What Have You Done With My Name
by Rev. Gregg Rustulka
August 2, 2007
Luke 1: 26-33 “... and you are to give him the name Jesus ...”
Names are important. Names have meaning. A name can define an event, an item, an emotion, a problem, animals, plants ... every name is significant.
People use names to identify each other, and in olden times a persons name summed up his whole person. God gave names to certain people like Jesus, John, Abram-Abraham, Jacob-Israel, Saul-Paul, Simon-Peter, to identify people in order to define for them their purpose and mission in life. Wow ... imagine what your name must mean, for God put your name in heart and mind of your parents and your name too is defined by God.
I have a name ... you have a name.
My mother gave me 2 names, my father one. My surname is Rustulka ... and it has relevance. There is no name like it. Every Rustulka on the planet is related ... the name is only 4 generations old now ... I am a 2nd generation holder of that name. It is a unique name, and I’m proud of it.
The personal names my mother gave me were significant to her. She named me in remembrance of 2 people she adored. I had no choice in my name, and some days I wonder what my mother was thinking of when she gave me those names ... she was definitely not thinking about me! Because other kids abused my names for their glory, and my shame ... but they are still my name.
Today I now appreciate my name ... especially since I discovered what my names mean.
My first and second names mean: vigilant-watchful, and free-truthful. Do you think God had a hand in my names being what they are?
Do you ever wonder what your names mean? Do you recognize that the names you have were not just given to you by your parents ... but God also had a part in your name being what it is?
Now here is a question that you may never have asked before, or have ever had asked to you before ... but it has deep significance.
ARE YOU LIVING UP TO YOUR NAME?
When Mary was approached by the angel and he brought her the news that she would give birth to a son, and he shall be the son of the Most High God; and that his name shall be called Jesus, she knew the significance of the name that God had chosen for this child. She was told that he would be the deliverer, the messiah, and he would deliver His people from their sin.
The name Jesus means: God rescues/saves - The Lord is salvation - Emmanuel: God with us.
The second name we associate with Jesus is Christ. It is important to know that this was not the surname of Jesus ... Jesus did not have a surname like we do, but rather he was recognized as Jesus, the son of Joseph of Nazareth. This is how he was identified.
The name Christ is a “title” ... a position. It means “anointed one” or in the Hebrew- “Messiah”.
And so we find that when Jesus is recognized as the Christ Jesus, his followers were recognizing him as the Messiah Jesus, or the Anointed One Jesus.
Thus we find that when the early disciples of Jesus were called Christians, they were called this to identify them as Christ followers - Messiah followers, or as “followers of the Anointed One Jesus.
Jesus when he called the disciples he said “follow me”. Today, the Lord is still calling you, his disciples, those who would follow him, and he is saying to you and me “come, follow me.”
When Jesus gave us his name, Christian, he also gave us the responsibility of being identified with his name. When we call ourselves Christians we are being identified as followers of Jesus ... a people that do what he teaches ... a people that do what he did ... a people that believe as he believed ... and a people that teach what he taught. We are recognized as Christ followers when we obey his commands and teaching and it is evidenced in how we live our lives.
As a Christian, we have embraced the culture of Jesus ... His culture. His teachings are what we are committed to. Even when we pray we are to pray in such a way so that we are identified with the one to whom we pray to ... we are commanded to pray in the name of Jesus, and answers come - and things get done. (John 14:13)
We are reminded of the power of that name. Phil. 2:10 “For at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, every tongue confess, that Jesus is Lord.” Jesus reminds us that because of his name we “can ask that mountain to move ... and it will move. (Matt 17:20)” Using the name of Jesus, the one we identify with, we can see healings happen (James 5:14-15): the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the sick to get well, the lame to walk, the dead to rise (Matt 11:4-6)... all power is in that name. In the name of Jesus we will have all of our needs met, the desires of our heart granted to us (Prov. 10:24), our life path made straight and have purpose. All of this is ours because of the name of Jesus. (John 14:14). And we are identified with that name because we are called Christian - followers of Jesus.
