However, within a few years, I started going to Tall Timber Presbyterian church camp. I didn’t feel the same loneliness. I don’t know if it was just because I was older, or because I was a more seasoned camper. But the most significant difference between the two camps was that at Tall Timber, I wasn’t alone spiritually. I was with other Christians. Doing Christian things.

It is part of God’s design that we should not live alone.

From Genesis to Revelation, Christianity is a social religion. God said “It is not good for the man to be alone.”

We need people. We are energized by our relationships. They give our life meaning. We realize that our life is not simply about us and our needs but it is about something bigger… life is about being in community. Sharing experiences in common.

As we continue the story of Elijah in 1Kings 19:13 we find Elijah feeling very alone.

As a consequence of his calling as a prophet Elijah felt very isolated. A prophet’s job is to call people to turn away from their indulgences back to serving Yahweh. Sometimes the prophet’s audience turns toward the message. But most often,  people turn away, leaving the prophet alone in the world.

If you have a Bible, turn to 1Kings 19:13

13 And Elijah pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.      Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

Elijah said: “Look God, I am the only one left! Everyone has abandoned you and started worshiping Baal. They broke the altars erected to you and now they’ve killed the prophets. It’s just me now, and I’m

lonely.”

When I preach in August, I’m going to talk about depression and how one of the Bible’s stories about Elijah describes some God-ordained means for dealing with depression. But for now, we are going to focus on one aspect of depression which is isolation.. Isolation can be a symptom of depression.

Depressed people often start believing the lie that their friends don’t care about them. As a result, they purposely keep to themselves and eventually become a self-fulfilling prophecy, all alone.

In Elijah’s depression he had come to believe that the entire nation had turned away from God. Under this faulty assumption he hid himself away in a cave. Away from the very people who could have supported him.

But more often then not, we are never as alone as we believe we are. While most had turned from God, there was still a remnant. And so one of the ways that God ministers to us in our loneliness is to open our eyes to see that we are actually not alone.

Picking it up at verse 15 we read “The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”

God told him “Look, Hazael, Jehu and Elisha… they are still faithful to me. And there are 7000 people out there whose knees have not bowed down to Baal. Not only that, I have someone special for you to meet. His name is Elisha and he is going to work alongside you. You will have the opportunity to mentor him so that when you are gone, there will be someone to carry on your work.

Today you might find yourself in the position I was at camp. Even though you are surrounded with people you still feel alone. Perhaps you wrestle with depression and isolate yourself away, making people prove their love for you by waiting for them to take the initiative.

You need to hear the words of God to Elijah. You aren’t alone. There is a community of believers here that are available to walk beside you in both the joys and trials that life brings you. We do not have to suffer in loneliness as Elijah did.

God collects His people into churches so that they can give each other mutual help, contribute each of their gifts, talents, and passions to produce a whole that is greater then the sum of its parts, and together benefit from a common reward.

Hebrews 10:25 instructs us to ”not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.

God says it is not enough to have your morning devotions at home alone. You need to meet regularly with other believers or else you will find yourself like Elijah thinking “I am all alone.” This might mean meeting Sunday morning in a church service like ours. But you actually don’t need to meet in the traditional matter that we do with a set order of worship and building. You might be meeting in a house with 10 other Christians in the middle of the week. It might even just be two or three gathered together. No matter what the setting, we need to not give up meeting together. We need to be around each other or else we will feel all alone as Christians.

But not only are there are Christians in Menno to support you, there are also Christians in Ritzville and Moses Lake. Grant and Adams County.

My life has been enriched this year by a very unique church situation. When we moved back to Moses Lake I knew I wanted my family to be in a church inside the city limits of Moses Lake so that we would be living with and ministering to our neighbors and coworkers. Eventually I found Journey church which meets in the Fairchild Cinema. But I also knew that I wanted my family to grow up knowing you all because you have become an adopted family for us. And I have chosen to be a Mennonite regardless of the denomination of the congregation we worship and minister in weekly. But then I was hired to play for the worship service of Living word Lutheran church.

