Faith in Action: The Power of Jesus' Name
Summary
### Summary
Today's message focused on the profound power in the name of Jesus and the importance of faith in receiving God's promises. We began by emphasizing the repeated declaration that "there is power in the name of Jesus," underscoring the authority and strength that comes from invoking His name. This power is not just theoretical but practical, as illustrated by the story of the Israelites at Jericho. God promised them victory over the walled city, a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, and assured them that this victory was a gift, not something they had to achieve by their own strength.
The Israelites had to see the victory with the eyes of faith before it manifested in reality. They were instructed to march around the city, an act of faith that seemed illogical but was necessary to demonstrate their trust in God's promise. This act of marching was not about bringing down the walls through their own efforts but about aligning their actions with their faith in God's word. The story teaches us that faith requires action; it is not enough to believe passively. We must engage our faith through actions that reflect our trust in God's promises.
The message also highlighted the importance of persistence in faith. The Israelites had to march around Jericho for seven days, and on the seventh day, they had to march seven times. This persistence, even when it seemed futile, was crucial. Faith is not a one-time act but a continuous journey of trust and obedience. We must keep believing and acting on God's promises, even when we do not see immediate results.
In conclusion, the message encouraged us to put our faith into action, to see God's promises as already fulfilled, and to persist in our faith journey. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's will and open the door for His miraculous interventions in our lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Power in Jesus' Name: The repeated declaration that "there is power in the name of Jesus" emphasizes the authority and strength that come from invoking His name. This power is not just a concept but a reality that can transform our lives and circumstances. Believing in this power means recognizing that Jesus' name carries the authority to overcome any obstacle. [58:36]
2. Faith Requires Action: The story of the Israelites at Jericho teaches us that faith is not passive. God promised them victory, but they had to act on that promise by marching around the city. This act of faith, though it seemed illogical, was necessary to demonstrate their trust in God's word. Our faith must be accompanied by actions that reflect our belief in God's promises. [01:09:43]
3. Seeing with the Eyes of Faith: Before the walls of Jericho fell, the Israelites had to see the victory with the eyes of faith. God had already given them the victory, but they needed to internalize this promise and act as if it were already true. This teaches us to see God's promises as already fulfilled and to live in the reality of those promises. [01:06:21]
4. Persistence in Faith: The Israelites' persistence in marching around Jericho for seven days, and seven times on the seventh day, highlights the importance of persistent faith. Faith is a continuous journey, not a one-time act. We must keep believing and acting on God's promises, even when we do not see immediate results. Persistence in faith is crucial for seeing God's promises come to fruition. [01:21:54]
5. Aligning Actions with Faith: Our actions must align with our faith. Just as the Israelites' marching was an act of faith, our actions should reflect our trust in God's promises. This alignment is necessary for the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives. We must engage in actions that demonstrate our belief in God's word, thereby making our faith visible and effective. [01:11:40]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[58:36] - The Power in Jesus' Name
[01:00:05] - God's Gift of Victory
[01:01:27] - Facing Insurmountable Obstacles
[01:03:04] - God's Assurance of Victory
[01:04:35] - Seeing with the Eyes of Faith
[01:06:21] - The Nature of Faith
[01:08:11] - Acting on God's Promises
[01:09:43] - Faith Requires Action
[01:11:40] - Aligning Actions with Faith
[01:13:21] - Living Worthy of the Gospel
[01:14:53] - Seeing Faith in Action
[01:16:48] - Divine Healing and Faith
[01:17:45] - The Persistence of Faith
[01:21:54] - The Importance of Seven
[01:23:15] - Keep Believing
[01:26:21] - God's Perfect Timing
[01:28:22] - Faith in Action
[01:29:58] - Personal Testimony of Faith
[01:38:38] - Encouragement to Keep Believing
[01:39:08] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Joshua 6:1-5 (The Fall of Jericho)
2. Hebrews 11:30 (Faith and the Walls of Jericho)
3. Philippians 1:27 (Living Worthy of the Gospel)
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific instructions did God give the Israelites regarding the fall of Jericho? (Joshua 6:1-5)
