God's Names at Christmastime - Jesus

The following is from my book, The Names of God.

Matthew 1:21 (ESV) She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

I couldn’t believe it. As I was working through the “R”s on the Names of God list, it suddenly occurred to me that the name Jesus was omitted. How could that be?

Then a few thoughts came to me. First of all, it is the most familiar name for God that we know. Every thing from lullabies to epic movies has the name Jesus in them.

Secondly, it is also a name that many avoid because the mere mention of the name evokes a response. For Believers it triggers gratitude. For non-believers it brings conviction. For others it brings anger because of the hardness of their heart.

C. S. Lewis summed up men’s response to Jesus. He said, “He is either Lord, liar, or lunatic.” Jesus is either the Son of God as He claimed, a liar for making such a claim, or a lunatic that has no idea what he is saying. “But,” as Lewis continued, “You cannot call Him just a good man.”

You can speak of “God” to most people and they will politely oblige your conversation, but when you mention Jesus their heart is almost certainly revealed in their response.

We just completed the Christmas season where you see and hear more of the name of Jesus than at any other time (at least in the Western culture). It is after all, the time we celebrate His birth. But Jesus is so much more than a baby in a manger. Even the name Mary was told to give Him at His birth implied there was much more to this child than any before Him.

Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, God had been working a plan of redemption; a way to bring man back into a right relationship with his Creator. The one that would “crush the head of the serpent” became a baby in a manger; helpless, vulnerable, the embodiment of God’s love. His name, however, caused satan and his kingdom to fear. The Second Adam had been born. The Second Joshua had come to deliver God’s people (this time all of them) from the grasp of sin and darkness that kept them in bondage.

Jesus. His name is from the Hebrew word interpreted as “Joshua,” and means, “Jehovah-saved.” The first Joshua completed the journey of Israel out of bondage from Egypt to Canaan. The Second Joshua, Jesus, paid the penalty for sin and gave mankind a way to escape the second death.

Call out to Him now. Receive the forgiveness provided through the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and seating of Jesus. Identify yourself with Him in baptism. Receive the Gift He sent to abide in us until He returns: the Holy Spirit. Your life will never be the same.

God's Names at Christmastime - Wonderful

I recently finished writing a book called "The Wonder of the Wilderness". It's not published yet, but hopefully will be after the first of the year. Sometimes we overlook some of the simple ways in which God is presented to us in scripture. The word "wonderful" is very familiar to us. So when it is also ascribed to God, we tend to be unimpressed. After all, the doughnut we had this morning was wonderful. The picture our toddler drew at school is wonderful. The wedding last weekend was wonderful.

So what, that God is also wonderful ... until you look at the true meaning of the word: full of wonder. A doughnut is not full of wonder (even though they are really good!). The wedding was beautiful, and emotionally moving, but not really full of wonder. Perhaps, because of the innocence and creativity alive in a toddler, their drawing may actually be filled with wonder.

But God IS wonderful (full of wonder). His very essence exudes wonder. When you seriously consider God, His nature, His character, His presence, everything about Him is wonder-filled. It's no "wonder" (slight pun intended) that when it came time to send His Son, Jesus, to earth to redeem mankind, that "wonderful" would be one of the adjectives used to describe His birth.

A teenage virgin girl (Mary) willing to give up her dream of life with Joseph as just a husband and wife to become the mother of God's Son. An old priest and barren wife (Zacharias and Elizabeth) surprised with WONDERFUL news of a son (John) that would usher in the presence of Messiah.

The old prophet, Simeon, that recognized Jesus as Messiah when Joseph and Mary brought Him to the temple on the eighth day. The woman widowed at a young age, Anna, who spent the remainder of her life in the temple praying, when she saw the Messiah and was able to bless the Child.

Wise men who travelled for years, following the WONDERS in the sky that led them to the Newborn King.

It is no surprise that Christmastime is filled with wonder, because the first Christmas truly was. Let WONDER fill your heart and home this year. Make room for Jesus, but also for others, to celebrate this most blessed time together.

God's Names at Christmastime – Son of God

Daniel 3:25 (NKJV) "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

It is interesting that the first mention of the Son of God comes from a king that had no regard for God. Yet, he recognized the extra man in fire as one that looked like the Son of God.

The next reference in scripture of someone using the name Son of God is when satan came to Jesus in the wilderness to tempt Him. Three times satan said, “If you are the Son of God …?” Each time Jesus responded with a verse found in the Old Testament.

Luke 4:2-13 (ESV) for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”

And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”

And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

As a child, Jesus knew He was the Son of God when He was only twelve years old.

Luke 2:48-50 (ESV) And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.

In Luke’s account of Jesus’ life he gives the linage of Jesus. It ends with another reference to the other Son of God, Adam.

Luke 3:23-38 (ESV) Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, … the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Jesus was the second Adam. He came to undo what Adam brought to the human race through his sin in the Garden of Eden. Jesus became the One whose heel would be bruised in the crushing of the serpent’s head. Jesus succeeded in His mission. He was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit, lived a sinless life as a man filled with the Spirit of God. He died as the perfect Lamb whose blood washed away our sin. He was raised from the dead, defeating hell and the grave for us. He ascended to heaven and was seated at the right hand of God, “far above all rule, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named”, so that we once again reign in life. Jesus then sent the Holy Spirit to abide in us forever.

