The Name of the Lord

Q: What does the Bible say about the name of the Lord?

The Bible emphasizes the name of the Lord as the source of power and salvation. The Scriptures illustrate that the name of the Lord carries immense authority and power, encapsulating all that Jesus Christ represents in His redemptive work. In Acts 3, Peter declares healing in the name of Jesus Christ, highlighting that the recognition of God's authority is embedded in His name. This name is not merely a title but embodies His divine character, fulfilling the promises of salvation and redemption for those who believe. Acts 4:12 asserts that there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, underscoring the profound significance of invoking the name of the Lord.

Q: How do we know that the authority of Jesus is true?

The authority of Jesus is affirmed through His resurrection and divine mission. Jesus' authority is rooted in both His fulfillment of the redemptive mission given by the Father and His resurrection from the dead. As stated in Philippians 2, Jesus earned His name and authority through His perfect obedience and sacrificial death. God exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name, meaning that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him. This is corroborated in both the Old and New Testaments, which declare that His name is the one through which redemption and justification are realized, as seen in 1 Corinthians 6:11, where believers are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Q: Why is faith in the name of Jesus important for Christians?

Faith in the name of Jesus is essential for salvation and personal transformation. Faith in the name of Jesus is not just a ritualistic acknowledgment but a profound belief in His character and the effectiveness of His redemptive work. Acts 10:43 states that whosoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins, which emphasizes that through faith in His name, individuals experience true transformation and restoration to God. The name of Jesus embodies His person and work, granting believers assurance, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life. This faith is pivotal for Christians as it connects them directly to the power and grace of God, enabling them to overcome sin and walk in righteousness.

Q: What does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord?

To call upon the name of the Lord means to invoke His authority and seek His mercy. Calling upon the name of the Lord is deeply rooted in recognizing His authority and power over every aspect of life. It involves more than just verbal acknowledgment; it requires faith and dependence on His character as a holy and merciful Savior. Romans 10:13 clearly states that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, indicating that this act is a vital expression of faith that connects believers to the redemptive work of Christ. It acknowledges His sovereignty and the sufficiency of His grace to save, cleanse, and empower those who believe.

Q: Why should Christians be confident in the power of the name of Jesus?

Christians can be confident in the power of Jesus' name because it encompasses divine authority and promises. The confidence that Christians have in the name of Jesus stems from the authority and power that is associated with Him. His name signifies not only His identity but also encapsulates His role as Redeemer, Savior, and King. Philippians 2 emphasizes that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, highlighting the ultimate authority He holds. Believers can rely on His name for salvation, healing, and deliverance because His name is backed by the full weight of God's character and promises. This assurance empowers Christians to face life's challenges with confidence, knowing that the name of Jesus is a stronghold and refuge.