2. How does Hebrews 11:30 describe the role of faith in the fall of Jericho?
3. According to Philippians 1:27, how should believers conduct themselves in relation to the gospel?
4. In the sermon, what was the significance of the Israelites marching around Jericho for seven days? [01:21:54]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God chose such an unconventional method (marching around the city) for the Israelites to conquer Jericho? [01:03:04]
2. How does the story of Jericho illustrate the concept that faith requires action? [01:09:43]
3. What does it mean to "see with the eyes of faith," and how can this perspective change our approach to God's promises? [01:06:21]
4. How can the persistence of the Israelites in marching around Jericho be applied to our own faith journeys? [01:21:54]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a situation in your life where you need to invoke the power in the name of Jesus. How can you actively apply this belief in your daily actions? [58:36]
2. Think of a promise from God that you are currently waiting to see fulfilled. What specific actions can you take to demonstrate your faith in this promise? [01:09:43]
3. How can you practice "seeing with the eyes of faith" in your current circumstances? What steps can you take to internalize and act on God's promises? [01:06:21]
4. Identify an area in your life where you need to persist in faith. What practical steps can you take to keep believing and acting on God's promises, even when results are not immediate? [01:21:54]
5. How can you align your actions with your faith in a tangible way this week? Consider a specific promise of God and plan a concrete action that reflects your trust in that promise. [01:11:40]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt like giving up on a promise from God. What helped you to persist, and how can you apply that lesson to your current faith journey? [01:23:15]
7. How can you encourage others in your small group to persist in their faith journeys? Share a personal testimony or a scripture that has helped you remain steadfast. [01:38:38]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the sermon’s key points and apply them to their lives. Encourage open and honest discussion, and remind everyone that faith is a journey that requires both belief and action.
Devotional
Day 1: The Transformative Power of Jesus' Name
The power in the name of Jesus is not just a theoretical concept but a transformative reality that can change our lives and circumstances. When we invoke His name, we are calling upon the authority and strength that Jesus embodies. This power can overcome any obstacle, no matter how insurmountable it may seem. Believing in the power of Jesus' name means recognizing that His authority is greater than any challenge we face. It is a call to trust in His ability to bring about change and to rely on His strength rather than our own. [58:36]
Acts 4:12 (ESV): "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Reflection: Think of a specific challenge you are currently facing. How can you actively invoke the name of Jesus over this situation and trust in His power to bring about change?
Day 2: Faith in Action
The story of the Israelites at Jericho teaches us that faith is not passive. God promised them victory, but they had to act on that promise by marching around the city. This act of faith, though it seemed illogical, was necessary to demonstrate their trust in God's word. Our faith must be accompanied by actions that reflect our belief in God's promises. It is not enough to simply believe; we must also take steps that align with our faith, even when those steps seem irrational or difficult. [01:09:43]
James 2:17 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: Identify one promise of God that you believe in but have not yet acted upon. What specific action can you take today to demonstrate your faith in that promise?
Day 3: Seeing with the Eyes of Faith
Before the walls of Jericho fell, the Israelites had to see the victory with the eyes of faith. God had already given them the victory, but they needed to internalize this promise and act as if it were already true. This teaches us to see God's promises as already fulfilled and to live in the reality of those promises. By doing so, we align our perspective with God's truth and open ourselves to experiencing His miraculous interventions. [01:06:21]
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Reflection: Think of a promise from God that you are waiting to see fulfilled. How can you start living today as if that promise has already come to pass?
Day 4: Persistence in Faith
The Israelites' persistence in marching around Jericho for seven days, and seven times on the seventh day, highlights the importance of persistent faith. Faith is a continuous journey, not a one-time act. We must keep believing and acting on God's promises, even when we do not see immediate results. Persistence in faith is crucial for seeing God's promises come to fruition. It requires steadfastness and a commitment to continue trusting and obeying God, regardless of the circumstances. [01:21:54]
Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you have been tempted to give up. How can you renew your commitment to persist in faith and continue trusting God in this area?
Day 5: Aligning Actions with Faith
Our actions must align with our faith. Just as the Israelites' marching was an act of faith, our actions should reflect our trust in God's promises. This alignment is necessary for the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives. We must engage in actions that demonstrate our belief in God's word, thereby making our faith visible and effective. When our actions are in harmony with our faith, we create an environment where God's promises can manifest. [01:11:40]
James 1:22 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
Reflection: Consider an area of your life where your actions do not fully align with your faith. What changes can you make today to ensure that your actions reflect your trust in God's promises?