That, my friend, is the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus, which provides us with a way back to our Creator. Thank you, Jesus, the Son of God, for paying the price for us!

God's Names at Christmastime - Everlasting Father

The following is from my book, The Names of God.

Isaiah 63:16 (ESV) For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.

One of the greatest privileges I have in life is to be called a father. It is one of the highest callings for a man. The most prevalent image that God models for us is that of Father.

Consequently, one of the greatest areas of spiritual warfare waged by the enemy is against fatherhood. The media belittles the role of men in general, but especially fathers. Statistics show that the majority of divorces occur when the oldest child of a couple reaches the age of puberty. Just when a child is looking for identity and destiny, their foundation, their parents, are suddenly divided, causing them to become shipwrecked.

One of the most important roles fathers have in the life of their children is in the area of blessing. Again, because of ignorance or apathy, the blessing a father gives to a child has been practically eliminated from the Western culture. Instead of receiving a blessing from the very one they are seeking approval, they instead receive abuse or neglect at worst, or being ignored. This is not the way Father modeled for us.

Look at scripture. You will find specific times of blessing that God desires a person to receive in their lifetime. Father later implemented them in the Law of Moses to be sure that every Hebrew received a blessing. First of all, after birth a child was brought before the priest to be blessed. The parents, and possibly others, would speak blessings over the child and commit it into the hands of Father.

Then at puberty each child would have a ceremony. For the male child it was a bar mitzvah; for the female, a bat mitzvah. These Hebrew phrases mean Son (bar) of the Covenant and Daughter (bat) of the Covenant. These ceremonies would be as big as a wedding. Much time and effort went into planning the event. All of the family and friends would gather. Gifts were given. The highlight of the night would be when the child was placed in a chair, then raised up high by other family members. They would march the child around the room like a king or queen being carried about. The whole time the father of the child walked before them proclaiming loudly, “This is my beloved son/daughter in whom I am well pleased!”

How could any child come away from that experience without feeling special? Other things would change after the bar/bat mitzvah. Their clothing would change. They were no longer considered children, but instead treated as a man or woman.

The next time of blessing would come when the child married. They would again come before the priest for a blessing and the wedding pronouncement. Parents would speak blessings over the new couple, pledging to assist them in any way needed. It would launch them into a union that was sealed by Father Himself.

Our Father intended for the elderly to be blessed; to be cared for and to be shown honor. This is also an area that the Western culture has practically eliminated from its view of society.

To know that our Father wants us to be blessed exposes the deep love for which He loves us. He does not want to simply muddle through life and pay homage to the “great god in the sky.” He wants us to know His heart and to follow His ways. His ways are intended for our greatest good. Without that understanding it is very difficult to give ourselves to Him fully.

Meditate on some of the Names of God that have been considered up to this point. Let us get to know our Father to the point that we can trust Him fully and follow Him completely. Then we will know life.

God's Names at Christmastime - Mighty God

The following is from my book, The Names of God.

Luke 1:49 (ESV) for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

This is an amazing verse. He who is Mighty, holy is His name. There are many people in our world that could be considered mighty. However, when you consider the circumstances in which this statement is made you realize there can only be one conclusion.

Mary, a teenage girl in Israel, a virgin, was just asked to become the mother of God’s Son, Jesus. Can you imagine what must have been going through this young lady’s mind? Based on what we know about her background, Mary most likely understood The Law. She had heard that a Messiah was coming to redeem Israel – through a virgin. She also understood the penalty for pregnancy outside of marriage – death by stoning.

When the angel appeared Mary was surprised by the words spoken to her, yet she was willing to be obedient to God’s will for her life. “Let it be according to your word.” This one moment was both a pinnacle of excitement beyond her wildest dreams – to be the mother of God’s Son – and the deepest pit of dread – dying as an unwed mother.

She had to ask some questions: What would Joseph think? What would her parents think? What would the priest do to her? In the end her answer was, “Yes!” Once the decision was made and sealed by her confession to the angel, Mary began to see the gravity of her agreement. She just said yes to God. That is when she began her “song” as theologians call it - The Magnificat.

The verse cited above is part of Mary’s Song. He who is Mighty has done great things FOR ME. Unlike others that were encountered by God that could not find it within them to say, “Yes,” because of what it would cost them, Mary said, “Great things were done for me!” Mary realized that Mighty God had just entered her through the Holy Spirit. As far as we know from scripture, Mary became the first person filled with the Holy Spirit.

It resulted in her conceiving Jesus in her womb; God now becoming flesh. Jack Hayford, in his book “The Mary Miracle” describes this event as the “fountainhead of all miracles.” Because Mary recognized God as Mighty, and allowed Him to perform His plan through her, she became blessed among women.

Each of us has a choice today. Do we say, “Yes,” to God and His plan by allowing Mighty to do great things FOR US, or do we rebuff the One who loves us most?

