The Only Name
Acts 4:12
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/OnlyName.html
Acts 4:12
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Jesus. It's the only name people take in vain. The only name people swear by. The only name which stirs up such hate and venom. The only name which produces love in the hearts of many who speak it. And it is the only name that can save us!
This week Brit Hume of Fox News spoke that name in recommendation to Tiger Woods, citing his need of forgiveness and a faith that offers it. It was a personal recommendation given because he was asked for his personal opinion. But oh what a firestorm of controversy it sparked!
No one says "What in Allah's name is going on?" No one texts "OMB" for "Oh My Buddha." These facts help to prove the case that Christianity is the truth, and all else is false. Because only Jesus' name has the power and punch behind it to matter.
The truth hurts and the truth helps, but it never is neutral. No one ever tells an enemy to 'go to purgatory' for there is no jab found in saying it...for there is no truth in that non existent place. They tell their enemy to 'go to hell' ... a place they supposedly don't believe exists!
For 2,000 years the name of Jesus has not just reformed alcoholics, but transformed them. Purified prostitutes / made liars tell the truth / turned haters into lovers / turned wife beaters into docile men / made whoremongers faithful / cleaned up cursing mouths / has saved souls from hell!
Every other religion on earth has this in common: their founder is today dead.
But I can say: “I serve a RISEN Savior." And that's why it's the only name!
Our church sign a couple weeks ago said, "Many will say 'Christ' mas more than usual." Did you understand that? It was a play on Christmas, as well as a Spanish pun - 'mas' = 'more'. Many who never name the name of Christ said it much more than usual leading up to December 25. It is a powerful name we cannot escape.
Philippians 2:10
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
No one will escape that name!
You don't have to say God's name and then attach 'damn' after it to take God's name in vain. We take it in vain anytime we speak it flippantly in a way in which we are not talking about Him the way we are supposed to, reverently, in truth. Ever heard someone say, "Jesus Christ" and it is obvious they aren't honoring Him in saying it? Ever called down a person like that? I have.
If someone spoke your momma's name in disgust or in insult you would defend your mother...have you ever defended your Father in heaven?
You wanna put someone in their place kindly, but effectively? Do what I did once to a man who said “Jesus Christ” when he was upset because a line was moving slowly in a store. I said, “It’s not His fault, it’s theirs!” [pointing to the help at the register]. “Yeah, you’re right,” he admitted.
The name of the Lord is sacred. It’s a holy name. At that name angels bow down / demons tremble / Satan has to flee.
The name Trump may open doors of finance, Einstein may open doors of brilliance, Michelangelo may open doors of art, but the name of Jesus will open to you the doors of heaven!
Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
We honor names of military generals like MacArthur, Patton, Schwarzkopf, and others. We honor spiritual leaders like Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, D. James Kennedy, Adrian Rogers, etc. How much more should we honor the name of Almighty God?!
Psalms 8:1
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
Psalms 25:11
For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
Psalms 111:9
... holy and reverend is his name.
It’s for this reason I don’t use the term ‘reverend’ with my name. Because the Bible says it’s HIS name...He is due reverence, certainly not me. I prefer Pastor Jerry or Bro. Jerry, but also answer to ‘Opie’!
We need to be reminded of the mindset of the Orthodox Jew in Bible days, concerning the name of God, as well as many Bible translators for centuries A.D., before the invention of the printing press. When these scribes would copy the Word of God, every time they would encounter a name of God, they would rise from their work table, go and wash, and often change their clothes, pick up a new quill never used before, and then proceed to write the name of God. This they would do every time, sometimes up to three times in a single verse. That’s how respected and revered the name of God used to be. What a terrible thing it is to ever drag His beautiful name thru the mire!
Names are very significant. The Bible says that a good name is better than great riches. Let me rattle off some names and you call out the first thing that comes to your mind.
Judas [traitor]
Thomas [doubter]
Hitler [murderer]
George Washington [honesty]
What do you think about when you hear the name of God? The Bible has over 300 names of God. That’s because it’s impossible to capture the full character of God in any one attempt.
