Notes:

Date: August 1, 2003

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Scripture Reference:

Various Old and New Testament Scriptures

Lesson 14.. (August 1, '03) The Name of Jesus Part 1I

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WHAT''S IN A NAME ... (Specifically in HIS NAME)

Lesson # 14 - The Name of Jesus, Part Two

We covered many titles given to Jesus Christ, our Messiah and their meanings in the last lesson. If you didn't get that lesson, you might want to click on 'Previous Lessons' and go to Lesson # 13, The Name of Jesus, Part One, in the Archives before you read this one today.

To the Hebrew mind, and in Biblical terminology as indicated in Scripture, a name is more than just an identifying title for a person. A name carried with it the essence of a person - the character, reputation, (specifically, reputation by inheritance) authority, worth, ownership, and many other attributes descriptive of the person and all that the person represents.

That a name is descriptive is evident in Scripture. The list is too long to cover all the examples so I'll mention just a few. Abram's name was changed from Abram, which meant: "exalted father", to Abraham meaning: "father of a multitude" when he became a friend of God by faith, and founder of the nation of Israel through the covenant God made with him.

Jacob means: "heel holder" or "supplanter" and was the son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel, and the name certainly was fitting in his part in the plan of God for Israel's beginnings, as he had to carry the birthright in order to fulfill his destiny of leadership in the line of the Messiah to come. God changed his name to "Israel" meaning "God prevails"and he had power with God and prevailed. (Genesis 32:28)

Saul had his name changed to Paul after he had his encounter with our Lord Jesus. Saul was the Jewish name of the Apostle, meaning literally, "desired." It actually fits him before his conversion, doesn't it? He was certainly zealous and desired to do everything with a passion and determination to stamp out what he believed to be heresy, as we see in the records of his persecution of the church. He was desirous to pursue the legalistic letter of the law in his religious fervor. Paul, his Greek name, means "small or little." I believe this speaks volumes about the significance of his name. After he was chosen to become probably the most famous and esteemed apostle of them all, he constantly, like John the Baptist, esteemed himself as the chiefest of sinners and of no repute when compared to our Savior. In his writing, he consistently lifts Jesus up and plays down his own importance. His name, being changed from a Jewish name to a Greek name also shows his calling, as he was highly instrumental and played a singularly important part in the Gospel being preached to the Gentiles from then on.

Even the demons have names with significant meanings as in the case of 'Legion' in Mark 5:9. When asked for a name, the response was, "Legion, for we are many."

We could go on and on with examples, but the focus here is the Name of Jesus. I just wanted to establish the importance and significance of a name in Biblical terminology.

The name, 'Jesus' (Hebrew: Yeshuah" meaning, "God is Salvation") was not uncommon in His day. The meaning of the name held importance in the Hebrew mind because of the expected salvation that 'Messiah' would bring. It was not just the name He was called or spoken that brought the power and authority; it was WHO He was and is that embodies all the Name implies. There is no mystical power in speaking that name as we see in the case of the seven sons of Sceva (who was a Jewish chief priest) ... Acts 19:13-16. They were attempting to cast out evil spirits by the Name of Jesus, but not having the authority to do so, the demons replied that they knew Jesus and they knew Paul, but they knew not the sons of Sceva, and they lept on them, wounded them and left them naked and fleeing. So we can see that simply voicing the Name of Jesus is not all of the matter and not a formula to be used to achieve a desired goal! Nor is it just a phrase to end a prayer as some are in the habit of doing, without a thought or understanding of the implications of using the Name of Jesus.

I'd like to use an example of a legal term we're familiar with in our day, and that's 'power of attorney.' When a person has power of attorney for another person, that person has been given that power by the person represented or a court representative, and has the legal right to act as his or her representative such as ... to make certain legal decisions, sign legal documents, write checks on the person's account, handle finances, and many other things, depending upon the particular permission specified in the power of attorney at the time it's given. Stan and I had power of attorney at one time to sign as a parent would to receive medical treatment for a minor in our custody if it was needed. We had to have that document on our person at all times in case of that event. We had to have proof that the power of attorney to make a decision in the name of the parent had been given to us. A medical facility would not take our word for it. We had to be able to SHOW that proof. Well, as believers in the Name of Jesus, how do we represent Him? How do we show proof, and how do we know we have that power of attorney? And what or whom has He given us authority to represent? And what does it mean to do so IN HIS NAME? These are things I'll begin to cover in this lesson. I think this subject may cover several lessons, so please stay with me. I'll tell you, it's been exciting to research this!

Some things are so simple yet bear examining again, even for seasoned Christians and Bible students. So I'm going to start with the basics.

In the Amplified Version I noticed that whenever the phrase "in My name" was used in the New Testament (speaking of Jesus) there followed in brackets (which indicates justified clarifying words or comments) these words: [As presenting all that I AM] ... Since we know that Jesus represented the Father and all that He is, and Jesus came in the Father's Name, and is a person of the Godhead, the very Son of God, then His Name represents all that God is ... I AM.

How very awesome seems an understatement!

The beginning scripture I chose is: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

Remember we covered the subject of Salvation in Lessons #1 - #7, and if you'd like to review those lessons to see our Salvation in depth, see the Archives.

