There’s a beautiful old hymn
written in 1946 by Oscar C. Eliason, that was
often sung by one of our Pastor’s favorite vocalists, Charles Weigle, the words
of which I want to share with you tonight:
A Name I Highly Treasure
I’ve learned
to know a name I
highly treasure.
O how it thrills my spirit through and through!
O precious name, beyond degree or measure,
My heart is stirred when-e’er I think of You!
My heart is stirred when-e’er I think of Jesus,
That blessed name which sets the captive free -
The only name through which I find salvation.
No name on earth has meant so much to me.
That name brings gladness to a soul in sorrow.
It makes life’s shadows and its clouds depart -
Brings strength in weakness for today, tomorrow.
That name brings healing to an aching heart.
That name still lives and will live on forever,
While kings and kingdoms will forgotten be.
Through mist or rain, ’twill be beclouded never,
That name shall shine and shine eternally.
My heart is stirred when-e’er I think of Jesus,
That blessed name which sets the captive free -
The only name through which I find salvation.
No name on earth has meant so much to me!
- Oscar C. Eliason,
Copyright © 1946, 1993 by Lillenas Publishing Co
O how it thrills my spirit through and through!
O precious name, beyond degree or measure,
My heart is stirred when-e’er I think of You!
My heart is stirred when-e’er I think of Jesus,
That blessed name which sets the captive free -
The only name through which I find salvation.
No name on earth has meant so much to me.
That name brings gladness to a soul in sorrow.
It makes life’s shadows and its clouds depart -
Brings strength in weakness for today, tomorrow.
That name brings healing to an aching heart.
That name still lives and will live on forever,
While kings and kingdoms will forgotten be.
Through mist or rain, ’twill be beclouded never,
That name shall shine and shine eternally.
My heart is stirred when-e’er I think of Jesus,
That blessed name which sets the captive free -
The only name through which I find salvation.
No name on earth has meant so much to me!
- Oscar C. Eliason,
Copyright © 1946, 1993 by Lillenas Publishing Co
So, I thought I would make
tonight’s theme, what we have in the Name of Jesus!
I.
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.”
If you were to listen to the “wisdom” of the world,
you would hear them say that there are MANY roads to heaven and it doesn’t
matter how you get there, it just matters that you know where you’re
going. That’s the devil talking. My Bible says in John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way,
the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Matthew 1:21 – “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt
call his name
JESUS: for he shall save his people
from their sins.” John 1:12 –
“But as many as received him,
to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that
believe on his name:”
John 20:31 – “But these are written,
that
ye might believe
that
Jesus
is
the Christ,
the Son
of God;
and
that
believing
ye might have
life
through
his
name.” Acts
2:21, “And it shall come
to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name
of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive
remission of sins.” 1 John 2:12,
“I write unto you,
little children,
because
your sins
are forgiven
you
for
his
name's sake.” 1 John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that
ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” And, of course, a verse we quote
often in witnessing and leading others to Christ, Romans 10:13, “For
whosoever shall call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved.”
II.
Adoration
Philippians 2:9,10, “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;”
You know, the
Book of HEBREWS, which most scholars
believe was written by Paul, is a beautiful epistle showing how the Old
Testament sacrifices and ceremonies point to Jesus. It takes time to read
and study and requires one to be familiar with the Old Testament to fully
appreciate everything presented, but it is full of such great truths! If you turn in your Bibles with me to Hebrews chapter 2, I’d like us to read
a portion together, beginning at verse 7:
7 Thou
madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and
honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his
feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that
is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of
death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste
death for every man. 10
For it became him, for whom are
all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto
glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are
all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Jesus took my
place on the cross, why shouldn’t I sing His praises – at home, at work, at
church, wherever I am? He loved me so
much, He became “the Lamb of God, which
taketh away
the sin
of the world.” –
John 1:29
Romans 15:9 – “And that the Gentiles might glorify
God
for
his mercy;
as
it is written,
For
this
cause
I will confess
to thee
among
the Gentiles,
and
sing
unto thy
name.”
III.
Supplication
It’s a
wonderful principle taught in the Bible that if we ask anything according
to the truths taught in the Scriptures and ask believing in Jesus’ name, we shall
receive. Look at what Jesus says to his
disciples in Matthew 18:19,20 – “Again I say unto you, That if two of
you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them
of my Father which is in heaven. For
where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Again, close
to the time of His crucifixion when Jesus was giving the disciples His last
teachings, He spoke these words in 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.”
Over and over, He teaches the disciples. He tells them about the Holy Spirit to
come. He prays for them to the Father
above. He tries to prepare them for His
coming death, burial and resurrection, and He wants them to know, there will be
power in His name! See what Jesus says:
John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen me, but I
have chosen
you,
and
ordained
you,
that
ye
should go
and
bring forth
fruit,
and
that your
fruit
should remain:
that
whatsoever
ye
shall ask of the Father
in
my
name, he may give it you.”
John 16:23 “And in that day
ye shall
ask me nothing. Verily,
verily,
I say
unto you,
Whatsoever
ye
shall ask the Father
in
my
name, he will give it you.”
John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name:
ask, and
ye shall receive,
that
your
joy
may be
full.”
IV.
Identification
We all know
that the Book of Acts is about the
growth of the church after the resurrection of Jesus, first among the Jews and
then the Gentiles. It is a remarkable
and, I always find, joyful reading.
Every time I go through the Book of Acts,
I find another joyful nugget of excitement!
It is in the Book of Acts
that we find our unique title: Turn with
me to Acts 11:26, “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch.
And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the
church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first
in Antioch.” Why were they called Christians? Because they were followers of Jesus Christ!
Our identification is in His
name! Now, look with me in Acts
chapter 15, beginning at verse 13:
13 And
after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and
brethren, hearken unto me: 14
Simeon hath declared how God
at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is
written, 16 After this I will
return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and
I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and
all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of
the world.
Our
identification is in His
name!
V.
Sanctification
Finally, as
Christians, we are to serve Christ in the world, but we are not to be partakers
OF the world and its snares of sin. Note the following:
1
Corinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you: but
ye are washed,
but
ye are sanctified, but
ye are justified
in
the name of the Lord Jesus, and by
the Spirit
of our
God.”
2
Thessalonians 3:6, “Now we command
you,
brethren,
in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye withdraw
yourselves
from
every
brother
that walketh
disorderly,
and
not
after
the tradition
which
he received
of
us.”
2 Timothy 2:19, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,
having this seal,
The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name
of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Therefore, in the name of Jesus, we have
SALVATION
ADORATION (for His mercy)
SUPPLICATION (to ask for anything)
IDENTIFICATION (I am a Christian!) and
SANCTIFICATION (we are set apart).
Don’t you
think this deserves one more thing?
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.”
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