Lesson: LIFE UNDER THE NAME OF JESUS
TEXT:Acts 19:1-5
MEMORY VERSE: Col.3:17
‘And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him.’ (NIV)
INTRODUCTION:
The name, ‘Jesus’ is reasonable and basically suitable because of the divine responsibility assigned Him by the Father – that of dying to save mankind. (See Matt. 1:21). God’s Word wore flesh in order that the kind of water and blood for an acceptable sacrifice in the heavens for purging God’s creation eternally of impurity caused by the sin of the first Adam might be acquired, that is, holy water and sinless blood produced only by the Lamb of God. (cf. 1 John 5:7-10. Jn. 1:29) Life under Jesus is life under the Influence of God’s Spirit in all ramifications. (our memory
OBJECTIVE: At the end of the lesson, the audience should be able to understand that:
1. Jesus is a king over the Kingdom (government) of God.
2. Abiding by His Word, as handed down to us by His original Apostles, in words and work, is the salvation (eternal life) the Father had promised to the believers
in Him (see Rom.6) and
3. A few usages of the phrase, ‘in Jesus’ name’ or ‘in the name of Jesus’ and its meaning in Scripture.
PRESENTATION:
Step I: JESUS MUST BE SEEN A KING
(a) His Word (directives) must be final in the lives of those under His Kingdom. (cf. Luke 7:2-10).
i. This is the testimony to our loyalty to Him. (Luke 6:46)
Step II: THE SALVATION OF OUR SOULS IS IN JESUS’ NAME (Acts 4:11-12)
(a) At the mention of the name, ‘Jesus’ with the consciousness of His love, every spiritual enemy gets surmounted and unnerved. (see Phil. 2:5-11).
Step III: THE MEANING AND USAGES OF THE PHRASE. “IN THE NAME OF JESUS”
(a) ‘Praying in the ‘name of Jesus‘ means:
i. Sending a spiritual message to the
headquarters (heaven) with Jesus’ signature appended to it for acceptance. (cf. John 14:13,14; 16:23b).
ii. Such message must be in agreement with Jesus’ will, otherwise, it cannot enjoy His endorsement. (cf. John 7:38,39; James 4:3; 1John 1:6; 3:21-24).
(b) Casting out demons and healing ‘in the name of Jesus’ (cf. Mk 16:17,18)
i. Not all casting out of demons has physical immediate effect; even healing.
.
ii. They happen sometime in the heavens and not immediately clear to us except by faith. (cf. Eph. 2:5-7; Gen. 2:4,5).
(c) ‘Baptism in the name of Jesus’ means (see Acts 2:38,41)
i. Jesus baptizes in His Spirit (His word – Jn.6:63) before and after water baptism. (cf. Jn.3:5; 1Pet.3:21; Col. 2:11,12)
– Before water baptism, Jesus baptizes for
justification and, after water baptism, for sanctification. (cf. Jn.17:17)
(a) By justification, we refer to bringing believers into the family of God as forgiven people by the blood of
Jesus. (cf. Rom. 3:24-26)
(b) By sanctification, we refer to discipleship to continue as children of the Kingdom. (cf. 1Pet. 2:9)
(d) ‘Gathering in the name of Jesus’ (Matt. 18:19,20) means:
i. Coming together as a result of the oracle
received prior to the gathering. (cf. Lk. 6:46)
ii. Loyalists to such oracle are disciples of the owner of the information or message. (cf. Jn. 9:26-29; 11Jn. 9-11).
iii. The oracle is the spirit of the owner. (cf. Rom. 8:9; Jn. 6:63)
CONCLUSION:
The name ‘Jesus’ is the meaning of every existence. Every history is tied to Him. Before the Word of God incarnated into Him, the world calculated in BC (Before Christ) or BCE (Before Christian Era), and after His birth is calculated in CE (Christian Era) or A.D. (Anno Domino – a Latin that means (‘The year of our Lord’). The flight of corporate or individual life without the principles set forth by Jesus as endorsed by the Father has no guarantee of a safe landing. All things, visible and invisible, have their meaning in Christ and Jehovah God.
EVALUATION:
1. According to ‘Matt. 1:21’, what does the name, ‘Jesus’ mean?
2. What does it mean that prayer is offered in the name of Jesus?
What is the difference in the person and name of Jesus? (cf. Acts 19:13-16)
4. Differentiate between baptizing in the name of Jesus and in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER: Thank God for the lesson and pray for illumination of our minds by the Holy Spirit as Christians in order that the freedom and power only found in Christ and His teachings, we can access.