Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 NIV)
This past Monday evening a horrible tragedy occurred less than fifty feet from the front door of our apartment building. Three young boys were playing. A car approached them. The right rear tire on the car was a small spare tire. A nine year old boy made some type of comment to the young men in the car about the tire. One of the men in the car responded with an obscene gesture. Then a young man got out of the car with an axe and hit the nine year old boy in the face with the axe leaving the axe lodged in his face. The young boy died a few minutes later.
After the police arrived they saw a young man acting suspiciously. This man was later identified as a 21 year old immigrant from Honduras. The police decided to talk to this young man, and he ran to another apartment complex. Police officers chased him and he threw a car tire at one officer breaking his arm. Then he approached police with some type of weapon, so the police shot and killed him. The police department believes he is the person who killed the young boy with the axe.
The family of this young man from Honduras revealed that he had become mentally unstable over the last couple of years. One relative admitted that she was afraid of him. Once he set a trash dumpster on fire because he saw something in the dumpster that was pink, and he hated the color pink.
Unstable is one thing, but to put an axe in the head of a young boy because of a comment about a tire is something else.
I was not home when these events unfolded last Monday evening about 8:30. I came home for dinner and returned to work. My wife did not see or hear anything related to this tragedy until she heard the screams of the father of the young boy. Like others, she initially thought that a car struck him.
On Wednesday I was thinking about this bizarre murder. I was also thinking of the Word of God that reveals that Jesus has given authority to his church over the powers of darkness. I wondered how I would have responded, if I had returned to work at the exact time the attack occurred. I came to the conclusion that I must not be ready yet.
When I say that I must not be ready yet, I mean I must not be ready to exercise the authority of the name of Jesus in such a critical situation. This attack was certainly ruthless and inspired by Satan. This is not your "run of the mill" crime. If I had walked out of my apartment building at the same moment the young man got out of the car with that axe, is it not possible that I could have addressed him and the demonic spirits motivating him and commanded them to stop in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth?
I am not condemned that I am not ready. Condemnation is not of God. I know it is not my job to right every wrong in the world, and to stop every crime. But, God has inspired me through this tragedy. I believe the day will come that I will be ready. The day will come when I will say in a similar situation, "Oh, no you don’t in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. In the name of Jesus you lay that axe down."
To some Christians my thoughts may seem irrational. To some Christians my thoughts may seem ridiculous. To some Christians my thoughts may seem frightening. But to me, my thoughts seem normal. God is looking for a church who will demonstrate the authority of the name of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit to a world that is hurting and desperately needs the love of God.
In Luke 10 Jesus sent 72 disciples out to minister. Verses 17-19 record the results of their mission trip. The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy: nothing will harm you."
The church of the book of Acts knew the power of the name of Jesus. Look at these references to the name that is above every name.
Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." (Acts 3:6 NIV)
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 NIV)
"Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." (Acts 4:30 NIV)
Philip knew the power of the name of Jesus. In Acts 8, Luke reports that Philip preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus. (Acts 8:12) In Philip's ministry there were many miraculous signs. (See Acts 8:5-8)
Paul certainly knew the power of the name of Jesus. In Acts 16 he demonstrated the power of the name of Jesus when he addressed an evil spirit in a servant girl, who was troubling him. Paul said, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her." Immediately, the spirit left that young woman. (See Acts 16:16-18)
In Acts 13 a sorcerer was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The sorcerer, Elymas, tried to dissuade Sergius Paulus from accepting the truth of the gospel preached by Paul and Barnabas. Paul knew he had authority over the evil spirit in the man and Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit and ready for action. Paul looked the sorcerer straight in the eye and said, "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord. (Acts 13:10-12 NIV)
On that Wednesday afternoon as I thought about not being ready, the Holy Spirit encouraged me. I believe he showed me that I am not that far away from being ready to deal with a situation like the one on Monday evening. But, he quickly encouraged me even more. I believe the Holy Spirit whispered to me that the church is not far from being ready to deal with these situations. At various times in history, it appears that God’s work survived because of a few good men and women. But at this point in history, we are approaching the end of this age. God is not looking for a few good men and women, rather God is looking for a glorious church to rise up in the authority of the name of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit, to demonstrate to the world the glory of the God.
I believe the hour for the glorious church to demonstrate the power of the Risen Lord is at hand.
I can look out my apartment window and see a cross drawn marking the place where this nine year old boy was murdered by a deranged, demonic, but hurting man. I can look to a tree nearby and see a memorial consisting of flowers, candles, balloons, and stuffed animals. It is sad to think what happened. But, still I am inspired to press forward to that day when the church will be ready to more effectively demonstrate the authority of the name of Jesus.
One day you and I will utter the words, “Oh, no you don’t, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” And, the demons of hell will bow their knees to the majestic and mighty name of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Wayne L. Williams
June 11, 2006
Atlanta, Georgia
wayne@fotwm.org
Wisdom From the Word
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