What Is Your Name?
Acts 4:10-12 (KJV)
“10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
There are many life changing examples in the Word of God. The entire Word of God is life changing. Jesus used simple parables or short stories to get a point across or to convey a message. He used stories that His audience was familiar with. On many occasions Jesus answered a question by asking a question.
I want to start out today by asking you what is your name? What is important about your name? What is the purpose of your name, or what does your name do?
A name identifies who you are. The dictionary says that a name is the distinctive designation of a person or thing. A name is what separates one person or one thing from something or something else.
We are living in a generation where stolen identity is very common. This is where someone else uses your name, social security number and etc to make purchases and charges these to your account. This can happen from loosing your wallet or purse, or someone coming in contact with documents with this vital information listed on it. It becomes a major ordeal if your identity is stolen. It takes years or a lifetime to correct the damage that is done to your credit and character.
There is another situation that is just as bad. It is called mistaken identity. I have a brother with the initials RMG. At age 16 a man moved in the house beside of my dad. His initials were also RMG. My brother and this individual had the same mailing address, and their names were the same with the exception of the middle name. The mailing address was Route #3, and their community did not require a mailbox number. He only lived there for a few months, but he left happy track for months to come.
This man bought building materials from several of the businesses in town on credit to build a house for someone. He must have been some type of contractor. The strange thing was that no one knew him or bothered to check him out. He had moved to that community from another city and state. After a period of time, he moved and left no forwarding address.
My brother began to get bills for building supplies, and began to get letters and phone calls that he was getting sued for not paying his bills. He had destroyed credit at 16 years old, and he had never had any credit or purchased anything on credit.
One business owner called and talked to my dad. He asked if my brother was Randy M Gibson, and was his address Route #3. My dad said yes, but you have the wrong person. The man said, no I have the right person, and I am going to have him arrested. My dad asked if he knew what the person looked like that made the purchases, and he said yes I do. My dad said I will bring my son to see you.
The man was surprised when they arrived. He said this is not the person that made the purchases. My dad said yes I know, but this is the RMG at Route #3 that you are trying to collect the money from. This example should show the importance of a name.
•There is a Nissan car dealership in my city by the name of Hunt Nissan.
•Their advertising slogan is, “remember if it has our name on it, you have our word on it.
•You name represents you or your character.
•Proverbs 22:1 (NIV) “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”
My dad and I share the same name. I am not a junior because my middle name is different from my dad. My first name was after my dad, and my middle name was after my grandfather.
When I was born the doctor wrote my name on the birth certificate using the initials for my middle name, not my full name. My family never paid any attention to this and neither did I. It is standard for a lot of people with my middle name to abbreviate it to initials.
When we lived in Michigan I went to work at a Nuclear Power Plant. They began to do the background check, and discovered a problem. I had used my full name on several legal documents including my social security card. The problem was that was not my legal name. My legal middle name is initials.
I called my mother and told her that they had called me the wrong name all of my life. She replied that she gave birth to me, and that she named me. She did not care what they said; she knew what my name was. I told her yes that was true, but the doctor wrote it down incorrectly, and my legal name is Virgil WM Gibson. I would have to have a legal name change in-order to become Virgil William Gibson.
•You must be able to identify yourself to know who you are.
•Parents usually pick out a name for their child before it is born.
•A child is named at birth and the doctor sends in a birth certificate form to record the baby’s name.
•A child may be called by a nickname, but the registered name becomes the child’s legal name.
•In Luke 1:30 & 31 the angel told Mary that she was going to bring forth a son and that she was to call Him Jesus.
•I believe that it is important for us to understand the Word of God and the importance of the name of Jesus.
•Jesus is not a way to heaven, but He is the only way to heaven.
•There is salvation only in Jesus name.
•Acts 4:10-12 (NIV) “10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is "`the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. 12 Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
•There are many references to the Name of Jesus in the Bible.
•In Acts chapter 2, the people wanted to know what they had to do to be saved
•Acts 2:37-38 (KJV) “37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
•He is the one that died for our sins.
