9 THEREFORE GOD ALSO HAS HIGHLY EXALTED HIM AND GIVEN HIM THE NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, 10 THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, OF THOSE IN HEAVEN, AND OF THOSE ON EARTH, AND OF THOSE UNDER THE EARTH, 11 AND [THAT] EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST [IS] LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. [PHL 2:9-11 NKJV]
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US IN HERE HAS BEEN GIVEN A NAME. MOST OF US HAVE A FIRST, MIDDLE AND LAST NAME. OUR PARENTS GAVE US THE NAME WE HAVE FOR A REASON. WE MAY HAVE A NAME OF A FAMILY MEMBER OR LOVED ONE THAT PASSED. WE MAY BE NAMED AFTER OUR PARENT OR GRANDPARENT. WE MAY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE NAME OF SOMEONE FAMOUS DURING THE TIME WE WERE BORN.
SOME OF US HAVE BEEN GIVEN A NICKNAME THAT ONLY OUR FAMILY KNOWS US BY. SOME OF US HAVE BEEN GIVEN EMBARRASSING NICKNAMES AS A CHILD, THAT WE GOT STUCK WITH…..AND ARE STILL CALLED BY THAT NAME TODAY……POOKIE……STINKER…..JUNEBUG……LIL MAN….PUMPKIN……SCOOBY…..MOONEYE……BOO BOO…..LIL MAMA…. BIG BUG….LITTLE BUG…..ROACH….. SMOKEY….FATS……..FAT DADDY. WE MAY NOT EVEN KNOW HOW WE GOT THE NICKNAME…..SOMEBODY JUST STARTED CALLING US THAT NAME….AND WE GOT STUCK WITH IT. WE MAY EVEN HAVE A PET NAME THAT WE CALL OUR SPOUSE……OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER….HONEY BOO……BABY LOVE……SWEETIE……LOVEY......HONEY BUNS.
WHATEVER YOUR BIRTH NAME OR NICKNAME MAY BE, THERE IS A REASON WHY YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN YOUR NAME. NAMES ARE POWERFUL OBJECTS AND OUR NAMES ARE SIGNIFICANT TO US. OUR NAME IS OUR IDENTITY…. IT IS HOW WE INTRODUCE OURSELVES. IT IS HOW WE CHANGE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE…..AT ONE POINT WE ARE STRANGERS…..AND AFTER WE EXCHANGE NAMES……WE ARE AN ACQUAINTANCE….A FRIEND…..A COMPANION.
SOMETIMES WE CAN USE OUR NAME TO GET US OUT OF TROUBLE…… WE CAN USE OUR NAME TO HELP GET US INTO AN EVENT WE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INVITED TO…… WE CAN USE OUR NAME WHEN WE ARE KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY…. WE CAN USE OUR NAME OR SOMEONE ELSE’S NAME TO GAIN FAVOR…GET HELP FROM SOMEONE….OR EVEN GET A JOB.
OUR NAME IS WHAT WE ANSWER TO……WHEN SOMEONE CALLS OUT OUR NAME……WE RESPOND……GARRY LEWIS……CAROL MOSELY…….. SOME OF US HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT OF OUR NAMES…..SOME OF US MAY HAVE BEEN CALLED NAMES…..AND VERBALLY ABUSED. SOME OF US MAY STILL FEEL THE PAIN OF THE NEGATIVE NAMES…..YOU WERE CALLED. IN THE WORDS OF TYLER PERRY…..”IT’S NOT WHAT YOU ARE CALLED…….IT’S WHAT YOU ANSWER TO” THEY MAY HAVE CALLED YOU EVERYTHING IN THE BOOK…….BUT KNOW THAT YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD.
WHAT’S IN A NAME…..
THERE IS MEANING IN A NAME…….THERE IS SIGNIFICANCE IN A NAME…..THERE IS POWER IN A NAME…… BUT MOST OF ALL…..THERE IS A NAME…..THAT IS ABOVE ALL NAMES…
THERE IS NO OTHER NAME…..THAT CAN COMPARE……..THERE IS NO OTHER NAME THAT IS GREATER….
A NAME THAT WAS GIVEN…..BY GOD…..AND WHO IS GOD…….
GOD UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF A NAME…..GAVE HIM A NAME…..TO REFLECT HIS PURPOSE WHILE ON EARTH…..AND AFTER HIS RESURRECTION….. THAT WE MAY ALL BE SAVED….
