THE NAMES

THE NAMES AND TITLES OF

THE TRINITY OF GOD

Therefore my people shall know my name:

Therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak:

Behold, it is I. (Isaiah 52:6)

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:

I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.  (Psalm 91:14)

©  Harvestime International Network

http://www.harvestime.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface: What Is His Name?                                          3

Introductory Section:

Developing Relationship With God                                    5

Experiencing Intimacy With God                                    6

The Manifested Presence Of God                                    8

The Importance Of The Names                                    10

Understanding The Trinity Of God                                    15

Power In The Name                                                 17

Power In Prayer                                                20

Power To Endure                                                23

Power In Ministry                                                25

Power To Reign                                                29

Hallowing The Name                                                31

Fearing The Name                                                33

Calling On The Name                                                35

Praising And Worshiping Using The Names                              37

Experiencing The Names                                          40

Part One:  The Names And Titles Of God                              43

Part Two:  The Names And Titles Of Jesus Christ                        234

Part Three: The Names And Titles Of The Holy Spirit                   472

Epilogue:  New Names                                          556

Appendices

Appendix One:          The Names And Titles Of God                  559

Appendix Two:         The Names And Titles Of Jesus                  563

Appendix Three:    The Names And Titles Of The Holy Spirit            572

Appendix Four:          Scriptural References To The Name                  575

Appendix Five:      Journal Template                              592

PREFACE

WHAT IS HIS NAME?

A burning bush that was not consumed.  It was there that God’s servant, Moses, was mandated by God to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage.  Let’s listen in…

And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them?  (Exodus 3:13)

Moses asked, “What is His name?”  In answer to his question, God revealed one of His many names.  He said…

… I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.  (Exodus 3:13)

“What is His name?”  This is the same question multitudes are asking today.  They want to know who your God is and what makes Him different from other so-called gods.  How will you respond? This study will give you the answers. You will learn the names and titles of God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit and you will come to know them more intimately through the revelation of their names.

In the Introductory section, you will learn about developing intimacy with God through His manifested presence and the importance of studying the names. You will study about the  hallowedness of the names, the power that is resident in those names, and how to use these names in prayer, worship, and ministry.

In the remainder of the manual you will study the names and titles of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  References are presented, a revelation based on the Word of God, and an opportunity is given for you to respond and record your own thoughts on each name. The Appendices lists all the names used in this study and Scriptures relating to the word "name" as it references the names of the Trinity of God.

As you begin this study, remember that intellectual understanding is not the same as spiritual understanding:

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

(1 Corinthians 2:14)

The purpose of this study of the names is not to disseminate information, but to foster revelation that results in intimacy with God. There is a definite difference between knowing about God and knowing God.

If you are longing to know God rather than just accumulate information about Him, then this  study is for you.  God reveals Himself through the general revelation of creation and the specific revelation contained in His Word.  A vital part of that Word is the continuing revelation of His names which enables us to know Him more intimately.

If the sincere cry of your heart is "That I may know Him", then you are ready to begin this study.  One word of caution however...

"Never make the mistake of thinking that you know everything there is to know about Him.  It's when you think you know, that you stop knowing...No matter how much you know of Him, you've only just begun."  Jonathan Cain

Or as the Apostle Paul said:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!

(Romans 11:33,TAB)

DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

His heart-felt cry was "that I may know Him":

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of       Christ Jesus my Lord...That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the       fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death...(Philippians 3:8,10)

These words were written by the Apostle Paul, who most likely knew God better than most Believers, yet still had an intense desire to know Him more intimately.  He wanted to know Jesus personally. He wanted to experience His resurrection power. He wanted to partner in His suffering and to faithfully persevere in this quest until death.

So how does one come to know God?  The first step is to repent of sin and accept Jesus Christ as Savior. The Bible says that all are sinners:  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 6:23).  You cannot become intimate with God while deliberately living in sin.

The end result of sin is spiritual death by separation from God:  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).  God loves you so much that He provided a way for your sins to be forgiven so that you do not have to reap the wages of sin and you can be restored to intimate fellowship with Him.  God's gift includes forgiveness of sin and new life through Christ Jesus:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;       behold, all things are become new.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).  Acts 4:12 confirms that "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."  Jesus Christ is the answer to your sin problem.  He is the only way to God, the only way to be forgiven, and the only way to experience true intimacy with the Trinity of God.  (Already you can see the importance of the names, as there is no other name by which you can be saved.)

After conversion to Christ,  increasing intimacy with God is fostered through consistent prayer, worship, meditation, and Bible study.  As you immerse yourself in the Word of God, you will  soon realize that God shares tremendous revelations about Himself through His various names and titles.

That is the subject of this study:  The Names.

EXPERIENCING INTIMACY WITH GOD

The Scriptures promise that God is near those who call upon Him in truth, meaning those who call on Him through Jesus Christ who is the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6).  God promises:  "...ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you" (Jeremiah 29:13-14).

Spiritual intimacy with God results from developing a deeper relationship with Him.  But just how do you do this?  In the natural world, you become intimate with a person by spending time with them; talking with them; understanding their work; listening to their stories; and embracing their interests.  You learn more about them by discovering the heritage of their family name and by learning the titles that define their purposes in life.  For example, if their titles are husband, father, son, brother, and businessman, then you have learned details of their relationships and work.

The same is true in the spiritual world.  Intimacy with God results from:

Meeting Him through the born-again experience.

Spending time getting to know Him.  The  first commandment is to love God, not do spiritual warfare, intercede, and minister to others, although these are important callings.  A loving relationship with God is the priority.

Talking to Him in prayer, expressing your deep longings, emotions, and thoughts as       you would with an intimate friend.

Understanding His work.  In intimate friendships, you learn about the life-work of your       friend.  You learn about the Lord's work by observing His creation, how He worked in       times past, and       how He is moving in the world today.

Learning His stories.  Just as you come to know a friend through their stories, you        develop intimacy with God through His stories and teachings recorded in His Word.

Embracing His interests which, as emphasized in His Word, involves reaching the       world with the message of salvation.

Learning His names and titles.  Each time God manifested Himself in a new way in the       Bible, He revealed another one of His names.  Knowing the names of each member of the       Trinity fosters spiritual intimacy with God’s person, His purposes, and His work in       the world.  You achieve a better understanding of the functions of the Father, the Son,       and the Holy Spirit.

You can learn about God through what He has done, but true intimacy results from knowing Him, not just knowing about Him.

God has recorded a great deal about Himself, His nature, and the way He works through the revelation of His names.  The Bible begins with the name of God (Genesis 1:1) and ends with the name of Jesus (Revelation 22:21).  Each name revealed in Scripture is a progressive revelation, adding to what is revealed about the Trinity of God.  As your knowledge of the names increases, your relationship with God will deepen.

THE MANIFESTED PRESENCE OF GOD

God is omnipresent, meaning that He is present everywhere. The psalmist proclaimed:

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence ? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. (Psalm 139:7-11)

While God is omnipresent, that is not the same as encountering His manifested presence.  His manifested presence is an experience, not a theological concept.

The children of Israel witnessed the manifestation of God’s divine presence when the elements of the Tabernacle were set in place:

Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

(Exodus 40:34-35)

King Solomon experienced the manifested presence of God at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem:

And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord. (1 Kings 8:10-11)

David valued God's presence so much that in his prayer of repentance he pleaded:   "Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me" (Psalm 51:11).  David knew that fullness of joy and eternal pleasures could only be found in the manifested presence of God:

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)

In New Testament times, the presence of God was manifested through the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.  His presence was also manifested to the world as the disciples demonstrated the power delegated to them by Jesus as they shared the Gospel, healed the sick, and cast out demons.

Moses had an intimate manifestation of God’s presence when he was preparing to lead Israel to their Promised Land.  Moses prayed:

"Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people." And he (God) said, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."  And he (Moses) said unto him, "If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth." And the Lord said unto Moses, "I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name." And he (Moses) said, "I beseech thee, shew me thy glory."  (Exodus 33:13-18)

Here is how God revealed Himself to Moses:

And he (God) said, "I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy....Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live...Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen."  (Exodus 33:13-23)

God proclaimed His name as a divine revelation of His manifested presence.

If you feel like you are missing something, if you have no joy and no true pleasure, could it be that it is because the manifested presence of God is absent in your life?  If so, in this study you will experience His presence in a new way through the revelation of His names.  You will not only come to know about Him, you will come to know Him.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NAMES

Names in biblical times meant more than distinguishing one person from another or tracing family heritage through genealogical research.  Names revealed the nature and character of a person. In  Bible times, great significance was attached to names.  A person’s name was often determined by some circumstance at the time of birth (Genesis 19:22).  Sometimes the name expressed a hope or a prophecy (Isaiah 8:1-4; Hosea 1:4).

Because of the importance of names in Bible times, God changed the names of several people.  He changed Abram’s name to Abraham saying:  "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee"  (Genesis 17:5).  The name Abraham meant "father of a great multitude" which was to be Abraham's destiny.  God also changed in the name of Sarai to Sarah and Jacob to Israel for spiritual reasons.  In the New Testament this same pattern continues.  Simon is called Peter and Saul becomes Paul.  Their names reflected their destinies in God's plan.

Here is a summary of why the names of God are important:

Redemption. Getting to know God through His names assures your eternal destiny, as well as that of those to whom you minister.  It is impossible for you or someone to whom you minister to be saved apart from the Name of Jesus:

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given       among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Revelation. The names of the Godhead reveal much about the character, position, and functions of each member of the Trinity.  Our concept of God is often too shallow. He challenges us saying: "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal?" (Isaiah 40:25).

To expand our concept of God, He reveals Himself by giving us His names.  It is a progressive revelation.  For example, Exodus 6:3 indicates that God revealed Himself as God Almighty to Abraham, but he did not receive the revelation of the name Lord.  That name was revealed later in the biblical record, as were many others.

Some religious leaders of modern times claim that Allah, the name used for God in Islam, refers to the same God and that Christians should call Him Allah.  That is not true. God has revealed many names in Scripture describing His nature and character, and Allah is not one of them.

Relationship.  Imagine two people becoming intimate friends without knowing each other’s names!  You develop an intimate relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as you study their names.  Names and titles define us so that others can know us better.  Knowing the names and their meanings provide a deeper understanding of the Trinity of God:

Therefore My people shall know what My name is and what it means; therefore they       shall know in that day that I am He who speaks; behold, I AM! (Isaiah 52:6 , TAB)

Each one of the names permits you to know God more intimately.  He has promised.

For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people. (1 Samuel 12:22)

Other relationships may fail or come and go, but He will not forsake you.  He will remain faithful for His name’s sake.

Relevancy. God is the solution to the challenges of life. Knowing the meaning of His names helps you face specific problems and results in spiritual blessings.  Here are some examples:

-Moses learned the name Jehovah Rophe, meaning the God who heals, when healing was       needed.  God declared:

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. (Exodus 15:26)

-Gideon learned the name Jehovah Shalom, meaning God of peace, at a time when he

was fearful of fulfilling his spiritual destiny as a warrior for God:

Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom.

(Judges 6:24)

-When Israel fought Amalek, they learned the name Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our Banner,       meaning that God would protect them in battle:

And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi (the Lord our                   Banner). (Exodus 17:15)

-The nation of Israel was blessed when God’s name was put upon them:

Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the                   children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:

The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord                   lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my                   name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.  (Numbers 6:23-27)

-Moses learned the name I AM when preparing to deliver Israel from Egypt:

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say                   unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14)

Just as God revealed to Moses the name I AM, He is saying to you today: “I am________”, and you fill in the blank with the name that is relevant to the current problem or challenge in your life  (Exodus 3:14).  Knowing the names enables you to look to God in times of crisis and call upon Him using specifics names that are relevant to your needs.

Release. The names of God have tremendous inherent power to release spiritual experiences into people’s lives.

-The name of Jesus is the only name by which the lost can be saved:

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given

among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

-The Bible declares that what you ask in the name of Jesus and according to God's will, you will receive:

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24)

-Signs and wonders are done through the name:

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. (Acts 4:29-30)

-Preaching, teaching, and baptizing are to be done in the name:

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46-47)

-Miracles are done in the name of Jesus. That name causes demons to flee, the sick to be healed, and protection to surround those ministering in His name:

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they       shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly       thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.       (Mark 16:17-18)

Healing comes through the name:

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (James 5:14-15)

Trust and confidence are generated through the name:

And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not

forsaken them that seek thee.  (Psalm 9:10)

Protection comes through the name:

As part of His prayer for His disciples, Jesus prayed they would be kept through His       name.  The word kept in this passage means to be protected:

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy       Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be       one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that       thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the       scripture might be fulfilled. (John 17:11-12)

Names are important in the spiritual world, and that is why God often changed a person’s name to reflect their spiritual destiny.  An experiential knowledge of the names of God results in trust and confidence in Him because His names reveal His nature.

Knowing the names and their meanings and praying specifically using these names releases God's manifested power in your life and ministry.  Everything you do becomes significant when you do it in God’s name:

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. (Colossians 3:17)

UNDERSTANDING THE TRINITY OF GOD

Basic to the study of the names is understanding of the Trinity of God.  The one true God is revealed in three distinct personalities of the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. They are one in essence, but with three distinct natures.  The doctrine of the Trinity must be accepted by faith, as it is difficult to grasp with your finite mind.

The first person of the Trinity of God is called the Father.  He is the father of:

-Israel: Exodus 4:22

-The angels: Job 38:7

-Jesus Christ: John 17:1

-All true Believers: John 1:12-13

Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit are the other members of the Trinity of God.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for God, "Elohim", is a plural word. The strongest Old Testament reference for the doctrine of the Trinity is:

Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from       the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.       (Isaiah 48:16)

The Lord states that He was sent by the God and His Spirit, which verifies the Trinity.