What I have experienced from this is that there are opportunities for community, to minister, and to be ministered to by fellowshipping with a broader group of Christians then those that we worship with on Sunday morning.

It is also important for us to remember that the church is not our only recourse against loneliness. Psalm 68:6 says God sets the lonely in families. Whether your family is Christian or not, God has ordained the family to be a place of love. For most people there is unconditional love from mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters. From our extended families of grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins. One of the hazards of living so far away from Deana’s and my families was that we didn’t have the immediate support available to us that we had when we lived in the same town. So when families are apart it is important to make use of the technology we have been blessed with, whether the phone, email, chat, or text. Brittany sends me pictures of my Grandson Luke on my cell phone. And I can video conference with Alexis on Skype.

Finally, while I’ve been talking about how we need to _seek out_ others to avoid the loneliness that crippled Elijah each of us needs to also be challenged to be that loving person that others can go to. Some people have found their experience of churches to be toxic. Church hasn’t been a safe place for them. They’ve felt judged or found it’s members at war with each other. For these people maybe you need to be just the second person of two or three gathered so that someone who believes the church is toxic can have a community of believers to meet with. To encourage that person. To pray with them. To share a meaningful passage of the Bible with them. To listen to them. To be ministered to by them. We need to not only go to church, we need to be the church for those with a negative experience with the church.

Other people have grown up in toxic families. Their parents area either distant or abusive. Their siblings are unsupportive. I believe that when Psalm 68 says “God sets the lonely in families” I believe it is also an invitation to us to be a family to those without one. For better or worse, our home has always been open to children and teens with troubles in their family. Sometimes it has meant them living with us for a short or extended time. The first time it was a teen whose mom had died of cancer. Later it was children of a neglectful mother. In other cases it has just been providing a loving place for them to hang out during the day. But God has continued to give us the opportunity to minister to those whose families are not there for them 100%.

So, to combat loneliness we need to be sure and take the time to gather with other Christians. Take the time to be with your family. And don’t isolate yourself to just your church or family. Take the time to _be_ the church for those without one and _be_ a family for those without.

*********************One who truly loves the truth may hereby test the soundness of his faith so that no one should exalt himself but know instead from whom one might ask and receive wisdom.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. [Proverbs 1:7]

Hans Denck

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One who truly loves the truth may hereby test the soundness of his faith so that no one should exalt himself but know instead from whom one might ask and receive wisdom.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. [Proverbs 1:7]