•John 10:10-11 (KJV) “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
•God revealed Himself to different generations in many different ways.
•God told Moses to tell Pharaoh that the I Am told Him to let His people go from Egyptian bondage. (Exodus 3:14)
•Moses knew that the Egyptian King would not listen to him.
•There was no power in the name of Moses.
•The chief priest sent some men and officials to get Jesus, Jesus asked who they were looking for.
•They told Him that they were looking for Jesus.
•John 18:4-5 (KJV) “4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.”
•The he in this scripture is italicized which means it was added to the original language.
•Jesus said that he was he and this is the same he that gave instructions to Moses.
•You can find everything that you need in Jesus.
•We find many references of Jesus and His birth in the Old Testament.
•Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
•We can go to Him for counsel or when we don’t know what to do.
•He is not a God, but He is the mighty God.
•He is the Everlasting father.
•He is our peace, and we can go to Him when our whole world has shattered.
•He is the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)
•He is coming back after a church called by His name.
•He is the bridegroom, and the church will be His bride. (Matthew 9:15)
•We can go to Him in our darkest hour.
•He is the bright and morning star. (Revelations 22:16)
•He is our deliverer. (Romans 11:26)
•He is Emmanuel, which is God with us. (Isaiah 7:14:
•He was God manifest in the flesh. (1 Timothy 3:16)
•He was and still is a friend of sinners. (Matthew 11:19)
•He is our hope. ( Timothy 1:1)
•Jesus is the way, truth, and the life. (John 14:6)
•He is the Light of the world. (John 8:12)
•He is Lord of Lords. (Re 17:14; 19:16 )
•He is Lord of all. (Acts10:36)
•He is our Lord and Saviour. (2 Peter 1:11; 3:18)
•He is the Lord, mighty in battle. (Psalms 24:8 )
•He is Lord over all. (Romans 10:12)
•He is the Lord strong and mighty. (Psalms 24:8)
•He is the Lord, your redeemer. (Isaiah 43:14)
•He is the only wise God, our Saviour. (Jude 1:25 )
•He is the great physician. (Matthew 9:12)
•He is the good shepherd. (John 10:11)
•He is the true and eternal life. (John 10:11)
•He is eternal. (Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1, Hebrews 1:8-10.)
•Eternal = having neither beginning nor end of existence. Having no end.
•He is Omnipresent. (Matthew 18:20; 28:20, & John 3:13)
•Omnipresent = the quality of being everywhere present at the same time.
•He is Omnipotent. (Psalms 45:3, Philippians 3:21, & Revelation 1:8)
•Omnipotent = unlimited in authority or power.
•He is unchangeable. (Malachi 3:6 & Hebrews 1:12)
•All things were made by Him.
•John 1:10 (KJV) “10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.”
•Jesus is your answer.
•In the Old Testament Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord.
•You cannot resist or struggle with the Lord or His Word and get by.
•You will never win a wrestling match with God.
•It is time for you to yield to His Word and His voice.
•It is time to surrender and say yes to the Lord and His Word.
•Jacob had a name change after his encounter with the Angel of the Lord.
•Genesis 32:27-28 (KJV) “27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”
•The change in name indicates a change in character.
•Do you need a name change?
•God forced Jacob to look at his character when He asked him his name.
•An encounter with Jesus will cause us to take a look at who we are.
•God wants to change your character.
•You can only change through Him.
When I married my wife she took on my name. She was Joy Roberts, but on May 15, 1970 she became Joy Gibson. She took on my name to show a sign of our relationship. She became my wife, and her name was changed.
•The church is the Bride of Christ, and how do we take on His name?
•Galatians 3:27 (KJV) “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
•After an encounter with Jesus, Saul changed his life from bad to good, and he also changed his name from Saul to Paul.
•Names say something about who you are.
•What does your name say about your relationship with God?
•Has Jesus been applied to your life?
•Has your sins been washed away or remitted in His name. (Acts 2:38)
•Colossians 3:17(KJV) “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
•What Is Your Name?
