Let's take our Bibles and turn
with me to the book of Proverbs chapter 22. Proverbs 22. I'd like to look at the first
verse. Proverbs 22 verse 1. The scripture declares a good
name is rather to be chosen or preferred what the word means,
than great riches and loving favor rather than silver and
gold. From the fall of man in the garden,
man because of sin and therefore pride has desired to possess
a reputation for himself. He's desired to have the praise
of men and God. He wants to be held in high esteem. Men like to have buildings named
after him, you know. Have a statue. When men decided that they were
going to build a tower to heaven back book of Genesis 11-4, the
scriptures reveal why they wanted to do it. Let us build us a city
and tower whose top may reach unto heaven and let us make us
a name. That's what this is. We want
to have some fame. We want to be remembered. Man,
look what those people did. Isn't that marvelous? This thought,
that desire for self-glory, self-worth, self-ability is the epitome of
man's rebellion against God. Man wants the glory. That's the bottom line. Man wants
to be recognized. Now, without a doubt, man has
gained himself a name. But it's not what he imagined
he was going to be. Listen to what the scripture
declares as far as man's fame. Job 15, verse 14-16, what is
man? That he should be clean, or actually
that he could be clean. The word should there, it actually
is could. What is man that he could be
clean? And he that is born of woman,
that he should be righteous. Behold, he that is the Lord putteth
no trust in his saints. God can't trust us to be able
to make ourselves clean. Behold, he putteth no trust in
his saints, yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and
filthy is man which drinketh iniquity like water. Scripture says we're all as an
unclean thing, and all of our righteousnesses are as filthy
rags. We all do fade as a leaf and
our iniquities like the wind have taken us away. What a legacy. What is man? Man wanting to give himself some
glory and some honor and some praise. But the scripture this
morning declares this truth, a good name. is rather to be chosen or preferred
than great riches. A good name. Now, the word good
right there, if you'll notice, it's italicized. If you have
a Bible that shows italicized words, it means it really wasn't
there. But it is recorded in Ecclesiastes
7.1, a good name is better than precious ointment. So the meaning
is there. A good name. And when the scriptures
speak of good, a good name. We're going to have to immediately
go to the source of good to find out. You know, good in my side
or your side and good in God's side is two different goods. The Lord was referred to by a
man one day, he said, good master, what must I do to inherit eternal
life? The Lord asked him this, Why
callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that
is God. Why are you referring to me as
good unless you recognize me as being God? So when we talk
about a good name, We're going to have to realize that a good
name is only going to find its goodness in God, who is good. God alone is good. Now, I want us to look at three,
I've got three points, three little short points concerning
a good name. A good name is rather to be chosen,
preferred, than great riches in loving favor rather than silver
and gold. When it comes to a good name,
the only one who has, possesses a name that is good is the Lord. Psalm 148 verses 12 and 13 says,
both young men and maidens, old men and children, let them praise
the name, the reputation, the glory of the Lord. For His name
alone is excellent, is exalted. His glory is above the earth
and heaven. So when we talk about the name
that is good, there's only one whose name is good. And that's the Lord's. That's
God Almighty. Whenever the Lord sent Moses
into Egypt, and He said, I want you to go and you tell Pharaoh
that I said to let my people go. And Moses said, who am I
going to say sent me? He said, when I come to the children
of Israel, I'm saying to them, the God of your fathers has sent
me unto you, and they shall say unto me, what is His name? That
is, what is His glory? You tell me. You tell me about
the glory of the one in whose name you're coming. What shall
I say to him? And God said unto Moses, you
say this, you say that I am that I am. You tell them that the
self-existent, the eternal God Almighty has sent you. That's what you tell them. You
tell them this is my name. I am. I am. So when it comes to a good name,
we admit there is one whose name is good. Here's my second point. The scripture declares and speaks
of God giving unto a man, a name, the God-man. God Almighty in
covenant mercy, in grace. The Father Himself has given
a name unto His only begotten Son. He gave Him a name based
on His eternally foreseen obedience. God the Father was the one that
first trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's in Ephesians chapter
1 and verse 12. who first trusted in Christ.
We trust Him. I tell you this, the Father was
the first one to trust Him. Gave unto Him a work to be finished
in the redemption of His people. And gave Him a name based on
that foreseen, everlastingly foreseen obedience. And when He was pleased to send
Him into the world, He sent an angel to a virgin named Mary
and said, you're highly blessed of God. You're going to bear the Messiah,
that holy thing that will be in you, conceived of the Holy
Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son,
and now shall call his name Jesus, Savior. You call His name Savior,
for He shall save His people from their sins. That name right
there, that is the absolute name of goodness, given to Christ
the Messiah by the Father. And that name that has been given
unto the Lord Jesus Christ, Savior, given by the Father, foreseeing
His obedience, His submission to the work of the Father, and
Almighty God rewarded that. Rewarded that obedience. Philippians
2, 9-11, Wherefore God hath also highly exalted Him, and given
Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus,
Savior. That's what Jesus means, Savior.