JESUS MEANS SAVIOR……. HE IS OUR SALVATION…… HE IS OUR DELIVERANCE……
ACTS 4 AND 12 TELLS US.... AND THERE IS SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED." [ACT 4:12 ESV]
GOD HAS GIVEN HIM THE NAME, JESUS, AND IT IS IN HIM THAT WE HAVE REDEMPTION, VICTORY AND HOPE. FOR THAT REASON, WE ARE TO WORSHIP HIM AND PROFESS HIS AUTHORITY IN OUR LIVES.
IT’S IN THE NAME OF JESUS…..THAT WE FIND FREEDOM FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN……AND WILL NOT TASTE THE STING OF DEATH…..
IT’S IN THE NAME OF JESUS….THAT WE ARE RELEASED FROM ALL OPPRESSION OF THE ENEMY…..AND WE FIND PEACE.
IT’S IN THE NAME OF JESUS…..THAT WE RECEIVE HEALING FROM OUR SICKNESS…..AND SAFETY IN OUR STORMS.
IN ORDER FOR YOU TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS ….IN THE NAME OF JESUS…..YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THE AWESOME POWER…..IN HIS NAME.
THEREFORE…..LET ME SUGGEST THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NAME OF JESUS….
I BELIEVE THAT FOR ONE……THAT WE MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS ….THAT HIS NAME IS ABOVE ALL NAMES…..
LISTEN…..IT SAYS…… THAT GOD “HIGHLY” EXALTED HIM…..AND GAVE HIM ……YOUR BIBLE MAY SAY “BESTOWED”…..A NAME THAT IS ABOVE ALL NAMES…..
NOW THERE IS SOMETHING HERE…..WE NEED TO HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON….AND REFLECT ON…..IT SAYS…..THAT GOD “HIGHLY” EXALTED HIM… IT IS TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK VERB…..
HU PER OOP SAW OO…… WHICH MEANS…..”TO EXALT TO THE HIGHEST RANK AND POWER” …..”TO RAISE TO SUPREME MAJESTY” …..”EXALTED BEYOND MEASURE”.
NOW WE UNDERSTAND….THAT JESUS IS ABOVE ALL THINGS…..BUT TO GET A BETTER GRASP ON JUST HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS IS……WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE USE OF THIS GREEK VERB……
YOU SEE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS….. THIS IS SIGNIFICANT……BECAUSE……THE USE OF THIS GREEK VERB…..IS ONLY FOUND ONE TIME…….IN THIS ONE VERSE……..OF THE BIBLE……
IN OTHER WORDS……HE IS EXALTED….WITH ALL EXALTATION…..AND THERE IS NO OTHER NOUN…..WHICH IS A PERSON …..PLACE OR THING………(HELP ME OUT SISTER CAROL) FOUND IN THE BIBLE THAT DESERVES TO HAVE THIS VERB “HIGHLY EXALTED”……ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
JESUS IS SUPER EXALTED…..
JESUS DIDN’T CROWN HIMSELF……BUT THE FATHER CROWNED HIM; AND PLACED HIM ON THE THRONE OF MAJESTY!
BUT NOT ONLY DID GOD “SUPER EXALT” OR “EXALT BEYOND MEASURE” HIS SON JESUS……
HE ALSO….GAVE HIM A NAME…..THAT IS ABOVE ALL NAMES…..
THIS NOT ONLY GIVES JESUS THE DIVINE NAME OF YAWEH….BUT IT ALSO TELLS US THAT GOD HAS DECLARED…..THAT JESUS….HAS THE CHARACTER AND PERSON ABOVE ALL OTHERS……. THERE IS NO HIGHER NAME……THAN YAHWEH…..AND JESUS……HAS THAT NAME.
THE NAME OF JESUS……IS ABOVE THE NAME OF ANY SICKNESS……
THE NAME OF JESUS IS ABOVE ANY DISEASE……
THE NAME OF JESUS IS ABOVE….. A BAD REPORT FROM THE DOCTOR
THE NAME OF JESUS IS ABOVE ……BANKRUPTCY…..
THE NAME OF JESUS IS ABOVE……FORECLOSURE….
THE NAME OF JESUS IS ABOVE…… REPOSSESSION…
THE NAME OF JESUS IS ABOVE….. LAY OFF…..OR TERMINATION…..
THE NAME OF JESUS IS ABOVE……. ANY SITUATION.
WHATEVER HAS BEEN GIVEN A NAME……IT IS BELOW THE NAME OF JESUS.
