Scripture Reading: #
Philippians 2:9-11 and Matthew 1:21
“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21
Linked below is a beautiful worship song—Jesus, What A Beautiful Name:
INTRODUCTION: #
In our Scripture reading in Philippians 2, the Apostle Paul first describes how Christ humbled himself in His Incarnation, in His birth that first Christmas, His life, and then death on a cruel cross for our sins.
He then describes the ‘exaltation of Christ’ in these words: “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in Heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.”
The angels said to Joseph in Matthew 1:21 “and she will bring forth a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” The Name Jesus means Savior. All humankind need to be saved from sin and its consequences. John3:17 says, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (See also Hebrews 2:9)
In Isaiah 9:6 we read, “For unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given. And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
1. HIS NAME IS ABOVE EVERY OTHER NAME
Philippians 2: 9-11. Note the words “God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name.”
In Ephesians 1:19-23, Paul tells us that “Christ has been raised from the dead and is seated at the right hand of God far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He has put all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
Truly Jesus Christ is Lord! And His Name is above all other earthly names as well as the names of demonic powers. His Name is also more excellent than the name of any angel. Hebrews 1:4.
No wonder the Psalmist declared “O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth” (Psalm 8:9).
2. HIS NAME IS THE ONLY NAME IN WHICH THERE IS SALVATION
The angel who announced Christ’s birth said, “And she will bring forth a Son and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” Jesus Himself said, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul wrote: “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”
Peter declared in Acts 4:12 “Nor is there Salvation in any other, for there is no other Name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” There is Salvation in no other name. Peter declared in Acts 10:43; “to Him, all the prophets witness that, through His name whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe on His Name” John 1:12.
“For whosoever calls on the Name of the LORD shall be saved.” Romans 10:13
It is the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins on the cross of Calvary and His precious blood was shed to pay for our sins and to cleanse us. It is also He who rose from the dead triumphantly and He is alive today at the right hand of God as our Great High Priest and mediator between God and man and He is ‘able to save to the uttermost all who come to God through Him.’ Hebrews 7:25; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 1 John 1:7; Romans 10:9, 10, 13; John 3:16-17.
3. THERE IS HEALING IN HIS NAME
Acts 3:1-16. Note what Peter said in this passage of Scripture: “Then Peter said, Silver and Gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you; In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Rise up and Walk.” Then we read “And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So, he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the Temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God.” Peter declared “His Name, through faith in His Name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” Christ provided healing in His atoning work at Calvary. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes, we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 [Read this whole Chapter].
Compare Matthew 8:16-17; 1 Peter 2:24
Elders are instructed to pray for the sick anointing them with oil in the Name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save [heal] the sick. Read James 5:14-16.
Jesus said that “these signs shall follow them that believe. In My Name …. they shall lay hands on the sick and they will recover”—Mark 16:15-18.
The early church prayed “Grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your Word, by stretching out your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the Name of Your Holy Servant Jesus.” God heard their prayers. Read Acts 4:29-31. God will also hear and answer our prayers today. Jesus Christ still heals the sick and suffering today in answer to believing prayer in His Name.
4. THERE IS DELIVERANCE IN HIS NAME
In Luke 10:17-20 we read; Then “The seventy [whom Jesus had sent forth to preach and minister], returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.’” and He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you but rather rejoice because your names are written in Heaven.”
When Jesus gave the great commission to His followers before He returned to Heaven in Mark 16:15-17 He said, “These signs will follow those who believe; in My Name they will cast out demons ….” In Acts 16:16-18, Paul cast out a spirit of divination from a slave girl possessed by it, in the Name of Jesus Christ. She was gloriously set free. There is still deliverance today for the oppressed in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13-14; Revelation 12:11.
This victory and deliverance was made possible through Christ’s victory and triumph over the powers of darkness at Calvary and in His glorious resurrection and ascension to the right hand of God the Father. Compare these Scriptures: Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14-15; Revelation 12:11; Ephesians 1:18-23 & 2:1-10. We as believers are united with Christ in His victory. We also need “to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, and take the whole armour of God” provided by Christ, so that we can be victorious. Ephesians 6:10-18.
A Lovely Chorus:
“My heart is stirred when’er I think of Jesus,
That blessed Name that sets the captive free.
The only Name through which I find salvation,
No name on earth has meant so much to me.”
—Eliason
5. PRAYER IN HIS NAME IN FAITH IS POWERFUL
Before Jesus returned to Heaven, He gave us the authority as believers to use His Name in His work for God’s Glory.
In John 14:13-14, Jesus said, “And whatever you ask in My Name, that I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My Name, I will do it.”
Also, compare John 16:23-24. Note the words “Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” Also compare John 15:7, and 1 John 5:14-15.
The early Church understood and exercised the spiritual authority that Christ gave them. They prayed and ministered in the authority of His Name, and in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Study the book of Acts. Their enemies recognized the power and authority there is in the Name of Jesus Christ, threatened them, and commanded them not to speak or teach in That Name.
But they decided to obey God rather than man (Acts 4:14-20). They called a prayer meeting and “prayed for boldness to continue to speak the Word, and that the Lord would continue to stretch forth His hand to heal, and that signs and wonders would be done through the name of Jesus.” The early Church disciples were persecuted and suffered for His Name’s sake (Acts 5:40-42). They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for His Name. They continued to preach and teach in His Name, and the Lord powerfully blessed their ministry.
Paul the Apostle said in Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
In Malachi 1:11 we read: “For from the rising of the Sun even to it’s going down, My Name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My Name, and a pure offering; For My Name shall be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts. This is speaking prophetically that the Gospel will be taken into all the world and proclaimed among all nations and that there will be a people who will respond to the claims of Christ among all nations and will offer prayer, praise, and worship to the Lord.
We used to sing;
His Name is as ointment poured forth.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
His Name is as ointment poured forth.
His Name is as ointment poured forth.
This beautiful worship chorus is based on the Song of Solomon 1:3.
CONCLUSION: #
As present-day believers, we too, are commissioned to preach “Repentance and remission of sins in His Name to all nations” Luke 24:46-48. Therefore, we go forth as ambassadors in His Name and power into the entire world with the Good News of Jesus Christ
What a great privilege to go forth in His Name to those who have not yet heard the Good News. One day, because of the Church obeying the great commission, there will be a multitude around the throne of God redeemed by His precious blood giving Glory to God and to the Lamb that was slain. Read Revelation Chapter 5. “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honour and glory and blessing.” (Revelation 5:12)
In closing, the words of this powerful song came to mind.
JESUS YOUR NAME!
Jesus Your name is power,
Jesus, Your name is might,
Jesus, Your name will break every stronghold
Jesus, Your name is life
Jesus, Your name is healing
Jesus, Your name gives sight
Jesus, Your name will free every captive
Jesus, Your name is life
Jesus, Your name is holy,
Jesus, Your name brings light
Jesus, Your name above every other
Jesus, Your name is life
Word in Season—Lloyd Schuetz
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