In the New Testament, the Father, Son, and Spirit are confirmed to be divine, to do similar works, and to be worshipped.  Much is written about the deity of Jesus (examples in John 1:1; Titus 2:13), yet He is distinguished from the Father and the Spirit.  The Spirit is also God, but is distinguished from the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 5:3-5).

God has a triune nature with three distinct personalities, yet He is one God:

Hear, O Israel:  The Lord our God is one Lord.  (Deuteronomy 6:4)

There are several Scriptures which confirm this triune nature of God.  When Jesus was being baptized by John in the Jordan River, God spoke and the Holy Spirit descended:

And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the       heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a

dove, and lighting upon Him:  And lo, a voice from Heaven saying, This is my beloved       Son, in whom I am well pleased.  (Matthew 3:16-17)

Prior to returning to Heaven after His ministry on earth, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit coming from God:

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the       Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me. (John 15:26)

The Apostle Peter spoke of the triune nature of God:

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of       God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.        (1 Peter 4:14)

The Apostle Paul spoke of the Trinity in his writings:

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.

(Romans 8:2-3)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the

Holy Ghost, be with you all.  (2 Corinthians 13:14)

For through Him (the Son) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

(Ephesians 2:18)

The book of Acts also verifies the triune nature of God:

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the       promise of the Holy Ghost, He (Jesus) hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.        (Acts 2:33)

The Trinity of God is manifested in God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit.  You will learn more about each member of the Trinity as you study their names.

POWER IN THE NAME

Jesus left His followers with the great mission of reaching the world with the Gospel message.  He also left them with power to enable them to fulfill this mandate. He gave them authority to use His name:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and  lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

(Matthew 28:18-20)

When a person gives his name to another, it means that the two of them are joined together in  unity.  An example is when God gave His name to Israel:

The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto Himself, as He hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in His ways.  And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.  (Deuteronomy 28:9-10)

To be sent or to speak in someone's name is to have their authority. One of the greatest keys to spiritual power is the name of Jesus.  We often fail in ministry because we depend on our own abilities to help someone.  It is not your name, position, or authority that carries the power. Your spiritual power is in the name of Jesus.

Mere chanting of the name over and over is little more than a ritual. It becomes vain repetition similar to that practiced by the Pharisees and Scribes in Bible times. The sons of a man named Sceva tried casting out evil spirits in the name of the “Lord Jesus that Paul preached” and failed miserably because they did not have a personal relationship with Jesus. They had no authority to minister in His name (Acts 19:13-17).

The greatest power in the name of Jesus is the power of salvation from sin. It is only through His name that salvation comes:

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus:  for He shall save His people from their sins... (Matthew 1:21)

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  (Acts 4:12)

He that believeth on Him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

(John 3:18)

You cannot be forgiven of your sins any other way, only through the name of Jesus.  You cannot gain access to God except through Jesus:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  (John 14:6)

Confession of the name of Jesus is essential to salvation:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth  confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)

The power to become a child of God is through the name of Jesus:

But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. (John 1:12)

Not only are you cleansed from sin and justified through the name of Jesus, you are also sanctified by His name.  Sanctification comes through the power of God which continues to work in you after salvation to enable you to live a holy life.  In First Corinthians chapter six,  Paul speaks of the evils of sin and then proclaims…

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.  (1 Corinthians 6:11)

Previously, the Corinthians lived in these sinful practices.  Now they lived holy lives by sanctification which came through the name of Jesus.  Through the names you are saved, justified, and sanctified.  You can experience initial sanctification from past sins, present sanctification enabling you to live a holy life, and complete sanctification when you enter eternity.

The name of Jesus is not some magical phrase. You must have faith in the name.  The disciples emphasized this after a powerful healing recorded in Acts 3.  Peter said: “...And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong”  (Acts 3:16).

We have chanted the name of Jesus like a ritual, but our faith in the name has been weak.  How can this be corrected?  How can we move beyond mere repetition of the name of Jesus to faith in the name which results in power?  The Bible says:  “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Your faith in the name increases by hearing what the Word of God says about His names. Through the Word you can understand the authority of the names and Biblical guidelines for their proper use.

The next few studies focus on the power in the names of the Trinity of God as “…      No one is like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power” (Jeremiah 10:6).

POWER IN PRAYER

When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, the opening line was: “Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name.” The name of God the Father should be the first focus of our prayers.  When you hallow His name, you declare it is holy and express reverence for it.

We pray to God in the name of Jesus, as the name of Jesus is the key to effective prayer.  Jesus said:

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.  (John 16:24)

Hitherto means "up until now."  Up until the time Jesus spoke these words, His followers had asked nothing in His name.  At this point He established a new relationship with them. He told them to submit their requests to God in His name:

...Verily, verily I say unto you,  Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you.  (John 16:23)

What a powerful promise!  Whatever you ask In His name, you will receive.

But this promise must be taken along with other biblical principles of prayer.  We can never isolate one verse on a topic without considering all that is taught on that subject in the Word of God.  The Scriptures teach that you cannot ask selfishly:

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. (James 4:3)

You cannot continue to live in sin and think just because you pray in the name of Jesus that you will be granted your requests.  God may graciously do so, but His Word declares that it is the prayers of righteous men and women that avail with God:

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The  effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)

If you are abiding in Christ and walking in obedience to God's Word, then you can ask in the name of Jesus and it will be done because your requests will be in harmony with His plans and purposes:

If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  (John 15:7)

Praying in the name of Jesus is also subject to God’s will.  Jesus prayed:

Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done. (Luke 22:42)

In the weakness of human flesh, Jesus did not want to suffer.  He wanted the cup of suffering removed, but He submitted His will to God's will.  In some matters clearly defined in Scripture, we know the will of God and exactly how to pray.  In other matters we express our will, as Jesus did, and then submit our will to God’s will.

Requests made in the name of Jesus are subject to the sovereign will of God because sometimes we ask according to human reasoning and do not always discern God's higher purposes:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Some Believers think you can ask anything in the name of Jesus and it will be done.  When you arrogantly pray without submitting your requests to God’s will, He may answer your demands but it may not be in your best interests.  The nation of Israel experienced this when “…He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul” (Psalms 106:15).

You must also realize that when you ask for something on behalf of another person, their will enters into the equation.  Nobody, through prayer in the name of Jesus, can force something on someone which that person does not want.  God does not take away the free will of man.

In John 17, Jesus prayed a great prayer concerning His disciples.  All these men had received the same training.  They saw the same miracles.  They received the same Word of God.  But yet one of them was lost.  Judas had a free will of his own and, despite all he had heard and seen, he rejected God’s Word and His Son.

Jesus spoke of the power of agreeing with others in prayer in His name:

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done of them of my Father which is in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:19-20)

As part of prayer, thanks should be given in the name of Jesus: “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus  Christ”  (Ephesians 5:20).

You should also give thanks to the name of Jesus: “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name”  (Hebrews 13:15).

The names and titles of the Trinity of God are essential to powerful, spirit-directed, targeted prayer.

POWER TO ENDURE

There are many challenges and difficulties as you make your journey through life.  The power to persevere and endure comes through knowing and applying the names of God.

The name of Jesus is your protection.  Jesus said:

And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name…they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them.  (Mark 16:17-18)

An example is when the Apostle Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake and it did not hurt him (Acts 28).

The name of Jesus gives you power in suffering.  Jesus told His disciples:

If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you…all these things will they do unto you for My names sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.  (John 15:20-21)

When the Disciples suffered because of the Gospel:

...they departed from  the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.  (Acts 5:41-42)

The disciples were men who risked their lives for the name of the Lord:

It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 15:25-26)

Although Jesus promised protection while engaged in ministry, it did not mean that the disciples did not experience suffering.  Peter, Paul, and Silas were all in prison at times during their ministries.  The disciples were stoned and beaten, and Paul was once left for dead by enemies of the Gospel. When their ministries were finished, most of the disciples died as martyrs for the sake of the Gospel.  The same Peter who was delivered from prison later died as a martyr.

Hebrews 11 tells the stories of great men and women who were delivered through faith, but it also records the stories of those who died in faith.  Peter tells us:

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:  on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.  (1 Peter 4:14)

You may experience reproach because of your faith, because you bear the name of God on your life, and because you honor His name, but you can rejoice because this means His Spirit rests upon you!

POWER IN MINISTRY

The name of Jesus is the key to effective ministry:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo,  I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  (Matthew 28:18-20)

And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

(Mark 16:17-18)

According to these verses, the following ministries are empowered by the name of Jesus:

Signs and wonders. The disciples prayed:

...Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy Word. By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done in the name of thy holy child Jesus.  (Acts 4:29-30)

Preaching and teaching.  Jesus said all power and authority was given to Him, and through this power He commissioned His followers to preach and teach in His name:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you… (Matthew 28:19-20)

...Thus it is  written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  (Luke 24:46-47)

Because they recognized the power in the name of Jesus, enemies of the Gospel warned the disciples to...

...speak henceforth  to no man in this name.  And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.  (Acts 4:17-18)

But Peter answered:

...We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.  (Acts 4:20)

The Disciples had experienced the power of God during Christ’s earthly ministry.  The things they had seen, heard, and witnessed done in the name of Jesus were a powerful motivation for them to fulfill their ministries.

You are not only to teach in the name of Jesus, you are to teach about that name:

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  (Acts 8:12)

Baptism.  New converts are to be baptized in water in the name of the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Ghost:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…. (Matthew 28:19)

Casting out devils.  Devils (demons) are part of the evil forces of Satan and active on earth. Demons can enter unbelievers and actually possess them.  Demonic powers can oppress Believers, but not possess them.  Satanic powers are broken in the name of Jesus:

And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils... (Mark 16:17)

When Paul was confronted with a demon-possessed woman, He declared:

…I command  thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.  And he came out the same hour.  (Acts 16:18)

(Detailed teaching on demons and how to minister deliverance is given in the Harvestime International Institute course, “Spiritual Strategies:  A Manual Of Spiritual Warfare”, available free at http://www.harvestime.org)

Ministering in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit was given as a gift from God in the name of Jesus:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  (John 14:26)

Speaking with new tongues through the Holy Spirit is used as an example of His various ministries:

And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name...they shall speak with new tongues... (Mark 16:17)

All the powerful gifts of the Holy Spirit operate in the name of Jesus.  The gift of tongues is just one of these many spiritual gifts. It is used here as representative of the other ministries of the Holy Spirit since it was the first experienced when the Holy Spirit was given.

Healing.  One of the greatest manifestations of the name of Jesus is in ministering healing to those who are sick physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually:

And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.  (Mark 16:17-18)

Is any sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord... (James 5:14)

Jesus not only suffered for your sin, but through His suffering and death He secured your healing:

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He  was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His  stripes we are healed.

(Isaiah 53:5)

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.  (Matthew 8:17)

Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

Why is it so easy to accept salvation from sin through His name but it is so difficult to believe for healing through His name?

When the Disciples encountered a lame man at the temple gate, 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 3:6)

Peter knew there was power in the name of Jesus.  He knew there was healing in that name.   He knew he had the authority to use that name.  So he declared, “Such as I have!” The power behind that name had been delegated to him by Jesus, as it has been to you also.

Funds are important in the work of the ministry, but lack of funds cannot stop a true ministry endued with the power of God. Peter and John had no silver or gold, yet they continued to minister in power through the name of Jesus. These men had no budget for advertising their ministries in the city of Jerusalem, but the entire city became aware through the demonstration of

the power of God in the name of Jesus.  In many modern ministries, more emphasis is placed on fund-raising than on the power of the name of Jesus.  Education, ordination, and financial support can enhance your ministry, but it is the power of God manifested through His name that will confirm and extend it.

POWER TO REIGN

Through the name of Jesus, the Son of God, you become part of the Kingdom of God:

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.  (Colossians 1:12-13)

As part of the Kingdom of God, you now have an inheritance of power to reign in life:

For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.  (Romans 5:17)

Romans chapter 5 describes two representative men, Adam and Jesus. The earthly lives of Adam and Jesus are similar in scope in that they affected the whole world, but they are dramatically different because justification in Christ is much more powerful than Adam’s sin.  By one man, Adam, sin entered the world and death as a result of sin.  But as you read the passage in Romans 5:12-21, note the results of the sacrifice for sin by one man, Jesus Christ:

Offenses vs. grace. “But not as the offence (trespass), so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, has abounded unto many.”  The first Adam brought sin, the second brought salvation.

Condemnation vs. justification. “And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: For the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.”

Death vs. life.  “For if by one man's offence death reigned by one, much more shall they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”  God's abundance includes abundant sufficiency (2 Corinthians 9:8);  abundant power (Ephesians 3:20); abundant supply (Philippians 4:19); and abundant satisfaction (Psalm 36:8).

Judgment vs. exoneration. “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

Disobedience vs. obedience. “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” when they came to faith in Christ.

Law vs. grace.  “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”  The law demonstrated the need for grace.

Sin vs. righteousness. “As sin has reigned unto death, even so grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Through the power manifested in the name of Jesus Christ you can reign in this life over sin and condemnation, over all the powerful forces of the enemy, and over the power of death (Revelation 22:5).

The Apostle Paul declared:

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. (Colossians 3:17)

When you do everything in the name of Jesus, even a simple task of serving is transformed into a powerful spiritual experience.  You can sweep the church floors in the name of Jesus.  You can prepare food for your family in the name of Jesus.  The good works you do are not as important as how you do them.  Is all you do done in the name of Jesus?

HALLOWING THE NAME

The names of God were considered so precious in Old Testament times that a person would not even speak the names of false gods lest they blaspheme God’s name by allowing both names to come out of their mouth (Exodus 23:13 and Joshua 23:7).

Jewish tradition says that when a Scribe copying the Scriptures came to the name of God, he would lay aside his quill and use a new one with which to write it.  Then he would break the new quill so that no other name would ever flow from it.