BUT NOT ONLY IS JESUS….THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES…….
LET ME SUGGEST……THAT “HIS NAME GIVES US OUR IDENTITY”
AS A CHRISTIAN….YOU ARE IDENTIFIED WITH CHRIST…..BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF JESUS…..THEREFORE…..IT IS IN CHRIST….IN THE NAME OF JESUS….THAT GIVES YOU YOUR IDENTITY…
2 CORINTHIANS SAYS……”HE HAS IDENTIFIED US AS HIS OWN BY PLACING THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR HEARTS.”
AS A CHRISTIAN…..
YOU’RE NOT DEFINED BY THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS OR BY YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
YOU’RE NOT DEFINED BY YOUR SUCCESSES OR FAILURES.
YOU’RE NOT DEFINED BY THE CAR YOU DRIVE, THE MONEY YOU MAKE, OR THE HOUSE YOU SAY YOU OWN WHEN THE BANK REALLY DOES.
YOU ARE DEFINED BY CHRIST AND CHRIST ALONE. HE IDENTIFIES YOU AS HIS OWN…….
YOU ARE IDENTIFIED WITH CHRIST AND HAVE THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU.
YOU ARE GOD’S PRECIOUS CHILD, AND HE CREATED YOU IN A WAY THAT PLEASES HIM.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS…..YOU HAVE YOUR IDENTITY.
YOU MAY BE WONDERING……WHAT YOUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST IS? LET ME SUGGEST THAT THE BIBLE GIVES YOU THE ABC’S OF YOUR IDENTITY…… IN CHRIST YOU CAN SAY…..
I AM ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED…..
I AM BLESSED IN ALL BLESSINGS
I AM CHOSEN IN HIM
I AM DELIVERED FROM DARK POWERS
I AM ELEVATED TO HEAVENLY PLACES
I AM FORGIVEN OF ALL SINS
I AM GOD’S WORKMANSHIP
I AM HEALED BY HIS STRIPES
I AM INNOCENT BEFORE HIM IN LOVE
I AM JUSTIFIED BY FAITH
I AM KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD
I AM LOVED UNCONDITIONALLY
I AM MORE THAN A CONQUER
I AM NOT CONDEMNED
I AM OVERCOMING THE WORLD
I AM PREDESTINED TO SONSHIP
I AM QUICKENED TOGETHER WITH CHRIST
I AM REDEEMED FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW
I AM SEALED WITH THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
I AM TO HIS PRAISE.
I AM UNTO HIS GLORY
I AM VICTORIOUS THROUGH JESUS
I AM WASHED IN HIS BLOOD
I AM XCRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST
I AM YOKED TOGETHER WITH BELIEVERS
I AM ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS.
IT IS IN HIS NAME…..THAT YOU HAVE YOUR IDENTITY……
IT IS IN HIS NAME……THAT YOU HAVE EXISTENCE…
AS A MATTER OF FACT……WHEN YOU BURY ME…..YOU DON’T HAVE TO PUT …..ANTHONY E. NEAL ON MY TOMBSTONE…..
YOU CAN PUT….. HERE LIES……A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST. HERE LIES…..A CO-HEIR OF CHRIST. HERE LIES…..A MAN WHO LOVE THE LORD.
WHAT’S IN A NAME…… IN HIS NAME YOU HAVE IDENTITY….
LET ME SUGGEST THAT….. “ALL WILL WORSHIP THE NAME OF JESUS”
VERSE 10……THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, OF THOSE IN HEAVEN, AND OF THOSE ON EARTH, AND OF THOSE UNDER THE EARTH
NOT ONLY IS JESUS EXALTED BY GOD THE FATHER…..BUT THE WHOLE WORLD…..WILL BE BROUGHT INTO SUBMISSION……AND KNEEL DOWN BEFORE ….THE MOST HIGH…..THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS…..
PAUL DOES NOT IMPLY BY THIS A UNIVERSAL SALVATION……..NO NO…..NO NO…… BUT MEANS THAT EVERY PERSONAL BEING WILL ULTIMATELY CONFESS CHRIST'S LORDSHIP…..EITHER WITH JOYFUL FAITH OR WITH RESENTMENT AND DESPAIR.
YOU SEE MY BROTHERS AND SISTER…… ALL OF US…….ARE GOING TO LIVE FOREVER…….WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT……
SOME OF US…..ARE GOING TO BE LIVING HOLY…..IN GLORY…….. AND SOME OF US….WILL BE LIVING WHERE IT IS HOT…….