Jesus also reminds us that all the things that we have seen Him do, we too shall do ... and even more (John 14:12-13). All because of His name, and we are identified with Him.
So, here is a question that should hold great consideration for us. Jesus is here, and today he is asking this simple question: ‘what have you done with my name?’
Am I living up to the name of the one whom is within me? Am I living in the power of His name? Am I experiencing every thing that I can experience through His name? Am I living up to the name that Jesus has given me ... a child of God. You see my friends, IF we are not living up to this name, and evidencing these things in our own lives ... is it possible that we may not be living up to our name as Christian? Is this honoring to God? Is this what he has planned for us?
My family takes pride in the Rustulka name. We have a reputation. Now more than ever our name is beginning to have a new recognition. The name Rustulka at one time did not hold much promise or identify the family in a positive manner. However, this is now being changed because we as a family have recognized the importance of a good name, and we are striving to live a different life style than those of our grandparents who started the name. As my children walk through this world with our name, they are walking with the identity of that name, and my desire is - that this name would be a name that reflects the meaning of my name: vigilant-watchful, and free-truthful, Christ follower.
Even more so, am I living up to my real surname: Christian. Is my Heavenly Father, and the Lord Jesus, proud of me? Am I living up to the family name?
We have a responsibility to live up to the name of Jesus Christ. We have an obligation to carry on that wonderful name, if we are truly to be called Christian. The greatest joy of all is that we are enabled to live up to that name. We are enabled to walk in recognition of that name ... and that enablment comes from the very spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, who reminds us of that name, and the meaning of that name always. He speaks direction into our lives daily that help us walk in manner that is a blessing to that wonderful name of Jesus.
As we live the name Christian, what can we expect?
Reality:
* We will be hated & persecuted, because Jesus was hated and persecuted (John 15:18-25)
* We can be taken advantage of. (Matt. 5:40)
* We may not be accepted: John 5:43 “I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.”
* We may have to suffer physically, and be publicly shamed because of His name (Acts 5:41; 9:16)
Now this doesn’t sound all that positive or appealing does it?
Ah, but wait! There is more!
There are Blessings:
* We have the right to become children of God ... born of God, called by his name. (John 1:12)
* We are saved by the name of Jesus (Acts 2:21; 4:12)
* We are healed by the name of Jesus (Acts 3:16)
* Blessings come and are given by the name of Jesus (John 12:13, John 14:13)
* Brings us the Holy Spirit, whom God sends to teach us all things. (John 14:26)
* It gives us our life assignment, our purpose - called to bear fruit (John 15:16)
* It builds our confidence and faith.
* We become known, identified, by His name and given honor (John 17:6; Acts 2:38)
* We are protected by the power of God’s name (John 17:11)
* We have life, physical and eternal (spiritual) in His name (John20:31)
* We are given boldness and strength to speak and do in Jesus name. (Acts 4:20; 9:27, 29)
* We can bind demons and their demonic powers, and drive them out in the name of Jesus (Mark 3:15)
* We are given the power to do ALL things in the name of Jesus (John 14:12-14).
* We can evangelize the world through the name of Jesus (Rom. 1: 5-6)
* We are called to be holy and sanctified through the name of Jesus ...a command (1 Cor. 1:2)
* We are justified ... our record is cleared ... we are made clean before God through the name of Jesus (1 Cor. 6:11).
Oh the incredible benefits of having the name of Jesus Christ, and living under that name! And there is even more. So much more than we can ever think or even imagine.
How about you? Are you living up to your earthly name? Are you living up to the name of Christian ... follower of Jesus the Messiah/anointed one?
My friends, such is the reality of who we are today ... if you have received Jesus Christ into your life ... then you must make Jesus proud ... and we do this by living in accordance to what he commands us to do and say.
Today can be a new day for you if you have discovered that you are not living up to your name. If this is your realization today, then please come to the altar here, right now, and get right before God. Embrace that wonderful name that you have been given. You have been adopted into the family of God ... accepted by Him ... he has given you his name ... and all he desires is that we live up to the name we have been given.
Amen.
