lives. The praise that we offer should be offered verbally, it should be offered by our lips, it should be spoken out loud.
How do we give that praise? We give thanks to His Name. That is what praise is. Praise is giving honor to the Name. Praise and worship are inextricably tied up with the power of the Name of Jesus. The sacrifice of praise will lead us into a mighty revelation of Jesus’ Name.
There are many believers who are weeping bitterly in the midnight of disease, financial bondage, divorce, and temptation. The Name of Jesus is the answer for us today. I pray that God will give to you a powerful revelation of Jesus’ Name as your weapon.
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Scripture says the name of Jesus is a strong tower, a place of safety. When all else fails, speak the name of Jesus. Begin and end every prayer in the name of Jesus.
Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. What does it mean to “be saved”? John 20:31 says, “But all that is recorded (in scripture) is so you will fully believe Jesus is the Anointed One, the Son of God, and through your faith in him you will experience eternal life by the power of his name.”
Jesus commissioned his disciples, under the influence and power of the Holy Spirit, to preach the message of the forgiveness of sins. This is what it means to be saved and to experience eternal life…to receive forgiveness for every sin you have ever committed.
If you have not yet walked through the steps of salvation, here is a very simple prayer to speak aloud and to believe in your heart. You may have drifted away from the Lord. This prayer is for you as well.
“God, I come to you in the name of Jesus. My sin has separated me from you, but you made a way through Jesus to forgive me. The best I can do as an imperfect human being is to sin. The best you could have done as the perfect God and creator of all, is to send your son as a final sacrifice for my sins. In Jesus is forgiveness, eternal life, and a brand new life for me here on earth. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for healing me. Thank you for calling me into your family. Thank you for giving me purpose and hope. In the name of Jesus. Amen.”
Scripture Meditation
Faith in Jesus’ name has healed this man standing before you. It is the faith that comes through believing in Jesus’ name that has made the crippled man walk right in front of your eyes! Acts 3:16
And now you must repent and turn back to God so that your sins will be removed, and so that times of refreshing will stream from the Lord’s presence. Acts 3:19
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15 NKJV
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ Acts 2:21
…always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
Praise & Worship