Are You A John The Baptist?

 

It is puzzling to me why so many Christians have difficulty telling others about the second coming of Jesus like they are supposed to. Maybe it is because there is a lot of doubt in their hearts that God will actually do what He said He will do. Does our lack of faith in the Word of God and in the power of God to do what He said He would do limit our ability to spread the gospel? I wonder how much more we could do, or how many more souls we could reach if we would just simply believe God’s Word and step out in total trust and faith?

I believe that the church of today and the world of Christianity will only see a revival and hear the fresh, anointed Word of God and will only hear from God when the church falls on her face before God in repentance and in intercession for a lost and dying world. But we are caught up in our own little worlds and we don’t have time or give time to the offering of our incense to God. No wonder there is little real moving of the Holy Spirit in the church today! The revival is going to come and is already here in many places but there can be so much more if we just offer up that incense and listen to the Word of God.

I am convinced that God is raising up many like John the Baptist that will be faithful as Zacharias and Elisabeth (Luke 1:) and they will have the “power and spirit of Elijah” to preach the Second Coming of Christ just as John did concerning the Birth of Christ. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost before he was ever born. The angel Gabriel told Zacharias that John would be the fore-runner of the Son of God...

 

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Luke 1:17;

 

We too need to go out like John the Baptist and let the people know. “Jesus Is Coming Again.”

LOOKING FOR THAT HEAVENLY CITY

 

      Contrary to popular belief, people are still being called out by God today. He is calling people to set their hearts on something that they cannot see, feel, touch, smell and hear, but yet it is as real to us as though they could do all of those things. It’s not something that the physical senses can discover, but by faith we know that it’s there. By exercising our spiritual senses we can almost see the lights of that Heavenly city and it’s like a magnet drawing us ever closer. I don’t know what you sense, but I know there’s a city out there not made with hands. It’s a place where I will finally find complete peace and rest, and joy beyond measure.

      Look at Abraham. What God had given Abraham did not define his final destination, a family to provide for, a job to complete, no, he gave him a place to go but he was still searching for that final destination. He was still looking for a city somewhere. It wasn’t made on earthly foundations, it was built upon God’s Holy Mountain in the portals of Heaven and it was on a different plane, a different dimension, but it was there and it still is. Along the way Abraham would fight many battles and he would have to provide for his family by earning his way and taking possession of earthly things to meet those needs but they weren’t his focus. They were only a means of getting where he was supposed to be going. He had an inheritance coming and no doubt he had the opportunity to inherit land and wealth from his family back in Ur of the Chaldees. He could have been rich if he hadn’t given it all away. But Abraham gave up the earthly inheritance for a Heavenly inheritance. Have we???

      Paul said in Philippians 3:7-8; “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:7-8;

WHAT SHAPE IS YOUR ALTAR IN?

 

     Understand this please! It is not the starting right in life that counts the most, but it is the finishing your life right that matters. In Elijah’s day, God’s people were in the pit of spiritual disaster having allowed compromise to sever their relationship with God. So Elijah called the people back to the altar they had abandoned so long ago. It was at that altar they used to offer praise thanksgiving and worship. They also received forgiveness for their sins. Then Elijah dug out the stones from all the years of debris and neglect and he carefully fitted them back into a pattern and shape of an altar. He cut wood, prepared the sacrifice and then he saturated the whole works in water. Then he prayed for God to show himself. Look what happened. The fire fell from Heaven and consumed and devoured the sacrifice, the wood the stones and the water! God’s power, His presence, and His fire are all found at the altar of praise, worship and consecration. The dust and rubble of spiritual decay creep in unnoticed. Obedience to God’s Word keeps us well watered, and the fire of the Holy Spirit falls where altars are intact, not in ruins. Are we nurturing our relationship with God or is our altar in ruins? If it is in ruins then it is high time to repair the altar.

