The Name is Jesus is above all in heaven and the earth.
Philippians 2:9-11. God gave Jesus a name that is above every name. Whether you are praying or preaching, the name of Jesus is above all and every knee should bow to Him. When you confess that Jesus is Lord, and so live that every aspect of your life is directed by Him, you are bringing glory to God the Father.
Hebrews 12:2. Jesus is the Author, Commencement, Climax and Culmination of our faith. Look unto Him for all you need in life. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Don’t look at yourself, but unto Him. After He has endured the Cross and despised the shame, He is now set above the sun and stars and on the right hand of the throne of the Father in glory. So, anything that bothers, or tries to tear your life apart, remember and turn them to Him at all times because He has won the victory for us in His name.
2. The Name that Saves and Shields from Sin (Matthew 1:21; Acts 4:21; 2:21,37-42)
Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” These were not the words of men, but from an Angel sent from heaven to deliver the message to Joseph the husband of Mary. Jesus saves and shields us from all forms of sin.
Acts 4:12. There is no salvation in any other. No other name given under heaven to save us. By His death on the Cross, He became an Author and Giver of salvation.
ch 2:21. Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. As you do this, salvation is yours in Jesus name. How does this happen?
vs 37. The people who heard the message Peter preached were pricked and condemned in their hearts. They were convicted that they were sinners and could not save themselves, and wanted to know how they could be saved and reconciled to God.
Present-day preachers will say that they don’t need to do anything because Jesus has done everything, but Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of truth told them to repent. You have to turn away from darkness before you can turn to light, from satan before you can turn to God, and your past life before you can turn to the goodness of God. Turn away, turn around from sin to the Lord and be converted.
Sin is not forgiven until it is repented of. Imagine a child who steals meat from the pot and when caught kept chewing and saying she is sorry, but refused to release the meat. When you hold on to, delight in and rejoice in your sin, your “I’m sorry” has no meaning. You must leave your sin, then the process of repentance will be completed.
vs 39-42. Peter said the promise of salvation, peace of God and purity of life is unto us, all our children and all who are afar off, he also admonished the people to rescue themselves from the untoward generation. Those who joyfully received the word were baptized and added unto the church. This is how you know people who fully repented. They didn’t continue in their old way of life but continued steadfastly in the Lord and in receiving His words.
3. The Name that Heals All Sicknesses from Self and Satan (Acts 3:6,16; 4:29-30; Mark 16:17-20)
Jesus will heal all your sicknesses and diseases even the ones you caused by yourself. How can one do this?
-Pride took hold of Nebuchadnezzar, and he elevated himself beyond measure and he was sent into the bush for seven years and he ate grass like an animal.
-Gehazi ran after Naaman and collected the gifts that his master refused, and the leprosy of Naaman came upon his life, even to generations after him.
-Herod gave a good speech and the people responded that it was the voice of a god and not of a man. He accepted this because he was looking for honour and appreciation from them. An Angel came and smote him and he died on the spot and was consumed by worms.
-God said Abimelech was a dead man because of the wife of Abraham living under his roof even though he was deceived into taking her. He was mandated to restore her to her husband after which the health of his household was restored.
-Those who smoke Marijuana and take hard drugs bring diseases upon themselves but we have Jesus who heals all kinds of sicknesses. He went about doing good and delivering all who were oppressed by the devil. The name of Jesus will take all ailments away from you.
Acts 3:6. Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” And the man rose and walked. What is the secret of this healing?
vs 16. The name of Jesus called through faith gave the man perfect soundness. Perfect healing, soundness, health, and wholeness are your portion from today in Jesus name.
B. JESUS, THE OVERCOMER MAKING US OVERCOME SIN, SELF AND SATAN
Because of His presence, prominence and preeminence in our hearts and lives, we are overcomers.
1. The Only Begotten Son Making Us Holy, Beloved Sons (John 1:12,14,18; 1 John 3:1-3)
John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” This is what Jesus did and accomplished for us when we believe in Him. We are not receiving doctrines, religion, believers’ practices, or man-made ideas, but we are receiving the One who died for us on the Cross and believing in His name.
1 John 3:1-3. We become sons of God while we are still alive as long as we believe in Him. What kind of sons are we? Believing, well-behaved and beloved sons of God. When He appears, we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as He is. We shall put on the glorified body that He had after resurrection. In the Millennium, we shall move easily around and cover long distances in seconds. Every man who has this hope in him purifies himself even as He is pure.
2. The Offering for Our Secured Salvation and Steadfast Sanctification (Ephesians 5:2,25-27; Hebrews 10:10,14; 9:14,27-28)
Ephesians 5:2. Walk in love, not in hatred, malice, and bitterness because you will be far away from Christ. Husbands, love your wife as Christ loves the church and don’t be bitter against her. Don’t be in enmity with her because of what her mother said when she visited.
vs 27. What is a glorious church? A church with members not committing atrocities, a church without hidden sins among leaders and members, a church where sin will not be swept under the carpet, a church without spot or wrinkles, that is purged, glorious, and holy.
Sometimes, I’m invited to conferences and sit to hear other ministers’ messages since I’m not the only one invited. I heard at a time when a minister said no one can be saved or holy. With such singular statement, he cancels Calvary and tramples upon the works of redemption Jesus did on the Cross. He said he himself, a preacher is also a sinner. He should not be on the pulpit preaching, but should be somewhere repenting.
