What Is There About That Name?

One might be caused to remember the panic of the Sanhedrin when the man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was healed in the Name of Jesus at the Gate Called Beautiful; he danced and praised God in the courtyard to the Temple. Note the consternation of the Sanhedrin: “And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what NAME, have ye done this” (Acts 4:6-7)?

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit and boldness replied: “Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

The Sanhedrin reacted typically to their testimony: “And they called them, and commanded them NOT TO SPEAK at all nor teach IN THE NAME OF JESUS” (Acts 4:18).

While there are some parallels between the scriptural account and the decision of the federal judge there are some wide divergences. One might use the name of Jesus in prayer, conversation, and/or sermons and still not be confessing His name. Additionally, there are countless ways one might pray in the name of Jesus without actually voicing His name.

One may the Name of Jesus in situations wherein one has little or no understanding of its use. To use it in such times is to superciliously FLAUNT it like waving a flag to a cause to which one has little or no sense of loyalty. An example is taken from the Book of Acts: “Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, ‘We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.’ And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. ‘And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye’” (Acts 19:13-15)?

There was a rather violent reaction: “And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded” (Acts 19:16).

The vagabond Jews chose to FLAUNT the name of Jesus---having little or no comprehension as to what the Name of Jesus stood for but used it foolishly regardless.

The second example is taken from a book by Dr. E. Stanley Jones, Methodist missionary to India a century or so ago, based on an experience he had. On a certain occasion, Dr. Jones was on a railroad platform ready to board his train when a young Muslim man ran up to him and said: “Sir, are you a Christian missionary?” Dr. Jones replied that he was. The young man then said, “I understand that your bible says that no man can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless your Holy Spirit makes him able!’” Dr. Jones, not knowing what to say, was quickened by the Holy Spirit. Looking down the railroad platform, he saw a group of young Muslim men. He shouted to them, saying: “Hey, your brother just said “Jesus is Lord.” When he looked back, the young man was about a hundred yards down the track running as fast as he could. He obviously was not enabled by the Holy Spirit to confess Jesus as Lord. Although he TAUNTED Dr. Jones with the name of Jesus, he was not prepared to pay the consequences.

While I know little or nothing about what the men prayed to open a House session. I’m sure they were great representatives of the Kingdom who were reacted against by people of worldly thought and values. I do know that when one serves as a representative of the Lord Jesus, in all that he does, he must EXALT the Name of Jesus in such a way that it reaches the most hearts. One must always be conscious of the setting he is in and the most appropriate way to voice that wonderful name in that setting.

The scripture warns, “Let not then your good be evil spoken of” (Romans 14:16). While one may have the best intentions, his voicing of the name of Jesus can be careless, incautious, callous, or contentious---none of which is appropriate. Norma and I were sitting at breakfast this morning at a local restaurant and I was strongly irritated by the inappropriate language of the men sitting at a table next to ours. When I prayed over our meal, I essentially, by the tone of voice, loudness, etc. rebuked the men. In essence, I flaunted and taunted them in the name of Jesus rather than cautiously and lovingly approaching the throne in their behalf. (By the way, I have repented of my attitude since then.)

According to today’s text, the following ideals should be paramount in our confessions of Jesus: We must:

1. Have the attitude of Jesus (Philippians 2:5 NAB).
2. Be spiritually bowed in humility and contrition (Philippians 2:10 NAB).
3. Let our confession bring honor and glory to the Father in Heaven” (Philippians 1:11).

In the times in which we live, it is easier to do damage to the cause of Christ than any other in my lifetime. It is incumbent on us that we exercise the best and most Godly attitude possible in every situation in which we find ourselves.

Jeff