When children are born parents have already chosen their name or names
The name chosen often honours a family member from a previous generation
The name embraces the hopes that the parents have for that child’s future
The name comes to describe who they are
Who they are known as
What they are known for
The name eventually becomes synonymous with who they are and how they live
Their character and the qualities they exhibit in life
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When Jesus was born - God the Father had carefully chosen a name for His Son
A very specific Name with very definite meaning…
Luke 1:31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”
His Name was to be “Jesus”
The aspects of who He is
The abilities He has revealed
The character that we see
Knowing Him as fully as we can…
1> Helps us to worship Him better (Judges 6:22-24)
2> Helps our prayer lives (Genesis 16:13)
3> Helps us be more secure and less shaken in times of trouble and turbulence (Proverbs 18:10)
4> Helps us to represent Him in the right way in the world in which we live
When we pray:
When we pray “in the Name of Jesus”
Are our prayers ones that Jesus would pray?
Are we praying according to His character and nature?
Are we praying according to His words (1 John 5:14-15)
Because, if we are not, then we are taking God’s Name in vain
Exodus 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”
When we worship:
We worship who He is
We rise above:
Our circumstances
Our situation
Our financial woes
Our relationship troubles
Our feelings
We worship who He is regardless of how we are doing / not doing
John 4:23-24 “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”