Power in Jesus’ name
JOHN 17:10-11 TLH 364
Grace, mercy, and peace to you all in the Name of Jesus, the One Whose Name we can trust above all things. Amen.
Rev. To start with, I have 2 questions for you:
1st: why are people named? and
2nd: What is in a name? in other words, what is there to find in someone’s name
Thank you: In ancient cultures, naming a child was a very serious task. There were rules to follow, and traditions to uphold. Things are a little different today…ok
However, some people still take the naming process seriously. But for many, it’s nothing more than an opportunity to give their child the name of their favorite neighbor or for some other reason. For many, it’s just an opportunity to give their child a name that’s popular or merely sounds good to their ears.
Pastor; how was it in Jesus’ days?
In Jesus’ day, the naming of a person was very important. It was vital to who the child was as a person. Naming was more than a title. It was more than a pleasant sound to family and friends. Names brought the identity of a person in a community. Names reflected one’s character or even defined one’s purpose in life.
Some cultures would even delay to name their children until they saw how that child acted or responded to the challenges of life. In brief, Names were, and names are, very important.
Rev. from your submission are names very important today?.
Yes… but what happens when you don’t live up to your own name.
- Reverend that reminds me; Please what happens if one’s name is more like an albatross around his or her neck?
- What happens when ones name reminds him or her over and again about unfulfilled expectations, unrealized dreams, or worse, failure in the face of life’s challenges?
My dear listeners; kindly take a moment to reflect upon your name!: and those of you who know that your name is full of disappointment, sin, blame, and challenges… please listen to me carefully.
In our text for today, we hear about a certain name. That name may be pleasing to hear. The fact is that name… is more than a good Name; it is indeed a perfect and a holy Name.
The name i am talking about is God’s own name… the name which became flesh for the sake of the world.
This Name is above all other names. It is a Name that is full of God’s forgiveness, God’s life, power and peace, this name is full of God’s blessing, and His everlasting protection. As a matter of fact; God Himself has made that Name of His available to the world and its grace is upon those who believe in it!
That public Name of God’s is Jesus… Jesus the Christ; the Messiah; the Anointed One!
My dear listeners: Jesus is the “One who saves,” He is the “Wonderful Counselor, The mighty God, the Prince of Peace.”
Jesus is the Name of the God-man; given to the world so that those who believe in this name may be saved. Jesus; through this message, this morning; is inviting those of you who have gone astray…following after other gods; following the gods of man …to repent and become part of His Holy family of faith.
Pastor.. I am blessed with that insight… what are we to learn from our lesson today …. referring to John 17:37-39,
Friends: In today’s text or lesson: Incredibly Jesus prays for us,…Yes in His High Priestly prayer… Jesus provides resources saying, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your Name, the Name that You gave Me, so that they may be one, as we are One.”
Mr Benjamin Kyei, in your open question, you asked me …What’s in a name?
Yes Pastor
Well, I don’t know what is in your name…., but most definitely I know from the Bible that In Jesus’ Name there is God’s Holiness and Salvation. The prayer of Jesus is that His Holy Name… should be a blessing to all who believe in it. Praise God!!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah… Rev. That is exactly what we need… isn’t it?
Friends… understand clearly on one hand that sin leads to death. Contrarily on the other hand Holiness in Christ Jesus leads to life.
Holiness is not some kind of goodness that we must measure so that we can show that we’re religious or spiritual people. No, holiness is the fundamental nature of God’s own character which motivates and shapes everything He is and manifests in everything He does.
God’s love is a holy love; His judgment is a holy judgment. Absolutely, we need His holiness to enable us to live the lives, we were created and saved by His name Jesus to live.
Reverend, indeed, that is deep: I notice that People seem to reject God’s offer of His Holiness and life… What is your comment on this?
You are on point! Sin has misled people in to make their own “holiness,” they try hard to establish their own perfection and to build up their own names…
My cherished listener: Hear me well; such holiness is fake!… Jesus once told a parable about “a character of a man who trusted in his own righteousness and holiness, and looked down on everybody else?”
I am referring to the story about the Pharisee and the Tax collector …. Guess which one of the 2 went home “forgiven!”
The Tax Collector……full story is in Luke 18:9-14
God judges false holiness because He loves us. He holds us accountable to our own names because our lives are filled with sin. Our individual names brings us to disgrace and finally we stand accused before God.
Reverend… on behalf of our dear listeners can you explain that?
