Sunday Evening, December 3, 1972 — Richmond, Virginia
Ministry through Brother Stephen Kaung
Thank God for bringing us together here tonight.
I wonder if some of you still remember what we fellowshipped about two months ago. We mentioned that, as we are approaching the end, this is the time that we should look back to the beginning. Because He is the beginning, and this is the time that we shall see whether the end will meet with the beginning again.
I do believe that when God begins, He has in view the end, and the end shall meet with the beginning. For this reason, we feel that, as we are approaching the end of this age—the end of the age of grace, of the church—this is the time that we should go back to the Book of Acts and see how God began with His church.
That is where we left off the last time. Tonight, I would like to read from the third chapter of the Book of Acts.
Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
And a certain man that was lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple.
Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms.
And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us.
And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them.
But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.
And he took him by the right hand, and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received strength.
And leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; and he entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
And they took knowledge of him, that it was he that sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
And as he held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk?
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified His Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to let Him go.
But ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you,
And killed the Prince of life; whom God raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
And by faith in His name hath His name made this man strong, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is through Him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;
And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest.
And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this?
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders,
If we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this man is made whole;
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in Him doth this man stand here before you whole.
He is the stone which was set at nought of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner.
And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.
One afternoon, about three o’clock, this was the time of evening prayer for the Jewish people. You know, the Jewish people had set times of prayer—usually three times: the morning prayer, the noon prayer, and the evening prayer.
The morning prayer was at about nine o’clock. And you remember, that was the time in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit came down upon the one hundred and twenty. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. The church, the Body of Christ, was born at the time of morning prayer.
So, when people mocked and said, “These people are drunk,” Peter’s answer was, “This is not the time to be drunk, because this is the time of morning prayer.” According to the custom of that time, they would not drink or eat anything before the morning prayer.
But here, in this chapter, it was during the time of evening prayer. Peter and John went to the temple to pray.
You know, they lived in a transitional period. It was a period of transition between the old covenant and the new covenant—the old and the new. Somehow, they still kept the habit of going to the temple to pray at the set hours, though at other times they met together as the church to remember the Lord.
As they were entering into the temple area, they saw a man lame from his mother’s womb. He was carried there by his friends and put at the front of the gate called Beautiful, asking alms from those who came in to pray.
What a contradiction. The gate was called Beautiful, but by the side of the Beautiful Gate was an ugly thing: a man, a beggar, lame from his mother’s womb.
This gate was called Beautiful because people tell us it was a gate made of massive brass, greatly adorned. This was one of the three entrances to the temple.
Now this man, who was born lame, was cast by the side of that gate. He was not allowed to enter into the temple—to pray, to worship, to serve God. He was kept outside of the temple. All he could do, the best he could do, was sit by the gate and ask for alms.
You know, when people went into the temple to pray, this was a time when people’s hearts should be soft. So, in a sense, psychologically, he was at a good advantage. People who were going in to pray surely would like to do something, and there he was.
Brothers and sisters, what is the temple?
When Solomon built the temple, he prayed, “O God, the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee. How can I expect Thee to live in this temple?” Even though the temple was made of massive stones, of gold—majestic, gorgeous, splendid—the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him. How can God live in such a small place?
But this temple was built that God might set His name in it. In other words, the temple was a place where God’s name was placed.
The temple was different from all other houses in one respect—not because it was more beautifully built. There might be other houses equally beautiful. The only difference between this house and all other houses was the fact that the name of the Lord was set upon this house.
Because the name of the Lord was set upon this house, the ears of the Lord were there, listening to the prayers offered in that house. The eyes of the Lord were upon that house, and He saw everyone who came there.
In other words, the characteristic of the temple was the fact that the name of the Lord was there. And because the name of the Lord was there, the Lord was there.
Even though Solomon’s temple had already been destroyed, the temple at that time had been rebuilt by the Jewish remnant who came back from captivity in Babylon. Then King Herod enlarged and beautified it, spending forty-six years upon it. Outwardly, it was still a magnificent edifice, beautifully adorned.
You remember that, toward the very last of the life of our Lord Jesus, the last time He left Jerusalem, His disciples pointed out to Him the stones and precious stones that made up that temple. It was a beautiful thing, a wonderful place.