Hans Denck

Brothers, we read and hear that many sects and so-called heresies (to speak without malice) had grown up in days gone by. Some of these are partly growing up again in our day. Indeed, among any twenty scholars of one party, one will hardly find two who agree with each other in all aspects of doctrin. This would never be the case if one were to heed the only true teacher, the Holy Spirit. Scripture gives clear testimony of his teaching. But this happens in such a way that it appears to be contradictory in many places to any who are not sealed by the spirit of God. This is fully evident in certain sects in which everyone defends his own case, one quarreling with the other on the basis of certain parts of Scripture. There is no regard for the fact that the opponent’s Scripture is the truth, too.Now if we are to find the ground of truth, these [parts] must be seen together, compared and reconciled with each other. As long as we fail to do this, there will be no end of quarreling. Two opposites [gegenschrifft] must both be true. But one is contained in the other, as the lesser is in the greater, time in eternity, finitude in infinity. One who leaves antitheses without reconciling them lacks the ground of truth.How blessed we would be were we to recognize how little we actually have. We would then bemoan our poverty and hunger after the bread of life, namely, the Christ of God, our Father. He has sufficient for all wants, but tends to give to the hungry only. For this reason then I have gathered these opposites (we could have found a great many more in Scripture) so that — god willing — they may serve to enrich his own people. Amen.Here then are forty opposites.The First:a). Who knows the mind of the Lord [Romans 11:34]b). He has made known to us the mystery of his will [Ephesians 1:9]The second:a). Without him was not anything made. [John 1:3]b). Pride was not made for humanking. [Ecclesiasticus 10:18]The thirda). God did not make death. [Wisdom 1:13]b). Fire and hail, famine and death, all these were created for vengence. [Ecclesiasticus 39:29]The fourtha). Whoever comes to me I will in no wise cast out. [John 5:37]b). It does not depend on human will or effort, but on God’s mercy [Romans 9:16]The fiftha). You abhor none of the things which you made. [Wisdom 11:24]b). Jacob I loved; Esau I hate [Romans 9:13]The sixtha). God did not repent of his gift and grace. [Romans 11:29]b). I repent of having made Saul king [1Samuel 15:11]The seventha) I am not come to judge the world but to save the world [John 12:47]b). For judgement I came into the world [John 9:39]The eightha). If I testify on my own behalf that testimony is not true [John 5:31]b). If I testify in my own behalf that testimony is true [John 8:14]The nintha). I can do nothing of myself [John 5:19]b). No one takes my life from me; but I give it of myself [John 10:18]The tentha). Those whom he called he also justified [Romans 8:30]b). Many are called; few are chosen [Matthew 20:16]The eleventha). For who can resist his will? [Romans 9:19]b). You have always resisted the Holy Spirit. [Acts 7:51]The twelftha). Everyone who asks, receives [Matthew 7:8]b). You ask, but you receive nothing. [James 4:3]The thirteentha). God is no respecter of persons [Romans 2:11]b). Whom shall I look upon but the poor and the broken in spirit [Isaiah 66:2]The fourteentha). Preach the Gospel to all creatures [Mark 16:15]b). Do not throw pearls to the pigs [Matthew 7:6]The fifteentha). By one suffering he has perfected all those who are sanctified [Hebrews 10:14]b). I complete in my flesh the full tale of Christ’s afflictions for his body’s sake [Colossians 1:24]The sixteentha). I will not be angry forever [Jeremiah 3:12]b). And these will go to eternal punishment. [Matthew 25:46]The seventeentha). God wills that all humankind should be saved. [1Timothy 2:4]b). Few are chosen [Matthew 20:16]The eighteentha). God does not tempt anyone [James 1:13]b). God tempted Abraham [Geneses 22:1]The nineteentha). Thou art not a God who is pleased by evil. [Psalm 5:4-5]b). He hardens whomever he will. [Romans 9:18]The twentietha). His tender mercy is over all creatures. [Psalm 145:9]b). To whom he will, he is gracious. [Romans 9:18]The twenty-firsta). The broken reed he shall not crush [Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20]b). You shall shatter them like a potter’s dish [Psalm 2:9]The twenty-seconda). No one has seen God. [John 1:18]b). I have seen the Lord, face to face. [Genesis 32:31]The twenty-thirda). Whoever drinks of the water which I shall give, will never again thirst. [John 4:14]b). Whoever drinks me will still thirst. [Ecclesiasticus 24:21]The twenty-fourtha). Whoever overcomes, I shall grant to sit with me on the throne [Revelations 3:21]b). It is not in my power to grant to you who shall sit at my right, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared. [Mark 10:40]The twenty-fiftha). Judge not so that you will not be judged. [Matthew 7:1]b). Judge justly. [John 7:24]The twenty-sixtha). In Christ shall all be made alive. [1Corinthians 15:22]b). The Son gives life to whom he wills. [John 5:21]The twenty-seventha). God has put all under unbelief in order to show mercy to all. [Romans 11:32]b). Whoever does not believe shall be condemned. [Mark 16:16]The twenty-eighta). This is my body. [Matthew 26:26]b). If they say this is Christ, do not believe them. [Matthew 24:23]The twenty-nintha). I will be with you until the end of the world. [Matthew 28:20]b). Me you do not always have with you. [Matthew 26:11]The thirtietha). All he wants, he has done. [Psalm 115:3]b). You have always resisted the Holy Spirit. [Acts 11:30]The thirty-firsta). He is himself the atonement for our sin; not for our sins only but for the sins of all the world. [1John 2:2]b). I do not pray for the world. [John 17:9]The thirty-seconda). It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. [Matthew 19:24]b). My yoke is easy and my burden is light. [Matthew 11:30]The thirty-thirda). The bars of the earth have encased me forever. [Jonah 2:6]b). Then God spoke to the fish and it spewed Jonah onto dry land. [Jonah 2:10]The thirty-fourtha). To the just no law has been given [1Timothy 1:9]b). Whoever conforms to my statutes and observes my laws and walks in truth is righteous. [Ezra 18:9]The thirty-fiftha). The law entered so that sin may increase. [Romans 5:20]b). God has commanded no one to be wicked, nor has he given license to commit sin. [Ecclesiasticus 15:10]The thirty-sixtha). For it hereby comes about that the former law is annulled on account of its weakness and uselessness. [Hebrews 7:18]b). Do we cancel the Law through faith? Far be that from us. Rather, we set up the Law. [Romans 3:31]The thirty-seventha). With whatever measure your measure it shall be measured for you. [Matthew 7:2]b). Double for her the strength of the potion she mixed. [Revelations 18:6]The thirty-eightha). I am God and there is no other. I bring forth light and create darkness, I give peace and cause evil. [Isaiah 45:7]b). When the devil tells a lie he speaks his own language. [John 8:44]The thirty-nintha). Why do you provoke God by laying upon the shoulders of these disciples a yoke which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear? [Acts 15:10]b). The commandment which I give you is neither too strange nor too far off. It is not in heaven that you should say, “Who will go and fetch it for us that we may hear and do it? etc. [Deuteronomy 30:11, 12]The fortietha). I desire to harden Pharoah’s heart says God. [Exodus 4:21]b). Pharoah hardens his own heart. [Exodus 8:15; 9:34]To the Reader:The prophet Isaiah says in the twenty-ninth chapter, “and the vision of all this (that is, everything which points to God) has become to you like the words of a sealed book. Give it to a scholar and bid him read it and he will say that he does not know it by heart. Give it to an ignorant person and he will say, “I cannot read” [Isaiah 29:11f]This prophecy has already been fulfilled in our own day. We can easily test this in above and similar statements. For we understand the mysteries of God even less than an ignorant animal. One who cannot read should go with full confidence to the only teacher who instructs all learned doctors. He alone has the key to this book which contains all the treasures of wisdom.O Lord, give whatever you will to whomever you will. Amen.Their folly will be plain to all [2Timothy 3:9]Hans Denck, 1526

