In My Name – 29 June 2023, Anno Domini

  

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HEREFORE 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.  (Philippians 2:9-11)

 

            There are many different names, or titles, in both the Old and New Testaments for our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb of God sacrificed from before the foundations of the world for us. 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. (1 Peter 1:19-20 - see also Revelations 13:8) His sacrifice was decided long before the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden for God knew of man’s failure to live up to the righteousness of God – even in keeping only one Commandment.

 

            When the lad, Isaac, inquired of his father of the lamb for the burnt offering, Abraham responded, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. God would be Himself the lamb in the form of His only Begotten Son. The term here is Hebrew is Jehovah-Jireh, meaning God will provide. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh (God will provide). (Genesis 22:14)

 

There is one name of the Lord Jesus Christ I love above all others. It is found in Isaiah 7:10 – The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Emmanuel means God with us. What a wonderful name and what a wonderful promise it conveys! 6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (Deuteronomy 31:6 - see also Deuteronomy 31:8, vHebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20, etc.) No matter the storms and billows, Christ is always with us on the tumultuous seas of life. Our fears are unfounded with our trust in Him.

 

The Christian lives a life of victorious faith with the trust He places in his Redeemer and Savior. But it is such a seal of future promise that, regardless the ridicule and persecution we experience from the unbelievingvworld, there is coming a day when all – good and bad – will acknowledge His Lordship – some to eternal bliss,and others to eternal damnation:  . . .  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

            A few years ago, I served as post chaplain to a veteran’s organization. There came a day when new post officers were to be recognized by the state leadership. The State Commander handed me a written prayer and directed that I read it verbatim. It omitted the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I learned later this was consistent with the published Chaplain’s Book of the organization – no mention of the Lord Jesus Christ whose Providence guided our Founders in establishing us a nation among the nations of the earth as well as a burning Beacon Light for all other nations for its provision of Liberty. I had to resign rather than suffer such offense to my Lord and Savior. 

 

            We are counseled to pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ since He is our only intercessor with the Father. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)

 

            What does it mean to pray in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ? It means, as Christians, we are commissioned to act upon the authority of God’s Word. We have assumed His will for our lives and rejected our old self-will (so-called free will).  Therefore, all that we pray for, in His Name, will be according to His will for us. Do we not pray in the Lord’s Prayer, Thy will be done? All our prayers should include that distinction – it is not OUR will we seek, but His, in satisfaction of our petitions. 

 

            The only valid actions of a police officer must conform to the laws of his municipal authority. The same is true of military personnel. We are all subject to both secular and spiritual authority. If God is our Father, we will pray for those things He is inclined to grant through His Son, Jesus Christ. But the claims of all others outside the limits of the Kingdom of Heaven are directed to the Prince of the Air and the ruler of this world – the devil.