THE BEAUTIFUL NAME OF JESUS!
(This blog is mainly written with my grandchildren in mind.)

"Jesus, oh, how sweet the name,
Jesus, every day the same,
Jesus, let all saints proclaim,
The precious name of Jesus."

I feel so deeply just what this song says so eloquently Peter said, "There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts) Paul says, "At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow." (Philippians)

I fear the church has lost the power in that name. Many people over the years have been named Jesus, but only one carries the power to make a difference. I have been in Pentecostal churches where they sang for over 30 minutes, maybe 45 minutes, without one time mentioning the name of Jesus! That is reprehensible to me.

We have communion services where the name of Jesus is not mentioned, even though Jesus said to "do this in remembrance of me." Whole sermons and whole services are conducted without any mention of his name.

And yet, only the name of Jesus heals and forgives and saves. Only His name can calm fears and make doubts flee away. No other name can do this, and the absence of His name is a worship of uselessness. Let us all revive the name of Jesus in our hearts, in our speech, and in our worship. It's a beautiful name!

"I love the name of Him whose heart,
Knows all my griefs and bears a part,
Who makes all anxious fears depart,
I love the name of Jesus!"

So many songs about the name of Jesus, so many poems, so many scriptures! If the devil can silence the name, Hell can take a rest, and the world will be thrown into chaos.

"By what power or what name have you done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ...by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth...this man stands here before you whole." (Acts 1-11)

Had it not been for the name of Jesus, I wouldn't even be alive today. I love the name of Jesus!

"Some may wonder where the beauty lies in that name I love so dear,
Well, it's not just in the way it sounds when it falls on my ear,
And it's not just in the way it looks when it's written beautifully.
But the beauty of that precious name is in the power it gives to me."

"It's so beautiful, the Name of Jesus.
It's so beautiful, that precious name.
When I ask in Jesus' name,
Everything is mine just to claim.
How I love that precious name."

Jeremiah 20:11 says, "But the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their  everlasting confusion will never be forgotten." (NKJV)

What a great thought! And a wonderful confession. Of course, most confessions have conditions to be kept. The main condition of any confession is that your heart is right with God, you have accepted Jesus (no man can come to the Father except through Jesus - John 14:6), and you are keeping your relationship with God in good condition. We all fall short, sometimes forget to pray, sometimes try to handle things ourselves instead of trusting God. But if we confess our sins (admit that we missed the mark), he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). So as we keep our walk with God in good shape, then we can say what Jeremiah said.

Confessions are great. But they aren't mantras, cliches, etc. They come from a heart that is alive to God. So Paul says to the Hebrews that we will overcome if we keep up the profession (confession) of our faith.

Another thing that happens when we make confessions of scripture, it builds our faith. Not more faith, but strong faith. God has already given to every believer "the measure of faith", we just have to work it out. James says that faith without works is dead - useless.

Consider if you were given a lump of dough. In that lump are biscuits, a pie shell, cookies - your choice. But you have to work it out or it is useless to you. So, begin to "work out your faith." Say what the Word says (Hebrews 4:14; 10:23, etc.), pray always in the Holy Ghost (Jude 20), and having done all STAND. Don't be shaken or move off your ground of faith. Some things come quickly, some take time - just stand.

The woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25ff) said, "If I can touch the hem of his garment." But she had to fight her way through the crowd. Not an easy task, but she held on to her profession (confession) like Hebrews 10:23, and she "stood" on that confession to touch the hem of his garment. And she was healed!!

So let us say, "But the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.

Be blessed!!

Keep Your Heart Simple Before God

Moses was a man who had intimate communion with God. Exodus 33:11 says, So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. (NKJV)

Moses was a man who had an intimate relationship with God. Deuteronomy 34:10 says,  But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. (NKJV)

Moses was a man who had intimate privilege with God. Numbers 12:8 says, I (God) speak with him (Moses) face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings, and he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses? (NKJV)

That puts Moses way ahead of all the Israelites of his day, and even in the days to follow after him. Yet he prayed in Exodus 33:13,  Now, therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You... (NKJV)

Notice that Moses prayed, even though he was face-to-face friendly with God. There is something to say about respect, even for those who are your close and familiar friends. Though Moses had remarkable access to God, he never presumed. Moses kept his heart simple before God. He could be stern and strict with those whom he lead; that is what leaders do when those given to follow them become diffident and lazy. But to God, although he knew that he had found grace in God's sight and was a true friend of God, he still approached God with great reverence, asking as a child asks his father for a favor. I believe Moses knew that God would grant his request before he asked, yet he still reverenced God and approached in a proper manner to the Ruler of the Universe. Even that approach gave him a better foundation for his request.

This was not subtle manipulation on Moses' part. On the contrary, this was deep, abiding respect for his dear friend. Respect goes a long way, and it never hurts us to give it to others. Yes, God has promised you as a child of God, washed in the blood of his Son that he will give you that for which you make earnest request. Still, it is good advice to say, keep your heart simple before God.

Make sure of your reason for asking and make sure of your reasonable approach to Him Who rules overall. It is just a wise thing. Even when asking is unnecessary - in the area of healing your body, for example - still your approach to him in respect and thanksgiving to take that which is yours is always a wise approach.

May God hear all your requests, and may you know that he does and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

Empowered to Serve

Once again, I have published a new book. This one is a compilation of sermons that I preach throughout South Africa, especially when conducting conferences on the subject: Empowered to Serve. I have dedicated the book to my spiritual son, Jackie (Oeloff Jacob) Badenhorst, who presently lives in Bethlehem, Free State, South Africa.

You can find the book on Amazon.com, both print, and Kindle (for your phones and tablets). It is a companion book to my first book, Victory Ground. Outside the US, it would probably be better to download the Kindle version to your Kindle app (a free app). Here are the URLs for both books should you choose to read either one or both. I really think you would enjoy the books, and they are quite inexpensive as a Kindle version.

Victor Ground: https://www.amazon.com/Victory-Ground-Gary-Gilmore-ebook/dp/B07KY24KQB/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1549117644&sr=8-11&keywords=books+by+Gary+Gilmore

Empowered to Serve: https://www.amazon.com/Empowered-Serve-Gary-Gilmore-ebook/dp/B07LCWRQ3V/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1549117644&sr=8-7&keywords=books+by+Gary+Gilmore

Sorry for the sales pitch. I really don't care about the money, I just want to bless anyone with the things the Lord has given me to say.

If you enjoy the books, it would be so nice for you to leave a review/comment on the Amazon.com site. Thanks.

Happy reading.