Have you ever been in a fickle and all you could do was start think of someone to call upon. All you could do was try to remember that individual’s name. Maybe you saw someone but you couldn’t remember that person’s name (Now I know I’m not by myself in this situation). Since the beginning of time, names were significant; they’re important. Biblical names had meaning; they were brands, the family’s trademark.
Get.Bible gives Six Reasons Why Names are Important in the Bible
Listen, a biblical name wasn’t given because it sound cute. Oh no! Biblical names:
-Recorded aspects of a person’s birth; -Communicated God’s message.
-Expressed the parents’ reaction to the birth of their child.
-Secured the solidarity of family ties; -Established an affiliation with God
-Established authority over another, indicated a new beginning or direction in a person’s life-
For example, God changed:
-Abram’s name to Abraham
-Sari to Sarah
-Jacob to Israel
And though God didn’t change the Hebrew boys’ names, they were changed:
-Daniel to Belteshazzar
-Hananiah to Shadrach
-Mishael to Meshach
-Azariah to Abednego
Let’s draw this a little closer to home and work. I bet you’ve heard these sayings before:
-My name is all I have; Boy, girl you better not go out here and mess up my name
-Just tell them you bought the car from Bill at Tysinger
If your name is from someone famous then it opens the doors to employment, promotions, special privileges; it’s a connection. Yet on the other hand, if your name is unfamiliar, less famous then your chance of moving up the ladder even though you have all the education and training required is less likely. Does anybody know what I’m talking about?
In the corporate world, it is highly essential that one protects his/her business name/brand and/or logo for the business' reputation is tied up with its name. Thus you don’t want someone else using your brand. The business name is the cornerstone of the company’s identity and impacts the company’s tone and first impressions. That’s why mama said, “You better not go out here and mess up my name.” Mama wasn’t going to have you doing any and everything for it to reflect back on her. Oh yeah, “You’re Carrie’s daughter.”Mama was the cornerstone of our family and though we didn’t have much, her children carried her brand which was a good reputation.
Listen today’s message isn’t Business Admin 101 but, selecting the right business name is important. So it is spiritually. We too should take the right steps to in assure that we are labeled, branded with the proper name. Listen, this morning, let us address the subject, “What’s in a Name?”
We’ve established that a name is one’s identity. Sadly, people love stealing other’s identity. Identity theft is on the upraise. I’m not just referring to your credit but moreso to your soul. The enemy wants to steal your identity because he relinquished his identity. According to Isaiah 14:12 his name was is Lucifer meaning morning star. Church, the devil doesn’t have access to heaven any longer. Look at the latter part of verse 12, “How you are cut down to the ground…” Because he’s been evicted, he does not want you to have access either.
He wants to keep you thinking that he can then he feels he has won the battle. Be not ignorant of the devil devices church. He will do whatever he can to charm you to his side and take on his name. Afterall, “he’s a thief that came to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). “What’s in a Name?” His name is ‘thief’ and this thief wants to annihilate you, to take you out! He wants to demolish, remove your name out of the Book of Life. He desires to do so because his name is not written in the Book of Life. What is the Book of Life? The Book of Life is found in Revelations 3.
Revelation promises eternal blessings for those who are obedient to God’s Word. “Blessed are those who reads and those who hear the words of prophecy” (Revelation 1:3). There were some who wanted to cease the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ like Emperor Domitian. Domitian banished (exiled) Apostle John to the Island of Patmos for John refused to stop preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In a vision while on the Island of Patmos John penned the Book of Revelation. Revelations primarily deals with two vital concern. It deals with the church in the End Times, the “apocalypse” meaning to unveil, uncover, God’s purpose and plans of the church. Secondly, Revelations deals with one’s “relationship” in Christ and Christ’s eternal sovereignty. Understand this scripture validates scripture. And while not directly stated, Revelations reflects God’s covenant promised made to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 (a promise to bless Abraham and all of his descendants). God continued this promise with Abraham’s descendant, Moses. In Exodus, God saw the injustice of His children; thus, He called Moses to lead His children out of slavery into the Promised Land. A land where Abraham’s descendant would inherit the Land of Israel. So the correlation of Exodus and Revelation is Israel’s (the Children of God) relationship in God and their (our) final resting place with God.
See, Revelations addresses seven churches (or types of people). Here in our text today, we see the Church at Sardis, the ‘dead church’ (Revelation 3:1). It had the appearance of being alive but spiritually it was a decayed ministry, dead, lifeless. It carried the reputation of being a Christian Church in ‘name’ only.
So what is the Book of Life? The Book of Life is a record written by God before the creation of the world. It list the names of individuals who will forever live in His kingdom of heaven. The certainty is everyone whose “name” is recorded in this book will eternally reign with Christ and no one, not even the devil can pluck the elect out of God’s hands. What’s in a name, our salvation and eternity.
Many individuals have authored books, me included. Their names are written on the front cover of the book. I come today to ask you one pressing, important question. Is your name written on a book or has the author of the Book of Life recorded your name in His book? I pray so because the Bible decrees in Revelation 20:15 declares, “If anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” The Book of Life is the set of names of those who will live with God forever in heaven like the Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace.
