What's In A Name

What’s in a Name

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING: - Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold”. What’s in a name is a question that often is considered a cliché because we fail to understand the ability of a name to represent affluence and reputation. For example, if a person is born with a certain last name that belongs to a certain family, they will often either be treated with respect and honor or disrespect and dishonor because of the name. We fail to understand the importance of a name and will of hear people who have been named something because it sounds good, which is called (euphony) without understanding the true meaning of that name.

In our culture we use the name of a person simply to distinguish them from other people, oh that’s John or Melvin or Faye. However, in the Bible names were more than a distinguishing factor but signified that person, their worth, character, reputation, authority, will, and ownership.

In our culture today people name their children without knowing the meaning of the name and most people do not even know the meaning of their own name. The name Melvin means chieftain, gentle chieftain, armored chieftain, leader or warrior – I learned that in the 6th grade from our German teacher when she translated my American name into German the American version is Melvin the German version is Manfred and the Germany meaning of Manfred is Man of Peace – What’s in a Name!.

The name Jesus means savior and deliver Matthew 1:18-21 says, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins”.

Today I want to teach on this topic “What’s in a Name”!

PRAYER: -

SCRIPTURE: - Revelation 7:4-8 “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand”.

A few weeks ago, I taught about how the church needs to go back to Gilgal and in that lesson, I said names & numbers in the Bible have meaning and often will reveal hidden prophecy.

Understand when a name is given in scripture it is not just given just so you will know the name and be able to distinguish them from others but the name is mentioned because there is something significant about that name that needs to be understood.

Genesis 5 gives the lineage from Adam to Noah and there is a special meaning of these names which are Adman = man, Seth = appointed, Enosh = mortal, Cainan = sorrow, Mahalalel = The blessed of God, Jared = Shall come down, Enoch = Teaching, Methuselah = His death shall bring, Lamech = The despairing, Noah = Rest/comfort.

The hidden prophecy revealed in these names is: - Man appointed mortal sorrow (which happened with the fall of man). The blessed of God shall come down teaching (Jesus). His death shall bring the despairing (Us) rest and comfort.

This is called a Remez, in hermeneutics, which is the interpretation of Scripture, a Remez is a hidden message or a deeper meaning that is not understood at the first glance of the scripture. It’s a message that is found below the surface or behind the words. I like to use the description of an Iceberg the part of the iceberg you see is the scripture, the part you don’t see is larger and deeper meaning and reveals even more truth than originally perceived that is the Remez. So, the Remez is a hidden message that is found below the surface or behind the words in scripture.