“But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk.” (Acts 3:6 NLT)

Using the authority of Jesus’s Name

In the above passage, Peter spoke to a lame beggar who had just looked at him expecting to receive money. He told him he had something better to give him than silver or gold. He said, “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk.” And then he took the beggar by the hand and helped him to his feet! He then began jumping, leaping and praised God! Totally healed!

Notice that Peter did two things. First, he took authority of the situation by using the Name of Jesus as he spoke a command “in the Name of Jesus get up and walk! Secondly, he took the beggar by the hand and helped him to his feet! Healing then instantly became a reality for the beggar.

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Col. 3:17 NIV)

Using God’s authority in what you say or do while speaking is like a policeman who is backed by governmental authority which empowers him to perform his official duties. You can do it too because you are backed by God’s Word!

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.” (1 Peter 4:11 NIV). “In this world we are like Jesus.” (1 John 4:17 NIV)

Jesus said about believers

“In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark. 16:16-17 NIV)

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38 NIV)

Nobody I have ever known believed the above promise more than my friend Mildred Wynette!

I first Met Mildred back in the 1970's when I was in charge of arranging live Gospel music for the Northwest Washington Fair. I needed to fill about 60 hours of time and so I was searching everywhere, and calling everyone I knew to find talented gospel singers to fill the many available spots. Someone told me about Mildred. They said she had just sung at their church, she did a great job, and they thought she would be a wonderful addition to the Fair’s singing roster. They said she was staying with a church lady for a few days, and gave me the phone number. I immediately phoned her to invite her to participate.

“Jesus is always so good to Mildred!”

Mildred was delighted for the invitation and spoke about herself in the third person, saying, "Praise be to Jesus! He is always so good to Mildred! And, Mildred always goes where Jesus provides for Mildred to go!"

On the day Mildred was scheduled to sing at the fair she showed up wearing flip flop shoes and a flowered moo-moo dress, and it fit! She was a large, beautiful black woman with a huge smile on her face.

She radiated joy as she sang and people reacted very positively to her!

Mildred believed with all her heart that God was not only able to supply her every need, but that he would do so without fail! In fact, it would be “a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over", she declared!  She continuously expected and looked for doors of opportunity to open before her that she was supposed to walk through. When any opportunity was presented to her, she boldly moved forward and through them without hesitation or fear.

“Mildred always goes where Jesus provides for Mildred to go!”

When Mildred finished singing her stint at the Fair, a woman in the crowd approached her and asked her If she would be willing to sing a few songs at "her place". As always, Mildred immediately said, "Yes, Mildred always goes where Jesus provides for Mildred to go!" Mildred got the address of the place and wrote down the time she was expected to be there. Now she needed to arrange for her transportation to get there. She always expected God to provide that, too. While in our county she was staying with a church lady who regularly volunteered to host visiting ministers, evangelists, and singers who performed at her church. She also drove them around as a part of her generosity. Mildred had just sung at her church so asked her to drive her to this next "singing for Jesus opportunity". And, the church woman happily agreed!

But uh oh, the place it turned out to be!

Mildred had a portable PA System and tape deck that she packed around with her from place to place. She also had all her pre recorded sound tracks to sing along with ready to go. She got all this packed into the church lady's little car and off they went to find the address the lady she had met at the Fair had provided. It turned out to be Bill's Tavern!

Mildred, you can't go in there!

As soon as they arrived at the address and saw that it was a tavern, the church lady exclaimed, "Mildred, you can't go in there!" And Mildred said, "Why not? Mildred always goes where Jesus provides for Mildred to go!" And she got out of the car with her equipment and into the tavern she went. Right behind her marched the little church lady saying, "Mildred, Mildred, Mildred! This is the devils house!"

Let the gospel music fill the air!

As soon as Mildred walked through the door of the tavern she was greeted enthusiastically by the woman who had invited her. Soon Mildred got her system set up, plugged in her first tape and began to sing, "Jesus got ahold of my life and He won't let me go!" Her voice filled the room and so did her joy and love for her Jesus! She sang one song after the other, Old songs like Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, In the Garden, and The Old Rugged Cross.

God was there and at work

On one of the bar stools sat a prostitute carefully listening to every word. Soon tears started flowing down her cheeks as God touched her heart! She got up and walked over to Mildred and said, "Thank you dear lady for coming here tonight! Something has happened to me here and I want to change my life. I also want to give you something to help you do what you do for Jesus!" And the woman handed Mildred a huge wad of cash. Mildred reached out and took it, looked up and said with a great big smile, "Thank you Jesus!" When the church lady saw this she leaned over and said, "Mildred! You can't take that money!" And Mildred, standing there and counting it said, "Why not!" And the church lady said, "Because it's the devil's money!" And Mildred said, "The devil has had it long enough!" And, she was right!