The Hebrews placed much value in names. A name to them signified the person’s worth, character, reputation, authority, will, and ownership. They didn’t just rely on any name but they relied on the name of the Lord? Such names as:
-Yahweh – Jehovah God, LORD (Exodus 6:3)
-El Shaddai – All Sufficient God (Genesis 17:1)
-El Elyon – The Most High God <supreme and sovereign God> (Psalms 9:2)
-El Roi – The God Who Sees (Genesis 16:13)
Moses and the Israelites paid respect unto the LORD. They realized the significance in honoring the Name of the Lord. Exodus 20:7, “Thy shalt not take the Lord’s name in vain.” Many individuals often end their prayers with the phrase “in Jesus name.” However if you believe not in the power that goes along with the God who holds the name then saying the name serves no purpose thus the Lord’s name is used in vain. God’s name must be highly respected for God is a holy God. So this commandment isn’t optional.
Moses realized the importance of representing the trademark, the brand (God’s name) in which he possessed when he confronted Pharaoh. Moses realized the risk - meaning if he presented the brand incorrectly then the mission would be unsuccessful. It’s the same today. If you solely rely on ‘your’ brand, that is your name and not on:
-El Ohim – God the Creator (Genesis 1:1-2)
-Jehovah Jireh - God our Provider (Genesis 22:13)
-Adonai - My Lord, My Master Deuteronomy 3:24 )
-Jehovah Sabaoth - Lord of Hosts who fights my Battles (Isaiah 47:4)
Then I bid that you are living risky. So what should you do to assure you are portraying the correct brand, the correct name? We find the answer in our text this morning. The God who revealed Himself to Apostle John (on the Island of Patmos) is the God who revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush. God spoke to Moses in Exodus 3:10:
“Now I am going to send you to Pharaoh, to demand that He let you lead my people out of Egypt.”
Moses realized that God was the organizer, the director, and the sole owner of the branding.
1st: God organized the branding. God called Moses by name and sent Moses; God and says, “Now I am going to send you to Pharaoh…” God destined Moses to go into the enemy’s camp. While not all Pharaoh’s were evil; however in this particular case, the name Pharaoh means enemy, hardhearted.
2nd: God directed Moses into the enemy’s camp ”to demand that He let you lead…” God tells Moses, ‘look I’m gonna send you to Pharaoh and when you get there I will direct you and Pharaoh in what to do.’ Though feeling inadequate to perform the task Moses submits to God’s command with the confidence that God will direct him in how to present the brand (the Name of God) to Pharaoh and the Israelites. It’s in the text verses 13-15:
-13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
-14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
-15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.”
With that Moses moves out on behalf of God’s people.
-3rd: God posses sole ownership of the Israelites. All that Moses was doing, was to brand God’s creatures so that they would become Children of the Most High God. God’s desire is that “none should perish but all shall come unto repentance.” It is God’s desire that we all conform to His image and likeness. So God branded Moses to let the people know that God had not then and He has not now forsaken (forgotten) us. Even during our worst times, God is still there with His branded children. What’s in a Name?
-Philippians 2:9-11, “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” What’s in a Name? In HIS name is total submission and confession that He is the LORD of all creation.
-Luke 10:17, “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”” What’s in a Name? In HIS name is authority over the works of evil and darkness.
-Romans 10:13, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” What’s in a Name? In HIS name is salvation for everyone who calls out to Him.
-Acts 2:38, “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” What’s in a Name? In HIS name is forgiveness of sins and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit working in your life.
Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” What’s in a Name? In HIS name there is protection.
What’s in HIS Name (JESUS’ Name)? :
-HE is The Lord Who Provides - Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:12-14)
-HE is The Lord who sanctifies me and grants me eternal life - Jehovah Mekeddeshem (Leviticus 20:7-8)
-HE is the Lord my Deliverer - Jehovah-Mephalti(Psalm 18:2)
-HE is The Lord Our Banner who wages warfare on our behalf - Jehovah Nissi (Exodus 17:15-16)
-HE is The Lord Who Heals - Jehovah Rapha (Exodus 15:25)
-HE is The Lord my Shepherd - Jehovah Rohi (Psalm 23:1)
-HE is The Lord our Peace - Jehovah Shalom(Judges 6:24)
-HE is The Lord who is ever present - Jehovah Shammah (Ezekiel 48:35)
-HE is the Son of God (Matthew 3:17)
-HE is the WORD (John 1:1)
-HE is The King of kings and The Lord of lords (1 Timothy 2:5)
-HE is the Messiah - The Christ (John 1:41)
-HE is The Bread of Life - our sustenance (John 6:32-35)
-HE is The Lamb of God - our sacrifice (1 Peter 1:19)
-HE is The Light of the world (John 8:12)
-HE is Master - our Teacher (Matthew 8:19)
-HE is Lion - of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5)
-HE is Emmanuel - God with us (Isaiah 7:14-8:8)
-HE is our Mediator - between me and God (1 Timothy 2:5)
-HE is our Hope (1 Timothy 1:1)
-HE is our Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4)HE is: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, the Redeemer, Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. HE is I AM!!!
Remember when it’s all said and done, your name is all you have. So, I ASK AGAIN? Have you taken the legal right steps to assure that you have the right name, the correct brand/trademark? Do you know with confidence that your name is recorded in the Book of Life? Have you accepted Christ into your hearts today? Have you confessed Him as God’s Only Son who died for your sins? Have you repented of your sins and asked Him to become Lord of your life. If so, He promised: “All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.” (Revelations 3:5)
In closing if you don’t know what’s in HIS name I beseech you to get to know the name of Jesus Christ! Unsaved, backslider, seeking church home. PRAY!!!!!
