Saturday, August 4, 2007

There's Something About That Name


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!
The words and music to this song were written by Bill Gather in 1936.

Philippians 2:9...
God ... gave him the name that is above every name.
We all know the power of the name of Jesus don't we? If we have a personal relationship with Christ we should know about the power of his name, but sometimes I think we forget or maybe we just don't have as close a relationship as we should and we have not really seen his power in days or even weeks so we forget that there's something about that name. What a shame our life becomes when we forget the power of Jesus name. After all... God gave him the name that is above all names. That name is JESUS our Lord.

When we call on Jesus we are calling on the name above all other names. We should call with anticipation and hope of an answer and results. That's how powerful the name of Jesus is. I want to take a look at the power of the name of Jesus. I think we need to see for ourselves just exactly what the power of Jesus name can do, and when we finally realize the power of Jesus name, and believe in it, that's when we can finally live our lives in victory over life's hassles and struggles that come our way.

1. The name of Jesus has the power to save us!

Romans 10:13...
for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
The sad reality is that if you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, well your lost, there is no hope for you. The only way to call on the name of Jesus is to realize your need for a Savior. The way this works is the Holy Spirit convicts our hearts of our sinfulness and we suddenly realize that because of our sin we are eternally separated from God unless we realize that Jesus died for us. That he paid the price for our sinfulness when he was sacrificed on the cross and then rose three days later to live forever more. Death had no hold on Jesus, and death has no hold on us either if we have called on the name of Jesus to save us. The name of Jesus is that powerful! So call on the name of the Lord and be saved!

2. The name of Jesus has the power to reward us!

Mark 9:41...
I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
This verse talks about living your life for Christ and if anyone gives you aid in the name of Jesus, that person will not lose his reward. It works the same way if you too give aid to someone in need, especially another believer, another saint serving in the ministry as one of God's children, God will reward that effort and you'll be blessed. We need to help those in need, whether they know Jesus or not because when we serve and come to the aid of others, then quite possibly this generosity might be the only Jesus that people will see. Hopefully they will see the love of Jesus through your actions and eventually come to know Christ as their Savior as well. But just as important, is to aid those in need that already belong to Christ. Jesus has the power to reward those that give or aid others in the name of Jesus. When we help another Christian in their time of need, they see Jesus as work in their life through you. It gives them the strength to carry on and keep on fighting the battle of spreading the Gospel in a world where Satan will stop at nothing to keep that message from getting out. When you help others, always do it in the name of Jesus and watch His power at work.

3. The name of Jesus has the power to give us what we ask for.

John 14:13,14...
(13)And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
(14)You may ask for anything in my name, and I will do it.

John 16:24...
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Sometimes we don't have because we never ask. I think it would be foolish of us to assume that these verses mean that we can just start asking for anything we want and expect God to give us everything we want just because we asked in the name of Jesus. If we are truly lead by the Spirit we will ask for things that the Spirit leads us to ask for. We should know that God knows what we need before we even ask. Be sensitive to your needs and ask for God to supply for your needs. God wants to provide for His children, just like you and I do for our children. It's no different. You see when we ask for God to provide, we're acknowledging that we're depending on God for the provision. We need his help. Just be sure when you ask, ask in the name of Jesus. There is power in his name and we sometimes forget that Jesus is the only one that can improve or change our situation. So often we try and fix things on our own when really what we should have done was ask for God to help us in the name of Jesus.

4. One day everyone will bow at the name of Jesus... Everyone!

Philippians 2:6-11...
Phl 2:6
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
Phl 2:7
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
Phl 2:8
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death–
even death on a cross!
Phl 2:9
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
Phl 2:10
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Phl 2:11
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Finally we see the ultimate power of The name of Jesus. God gave Jesus the name above all names. That means that no one has more authority or power over the name of Jesus. No one! One day...every person will bow at the name of Jesus. You'll either bow now and make him Lord of your life and a receive his free gift of eternal life, or you'll bow later when you finally realize that there is no other name in heaven or on earth or even under the earth that is above the name of Jesus. The sad thing though is if you wait, your life on earth ends and upon your death you are now facing judgement...(it's at this time you'll either go to heaven or to hell) It's also at this very moment that you will finally know without a shadow of doubt the power of the name of Jesus. You will bow and you will acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God. But sadly, because he never knew you, your name will not be written in the lambs book of life. He will tell you to depart from him and you will be cast into the lake of fire and you'll spend eternity separated from the love of God in a place called hell.

There's power in the name of Jesus. The power to save us from hell, the power to reward us when we give aid to others, the power to give us what we ask for, the power to make everyone know that He is Lord, that He has all authority, and He has the power to make everyone bow at his name.

There's just something about that name!

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