Thanks for the opportunity: I mean our heritage and traditions, are intertwined with that of a human family’s name… remember the name, Adam and Eve.
This first human family rebel in the Garden of Eden. We are their descendants and their rebellion is our rebellion… Their nature is really our nature. And no matter what we do, we can’t escape the power of that human name.
Wow, Names can really do that to us, I see?
When I was much younger and even now: be it at home, school or at work; whenever I hear someone call my name! I knew I was in one trouble or the other… friends; No human name can measure up to the Holy Name of God.
That is why Jesus’ prayer for us; is so important. The Name Jesus is given by God, to save people from their sins… the Name Jesus is the only name which will save humanity from this sinful world of sin and sickness. There is power in Jesus name!
Amen and Amen… Dear Listeners: God’s Name is Holy and it is Holy for all who believe…. Don’t doubt but believe in the name Jesus!
Mr Kyei, thank you for that great statement: It will interest you to know that the Bible says incredible things about the Name of Jesus…
Pastor, kindly share them together: we are all ears:
- Where two or three are gathered in Jesus’ Name, there He is to bless them.
- His Name Jesus literally means “Yahweh Saves”.
- Jesus is God’s salvation in action for us.
- The God-man Named Jesus literally took our place before God’s judgment throne paying the penalty for original sin which we inherited from Adam! Also the Actual sin which we are personal responsibility for.
- Acts 4 has it, “There is a Name in this world which exists for our blessing.” Salvation is found in no one else, there is no other name by which we must be saved!
- For those who trust in Jesus Christ, shall be called by Jesus’ full name when we stand before God’s judgment throne…!
The assuring News in our text is that; the Name of Jesus brings God’s eternal promise of blessing and salvation to all…
- God made His saving Name available from the very beginning….
- He saved Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
- He also saves people through the promises given to Abraham.
- He saved using Moses’ leadership saying in Egypt
“Yahweh Saves.” Dear Friends: Jesus’ Name accurately means, “Yahweh Saves.”
So when people ask me today, “Pastor, is the ‘Name of Jesus’ relevant anymore?” I tell them,
Trust in His Name. Receive that Name through the washing of Holy Baptism. That Name brings holiness, life, and salvation for you as a gracious Gift, which is received by faith alone. There is salvation in the Name Jesus. There is also power and protection in the Name Jesus.
In Psalm 121, Yahweh, the Lord, is described as One Who does not slumber, Who does not sleep. He never grows weary, He protects us from evil and literally watches over a believer’s life.
God’s protection is so much more. The Bible reminds us that our battles are with “the principalities and powers in the heavenly realms.” It says in Ephesians 6, “Our enemy the devil loiters around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” But it also says that God has provided His Name through His Son Jesus so that we might live by faith without fear.
He is our mighty fortress. That is His Name. He is the one who says, “I will be with you always, even to the end of the ages.” When the God of heaven and earth; the God of the cross and resurrection is with you, friends be assured that you have real protection in the Name of Jesus!
Believe in the name of Jesus and put your trust in Him alone as He prays for us saying, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your Name, the Name that You gave Me, so that they may be one, as We are One.”
In Jesus’ Name, there is holiness and salvation, power and protection, and in it is God’s unity, His Oneness and peace!
In today’s broken world …. Where World Economies are experiencing recession due to one pandemic we all know as COVID-19: Oneness is needed more than ever in this era of COVID… things around us will change and its Only Jesus’ Name and work can give sinners like us a chance to be redeemed human beings in harmony again… its His Name, God’s Name and the Word that flows from the Name in action, can bind us together again.
So, call on His Name right now, trust in His Name today, live your life in His power, protection, and salvation.
May His joy, and His peace be your portion now and forevermore. In His Name!
Amen!
Benediction
- The Lord bless, you and keep you;
- The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and be gracious unto you and your House Hold;
- The Lord make His face shine upon you and give you His everlasting His peace in the name of Jesus… Amen
Amen, Amen, Amen!
Indeed There is power in the name of Jesus;
Pastor thank you very much…
A question comes to mind…. Matt 28:19 Jesus said we should baptize in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit… but His disciple in Act 2:.. Baptized in the name Jesus…
That is in Peter in Acts 2:38 …. Reflect upon today’s sermon and you will understand that… Jesus is in God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit’s name.
Reference
Colo 1:19; Philippians 2:9-10; Ephesus 3:14-19
For the sake of time… we shall look at that some other time… peace!