Wednesday, June 12, 2019

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."

Saturday, June 8, 2019

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!!