We know that we must believe on the Name of Jesus.
I John 3:23 ... And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

To believe on the name of Jesus Christ means to believe in WHO He is, all He is, all He represents, all He came to do, all that He's done, all He will do and accept and receive all that He offers in faith for ourselves.
I John 5:20 ... And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

So first of all, we must be in Him, be one of His, be born again, sealed by His Holy Spirit, and have eternal life in order to do things in the Name of Jesus. And then we understand what is His will, His plan, His purpose, His goal, His Love, and all things godly that pertain to Him. There's the beginning of what we need to know to do all things in His Name.

Here's where we should be making our 'lists' (remember, I'm a stickler for lists .. smile)

How do we have the authority to do anything in the Name of Jesus?

If we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ by our new birth, then we are in Him and He in us. And we're partakers of the Covenant that was made by the blood of Jesus and as Jesus explained to His disciples before the fact, ... in John 16: 21 - 23 ...
"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." ...

So we are one with Jesus now and may use His Name as He told us to do.

What things specifically, are we to do we do in His Name?
Let's start with what Jesus Himself told us to do in His Name, and what would result in us representing His Name.

If we receive even a little child in His Name we'll be receiving Him. Matt. 18:5
We must embrace and welcome with open hearts those who come to us as seeking children, looking for the love of Jesus.

When we gather together in His Name, even two or three of us, He's there in the midst of us. Matt. 18:20
We assemble with other believers in His Name to enjoy His presence and feed on His Word and grow in His likeness.

Jesus said, "In My Name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues." Matt. 16:17
We will do miracles in His Name. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever and His Name still commands evil to flee and the demons tremble at that Name!

"But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My Name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you." John 14:26
The Holy Spirit, Who comes in the Name of Jesus and is sent by the Father to call sinners to Himself and to teach us all things pertaining to godliness.

He said we would be hated for His Name's sake, but we should endure to the end. Matt. 10:22 In Revelation, Jesus commends those who have held fast His Name and tells them He has set before them an open door that no man can shut because they have not denied His Name. Rev. 2:13 and 3:8
We usually focus on the so called positive aspects of the privilege and authority we have in Jesus' Name, but remember, Jesus told us we would be hated, and suffer and be persecuted for His Name. That's the part that most of us would skim over or leave out all together if we had our say about it. He also said we would have tribulation, but as in Matt 10 and Rev 2 we must hold fast His Name, not deny it, and suffer for it. Each one of us has his or her portion of that and all the positive thinking and confessing won't change that fact. Because it's God's Word. Thank the Lord, He also said that we would find a way out of our trials and be victorious in them and rise above the level of defeat that the world experiences with suffering and adversity. We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus! Praise His Holy Name!

He said that whatsoever we would ask in His Name, He would do, that the Father would be glorified. John 14:13,14

I've saved this one for last in the list because it had special meaning to me and I saw some things more clearly than I had before. The scripture reference is: John 16: 23 - 28. If you could take the time to read the whole chapter (16) of John it would be so beneficial to understanding just how much Jesus was saying to His disciples here. And continue reading right on into the next chapter (17) where Jesus prayed for us. There is a world of truth and revelation here about what Jesus has given us from the Father.

23. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, he will give it you.
24. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My Name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
25. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
26. At that day ye shall ask in My Name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
27. For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
28. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

Notice that Jesus said we could ask anything of the Father in My Name (Jesus) and Jesus would not need to relay the request for us. We may directly ask our Father/Abba in heaven anything, according to His will, because we now may ask in the authority that Jesus was given when He came from the Father to us, and here is such a precious truth. It's in the power and authority in Jesus' Name that we ask of God, and in legalistic terms we have the right to do so, but don't miss out on the sweetest part of it all, and that is that the Father loves us because we have loved Jesus and have believed that He came from God. So it's not just a legal relationship, it's a LOVE relationship. And because the Father loves us, and we are now his heirs, He gives us permission to act as His children, taking advantage of the privileges that come with sonship as sons and daughters of the most High God. I have a very legalist mind and like to have straightforward terms and things lined out in perfect order, always wanting to understand the hows and whys of everything. So I have to 'switch gears' at times to really appreciate the beauty of the perfection of God's love for us. When I do that I'm like a kid at Christmas with a shiny new toy and I tend to get very excited and awed at our Father's gifts to us! I think that's why I can get into the Word and want more and more of it, because it's so refreshing, and I get so much pleasure out of the things He reveals through His Word by His Holy Spirit when He brings me face to face with His tenderness and His sweetness.

Back to the subject. Part of the prayer Jesus prayed for us:
I have manifested thy name (the Father) unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. - John 17: 6-8

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name: John 1:12
What a wonderful thing! That we have become the sons of God by believing on the Name of Jesus! That is to say again, Everything that He IS, WHO He is, and Everything He's Done!

I hope you're enjoying and most of all, getting something of eternal value out of this study. The Wonderful NAME of JESUS!

I pray you're all well and prospering in the Lord and that you will join in with me as we dig deeper in the next few lessons to study about the wonderful Name of our Lord Jesus.

God's blessings and Love ... Until next month, (Sept. '03)

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Love In Christ,

Genelle

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