But where was the name of the Lord? This was supposed to be the place where the name of the Lord was praised. If this was a fact, then the Lord was there. If the Lord was there, then every problem should be solved. There would be no need for the lame to be barred from entering into the temple to worship God.
He could go into that temple, experience the work of the Lord, and pray and praise and worship. But the temple was dead. By all profession, it was God’s temple, where His name was set; and yet there was no power, no reality.
There was not a living presence of the Lord in that temple. On the contrary, it became a house of merchandise, a den of robbers. No wonder all it could do for a lame person, for a person with a problem, was give him some alms, just that he might live. That was all.
This beggar was not expecting anything more than that from the temple. All that he received from the temple was a little money that he might live on. He did not have any hope of anything better. That was the condition at that time.
And here came Peter and John.
Brothers and sisters, in the preceding chapter, we find that the church was born on the Day of Pentecost. Peter and John, when they entered into the temple, represented the living house of God—the real temple.
The physical temple was standing there in name, but not in reality. But here you find two men, living stones, built into a living house. And the name of the Lord was there with them.
So they came forward, and this beggar looked at them, thinking that they were just other worshipers. He was expecting some alms from Peter and John. Peter and John looked at him and said, “Look on us.” He looked, expecting something.
And Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have; but what I have, I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, rise up and walk.”
He took hold of that man and raised him up. Suddenly his feet and ankle bones became strong. He stood, he leaped, he ran, he praised the Lord, and he entered into the temple to worship God.
Brothers and sisters, what did Peter and John have? They did not have silver or gold, but they did have something. They had the name of the Lord Jesus. And in the name of the Lord Jesus, this man was healed. From a beggar, he became a worshiper.
Brothers and sisters, what is the meaning of the church? What is the church?
The church is a spiritual house, a holy habitation of God. The church is the place where the name of the Lord is placed.
You know, the name is very important in the Scriptures. Now, what do you mean by a name?
If you look up Webster’s International Dictionary, you will find that it says a name is a title by which a person or thing is known or designated—a distinctive appellation, a descriptive appellation.
In other words, a name is a title that identifies a person. A name is distinctive; not only distinctive, but descriptive. It describes that person. It expresses that person.
The Bible emphasizes very much the name. Oftentimes, you find God changing people’s names: Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel, Simon to Peter. There is such great emphasis on the name.
When we say we know God, how do we know God? We know God by knowing His name. You find in the Bible that God reveals His name to His people in a progressive manner.
He revealed Himself in the burning bush to Moses. Moses said, “What is Your name?” And God answered, “I AM THAT I AM.” That is My name.
Throughout the Scriptures, you find that He reveals His name gradually to His people. As one thing is revealed, His people know Him. We know God by knowing Him in the revelation of His name.
It is not a mechanical thing. You really know Him when He reveals Himself in a special name—a name that reveals Who He is and what He is. Knowing that, you know Him a little more. That is why God has so many names.
Our Lord Jesus has many names. Even before He was born, a name was given to Him:
Thou shalt call His name Jesus; for it is He that shall save His people from their sins.
He shall be called Emmanuel—God with us. His name is Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He has many, many names, and as we know His names, we know Him.
A name identifies a person. A name describes that person. It is the very person, especially when a person is absent. Then his name stands in for him—for his person.
Remember our Lord Jesus, before He left His disciples? He said:
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Now, if you ask anything in My name, My Father will hear you.
In other words, our Lord was leaving His disciples, and in leaving His disciples He left with them His name. When His disciples pray in His name, it is as if He Himself is praying before the Father. His name stands in for Himself. That is why His name is so powerful. His name represents Him.
Brothers and sisters, this is the most precious thing that our Lord has left with us. Physically speaking, He is not with the church today, but spiritually speaking, He has left His name with the church.
This is our heritage. Using His name means that He Himself is involved. He Himself is involved. That is the importance of a name.
What is the church?
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.
That is the real meaning of the church: when two or three are gathered together unto His name.
Out of all the nations, God has called a people unto His name. In other words, this people is different from all the people of this world in one sense: they have the name of the Lord Jesus. And having the name of the Lord Jesus, they have the Lord Himself.
If we measure the church by this measurement, where do we stand? Are we like the temple in Jerusalem, supposed to have the name praised and among us, and yet there is no reality, no power? All we can do is give a little alms to people. We cannot bring them to become worshipers of the Father.