THE NAMES OF GOD

 

THE NAMES OF GOD

 

Here is a follow up to my article “What’s In A Name” Remember I informed you that back in the Bible days a person’s name usually said something about that person’s character or destiny. This is why the names of God are so important for us to see and understand. Each name of God reveals something about His character. At the same time, God’s names show us many different ways in which He is there to help us in our times of need. Here is a list of the names I will describe for you in this article.

Elohim (God)

Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)

El Elyon (The Most High God)

Adonai (Lord, Master)

El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)

El Olam (The Everlasting God)

Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)

Jehovah Rapha (The Lord Who Heals You)

Jehovah Nissi (The Lord Is My Banner)

El Qanna (Jealous God)

Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)

Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)

Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)

Jehovah Raah (The Lord Is My Shepherd)

Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)

Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)

 

     We can see God’s names revealed to us throughout the pages of Scripture. Often the Bible revealed a new name of God when the people either faced a great need, or when they saw God come through and bless them in a spectacular way. As time passed, the people of God received more and more revelation about the nature of God. This process continues today as His people discover more of His character. Each of us individually has the ability to learn much more about God and His nature as we walk through life. This is why it is so important to have a personal relationship with God the Father. Without that personal connection we only learn about God without ever growing to actually know Him. I would hope that by spending time in prayer and meditation on each name of God that I will describe to you below, that you will come to know Him in a far more personal and intimate way.

     Below are the various names of God listed in the order of their first appearance in the Bible. And included is a link to the Scripture verse where the first mention of that name of God occurs along with how many times that name is mentioned throughout the Bible.

 

ELOHIM (GOD) First seen in Genesis 1:1; and 2599 times in the Bible. This is the very first name given to God found in the very first verse of Genesis. This name shows that God is the majestic ruler over all. Elohim is actually a plural word and its use as the first name of God sets him high above all other gods. It also foreshadows the later revelation of the tri-une Godhead which is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

YAHWEH (LORD, JEHOVAH) First seen in Genesis 2:4; and used 6519 times in the Bible. Yahweh is the promised proper name of God. It means Lord and Master. By Jewish tradition this name is too holy to pronounce or write. Therefore they just wrote four letters without any vowels: YHWH. Jews stopped saying the name all together in the third century AD. They stopped saying this name because they were afraid of violating the fourth commandment that prohibits misusing, or taking the Lord’s name in vain. Therefore scholars today don’t know for sure if the original pronunciation was Yahweh or Jehovah. Tradition follows the convention used in the King James Version which translates YHWH by itself as Lord with a capital L and small capital letters for the rest of the word. This is done to set it apart from other uses of the word lord. Then whenever YHWH occurs as a compound name with other words the translators use the word Jehovah instead.

EL ELYON (THE MOST HIGH GOD) First seen in Genesis 14:18; and –used 52 times in the Bible (sometimes without El, simply as Elyon). El is likely related to the word Elohim and is used in conjunction with other descriptive words to specifically reference a particular characteristic of God. Elyon means highest or most high. Used together El Elyon means The Most High God. It refers to the characteristic of God that is above everyone and everything. This name describes his position as sovereign majestic preeminent God.

ADONAI (LORD, MASTER) First seen in Genesis 15:2; and used 434 times in the Bible. Because the Jews have a tradition of not pronouncing nor spelling out the promised proper name of God they often would use Adonai instead of YHWH. Adonai means Lord, Master, or Owner. This name emphasizes that God is in charge of his creation and his people, Lord of lords.

EL SHADDAI (LORD GOD ALMIGHTY) First seen in Genesis 17:1; and used 48 times in the Bible (sometimes without El, simply as Shaddai). O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth. El is likely related to the word Elohim and is used in conjunction with other descriptive words to specifically reference a particular characteristic of God. Shaddai derives from the word for a woman’s breast (shad) and literally means “many breasted one.” This denotes God as provider, supplying, nourishing, and satisfying his people with their needs as a mother would her child. God our sustainer. Shaddai is also related to the Hebrew word shadad which means to overpower or destroy, referring to God’s absolute power. This describes God as the one who triumphs over every obstacle and all opposition. Used together El Shaddai is usually translated Lord God Almighty. God is our all-powerful and all-sufficient sustainer.