You call His name Jesus, He'll save His people. At the name
Jesus, every knee should bow of things in heaven, things in
earth, things under the earth, that every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord. He's the Master. He's the Owner. He's the Messiah. I've told you
this before, I love it. I love it when you see the word
Lord. In Spanish, it's senor. It means sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I got my brother and
my two sisters here. They can attest to what I've
been saying. When we grew up, buddy, when
my dad or my mama asked us a question, whatever the answer was, if it
was not accompanied by sir or ma'am. Marvin, what? And that scares me now to think
of that. I'm telling you, if I would have
said what, huh? Marvin, yeah. It was sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Come here. Yes, sir.
Yes, sir. I'm telling you, he demanded
and got it. Respect. And my mama did, too. I'm telling you, my mama did,
too. I'm telling you, you call his name Sir. You call his name
Messiah. You call his name Owner. You
call his name Master. To the glory of God the Father.
Almighty God has given him, God Almighty whose name is good has
given a name unto his only begotten son that is good. God gave him
a name. What's his name? You call him
Jesus. He'll save his people. And then
thirdly, God reveals that there's a name given unto his people. Totally by the grace of God,
the merit of God. Hold your place right there and
turn with me to Genesis chapter 32. Here's a name that God gives
to sinners. Saved by the grace of God. Genesis
32. We've read this precious passage
before and it's such a good revelation of God's mercy to us. Genesis
32. Verse 24, Jacob was left alone. Jacob was getting ready to meet
his brother Esau. And he was a little concerned. You know, he had some dealings
with his brother years before. He got the birthright, the blessing,
and now he's getting ready to meet his brother. And he's concerned
about it. He sent some gifts ahead to try
to appease his brother. Wrath is what he's done. And
here he is now, the night before he's supposed to meet his brother.
And God met with him. Jacob was left alone and there
wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And
when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the
hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out
of joint. And he wrestled with him. And he, that is the Lord,
said, let me go, for the day breaketh. Jacob said, I will
not let thee go except thou bless me. Listen to this. And he said unto him, what is
thy name? And he said, Jacob. Jacob is my name. He'll catch
her, supplant her. And the scripture says, thy name
shall be called no more Jacob. But Israel, for as a prince hast
thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And then something happened next
that has always intrigued me. The scripture says in verse 29,
Jacob asked him and said, tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore or why
is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. Now the thing that intrigued
me so is that Jacob knew who he was wrestling with. Because
he asked him when the Lord said you let me go. Jacob said not
unless you bless me. He knew who he was talking to.
The Lord asked Jacob, what's your name? He said, my name is
Trickster. I'm a cheat, I'm a liar, I'm
a supplanter. I beat my brother out of this
according to the Lord's will. He did, but Jacob did just exactly
what he wanted to do. The Lord made him admit what
he is. Now that's the first act of God's grace. to our understanding that God
shows us what we really are. We're all cheaters. We're all tricksters. We're all
liars. We all just go ahead and just
admit it. Somebody says, well, I tell you what, I'm just not
that bad. Well, I don't have any good news
for you. I have no good news for you.
Because Christ Jesus didn't come into this world to save the righteous.
But if you're a low life, good for nothing, sinner, if you just,
all you are is a rebel against God and you don't have sense
enough to do anything else but rebel against God, that's me.
