THE BATTLE IS UPON US

Most of Christianity knows about the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but, they know very
little about the Book of Acts or any of the epistles. Also, most people know very little about the name of
our lord and savior Jesus Christ other than it is a swear word.
I want to show you in the Book of Acts how men and women stood in the first century and what they
were willing to go through because of their respect and their use of the name of Jesus Christ.
We are going to start with a notable event in chapter three of Acts.
Acts 3:1-9 (KJV)
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth
hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate
of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then 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.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones
received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and
leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
You would think that everybody including the religious leadership would be happy and rejoice that one
of the brethren got deliverance from his affliction. Well that is not the case. A lot of people did rejoice.
They ended up listening to Peter and were saved.
Acts 2:38-41 (KJV)
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord
our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward
generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them
about three thousand souls.
Acts 3:12-26 (KJV)
12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this?
or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made thisman to walk?
13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his
Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was
determined to let him go.
14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know:
yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ
should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of
refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath
spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of
your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed
from among the people.
24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken,
have likewise foretold of these days.
25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers,
saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away
every one of you from his iniquities.
Acts 4:4 (KJV)
4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five
thousand.
Peter and John delivered the lame man with the power in the name of Jesus Christ. By Peter and the
Apostles teaching people the name of Jesus Christ and all that name represents and all the power and
authority in that name over eight thousand people were saved, born again, baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ.
There is a mathematical axiom that things that are equal to the same thing are equal to each other.
Therefore, to be saved is to be born again of incorruptible seed, which is to be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ, which is to be endued with power from on high!
Acts 2:38 (KJV)
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Romans 10:9-10 (KJV)
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath
raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Luke 24:49 (KJV)
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.
1 Peter 1:23 (KJV)
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which
liveth and abideth for ever.
This is why the apostles and disciples held the name of Jesus Christ in such high esteem and because of
the power and authority given in that name they were able to deliver thousands and carry the Word of
God around the world. However, not everybody was pleased.
Acts 4:1-3 (KJV)
1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the
Sadducees, came upon them,
2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from
the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
Acts 4:17 (KJV)
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us (the religious leadership) straitly threaten them
(the Apostles), that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
Acts 5:17-18 (KJV)
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the
Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
But an angel let them out!
Acts 5:19-20 (KJV)
19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Acts 5:26-28 (KJV)
26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the
people, lest they should have been stoned.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have
filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.Acts 5:40 (KJV)
40 And to him they agreed: and when they (the religious leaders) had called the apostles, and beaten
them, they (the religious leaders) commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let
them go.
Acts 5:41-42 (KJV)
41 And they (the Apostles) departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted
worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
The very thing that got them into trouble to begin with they continued to do.
The battle was upon the First Century Church because of the name of Jesus Christ. They didn’t fight with
guns and tanks nor do we.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (KJV)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong
holds;)
Be not deceived, the battle is still upon us. Will you hold high the name of Jesus Christ as did the
Apostles and disciples without fear and in the face of opposition and persecution? Our lives are very
short compared to all eternity. By standing for the name of Jesus Christ NOW you store up for
yourselves rewards throughout all eternity.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.