Every Knee Will Bow At The Name Of Jesus

EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AT THE NAME OF JESUS

Phip. 2:5-11

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: KITTEN CHURCH MEMBERS

1. A mother looked out a window and saw Johnny playing church with their three kittens.

2. He had them lined up and was preaching to them. The mother turned around to do some work.

3. A while later she heard meowing and scratching on the door. She went to the window and saw Johnny was BAPTIZING the kittens.

4. She opened the window and said, "Johnny, stop that! You’ll drown those kittens.”

5. Johnny looked at her and said with much conviction in his voice: "They shoulda had thought about that before they joined MY church." [Jeff Strite]

B. NAMES ARE IMPORTANT

1. IDENTITY.

a. You’re standing in a crowded, noisy room—and someone calls your name. Instantly your ears perk up because that combination of sounds comes to be associated with your identity.

b. Family members travel to the Vietnam Memorial where they search for a name and run their fingers over it – because that name is precious! So is the name of Jesus!

2. SELF-FULFILLING.

a. Psychologists studying juvenile delinquents discovered that those with odd or embarrassing names were 4X more likely to get in trouble than kids with traditional names.

b. Malaysia has banned names like : Ah Gong, which means Unsound Mind; Sum Seng, which means Gangster; and Chow Tow, which means Smelly Head – for this reason.

3. SPIRITUALLY names have significance. “Jacob” means “heel grabber,” “Peter” means “rock.” “The angel told Mary the mother of Jesus, ‘You are to give Him the name JESUS, because He will save His people from their sins’” Mt. 1:21.

C. TEXT & THESIS

1. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

2. This message is entitled, “Every Knee Will Bow at the Name of Jesus!” Let’s look at the 5 “E’s” about the Name of Jesus. First...

I. IT’S AN EASY NAME

A. NOT COMPLICATED

1. I love the name of Jesus because it’s easy to say and remember. It’s only got two syllables—just five letters. It’s not like a lot of names in the Bible: Tiglath Pelezer, Adonibezek, Mephibosheth, Zerubbabel, Zaphenath-Paneah, etc.

2. The name Jesus is simple enough for a small child to learn. So simple -- if you need to be saved -- all you have to do is say “Jesus save me!”

3. If someone is drowning, or about to be hit by a car, or is a soldier dying on a battlefield - they only need to breathe, “Jesus! Save me!” Acts 2:21 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

B. BUT THIS NAME HAS BEEN RESISTED

1. Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s son, has created firestorms when he’s used the name ‘Jesus’ in public prayers. As long as people pray to a generic God – or to Buddha, Mohammed, or to Goddess Gaia – there’s no problem.

2. But if you say “Jesus” – get ready – the political thought police will take offense. Why? Because it’s a name that has power in the spiritual realm! It’s amazing how those who lecture Christians on tolerance have zero tolerance for the name of Jesus!

3. It wasn’t any different in the 1st Century. The Jewish leaders forbid the Apostles “to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” Acts 4:18.

4. So Church, today, we must NOT hesitant to speak the Name of Jesus. The world wants to silence us, but God has told us to tell everyone about that Name!

II. IT’S AN ENDURING NAME

A. OBSCURE, YET OMNIPRESENT

1. How is it possible that a person born in obscurity 2,000 years ago, who died as a criminal in a 3rd world country, is still the most well-known name in history!

2. Jesus’ face and name have been on the cover of LIFE, TIME, NEWSWEEK…& NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC more than any other person. He’s one of the top internet searches every year!

B. VAIN ATTEMPTS TO ERASE IT

1. Roman Caesars have tried to destroy His name; Communism, atheism, & pseudo-science have tried to stamp it out.