Or are we a people who really possess the name of the Lord Jesus? Because that name is there, He is there, and He manifests Himself. He is able to bring people into the very presence of the Father and make them worshipers—not just keep them outside, but bring them into the very presence of God.
There is a story about this verse. One day, the famous theologian Thomas Aquinas was visiting Pope Innocent II. While he was visiting with the pope, the pope showed him all the wealth of the Vatican.
The pope said to Thomas Aquinas, “Today, we do not need to speak like Peter, ‘Silver and gold have I none.’”
Thomas Aquinas answered, “Yes, but neither can we say, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk.’”
Which is better? What do you want? Do you want silver and gold, that you may give some pennies to the beggars? Or do you want the name of the Lord Jesus that will transform that beggar into a worshiper?
What is the mission of the church? What is the meaning of the church? It is not on this earth just to do a little good social thing. By the grace of God, we should do that—but we should do more.
The very existence of the church on earth is to make people worship the Father in spirit and in truth. But do we have the power? Do we have authority in the name of the Lord Jesus, that living and real name among His people?
In one sense, God has called us out of every nation, every tribe, every tongue, and every people, and gathered us together unto His name. Thank God for that.
We are those who call upon the name of the Lord and are saved. There is no name other than the name of the Lord Jesus whereby one can be saved, because no other name is given.
You may say, “Yes, we who believe in the Lord Jesus—He has given His name to us. We are called by His name.” That is true. But are you satisfied merely by being called by His name?
One problem is this: in many places I go, people come up to me and say, “Are you a Christian?” I say, “Yes.” But they are not satisfied. They say, “What denomination?”
In other words, the designation of Christ is not enough. You have to be designated something more in order to be recognized. When I answer, “I do not take upon myself any other name. I am just a simple Christian,” they shake their heads and say, “That cannot be.”
Now, this may be a very small thing, but it speaks a lot. What is our attitude toward the name of the Lord Jesus? Is His name sufficient for us, or do we need some more names in order to be something?
You know, it is like marriage. Let me use our newly married brother and sister as an illustration.
When a man and a woman are married, what happens? They say that they are joined into one. Yes—but how do you express that oneness to the world?
Something tremendous happens on the day you are married. Before you are married, each of you has your own name—your family name. In other words, you belong to a certain family. You are under a certain name that designates you and identifies you.
Now, according to Chinese custom, when a woman is married to a man, she takes the name of her husband upon her. She is no longer called Miss So-and-so; she is called Mrs. So-and-so. In other words, her name is submerged in the name of her husband.
A woman, when she is married, voluntarily gives up her name and puts herself under the name of her husband. From then on, her husband’s name is hers. It is her possession. Other people cannot use her husband’s name, but she can. She has a right to her husband’s name.
Everything that belongs to her husband is hers. When she goes out and uses something in the name of her husband, the world recognizes it as though her husband had done it. Sometimes the husband may try to explain, “I did not tell her to do that,” but no matter how he explains it, it is done in his name.
That is the importance of the name.
Brothers and sisters, when we believe in the Lord Jesus, do you know what happens? When we call upon His name and He gives His name to us, from then on He is identified with us and we are identified with Him. Whatever we do, He is involved.
Many times, I think the Lord in heaven would say, “You have really involved Me.”
Brothers and sisters, is the name of the Lord Jesus good enough for you? It is such a tremendous privilege that we have the name of the Lord Jesus. The name Christian means “Christ-man.” We belong to Him; He belongs to us. That is a wonderful name. Is that not enough?
You know, in Revelation 3, of the seven churches in Asia, one church was praised by the Lord—only praised, with no rebuke. It was the church in Philadelphia.
Do you know why the Lord commended the church in Philadelphia? For three reasons. First, there was brotherly love there. They really loved one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Second, they kept His word. In spite of all the circumstances and environment that seemed to speak differently, they kept the Word of God—the word of His patience.
Third, they did not deny His name. No matter what happened, His name might be persecuted, rejected, despised; they did not deny His name. They openly declared that they belonged to Christ. They held on to His name. They would not deny His name.
Dear brothers and sisters, is there not a lesson for us? He has given us His name. Should we not honor that name?
It is true that He has given His name to us. We have a right to use His name. That is true. But on the other hand, sometimes you may use His name, and it does not work. You involve Him, yes, but somehow He does not respond.
