Acts 4:5-22 KJV
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6 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.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 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.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

What is power in a name. If you work for any big name company or great name person with title, you can go where ever the company or boss sends you and with that one name get whatever you want done, and done correctly. Seldom is there a wait in line beyond what would be common based on the business you ask of a service of in that name. You waited in line, paid your dues and then made the request. There are business that will bend over backwards for another business. There is no crime in it, but gratitude for service from that business of maybe even years gone by to help them stand up in the community. The business may of given a tall order and it was paid on time and with interest not even due. A pay it forward plan if nothing else, for the next order if one should ever arise.

What then is a name, a name that has a good rap of getting things they want, or things done that need doing. What is in the name of Jesus, power of the Holy Spirit, power because of the importance of the man who own the name and the importance that upon use God delivers for his Son to his people. In that name Jesus man was healed and no longer crippled, but the religious leaders were upset because it was to them that were called to pray for the cripple, and the man still sat at the temple gate called Beautiful because the man was consider unclean by his infirmities. Peter and John marched up and said I give you the name Jesus get up and walk. Immediate the biggest business owner of healing delivered by the Holy Spirit, his name being God, but he received the request in Jesus name. What is in the name of Jesus, is it not just another name, no there is power in the name of Jesus. Power only given by God himself, that when used, God knows the asker is asking in Jesus name, because he is a child of God, a brother of Christ and servant of Christ. The man is healed for the purpose of spreading the gospel of Jesus. Miracle after 40 some years of this man being crippled. The people that knew him were excited and were praising who? That is right God.

Interesting point they are still praising God the Father. They are not praising Jesus, they praising God. Jesus name is a password to God. There are charalatans of our world that use the name of Jesus with no result, not even over a period of time. What is in the name of Jesus but power, but it not power for the devil to control. We must put ourselves in check by what authority are we using the name of Jesus, God or the devil. Ouch does that hurt some of you. Are you using Jesus name because you want to use it for money, filthy lucred, for what you can gain by popularity. Following Jesus at the time of the Apostle was not popular because of the cross, yet all that heard and understood why the cross of Jesus happened no long said no to believing in Jesus especially with the wonderful works done by the Holy Spirit at the hand of the apostles of Jesus and then others that followed in Christ footsteps.

Why do I write, not to win a popularity contest, but to share what I know has saved me throughout my life time. The name of Jesus, protector of my soul and my earthly body til my work is over, he has called me to by his grace, that I too had to receive and follow. Yet the miracles done by Jesus at the time of the apostle and in the name of Jesus set a fear among the religious leaders, because it could not be stopped, nor could they deny it being a miracle because of the age of the man in Jerusalem and others too that had been ill and healed in the name of Jesus or by Jesus.

Instead of imprisoning the apostle Peter and John they asked them to no longer preach in the name of Jesus. Who do you obey the leaders of the temple you belong to for years as a child of God or do you obey Jesus. The course of friction, discord set between the religious leaders and the believers in Christ. Yet God's word declared these things would happen. I mentioned the splitting of two tribes in yesterday lesson between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. This is the kingly tribe, now we see the religious tribe splitting over faith in a name, yet both receive God has Father. You and I sit on the sidelines and ask one thing by what name do we pray by and who do we worship, Apostle knew by the name in which they prayed by was Jesus, and what Spirit did they obey the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit given to the elders and the kings. How could two groups be both right and one only partly wrong. When God's people begin to harden their hearts to evidence of truth that when the problem of faith arises. Charismatic and pentecostal groups understand not the bench sitters. Wonder why some people cross examine these groups. It is the ability to fake such events in front of a crowd that allows Charalatans in that will destroy a group of people with acts of known wizardly to medical science. Things being called of being of God and truly is not completely. The individual believer praising God in whatever way that may seem out of control by on lookers but is not by the one experience it not to gain attention but true worship, not realizing their joy they feel is only in their own soul and not in the crowd of onlookers, who mimick the praise of God and not have the praise deep within the heart.

That might sound judgmental in someways but the mimicker bares little fruit. Yet those who do bear fruit might not be bearing it always where it can be seen for whatever reason. God knows where his people bear fruit best. Yet God's fruit will bear fruit because the word/seed of faith is there to bare fruit. The crowd is not the fruit of Spirit in the apostle life. It is the compassion for the one that needed healing and prayed for. That compassion continued to reaching out to those in need. I be talking more about that tomorrow. Fruit of the man healed is the people worshipped who? That right God and by what power was this man healed in Jesus name. A name that even the Apostle would not stop preaching despite the religious leaders warnings. Religious leaders could not receive the seed of a miracle, that it was done by the Messiah name, they understood not who Christ was, yet they believe in God and new the world was being torn apart and assunder from their very grasp. Yet it was not theirs to hold to but to receive from God and believe in God. Evidence was not enough because of bindness to the prophetic word of God and the children were being torn from the grasp of the religious leaders who understood not. Forty year old man's healing was just not enough, and neither was the resurrection.

One more question what kind of business are you sowing into, one of the heavenly kind, into the name of Jesus, or into people's work. I not saying what those that obey Christ is not working, but they not working for themselves, but God's kingdom. Who are you sowing into people or by God's Spirit for God's glorification in Jesus name? Hopefully into God's business by his Spirit.

Dear Heavenly Father, we believe not because someone told us to but by your Spirit and seed sown to us by your will to feed and nurture us. Feed us by your power and grace. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Matthew 13:18-30 KJV
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.