EL OLAM (THE EVERLASTING GOD) First seen in Genesis 21:33; and used 439 times in the Bible. El is likely related to the word Elohim and is used in conjunction with other descriptive words to specifically reference a particular characteristic of God. Olam means forever, always, continuous existence, perpetual, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, indefinite or unending future, eternity. Used together El Olam means The Everlasting God. He exists beyond time and space. We can take comfort in the fact that God always was, and always will be God. Nothing we can ever face will change that because God is unchangeable.

JEHOVAH JIREH (THE LORD WILL PROVIDE) Only occurs once in Genesis 22:14; Jehovah is actually YHWH (see Yahweh above) and means Lord and Master. It is the promised and proper name of God. Jireh means to see or provide. When Isaac asked Abraham where the lamb was for the sacrifice, Abraham replied that the Lord would provide. After God provided the ram for the sacrifice Abraham named that place on Mount Moriah Jehovah Jireh, meaning The Lord Will Provide. God is quietly arranging things behind the scenes so that they will be in just the right place exactly when we need them.

JEHOVAH RAPHA (THE LORD WHO HEALS YOU) Occurs only once in Exodus 15:26; Jehovah is actually YHWH (see Yahweh above) and means Lord and Master. It is the promised and proper name of God. Rapha means to heal or make healthful. Together Jehovah Rapha means The Lord Who Heals You. God is the Great Physician who heals his people. This truth in God’s name applies equally to emotional, psychological, and physical healing as well as to nations and individuals alike.

JEHOVAH NISSI (THE LORD IS MY BANNER) Occurs only once in Exodus 17:15; Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Jehovah is actually YHWH (see Yahweh above) and means Lord and Master. It is the promised and proper name of God. Nissi means flag or banner so together Jehovah Nissi means The Lord Is My Banner. God himself is our banner and victory. He gives us hope and a focus, and is the one who wins our battles.

EL QANNA (JEALOUS GOD) First seen in Exodus 20:5; and used 6 times in the Bible. El is likely related to the word Elohim and is used in conjunction with other descriptive words to specifically reference a particular characteristic of God. Qanna means jealous, zealous, or envy. Used together El Qanna means Jealous God. God’s jealousy is a holy, loving jealousy without any of the insecure manipulation or control that comes packaged with worldly jealousy. It draws from the marriage relationship with a picture of a husband jealous for his wife. God longs for each of us to put him first in our lives in priority and importance, not out out of ego, but because he knows that is truly what is best for us.

JEHOVAH MEKODDISHKEM (THE LORD WHO SANCTIFIES YOU) First seen in Exodus 31:13; (Only other occurrence is in Leviticus 20:8;) Jehovah is actually YHWH (see Yahweh above) and means Lord and Master. It is the promised and proper name of God. Mekoddishkem means holy or set apart. It is the process of sanctification, which is the separation of something so that it is holy. Used together Jehovah Mekoddishkem (can have the variant spelling Jehovah M’Kaddesh) means The Lord Who Sanctifies You. God sets us apart as his children when we become believers. He sanctifies us and makes us holy because we are incapable of it on our own.

JEHOVAH SHALOM (THE LORD IS PEACE) Occurs only once in Judges 6:24; Jehovah is actually YHWH (see Yahweh above) and means Lord and Master. It is the promised and proper name of God. Shalom means peace, absence of strife, complete, or sound. Used together Jehovah Shalom means The Lord Is Peace. When it seems like the whole world is against you or that you you are completely unable to deal with whatever problem is in front of you, turn to the God of peace to find comfort and strength.

JEHOVAH SABAOTH (THE LORD OF HOSTS) First seen in 1 Samuel 1:3sed and used in the Bible more than 285 times. Jehovah is actually YHWH (see Yahweh above) and means Lord and Master. It is the promised and proper name of God. Sabaoth means an army going out to war. Used together Jehovah Sabaoth means The Lord of Armies or The Lord of Hosts. The Lord reigns over a vast well ordered host in the heavenlies. God is always there to defend us, fight our battles, and win our wars. There is no enemy he cannot defeat.

