Jeffrey C. Long

This sermon will be preached on January 8th, 2006 at Filer Mennonite Church

Philippians 2:9 says

9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,

11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

If nothing happens today in this sermon, we want to exalt the name of Jesus. You should come away with a sense of awe about Jesus’ name.

Jesus’ name is so important because it did not come from human origin. It came directly from God himself.

When we utter the name “Jesus,” we are not speaking an ordinary name. This is the name that God gave HIm which is above every name. We need to reclaim a sense of awe at the name of Jesus.

This Sunday is called Holy Name on the church calendar. It commemorates the circumcision and naming of Jesus.

Technorati Tags: bible, demons, kingdom of God, Jesus

This Sunday is called Holy Name on the church calendar. It commemorates the circumcision and naming of Jesus.

Luke 1:26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28 Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”

29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name ‘Jesus.’

and then in Luke 2:21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Jesus pronounced ee ye soos. Comes from the Hebrew word for Joshua. The angel told Mary’s husband Joseph the meaning of the Word in Matthew 1:21. He said “for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”

I think it’s really important for us to use proper names when talking about God. That’s one of the reasons I use a Bible translation that uses the name Yahweh for God. We live in what’s called a pluralistic society. Pluralistic means lots of ideas side by side, each given the same amount of legitimacy. Yahweh is side by side with Allah, with the Buddah, mother earth, and others, and given no more significance to most people. In fact, there are often people attending Bible believing Churches who believe that each of these are legitimate ways to center your life and secure your eternity.

This is much like that of the Roman empire where multitude gods were acknowledged side by side. Pantheon. And leaders were considered gods. Tolerance for the Jewish God Yahweh. In fact, the Roman rulers were mostly tolerant of Jesus. His crucifixtion was more a result of the Jewish leader’s intolerance then the Romans.

The gospel of the Kingdom of God stands in the face of this and says, “No, there is only one God, He is Yahweh, and His Son Jesus is the only way into heaven.” He is a rock that makes men stumble. He has a claim on your life.

While driving with her 3-year-old nephew, Connor, his mother asked him to name the other people riding in the car with us. After he answered successfully, she then asked him to name every other family relative he could think of, including their nicknames–and he did. “Connor, what is God’s other name?” she finally asked him. Everyone all sat quietly, expecting him to say Jesus. After pondering the question a moment, his little face lit up. “Why, God’s last name is ‘Bless America,’” he said.

Amanda Scroggs, Alexandria, VA. “Heart to Heart,” Today’s Christian Woman

People have lots of funny ideas about who God is and what His name is. So, the name of Jesus is very important. It discriminates between Him and all the imposters out there.

Today we’re going to look at what role the name of Jesus plays in our lives.

Inside your bulletin (see this post) is a hand out with a list of some of the scriptures that reference the name of Jesus. Take it out and you’ll be able to follow along. Because the teaching on the name of Jesus is so extensive, I thought it would be good for you to have a reference. Stick this in your Bible, or at home on your refrigerator.

I want to make a point at the beginning that it is the Kingdom of God that is advanced through the proclamation of the name of Jesus.

Jesus the King. Servants act in the name of their king. The boundaries of a kingdom domain are established under the name of the king. Wars are fought.

When we use the name of Jesus, we are establishing territory in the name of our king. We are declaring that Jesus is Lord _here_.

First, there is Authority over demons in the name of Jesus.

I had the opportunity to read the sermon that Andy preached on the weapons of our warfare and it was a reminder that we don’t just live in a physical world, we live in a spiritual world that is antagonistic against us. It’s in this world that authority was given in Jesus name over demons.

Mark 9:38 39 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.” But Jesus said “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.

People who weren’t even following Jesus had power over demons in Jesus’ name.

Acts 16:18 She was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed turned and said to the spirit, “I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” It came out that very hour.

When we are confronted by darkness, whether it is in the physical world, or in the spiritual world, we need to claim the authority of Jesus’ name over these spiritual forces.

Second, there is Authority over sickness in the name of Jesus

Soon after Pentecost, a lame man asked Peter for a money.

In Acts 3:6 Peter said to him, “Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”

It was in the name of Jesus that the miracle occurred. Peter was extending the boundaries of the Kingdom of God by praying for healing in the name of Jesus his King.

Some other examples:

Acts 4:10 be it known to you all and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand here before you whole.

Acts 4:30 While you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.

In this case, not just healings, but signs and wonder. Ponder what that means.

It’s important to know that the powerful movements of God that establish themselves in local churches are most often a result of recovering the spirit of the book of Acts and the early church. We need to go back to Acts and begin applying the power of the Holy spirit in the name of Jesus.

Third, the Kingdom of God’s domain is expanded when people come into the Kingdom of God in the name of Jesus.

Preaching, faith, repentence, and baptism all happen in the name of Jesus.

Speaking/preaching in the name of Jesus

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (the messiah) they were baptized, both men and women.

Acts 9:27 After Paul’s conversion, Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

Believing in his name

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name.

John 20:31 these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you may have life in his name.

1John 3:23 This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as He commanded.



Repentance, justification and forgiveness of sins are in the name of Jesus

Acts 10:43 All the prophets testify about him that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.

1Corinthians 6:11 Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.

We are baptized in the name of Jesus

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them “Repent, and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.

Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Application: In sharing the good news of the Kingdom with people, we should make frequent use of the name of Jesus. Because there is power in the name. And also because it differentiates the gospel from the other religions of the world.

Fourth, the boundaries of the Kingdom of God are expanded when We live in the name of Jesus

Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Living in Jesus’ name illustration

Laura Duvall Bush tells the story of when her daughter Aimee was in nursery school, she’d come home each day with drawings, collages, and other projects. Next to her own name she’d scrawl the name of someone she loved–usually Mommy or Daddy, sometimes baby brother Ben. “I did this for you,” she’d proudly say.

She says “As I reflect on this, I remember the apostle Paul’s exhortation, “Whatever you do … do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). If Aimee could do every school project for me or for her dad, surely I can do my “projects” for my heavenly Father. Now I often ask myself, Have I written my Lord’s name on all I’ve have done today?

Laura DuVall Bush, New Britain, CT, Today’s Christian Woman, “Heart to Heart.

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.



Sometimes we suffer in the name of Jesus.

Acts 5:41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.

Acts 15:25 it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The year was A.D. 155, and the persecution against Christians swept across the Roman Empire and came to the city of Smyrna. The proconsul of Symrna, swept up in this persecution, put out an order that the Bishop of Symrna, Polycarp, was to be found, arrested, and brought to the public arena for execution. They found Polycarp and brought him before thousands of spectators screaming for blood. But the proconsul had compassion on this man who was almost a hundred years old. He signaled the crowd to silence. To Polycarp he said, “Curse the Christ and live.”

The crowd waited for the old man to answer. In an amazingly strong voice, he said, “Eighty and six years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong. How dare I blaspheme the name of my king and Lord!” With that Polycarp became a martyr.

Leith Anderson, “Can Jesus Trust Us?” Preaching Today, Tape No. 126.

Conclusion:

Awe when we say the name Jesus.

Begin to say the name Jesus in everyday settings. It’s evangelism. Learn to talk about Jesus, not just saying the generic “God”

What practical way can you put Jesus’ signature on the projects in your life.

This post is licensed under the Creative Commons license.