Gen. 22—Jehovah Jireh: The Lord will provide
Ezek. 48—Jehovah Shammah: The Lord is there
Jer. 23—Jehovah Sidon: The Lord our righteousness
Exodus 6—El Shaddai: The Lord is sufficient
Exodus 15—Jehovah Rapha: The Lord our healer
Exodus 17—Jehovah Nissi: The Lord our victory
Judges 6—Jehovah Shalom: The Lord our peace
Genesis 14—Jehovah Elim: The Most High God
Matthew 1—Jesus...there’s just something about that name!
Jesus is:
The voracity of truth, the verity of love, the victory of grace, the visibility of God! It’s honey to the taste, harmony to the ear, healing to the soul!
“Christ” is His messianic name. He is the Christ, and that is the name we wear as Christians. “Little Christs” or “Christlike Ones”...that’s what it means. It’s a special privilege but an awesome responsibility.
Don't wear the name if you aren't willing to back it up! It's like taking that name in vain to casually wear it like a jacket you can put on or take off depending on whom you are with.
We live today in the midst of the most cursing generation of all of human history. Vile words are regularly added to a magnanimous list of things you can say, but shouldn’t. Most people, even many Christians, don’t think twice about using the words damn or hell in a frivolous way. Atheists say ‘hell’ all the time, and would claim not to believe in it. Some say hell and they expect to go there, no problem. And some have been saved from it and yet still say it...what a mockery, what a sad revelation about how worldly many Christians are today.
Then there’s the ‘f bomb’, the filthiest thing you can say, and so considered the most powerful and the most used by the scum of society. Some say it so much in all situations they don’t even know they are saying it anymore. Others think they are adding emphasis by using it. But I say if what you are saying is so weak that you need to add such a word you should revisit your real point and try to find something worthwhile to say in the first place!
The ‘a’ word is now commonly accepted on regular, prime time TV, but it best describes the person who would stoop to use it! The ‘s’ word is not far behind, and further reveals what a potty mouth one is when they say it.
Rap music is full of all the above and so much more, esp. terms derogatory to women, or racial slurs. The average R rated movie has foul language every 32 seconds. PG 13 and most sitcoms average one every minute or two, and we allow it into our homes. Our kids don’t have to hear it from us, if they hear it from our TV it makes it look ok to them.
Cursing used to be considered ‘man language’...and you’d hear someone say, ‘watch your language, there’s ladies present’. But it’s not just a man problem anymore. Young girls not far detached from their dollies are saying things today that would make a sailor blush!
As bad as all of this is, the most vulgar thing you can do is to speak the lovely name of God is a vain way. And if we took that more seriously we would also think twice before saying other curse words. It’s all about forming new habits, and getting rid of old ones.
When we curse we reveal 4 things:
• Lack of character. The Bible says our mouths speak what is abundant in our heart. What’s down in the well comes up in the bucket! You can tell what a person IS by what that person SAYS. A great preacher of yesteryear, Sam Jones, said: “When I get around a man who swears I watch my pocketbook...for any man who would swear would surely steal!”
• Lack of intelligence. When you have to use profanity to get your point across you are revealing an empty head and a wicked heart. Profanity is the attempt of a feeble mind to express itself forcefully.
• Lack of understanding. Think about how foolish it is to use a curse word. What does it get you? With most sins, you at least get something in return...even pleasure for a short season. Stealing is wrong, but at least you got something! I’m not justifying sin, just making a point. You have a flat tire and curse. Did that put air into the tire? Now if the hot air coming out of your mouth could go into the tire, it would be different. Can cursing ‘unstub’ your toe? Make your golf ball move from the rough to the fairway? Fix your broken window? What do we earn by cursing? Only one thing: the judgment of God! Ex. 20:7 says, ‘the LORD will not hold him guiltless’.
• Lack of reverence and respect. A person takes God’s name in vain and says, ‘sorry, I didn’t mean that.’ That’s like saying, ‘God is meaningless to me. I can use His name and not even mean it.’ Well, that’s exactly what the word ‘vain’ means. It means empty or meaningless. It’s a lack of reverence to God, and a lack of respect to any others around us. I don’t like euphemisms for the same reason, ie: ‘gosh darn it’. It’s just ‘Christian cussing’!
Brit Hume's advice to Tiger was good advice. What a testimony it would be if someone like him got saved!
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/OnlyName.html