Quotes
1. "God said you're going to have victory but you don't have to go and get it. I will deliver it to you. It's a gift of God. He has gifted you victory and success. It's not something you're going to achieve by your own strength, by your own ability, by your own achievements but God says I'm going to give you something." [01:00:05] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So the first thing he says is this I'm going to give you victory I'm so that you'll know this is not your achievement it's not Joshua's achievement this is something that God is going to do now when he says I'm going to give it to you understand this the same word is used in Genesis 117 when it says God gave the moon and the sun in creation he gave the moon and the sun God has given you the moon and the sun that's a pretty big gift right I know you look up at it you don't think God gave that to me but he gave it to you and he gave it to you and he gave it to you and he gave it to us amen." [01:04:35] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So they have to see before they start that the victory is already theirs do you see where we're going with this this is the way faith operates you see we have to see the promise of God as certain and sure he has given you his promises but until you are convinced that you have to have them then they're not going to become a reality in your life the bible talks about not just having a promise but in the book of Hebrews it says they obtained it you have the promise given but have you obtained it God has said this is true but have you believed it have you taken it as your own do you own it do you possess it have you taken over it are you convinced about it is it a fact to you or just not a statement in the bible the scripture says the devil believes believing is no big thing even the devil believes but that's not enough just say I believe is not enough what we have to do is take a hold of that and say I not just believe it but I accept it as a fact it's already done I've got it now even when you don't physically have it you spiritually possess it have you possessed the promise of God have you possessed your healing have you possessed your deliverance have you professed professed and claimed your provision from God is it yours do you possess it now are you walking around as if you have it or you walking around as if you don't have it how are you doing it how are you approaching it how are you believing it this is what he's saying to them so you must first understand it's given to you here you are you've got it the promises of God they're yours take them see them as being already done appropriate them to yourself settle it in your own mind right now see it is fixed it's a fact this is what God has done I'm receiving it then the third word is you shall march so now he says I've got it now I've got it now I've got it now I've got it now I've got it now I've given it to you you need to see that it's yours now march because this idea of marching is that we don't just say well thank you God it's mine let's just sit down now and wait for it to happen no we don't wait for it to happen actually we have to engage our faith in an activity of faith we put our faith into action faith without works we're told is dead we have to put faith into action that's why Hebrews 11 verse 30 says by faith the walls of Jericho fell after the army had marched around them for seven days so we have to receive it and then we act upon it if you're not acting upon the promise of God then you have not really obtained it so you see the three things that go together here one the word says I've given it to you two you open the eyes of faith and you say yes lord I believe it is mine when you've done that you put that into action into appropriate action and you act upon it you put it into action in your life you obey the promise yeah now the lord said we are told here it was certain the lord is going to do it but it's not going to happen if they just all sit down and do nothing even though the lord has promised it even though the lord will do it nothing will happen unless we engage our faith in action if you just sit there nothing's going to happen if you just say well I'll just pray nothing's going to happen you have to engage in the actions of faith you have to put your faith into action with the promise of God so if you believe then you will obey and put it into action and our actions have to be aligned with the word of God." [01:06:21] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So you have to balance the scale on the one side let me read it to you again and listen to whatever happens conduct yourselves behave in a manner that is worthy of the gospel so the gospel is on one end of the scale yeah that's what you have to do to be worthy of the gospel so the gospel is on one end of the scale to be worthy of so if I come in and I want to buy you know two kilos of meat you put a two kilo weight on this side and on the other side it has to be worthy of two kilos right you get the idea it has to be worthy of it now you've got the gospel on one end of the scale and you're on the other end and you have to live in such a way that it's worthy of that gospel in other words are you living a life that is complementary comparable compatible balanced appropriate suitable to someone who says I'm a believer in Jesus Christ God has saved me I have been washed in the blood of the lamb now how are you living not in church when you're singing but at home and at work are all the things that you do in your life if I was to look at all the things on that side of the scale would I say well yeah that's worthy of you the gospel or would I say hang on a minute that's certainly not worthy of the gospel it doesn't match it doesn't weigh up you see what he's saying it doesn't it's out of balance you've received a lot from God and you're doing nothing on this end you're not putting it into practice do you get it nod please it's time for a nod preacher needs an encouraging nod yeah right so that's the idea I'm trying to put out here if you have a promise of God here and God says I'm going to give you the victory I'm going to you know