2009.03.22 Sermon.A GOOD name.
By William Akehurst,BA,Christian
A pastor friend of mine once told me that people would ask him what level of education or degrees or credentials he had.
His answer was that he had his "BA". He would then explain that BA stood for Born Again. He had his Born Again Credentials.
I told him, I’m going to have to start using it as a Title on my cards as shown above.
Here’s a point to ponder
I read this verse on 3/22/09 as I have read the proverbs chapter corresponding with the date.
Proverbs 22.1 says, A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
What’s in a name?
As a teen and twenty something, going out to social parties, Mom would tell me as I headed for the door, "Remember WHO you are" Prompting my mind to remember that I was an "Akehurst", and not to ’tarnish’ the family name. Believe me, it made me think twice sometimes about doing something wrong because people would know who my family was, my mother, my father, grandfather, etc. I wouldn’t want word to get back to them of some mischief that I had done.
But think about this...
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we are "born" into his family John 1:12 says "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:"
1 Chronicles 7:14 says "my people called by my name"
So, I am William Akehurst, by the name given to my by my earthly father.
But I also, as one of the children of God, take on HIS name, the name of my Christ my Saviour.
Therefore, just as Abram became Abraham, Jacob became Israel, Simon was surnamed Peter, and Saul became Paul...
I, William Akehurst, become William Akehurst Christian!
When a bride marries the groom, the bride typically takes on the name of the groom and drops the maiden name to an abbrievations.
So, if the church is the bride of Christ, then the church takes on the name of Christ.
In my case, that would make me "William A. Christian"
And my new family name carries a holy reputation, one of redemption, one of healing, one of salvation, one of forgiveness, one of patience, one of joy, one of peace, one of love, one of humility, meekness, servanthood.
It is a name that is not to be defiled. I do not want to "Tarnish’ the name of CHRIST. Therefore, I must make it my purpose to live up to the ETERNAL FAMILY NAME that I have been given in Christ.
So if I’m to live up to His Name, as his namesake, then I am to be like my Father in Heaven, so I should be as he is...1 Peter 1:16 says "Be holy for I am holy"
As a child of God, we are made to be a temple. We are not to defile the temple 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Therefore, we must put off the foolishness of this life and live acceptable unto the LORD.
Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
Many people call themselves by this same Eternal Family Name, yet many are not of the family. Some call themselves Christians yet are not truly so because they have not received, accepted, believed and confessed Jesus as LORD. A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches. To be in the CHRISTIAN family, is a CHOICE, one to be chosen.
And some who are calling themselves Christians, and have even chosen to do so, do not cherish the name, but rather tarnish it. Jesus even taught us how good Gods name is when he taught the disciples to pray "Our Father in heaven, HALLOWED be your Name!"
We must cherish the name we have been given, defend it, stand up for it, and tell others about it. We must get the word out. God’s desire is that ALL mankind would come unto him. But we must first put aside our thinking for the material things of this world, and turn from the wickedness in our lives, and humbly go before him, confessing our wrongs, turning to him in repentance and walking in his truth.
1 Chronicles 7:14 promises that God will hear are prayer and heal our land.
We need healing in our land now.
And I’m not talking about economic healing, I’m talking spiritual healing.
Christian...wake up and get right. We carry His name of Salvation upon our hearts, souls and lives.
And...the WORLD will know we are Christians, by our love. Behold what manner of LOVE the Father has GIVEN unto us, that we should be CALLED the SONS of GOD. The love comes from the Father to his children.
LORD, I am one of your people, called by your sacred name as one of your family. Forgive my sin when I make the worldly materials things around me more important than following you. Keep me under your protection, away from wickedness, firm in my walk, that I would be worthy of the HIGHER calling as one of your children.
Thank you Father, for raising me up and saving me from who I was, to who I am to be, in you. In Jesus Name, Amen
I pray that my eternal family would as Jude says, "contend for the faith", and stand for the name by which we are called...CHRISTIAN.
REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE. And even more so, WHOSE you are.
God bless you all
William Akehurst, BA
William A. Christian
William, BA Christian
copyright 2009 HSWC