All right, let's turn in our
Bibles to the third chapter of Acts. I'll begin reading with verse
1 of Acts chapter 3. This message, as I prepared it
today, meant a great deal to me. I have on many occasions in many
messages referred to the phrase, the name of the Lord. But in
tonight's message, I want to, for a little while, look very
carefully at that phrase and see if we can find out what it
means. the name of the Lord. The name of the Lord. In Acts
3, verse 1, Peter and John went up to gather into the temple
at the hour of prayer, being about the ninth hour. And a certain
man, lame from his mother's womb, was carried, whom they laid daily
at the gate of the temple, which is called beautiful. to ask alms
of them that entered into the temple, who, seeing Peter and
John about to go into the temple, asked for a handout, asked for
alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes
upon the lame man with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting
to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold
have I known. But such as I have, give I thee
in the name." This is what caught my attention
again today, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and
walk. And he took him by the right
hand and lifted him up. And immediately his feet and
ankle bones received strength and he leaping, leaping up, stood
and walked and entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping,
praising God. I know most of the attention
of most of the faith healers and preachers and Charismatics
and Pentecostals is on this fact that God healed this man physically. God healed him of his lameness
and made him to walk. Oh, the miracle of it, the joy
of it, and Jesus is the same today, and what he did then he
can do now, etc., etc. I've never had any doubt about
that anywhere. But in this whole thing, I see
not so much the cure as the cause of the cure. I see not so much
the miracle as that which produced the miracle. And here are two
common, ordinary men like myself, and they looked at a man laying
from his mother's womb, and they spoke some words, and in these
words, was the power that gave life. And they said, in the name
of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk. And he did. Now look at
verse 12. Of course, the people were excited
and amazed and astonished and tried to make more out of it
than it was as far as Peter was concerned. And it embarrassed
Peter. And when Peter saw the tumult,
he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel
ye at this? That's what I'd like to know.
Why marvel ye at this? God who made the legs can make
them walk. God who made the ears can make
them hear. God who made the eyes can make them see. I don't see
any unusual or great miracle about God making a blind man
see, but I can see An amazing, astonishing miracle
in God making a rebel into a son. Now that's a whole new ballgame. Making an eye to see that's been
blind does not involve God's character. Making a deaf ear hear does not
involve God's character, holiness, or righteousness whatsoever,
because he's still going to put it in hell, no matter whether
it's blind or whether it can see. It doesn't matter whether
you're a walker or a cripple, you're going to hell anyway because
of sin. But for the Almighty God, in a marvelous miracle,
to take away your sin, take away your sin, and make you, as He
said a while ago, in the image of Christ, now that's another
ballgame. That requires God doing something
not only for you, but for Himself. That's right. And that's why Peter said, why
are you amazed at this? Why are you amazed at this? For
God to, whether a sick man's made whole or whether he's left
to die, he's still going to die either way. But for God to take
away a man's sins, remit his sins in a way consistent with
his holiness and take him to glory forever, now that's a miracle. I marvel at that. I marvel at
that. So he says, why marvel ye at
this? Why do you look so earnestly
on us as though by our power or our holiness we made this
wet man to walk? We didn't have anything to do
with it. We loud preachers and exalt preachers
and all these charismatics bow down to their preachers and hold
them up on a pedestal and want to reach out and touch them and
get their autograph and all this foolishness. When they don't
have a thing in the world to do with what God does, no human
does. He said, verse 13, The God of
Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers,
hath glorified his Son, Jesus. whom you delivered up and denied
him in the presence of Pilate when Pilate was determined to
let him go, but you denied the Holy One and the just, you desired
a murderer to be granted unto you, and you killed a prince
of life whom God hath raised from the dead, whereof we are
witnesses. And his name, through faith in
his name, hath made this man strong." There's where it all
is. There's the power. That is the
source of the miracle. His name, through faith in His
name, by the power of His name. Well, they turned them over to
the authorities in Acts 4. And the authorities in verse
7 of Acts 4, And when they had set them in the midst, the authorities
came around, the Pharisees and Sadducees and Sanhedrin, got
around these apostles and set them in the middle of them. And
they asked, By what power or by what name have you done this? And Peter, filled with the Holy