Every name of God revealed in the Bible is holy.  The first priority in the prayer pattern Jesus gave His disciples was to hallow God's name, to declare it holy and keep it holy:  "Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name" (Matthew 6:9).

One of the ten commandments addresses taking God’s name in vain:

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (Exodus 20:7)

In Old Testament times, blaspheming the name of God was punishable by death, that is how serious the offence (Leviticus 24:26).

Taking the name of God in vain is commonly thought of as using it profanely as a swear word, frivolously, or in jest--and it does mean all this.  But there are other ways to take His name in vain.

Calling yourself a Believer and not living like one is taking God’s name in vain.

Israel was called to represent God to the nations, but failed to do so because of their idolatrous behavior.  God said: “And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name…” (Ezekiel 36:20). Because of this, God scattered them among the nations and poured out judgment upon them.  Only because of His name did God eventually forgive and restore them:

Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. (Ezekiel 36:22-23)

Swearing falsely using God's name is taking His name in vain.

And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy       God: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:12)

Engaging in idolatry blasphemes God’s name.

And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. (Leviticus 20:3)

Disrespecting the poor and favoring the rich blasphemes the name by which you are called.

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? (James 2:1-7)

Abominable, sinful living profanes the name.

In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger.

(Ezekiel 43:8)

The Bible identifies those who take the name in vain as God's enemies: “For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain” (Psalms 139:20).

If you have been dishonoring God’s names through your conversation or behavior, repent and ask forgiveness.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

FEARING THE NAME

The psalmist wrote:  “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name “ (Psalm 86:11).  When you discern the truth of God, you will walk in His way with an undivided heart and you will fear His name.  By studying His names as you are doing, you will go deeper into understanding His way and His truth.

The fear of the Lord and fearing His name is not the spirit of fear that yields terror or a fight or flight response. It is not an emotion of anxious concern.  It is an awe and wonder that produces reverence for God and His name.  The revelation of each name of God results in increasing awe of an awesome God.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge (Psalm 111:10;  Proverbs 1:7; 15:33).  Isaiah calls the fear of the Lord a treasure (Isaiah 33:6).  As the New Testament Church walked in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they multiplied (Acts 9:31).

Fear of the Lord and His name results in victory over the enemy.

So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the       sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a       standard against him.  (Isaiah 59:19)

You will have confidence and a place of refuge in times of trouble.

In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

(Proverbs 14:26)

The fear of the Lord will keep you from evil.

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

(Proverbs 16:6)

The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not       be visited with evil. (Proverbs 19:23)

You will be blessed.

By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life. (Proverbs 22:4)

Your days will be prolonged.

The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.       (Proverbs 10:27)

You will tap into the fountain of eternal life.

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

(Proverbs 14:27)

As you study each name, do so with awe and respect.  These are the names of the one true, powerful, and Almighty God.

CALLING ON THE NAME

When you use the name of God in prayer, praise, or as a cry for help, you are releasing the power that is in inherent in that specific name.  Each name of God presented in this manual challenges you to respond to that name.  Use these examples to formulate your own prayers for each name that you study.

Use His name in affirmation and declaration of Who He is.

“Lord, there is no one like you.  You are the great I Am.  You are the Most High God. There is nothing too hard for you.  You are the Cornerstone of my faith.  You are the Way, the Truth, and The Life.  You are my Shepherd and my Heavenly Father.  You are the God Who Sees Me.  You are the Strong Creator God.  I acknowledge you as Lord and Master of my life.”

Use His name in spiritual warfare.

“You are the Lord of Hosts. You are the Lord, Strong and Mighty in battle.  You are my Shield, My Sword, My Refuge, my High Tower, and My Deliverer in this battle in which I am facing.”

Use His name to proclaim your healing.

“You are my Healer, and by your stripes I am healed.”

Use His name when seeking forgiveness of sin.

“God, I acknowledge my sin, I confess, and repent.  I proclaim that you are God, my Righteousness.  You are the Lord who sanctifies me.  You are the Lord of my Salvation.”

Use His name when seeking wisdom.

“I thank you that you are the only wise God.  You are the Ancient of Days and possess all wisdom from the past, the present, and the future.  I am asking for the heavenly wisdom that is inherent in your name to be manifested in my life today.”

Use His name when you are requesting something from God.

“Thank you for Your promise that when I ask in the name of Jesus, You will answer.  I am asking now in the name of your Son, making a request on based upon that which You have promised.”

Use the names to meet every need.

-When you need provision, declare God as your provider.

-When you need comfort, call upon the Holy Spirit to do His job and come and comfort       you.

-When you need peace, thank Jesus that He is the Prince of Peace who will give you supernatural peace in every circumstance.

It is often said regarding media technology, “There’s an App for that”, meaning there is an application for everything you need and or desire to do.  In terms of the names of God, “There is a name for that”.  Use it!

PRAISING AND WORSHIPING

USING THE NAMES

The Bible is filled with admonitions to praise and worship the name of the Lord.

Praise means commendation. It is being preoccupied with who God is and what He has done, His acts in behalf of His people.  Praise includes singing psalms of praise, confessing, blessing, celebrating, boasting about, shouting, and jubilation.  You honor God by exalting His name in praise.

Worship means to attribute worth to someone. It is an active response to God whereby you declare His worth, celebrate Him, and ascribe the glory due to His name.  The word worship also means to serve, so worship includes ministry by serving.  Biblical worship means to reverence, to kiss, do homage towards, revere, stand in awe of, show devotion, bow down, and honor the one true God as revealed in the Bible.  Worship is the acknowledgment of God, His nature, His attributes, and His ways.

Just as there was a prescribed way to enter the Old Testament tabernacle, there is a proper way to enter God's presence: “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4). You move towards the destination of His presence by thanksgiving and praise.  As you  praise, you build a spiritual place for God to come down and inhabit so you can worship Him in spirit and truth: “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3).

There is no set line of demarcation, however.  One may flow freely from worship to praise,  praise to thanksgiving, thanksgiving back to praise, and praise to worship.  Do not be concerned about whether you are praising or worshipping or giving thanks to His name.  Just do it and let the Holy Spirit be your guide.  Your praise should be continuous:

Through Him (Jesus), therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.  (Hebrews 13:15)

Here are some biblical admonitions for praising and worshiping the names that you can incorporate into your devotional time as you do this study:

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.  (1 Chronicles 16:29)

I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. (Psalm 145:1-3)

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

(Psalm 69:30-31)

Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised.

(Psalm 113:1-3)

Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.  (Psalm 148:1-5)

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.  (Psalm 148:13)

And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.  (Joel 2:26)

In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah. (Psalm 44:8)

I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good.

(Psalm 54:6)

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.  (Psalm 138:2)

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.  (Psalm 142:7)

O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.  (Isaiah 25:1)

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. (Psalm 29:2)

All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah. (Psalm 66:4)

All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. (Psalm 86:9)

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.

(Psalm 95:6)

Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.

(Psalm 99:5)

Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.

(Psalm 99:9)

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.  (Psalm 138:2)

In the New Testament we are admonished:

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 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.  (Colossians 3:16-17)

Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord, At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.  (Ephesians 5:19-20)

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. (Psalm 89:15-16)

EXPERIENCING THE NAMES

As you begin your study of the names, realize that each name is a revelation of another aspect of God's being, His nature, and His character.  Each name is holy.  Each name should be respected, and the knowledge of each name will draw you closer to God:

"George Macdonald wrote that 'The name of the Lord God should be a precious jewel in       the cabinet of our heart, to be taken out only at great times, and with loving care.'  We       would go further and say that all the names used of the Trinity should be taken out at all       times, not merely as precious jewels to admire, but as treasure to use for our constant       spiritual enrichment."  (Herbert Lockyear)

When the nation of Israel was preparing to enter their Promised Land, Moses told them that they were to worship at the place where God would place His name, as that is where He chooses to dwell:

An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.  (Exodus 20:24)

God placed His name on Solomon’s Temple (2 Chronicles 6:5); on Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 6:6); and on the Ark of the Covenant which was called by His name (2 Samuel 6:2).  He also placed His name on His people:

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:22-27)

As a Believer, God’s name has been placed on you.  You are a Christian, a Christ-follower.  Seek understanding of the names of the Trinity of God as you would search for buried treasure and you will grow in your knowledge of God:

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1-5)

Learning and pronouncing the Hebrew names is not the goal of this study.  There are websites  and books that can help you with that.  The goal of this study is to provide understanding of the names so that you can meditate on them, pray using them, and apply them in your life.   Some people get discouraged when studying the Hebrew names of God when they do not see these names in their translation of the Bible.  For example, the name for Creator is rendered simply “God” in most English translations instead of the Hebrew word Elohim.  This manual simplifies the study by emphasizing the meaning of the names as they appear in the English texts.

Your goal should be that of the Apostle Paul:  “[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly]…” (Philippians 3:10, TAB).

To benefit from this study and truly experience the names:

-Establish a special time each day to study the names.

-Select a time where you are mentally alert.  For some, this may be early morning.  For others, it may be in the evening, which is actually the beginning of the day to God (Genesis chapter 1).

-Find a quiet place where you can be alone. Orchestrate your surroundings so they will be conducive to study.  Silence your phone, the television, and other distractions.

-Keep this manual and basic study supplies in this location including pens or pencils, your Bible, and your journal. If you have access to different versions of the Bible, these are great aids in studying the names as they emphasize different thoughts and words. If you have access to the Internet, many versions are free online.

During your quiet time:

-Open with prayer.  Ask the Holy Spirit to assist you during your meditation time and provide new revelations from God’s Word. That is one of His jobs!

-Study the references and revelation for each name.

-Take time to meditate on each name.  Meditation means to ponder something until barriers to understanding have been eliminated and to return repeatedly to a subject to carefully consider it.  Both involve dwelling on, thinking on, remembering, and considering the truths of God’s Word. Biblical meditation involves reading, contemplating, personalizing, visualizing, and praying God’s Word.  It focuses on a word or phrase, in this case names of the Trinity of God, to examine it from different perspectives.  It is like placing the Word under a microscope instead of viewing it through a telescope.  If you are not familiar with Biblical Meditation, study the manual by this title available free at http://www.harvestime.org

-Respond to each name in prayer, praise, worship, and personal action.

-Use the lists of names in the appendices to pray the names.

-Record your own thoughts regarding each name in a journal.  If you do not have a journal, reproduce copies of the sample journal page in the Appendix of this manual to record additional revelations God gives you as you study this material.

-Most importantly, apply the names in your life remembering that “…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” (Colossians 3:17).

Enjoy mining the hidden treasures of the names as you continue this study.  And as you do, remember that the very fact that you are dwelling on this subject means that your name has been entered into God's book of remembrance:

Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and       heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the       Lord, and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16)

The Lord is taking note that you are thinking upon His name and your name is being inscribed in His book of remembrance because you are doing so.

PART ONE

THE NAMES AND TITLES OF

GOD THE FATHER

Each name of God the Father includes references for that name; biblical revelation concerning it; and an opportunity for response through prayer, praise, declaration, and application using the name.  Because every name of God is an inexhaustible study, you are encouraged to record in a journal additional revelations regarding each name.  If you are not familiar with the doctrine of God, obtain the Harvestime course entitled “Biblical Theology” available free at:

http://www.harvestime.org

ALMIGHTY GOD

GREAT GOD

MIGHTY ONE OF JACOB

REFERENCE:  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. (Genesis 17:12)

REVELATION:  This name sets forth the excellence of God and His mighty power and strength.  This name was revealed to Abraham when all hope in the natural was gone that he and his wife could bear children.  Then God appeared to him and declared, “I am God Almighty”  (Genesis 17:1).  True to the promise, Isaac, their son of promise, was born and from Abraham came a multitude of descendants.

The name Almighty God conveys unparalleled strength and the ability to provide abundantly and perform the impossible. Almighty God refers to God’s power to triumph over every obstacle and all opposition.  God is your all-powerful and all-sufficient sustainer, the God above all gods and Lord over every other lord.  Moses declared:  “For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God”  (Deuteronomy 10:17).

Almighty God in Hebrew is El Shaddai which derives from the word for a woman’s breast (shad) and literally means “many breasted one.” This denotes God as providing, supplying, nourishing, and satisfying His people’s needs as a mother would her child. Isaiah states that God’s love is greater than that of a nursing mother:

But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.  (Isaiah 49:14-16)

So the name Almighty God reveals that He is both the strong one who is able to do great miracles and the tender one who nourishes and satisfies you.

The name Almighty God occurs some 48 times in the Old Testament and 12 times in the New Testament,  spanning from Genesis to Revelation where the Lord declares: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty”  (Revelation 1:8).

God’s challenge to Believers is to “…. come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 62:17-18).  To be a child of Almighty God, you must separate yourself from this sinful world.

God is also called a Great God, the God of gods, and Lord of  lords (the latter two titles are dealt with in a later study):

For God Your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. (Deuteronomy 10:17 )

Great means “distinguished, grand, magnificent, and important.” As a Mighty God, He is powerful. As a terrible God, He is just to deal with wickedness.

The Apostle Paul prayed for Believers…

…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.  (Ephesians 1:17-19)

God is also called The Mighty One of Jacob (Genesis 49:24).  As He was mighty in the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and throughout Israel’s history, He remains so today.

RESPONSE: Deuteronomy 10:14-18 testifies of the greatness of Almighty God and details what should be your response to Him:

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked. For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

Nothing is too hard for God.  Present your needs to Him and thank Him that He is at work in your life to fulfill every promise.

Remember that when you pray in the name of Almighty God, you are addressing the One for whom nothing is too difficult. You are also addressing a God of loving compassion.   Like a child in the arms of a caring father or mother, you need not fear.  You know who is holding you as you face the challenges of this day! Rest in His presence (Psalm 91:1).

