IN THAT NAME
Acts 5:28 Saying, did not we straitly command you that you should not teach in this name? and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
Even the religious leaders of the day recognized that there was power in the name of Jesus. I’m sure, by inspiration of the devil, they saw that if they could silence the Apostles and all believers from using that name, they could put a stop to what Jesus Himself had started. The Apostles used the name of Jesus to raise the man up at the gate called Beautiful. Everyone saw the man jumping around and heard him praising God. Faith in the name of Jesus made this man whole. Remember when Peter and John said to the crippled man, “Silver and gold have I none but in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” That name that is above every name made this man healed and whole. The devil and the religious realized that if they didn’t get rid of this name, they would be in trouble. We see in scripture what the devil thought after the resurrection, “If they had known, they would have never crucified the Lord of Glory.” Why? There was power in the name of Jesus because God have given Him that name . And Jesus delegated that name to the 12 and then to the 70, and faith in that name healed the sick, cast out demons, and did everything that Jesus Himself did. So, why now? Why must the name be stopped now? They realized even more it didn’t have to do with Jesus being on the Earth. It was the name and the power invested in that name by the Father, the Almighty God, and that all of Heaven would back up that name when spoken in faith.
They were also aggravated with the doctrine, their set of beliefs being preached and taught on the name of Jesus, because they were getting people to understand that they, too, had been given the power in that name to do what Jesus Himself did when He was on the Earth. The devil knew he would be in bigger trouble than ever if this truth spread throughout the world, so he had to try and stop it. Could he? No! Don’t let the devil silence you either. Use the name of Jesus to change your situation and the situation of those around you. What a name! What a Savior! Speak His name, preach His name, declare His name, use His name! JESUS!