Ghost, said to them, Ye rulers of the people and elders of Israel,
If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent
man by what means he's made whole, be it known unto you all." I
like the way Peter puts it, don't you? No shifting or compromise. Now, you know, we don't want
to cause any trouble. We want to live and let live,
you know, and we don't want to cost you fellas. You have your
religion, we have ours. No sir. He said, do you want
to know how this came about? Verse 10, Be it known unto you
all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from
the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you. This is the stone, this Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, is the stone which was set at naught of you
builders which is become the head of the corner, neither is
there salvation in any other, for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Then
Paul wrote, "...whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved." Brethren, when I read And you
can, I looked in the concordance, and I could be here this time
tomorrow dealing with the scriptures that have reference to the power
and effectual deliverance of his name. But Paul said, Whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord, the name shall be saved. There's power in that name. Let me show you some other scriptures.
Turn to Acts 10.43. There is power in that name. He said, A man who calls upon
that name shall be saved. The name of the Lord, the power
to save. None other name unto heaven given
among men whereby we must be saved. Now look at Acts 10.43. To him give all the prophets
witness through his name. Whosoever believeth in him shall
receive remission of sins, remission of sins, all sins past, present,
and future, all sins of inheritance and ignorance, all sins, word,
thought, and deed, all sins, remission, total remission of
sins through his name. And then 1 Corinthians 6. Look
at this one. This is one that I chose to read
out of the hundreds. and have reference to his name,
but its significance. 1 Corinthians 6, verse 11, listen. He talked about what we were,
thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners, adulterers,
idolaters, and so forth. Verse 11, and such were some
of you, 1 Corinthians 6, verse 11. But you are washed, you are
washed, purified, you are sanctified, made holy. You're justified,
acquitted, not guilty. How? How? In the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God. That's power in
that name. Power in that name. To wash me,
throughly, sanctify me and justify me before God. And John said
to believe on that name is to have eternal life. Charlie said
to us a moment ago that he was not afraid to die, that he really
welcomed God's call because he would go into the presence of
God. How can a man stand on the threshold of death, leaving this
life with such confidence, in the name of Christ, in the
Word of God, in the promises of God? There's power in that
name. There's power to save, there's
power to forgive sins, there's power to wash, to sanctify, to
justify, and to give a man calmness, confidence, and quietness in
the face of death. That's power. That's the power
of the name. Now, who wears that name? Peter
said, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, there's only one
who wears that name. There's only one. There's none
other name unto heaven. He has no competitor. He has
no rival. There's none other name unto
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Paul said,
Who art thou, Lord? I'm Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou
persecutest. God hath given him a name which
is above, exalted above exaltation, every name. Just one wears that
name, just one. Where did he get that name? This
name, this name of power that he alone wears, where did he
get that name? That name that saves and sanctifies,
washes and purifies, cleanses and gives confidence, that name
that justifies us before God. He wears that name, where did
he get it? Want to find out? There's a twofold answer. Turn
to Philippians 2. I'll show you where he got it.
I'll show you where he got it. It's a twofold answer. This ought
to be preached everywhere. Philippians 2, verses 5 through 11. Where did he get that name? Number
one, he earned it. He earned it. He deserves it. He worked for it. That's right. It says in verse 5 Philippians
2, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who
being in the form of God thought it not robbery to the equal with
God but. He's the only one who ever earned
his reward. He's the only man who ever earned
his acceptance. He's the only man of whom the
Heavenly Father could say, I'm pleased, come home and sit down. He earned it. What did he do
to earn it? He made himself of no reputation. He took upon him, secondly, the
form of a servant. He was made in the likeness of
men. And being found in habit or fashion
as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient. He learned obedience by the things
he suffered, even the death of the cross. And everything he
attempted and encountered and endeavored to do, he did it perfectly,
so that even the Heavenly Father could find no fault. He earned
his seat. He earned it. He's got a name
that's above every name. He's got authority because he
earned it. He got the right because he bought
it. It's his. But not only that,