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.

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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.

The naming of Jesus

God gave Him his name.

Philippians 2:99 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;

Mary instructed to name Him Jesus

Matthew 1:21 She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.

Luke 1:31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, and will call his name “Jesus”

Jesus named at His circumcision

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.

The name of Jesus is to be glorified

2Thessalonians 1:12 that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:10 that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth.



Authority in the name of Jesus

Authority over demons in the name of Jesus.

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.

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.

Authority over sickness in the name of Jesus

Acts 3:6 But Peter said “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!”

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Authority over sickness in the name of Jesus

Acts 3:6 But Peter said “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!”

Acts 3:16 By faith in his name has his name made this man strong, whom you see and know.

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.

Speaking/preaching in the name of Jesus

Acts 4:18 They called them and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Acts 5:40 They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of jesus and let them go.

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 But 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 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did.

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 remission of sins are in the name of Jesus

Luke 24:47 repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

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

1John 2:12 I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

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 8:16 for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.

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.

We live, dye and suffer for 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 15:14 Simeon has reported how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

Acts 15:26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 19:17 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Romans 1:5 through whom we received grace and apostleship, for obedience of fatih among all the nations, for his name’s sake.

1Corinthians 1:10 Now I beg you, brothers, through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same spirit.

1Corinthians 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ

Ephesians 5:20 giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father

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.

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.

2Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion, and not after the tradition which they received from us.

1Corinthians 1:2 to the assembly of God which is at Corinth; those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours.

