Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born . . . And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Counselor – Holy Spirit. Everlasting Father – Father God. Prince of Peace – Jesus.
Mighty God – all of the above.
Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
The name – singular. Father, Son and Spirit – one God.
“In that name Jesus, slumbers omnipotence. The same power that made all worlds lies hidden in that name. The power that will raise the dead, and make new heavens and a new earth, is in that name.”
Charles H. Spurgeon “The Power of Christ’s Name”
Delivered June 7, 1883
May the name of Jesus empower your prayers.
Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)
Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means “God is with us”).
God is with us. Right here. Right now. Simply said, His name is Here.
“Name” (in Greek, onoma) means authority, revelation, related to someone’s character.
In Jesus’ name isn’t a magic phrase we tack on the end of our prayers to make God do what we ask. It says we are praying in agreement with the nature and holiness of Christ.
Can you picture the words you’re praying coming straight from the mouth of Jesus? You can’t pray in Jesus’ name if your words and attitude are out of character with Christ.
Exodus 20:7 (ESV)
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
When did you last hear God’s name taken in vain (in Hebrew, shav: in emptiness or deceit, falsely, in a worthless manner)?
Whisper a quick prayer for the person misusing God’s name. Your words will not be in vain.
According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, faith in Christ is growing faster than the population:
“Globally, Christianity is growing at a 1.27% rate. Currently, there are 2.5 billion Christians in the world. The world’s population, 7.7 billion, is growing at a 1.20% rate.”
from LifeWay’s Facts and Trends
June 11, 2019
Growth is good, but we could do better:
Lord, we pray for an explosion of Christian faith, a global great awakening to the gospel. Fill our hearts with an intense desire to share Your love with others. Move us out of our safe spaces, out of our sheltered comfort zones. Empower us to go out in faith and make disciples in Jesus’ name.
“Keep praying, but be thankful that
God’s answers are wiser than your prayers.”
William Culbertson (1905-1971)
Worldly wisdom worms its way into my prayers, but God’s wisdom is always at work. Thanks be to God!
James 3:17 (NIV)
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Picture a train: the engine is pure, uncontaminated, holy. The caboose is sincere, with no hidden agenda or unpleasant surprises. In between are the boxcars of peace, gentleness, obedience, and mercy–every inch filled with goodness, leaving no room for sin or evil.
It’s wisdom’s train of thought. All aboard!
James 3:17 (AMP)
But the wisdom from above is . . . without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile].
Short and simple–if it’s selfish and self-serving, it isn’t wisdom.
We pray for wisdom, hoping God will drop it straight down from heaven–from His hand into our heads. But we already hold it in our hands, in the words of Scripture:
James 3:17 (ESV)
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable.
James’ words take us back to Jesus’ words:
Matthew 5:8-9
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
What passes for wisdom down here is often short on purity and peace. Keep looking up!