JEHOVAH RAAH (THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD) Occurs once in Psalms 23:1; (Raah is also used in reference to God in Genesis 48:15; Genesis 49:24; and Psalm 80:1;) Jehovah is actually YHWH (see Yahweh above) and means Lord and Master. It is the promised and proper name of God. Raah means to shepherd or feed, to supply with food, and to be a good friend. Jehovah Raah means The Lord Is My Shepherd. God is a friend who provides extravagant nourishment, protection, as well as rest for our weary bodies and souls.

JEHOVAH TSIDKENU (THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS) First seen in Jeremiah 23:6;  Only other occurrence is in Jeremiah 33:16; Jehovah is actually YHWH (see Yahweh above) and means Lord and Master. It is the promised and proper name of God. Tsidkenu means justice, rightness, righteousness, deliverance, victory, and prosperity. Used together Jehovah Tsidkenu means The Lord Who Is Our Righteousness. God himself stands for us and provides us with His righteousness and justice when we don’t have any in ourselves. He is the one who provides victory and our prosperity.

JEHOVAH SHAMMAH (THE LORD IS THERE) Occurs only once in Ezekiel 48:35; Jehovah is actually YHWH (see Yahweh above) and means Lord and Master. It is the promised and proper name of God. Shammah is an adverb that simply means there, although when it’s used in relation to time it means then. Together Jehovah Shammah means The Lord is There. God revealed this name at a time when Israel was in rebellion and in captivity. God was letting the Jews know that he had not forsaken them and that he was still there, both in their present as well as in their future. Regardless of what you are going through, or what you are heading into, you can take comfort knowing that God is already there

AN AWESOME PICTURE IN JOSHUA

      The Bible is full of pictures which depict the blood of Jesus. Some are hidden and you need to dig them out. They contain some of the most precious nuggets in the Bible and I would like us to look at a few tin this article.

     Rahab had lived in the protection of big rocks for years. Her house was built on a wall and it would be pretty difficult for anyone to scale the wall to attack. So you could say she lived in reasonable safety. Just like everyone else in Jericho, Rahab had put her trust in those big walls of rock to discourage roaming bands of outlaws and also the walls were there to protect against foreign armies. For hundreds of years the walls of Jericho had proven to be impenetrable and there was no reason to doubt their invincibility.

OR WAS THERE?

     For weeks, the people of Jericho had been talking about and hearing about a roving band of Hebrews who apparently were approaching Jericho with takeover of Jericho in mind. The story told was that they had an invincible God looking out for them. He had apparently already dried up the red sea so they could just march straight across when they left Egypt. This same God had given them victory over Sihon, the King of the Amorites and over Og the King of Bashan. It was reported that both tribes had been utterly destroyed. Now the fear of Israel and its God was gripping the people of Jericho so the news was intensifying.

     When Joshua sent two spies into the city of Jericho, Rahab had already made up her mind that the walls of Jericho could not be trusted anymore. So, Rahab hid the two spies out of sight of the soldiers of Jericho and when the coast was clear she helped the two Israelites escape through her window which was on the wall. She lowered them down to the ground by means of a scarlet rope. It was interesting to see that Rahab became a believer and that when she did, she ‘confessed with her mouth’ that God was God. Joshua 2: 11 says, . . .for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above, and in earth below.” She confessed her new found faith in God to the spies  and then struck a deal with them. This deal would ultimately write her name in history with the likes of Abraham Moses and Samson, David and others in the heroes of faith found in Hebrews 11.