If that should happen, you are really in a narrow place. This is not something automatic or mechanical. It is not because He has given His name to us that we can use His name any way we please.
You know, the third commandment is:
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.
What does that mean? It means that you use His name, but you use it in vain. Why? Because His name represents Himself.
To have His name is to be under His authority.
Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.
Spiritually, if we really want to use His name, and if His name is used in such a way that He honors it, there is a condition.
Look at Peter and John. They said, “Silver and gold we do not have; but what we have, we give to you. In the name of the Lord Jesus, rise up and walk.” And the lame man rose up and walked.
Why was it that when they used the name of the Lord Jesus, the Lord honored it? Why did something happen?
You see, it is not mechanical. It is not a mere formula. It is spiritual. Why? Because these two men, before they used the name of the Lord Jesus, were first fully committed to that name.
Read their history. They were not only believers of the Lord; they were followers of the Lord. One day the Lord walked by the Sea of Galilee. He saw Peter casting the net, and the Lord said, “Come, follow Me.” He left everything and followed the Lord.
The Lord went a little distance and saw John there, mending the net. He said, “Come, follow Me.” He forsook everything and followed the Lord.
“Silver and gold have I none.”
If you have too much, you may not be able to use His name so effectively. In order to use His name, they gave up. They gave up everything for that name. They put themselves under that name. They were fully committed to that name.
Because of their commitment to that name, the Lord committed Himself fully to their use of His name.
Brothers and sisters, the reason why today there is not that same power when His name is mentioned and used is that we who are the Lord’s have too much of other things. We are not fully committed to the Lord.
Put it another way: we forsake too little; therefore, we possess very little. Now, that is not a bargain. It is not a transaction. It is a spiritual principle.
To really be under His name requires that we forsake everything. We deny everything, even ourselves. Otherwise, we cannot say that we are really under His name.
You remember the Lord said:
If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
One day, a young man came to the Lord. This young man was very serious—very serious. He ran to the Lord. He was a ruler, a wealthy person, yet he ran to the Lord and before the crowd knelt before Him.
He said, “Master, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Now, this was unusual. For a young man, a ruler, a wealthy person, to run and kneel before the Lord in front of the crowd—that was unusual. No wonder the Lord looked at him and loved him.
But you know what the Lord said? “Go, sell everything. Give to the poor. Come and follow Me.”
And that young man, when he heard that, went away sorrowful.
The Lord said:
It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
The disciples were surprised and said, “Then who can be saved?” The Lord said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God.”
Now, brothers and sisters, do you think our Lord was a little too hard on that young man? This young man had a real heart for spiritual things. Do you think our Lord should have been a little more tactful?
“Sell all. Give to the poor. Come and follow Me.”
Not because he was rich, but because he trusted in his wealth.
I remember a brother saying, “Is there anyone who can really sell all, forsake all? Is there anyone who can do that?” The young man could not do it because he had so much. You do not have that much, so it should not be that difficult—but you try.
Is there anyone who really can sell all, give away all, and follow the Lord? Nobody can. So our brother said, “The problem with this young man is not that he could not do it. The problem is that he went away sorrowful.”
In other words, the Lord knew that it was impossible. The Lord was asking something impossible from that man. He knew that man could not do it. But why did He ask that? The reason is this: with God all things are possible.
If only that young man would say, “Lord, You know I cannot do that. I cannot. But if You want it, You have to do it in me and for me.” If he had done that, the Lord would have done it. He would not need to go away sorrowful.
If he only trusted the Lord, if he only committed himself fully to the Lord, the Lord would commit Himself fully, and great things would happen.
If you do not believe that, read the next chapter. In Luke, these two chapters come together.
In the next chapter, another rich man appears—probably richer than the other man, because he was the chief publican. He was an older man. Humanly speaking, it was more difficult for Zacchaeus to part with his wealth.
But here was Zacchaeus. The Lord said, “I will go to your house today.” Zacchaeus came down happily from that tree, ready to receive the Lord, and the crowd began to murmur.
The Lord did not preach to him. He did not tell him what he should do, unlike what He did with the young man. With Zacchaeus, the Lord simply said, “I will go to your house today.”
And you know what happened? Zacchaeus said, “I give half of all that I have to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone, I will restore fourfold.”