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE YOU WILL BE……BUT YOU WILL WORSHIP…..THE NAME OF JESUS….FROM HEAVEN…..OR FROM HELL……
AMEN…
THOSE IN HEAVEN, AND OF THOSE ON EARTH, AND OF THOSE UNDER THE EARTH:
IN OTHER WORDS…..ALL CREATION…..WHETHER IT IS THE HEAVENLY HOST…..AND ANGELIC BEINGS……THOSE THAT DWELL UPON THE EARTH…….OR THOSE UNDER THE EARTH……”WHETHER THEY ARE DEAD…..HIDDEN IN THE EARTH…..THEY WILL RISE…..ONLY TO KNEEL DOWN AND WORSHIP CHRIST…..
ALL WILL BEND DOWN…..AND HONOR……JESUS
TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR…….THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME OF CHRIST!!!
BUT NOT ONLY WILL “ALL WORSHIP THE NAME OF JESUS”
I BELIEVE THE TEXT TELLS US…….THAT “ALL WILL PROFESS THE NAME OF JESUS ”
THE BIBLE SAYS…..
AND [THAT] EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST [IS] LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER
IT WILL BE A COMBINATION…….OF KNEES BOWING DOWN……AND MOUTH PROFESSING….THE NAME OF JESUS…..WHICH IS THE EVIDENCE OF COMPLETE SUBMISSION TO JESUS….IN ACTION……AND IN WORDS…..
I CAN ALMOST ENVISION THIS GLORIOUS SCENE OF ALL BEINGS…..BOTH HIGH AND LOW……DEEP DOWN AND ALL AROUND…. WHEN THE FINAL JUDGMENT COMES……EVERY CREATURE IN HEAVEN AND HELL…..WILL BOW DOWN…..AND PROFESS THAT HE IS LORD…..
ALL WILL ACKNOWLEDGE OPENLY…….IT WILL BE A CONGREGATION BEYOND MEASURE…..GIVING HIM PRAISE…… ONE CHOIR……OF MEGA PROPORTION……..PRAISING HIM ON ONE ACCORD….
RECOGNIZING……..THE SON OF GOD……….JESUS……….
I CAN ALMOST IMAGINE……….HOW IT WOULD GO……….. WE WOULD PRAISE HIM….. “JESUS”
THEN WE WOULD BREAK OUT INTO …..ALL THE WONDERFUL NAMES…….GIVEN SPECIFICALLY TO OUR LORD JESUS……..
WE WOULD CONFESS……..THE HE IS……
AN ADVOCATE
ALMIGHTY:
ALPHA AND OMEGA…….
APOSTLE OF OUR PROFESSION
AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH
AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION
BELOVED SON
BREAD OF LIFE
And I can imagine……..the devil starting to get choked up….and the demons….getting out of tune…. but would straighten right back up…….and we began to praise Him again….. by His names…….
CAPTAIN OF SALVATION
CHIEF SHEPHERD
CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL
CORNERSTONE
COUNSELLOR:
CREATOR:
We would say……He is….Our
DELIVERER
EVERLASTING FATHER
FAITHFUL WITNESS
FIRST AND LAST:
FIRST BEGOTTEN
And I can imagine the Angels …..starting to celebrate…..and sing with Joy….. as We call Him
GOOD SHEPHERD
GOVERNOR
GREAT HIGH PRIEST
We would continue in Unison……saying….
HEAD OF THE CHURCH
HEIR OF ALL THINGS:
HOLY ONE OF GOD:
HORN OF SALVATION
Tell your neighbor….there is power in His name…..
We would call Him…..
I AM:
IMMANUEL
JEHOVAH
Of course we would call Him JESUS….but we’d also call Him
KING OF THE JEWS
KING OF KINGS
LAMB OF GOD
I believe we would call Him……
LIGHT OF THE WORLD…..
LION OF JUDAH
What’s in A Name…..
We would call Him….
LORD OF LORD
MESSIAH
MEDIATOR
MIGHTY ONE
MORNING STAR
I believe we would call Him…..
PRINCE OF PEACE
REDEEMER and SAVIOR
I believe He is our
ROCK…..in a weary land…
SON OF GOD…..
TRUE VINE……
We would say…..He is
TRUTH
WORD OF GOD…
THE WORD
…..What’s in a Name