     So, the spies instructed Rahab, “Take this scarlet rope,” put it in your window so it can be seen from outside the city. When we see the scarlet cord, we will spare everyone who is in your house. We all know the typology behind this but it bears repeating. When Christ sees the blood covering us, He will spare us from the wrath to come. When the people were instructed to sprinkle the blood on the lintel’s and doorposts, the death angel was to pass over the house and spare all in side. I also like to think this is a picture of the world looking in on a Christian. When they look at us from the outside, do they see the blood of Christ or is it hidden.  Do we exhibit Christ in our lives to the point that the bloodline shows through us for others to see just as the scarlet cord was hanging out her window for all to see. Signifying there were believers inside? Rahab’s faith led to her obedience. She placed the scarlet cord in her window, called her relatives to her

house and waited for deliverance.

     Here is a lesson. We are saved, we cover ourselves in the blood of the lamb and then we call all into our belief who will come and then we wait for the deliverer. The spies looked for the scarlet cord in Rahab’s window and rescued Rahab and her family from Jericho’s destruction. Rahab’s deliverance is a beautiful picture of redemption through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. God redeemed this Canaanite harlot and the New Testament apostle Matthew tells us that she went on to marry Salmon Matthew 1:4-5;. Out of this marriage was born Boaz who married Ruth and became the father of Obed. And Obed was the father of Jesse, the father of none other than King David.

     So, Rahab is one of only four women to be mentioned by name in the genealogy of Jesus. Rahab’s salvation was just an inkling of Jesus’ death for people of every race and creed. Rahab’s deliverance through the scarlet cord is just one of many pictures of Jesus in this wonderful action packed book of Joshua.

     Even before the Israelites victory at Jericho, we can see Jesus in the lives of the Jews. The book of John gives us the name of the place where the Jordan rolled back and the Jews crossed over into the promised land: Bethabara. It is the same place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus John 1:28; Beth means ‘house’ and ‘abara’ means passage; therefore Bethabara literally means ‘the house of passage.’ Jesus is our ‘house of passage.’ He is the way into all the promises of God: “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” 2 Corinthians 1:20;

     Through Christ we cross over into the promises of the Kingdom of God. The waters of the Jordan were rolled back all the way to a city called Adam Joshua 3:16; What a beautiful picture! Jesus not only takes our sins away but He also cleanses us from all sin all the way back to Adam. Sin started with Adam in the garden of Eden, but Jesus is the ‘last Adam’ who did away with all sin. I Corinthians 15:45; That’s why Paul tells us to forget those things which are behind us and reach for those things before us Philippians 3:13;

     So, how far back are we to forget those things which are behind? All the way back to Adam. So don’t say my grandfather was this or my great grandmother did that. Jesus is your passage into the promises of God and He has cleansed you all the way back to Adam.

     The book of Joshua is powerful. Even the name Joshua, (in Hebrew Yeshua) means, “Jehovah (or Yahweh) is salvation.” In the Greek “Jesus” means Yeshua. In Hebrews 4:8; Joshua is directly contrasted to Jesus. Joshua was the conqueror who led the Israelites into their inheritance, while Jesus is the captain of our salvation, bringing us into glory. Hebrews 2:10;

     Every rope that is in the British Navy has a red line running through the middle of it. It denotes their faith in God and His ability to protect them from harm. Similarly there is a scarlet thread of redemption that runs through every book of the Bible and it identifies each book as belonging to God’s great plan of redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. I do not think that red thread is more visible than in the pages of Joshua.

This book has tremendous lessons for today and it also has tremendous pictures of Jesus life work and death on our behalf. The scarlet thread of redemption brings life wherever it goes. As we read through the pages of Joshua we should allow God to speak life to our spirits and to make us more than conquerors through the blood of Christ.

 

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

 

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

What’s in a name? We name our cars, Betsy, cream puff, beauty and hunk a junk. We give each other nick names like, bubba, geezer, pumpkin, dumpling, sugar pie, In some other cultures they have names for their kids that sound a little strange to us and make you wonder how they came up with them, like Ping, Wang, chew fat and so on. We even give our pets names that are better suited to humans like Ben, Mack, Lizzy and Millie. We were talking to our son and he has two miniature Chihuahua’s. One he calls, Fuji and the other he calls Ginsu. That’s Film and a sharp knife, Go figure!