Make this proclamation:  “Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears”

(2 Samuel 7:22).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Almighty God, Great God,  and Mighty One Of Jacob. Summarize Deuteronomy 10:17-18.

ANCIENT OF DAYS

REFERENCE: I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire…I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed…Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.  (Daniel 7:9,13-14,22)

REVELATION:   The name “Ancient of Days” is used three times by the Prophet Daniel in Daniel chapter 7 as we are taken prophetically into the throne room of God and this name is revealed.

In Daniel 7:9, the Ancient of Days is sitting as King upon His throne. He has bright white clothing and hair like wool, both symbols of the purity of God.  The wheels refer to His power and ability to move in any direction that He pleases.

Daniel uses this title again in verse 14: "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him."  The Son of Man presented before the Ancient of Days is a Messianic reference to Jesus Christ.

In verses 21-22, Daniel declared: "As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom."   This refers to the time of final judgment after the return of Jesus Christ.

Based on these three passages, the Ancient of Days is a clear reference to God, confirming that He is God "from everlasting to everlasting" (Psalm 90:2) and that He is "the first and the last"  (Isaiah 44:6). The name “Ancient of Days” also refers to the fact that God existed before or prior to the existence of days (Genesis chapter 1).

Because God is the Ancient of Days, He knows each day of your life and will guide  you through the maze of this world. The psalmist declares regarding this:  “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death” (Psalm 48:14).

RESPONSE:  God declared:  “Yes, from the time of the first existence of day and from this day forth I am He; and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand. I will work, and who can hinder or reverse it?“ (Isaiah 43:1, AMP).   Ask the Ancient of Days to see you through the challenges you face today. Thank Him that He is in charge, and no one can hinder Him.  Acknowledge Him as your guide in the present, in the future, and unto death.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Ancient of Days.

AWESOME

REFERENCE:  You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! (Psalm 68:35, NIV)

REVELATION: The King James Version uses the word “terrible” to describe God in some passages, but the word actually means “awesome”.  More recent translations use awesome to better reflect the meaning which is to be filled with an overwhelming sense of reverence, admiration, and fear.

We see the responses to our Awesome God in several biblical accounts

-When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, and he hid his face and trembled in       His presence (Exodus 3:6).

-When Isaiah saw the vision of the throne room and cried out “Woe is me, for I am a man       of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5).

-When the risen Christ appeared to Saul on the Damascus Road and He fell to the ground       (Acts 9:3-4).

-When John saw Jesus in the vision of Revelation, and he responded by falling as dead (Revelation 1:17).

God told Israel not to fear their enemies, declaring “Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God” (Deuteronomy 7:21, NIV).

After the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea which finalized their deliverance from Egyptian slavery, the people of Israel sang a great song recorded in Exodus 15.  As part of this anthem, they declared:

Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them. In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.  (Exodus 15:11-13)

Indeed, we serve an Awesome God who is wondrous, glorious, and holy.  In His unfailing love, He is guiding us to our final destination to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

RESPONSE:  Declare these lyrics of the song, Our God Is An Awesome God.  If you know the tune, sing it to the Lord.

Our God is an awesome God

He reigns from Heaven above

With wisdom power and love

Our God is an awesome God

Try singing Israel’s song of deliverance to our Awesome God as recorded in Exodus 15:11-13.

Join the psalmist in this proclamation:  “You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!” (Psalm 68:35, NIV).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Awesome.

BANNER

REFERENCE:  And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah Nissi.

(Exodus 17:14-15)

REVELATION:  In Old Testament times, armies carried standards or banners which served as identification, as flags and banners do today.  A banner could be seen from afar and served as a rallying point for troops when they were in battle.  If a soldier became separated from his unit during battle, he looked for his army’s banner flying above the conflict.  Then he could rally to that point, and not fight alone.

The Amalekites were enemies of Israel, and the first to attack them after their liberation from slavery in Egypt (Deuteronomy 25:17-29).  In a battle described in Exodus 17, Joshua led the warriors of Israel and as they battled the enemy in the valley of Rephidim:

And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.  And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. (Exodus 19:9-11)

Each time Moses held up his hands, the people gained ground.  When his hands came down, they lost ground.  The hands of Moses, very likely holding the rod of God,  provided a visible sign around which the people rallied.

But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.  (Exodus 17:12-13)

When Moses’s hands became heavy and could no longer hold up the rod, Aaron and Hur supported his hands until the battle was won.  Following the victory:

…the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah Nissi. (Exodus 17:14-15)

Moses built an altar and the name of The Lord Our Banner was revealed. In Hebrew, “Nissi” means banner, flag, or ensign, so the name was Jehovah Nissi in Hebrew.

As a Believer, God has given you a banner for your own battles of life.  That banner is Jesus Christ and the standard is the truth of God’s Word:

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. (Psalm 60:4)

The banner of truth is God’s Word and Jesus, who is the truth personified.  By coming under the banner of God’s Son and His Word, you are identifying with Him.  You are placing yourself under His authority.  You follow that banner.  You do spiritual battle under it.  That banner provides hope, spiritual focus, and empowers you to win the battles of life.  You have all you need to win in every conflict you face:

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

By remaining under His banner, your petitions are heard and answered:

We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners:       the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.  Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will       hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.  (Psalm 20:5)

Each day, as you take time to enter into the presence of the Lord, His banner of love is raised over you:  “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love” (Song Of Solomon 2:4).   As you look to your spiritual Banner, every need is met, even as when Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness and the people were healed:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  (John 3:14-17)

The prophet Isaiah spoke of this banner which would be an ensign to the people:

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious…And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (Isaiah 11:10-12)

The banner of the Lord is one to which outcasts and nations of the world assemble.  As a Believer, you are part of this great host.

RESPONSE:  During your spiritual journey, you will face battles from within as well as externally.  What enemy are you facing today?  Who might support you in your battle as Aaron and Hur did for Moses? Who might you support?

Whatever your circumstance, when you raise the banner of God over it your victory is assured:

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

(Psalm 20:78)

Although worship banners and flags are not directly mentioned in the Bible, they are elements of worship used in many churches as are instruments, prophetic art, and other emblems.  When you worship using a banner, you are declaring that you are strengthened, encouraged, and victorious through  the Lord Your Banner.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Banner.

CONSUMING FIRE

REFERENCE:  Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of God Your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of anything, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee.  For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.  (Deuteronomy 4:23-24)

REVELATION:  In Old Testament times, God often manifested Himself through the image of fire as a blazing torch, a burning bush, or a pillar of fire that provided revelation, guidance, or manifested His glory:

And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

(Exodus 24:15-17)

The name Consuming Fire in Deuteronomy 4:23-24 is used in connection with judgment on the unrighteous.  As a Believer, you need not fear the consuming fire of God’s wrath because Jesus bore the penalty for your sin at the cross.

In 1 Kings chapter 18, the Prophet Elijah challenged the false prophets declaring:

…call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answers by fire, let him be God… (1 Kings 18:24)

There was no response from the false gods, despite the frenzied appeals of the false prophets.  Prophet Elijah rebuilt an altar to the Lord, laid the wood and the sacrifice, and drenched everything in water.  Then he prayed:

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. (1 Kings 18:37-39)

God is the one true God, the God who answers by consuming fire!

RESPONSE:  The name Consuming Fire is verified in the New Testament by the declaration in Hebrews 12:29: “For our God is a consuming fire.”   Read Acts 2 about the manifestation of fire at the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Ask God to send His consuming fire and burn up any sin in your life. Knowing that Jesus has saved you from the fire of God’s wrath is a great reason to praise Him.  Thank Him for His life-changing fire.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the title Consuming Fire.

CREATOR

REFERENCE:  In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth…And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:1,26-27)

REVELATION:  The fourth word in the beginning of the Bible is the first mention of the name of God, Creator God.  If you cannot accept the reality that God is the Creator, then you will not be able to advance beyond this verse in understanding and responding to His Word. You must acknowledge the true God of the Bible before you can receive His message and experience salvation and the inherent power of His names.

The most basic name for God is the Hebrew word “El”, the root which means power, might, and strength.  It is rarely used alone and almost always is joined with other Hebrew words that describe God.  The Hebrew name for Creator God used in Genesis 1:1 is Elohim.  This name is used 35 times in the first two chapters of Genesis in reference to God’s creative power.  Elohim is rendered plural in the opening chapters of Genesis, reflecting the Trinity of the Godhead:  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  In Genesis 1:26, God declares “Let us make man in our image…”

The name Elohim, meaning “mighty creator” or “supreme God”, is the name by which God introduces Himself in Genesis 1:1.  From this passage we learn that God existed before His creation and He is not limited by time.  He is the divine Creator.

To create means “to cause to exist, to bring into being.”  Only God can create out of nothing, taking something without form and making it into something of beauty and significance. Elohim hovered over an earth that was without form, void, and dark, and He made it into something good.   He can take your broken life and circumstances and recreate them into something beautiful.  He can create something out of nothing to meet your need.  He can create order out of chaos and peace in the midst of the storms of life.

You are created in God’s image, which makes you a partner in creativity with Him.  For example, it is God who gives life to the baby in a mother's womb, but He allows the parents to be part of the creative process. Your gifts and talents are a portion of God’s creativity flowing out through your creative efforts of writing, teaching, art, building, inventions, etc.

The name Creator is used over 2,570 times in Scripture to confirm God’s supernatural power which is available to meet your every need.  The prophet Isaiah declares: “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding” (Isaiah 40:28).

God is called the Creator of Israel, as He birthed this nation and promised to bless them (Isaiah 43:1-6). God continues to create, as 2 Corinthians 5:17 proclaims: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Our Creator is the God of Heaven and Earth.  He is the God of Heaven, not a God of Heaven.

The word Heaven in Hebrew is used in three ways:  It is the name of the earth’s atmosphere (Psalm 77:17);  it refers to the stars in space (Psalm 8:3); and it is the place where God dwells (Psalm 103:19).  As the God of Heaven, He reigns over all three dominions.

God is not only the creator of the earth, according to Genesis 14:19 He is the possessor of heaven and earth (El Elyon in Hebrew). He is called “the Lord of all the earth” in Joshua 3:13. Even the enemies of Israel acknowledged: “…for God Your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11).  The earth is not spiraling out of control.  God is sovereign over its affairs.

Creator is a name that implies intimate relationship.  After a revelation from God,  Jacob “…built there an altar, and called the place El Bethel: because there God appeared unto him…”  (Genesis 35:7).  In Genesis 17:18, God declared He would be Elohim to His people, meaning that He would create an everlasting covenant with them.  That relationship is established on the basis of the new birth experience described in Christ in John 3.

RESPONSE:   Take time to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.  Ask for His creativity to flow through you and thank Him for being a partner in creativity with you.  Acknowledge that as the mighty Sovereign Creator, He has the power to make you a new creature in Christ, to meet your every need, and bring order to the chaos that surrounds you. Claim the life-sustaining power of the Creator of Heaven and Earth.

The name Creator God occurs 26 times in Hebrew in Psalm 68.  Pray through this psalm to gain a fuller understanding of this name:

Verses 1-2:  Give thanks that when the Creator arises, the enemy cannot stand before Him but is overcome by His power.  Light dispels the darkness just as smoke is driven away and wax melts before a fire.

Verses 3-4:  Sing and rejoice that because of Jesus, you are righteous before God.

Verse 5-6:  Thank Elohim, Creator God, for His protection and provision.

Verses 7-10:  These verses review the history of the Creator’s presence among His people.  Meditate on times in the past when His presence was manifested to you.

Verses 11-14:  These verses recall the impact of God’s presence in battle.  Thank Him for the times He has helped you win spiritual victories.

Verses 15-18:  The selection and security of Mt. Zion as the abiding place of God is described in these verses.  Thank God that because you are in covenant relationship with Him, you are now His spiritual temple.

Verses 19-20: God is praised for His presence and deliverance in hard times.  Thank Him for the times He has been with you in difficult circumstances.

Verses 21-23:  This passage describes the calamity that will befall the enemies of God and the enemies of His people.  Thank Him for His righteous judgments and that you are secure from such calamities because of your covenant relationship with Him.

Verses 24-27: These verses describe a procession of worshippers.  Thank God for the benefits of covenant relationship with Him as described in this passage.

Verses 28-31: This passage challenges the nations to acknowledge the power and majesty of Elohim.  Egypt is an example of the nations that will eventually respond positively to the Creator. Take some time to pray for the nations.

Verses 32-35:  All nations of the world are invited to recognize the power, majesty, and sovereignty of the Creator and respond by singing praises to Him.  Pause and do that right now!  Declare the strength, power, and awesomeness that are inherent in His name: Creator.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Creator.  Use these passages:

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.  (1 Timothy 1:17)

DEFENSE

REFERENCE:  Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defense.

(Psalm 59:9)

REVELATION: Defense is the act of protecting from or resisting attack.

God is your defense and your defender.  Study the Psalmist’s summary of God as his Defense:

My defense is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. (Psalm 7:10)

Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. (Psalm 31:2-3)

Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy.

(Psalm 59:17)

He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:2)

For the Lord is our defense; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. (Psalm 89:18)

But the Lord is my defense; and my God is the rock of my refuge. (Psalm 94:22)

RESPONSE:  Lift this praise to God, your Defense:

But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy. (Psalm 59:16-17)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Defense.

DEFENDER OF WIDOWS

REFERENCE:   Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds—his name is the Lord—and rejoice before him.  A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.  (Psalm 68:4-5)

REVELATION:  In ancient Israel, widows were among the most vulnerable and exploited people groups, especially if a woman’s husband died and she had no sons to support her.  God is called the Defender of Widows in the NKJV, the Protector of Widows in the RSV, and Champion of Widows in the MSG version.