whatever blessing or promise you are claiming from God right now in the face of your difficulty and your challenges the point is what are you doing about it does your action balance what you say with your mouth you say you believe but what do your actions show us is it worthy balanced out and so now what he says to them is listen let me pause a minute let me illustrate this one more way before we go on in Matthew chapter 9 verse 2 it's you remember that guy he came through the roof yeah they pulled the tiles up and they lowered their friend down Jesus is sitting in this guy comes down and then there is a very strange statement that that that the scripture maze it says he saw their faith how can you see faith I mean I say I see faith can I see faith can I see faith what are you looking for are you looking for some sort of an aura are you looking for what we're looking for well what Jesus saw when he saw faith is he saw the hole in the roof he saw action that was appropriate to their belief that Jesus could heal this man if they'd done nothing he would have seen nothing but they had so much faith that they pulled the tiles off the roof and lowered him down and it says Jesus saw faith he saw faith through the actions of faith." [01:11:40] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So now what God does to jerry to israel at jericho he says okay everybody get together march around the city now I've got to say this to you that marching around this city is not a true solution to this problem you're doing something wrong you're doing something wrong isn't it don't you you can march around a walled city forever the walls are not coming down that's not what they're doing they're not marching to bring down the walls they're marching in faith in obedience to the word of God believing that God will give them the city if they act in faith according to the word of God because what we see we don't believe in faith healing we believe in divine healing it's not I believe and my faith will heal me no it's you believe and God will heal you when Jesus said to the woman your faith has made you whole it wasn't the faith in her that made her whole it was her faith in him he made her whole because she believed in him and what's going to happen here is the walls are going to come down you already know sorry to tell you I hope I haven't spoiled the story but the walls are going to come down but not because not because they had faith No, they had faith in God. And that's what they were doing. They were now doing something worthy. They were balancing out their faith by their action, and they're marching around that wall. And around they went. Now, they went around the wall once in one day, and then Joshua says, that's it, let's go home. So they all go home." [01:16:48] (107 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Now, can you imagine the people of Jericho? They see this massive army coming up to the wall. They say, right, here we go. We're ready. You've got the bricks to throw at them. You've got the fire to throw at them. You've got the oil, burning oil to pour down on top of them. You've got your arrows ready. You've got your spears ready. They say, we're going to slaughter them as they try and climb up this wall. But instead of trying to climb the wall, the people of Jericho are astonished because these people just come and silently walk around the wall. What are they doing? This doesn't make sense. This is crazy. And then they all go home. Next day, they say, hey, look. Here they come again. These crazy people. These stupid people come out of the desert. These, you know, ignorant bumpkins. What are they going to do now? And they come, and they walk all around the wall. So you can imagine if you were on that wall on the second day, you'd say, hey, you dopey. What do you think? What do you think you're doing down there, you stupid people? Yeah? Wouldn't you? You'd give them a bit, wouldn't you? And they go home. And the third day, they come out. Oh, look. Here they come again. They're going to do. What are they going to do this time? Come on. Hey, come on, come on. March around the wall. Why don't you? And they march around the wall. See, see, nothing's happening. What's wrong with you? And they get a mouthful." [01:17:45] (100 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "And you have to keep on going. Well, you're just going to keep on going round and round and round and round. And you say, how long do I have to do this? Well, until the answer comes. Until the time is fulfilled. Until it's God's moment. Just keep doing it. He's given it to you. The thing is, if you don't keep walking in it, you'll never get it. But you're going to get it if you'll keep persisting and persisting and persisting in faith. And you don't quit. And you don't give up. And you don't cast away your confidence because it has great reward. You just keep believing. And that's what this is about. Don't quit believing. If you know He's given it to you because it's a promise of God. And you can see the reality of that in your life. And then you want to put it into action. Just keep on believing. You don't say, I've been believing for a month now and nothing's happened. I give up. Just keep on believing. How long will it take? It takes as long as it takes. And we just keep on believing. The nature of faith is that it is persistent. It's persistent. You remember that woman who came into the room when Jesus was eating His meal. And she asked for healing for her daughter. And Jesus did all sorts of things to test her faith. And she said, yeah, but even the dogs eat the crumbs. She just wouldn't give up. And the woman who pressed through the crowd, pushing apart, if I can but touch the hem of His garment. She was persistent. She kept on. And she kept on believing. You see, I think sometimes as Christians, particularly Pentecostal Christians, we have this instantaneous idea. We think all we've got to do is come forward at the altar call and we get prayed for. And then it's going to happen immediately. Well, sometimes it does. And frequently it doesn't. Because faith needs to be persistent. And if it doesn't happen immediately, it