secondly, wherefore, because he earned it, wherefore, because
he did what God gave him to do, wherefore, God hath highly exalted
him and given him a name, which is above every name." Where did
he get that name? The Father gave it to him. The Father said
in Isaiah, I have spoken it, the word has gone out of my mouth,
and it won't return unto him shall every knee bow. God gave
him that name. We talk about the name of the
Lord and the power of it and the authority of it and the right
of it. He earned it. He earned it. I glorified thee
on the earth, I finished the work you gave me to do, wherefore
thou hast given me authority over all flesh, that I should
give eternal life to as many as thou hast given me. He earned
it, and the Father gave it to him. Well, what is his name? What
is his name? Well, it's not the name God,
That wasn't given to him. He had that name forever and
forever. He's always been God. In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. That name wasn't given to him. He didn't earn that name.
That's his name, God. He's the everlasting Father.
He's wonderful counselor. Well, it's not the name Son of
God. He's that by divine nature. They didn't give him that name.
Son of God. He's declared to be the Son of
God. He's not called the Son of God, he's declared to be the
Son of God. Well, it's not the name Jesus. The angel told Joseph
to give him that name. He came and he said, call his
name Jesus. That's the reason I'm a little
troubled by all these preachers and their references to the mighty
Son of God. on a first name familiarity basis,
Jesus, Jesus, in the name of Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. They
never call him Lord. But no man can call him Lord
but by the Holy Spirit. You only call him what he is
to you. That's right, you call him what
he is to you. This name, which is above every name, this name
which he earned, this name which the Father hath given him, this
name that has the power to do all that he wills to do, is his
redeeming character. That's the name. And it implies
who he is, Immanuel, God with us. What he did, prophet, priest,
and king. Why he did it? I'm a just God
and a Savior. That's my name. And where he
is now? Highly exalted. So the name of
the Lord, whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, implies
all of his saving character, all of his redemptive work, all
of his cherityship from eternity past to eternity future. That's
his name. And it implies all the authority
which is behind it. Now listen to an illustration. Charlie Pennington is now with
the Postal Department, but he used to be a policeman. So suppose I'm walking down the
street and I hear a voice say, stop, I'm Charlie Pennington. Charlie, with apologies to you,
no serious reason for me to stop. Any more and if you'd have said,
I'm John Doe. But I'm walking down the street
and Charlie Pennington says, stop, I'm Charlie Pennington,
I'm your neighbor. There's still no real reason
for me to stop. I can either stop or keep going. It's not really going to make
much difference. Stop, I'm Charlie Pennington,
I'm your friend. I've still got no reason to stop.
Wait a minute. Stop, Mr. Mahan, in the name
of the law. Now stop dead still. He's still
Charlie Pennington, isn't he? Yeah. But he has invoked a name
that got my attention. He's invoked a name, for in that
name and behind that name is authority over me. Not only authority,
but power over me. And not only power over me, but
all that's included in the name of the law are the courts and
the judges and the government and total control over all things
that matter to me and all things that I am. I'd better stop, because he's speaking in the
name of the law. See what I'm saying? Charles
has in his hands, because he's been invested with the authority
of the law, power to try me, find me guilty, and take away
my freedom. And so when we just use the word
Jesus, actually, that's a name common to Jewish people. But
when you talk about Jesus Christ, the name of the Lord, You done
said something now. When you say the name of the
Lord, you've spoken of the total authority that Almighty God has
given him over heaven, over earth, and over all flesh, and the right
and the power to exercise it. In the name of Jesus Christ moves
heaven, because heaven is behind that name. in the name of Jesus
Christ makes hell to tremble, because that name has the power
to close the gate or open it. He openeth and no man shutteth,
he shutteth and no man openeth. Now you're talking different
words now. In the name of the Lord Battles are won in that
name. Heaven hears that name. Hell
trembles at that name. Sinners are saved in that name.
Sins are forgiven in that name. Sinners are washed in that name.
His name is the power that sets a man free. His name has power and authority
over Satan, over the world, over sin, and over hell. and over
heaven. That's what I'm talking about.
And when Peter stood there before that lame man and said in the
name, he was invoking all the powers of God, the purpose of God, the will
of God, the right of God, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
you rise up and walk And whatever held him had to let him go. Charlie
said, in the name of the Lord, stop! I better stop. And I tell
you, whatever power held that man, better let him go. Because