Exodus 22:23 assures that God will surely hear their cry.  In Jeremiah 49:11, God declares: “Let thy widows trust in me” (Jeremiah 49:11).  He warned:

Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! (Isaiah 10:1-2)

Jesus also spoke woes to those who mistreated widows:

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

(Matthew 23:14)

The Word advises that younger widows remarry, but widows indeed--those who remained dedicated to God in their widowhood--were to be provided for:

Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.  Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. (1 Timothy 5:3-6)

A summary of pure religion includes caring for widows:

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)

RESPONSE:  Do you know a widow whom you might bless with a financial gift, a visit, or by helping them with a difficult task?

God not only cares about widows, but He loves and cares for you as well. If you feel alone and abandoned, thank Him for being your defender, protector, and champion.  Cry out to Him, knowing that He will surely hear your cry.

If you are a widow, make this paraphrased declaration:  “I will sing to God and sing praise to His name;  I will extol Him who rides on the clouds—His name is the Lord—and rejoice before Him.  He is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows” (Psalm 68:4-5).

Record in your journal additional revelations  regarding the name Defender Of Widows.

DELIVERER

REFERENCE:  The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  (Psalm 18:2)

REVELATION:  As a Deliverer, God is pictured as a rock, fortress, the horn of salvation, and a high tower.  The psalmist proclaimed: “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah”  (Psalm 32:7).

The Psalmist David wrote much about deliverance, revealing that God can deliver His people from the enemy, famine, fear, distress, destruction, violence, confusion, fears, falling, and death:

He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me…He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. (Psalm 18:17, 19)

He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.  (Psalm18:48)

They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.  (Psalm 22:5)

Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.  (Psalm 33:18-19)

I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.  (Psalm 34:4)

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. (Psalm 107:6)

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

(Psalm 107:20)

For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.  (Psalm 116:8)

One of the purposes for which God sent Jesus was to deliver the captives.  Jesus proclaimed:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.  (Luke 4:18-19)

Jesus delivered the sick, the demonized, and those captive to sin. God and His Son, Jesus Christ, are your Deliverers in every circumstance of life.

RESPONSE: The nation of Israel was delivered from Egyptian slavery.  Joseph, Paul, Silas, and Peter were delivered from prison.  David was delivered from murderous King Saul.

Hopefully, your circumstances are not as dramatic as these Bible characters.  You may not have been a slave, incarcerated, attacked by an army, or had someone trying to murder you, but we are all threatened by difficult circumstances of life from which we need deliverance.  You may need deliverance from an addiction, habit, or a wrong attitude or emotion.  You may be in spiritual battle and need God’s deliverance.

Make this proclamation by faith today:  “God is MY deliverer.”  Join the psalmist in his appeal:

“But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God” (Psalm 40:17).

If you are going through a severe battle, pray this prayer of deliverance:

Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.  (Psalm 69:14-18)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Deliverer.

EVERLASTING GOD

REFERENCE:  And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God. (Genesis 21:33)

REVELATION: Abraham dug a well to provide for his family and flocks, but interlopers seized it.  When he complained to Abimelech, the local leader in the territory, the two came to an agreement for Abraham to retain ownership of the well.  So Abraham planted a grove of trees near the well, and called on the name of the Lord as  “the Everlasting God.”  The word everlasting means “endless, continuous, eternal, and without beginning and end.”

Because God is eternal, His promises endure forever.  There is no expiration date.  God promised that the world would never again be destroyed by a flood (Genesis 9:11).  He made an everlasting covenant with Abraham that his descendants would be blessed forever (Genesis 17:7).

Every promise in God’s Word is enduring and everlasting because God is an everlasting God.  His plans and purposes stand firm from the foundation of the earth: “The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:11).

The psalmist proclaims: “For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations” (Psalm 100:5).  The truth of God’s Word reveals that because God is eternal, He wants His people to live eternally.  Despite the depth of mankind’s sin, God’s mercy endures forever and He extends this invitation to all people:  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Although your body will age and you will face physical death unless the Lord returns first, your soul is eternal and you will receive a glorified body in Heaven and live with the Everlasting God for all eternity.  Because He is eternal, you will live eternally.

God always was, He is, and always will be God. Nothing you can ever face will change that because God is unchangeable: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever”  (Hebrews 13:8).

RESPONSE:  As you read through the Bible, underline every promise made to you as a Believer.  Thank God that these promises endure forever because your God is the Everlasting God.  Claim these promises for your family, your ministry, and yourself.

The Prophet Isaiah declared:

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  (Isaiah 40:28-31)

If you are weary, call upon the Everlasting God for an infusion of divine strength.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Everlasting God.

EXCEEDING JOY

REFERENCE:  Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (Psalm 43:4-5)

REVELATION: God is a joyous God and He rejoices over you!

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.  (Zephaniah 3:17)

Because God is joyous, He wants His followers to experience that same joy through the presence of the Holy Spirit:  “And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 13:32).

Happiness and joy are two different emotions. Happiness comes from the world around you and is dependent upon your circumstances.  Joy is a quality of gladness, delight, and jubilance.  Joy originates with the Holy Spirit of God and is not dependent upon outward circumstances. You may not be happy about your circumstances, but you can still be joyous in God and worship Him.  For example, you may be sad as you stand by the grave of a loved one who has gone to be with the Lord, but you can rejoice that they are in God’s presence and that you will see them again.

The psalmist declared that God was not only his joy, but his exceeding joy, meaning joy that exceeds all other joys that this world has to offer.  In God’s presence is fulness of joy:

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.  (Psalm 16:11)

Jesus Christ brought joy at His birth:

And the angel said unto them, Fear not:  for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  (Luke 2:10-11)

It is His desire that you have joy:

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.  (John 15:11)

And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.  (John 17:13)

Because your joy is spiritual and not dependent on outward circumstances you can rejoice in temptation:  “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations...”

(James 1:2).

You can also rejoice in difficult times.  Paul said: “ ...I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4).  You can be longsuffering with supernatural joy:  “...longsuffering with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:11).

Joy is a hallmark of the Kingdom of God:

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  (Romans 14:17)

RESPONSE: When you feel spiritually or physically weak, rejoice in the Lord because “…The joy of the Lord is your strength”  (Nehemiah 8:10).

The Bible encourages Believers to be joyful and express their joy unto the Lord:

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice:  let them ever shout for joy...let them       also that love thy name be joyful in thee.  (Psalms 5:11)

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.  Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise.  (Psalm 32:11-33:3

If you are discouraged or depressed today, heed the admonition of the psalmist:

Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (Psalm 43:4-5)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Exceeding Joy. See

Psalms 35:9; 63:5; 66:1; 81:1; 95:1-2; 149:5; 98:4,6,8; 100:1.

FAITHFUL GOD

REFERENCE:  Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations. (Deuteronomy 7:9)

REVELATION: People are not always loyal.  Appliances are not as dependable as they should be.  Jobs are often insecure, and spouses and friends are sometimes unfaithful.  Things of this world are not always reliable.  But in Deuteronomy 7:9, Moses referred to the Faithful God,  revealing the name of One who is always reliable and trustworthy.

In Deuteronomy chapter seven, Moses rehearsed Israel’s past and encouraged the people to take note of God’s track record.  He had never once failed them.  Because God was faithful in the past, He would be faithful in the present and in the future.  For this reason Moses encouraged the people to be faithful to this faithful God by keeping His commandments and statues (Deuteronomy 7:11).

Joshua later confirmed:  “…not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof” (Joshua 23:14).

When tempted to do evil, it is the Faithful God that makes a way of escape:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.  (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The Faithful Lord establishes you and keeps you from evil: “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil” (2 Thessalonians 3:3).  When we sin “…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”

(1 John 1:9).   Even if you are faithless, God remains faithful: “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:13).

God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). His Word is true and forever settled:  “Forever Oh Lord, thy Word is settled in Heaven” (Psalm 119:89).  The psalmist declared, “All thy commandments are faithful” (Psalm 119:86) and he confirmed that  “Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful” (Psalm 119:138).  God is faithful to fulfill His promises:  “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)…” (Hebrews 10:23).

RESPONSE: Rehearse the times that God has proven faithful to you in the past. Then make a list of the promises for which you are believing God. Thank Him that He is faithful to fulfill His promises  (Hebrews 10:23).

Rejoice in this powerful truth: “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).

Make this declaration: “Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord my God spoke concerning me; all are come to pass unto me, and not one thing hath failed thereof” (Joshua 21:45).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Faithful God.

FATHER

ABBA

REFERENCE:  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  (Romans 8:15)

REVELATION:   Christ’s first recorded words in Scripture are to His parents who came seeking Him after they were separated on a trip to Jerusalem:  “And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?’"  (Luke 2:49, NKJV).  We learn from this statement that God is His Father and the Father’s mission has priority.

Jesus encouraged His followers to refer to God as Father, teaching them to pray to “our Father in Heaven”. Pious Jews never addressed God as Father, as they were aware of the gap between a holy God and sinful human beings.  Because of Christ’s teaching about the Father, some of the religious rulers wanted to stone Him because they believed His claim to be God’s Son and address God in this manner was heresy (John 5:18; 10:30-31).

A good father in the natural world gives life to his child.  He gives his children access to him, provides guidance, security, provision, and protection.  He loves his children and leaves them a godly spiritual inheritance.  Your Heavenly Father does all of this for you.  And, unlike some earthly fathers, your Heavenly Father will never fail you.

Jesus repeatedly spoke of “Your Father”.  The God who is His Father is your Father also when you commit your life to Jesus Christ.   He is also “Our Father”, meaning He is the Father of all true Believers (Romans 1:7).   It is Jesus who reveals your spiritual Father to you.  He declared:

All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.  (Matthew 11:27)

“Abba”, as used in Romans 8:15, is an intimate term for father meaning “Daddy-God”.  Because God is your Father, you have a spiritual kinship with other Believers in Christ.  We are all related to God through the new birth experience:

But as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  (John 1:12-13)

Because we are sons and daughters of God, we can address God as our Abba Father:

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts,       crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)

We are repeatedly addressed as children of God in the Bible.  This designation makes us brothers and sisters of other true Believers because of the spiritual DNA of the blood of Jesus.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.  (1 John 3:1-3)

RESPONSE: The next few studies focus on the wonderful name of Father as it is combined with other titles of God.  As you learn more about the Father, remember that if you were blessed with a good father in the natural world, he is representative of your Father in Heaven.  If you had a bad relationship or no relationship at all with your father in the natural world, then your Heavenly Father fills that void.

Ask for a new revelation of God as your Father.  Pray today using the name Abba to address your Father.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Abba Father.

FATHER IN HEAVEN

HEAVENLY FATHER

REFERENCE:  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (Matthew 6:9)

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13)

REVELATION: There is an earthly kingdom in which you live, but as a Believer you also live in a spiritual kingdom.  You have an earthly father, and you have a Heavenly Father.

There is one God and one Father in Heaven who is called the Father (1 Corinthians 8:6).  He is also called Heavenly Father (Matthew 6:14,26,32; 15:13; 18:35; Luke 11:13) and is addressed as your Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:16,45,48; John 20:17).

His position as Heavenly Father is confirmed by the title God of Heaven which is used repeatedly in the Old Testament and twice in the New Testament in the book of Revelation (Revelation 11:13; 16:11).

The Bible reveals important facts about the Heavenly Father.  Your Heavenly Father forgives sin and expects you to do likewise:

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:24-25)

You are to conduct yourself as a child of your Heavenly Father:

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.  (Matthew 5:44-45)

Your Heavenly Father expects you to let your light shine in this dark world so that others may come to know Him:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  (Matthew 5:16)

Your Heavenly Father rewards you for good that you do in secret:

That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy       Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.  (Matthew 6:18)

Your Heavenly Father is your model of perfection: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

You are to pray to your Father in Heaven: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name”  (Matthew 6:9).

Your Father in Heaven stands ready to meet your every need:

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  (Matthew 6:25-33)

RESPONSE: Jesus said: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”  (Matthew 7:7).  Whatever your need today, take your request to your Father in Heaven in prayer.

Pray the prayer Jesus taught to your Father in Heaven:

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.  (Matthew 6:9-13)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Father In Heaven.

FATHER OF ALL

REFERENCE:   One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:6)

REVELATION:  There is one God and one Father of all true Believers.  He is above us all, in us all, and flows through us all to reach a hurting world:

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

In this passage, the Apostle Paul lists seven unifying factors of the true Church.  There is:

-One Body.

-One Spirit.

-One hope of our calling.

-One Lord.

-One faith.

-One baptism.

-One God and Father of all.

Because the Father of All is in us all and flows through us all, Paul also exhorts Believers to “…walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”  (Ephesians 4:1-3).

The Amplified Version translates this verse as “…Living as becomes you with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.”

It further expands the meaning of verse 3, stating that  we should “…Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace.”

RESPONSE:  Are you walking worthy of the vocation to which you are called?  Examine your life in terms of the qualities in Ephesians 4:1-3:

-Are you humble?

-Are you meek  (unselfish, gentle, mild)?

-Are you patient?

-Is there another Believer with whom you have broken fellowship and with whom you need to restore relationship?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Father of All.

FATHER OF MERCIES

REFERENCE:  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.  (2 Corinthians 1:3)

REVELATION:  The word mercy, as it appears in the Bible, means forgiveness, withholding punishment, and showing compassion to those who are suffering by healing, comforting, alleviating suffering, and caring for those in distress. Mercy is compassion in action, the feeling and response of one who is moved by another person’s suffering.

God is the Father of Mercies. Many examples of Gods’ mercy occur in the Bible, but some of the clearest examples are found in the ministry of Jesus. These include the Canaanite woman who begged for her daughter to be healed (Matthew 15:22); a man who begged for mercy for his demon possessed son (Matthew 17:14-15); and two blind men (Matthew 20:29-30).  In each case, the Father demonstrated mercy by healing and delivering through the ministry of Jesus.

