“Then Peter said, ‘Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.'” Acts 2:6
It was Charles Wesley, who in one of his hymns wrote: “Jesus, the name high overall, In hell, or earth, or sky: Angels and men before it fall, And devils fear and fly.” He goes on to speak of Jesus’ name scattering all guilty fear, turning one’s hell to heaven. By the power of that name, Jesus speaks power into strengthless souls, and life into the dead. Why is it that Jesus’ name, or the name of God, possesses such power to accomplish great and wonderful things, from the removal of sin, deliverance from the enemy, receiving the power to overcome that which would oppose the coming of the kingdom of God, and the doing of the will of God? The answer lies in the association of the person of the Father, Son, and Spirit WITH His name. The name of Jesus represents the entire person of Christ, and all that He is. That power becomes operative in a specific way when the Lord’s name is applied in a reverent manner, according to the will of God, for God’s purposes. How do we grasp the significance and importance of the name of God in Christ?
When Moses was chosen and sent by God to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt, He asked the Lord by what name he was to reveal Himself to the people. God’s answer to Moses’ was: “I AM THAT I AM”…say unto the children of Israel, ‘I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Ex. 3:14) Now, why is this name of God, given by God, so very important at this time in the history of Israel? The words, “I AM THAT I AM” reveal certain characteristics of the nature of God, the fact that He alone is God, constantly ONE, and unchanging. He is eternal, ever present and sovereign. In His constant, unchanging presence, God would have the people of Israel to believe, and trust Him, to manifest Himself as that. Their faith must see the greatness of God in His eternal glory, power to provide, keep, and lead. Also, the revelation of God as such reveals His perpetual commitment to the people, to be always with them, never abandoning them, nor forsaking them. In other words, God puts before the people in HIs name, the revelation of His nature and character, so that the people by living, acting, and believing in that name, would be delivered most certainly from Egypt, and brought into the promised land.
Later in the book of Exodus, the Lord tells Moses that He “…appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty.” He then adds to this revelation of Himself, another name, that of Jehovah, by which He will reveal Himself to Israel in a very specific manner. That specific characteristic of His nature in dealing with Israel, expressed in this name, is that of “His covenant-relation to Israel, as the One who redeems her from sin, and delivers her from Egypt.” God, by the expression of His name, provides the basis for faith, a faith that is fixed on God for a specific thing, but one which will result in Him revealing the power of His name according to the revelation.
How important is the name of God? We get a glimpse of the answer to this question when we consider the beginning of the Lord’s prayer. Jesus taught that we should pray in this manner, “Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy NAME…” (Matt. 6:9) The Lord puts His name as that which is primary in prayer. Why? Because of the association of His entire person with that name. The one who receives the knowledge of the name of God, is called to appropriate Christ, making Him one’s own by faith. True worship and service are exercised when one’s entire faith is placed solely in the God of the revealed name.
Dear Father, Blessed be Thy name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.