A Good Name

 

Proverbs 22:1   A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

·        Some Unusual Real Names:

Anita Bath                      Barb Dwyer             Dan D. Lyons
Dusty Rhodes                Earl E. Bird                Eileen Dover
Justin Case                      Mike Raffone           Ophelia Payne
Pearl E. Gates                Pete Moss                 R. M. Pitt
Rick O’Shea                    Rusty Carr                Shanda Lear

·        The phrase “a good name” has been an expression in many languages for centuries, because your name is automatically associated with your reputation. Some of the modern translations of Scripture pick this up:

Proverbs 22:1 (NLT)  Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold.

·        That’s why we say, “he’s making a name for himself,” or “he’s got a good name,” or “he’s got a bad name.”  When we say a name we automatically think of a reputation:  Lucifer, Jezebel, Adolf Hitler, Elvis Presley, Bill Clinton, Queen Elizabeth, Billy Graham, Mother Teresa.

·        What you are cannot be separated from what your name is once they are identified together. That’s why in the Bible, when somebody changed their character, God often gave them a new name (Abram, Jacob, Sarai, Simon).

·        IN ADDITION TO YOUR REPUTATION, YOUR NAME ALSO REPRESENTS YOUR AUTHORITY.

·        When a police officer stops you, he says, “Stop in the name of the law” – it’s the law’s authority that stops you, not the man.

·        If John Smith called while you were eating dinner, you might return the call later; but if Jean Chretien called, you would most likely take the call immediately – names represent authority.

l  When someone has authority but no reputation (power but no character) it results in a misuse of their name and position.

·        Would you want to work for this company?

It has just over 300 employees and the following statistics:

·        30 have been accused of spousal abuse

·        9 have been arrested for fraud

·        14 have been accused of writing bad cheques

·        95 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least two businesses

·        4 have done time for assault

·        55 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit

·        12 have been arrested on drug related charges

·        4 have been arrested for shoplifting

·        16 are currently defendants in lawsuits

·        62 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year

Can you guess which organization this is? It’s the 301 MPs in the Canadian Parliament – the people who write our laws!

·        There are many religions and religious figures in the world today. Some of them have good reputations, and some of them have bad reputations. But none have the REPUTATION of Jesus Christ!

·        Everything that Jesus touched, He utterly transformed. He touched time when He was born into this world; He had a birthday and that birthday utterly altered the way we measure time. He turned the river of the ages out of its course and lifted the centuries off their hinges. Now, the whole world counts time as “Before Christ” (BC) and “In The Year Of Our Lord” (Anno Domini – AD). It’s ironic that the most arrogant atheist writing a letter to a friend must acknowledge Christ when he dates that letter!

·        The resurrection of Christ is unique among world religions.  Confucius died and was buried; Lao-tzu wandered off and died with his water buffalo. Buddha rotted with food poisoning; Muhammad died in AD 632, his body cut up and spread all over the Near East.  But Jesus rose from the dead!

·        No other name has the AUTHORITY of Jesus Christ either! When other religions promise heaven, they are writing a blank cheque! They may have a “reputation” but no real “authority!”

·        Acts 4:12 (KJV)  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

·        Acts 4:12 (NLT)  There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.

·        One Old Testament prophecy after another predicted the coming of Jesus Christ centuries before He ever arrived on the earth:

·        Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

·        If Mary’s son was to be called “Immanuel” why did she name Him “Jesus”? Because they mean the same thing! Immanuel means “GOD WITH US” and Jesus means “YAHWEH SAVES.” WHERE GOD DWELLS, GOD SAVES!

·        Wherever He dwells, He will bring salvation! The list will be endless: Zacchaeus, Bartimaeus, Lazarus, Mary Magdalene, the demoniac from Gadara, the Samaritan woman at the well, Matthew the tax collector, the widow’s son from Nain, the servant of a Roman Centurion, the woman with the issue of blood, the ten lepers, the daughter of Jairus, the blind, the deaf and the lame! An endless list!

·        From the very dawn of history this wicked world has desperately sought to employ the services of someone who could heal the hurt of the human soul and usher in the long stream of universal righteousness. Many persons have applied for this position, and numerous methods have been employed, but all have led to bitter disappointment and despair. But the prophet Isaiah introduces a special candidate …

·        Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

·        What are His qualifications? What is on His resume?

§  PERSONALITY:  Perfectly balanced – Wonderful.

§  EDUCATION:  Knows all things – Counselor.

§  NATIONALITY:  Rules all nations – Mighty God.

§  WORK EXPERIENCE:  Creator – Everlasting Father.

§  SKILLS:  Reconciliation – Prince of Peace.

·        In view of the above, Isaiah (along with the prophets, the apostles, and a host of others) earnestly exhorts sinful mankind to hire this heavenly candidate immediately!

·        WHERE DO WE USE THE AUTHORITY OF THIS “GOOD NAME”?

IN PRAYER

John 14:13-14  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

 

IN PREACHING

Luke 24:47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

TO RECEIVE HEALING

Acts 3:6  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Acts 3:16  And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

 

TO RECEIVE DELIVERANCE

Acts 16:18  And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

TO RECEIVE SALVATION

Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED

Acts 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Acts 19:5  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

 

IN ALL THAT WE DO!

Colossians 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

·        In the Old Testament, God chose to reveal Himself through many covenant names, each one revealing a slightly different aspect of His reputation. But in the New Testament, God accompanied the revelation of Himself in flesh with a new name. That name is Jesus, which includes and supersedes all the Old Testament names.  Jesus is the redemptive name of God in the New Testament.  It is the name of supreme power and authority, the only saving name, the name given for remission of sins, and the highest name ever revealed.

·        Philippians 2:9-11  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.