Through Faith In His Name

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4-14-24

Hoonah-Hadley

Acts 3:12-19

Call to Worship Psalm 4

Daily Verse Acts 3:16

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 comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” Years ago a couple fellows were discussing a bible study topic.  Based on the famous John 3:16, the one suggested researching all the 3:16’s in the New Testament.  Herein Acts 3:16 is famous in its own right.  Keep in mind, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”  Honestly, that was not planned, nor was it the intention to follow their bible study suggestion, but that was 2 Timothy 3:16.  Roy Lessin: “The one that walks with God is always moving in the right direction.”  Hebrews 11:1 defines faith and is critical to our lesson this morning. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Listen to Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary definition of faith. “Confident belief in the truth…Belief and trust in God.” The devil has us living in bondage, “The Truth” sets us free from it.  Where does faith come from? Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  Let’s just do a quick review of what we have so far, faith, hope, truth, belief, trust, confidence, 3:16, righteousness, and more, all of which “is profitable”.  Joshua 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night that you may observe…

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…to do all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”  God’s word is “profitable” and “prosperous”, “good success” anyone? As we read around our lesson we see Peter and John going up “together” to the temple at the hour of prayer.  There was a certain man carried and laid daily at the temple gate, he was born “lame”. The name of the gate is “Beautiful”. Gates are entry ways, thresholds, a place of transition. In Acts chapter 3 this gate becomes a place of healing, compassion, mercy, kindness, joy, new life, a place of celebration. There are many, many “gates” in the bible and many, many gates in our lives. In fact, these thresholds, places of transition are constantly before us throughout our days. A few worth mention: Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate…” John 10:9 “I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved.” Psalm 100:4 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving.” Gates are also places of decision, intention. This “lame” man was here to ask for “alms”. In its simplicity, alms are gifts given to the needy. Vs. 3 “Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.”  The man could not walk but he could “see” and he could “ask”.  Vs. 4 “And fixing his eyes on him…” Having attracted the mans full attention Peter commands him to rise and walk. Vs. 5 “So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.” What is it that we give our attention to, and what do we expect to receive from that which we look upon? Do we see Jesus?  Peter says “silver and gold I do not have but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” What Peter has is the “name” of Jesus Christ and what he has, he gives. Do you have the name of Jesus in you? When is the last time you gave it away?

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“Faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of God.”  May we be in a constant state of reading, listening and hearing the word of God. Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the one…who meditates on His law day and night…and whatever they do shall prosper.”  An obvious but easily passed over lesson in verse 6, the man is not given money or crutches, He is given the name of Jesus, and it is faith in this name that heals the man. Yes, when you go to the gas station you need money to pay for your gas, but these verses stir the age-old debate, do we give the hungry bread first or God’s word?  When a poor man ask for money do we reach in our pockets or quote Peter’s verse 6? It’s no secret the world has far too many crutches for our ailments, billions, and billions of dollars’ worth.  In this particular situation, all we know, this man, lame from birth, was healed by the word of God, the name of Jesus, and faith in that name. Future sermon topic and title: “Too Many Crutches”. Verse 7 “And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up.” First things first, the word of God, the name of Jesus, then offer a hand, preferably the right one. God brings us to a place we simply don’t know what to do so that we might know what He can do. Luke 7:50 “And He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you.’”  In Acts chapter 3, whose faith saved the man, Peter and John, the man himself, or Jesus? Peter and John’s faith employed Christ’s name. Faith gave the command to rise up and walk. Faith reached out and took the man’s hand. Faith looked, faith gave attention, faith took the hand. Revelation 19:11 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called faithful and true.” (See also Rev. 1:5, 3:4, Isaiah 11:5 etc.) Peter and John faithful? Check. The lame man faithful? Check. Jesus Christ faithful? Check. How bout you?

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Verse 16 “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”  Peter spoke boldly, with authority in the Name of Jesus. The man gave his attention, yielded, expected and was healed. When we go out, with faith, with the name of Jesus in our heart, with outstretched hand, it should be with boldness, expecting to work miracles. There is power in the blood, power in the word, and power in His name. It is in this power we live and move and have our being. True story, years ago, a friend overdosed, was on life support at the hospital with family waiting for his son to arrive to give his approval to take his father off life support. When the man’s niece suggested they pray, they all joined hands with the dead man, with his right hand, around the bed to his left hand. When she began her prayer, “Dear Lord”, immediately the dead man sat up.  Another story, a man shot 17 times in a drive by shooting, the southside of Pittsburgh. Never went to church, never read the bible, never put his nickel in an offering plate, never prayed. When your life blood is pouring out in the street, who do you call upon? When the kind soul that shot him came up to finish the job, putting the gun to his head, the broken man cried out “Lord save me!”, the gun jammed. He joined one of our bible studies at the prison, I saw the scars. Colossians 3:17 “Do all in the name of Jesus.”  John 16:23 “…ask the Father in My name…” Philippians 2:8-9 “…and given Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” 

His name, Through Faith In His Name gives us perfect soundness. Everything is subject to the authority of the name of Jesus. His name, with faith, is your power of attorney.

Amen.