There's Power In the Name by Brother Duke Hansen

         This Easter morning we are going to a few places in scripture for the message. Our first scripture is found in the book of Leviticus. We are going to read from chapter 17 and verse 11. This chapter is about laws concerning sacrifices, the prohibition of eating blood, and the importance of the Tabernacle as the designated place for sacrifice and worship. 

        11 For the life of the flesh is in your blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

        The life of the flesh is in the blood. The first sacrifice in the world was made by God in the garden of eden, It was to cover Adam and Eve after they had eaten the forbidden fruit and discovering they were naked. In the time of Moses and Aaron sins were not forgiven by the priests. The sins were rolled back a year through animal sacrifice. Animal sacrifice was done to cover many things in this period. You can view it as a vicious cycle where man sacrifices animals to continue to live their lives in darkness. They aren't forgiven, nor repenting from their sin. They are merely kicking the can down the road so to speak. Everything we do in our flesh is enmity of God. It started in the beginning at the Garden of Eden with that first sin.

        We move ahead thousands of years to the time of Jesus's ministry. In his last week before his death, he went to the temple to see that money changers and merchants were in the courts. These people were selling animals for sacrifice to people going into the temple. Man was making a monetary profit from God's instruction. After Jesus overturned their tables and chased the money changers away, he laid hands and healed many that had come.

        The ultimate sacrifice was Jesus being crucified on the cross. We go to the book of Luke at chapter 24. This scripture is after the resurrection and Jesus had appeared to his disciples before he ascended back into heaven. We will be reading starting at verse 44.

        44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets and in the psalms concerning me.

        45 Then open he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

        46 And he said unto them, Thus it is written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead on the third day.

        47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem,

        48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

        49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high.

        Jesus is saying that first repentance and remission of sins should be preached to people in his name and that the promise, which is the holy ghost, would fall upon the disciples. They had to wait in Jerusalem in order to receive the power.

        There are scriptures in the old testament with the prophets foretelling the coming of Jesus either as a son of God or the son of man. We have people who have been fixed on the God aspect so hard, they haven't realized what he allowed as a man.

        Churches today of the christian faith are identical to the temple of Jerusalem. Business is set up, selling merchandise, programs to grow your personal wealth and prosperity. They are using bits of scripture to promote a falsehood. There's a lot of talk and good intention among believers but not much action.

        We are going to go to the book of Acts chapter 2 next, and read starting at verse 29. The Day of Pentecost has just occurred, the crowds have gathered to find out what this commotion was about. Peter is speaking to the crowds.

        29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

        30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne.

        31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

        32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

        33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

        34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand.

        35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

        36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ.

        What is the remission of sin. Some could say it just pray. Theology says it's forgiveness and absolution of sins. The man that Israel hated and despised had been crucified by their hand as spoken in verse 36. If God does something to you, you would tell everyone you know. Some people this morning don't know where they are nor who they are with Jesus. Reading on to verse 37.

        37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

        38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

        There is no remission, no forgiveness without baptism in Jesus name because it is in his name that the blood is applied. Life is in the blood as it was written in Leviticus. The devil attempted a few times to stop Jesus. He tried at Jesus birth despite the decree of King Herod. He tempted Jesus in the desert and failed. The devil couldn't get the job done with the cross. Jesus went to Abraham's bosom after death and preached. The graves burst open and the prophets walked in the streets of Jerusalem. 

        We are going to go to the 4th chapter of Acts. Peter and John had been arrested for healing a man in chapter 3. We are reading the question posed to Peter and John in verse 7.

        7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

        The power used is in the name. The power of healing, of saving, of restoration, of miracles is in the name of Jesus. That name brings division amongst the people still to this day. 

        90% of what you are going through in life is your flesh and not of the devil. It is a product of reaping what you had been sowing. What is the point of remission then? Let's look at verse 12 of Acts 4.

        12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

        Peter and John were testifying to those assembled that they both had known the truth for they had been with Jesus.

        13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

        Many of us are the they who saw Peter and John's boldness and thought them unlearned and ignorant. We have this habit of deriding the truth and power of Jesus name. The tug on your heart when you may be at your lowest in the wilderness or valley of life is from the power of Jesus name. Will you answer the call this morning?