FAITH and AUTHORITY IN THE NAME OF JESUS
FAITH and AUTHORITY IN THE NAME OF JESUS
Preached by: Carolyn Sissom at Women’s Jail, Richmond, Texas
October 16, 2008
(Acts 3: 1-21)
Acts 3:16: “And his name through faith in his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know: yes the faith which is by him has given him this perfect soundness (healing) in the presence of you all.”
Peter tells the lame man that he has a gift for him. Peter mentions a name the man had heard before—Jesus of Nazareth! But what would be the gift? In that name Peter gives a command, “Walk”. The gift was healing for his body. The man knew Jesus had been a healer. Was it possible to receive such a gift from One Who had been crucified?
The man just sat there. He knew what Jesus’ name meant. According to Jewish custom, it was the equivalent of Jesus Himself. Acting in the authority of that name, Peter commands a lifetime cripple to rise and start walking. Yet, he is acting as the representative of someone alive, not dead. Peter had made the offer. He gave the command by faith. There is no mention the lame man had even a drop of faith. The only faith he had was to beg alms. It is Peter and John’s Faith in the name of Jesus through which the Presence of the Lord releases this miracle. In verse 16, Peter states the power to heal this man resides in Jesus, for again, the Jewish use of the Name of Christ meant Jesus Himself. The man was healed by Faith in the name of Jesus. This was important, for sorcerers and exorcists employed names for healing and hexing people in those days. By faith in Jesus name, says Peter, the apostles were invested with the power to perform miracles, with the miracles themselves signs of the Messiah. The point of the miracle was to prove the power of the crucified Christ was still in their midst and operating in His servants because of their faith in Him.
The Faith to raise the lame man was in the disciples, not the cripple.
Instantly, Peter makes his move, reaching forth his right hand to help the cripple respond to the command. The power of God touched the cripple and he actually leapt to his full height and began to walk! Then he went into the temple with them, sometimes walking, sometimes leaping, all the while giving praise to God as he went.
Imagine a man who had never even learned to walk, running and leaping at once! The man’s soul is flooded with joy and gratitude. He doesn’t run way, but goes into the temple to praise God with the apostles. How many who are healed use their healing for the glory of God? Luke reported nine cured lepers who didn’t even say thank you (Luke 17:17). It is told that Thomas Aquinas happened upon Pope Innocent II when he was counting money. “See Thomas,” said the Pope, “The church can no longer say silver and gold have I none.” Thomas answered, “yes, and neither can she say, ‘rise and walk in Jesus; name!” There had been an obvious trade of spiritual power for money. Also note Peter and John did not use this opportunity to take up an offering.
The miracle was done in the midst of a great crowd. The crowds knew the man. They had seen him begging at this gate year after year. It could not have been a trick of magic. Besides was it not Jesus who healed the blind man at the temple gates the previous December by? Jesus; power to heal was no secret. The crowd takes note that Peter and John did not heal in their own name, but in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
That a blind man should “leap as a deer,” was one of the expected signs of the Messiah. (Isa. 35:6) “Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped, lame men will leap like a deer.”
The crowd was full of amazement and wonder. Peter addressed them as, “Men of Israel.” This was not an unruly mob, but an assembly of devout Jews. Peter could sense the admiration fixed on Himself and John. The point of the miracle was to draw attention to Jesus. Peter who at an earlier time wanted to be greatest in the kingdom (Luke 9:46), here has a chance to be credited with a miracle of God. But see the change in Peter. Listen to his honesty. “We didn’t heal this man”, says the apostle, God did. The God of our Fathers produced this miracle through us. Yet, it wasn’t just for the benefit of this lame man, but for the honor and glory of Jesus.
In Verse 17, Peter tells them, “My brothers, I am well aware that you, like your rulers, didn’t realize what you were doing when you crucified Jesus. (19) “Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
We have the blessing of the Presence of the Lord at our church fellowship. Many come and wonder at this awesome Presence. The same authority and power which Peter used to raise the lame man is available to every Christian. By Faith in the Name of Jesus, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists and Worker's of Miracles still perform miracles through Faith in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and His Holy Presence.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.