“Something About That Name”
Scripture Reading
Act 4:5-17
12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
What’s in a name?
When the 1960s ended, San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district reverted to high rent, and many hippies moved down the coast to Santa Cruz. They had children and got married, too, though in no particular sequence. But they didn’t name their children Melissa or Brett. People in the mountains around Santa Cruz grew accustomed to their children playing Frisbee with little Time Warp or Spring Fever. And eventually Moonbeam, Earth, Love and Precious Promise all ended up in public school.
That’s when the kindergarten teachers first met Fruit Stand. Every fall, according to tradition, parents bravely apply name tags to their children, kiss them good-bye and send them off to school on the bus. So it was for Fruit Stand. The teachers thought the boy’s name was odd, but they tried to make the best of it.
"Would you like to play with the blocks, Fruit Stand?" they offered. And later, "Fruit Stand, how about a snack?" He accepted hesitantly. By the end of the day, his name didn’t seem much odder than Heather’s or Sun Ray’s. At dismissal time, the teachers led the children out to the buses. "Fruit Stand, do you know which one is your bus?"
He didn’t answer. That wasn’t strange. He hadn’t answered them all day. Lots of children are shy on the first day of school. It didn’t matter. The teachers had instructed the parents to write the names of their children’s bus stops on the reverse side of their name tags. The teacher simply turned over the tag. There, neatly printed, was the word "Anthony."
Reader’s Digest.
In a listing of names by popularity we find that Michael, Jacob, Matthew, Joshua, and Christopher were the most popular boys names and Emily, Hannah, Samantha, Ashley, and Sarah were the most popular girl names. There are common names and unusual names. I went to school with a boy named Sundown. A man in Springdale is named Rusty Nail, my cousin had a friend named Chrystal Chanda Lear. I had an uncle named Dine and believe it or not I had an uncle named Cat! But of all the names throughout the history of mankind, the names of God are the most special.
I. His Name is Mysterious v. 7
a. The revelation of God
The Names of God used in the Bible act as a roadmap for learning about the character of God. Since the Bible is God's Word to us, the names He chooses in scripture are meant to reveal His true nature to us.
"ELOHIM" (or Elohay) is the first name for God found in the Bible, and it's used throughout the Old Testament over 2,300 times. Elohim comes from the Hebrew root meaning "strength" or "power", and has the unusual characteristic of being plural in form. In Genesis 1:1, we read, "In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth." Right from the start, this plural form for the name of God is used to describe the One God, a mystery that is uncovered throughout the rest of the Bible.
"EL" is another name used for God in the Bible, showing up about 200 times in the Old Testament. El is the simple form arising from Elohim, and is often combined with other words for descriptive emphasis.
"YHVH" is the Hebrew word that translates as "LORD". Found more often in the Old Testament than any other name for God (approximately 7,000 times), the title is also referred to as the "Tetragrammaton," meaning the "The Four Letters". YHVH comes from the Hebrew verb "to be" and is the special name that God revealed to Moses at the burning bush. "And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM; and He said, thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you... this is My eternal name, and this is how I am to be recalled for all generations'" (Exodus 3:14-15).
The LORD who revealed Himself as YHVH (Jehovah) in the Old Testament is revealed as Yeshua (Jesus) in the New Testament. Jesus shares the same attributes as YHVH and clearly claims to be YHVH. In John 8:56-59, Jesus presents himself as the "I AM." When challenged by some Jewish leaders regarding His claim of seeing Abraham (who lived some 2000 years earlier), Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM." Those Jewish leaders understood that Jesus was claiming to be YHVH. This is clearly established when they tried to stone Him to death for what they considered blasphemy under Jewish Law. In Romans 10:9, Paul declares, "if you confess with your mouth Yeshua as LORD... you shall be saved." Immediately thereafter, in Romans 10:13, Paul backs up this declaration by quoting the Old Testament, "Whoever will call upon the name of the LORD (YHVH) will be saved" (Joel 2:32). Calling on Yeshua (Jesus) as Lord is the same as calling Him YHVH, because Yeshua (Jesus) is YHVH (LORD), the Messiah foretold throughout the entire Old Testament.
b. The reverence for His name
The most broken commandment in the Bible has to do with the misuse and abuse of the name of God.
Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
The word “vain” means emptiness and when we use the name of God with disrespect or without meaning, it is taking His name in vain. Using the word God, Lord, Christ, or worse in our conversation or the abbreviation OMG in a text message or e-mail without reverence is a serious offence in God’s eyes. The scribes had such respect for the name of God that when they were copying the scriptures and came to the name of God that they would stop writing and go wash themselves and get ceremonially clean, copy the name, and then go wash again before they returned to writing.
c. The recognition of His name
There are all kinds of Christian symbols today from a fish to bracelets with the letters WWJD, bumper stickers (honk if you love Jesus) and many more but the real issue is not what you wear or what’s on your car but how you behave as a professing Christian. Wherever we go and whatever we do we should be mindful that we represent the Lord Jesus. I remember a story about Billy Graham that once he was driving his mother somewhere and became irritated with another driver, lost his temper and said something unkind. His mother immediately asked Billy if he felt like he could go win the other driver to Christ after losing his temper. Whether we like it or not we are “ambassadors” for Christ and we represent Him at all times and in all places.
II. His Name is Majestic v. 10
a. He is majestic in His power v. 6
Acts 3:6 “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”
Acts 3:16 “And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”
b. He is majestic in His position
Isaiah 6:1 “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.”
Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
c. He is majestic in His praise
Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
Revelation 5:1 “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
III. His Name is Matchless v. 12
In our day there are those who teach that the God of heaven is the same god that is worshipped by many religions, therefore it really doesn’t matter which god you call on or serve; that this god sent forth many teachers like Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, and Jesus. This is called pluralism and let me say right here and now that there is no such thing. There is only one God and He is the God of the Bible, not the Koran or the Book of Mormon or any other religion.
a. Jesus is matchless in salvation, for He is the way
Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
John 1:12 “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:”
b. Jesus is matchless in supplication, for He is life
John 14:13 “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
John 16:23 “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.”
c. Jesus is matchless in Scripture, for He is truth
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 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:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
Hebrews 1:1 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
Matthew: The Messiah
Mark: The Miracle Worker
Luke: The Son of Man
John: The Son of God
Acts: The Power of the Church
Romans: Our Justifier
Corinthians: The one that shall reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet
Galatians: The Redeemer from the Curse of the Law
Ephesians: The one in whom we have redemption through His blood even the forgiveness of sin according to the riches of His grace
Philippians: The one that shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory
Colossians: The fullness of the Godhead Boldily
Thessalonians: The one coming himself, not sending Gabriel, or Micheal, but He Himself shall descend, from heaven with a shout, at the voice of the archangel and when he comes we’ll rise to meet Him in the air and so shall we ever be with Him.
Timothy: The one Mediator between God and man.
Titus: The Blessed Hope
Philemon: The Faithful Partner
Hebrews: The high priest after the order of Melisedec
James: The great physician
Peter: The One coming as a thief in the night
John: He is love
Jude: The Lord of vengeance
Revelation: The Lord of Lords, The Lamb on the Throne, The Light of the New Jerusalem and the King of all Kings