Is there something important about your name? In a day when it seems that people are willing to name their children just about anything, Juniper, Fuzzy, Pelican, Meatloaf, Stinker and so on, it seems we have lost sight of what God says is important about naming our children.

In Bible times, when children were born, they were given names that carried some sort of significant meaning that would shadow their character for the rest of their entire lives.

Genesis 17:5 says, “Neither shall thy name be any more called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.”

The name Abram in case you were not aware means, “high father,” the name Abraham means “father of a great multitude.” The reason God changed Abram’s name to Abraham is because God wanted Abraham to know there was only one “High Father,” Our Father in heaven.

Abraham would be the one who God would bless to bring forth God’s own chosen people of Israel. The name that God gave to Abraham was like a seal upon the promise of God to multiply Abraham’s family until they were as many as the sands upon the seashore.

If a name was not important and did not carry some significance, why would God bother to change Abram’s name in the first place?

In Genesis 32:28 we see where God changed the name of a man once again, “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince thou hast power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

The name Jacob means “one that supplants, undermines and the heel.” And, of course, Jacob lived up to his name. From the moment of his birth when he caught his twin brother by the heel during their delivery into this world, until the time God changed his heart forever, Jacob was always attempting to get what he wanted by being devious.

He stole his brother’s birthright through scheming to catch Esau when he was at his weakest moment. He stole his father’s blessing when Isaac lay dying by wearing an animal skin to fool Isaac into thinking that he was Esau.

In Jacob we can see all the efforts of man to by-pass or to ignore God’s plan for salvation and to attempt to get to Heaven through his own plans and methods.

Just as it took Jacob wrestling with God all night long, before he could be forever changed, men and women everywhere wrestle with their own heart, fighting against the call of God, arguing with the truth of the Gospel, until one day, hopefully, they will finally come to the conclusion that there is only one way to Heaven and that’s God’s way, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, meaning, “one who prevails with God.” That does not mean that Jacob defeated God to get his own way, it means he would not give up until he received God’s blessing. Before the “angel of the Lord,” who every Bible scholar I have ever read, agrees was the pre incarnate Christ, left the fight with Jacob, he touched Jacob and gave him a limp to let him know two things.

First, He was letting Jacob know he did not have the physical ability or power to overcome or alter God’s plan.

Second, He was letting Jacob know that God was giving Jacob a new name and a new purpose, as though he were being “born again” aft4er a fashion into new life that would give him the ability to be a part of God’s plan for the salvation of all men through his generations of children that would, one day, bring forth the Messiah.

God chose to change the name of Jacob to Israel for a purpose. It was because there was great significance in a name.

Proverbs 22:1, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.”

Ecclesiastes 7:1, “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.”

People have lost the significance of a name in our present society. Either the names they give many of their children are whimsical or they are named with no thought of God in mind.

When the 1960’s ended, San Francisco’s hippie district reverted back to a high rent district forcing the hippies to move down the coast to Santa Cruz. These hippies had children and they got married too, although they did that in no particular order. But, they didn’t name their children Melissa or Brett. The neighbors in the Santa Cruz area got used to their own children playing Frisbee with these new neighbors and their kids named Time Warp and Spring Fever. Eventually, Moonbeam, Earth, Love, and Precious Promise moved to town as well and you guessed it, they all ended up in public school.

That was when the kindergarten teachers in Santa Cruise met Fruit Stand. Every fall, according to tradition, parents bravely apply name tags to their children, kiss them goodbye and send them off to school on the school bus.

So it was for Fruit Stand. The teachers thought that this kids name was rather odd, but they tried to make the best of it. “Fruit Stand, Would you like to play with the blocks,” they offered. And then a while later, “Fruit Stand, how about a snack?” Fruit Stand accepted the food rather hesitantly. By the end of the day, his name didn’t seem much stranger than Heather or Sun Ray’s name.