the name of Christ is invoked. Oh, you say, if I had that power
to heal sick and raise the dead. That's just the reason you ain't
got it. Because you won't play with it. We're dealing in greater issues
than healing rheumatism. The power is there to raise the
dead, the spiritually dead. The power is there to give sight
to the blind, the spiritually blind. The power is there to
make the deaf to hear, not Jews, but him. The power of desire to set men
free, not from these childish things that we're all fussing
about, but from the clutches and the grasp of principalities
and powers of hell and the curse of the law and the bondage of
sin. Set him free! Do you think when
he said, the Spirit of God is upon me and hath anointed me
to preach deliverance to the captives, he was talking about
somebody behind an iron curtain? Or the bamboo curtain? No, sir.
People behind the curtain and the curse of the law of God.
Hell's curtain. That's right. You think when
he said he came, he anointed me to give sight to the blind?
If he's talking about these people that have glaucoma or something
like that? No! To make the spiritually blind
to see. I'd be plumbed blind in these
eyes and still see what 99% of the world has never seen. That's
the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus. And I'd rather
see forever than see right now. That's what I'm talking about.
That's the name, the awesome name of authority. And when I
can believe His name and call upon His name and invoke His
name, He sets the prisoner free. I tell you, that's what this is talking about.
Jehovah-Jireh, that's what Abraham said. The Lord will see to it. The Lord will see to it. There
are some folks around here that are so dependable, I can say
to some of these guys, like Russell, I think two or three weeks ago
I said, I'm going to have the Lord's table on February He said,
I'll see to it. I can depend on Him. Well, if
I can depend on you, think I can depend on you. I'll see to it. Lord, I
need forgiveness and mercy and grace. He'll see to it. That's
what Abraham was saying, John. The Lord will see to it. He'll
provide. And then he's called Jehovah-nissa, the Lord our banner.
Old Moses out there holding up his arm. Well, they fought the
enemy, and his arms got tired, and they fell, and the enemy
prevailed. And they raised his arms, and his troops prevailed. And finally, two of his men got
up and held up his arms, and they won the battle. And he called
that place Jehovah-Nissa, the Lord, my banner. He'll win my
battle. He'll hold up my arms. The Lord,
my peace. Jehovah-Sedkenu, the Lord, my
righteousness. Jehovah-Shem, where the Lord
is present. The Lord, my shepherd. Let me
give you this. Wherewith shall we approach the
Lord, bow before his throne, by believing his word and pleading
his name alone? This is the name the Father loves.
This is the name that I must plead. This is the name that
heaven approves and blesses us indeed. then let his name forever
be to me supremely dear, his name my all-prevailing plea,
for all my hope is that. His name, Lord Jesus, suits him
well. His name is wonderful indeed,
for his name from sin and wrath and curse and law and heckle His name is all I need, all I
need. All right, we're going to gather
around the table of the Lord, who wears that name, who gave himself for us. Let's open our Bibles to 1 Corinthians
11. 1 Corinthians 11. You say, Pritchard,
who's this table for? It's for believers. For those
who know his name, those who love his name, those
who discern his broken body and shed blood, this is not a church
fellowship supper, this is the Lord's table. It's not my table,
I don't fence the table, he does. And it's fenced by one thing.
The Ethiopian eunuch said to Philip, what doth hinder me from
being baptized? And Philip hedged in baptism
by one question. If you believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, you may. He said, I believe. That's what
I say to you. If you believe on Christ and
you know his love and you discern his broken body and shed blood,
then come to the table. Verse 23, 1 Corinthians 11, I
received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that
the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took
bread, and when he had given thanks, He break it and said,
take it, this is my body, which is broken for you, and you do
this, not because you feel worthy, not because you've gone this
week without sinning, you do this in remembrance of me. I
loved you and gave myself for you.

The Name of the Lord

What does the Bible say about the name of the Lord?

How do we know that the authority of Jesus is true?

Why is faith in the name of Jesus important for Christians?

What does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord?

Why should Christians be confident in the power of the name of Jesus?

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About Henry Mahan

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The Name of the Lord

What does the Bible say about the name of the Lord?

How do we know that the authority of Jesus is true?

Why is faith in the name of Jesus important for Christians?

What does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord?

Why should Christians be confident in the power of the name of Jesus?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

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