Ministers of God’s church are supposed to be holy within and without, in private and in public, when members are watching and not, he carries the presence of God everywhere. The members too must be holy and righteous.
3. The Overcomer in our Stead, for Our Sakes (1 John 2:13-24; 4:4; 5:4-5,18)
Jesus overcame on our behalf so that we can also live overcoming lives. He did not need to overcome anything because He has been victorious from all eternity. He only came to help us to overcome
1 John 2:13. The wicked one here is satan, the serpent. We have overcome him. Anyone who is falling into the sin of immorality, fighting and anger is still under the control of satan. All who are washed in the blood of the Lamb have overcome the wicked one. You will overcome the flesh, your mind, what others are doing around you no matter the provocation if you are a real believer. You will not allow anyone to push you into sin if you are really saved. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah dwells in you, you will be strong and not become weak, falling and rising.
C. JESUS, THE PRINCE OF PEACE, SEEN SUFFERING, SOON SOVEREIGN (Isaiah 9:6-9)
The peace of Christ, the Prince of peace will never stop in your life. Continual, unstoppable and unending peace in your life as you accept Him as Lord and Saviour.
1. The Passover Sacrificed for Sinful Souls and Sincere Saints (1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Isaiah 53:6-10; Revelation 5:9-12)
1 Corinthians 5:7-8. Some people say they are born again, and nothing of their past life has been taken away, their lives remain the same, full of atrocities. Look at your life and identify all past atrocities – what you used to drink, where you used to go, sinful relationships, fighting, committing immorality, wickedness, etc. and surrender them all to Christ. Sincerity and hypocrisy cannot dwell in the same life. Pretense and purity cannot dwell in the same heart at the same time. When sincerity comes in, hypocrisy, pretense, and dramatizing righteousness but not having it in the heart must go out.
Christ is the truth personified, His word is truth proclaimed, His people, followers are the truth performed. He is our Passover who was sacrificed for sinful souls and sincere saints.
2. The Purifier of Selected Servants for Sacred Service (Malachi 3:3; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:22)
‘Selected’ implies that even though Christ appointed some people as Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers, not all can minister in the positions. He raised them for the perfection of the church, for the edifying of His Body. Therefore, servants of God are sacred, unique and chosen to do the work of God.
Titus 2:14. The Lord saved and purified us from all iniquities – you will no longer smoke even a stick of cigarette, you will abandon all concubines, with no single one remaining. When you are born again, you are free and redeemed from all iniquities, not halfway. I’m your office, you will not hide anyone’s file, whether poor or rich to get bribes from them. Anyone doing this is not yet born again.
He purifies us so that we can serve Him with zeal in good works. This reminds me of Paul when he was Saul. He was zealous to persecute Christians, do evil and defend the unprofitable traditions of his forefathers. But after his conversion, he became zealous to preach the gospel, and teach everything the Lord commanded. This is what the Lord does and if He has not done it for you, come to Him today.
“Peculiar people…” Some people say they just want to be Christians, and don’t want to stand out or be peculiar, they don’t want to be identified as believers at first glance. But that is exactly what Christ came to do for us, to become peculiar and purified. To want to be like the people of the world is to fall short of what Jesus came to do in us which is to so purge, purify and transform us so we can easily be identified as one of His.
3. The Prophet with the Sole, Significant Sentence for Every Soul (Deuteronomy 18:15,18-19, Acts 3:19-26; Hebrews 1:1-3)
Acts 3:19. Three things are seen here:
1. Repentance, turn around from every evil thing you have done.
2. Conversion, let conversion be real in your life, be changed and transformed so your sins can be blotted out. Some people say they are converted with no clear evidence.
3. Blotting out of your sins so that a time of refreshing can come to you from the Lord.
All these three steps must be completed for your conversion to be full. You must repent of every evil thing you have been engaged in. You must be like a little child and jetisson every prideful behavior and let real conversion be visible in your life.
vs 21 “Holy prophets” are people God speaks through, they are saved and made holy by the cleansing of the blood of the Lamb. A prophet who takes other people’s wives to the stream for bathing is not holy, the one who messes up with teenage girls during vigils is not a holy prophet, the one who steals church money is not holy. Children of God are holy and sanctified and from them He selects people into different positions for the perfecting of the saints. A prophet who is not perfect cannot perfect other people.
vs 22. Moses spoke of a Prophet who God would raise among the people, Him they shall hear and listen to.
vs 23. Anyone – Pharisee, Sadduccee, members of the religious Council, every traditional proclaimer – who will not hear Him shall be destroyed from the assembly of the saints. Every soul without exception and partiality, at that time, this time and till the end of the world who will not surrender to Christ shall be destroyed.
vs 26. The greatest and foremost thing the Lord came to do is to save and turn us from all iniquities. The judgment of everyone is now committed into His hands (Hebrews 1:1-3). He has done and finished everything that is necessary for us to have transformational salvation, He also purifies and purges us and gives us power to serve Him acceptably and profitably. You now need to bow to His Lordship and turn completely away from all sin. Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved, healed, sanctified, purified, made holy and shall have the power of the Spirit. Release yourself to the Lord today and He will do something special, spectacular and unique in your life.
Rise and go to the Lord in prayer.