At dismissal time, the teachers led the children out to the buses. “Fruit Stand, Do you know which bus you belong on?” The teachers asked.

He did not answer. This wasn’t strange to the teachers because he hadn’t answered them all day any way. Lots of children are shy the first day. But, it didn’t matter. The teachers had instructed the parents before school to write the names of their children’s bus stops on the back of their name tags. The teacher simply turned over the tag and there, neatly printed was the word, “Anthony.”

There have been those throughout history who have realized just how important their name was and they have done everything within their power to guard that name. No one could persuade them, at any cost, to bring reproach upon their good name because for many of them, that good name was all they had.

After the American Civil War the managers of the infamous Louisiana Lottery approached Robert E. Lee and asked if he’d let them use his name for their scheme. They promised that if he did he would become rich.

He was flabbergasted. He squared his shoulders, buttoned his grey coat, and shouted, “Gentlemen, I lost my home in the war, I lost my fortune in the war. I lost everything except my

name. My name is not for sale, and if you fellows don’t get out of here, I’ll break this crutch over your collective heads!”

There have been a lot of people throughout history who have earned names that they really didn’t want, and many who have committed evil crimes and allowed Satan to let their names be forever remembered as a scourge upon humanity. Names like, Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Eedy Amin, Choucesku, Sadam Hussein. And others are an unforgettable reminder of man’s inhumanity to man.

Charles the Simple was the son of Louis the Stammerer. He was called that because of his policy of making concessions to Norse invaders rather than fighting them.

Louis the Sluggard, he was noted for his self indulgence, he ruled from 986 to 987 over the Franks.

Ethelred the unready who ruled in 968 to 1016 was called the unready because of his inability to repel the invasion of the Danish in England. At first he paid tribute to the Danes, but their raids continued and he was forced to abandon England and go to Normandy one year after becoming ruler. Those who are more generous call him Ethelred the ill advised.

Louis the Fat, like his father was obese. At age 47 because of his extreme corpulence, he was unable to even get on his horse.

Names like George Patton, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Charlemagne, and William Wallace remind us that there are men who will give their all to make this world a better place to live.

There are names like Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, John Calvin, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and many more who bring to mind the heroes of our faith and the great evangelistic moves of God in this world.

Yes, there is something very significant about a name. All of us should guard our name so that when your name is mentioned there will always be a positive thought that pops into people’s minds.

The best way to guard your name is by being faithful to God and living in obedience to His Word. Listen to what Paul says in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law.”

If we do not break the laws of man, or offend the laws of God, then we will carry a good name that bears respect. Live by the Spirit, be filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, and walk in the ways of the Lord and you will never find your name as a lawbreaker and you will always be known as a responsible citizen. And if your name is ever known as a lawbreaker in this world it will be because you are living according to a higher law.

Your name, my name and the names of all people will immediately bring to mind the kind of person that we are in the eyes of others. BUT,

There is one name that is above every name, and one name that carries a greater significance than any other name in all of history.

That name is, the Name of Jesus.

Philippians 2:9-11, “Wherefore God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, There’s just something about that name. Master, Savior, Jesus, Like the fragrance after the rain. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Let all heaven and earth proclaim, Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s something about that name.

No other name can bring peace to the troubled heart and soul like the name of JESUS. No other name can bring encouragement to those who are depressed and discouraged like the name of JESUS. No other name can give strength to the weak and lonely like the name of JESUS. No other name can bring deliverance to a sin sick soul like the name of JESUS No other name can bring us to a place of victory, power, healing and love for our fellowman like JESUS.

David wrote a beautiful prayer and song of praise unto the coming King of Kings in Psalms 72:1-20; He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall save the souls of the needy. His name shall endue forever: His name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name forever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory.”

No other name in history has had, or will ever have, the impact that the name of JESUS has. When we speak that name, JESUS, everything in both Heaven and Hell, stops to see what will happen next. When we speak that name, JESUS, peace will flood our soul and the Holy Ghost within us seems to come alive in a greater measure. At the name of JESUS, all creation bows in obedience. At the name of JESUS, the wind and the waves quit roaring. At the name of JESUS, all of Heaven sings in glorious victory and praise for the Son of God, who has purchased victory over sin with His own Precious blood upon the cross.