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (2 John 5:14 NIV)

Approach God with confidence

We can approach God confidently when we ask Him for things we know are according to His will for us. He knows what we need and loves to provide for us. (Matt. 6:26 & Phil. 4:19)

I loved to say yes to my kids!

When my children were little they would often ask me for things, as normal kids do. Sometimes I would say yes and other times I would say no, depending on the circumstances. I loved to say yes whenever I could. Sometimes I would say no because they would ask for something I knew wasn't good for them, would hurt them, or they were too immature for at the time. When my son, Matthew, at age three, for instance, asked to use a butcher knife, and my son, John, at age five, asked for a Motorcycle - they were both told no and were greatly disappointed by my answer. My answer was always yes, however, whenever they asked me for things they were ready for and I wanted to give them. Both of them eventually matured enough to get what they had asked me for earlier. Matthew, now grown, and himself a father of three, can handle any knife expertly and safely; last October I saw him carve pumpkins for his family into amazing artistic creations. John, eventually grew up, and bought a beautiful motorcycle, and handled it safely.

And it's the same way with God

His answer is always yes when we ask with correct motives (James 4:3) and we ask for things that are according to His will for us. God always wants what is best for us and He even knows our heart in all matters (1 Sam. 16:7). The good news is we can always ask Him for wisdom about anything, and He doesn't mind us asking! (James 1:5).

“This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.” 1 John 4:17 NIV)

Jesus said you will do greater things than He did!

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:12-14 NIV)

Christ lives in you!

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20 ESV)

"Whosoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. (2 Cor. 6:17 NIV)

Let your light shine! 

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14-16 ESV)

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21 KJV) 

 Blessings are being stored up for you! 

 “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2 KJV)

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matt. 25:21 NIV)

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12 NIV)

Good things are prepared!

“However, as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived — the things God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor 2:9 NIV)

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Col. 3:23 NIV)

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3 NIV)

Eternal life is to know God

Most of the time, when someone thinks about what it means to have “eternal life”, they are thinking of the most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16, which says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” They think “eternal life” is just about God sending Jesus so people can live forever. This is certainly true, living forever is a a big part of it! But, in another verse, John 13:3, Jesus defined “eternal life” as much more than just living forever! He said, “eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ”. It's about having a personal relationship with God!

We may know Him!

“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection…” (Phil. 3:10a ESV)

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” (2 Peter 3:18 ESV)

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book.” (Psalms 139:13-16 NIV)

You were born special!

You are a winner! You were born that way! It's really true! At conception you won an incredible race against millions of little “competitors” who were racing towards the goal of conception and you got there first! Just think about the odds of that! On the day you were conceived you were already a big winner! Not only that, but God was part of the process! The Bible says He “created your inmost being” and “knit you together in your mother’s womb”. And what He did there is described as “wonderful”. Wow!

Therefore...

Whenever someone asks how you are, you can honestly answer with complete confidence, “I am wonderful! I am a winner!”

And God has plans for you!

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” (Eph. 2:10 ESV)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 3:9-10 ESV)

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:16-18 NIV)

Have you ever gotten discouraged?

I have. Lots of times! Usually it's because something negative has happened beyond my control. Recently I was working on a complicated computer project and suddenly the program crashed and took all my work with it. I stared at the screen in disbelief and was discouraged to have lost so much hard work. But, I realized that I couldn't do anything about it. So, I took a deep breath, asked God for help, and just started over. I eventually finished the project and it's now history. 

It happens to everybody!

Truth is, everyone has something negative happen now and then. It can't be avoided. As long as you live on planet earth there will be discouraging moments. But, you can’t allow them to control you. You must recognize them for what they are and deal with them as quickly and positively as you can.

They are temporary!

The Bible reminds us that the troubles we see are only momentary and we must look past them towards what is permanent - to the things that are eternal. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory.” (2 Cor. 4:17 NIV). 

When troubles come, call on God!

“And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15 ESV)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt 7:7 ESV)

Don't give up!

“Through hard work, perseverance and a faith in God, you can live your dreams.” – Dr. Ben Carson

 “Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated.” (Deut. 34:7 NASB)

On the last day of Moses’ life He climbed a mountain. The Bible says his eyes and body were still strong on the day he died! Why then did he die? Because it was his time to die. Even so, he died in good health!

We have a better covenant than Moses had!

“But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.” (Heb. 8:6 NIV)

We don't know how long we will live or at what age we will die, but we can claim promises for long life and good health!

“With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:16 ESV)

“You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.” (Ex. 23:25-26 ESV)

“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” (3 John 1:2 ESV)

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” (Psalm 92:12-15 NIV)