THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD - PART 381

In the New Testament, there are two names and a variety of titles that refer to Jesus. Of the two names, one is a given name. The other declares who Jesus was. That is, Immanuel - which interpreted declares that Jesus is God with us! This is why we can attest to the early church receiving the Word of God directly from the mouth of God Himself -- Jesus. Because Jesus was declared to be God manifest in the flesh as a Son.

Indeed, Jesus was the life Seed of the Holy Spirit conceived into the womb of a surrogate mother named Mary. The early believers in the church did not simply repeat Jesus' words but rather focused on Jesus. These believers proclaimed Jesus to the multitudes whilst at the same time endeavouring to digest all of the gospel that they had both seen and heard. Like John the baptist, they proclaimed that the Lord of Glory visited man but that we/they in our/their ignorance, crucified Him that was the Lamb of God.

In this context, the given name of Jesus was the embodiment of all titles and prophecies that had forgone His incarnation in flesh. No, not just a name. Rather, a name above every other name that is in Heaven and earth. For the name of Jesus is a name that is all powerful. The scriptures state that "Every knee shall bow to the name of JESUS."

But not only will each and every one of us bow before Jesus but we will all likewise declare that JESUS is Lord. Further, JESUS declared to his disciples that if they ask His Father for anything in His name - the name of Jesus - He will give it to them. Therefore, the name of JESUS is not just a sequence of identifying symbols. No sir! JESUS' Word was -- and is -- with power. JESUS' speech was not a rehearsed sermon for unlike the religious folk of the day, He did not speak like the Scribes and Pharisees.

We know then that the name of JESUS is the only name whereby anyone can be saved. But it is more than this. The name of JESUS being a name is not a concoction of inserted vowels or a translated name. No. The name of JESUS is given of GOD. In this sense, God did not consult with man before the name of JESUS was given. We pray in and through the name of JESUS, who is God as a Son. It was Jesus who laid down His life for us, so that we through His sacrificial offering of His own flesh could be saved. Obtain redemption for our sins.

Thus, because of His sacrifice, we can now approach His throne of grace with boldness because through JESUS all accusatory judgements of sin are dismissed. Up until His sacrificial death at Calvary, Jesus was declared to be‘God with us.' Now God has provided in the sacrifice of Himself a means whereby He is no longer ‘God with us’ but instead ‘God IN us.'

The only place that God does not occupy is in a man’s heart. He knocks at your heart’s door waiting for you and I to respond to His love. Therefore, let JESUS the GOD who loves you dearly enter into your life today. This is the message that the believers in the early church went everywhere preaching -- JESUS. They were not interested in substituting another name for they received their salvation from the one whose given name was JESUS.

They had tasted the water of life (the Holy Spirit) because they asked JESUS for life. He [JESUS] gave them to drink. Now in JESUS they are springing up in the grace of God and knowledge of Him who was in the man JESUS! They called on the "given" name -- the name of the LORD JESUS! God be with you!