Jesus Christ, the only son of God came down to this earth and took upon him the form of a man. Driven by his love for man, who was created in the image of God, and who was eternally condemned to death for sin, Jesus chose to go to the cross and give his life, shed His blood, and die there for you and for me because we had no other hope of deliverance.

Jesus Christ, died and rose again by his own power on the third day, to become the first-fruits of all men who will only believe in the name of Jesus as their Savior, Lord and King.

Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God as though Jesus were standing to welcome Stephen to the portals of Heaven, as he died a martyr’s death.

Paul saw Jesus seated at the right hand of God signifying that all power in Heaven and in the earth belongs to Jesus because the term “right hand” always speaks of a place of authority and power. The name of Jesus brings to bear all the power of God to meet every need that everyone will ever have. The problem is that not all men will call upon him in their hour of need. What about each of you right now? What does the name Jesus mean to you. When you hear the name, Jesus, what thoughts come immediately to your heart and mind?

For many, the name of Jesus carries little significance other than some story like a fairy tale that they heard long ago because they have never met him and do not know Him.

For others the name of Jesus only strikes fear and dread into their hearts because they have learned of him and heard of him and they know that they must come to him and accept his sacrifice or they will face an eternity without God. They know that Jesus is the only way but they are unwilling to surrender to him, choosing rather to serve their own desires and to walk in the paths of rebellion against God while gambling with their very soul. What a sad state these people are in. They are rejecting and spurning their only hope. Eternity without Jesus will be a long, long, long time to remember that they chose not to allow him to be their Savior and Lord.

For others, perhaps even some of you reading this today, you have heard the name of Jesus and have accepted His sacrifice for your sins and you have begun to walk according to his will, but, somehow, over time, you have lost your zeal for him. You have begun to take him for granted. The name of Jesus doesn’t excite the “fire within our hearts,” that it used to.

You have become complacent in your walk with the Lord. You are not excited about being part of a church anymore. You just live a good life, just squeaking by, walking just far enough away from him that you seldom hear his voice anymore. You go for days without praying or talking to Jesus. He is still there with you but you just tend to ignore him most of the time. It won’t be long until you don’t hear his voice at all.

It’s time to turn back to him and look full in his wonderful face. When you are looking into the face of Jesus, calling his name, you cannot live without him. You need his presence, his glory and his power in your life and you can’t live a minute without thinking of his will for your life.

I pray that all of us are just amazed beyond words that the very Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord, lives within your heart right now. To think that the same God who is omnipresent throughout all creation, and who has all omnipotent power to speak and do whatever he wants, and who is omniscient, knowing everything about everything from eternity past to eternity future, cares enough about you and I to move in and live within our hearts, is just incomprehensible to me.

I can’t understand it. I just accept him by faith and let him move in. What a wonderful life we can have when Jesus moves into our heart. In the words of one of the old hymns found in a lot of church hymnals,

“What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought, Since Jesus came into my heart,

I have light in my soul for which long I had sought, Since Jesus came into my heart.

I have ceased from my wanderings and going astray, Since Jesus came into my heart,

And my sins which were many are all washed away, Since Jesus came into my heart.

I am possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure, Since Jesus came into my heart,

And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure, Since Jesus came into my heart.

There’s a light in the valley of death now for me, Since Jesus came into my heart,

And the gates of the city beyond I can see, Since Jesus came into my heart.

I shall go there to dwell in that city I know, Since Jesus came into my heart,

And I’m happy, so happy, as onward I go, Since Jesus came into my heart.

Is that how the name of Jesus makes you feel today? The name of Jesus will have a powerful effect upon your heart and life, either for good or for bad depending on how you treat him and whether you accept him or not.

What will you do with that name? Will you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Now is the accepted time. Come to Him while the Spirit is calling.