As the Father of Mercies God is “…a father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation” (Psalm 68:5).  The psalmist describes the compassion of the Father of Mercies:

As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe].  For He knows our frame, He [earnestly] remembers and imprints [on His heart] that we are dust.  (Psalm 103:13-14. TAB)

As a good father in the natural world, the Father of Mercies provides your needs:

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:28-33)

Every good gift comes from your Heavenly Father of Mercies:

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him.

(Matthew 7:11)

God’s mercy is plentiful: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” (Psalm 103:8).

The command to Believers from the Father of Mercies is  “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

RESPONSE:   If you are in need of mercy for your sins, pray this prayer: “I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee” (Psalm 41:4).

Join the Prophet in this proclamation of hope regarding the mercies of God:

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  (Lamentations 3:21-23)

To whom might you extend mercy today?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Father of Mercies. Read Psalm 136 where the phrase “His mercy endures forever” is used repeatedly.  For what reasons does the psalmist express gratitude in this psalm?

FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS

REFERENCE: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  (1 Peter 1:3)

REVELATION:  Jesus shocked people by declaring that God was His Father.  He repeatedly spoke about “my Father”, called God “My Father” (Matthew 7:21), and proclaimed that He and His Father were one (John 10:28-30).

Jesus spoke of many mansions in His Father’s house being prepared for His followers (John 14:2).  He made it clear that He came to do His Father’s will (John 5:17).  His last prayer was, “Father into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).  Jesus clearly had an intimate spiritual relationship with God His Father.

The Gospels repeatedly call Jesus the Son of God, and the Apostle Paul frequently referred to the Father Of Our Lord Jesus:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.  (Ephesians 1:3)

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named…(Ephesians 3:14-15)

That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (Romans 15:6)

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.  (2 Corinthians 1:3)

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

(Colossians 1:3)

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore…

(2 Corinthians 11:31)

It is important to recognize God as Father of our Lord Jesus, as it is a title that is vital to the confirmation of the Old Testament prophecies that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.

RESPONSE:  Bow before the Lord and make this declaration: “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named…” (Ephesians 3:14-15).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Father of Our Lord Jesus.

FATHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

REFERENCE:  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are…O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. (John 17:11,25)

REVELATION: Righteousness involves being honest, just, accurate, and a person of truth and integrity. This describes our Heavenly Father.  As the Father of Righteousness He makes no foolish decisions and commits no sinful acts. Psalm 145:17 declares: “The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.”

The prophet Isaiah declared:

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

(Isaiah 64:6-7)

As a Righteous Father, God requires His children to be holy:

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord  Almighty.  (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)

Holiness and righteousness are defined as the standards required for us to be acceptable to God, so how can our Righteous Father relate to people who are sinful? Through imputed righteousness.  This is not achieved through self-effort. When you place your faith in Jesus as your Savior, then you are made righteous by God through the blood of Jesus Christ.  The Apostle Paul declared: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”  (2  Corinthians 5:21).

RESPONSE:  Ask God to search your heart and reveal any unclean things from which you might need to separate.  Relationships?  Attitudes?  Habits? Secret or besetting sins? Ungodly types of entertainment, music, or reading material?

Pray this prayer:   “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).  Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Father of Righteousness.

FATHER OF SPIRITS

REFERENCE:  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (Hebrews 12:9)

REVELATION: From the first pages of the Bible, we learn that God is a Spirit (Genesis 1:1).

As a Spirit, God is your spiritual father (Hebrews 12:9).  The key verse declares that as we have had natural fathers who disciplined us, how much more should we be subject to the Father of Spirits “…for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves and chastises every child whom he accepts” (Hebrews 12:6).  Paul explains that…

…they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:10-11)

The purpose of the discipline of the Father of Spirits is to help you mature spiritually and produce the fruit of righteousness in your life.  This is possible because the Father of Spirits dwells within your spirit.

In the Old Testament, the Father of Spirits sent His Spirit to dwell on people temporarily to perform certain ministries.  For example, it was said of a man named Bezaleel: “…And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship” (Exodus 35:31).  The Spirit of God came upon the judges, leaders, warriors, and prophets in Old Testament times for specific purposes and set periods of time.

In the New Testament, the Spirit of God was revealed in flesh through His Son, Jesus Christ:

Whereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.  (1 John 4:2-3)

The presence of the Father of Spirits is recognized by one’s confession regarding Jesus Christ His Son.

When Jesus returned to Heaven, the Holy Spirit was sent by the Father of Spirits to dwell permanently in Believers:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  (John 14:16-17)

Because the Father of Spirits sends His Spirit to indwell us, then…

…ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:9-11)

What a marvelous truth that the Father of Spirits indwells you:  “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

The Apostle Paul declared the glorious truth that…

…as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

(Romans 8:14-17)

Because God is a Spirit, we must worship Him in Spirit and Truth.  Jesus said:

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24)

For worship to be acceptable to God it must be done in Spirit and in Truth.  What does it mean to worship in spirit and truth?  Jesus told the religious leaders of His time...”Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).  The Scriptures refer to worship that is based on the Truth of God’s Word.  The power of God refers to worship which is done in the power of the Holy Spirit.

RESPONSE: Meditate on these truths revealed in this study on the Father of Spirits:

-Because God is a spirit, you must worship Him in Spirit and Truth.

-You are led by the Spirit of God.  If you need guidance, claim it.

-You no longer walk in the flesh, but you walk in the Spirit.  Claim and confess victory over sinful habits and attitudes.

-The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, the Father of Spirits, resides in you.

Stop making excuses.  Don’t use the phrase “I can’t.”  You can do all things through       Christ and the Spirit that raised Him from the dead which dwells in you.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Father of Spirits.

FATHER OF THE FATHERLESS

REFERENCE:  A father of the fatherless… (Psalm 68:5)

REVELATION: Perhaps you have lost your earthly Dad through death or desertion.  You may not have known your earthly Dad, or you may not have a positive relationship with him.  You may not yet know your Heavenly Father.  If any of these statements are true for you, then you are fatherless and God wants to fill that void.

Here is what the Bible says regarding God’s relationship to the fatherless:

The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.  (Psalm 146:9)

Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.  (Proverbs 23:10-11)

And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. (Zechariah 7:10)

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)

In reality, we are all Fatherless spiritually if we are apart from God.  The Father wants you to  establish a relationship with Him through repentance and acknowledging Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.  When you do this, you are adopted by God into a spiritual family that spans the centuries and circles the globe.

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:4-7)

RESPONSE:  Make this declaration of faith:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  (Ephesians 1:3-6)

And now… “Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH (Jehovah), and rejoice before him.  A father of the fatherless…” (Psalm 68:4-5).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Father of the Fatherless.

GOD MY HELP

REFERENCE:  Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20)

REVELATION: The English word help means to give assistance or support, to do for someone what they cannot do for themselves.  The word “Ezerenu” is the Hebrew noun for helper and refers to divine help. This word for help is used over 21 times in the Old Testament, and most of the occurrences refer to God’s help in times of trouble.

One specific instance was when King Asa faced a formidable army and…

…cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. (2 Chronicles 14:11)

Asa cried out to the God of My Help and look what happened:

So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the Lord, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.  And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the Lord came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.

(2 Chronicles 14:12-14)

You may be in need of help today and find yourself without family, friends, or even a church to aid you.  But your help comes from the Lord.  Whether you be many or few, you can trust in God your Helper as you go forth to face the battle and, like Asa, you will be victorious.

Listen to the testimony of the psalmist:

Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. (Psalm 94;17-18)

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth.  (Psalm 121:1-2)

But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.  (Psalm 40:17)

Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. (Psalm 63:7)

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)

The last verse emphasizes the importance of knowing God’s names.  David found help in the name of the Lord. You can too!

RESPONSE:  Are you facing difficulties today?  Are you in deep trouble?  Pray theses prayers to God, your help:

Rise up! Come to my help, and deliver me for Your mercy's sake and because of Your steadfast love!  (Psalm 44:26, TAB).

O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help. (Psalm 71:12)

But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.  (Psalm 70:5)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name God My Help.

GOD OF ALL COMFORT

REFERENCE:  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

REVELATION:  Where do you turn for comfort?  To friends?  Sexual relationships?  Food?  Drugs and alcohol?  The Apostle Paul urges you to turn to the God of All Comfort.

The word comfort used in this passage is the same word Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit.  It means “to call alongside”.  You are never alone when you face life’s challenges.  The God of All Comfort is right there with you, speaking messages of encouragement and truth from His Word.  Jesus said:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:16-28)

Jesus prayed to the God of All Comfort to send His comforting Holy Spirit.  The Greek word for "comforter" is “paraktetos” which means "called alongside with another."   The God of All Comfort sends the Holy Spirit to comfort you in all of your tribulations.

The God of All Comfort promises to give His people “…beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified”  (Isaiah 61:3).  God comforts us so that “…we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).  The comfort you receive from the God of All Comfort equips you to help others.  There is purpose in your pain.

RESPONSE:  If you are in need of comfort, heed the Apostle Paul’s admonition and turn to the God of all Comfort. Thank God for the comfort of His Holy Spirit.  Watch for opportunities each day where you can share the comfort with which you have been comforted with others who are in need.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name God Of All Comfort.

GOD OF ALL FLESH

REFERENCE:   Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27)

REVELATION: The Prophet Jeremiah was sent to the people of Israel to warn them of coming judgment because they had turned away from God and served false gods of the pagan nations around them.  His message was rejected, and he was imprisoned by King Zedekiah (Jeremiah 32:1-5).

As Jeremiah prayed there is the dark, damp prison, the word of the Lord came to him saying,

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).  God declared that although Judea and Jerusalem were given to the enemy for a time because of the sins of Israel, He was powerful enough to restore His people after their repentance (Jeremiah 32:36-44).

As the God of All Flesh, He reins over every person on the face of the earth.  He reigns over the wicked who would shake their fists at Him in anger and unbelief.  He reigns over ever enemy.  He reigns over His children who rely on Him. The God of All Flesh reigns, and nothing is too hard for Him to accomplish.

Despite the impending destruction that was to come, Jeremiah purchased property at the Lord’s direction as confirmation that Israel would return to their land after the captivity ended (Jeremiah 32:26-44) .  God has given us the pledge of His Holy Word that we will safely make it to our Promised Land.  The God of All Flesh has spoken.  Nothing is too hard for Him. Nothing can challenge Him, no force in this world or in the pits of Hell!

RESPONSE:  What difficulties are you facing?  Sickness?  Financial problems?  Difficult relationships?  Death?  A great loss?  In the face of your dire circumstances, pray about the problem as Jeremiah did.  Close with this declaration of faith:  “Nothing is too hard for my God!”

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name God of All Flesh.

GOD OF BETHEL

REFERENCE:  I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.  (Genesis 31:13)

REVELATION: When Jacob fled from the wrath of his brother Esau after stealing the birthright and blessing, he spent his first night on the road at a place called Bethel. Genesis chapter 28 records what occurred there:

Verse 12:            He had a religious experience.

Verse 13-15:            He heard voice of God.

Verse 13:            He received promises from God, but didn't claim them.

Verse 15:            He received a revelation of God’s purposes.

Verse 17,22:            He realized was in the house of God, the gate of Heaven.

Verse 20:            He made vows.

Verse 22:            He paid tithes

Verses 18 and 22:        He set up monuments and performed anointing and rituals.

All this, but his life was not changed!  He was the same old Jacob.  He saw this as an opportunity to make a deal with God to get his own selfish desires. Note his requests in verses 20-21.  He asked…

-Bless me.

-Bless my plans.

-Supply my desires.

-Give me peace.

Jacob tried to bargain with God by saying "If you do this, I will serve you."   He did not perceive that God already promised that He would do these things.  You cannot make a deal with God.  Jacob should have repented of his past and determined that he would remain true to God in the future.

God had already promised to do the things Jacob was requesting (verse 15). He wanted to give Jacob above and beyond his desires:

-The land for an inheritance.

-Descendants to fill the world.

-Protection and provision.

Jacob was groveling, begging, and seeking for what God had already promised.  Jacob’s flesh was still in control.  He experienced religion, but not true spirituality.   The potential for a spiritual breakthrough was there, but Jacob did not avail himself of it.

Jacob went on to work for a relative named Laban and married Leah and Rachel.  Then one day God declared:

I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. (Genesis 31:13)

Jacob obeyed, and had a life-changing experience when he returned to Bethel:

And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.  (Genesis 35:9-15)

RESPONSE:  Do you need to return to Bethel spiritually speaking?  Do you need a fresh experience with God?  Do as Jacob did.  Bow before the Lord at your spiritual Bethel.  Pour out your prayer, praise, and worship.  Let Him change your life and renew His promises to you.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name God of Bethel.

GOD OF GLORY

FATHER OF GLORY

REFERENCE:  The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.  (Psalm 29:3)

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.  (Ephesians 1:17)

REVELATION: In Hebrew the word “glory” means the weightiness of His presence, the “Kavod” of God.  This biblical word indicates a spiritual weight of splendor, holiness,  and majesty that is associated with the God of Glory where a person experiences God’s presence in a tangible way.  Our God is the God of Glory (Psalm 29:3) and the Father of Glory (Ephesians 1:17).

God is omnipresent, meaning that He is present everywhere. The psalmist proclaimed:

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. (Psalm 139:7-11)

We can view God’s glory in creation: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1). Jesus said He is present where two or three are gathered in His name: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). The Bible states that He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5) and that He is always with you (Matthew 28:20).

When we speak of the glory of God it means His manifested presence, an intense awareness that He is present.  In reality He is always there, but when God’s manifested glory descends, there is a weight of His spiritual presence that hovers over the atmosphere.  It is like He walked into the room.  People may respond by falling to their knees or on their faces.  They may be so overcome that they are silent.  When God manifests His glory in this special way, you know it.  Only those who have never experienced the glory of this presence can argue against it.

In Exodus 33, a beautiful worship experience is recorded in response to Moses’ request to behold God’s glory.  God said:

And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.  And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:  And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. (Exodus 33:19-23).