doesn't mean it's not going to happen. It just means. It just means you have to get a grip and keep believing. Keep on believing. Keep on believing. Keep on going. Round and round and round and round. You just have to keep on approaching that. And you just have to keep on doing. Because He said to Joshua, the seventh time around, when the priest shouted and the trumpet blast, and Joshua commanded, shout, for the Lord has given you this city, the wall fell down. It was time. When is your time? I don't know. But until that time comes, you just have to keep on walking in faith. Believing and believing and believing and being persistent in faith. You just have to be prepared to keep going round and round your problem." [01:23:15] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "You say, I've been around this so. Yeah, kids, keep on praying and keep on believing and keep on trusting God. Round and around and around. It may be. It may be a week. It may be a month. It may be a year. It may be more than a year. Just keep believing. Don't give up. Because you believe and you will receive in God's time. If you don't believe, nothing's going to happen. Nothing's going to happen. Only actions of faith can bring about the fulfillment of God's promise in your life. You see, listen to what it says in Isaiah 60 verse 22. Because it really relates back to this. It's an incident in a way. A little one shall become a thousand. A small one, a strong nation. I, the Lord, have hastened it in his time. And they thought Israel was a nothing. But in God's time. And that moment was right. And they kept walking in faith. God tore down the walls of that city. And they entered that place and conquered it. Because it was God's. And they kept walking in faith and believing in faith until it happened. You see, Scripture says he has made everything beautiful in its time. And God has a time. And God has a moment. And so it says, wait on the Lord. Be of good courage and he will strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord. What are you waiting for? God's time for the promise to be fulfilled. Jesus came, we are told, in the fullness of time. There is a time. There is a time. There is a moment when God will fulfill his promise to you. That's according to his plan. It's the best time because it's his time. The perfect time because it's his time. But you have to keep believing until that time comes. Don't give up. Don't quit. Keep believing. And it may happen tomorrow. But it may take longer. But is it worth believing for? Then it's worth never giving up. It's worth continuing. It's worth continuing to believe for. And faith, as we know, is a journey. It's a progress. We move forward with God, believing in his promises. We take a hold of those promises. And we just keep on believing for those promises. And what I'm trying to say to you today is the Bible is filled with the promises of God. And they are yes and amen established for you and for me." [01:25:40] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "And what we need to do is see that and say, right. I'm going to believe that and I'm going to put faith into action. How do you put your faith into action? You just keep on believing. But there may be some things you can do. Let me give you an example because I've got to finish. I'm going for lunch. So I'm finishing. I'm not hanging around here while they said they take me for lunch. And they usually take me to a nice place for lunch. So I'm ready for lunch. We were believing when I was teaching in Bible college and getting paid peanuts. Because that's what you do. You get. You pay peanuts, you get monkeys. I was the monkey. They were paying me peanuts and I was teaching in Bible college and we felt that God was calling us to Melbourne. So we resigned from the Bible college and my wife and I were praying. We said, we really believe that God is going to give us a house. Now, we didn't have a house and we believe, well, you know, if in the ministry and I never get a house, that's fine. I just want to serve God. That's OK. But we really felt strong. Strongly, that God was going to give us the opportunity to have a house. So we came to Melbourne to look at the church, which was then Dandenong Assemblies of God. And the leaders wanted to talk to us about the possibility of becoming the pastor. So we came down and we spoke to the leaders. And through part of the conversation, we said, well, we would like to look while we're down here. We'd like to look for a house. And they said, OK, let's go look for a house." [01:28:22] (94 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "So one of the guys was an estate agent. He took us around a few places and we found this. We found this house that we really liked. And we said, that's going to be our house. So we cut the ad out of the newspaper and we took it back to the Bible College where we were in New South Wales and stuck it on the fridge. And we said, you can make an offer on the house. And the agent said, so how much money do you have? We said, well, there is a bit of a problem. We don't have any money. Now, I know you will say you had some money. No, I didn't have any money. Not enough. I didn't have enough for a deposit for a house, enough to put together so we could come to Melbourne and relocate my family. After that, it's nothing. So now the agent said, well, OK, let me put in an offer. We shouldn't really be doing this, but let me put in an offer and see what happens. So we put in an offer and the guy said, all right, yeah, good. OK, yeah, fantastic. Good offer, you know. So we get in the car. We drive back to New South Wales. We're there for a couple of days. We get a phone call. You know that offer you put in on the house? Yeah, well, they've taken another offer. Now, I thought that was illegal, but anyway, we got dumped. We got dumped. So I said to the agent, I said, no, no, you don't understand me. That's my house. It's a done deal. We prayed over it. It's my house. No, he says, you don't understand. It's gone. I said, no, you don't understand. It's my house. So this is what I want you to do. When the guy who
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