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What does it mean to be repeatedly filled with the Holy Spirit?

“You will only revive the burning power and passion of Christ in your life by opening yourself to the power of God’s Spirit, by anchoring your daily life in the disciplines of worship, Bible study, prayer, and faithful service, and by welcoming god’s direction in the everyday routine of your life.” – Greg Laurie A Passion for God p. 13

Three word pictures in the Greek help us to understand what the term “filled” means.

First, it was used of the wind filling a sail and pushing a boat through the water. To be filled with the Spirit is to be moved along by God Himself. He becomes our source of motivation. When we are filled with the Spirit following His commands becomes a delight instead of a drudgery.

Second, being filled carries the idea of permeation and was used of salt permeating meat in order to flavor it and preserve it. God wants His Spirit to permeate our lives and influence everything we think, say and do.

Third, being filled means to be under the control of something or someone. The previous verse says to “not be drunk with wine.” The problem with drunkenness is that it controls you. When you are drunk, it controls your body, your mind, even your mouth. And then when you later aren’t drunk, it controls you by drawing you to the time when you can get drunk again.

Being filled with the Spirit is similar, only in a much more positive way. It means placing every thought, every decision, every act under the Spirit’s control. Galatinans 5:16 promises “Walk by the spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” When you walk in the Spirit you have the resources to do what God wants you to do and to not do the things God doesn’t want you to do.

How to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit?

How to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit?



“Be filled is a command. Doesn’t really give us an option.

But paradoxically, the greek shows that it is not something that we can achieve through our own efforts,

It is something done for us and to which we submit.

We do our part and the Holy Spirit does His.

So, what is our part.

1. Ask to be filled with more of the Holy Spirit

Luke 11:9-13 9 “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

keep asking. not just asking once.

keep seeking. not just seeking once.

keep knocking. not just knocking once.



This is so basic, but I can tell you that I don’t always keep asking.

Acts 1:4-5 4Being assembled together with them, he charged them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. 5 For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Wait. Waiting is hard.

Wait expectantly. “for the promise of the Father, baptism in the Holy Spirit.”



3. Don’t quench the spirit. 1Thessalonians 5:19.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.



We quench the spirit when we have unrepentant sin, a lack of love for God, and/or for others. Or when we deny the work of the Holy Spirit.

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One of the most incredible sections in the Bible is 1corinthians 2:6-16

“We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing. But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory, which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written,

“Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear,

Which didn’t enter into the heart of man,

These God has prepared for those who love him.”

But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God, except God’s Spirit. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is judged by no one.

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him?” But we have Christ’s mind.”

No matter how well you know me, you can never know me truly. Verse 11 says “who knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him.” Only I know myself.

Also true of God.

“No one knows the things of God, except God’s spirit.”

But then the most incredible verse in verse 16.

“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he should instruct him? But we have Christ’s mind.”

Earlier in verse 12 he said that we have received the Spirit which is from God that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.”

The Spirit imparts the mind of Christ on us.

Isn’t this remarkable?

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Ephesians 5:18-20 Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and singing praises in your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father;

There are a couple problems with being full of the Spirit.

First:

It has been said that we only use 10% of our brains. I don’t know if this is a myth or not, but I’m pretty sure we don’t use our brain to it’s full capacity.

Can our brain contain the mind of the infinite Holy Spirit?

No of course it can’t.

Even if it was functioning at full capacity, it couldn’t contain the infinite holy Spirit. The Mind of God. The mind of Christ.

Second:

We leak.

Over time our passion wanes.

It is very difficult to sustain the fire of our salvation.

We struggle to maintain the disciplines of filling ourselves with the Word of God and communing with God in prayer in worship, the activities that give the Holy spirit increased place in our lives.

It’s all too easy to get formulaic which also quashes the spirit. to rely on our rituals.

So, Paul tells us in this Bible passage to keep on seeking to be more full.

A place to start is a simple prayer: “Lord give me more of the Holy Spirit. Let me know more of the mind of Christ. ”

To continue reading this sermon, click here

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