According to Mosaic law, all you needed to do was add one fifth. If you wanted to be legalistic, you just added one fifth, and you passed. But here you find the grace of God and the love of Christ constraining him. When Christ came in, money went out.
He said, “I give half to the poor, and what I did wrongly to others, I repay four times.” In other words, Zacchaeus, by receiving the Lord Jesus, lost everything—but he gained Christ.
With God all things are possible.
Brothers and sisters, we are not suggesting that you should go home tonight and sell everything. We are not suggesting that. But in spiritual principle, this is what it is.
If we want to use the name of the Lord with power, there is a condition: we must be fully committed to that name. That name must make us poor of everything—not only our wealth, but our opinions, our ideas, everything.
We must lose everything. We must be able to say, like Peter, “Silver and gold I do not have. It is all gone. It is not mine. It is all Yours. I have no right over anything. I am Yours. I am under Your name.”
Brothers and sisters, if we are so fully committed to His name, then He is fully committed to us. And when we use the name of the Lord Jesus, you will find there is power behind it. His name is power. His name is authority.
When the council brought Peter and John in and began to inquire, “In what name, and by what authority, have you done this?” they knew that the name is authority.
Oh, the wonderful thing: that name, which once represented humility—even humiliation—Jesus of Nazareth, that humble name—one day God gave Him a name which is above every name.
Wherefore also God highly exalted Him, and gave unto Him the name which is above every name;
That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth,
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
That name has power. That name has authority. And that name is placed in the church. His name is for the church to use—but to use that name with the right spirit.
It is not just a nominal name. It is real. He is behind His name. His power and authority are behind that name. Whenever that name is used by the church, things happen. Why? Because the church in the early days was fully committed to that name.
Dear brothers and sisters, we have the name of the Lord Jesus. But why is it that name does not seem to carry the power and authority that it has?
One reason is that today we are not fully committed to that name. We have not given up everything to that name. We have not given up our name and come under His name, under His authority.
If we do, we shall find the same thing as in the third chapter of Acts.
One thing more: having the name is such a privilege. There is such authority and power in that name, but there is also great responsibility.
We have to suffer for that name. Why? Because today that name is still despised and rejected by the world. Anyone who follows that name, who is serious with that name, must suffer for that name.
When the apostles suffered for that name, what was their attitude? They thanked God that they were counted worthy to suffer for that name. Is that our attitude today?
Peter said, “Do not suffer because you have done something wrong.” But if you suffer because you are a Christian—you are called by His name—do not be ashamed, because the glory of the Lord is upon you.
Oh, dear brothers and sisters, anyone who is fully committed to that name will have to suffer for that name. Do not think that the day of suffering and persecution is over. Do not think that we in this country are exempt from the suffering of our brothers in other parts of the world.
It may not be physical, but if we really mean business with that name, you will find there will be suffering.
But our attitude should be this: we are not worthy of that name, that name which is above every name. If we are counted worthy to suffer for that name, it is an honor. It is an honor.
That should be our attitude. The Bible says that if we suffer with Him, if we endure with Him today, one day we shall reign with Him.
You know, in the Book of Acts, there are about twenty-six times, I think, when “the name,” “His name,” or “Thy name” is used—perhaps more. It shows what a place the name of the Lord Jesus had in the early church.
Because of their respect for that name, when they prayed, when they used the name, the Lord honored it. It was all real.
So, dear brothers and sisters, tonight this is the one burden in my heart: as we are approaching the end, the name of the Lord Jesus should be recovered in the church.
There should be a new honor and respect for that name. To give due respect to that name demands that we really surrender our own name and put ourselves under His name, under His authority.
If we do, we shall find His presence with us. We shall find His power and authority with us, because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Shall we pray?
Our Heavenly Father, how we praise and thank Thee that we are a people called by Thy name.
How we praise and thank Thee that Thy name is not nominal. Thy name is real. There is authority; there is power in that name.
Oh, that we may honor Thy name. May we see what Thy name means. May we really put ourselves under Thy name, fully committed to Thy name.
And, Lord, may Thy name be so real among Thy people that there may be power and authority manifested when Thy name is used.
O Lord, Thou hast put Thy name in the church. May Thy name be hallowed.
We ask in Thy exalted name, the Lord Jesus. Amen.