Moses experienced the manifested glory of God.  So can you!  God's manifested glory is not an intellectual pursuit.  It is an experience that comes through worship.  The  first commandment is to love the Lord, not to do spiritual warfare, intercede, or minister to others although these are important parts of your calling. Worship is your highest priority.  You can learn about God through what He has done, but true intimacy results from experiencing Him, not just knowing about Him.

When Moses completed the Tabernacle and set its contents in place…

Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

(Exodus 40:34-35)

When the Divine pattern for the Tabernacle was in order, God’s presence descended.  When Solomon completed the Temple…

…it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord. (1 Kings 8:10-11)

When you worship according to biblical patterns, His glory will be manifested.

The greatest revelation of God’s glory is found in His Son, Jesus Christ:

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  (John 1:14)

Christ’s glory was revealed as He preached the Word, saved, healed, and delivered.  Prior to returning to Heaven, Jesus prayed that the same glory that rested upon Him, the glory of God, would be manifested in the lives of His followers.  He prayed first for His disciples, then He said…

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

(John 17:20-24)

As the God of Glory, Almighty God reigns.  As the Father of Glory,  He allows His heirs to share in His glory.  Someday soon we shall behold an even greater manifestation of His glory and that of His Son, Jesus Christ, as we enter eternity.

RESPONSE:  The same glory that God manifested in the life of Jesus can be manifested in your life, but you must be in God’s presence in order to experience Him as the God of Glory.

Coming into His presence is not something to be done casually. In Old Testament times God’s people were commanded to cleanse themselves from sin before coming to worship.  For them, this meant a series of ceremonial washings and abstaining from things that made a person unfit to enter God’s presence  (Exodus 19:10,22; Leviticus 11).

As a New Testament Believer, you prepare for worship by asking God to forgive your sins so you can enter His presence through the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. Claim this promise:  “Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence”  (Psalm 140:13),

Come into His presence the biblical way, by worship:

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with       psalms. (Psalm 95:2)

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  (Psalm 100:2)

Sing to the Lord.  Use musical instruments to praise Him.  Stand, kneel, and lift your hands in praise.  Use your spiritual gifts. Clap, shout, rejoice, and dance before Him.  Meditate on Him and wait in silence before Him.  Allow the Holy Spirit to direct your worship.

Meditate on these words by Elmer Towns:

“The effectiveness of worship is not measured by atmosphere. That means the credibility

of true biblical worship is not measured by how fast the songs are sung, or how deeply we meditate in solitude. It is not measured by a new plexiglass pulpit, a split chancel pulpit, or the new trend of using no pulpit at all. It is not measured by raising hands, affirming the Apostle's Creed, or congregational applause. It is not measured by responsive readings from both Old and New Testaments, viewing the Bible projected on the screen, or listening to an expositional sermon based on a proper interpretation of the text. True worship is always measured by the response of the Believer's heart to God…True worship is measured by the transformation of the worshipper because he/she has been in the presence of God.”  Elmer Towns

Your study of the names of God is to receive a revelation of His glory, not just intellectual knowledge.  Pray this personalized prayer from Scripture:

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.  That the eyes of my understanding being enlightened, I may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance is in the saints, and the exceeding greatness of his power towards me as a Believer, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.  (Ephesians 1:17-20)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names God of Glory and Father of Glory.

GOD OF GODS

LORD OF LORDS,  LORD OF KINGS

REFERENCE:   For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, the terrible God, Who is not partial and takes no bribe. (Deuteronomy 10:17, TAB)

The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. (Daniel 2:47)

REVELATION:  There are many false gods and many kings ruling in our world today.  But our God is the God of gods, Lord of lords, and Lord of kings.  He is above every false idol and every false religion.  He is over all those who call themselves lords and kings.  The psalmist declared:

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. (Psalm 95:3)

For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

(Psalm 97:9)

For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. (Psalm 135:5)

O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 136:3)

Even the godless King Darius recognized that God is the God of gods:  “The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret” (Daniel 2:47).

When Jesus returns to this world with His Heavenly army, He will do so clearly identified as the Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16).  The forces of evil “…shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful”  (Revelation 17:14).

RESPONSE:  Join the psalmist in giving praise to the God of gods and Lord of lords:

O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.  (Psalm 136:2-3)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names God of gods, Lord of lords,  and Lord of kings.

GOD OF HOPE

HOPE OF ISRAEL

REFERENCE:  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.  (Romans 15:13)

O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters. Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.  (Jeremiah 17:13-14)

REVELATION: God is called the God of Hope in Romans 15:13, and in Jeremiah 17:13-14 He is revealed specifically as the Hope of Israel.  He is the Hope of His chosen people, and He is also your hope.  He is your hope of salvation and for healing of your soul, spirit, mind, and body.

The definition of hope is “to trust in, wait for, look for, or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future.”  Biblical hope is supernatural hope, like that of Abraham who despite the condition of his physical body “…against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be” (Romans 4:18).

Biblical hope is rooted in God and based upon the promises in His Word:  “I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope” (Psalm 130:5). This hope is generated by the power of the Holy Spirit: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13). The Word of God fosters hope:

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

Hope is an anchor for your soul in turbulent times:

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast.  (Hebrews 6:17-19)

You are saved by grace through the hope of salvation by faith in the sacrifice of Jesus:

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:24-25)

We have hope in Christ’s promise of eternal life:  “…In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2).  This hope of eternal life in the presence of the Lord motivates you to live a holy life:

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)

God manifested Himself as the God of Hope through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and in His promised return because “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).   Thus, we are “…Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

RESPONSE:  Are there situations in your life about which you feel hopeless?  Declare this Word about the God Of Hope over every circumstance:  “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance” (Psalm 42:5).

Tell the Lord “You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence” (Psalm 71:5).

Read these promises to those who hope in the Lord:

..my flesh shall rest in hope. (Psalm 16:9)

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.  (Psalm 31:24)

Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. (Psalm 33:18-19)

Emulate the hope demonstrated by Abraham…

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (Romans 4:18-21)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names God Of Hope and the Hope Of Israel.

GOD OF ISRAEL

GOD OF ABRAHAM, FEAR OF ISAAC,

GOD OF JERUSALEM, GOD OF JESHURUN

REFERENCE:   And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city. And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money. And he erected there an altar, and called it Elohe Israel (meaning the God of Israel).  (Genesis 33:18-20)

REVELATION:  This name, God Of Israel, was first used by Jacob, after his experience with God at Peniel and his reunion with his brother, Esau.  Jacob build an altar at a place called Shechem and called it the God of Israel.  This name identified God as being in intimate  relationship with His covenant people of Israel.  It also identified His personal relationship with Jacob, as Jacob was given the name “Israel” at Peniel:

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. (Genesis 32:24-30)

Jacob also referred to the God as the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac saying…

Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty…(Genesis 31:42)

The Fear of Isaac was a title for the God whom he served in reverential fear.

God is also called the God of Jeshurun, which is a symbolic name of Israel meaning “Upright One” . That is how God viewed Israel, despite their many failures (Deuteronomy 33:26-27; Isaiah 44:2).  That is how He views you, despite your past or present failures.

God is also referred to as the God of Jerusalem (Ezra 7:19) because Jerusalem was the city that God chose to place His name (Psalm 132:13-14; 2 Kings 21:7).

As the God of Israel,  the Fear of Isaac, the God of Abraham,  and the God Of Jeshurun and Jerusalem, our Heavenly Father demonstrates His desire to have a relationship with His people.  He wants to be with them, not just rule over them. And He wants to be with you and live within you.

RESPONSE:  When King Solomon was dedicating the Jerusalem Temple to God, the Lord spoke and said:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.  (2 Chronicles 7:14-16)

God declared Himself to be the God of the Temple, although the actual term is not used.  The New Testament declares that Believers are now His temple, the place where He has chosen to place His Spirit: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”  (1 Corinthians 3:16).

As you pray today, know that God hears from heaven, forgives your sin, and sends His healing power.  He is attentive to your prayers because He has placed His name upon you, and His eyes and heart are always upon you.  The God of Israel is your God and He views you as Jeshurun, an “upright one”.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names God of Israel, Fear of Isaac, God of Abraham, God of Jerusalem, and God of Jeshurun.

GOD OF MY GOODNESS

REFERENCE:   Blessed be the Lord my strength…My goodness…(Psalm 144:1-2)

REVELATION:  David acknowledged God as “God of My Goodness”, recognizing that God is good and does good things for His people. When God revealed the name “I Am” to Moses, He said:

And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. (Exodus 33:19)

God was revealing who He is. He is an abundantly good God.

And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, (Exodus 34:6)

God is the source of all goodness: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

David proclaimed:

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! (Psalm 31:19).

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

(Psalm 34:8)

Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. (Psalm 73:1)

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. (Psalm 86:5)

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

(Psalm 100:5)

Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 106:1)

Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. (Psalm 119:68)

The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. (Psalm 145:9)

RESPONSE:  Whatever has come to steal, kill, or destroy is from the enemy:  “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10a). Rebuke Satan in the name of Jesus.

Claim this promise of Jesus:  “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John10:10b).

Take time to “Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant” (Psalm 135:3).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name God of My Goodness.

GOD OF MY PRAISE

REFERENCE:  Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise… (Psalm 109:1)

REVELATION: God is given a title that clearly reveals that He is to be the object of the Believer’s praise.  He is the God of our praise.  The Scriptures declare:

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his

wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

Praise means commendation. It is preoccupation with who God is, what He has done, what He is doing, and what He has promised to do. Praise includes singing psalms of praise, confessing, blessing, celebrating, boasting, shouting, and jubilation.

David declared:  “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth”

(Psalm 34:1).  Even in difficult times, David declared: “And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing” (Psalm 107:22).

One of the great Biblical accounts of the power of praise is recorded in 2 Chronicles 20.  The enemy nation of Moab, the people of Ammon, and others with them came to battle against God’s people, Judah.  The message King Jehoshaphat received was: "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria…”

Jehoshaphat and all of the people went before the Lord in prayer and received a prophetic word from God saying…

Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.  (2 Chronicles 20:15-17)

Early the next morning, Jehoshaphat…

…appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.  (2 Chronicles 20:21-24)

As they lifted their praise to the God of their praise, the enemy was defeated.  When they arrived at the battlefield, all that remained were dead bodies.

RESPONSE: No matter what  your circumstances, face them in the name of the God of Your Praise.  Use the Psalms to lift His name in praise.  Praise Him despite the conflicts you are facing, and don’t be surprised when you get to the battlefield if you find the battle has already been won.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name God Of My Praise.

GOD OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS

REFERENCE:  Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. (Psalm 4:1)

REVELATION:  The word righteous means “just, innocent, honest, accurate, and correct.” These definitions describe the righteousness of God.  But righteousness is more than what God does, it is who He is.  It is part of His character.  He is righteous because He remains true to who He is.  God always does the right thing, in both good times and bad.  The Bible declares that “The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works” (Psalm 145:17).

The name God Of My Righteousness used by David in Psalm 4:1 confirms that we are beneficiaries of His righteousness.  Paul contrasted sinful Adam to righteous Jesus and explained the process of becoming beneficiaries of God’s righteousness:

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:17-21)

When you are born again through Jesus Christ, the righteousness of God is imparted to you.  You can stand before God and are declared righteous.  You no longer must strive for righteousness through self-effort.  He is the God of your righteousness.

RESPONSE:  Examine your life as you meditate on this passage:

Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:7-8)

If you have unconfessed sin, confess it now and repent:

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(1 John 1:6-9)

Note that if you confess your known sins, He not only forgives you of those but He also cleanses you from all unrighteousness, meaning even sins of which you are not aware.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name God Of My Righteousness.

GOD OF OUR FATHERS

REFERENCE:  And when we cried unto the Lord God of our fathers, the Lord heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression: And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders: And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey. (Deuteronomy 26:7-9)

REVELATION:  Repeatedly, the Bible mentions the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who are the spiritual fathers of Israel.  From these references comes the title “God Of Our Fathers.”  These men were fathers of Israel and they are your spiritual fathers also, as they are examples of faith which you should emulate.

Abraham.  The life of Abraham reveals that the God of our Fathers has a destiny for your life.  Abraham was called to be the father of nations and to go to a land he had never seen. He stepped out in faith, believed for a son when he and his wife were beyond the age of child-bearing, and inherited the covenant promises of God.

Isaac. Isaac’s story reveals how God provides every need of those who serve Him.  Isaac faithfully served the God of his father Abraham and when he sowed in the midst of a famine, he reaped a great harvest (Genesis 26:1,12).  He was heir to all of the covenant promises God made to his father, Abraham (Genesis 26:3-5).

Jacob.  The adventures of Jacob reveal that God is the Father of our circumstances, working in them and through them to conform us into the image of His Son.  Despite Jacob’s greed and deceit in stealing the birthright and blessing, despite his manipulation of Laban’s flocks, and despite his idolatrous wife Rachel, God met him at Bethel and changed his life.

RESPONSE:  You have a great spiritual legacy in the God Of Our Fathers. If you need direction, call on Him, as He has a destiny for you just as He did for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The God of our Fathers has provision for your every need, just as He provided for Isaac in the midst of a famine.  Ask, and you will receive.

As He did for Jacob, the God of Our Fathers is working in the circumstances of your life, both good and bad, to conform you into the image of His Son:  “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…” (Romans 8:29).

The key verse for this reading declares that when Israel called upon the God of Our Fathers, He observed their circumstances and miraculously delivered them from Egypt to their Promised Land.  Whatever your circumstances, call upon the God of Your Fathers for direction, provision, and deliverance:

And when we cried unto the Lord God of our fathers, the Lord heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression: And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders: And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.

(Deuteronomy 26:7-9)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name God of our Fathers.