God's Names at Christmastime - Prince of Peace

The following is from my book, The Names of God.

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah prophesied that there was One coming that would be The Prince of Peace. This phrase is made up of two Hebrew words: “sar”, which means “a head person (of any rank or class)”, and “shalom”, which means “safe.”

When Jesus came as Messiah, He also came to demonstrate to us how to be safe, how to live at peace with everyone. Our mission is to bring as many into this “peace” as possible, by introducing them to The Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

There is much confusion (I choose to say that, even though it may be blatant ignorance) among many politicians and members of the media regarding the religion of the Muslims. They speak of Islam as a “peaceful religion.” They arrive at this notion by asking imams and other Islamic leaders questions like, “Is this a peaceful religion?” To which, they always reply, “Yes, we strive for peace with all people.”

Here’s the truth. In Islam there is only one goal: for Allah to rule the world. Within that premise, there are only two states of being for a region. If Allah rules it is considered a “house of peace”, but where Allah is not acknowledged as god, it is a “house of war.” The “war” is aimed at ANYONE that does not bow to Allah. The notions of "houses" or "divisions" of the world in Islam such as Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Harb does not appear in the Quran or the Hadith. Early Islamic jurists devised these terms to denote legal rulings for ongoing Muslim conquests almost a century after Muhammad. (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/daralislam.html)

You cannot come to any other conclusion when looking at the barebones truth of Christianity and Islam. They cannot coexist. We cannot be “tolerant” of Islam. What is our recourse as Christians? Evangelize!! It is not our purpose to oppose them with force. That is the role of governments and the military. (I do not support the notion that Christians should not be involved in politics or the military.) Our job as the Church is to win them for Christ. We must tell them of The Prince of Peace, because that is the reality for which their hearts are searching.

God's Names at Christmastime - Counselor

The following is from my book, The Names of God.

Isaiah 28:29 (ESV) This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.

I know one of the most amazing counselors. She can listen for hours on end to others as they share their problems or concerns. She has such compassion that it motivates her to work with others to find the root of the issue, bring the truth of God concerning the situation, and see them totally delivered and set free from the bondage caused by the lies the enemy has introduced into their life.

She is an example of what the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, wants to do in our lives.

The meaning of the word used for Counselor means, “to give advice, plan, or show prudence.” It is from a root word that means, “to advise, to deliberate, or resolve.”

Part of the nature that God placed inside man is a free will. The Counselor comes to us to give information (advice) on what we should do as we face decisions in life. He has a plan for us if we will only submit our will to His. The scripture He has given is full of wisdom that, when applied to our life, will result in prudent decisions.

The Counselor is a primary work of the Holy Spirit, but remember that this same Holy Spirit has gifts that He has given to the Church to empower Her to live free from the bondage that the curse of sin introduced to mankind. We need to learn to live in freedom, but know that the Counselor is ever-ready to give us advice when needed, reveal His plan for us, and resolve any issue that might present itself.

Let’s learn to hear the voice of the Counselor and follow His advise completely.

God's Names at Christmastime - Emmanuel

The following is from my book, The Names of God, that I published a few years ago. In these days leading up to Christmas I thought it would be worth taking a second look to remind us that our life is saturated by the presence of our Creator.

Isaiah 8:8 (ESV) … and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.”

Matthew 1:23 (ESV) “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel”

The different spellings of this name come from the origin being referenced. Immanuel is from Hebrew; the Greek spelling is Emmanuel. The latter is the most common in our vernacular. Regardless of the origin the meaning is the same: God with us.

To me, this is one of the most comforting names of God in scripture. It is easy, as humans, to stare into the starlit sky, or cast your eye over the vast horizon from atop a tall mountain, or listen to the numbing roar of the ocean at the beach, and not see the awesome power of our Creator. It is nice to know we serve an all-powerful Sovereign that rules the universe.

However, when we face unbearable turmoil, or bend from the weight of cares that seem to overwhelm us, or hear bad news that shakes the very foundations of our existence, it is just as comforting, if not more so, to know that God is with us; Emmanuel! When you know God is with you it makes unbearable a bit more tolerable. The weight of cares is lighter because He cares for you; God is with us. Bad news is less destructive because you know that He already knew, and has a plan to move you beyond this moment; God is with us.

The incarnation of Christ is perhaps the most hope-filled promise ever given to mankind. When they learned that God was not just somewhere out there. He came and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, that of the only begotten Son of God – Emmanuel. He showed us that life as a human on planet earth does mean something. We can live in fellowship with our Creator to accomplish His purpose for us. God is with us.

As a matter of fact, He is with us when we are not aware of His presence. Even if we try to escape His presence we cannot, because God is with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. Allow this truth to become part of your conscious thinking. Brother Lawrence encouraged this in his book “The Practice of the Presence of God (The Best Rule of a Holy Life)”. Even in the mundane things in life we must realize that God is with us. When this becomes a way of life it makes it easier to allow God to help us through the “big” things that seem to make us shipwreck.

Emmanuel, God with us. Every day. Every moment. Right now. So regardless of what you are facing know that God is there, and He is able to get you beyond the current circumstances. He loves you … and He is here.