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.