Power In the Name of Jesus
By Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town
Entry Points that release the power in the name of Jesus
I the book of Acts 3, peter and john went to pray.
Act 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
Act 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;
Act 3:3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
Act 3:4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”
Act 3:5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
Act 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Act 3:8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
Act 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
Act 3:10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Entry Point 1: Regular Prayer
The apostles, at this stage, had a set a time for prayer. The ninth hour can be interpreted a three o’ clock in the afternoon. This was the regular time of ‘evening oblation’ (‘something that is offered as a religious sacrifice’, Cambridge Dictionary) When the persecution arose, the ratio of public prayer shifted to private household meetings.
Lindsay explains.
“As these two apostles, Peter and John, were on their way to the temple, they came to the gate called beautiful”. To get there they had to pass several areas: the court of the Gentiles; then through the middle court accessible to women; and finally after ascending a second flight of steps, they came to the Gate Beautiful that led to the inner court where the altar and sanctuary were located. Here only men were allowed to enter.”
The historian Josephus elaborates:
“But there was one gate that was without [the inward court of the holy house, which was of Corinthian brass and greatly excelled those that were covered over with silver and gold.
“But over that Corinthian gate, which opened on the east over against the gate of the holy house itself, was much larger; for its height was fifty cubits; and it was adorned after the most costly manner, as having much richer and thicker plates of gold and silver upon them than the other [gates].” Josephus Book V, Chapter 5, 3.
All the glory of the gate could not open the entry point for the healing of the lame man. Entry points for miracles are required.
The lame man also had a habit of being carried and laid daily at the gate called Beautiful. But he was not laid there to receive his healing, but to beg for alms.
Entry point 2: Shift of attention
When the man asked Peter and John for alms, they replied:
“Look at us.”
Act 3:5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
They made it clear that his attention was on the wrong thing. You are asking for ‘alms’ but we have something better: In Jesus’ name you can get back your legs!”
How many times did Jesus see this man? Every time Jesus went past this gate he must have seen a Holy Spirit Movie of him getting up and leaping and praising God. He would have had a double take to see if it was time, if the Holy Spirit was leading him to heal this man but then a check in his Spirit comes: ‘Leave him for Peter and John!’
Some miracles you will work in your life and others you will leave for your disciples. That’s why we minister in teams in the church. Our leaders are capable of praying for hundreds of people in a meeting one by one. Then we will leave here four hours later! But there is an impartation of the gifts through the laying on of hands of the eldership that Apostle Paul explained to Timothy – you have to stir up those gifts that are in you. Jesus said it:
Joh 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
Joh 14:13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Entry Point 3: The Name of Jesus
Act 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Act 3:8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
Act 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
Act 3:10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Jesus name unlocks the entry points for miraculous power.
You need to have something to give those in need.
Faith in the name of Jesus comes to you over time.
From Romans we learn the process of faith:
God sends someone to preach to you and you hear the word of God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Then you believe in your heart that God raised Christ from the dead, and you start to confess that Jesus is your Lord, you call on the name of the Lord Jesus and You are saved.
Silver and Gold was not needed for the hour of prayer. It is not that Peter and John did not have money! In fact, the church was going through a time where people sold land and laid it at the apostle’s feet to distribute as needed for the move of God.
We have done that and many of our friends in our network have done so too. God’s work costs you something, but it is totally worth and God always gives you more than you give Him! In fact, he takes your little loaves and fishes and multiplies it and feeds the five thousand with baskets left over! This week we took our little Bible College manuals and sent them to our friends in Kenya. There they will present it to 25 pastors who will then multiply it to 25 churches, who will then release more pastors and more churches. Our little lunch box is feeding Africa!
So there it is: your simple entry points of prayer that remained hidden form the man all his life until the apostles, through their dedicated life of prayer, shifted his attention, and gave him the key of faith through the name of Jesus to unlock the entry point of power for his legs.
When they explained the miracle as unlearned men they simply said:
Act 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.
A man lame from birth does not know how to walk. There was no time for physiotherapy – that makes this a miracle, not a healing that happens over time. Both are supernatural but the time frame is quicker with miracles.
God allowed this poor man to sit there all his life at the most beautiful gate of the temple, yet never enter further into His presence.
You position yourself at the mercies of men and worldly institutions all your life but you are lame and can’t walk out your destiny. You are begging for the scraps and kindness of others who go in but can even find solutions for themselves.
Outward impressiveness is useless. The traditions of men make void the power of God. Daily rituals without Jesus are obsolete.
Then God allows a divine connection that shifts your attention from your own scheming and desperation to a higher power in Jesus’ name.
You access a life of prayer – a spiritual source of power – and you get a hand up and as you accept the power in the name of Jesus – your entire being receives the strength to rise up and walk away form that place where you were stuck for all to see. Form here you walk and leap and praise your true God who gives you the power to walk out your life of faith and you can’t hide the fact that a miracle has happened in your life. You will never be the same and faith in the name of Jesus has given you this soundness, this strength, this change in your spirit, soul and body forever. There’s no going back to your old position. You can now take follow Jesus wherever the spirit leads and people do not have to carry you anymore!