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.

The Name of the Lord is a Strong Tower!

Here is my encouragement for you today. Trust in the name of the Lord! This Psalm is a great Psalm to pray over yourself, and/or over those whom you know that need a boost in life.

1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; 2 May He send you help from the sanctuary, And strengthen you out of Zion; 3 May He remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah 4 May He grant you according to your heart's desire, And fulfill all your purpose. 5We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. 6 Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. 8 They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. 9 Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call.

Verse 1 is the Defending Name of God. Verse 5 is the Displaying Name of God. Verse 7 is the Delivering Name of God.

Know that the Lord defends his people, know that he delivers his people. So be sure to display the name of the Lord everywhere you go.

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. Hallelujah!!

This Is A Hard Saying...

In all of my Bibles, I have written three quotes in the blank pages at the back. These are quotes I do not want to forget. I read them often, and I read them to other people as well. I want to share them with you.

But before I do, let me just tell you that these quotes are horrible, hard, tough, invasive, hurtful, maddening, offensive - I could go on. I have lived troubled days, and spent sleepless nights, all thanks to these three quotes. Sometimes they nearly drive me mad. I often have wept before the Lord, just because of these three quotes.

Paul tells Timothy, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance." I have to tell you that these three sayings (quotes) are hard sayings - still worthy of acceptance. I do not remember, or maybe never knew, who said them. Maybe you do. But I fear that if I did know, they might not be my best friend.

Before I list these quotes for you, I pray that they will have the same effect on you that they have had on me. I pray that they drive you to your knees in surrender and tears and repentance. I pray that they produce good fruit in you. Now, the sayings...

"Jesus has no tenderness whatever toward anything that is ultimately going to ruin a man in the service of God."

"Our Lord never puts personal holiness to the fore when He calls a disciple; He puts absolute annihilation of my right to myself and identification with Himself - a relationship with Himself in which there is no other relationship."

"If you are hard and vindictive, insistent on your way, certain that the other person is more likely to be in the wrong than you are, it is an indication that there are whole tracts of your nature that have never been transformed by His gaze."

Doing the Right Thing

Judy and I read the Bible together at breakfast every morning, then we read a few pages of a selected book and have prayer before we start our day. Right now we are reading Lester Sumrall's book: Genesis, the Crucible of the Universe.

We have also been reading through some of the OT books of the prophets. We have read the 3 prophets that deal with the return of the Jews from Babylonian captivity, as well as Ezra and Nehemiah. We enjoyed the story of Esther. In it, we saw that Mordecai finished the job that was given to King Saul, a Benjaminite. Saul was supposed to annihilate the Amalekites, but chose to keep King Agag and others alive. Samuel, the prophet, confronted him and told him that God had ripped the kingdom from him and had given it to David. Many years later, during the Babylonian captivity, God chose Mordecai, another Benjaminite, to finish the job by killing Haman, an Agagite; that is, the last descendant of King Agag of the Amalekites.

Though King Saul elected to keep the best of the people and the livestock alive as spoils, Mordecai elected to keep none of the spoils. Righteousness does prevail, though it may take years to see it. God will always win every time. We may not see it. It may be left to our descendants to enjoy the end of the battle. But if we are faithful to teach our children and to encourage them to do the right thing all the time, regardless of how hard it may be or the cost, then we can be sure that the eventual outcome will be good.

So Mordecai encouraged Esther to approach the king, in the face of possible death, to do the right thing - the hard thing. He said, "Who knows but you have been brought to this position of Queen for this very time in history to save the Jews." And she decided, "I will approach the king, and if I die, I die."

Tough choices, big costs. But because of their willingness to obey the Lord, only good came forth. Today, will you be a Saul and lose the kingdom for a few choice spoils? Or will you lay aside the possibility of personal gain for the greater good?

I believe you will make the right choice. It may even save your country, your family, and your own life.