“IN JESUS’ NAME”

Rick Trice

7/13/08

Trinity Fellowship

Raton, NM

John 14:1-14

Luke 12:9 “ALSO I SAY TO YOU, WHOEVER CONFESSES ME BEFORE MEN, HIM THE SON OF MAN ALSO WILL CONFESS BEFORE THE ANGELS OF GOD. BUT HE WHO DENIES ME BEFORE MEN WILL BE DENIED BEFORE THE ANGELS OF GOD.”

Matt 10:33 “THEREFORE WHOEVER CONFESSES ME BEFORE MEN, HIM I WILL ALSO CONFESS BEFORE MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN. BUT WHOEVER DENIES ME BEFORE MEN, HIM I WILL ALSO DENY BEFORE MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN. “

I John2:22 “WHO IS A LIAR BUT HE WHO DENIES THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST? HE IS ANTICHRIST WHO DENIES THE FATHER AND THE SON. WHEVER DENIES THE SON DOES NOT HAVE THE FATHER EITHER; HE WHOS ACKNOWLEDGES THE SON HAS THE FATHER ALSO.”

Phil. 4:13 “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGHTENS ME

Phil 4:19: “AND MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS”

I was in a church service last week. They opened the service with some worship songs, some hymns, a congregational greeting time, a special presentation and film from the youth talking about a church camp they’d just come back from.

There was also an introduction of a new director of music, and some award recognitions to some other workers in the church.

Then some more singing, and then a fairly good sermon from an associate pastor, as the senior pastor is on vacation.

Now, on any given sunday, or a few days afterwards, someone could come up and ask you “how was church?” And you’d probably be able to run through a brief outline, like i just did, and express an opinion on the services.

“oh the song, service was too long,” or “they didn’t sing enough hymns,” or “they sang too many hymns.”

Or, “the way some people dress in church these days is just a sin.”

Or, “they spent way too much time thanking the workers, instead of thanking god.”

Or, “the guest preacher was too disorganized, and rambled too much.”

Complainers

A couple of observations here: the bible has some strong language regarding complainers:

Jude 16 says “…grumblers, complainers, (are) walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth greath swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage…(that ) there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. (that) these are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the spirit.”

So we need to be doubly cautious with our complaints, and make sure we complain about the right things.

I know some of you right now are looking around asking, “i wonder who he’s preaching at? Who’s been complaining about the services?!" No, rest assured, I’m not preaching at anyone here (although I do occasionally hear a well-intentioned “suggestion,” I think it’s always spoken in love!)

So, I guess, as usual, I’m probably preaching to myself.

You see, this church service I described for you earlier was troublesome in two specific ways:

They never prayed, until the guest pastor got up to preach, which was about 45 minutes into the service; And they never mentioned the name of Jesus until the pastor included it half way into the message.

Oh they acknowledged “god this” and “god that”, but how many other religions acknowledge a god? What god do they acknowledge?

Why do we gather in worship?

As I travel my path of struggle and trying to become more Christ like, this has become something I’ve noticed: that the times that I am the weakest, he is the strongest! But that the times that I have become weak, are usually the times I have not properly acknowledged my lord and savior, Christ Jesus!

The times I have acknowledged him, the stronger he makes me.

Let me share some scripture with you:

Luke 12:9 “also I say to you, whoever confesses me before men, him the son of man also will confess before the angels of god. But he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of god.”

Matt 10:33 “therefore whoever confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my father who is in heaven. “

I john2:22 “who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the father and the son. Whoever denies the son does not have the father either; he who acknowledges the son has the father also.”

“in your name”

Do we confess ourselves before our lord and savior Christ Jesus? Or do we throw up prayers to some unspecified “god.?”

Do we pray “in Jesus’ name,” or do we simply say, “amen,” or “ in your name?”

Like I said earlier, I may be preaching solely to myself here, and this may just be my personal pet peeve this week, but I’m wondering…

…does the name we pray in have any bearing at all on the power…or lack of power…we see poured out on our lives?

Hmmm... . I wonder.