Then I got some good news for you. Jacob asked the Lord, he
said, what is your name? I want to know, I want to know
you. I want to know who you are. Now I want you to hold your place,
not in Genesis, you can let that go. Turn over to Psalm 9, 10. Psalm chapter 9 and verse 10. This was a blessing to me. What
is your name? And this is what a believer wants
to know. Lord, would you reveal to me
who you are. I know demons know that you're
God and the world knows there is a God. But Lord, would you
tell me who you are? You tell me who you are. In my
heart, look at Psalm chapter 9 and verse 10. They that know
thy name. You tell me. You're the righteousness
of Your people. You're the Savior. You're the
Lord. You're the Master. You're sovereign. Lord, would
You teach me that? Would You tell me? Would You
tell me in my heart? Lord, teach me who You are. They that know Thy name will
put their trust in Thee. for thou, Lord, has not forsaken
them that seek thee. Look at Jeremiah, Jeremiah 23
verse six. Jeremiah 23, six. In his days, Judah shall be saved, and Israel
shall dwell safely. And this is His name whereby
He shall be called the Lord our righteousness." Lord, would You tell me in saving grace,
by Your Holy Spirit, I don't want to hear it Lord with just
a natural ear, Lord, I have to know it in my heart. Tell me
your name. Tell me afresh your name. Paul
said, Oh, that I might know Him and be found in Him. That I might
know who He is. I know who I am. Lord, tell me
your name. I'm your Savior. I'm your master. I'm your Lord. That's who I am. And oh, did he ever bless Jacob
there. Jacob knew. Your name was Jacob
by birth in Adam. Your name is Israel in me. Your name is Israel, a prince
with God. Oh, a good name. back in Proverbs
22. A good name is rather to be chosen,
preferred. Oh, just the thought that God
Almighty would take this rebel out of nowhere, Louisiana. A rebel that, you know, here
again, I've said this before. I mean, I've got my family. They
know me. They all tell you some stories on me. But I can tell
you that Almighty God would tell me who He is in my heart. Give me a heart for Him. Teach
me. Teach me what I am. Let me tell you a good name.
Scripture says Acts 11, 26. And it says the disciples were
called Christians first in Antioch. What a name. What a good name. Let me tell you a good name.
Now I realize everybody and their brother, you know, today they
claim if they just, you know, they go to church or something,
they say, I'm a Christian. I'm a Christian. But I tell you
this, a Christian, that follows Christ. My sheep, they hear my voice. I know them in grace, I know
them. And they follow me, they follow
after me. Christians, followers of Christ,
these that are precious because He's precious and they're found
in Him. They're lively stones, living
stones that Almighty God is building up together, a spiritual house,
a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable
to God by Jesus Christ. Their name is precious because
His name is precious. They're followers of the Christ.
The Messiah, the one that God gave the name. You call His name
Jesus. He's going to save His people.
What's the name of those that have been given a good name?
A good name. You know here, God's church is
the bride. Whenever a man or woman gets
married, the bride takes the name of her husband, and when
she takes the name of her husband, she takes not only his name,
but she takes his promise. I'm going to watch over you,
I'm going to protect you, I'm going to keep you. You're under
my protection. You're my wife. I love you. Hear what name has been given
unto the bride. She's called the sons of God. What a name! What a good... And where did the name find its
goodness? Well, from Him that's good! It
just... His name is good. He gave His
Son a name that's good, gives His people a name that's good.
Oh, a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.
Riches that are fleeting. In loving favor, Loving favor
in God's sight rather than silver and gold. All of this stuff is
perishing, perishing. Let me read you this scripture
and I'll close. This is in Revelation 2.17. He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches. To him that overcometh will I
give to eat of the hidden manna, that hidden manna, that The manna
that's hidden, the bread of heaven that's hidden from the wise and
the prudent and revealed unto babes. That's hidden manna. God reveals His Son unto His
people. They see Him. They know Him.
He reveals Him. They hear His voice. I will give to Edith hidden
manna. I'll give him a white stone.
Everything that I could find out about that white stone had
to do with either victory or acquittal. Back in court it was
a white stone, black stone. And if you were in court and
you were acquitted, white stone. If you were charged and found
guilty, black stone. I will give him a white stone
and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth, saving
he that receiveth it. That stone, personal stone belongs
to each of the members of the Bride of Christ. That white stone,
is it real? Is it symbolic? Everyone individually knows by
the revelation of God Almighty just like Jacob. What's your
name? What's your name? My name is
Jacob. You know who knew that? Jacob
knew it. No, your name is Israel. You know who knew that? Israel
knew it. Jacob, made to be in Christ,
Israel. It's individual, personal. They've
been individually loved, individually chosen by God, individually redeemed
by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus, and individually,
personally, You know who knows when God Almighty has done something
for them? Trillium. Who knows it? They know it. They'll
come out on them. But I'll tell you who knows it.
The one that God quickens. That's who knows it. That new
name, that reflective of their marriage to the bridegroom. They're
the ones that perceived it. Who knows that she's married
to me? How many women in this congregation
this morning knows for a fact that they're married to me? How
many? Only one. There's only one. He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh
will I give to eat of the hidden manna. I'll give him a white
stone, in that stone a new name written which no man knows except
the one that gets it. Oh, a good name. A good name. It's rather to be preferred,
rather to be chosen than great riches. And loving favor. Loving favor with God in Christ. Favor not based on our goodness. A believer will tell you this,
I don't have anything to offer God. What am I going to give
Him? What am I going to give Him? What am I going to do for
the Lord? Lord, do something for me that
I can't do for myself, for Christ's sake, and for my eternal good. Amen. All right.