GOD OF PATIENCE AND CONSOLATION

REFERENCE:  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. (Romans 15:4-5)

REVELATION:  Here is a two-fold name of God:  The God of patience and consolation.

Patience is, "the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like".  Patience is referred to in the King James Version of the Bible  as long-suffering.

This was one of the names of God revealed when He appeared to Moses (Exodus 34:6).  The psalmist declared: “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86:15).

The Apostle Paul explains that it is God’s patience that leads men to repent.  He questioned: “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).  Peter confirms:

The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.

(2 Peter 3:9)

One of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit is patience (longsuffering): “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Paul said that one of the ways we walk worthy of our calling is through patience, longsuffering, and endeavoring to keep unity with others:

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)

He admonishes:

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  (Colossians 3:12-13)

Your ministry should be marked by patience:  “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Consolation is the “act of offering comfort to someone who has suffered severe, upsetting loss.”

A previous study in this manual revealed God as the “God of All Comfort”, meaning that all the comfort and consolation you will ever need is found in Him (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

You are never alone when you face life’s challenges because of the presence of the God of Consolation.  He is right there with you, speaking words of encouragement and truth from His Word through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seethe him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:16-18)

The Greek word for comforter means "called alongside with another."   The God of Consolation sends the Holy Spirit to comfort you in every situation.  He is the God of all comfort who comforts you in all of your tribulations.

God consoles us so that “…we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).  You are to share the consolation you receive from God with others.  Hebrews 6:18 speaks of a  “strong consolation” for those who have laid hold on the hope set before us, the hope of eternal life in the presence of God.

The consolation from your comforting God is not only a strong consolation, it is also everlasting:

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)

RESPONSE:  As Believers, we should emulate the God of Patience and Consolation.

Are you exhibiting patience as a spiritual fruit which marks your life and ministry? Are you long-suffering with others, endeavoring to keep the bond of unity?  Is your ministry marked by patience?

If you need consolation, know that God is right there in your circumstances to console you. Do you know of someone who needs consolation today?  Comfort them with the consolation you have received from God.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the God Of Patience and Consolation.

GOD OF RECOMPENSE

REFERENCE:  …for the Lord God of recompences shall surely requite... (Jeremiah 51:56)

REVELATION: These words were spoken by God regarding the evil city of Babylon, an archenemy of Israel: “ …for the Lord God of recompences shall surely requite” (Jeremiah 51:56).  This name confirms that God will eventually recompense evil.  He warns the wicked:

And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the Lord that smiteth. (Ezekiel 7:9)

There are many injustices in this world, and at some time you may personally be a target of  unfair treatment.  Spiritual enemies may rise up against you, but you are not to take revenge on them.  This does not mean that you must submit to abuse, as you should remove yourself from abusive situations whenever possible.  What it means is that you should not return evil for the evil that is done to you, and you should never take revenge.

Vengeance belongs to God who declared: “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence” (Deuteronomy 32:35).  Don’t try to usurp God’s authority.  The Scriptures command:

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.  (Roman 12:17-21)

Enemies of God will be recompensed according to their actions:

And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according       to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I       am the Lord that smiteth. (Ezekiel 7:9)

RESPONSE:  Is there someone who has mistreated you or is an adversary to you?  Commit them to God and remember the admonition to :  “…be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).  You have the assurance that…

It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, and that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

(2 Samuel 22:48-50)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name the God of Recompense.

GOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH

REFERENCE:  …the God of the whole earth shall He be called. (Isaiah 54:5)

REVELATION:  The God you serve is not limited by location, time, or space.  He is the true God of the world, hence one of His names is God of the Whole Earth.

The God of the Whole Earth is powerful.  The Psalmist declared: “The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth” (Psalm 97:5).  Nothing can limit or stand in the way of our God.  No government.  No political movement.  No king, president, or religious leader.

In a vision of the throne room of God, Isaiah saw the angelic Seraphims standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole earth:

Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.  (Isaiah 6:2-3)

The Prophet Zechariah saw two anointed ones standing by the Lord of the Whole Earth (Zechariah 4:14), and Hanani, the seer, declared:  “…For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

RESPONSE:  If you have a need today, remember that He sees right where you are and that “…the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). The God of the Whole Earth stands ready to be strong in your behalf.

The psalmist declared:  “…blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen” (Psalm 72:19).  What can you do to extend the glory of the Lord to the nations of the world?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name God of the Whole Earth.

GOD OF TRUTH

REFERENCE:  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4)

REVELATION: God is the God of Truth.  His Word is true. His judgments are true.  His character is true because He is without sin.

Truth means to uncover, open up, and refuse to hide. To be true, truth must meet three criteria:

-It must be universal:  It must apply to everyone.

-It must be uniform:  It must apply to everyone in the same manner.  The criteria is the

same for old and young, rich and poor, and regardless of ethnicities.

-It must be unending:  It must be eternally valid.

The God of Truth meets these standards.  He is the one and only universal God of the world.  His Word, which is truth, applies to everyone in the same manner.  His truth, in terms of both His existence and His infallible Word, is eternally valid.  The Bible declares:

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)

The only way for sinful man to come into the presence of the God of Truth is through His Son who is also Truth and is the way to Truth:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the       Father, but by me.  (John 14:6)

Note that Jesus is not one of many truths or one way to God, but He is the one truth and the one way to God:

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we       may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ.       This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)

As the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Jesus Christ opened the way into the presence of the God of Truth  so “…Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”  (Hebrews 4:16).

RESPONSE:  Join the psalmist in this declaration: “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth” (Psalm 31:5). The God of Truth has redeemed you and you can safely trust Him in life and death.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name the God of Truth.

GOD WHO FORGIVES

REFERENCE:  …O Lord our God; You were to them God-Who-Forgives…(Psalm 99:8)

REVELATION:  There are several ways that God’s forgiveness differs from human forgiveness.  He is always providing opportunities for repentance and forgiveness is always available.  His forgiveness is not based on a certain timing or on Him being in the right mood.  God forgives and He forgets and He always restores relationship after He forgives.

The Bible declares:  “The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression…” (Numbers 14:18).  The psalmist said that God forgives all of your iniquities (Psalm 103:3) and that “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

The Prophet Micah assured God’s errant people that: “He will again have compassion on us; He will subdue and tread underfoot our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19).

Because God has forgiven you, you should extend forgiveness to others.  Jesus said we are to pray “…And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”  (Matthew 6:14-15).

RESPONSE:  Examine  your heart to see if there is someone you need to forgive.  If so, in prayer acknowledge the wrong done to you, accept that you cannot change the past, and ask God to give you the ability to forgive  Then, by an act of your will, whether you feel the emotion or not, forgive the person who has wronged you.

In some cases, you may be led to speak with that person, but whether or not they respond properly, you have done what is right. Forgiveness liberates you from the power of that offence and provides closure, whether or not your actions are accepted by the offender.

You may or may not resume a relationship with someone after forgiving them.  In some cases this is possible, in others it is not.  For example, a victim of crime must forgive the criminal but is not required to foster a relationship with them.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name God Who Forgives.

GREAT GOD

REFERENCE:  For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.

(Deuteronomy 10:17)

REVELATION:  As Israel prepared to enter their promised land, Moses reminded them of the Great God who had delivered them from Egypt and guided them safely through the wilderness (Deuteronomy 10:17).

Jeremiah proclaimed the praises of the Great God saying:

Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name, Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 32:17-19)

God is great in Zion.  Zion refers to the City of David and the City of God: The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. (Psalm 99:2)

God is great in Israel. In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. (Psalm 76:1)

God is great in power.  The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power…(Nahum 1:3)

God is great in wisdom and understanding.  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

(Romans 11:33)

God is great in mercy.  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. (Psalm 103:11)

God is great in love.  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7)

God is great in kindness.  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. (Joel 2:13)

God is great in salvation.  His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. (Psalm 21:5)

RESPONSE: The Psalmist David proclaimed:

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. (Psalm 145:3-5)

Praise Him because He is a Great God. Declare His mighty acts and speak of His wondrous works to someone today.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Great God.

GUIDE

REFERENCE:  For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. (Psalm 48:14)

REVELATION: A guide is one who leads, conducts, and escorts.  God is our Guide through life, even unto death.  The psalmist declared:  “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

Here are some promises given by our Guide:

The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. (Psalm 25:9)

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (Psalm 32:8)

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. (Psalm 73:24)

They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. (Isaiah 49:10)

And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (Isaiah 58:11)

Do not try to make it through life alone.  Walk with God and allow Him to guide you.  He will help you avoid pitfalls and dead ends along the path of life.  He will keep you moving in the right direction.

RESPONSE:  Pray this prayer:

For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. (Psalm 31:3)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Guide.

HEALER

REFERENCE: If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. (Exodus 15:26)

REVELATION:  After the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea by a divine miracle of God, they traveled in the wilderness without water for three days.  When they finally found water, it was too bitter to drink and they murmured against God.  Then the Lord showed Moses a branch which, when cast into the waters, healed their bitterness (Exodus 15).

There was nothing magical about the branch, but it was symbolic of the Lord Jesus Christ who is called “The Branch” (Zechariah 6:12)  It was at this time that the Lord promised Israel that if they would heed His commandments and statues, He would be their healer.  He would not only heal the bitter waters of toxic experiences of life, He would also heal His people.

The Lord your Healer wants to make you whole in every realm of your life:  Physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.  God is not just concerned about healing your physical pain, He wants you to be totally whole.  He has power to heal the brokenhearted, as the psalmist declares: “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds”  (Psalm 147:16).

This promise of healing does not mean that you your physical body will not die. Elisha, the great prophet of God who performed miracles and raised the dead, eventually died from an illness

(2 Kings 13:14).  We live in a fallen world and until Jesus returns death is a natural consequence of this sinful environment.

The New Testament reveals Jesus as the Great Physician who healed all types of illness:

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. (Matthew 8:16-17)

Jesus emphasized the need for faith, but the Gospels do not support the teaching that a lack of healing always indicates a lack of faith.  In addition, although some sickness is linked to individual sin, all sickness is not caused by personal sin.  Illness is a result of living in a fallen world.

The New Testament also teaches that Believers are empowered by God to minister to the sick:

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

(James 5:14-16)

Jesus promised His followers that “…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”

(Mark 16:18).  God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  The promise He made at the bitter waters of Marah is still true.  He is the Healer.

RESPONSE:  Here is the thesis statement drawn from this study:  God says, “If you obey Me, I will heal your body, emotions, relationships, and circumstances.  If you choose to live the way the world does, then you will not be immune from the consequences.”

Divine healing applies equally to spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical healing.  God also wants to heal your relationships, shame, guilt, and all of your brokenness.  In what areas of your life do you need to experience healing?  Claim it now in the name of the Healer.

Never forget the price that was paid for your healing by Jesus:  “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

Join the psalmist in raising this praise to the Healer:  “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases” (Psalm 103:23).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Healer.

HEALTH OF MY COUNTENANCE

REFERENCE:  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

(Psalm 42:11)

REVELATION:  This title for God, Health of My Countenance, is used in Psalm 42:11 and repeated in Psalm 43:5.  The word “countenance” refers to a person’s facial expressions.  Your face often reflects the state of your health, but one can also be healthy physically and still have a sad and downcast countenance.  David spoke to his own soul, asking why it should be cast down, then he declared that he would praise God who is the health of his countenance.

David explained: “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance” (Psalm 89:15).  When you walk in the light of God’s countenance, He will be the Health of your countenance.  Your countenance will reflect His light despite your physical condition or the difficult circumstances around you.

Your countenance reflects the condition of your heart (Matthew 15:19).  Thus, “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken” (Proverbs 15:13).

The admonition is to be continuously “…Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19-20).

A happy, joyful, worshipful heart reflected in your countenance represents your God to a sorrowing world.

RESPONSE:  Think about your facial expressions as you go through this day.  Are you reflecting the light of God’s countenance?  Do you have a healthy countenance, or one that reflects worry, impatience, frustration, and anger?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Health Of My Countenance.

HOLY GOD

HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL

REFERENCE:  And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. (Joshua 24:19)

For the Lord is our defense; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. (Psalm 89:19)

REVELATION:  The word holy, as used in the Bible, means to be set apart from sin, blameless, and a person of moral and spiritual excellence. One of the first revelations of God to the nation of Israel was to state that He was Holy.  God is a Holy God and the Holy One of Israel.

When Isaiah saw the vision of the throne room of God, the continuous praise being lifted was:  “…Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3).  John the Revelator witnessed unceasing praise in Heaven which declared God to be “Holy, Holy, Holy”  (Revelation 4:8).  Hannah declared: “There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2).

The reference in Joshua 24:19 seems to be a big negative, as Joshua declares that the people of Israel cannot serve a Holy God.  According to Psalm 78, the people had:

-Forgotten the miracles He performed in their behalf: Verse 11.

-Doubted God’s power to provide for them: Verses 19-20.

-Broken their covenant a with Him: Verse 37.

-Forgotten how He delivered them from their enemies: Verse 42.

-Despised His law: Verse 56.

-Engaged in idolatry: Verse 58.

Because of this, “they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel” (Psalm 78:41).  God’s work was limited in their lives because of their sin.

The Bible reveals that God’s expectation for His people is holiness:

For I am God Your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  (Leviticus 11:44)

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  (1 Peter 1:16)

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

(Hebrews 12:14)

So how can we obey these instructions when, as Joshua said, we cannot serve the Lord in holiness in ourselves.  Only through accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and allowing Him to sanctify us by grace through faith can we be declared holy:

Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered       without the gate. (Hebrews 13:12)

You don’t have to try to be like God. That is self-effort and is doomed for failure.  You are like Him because of the imputed holiness of Jesus Christ.

The Holy One of Israel, your Holy God, is your Redeemer who teaches you to profit and leads you in the way you should go:

Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

(Isaiah 48:17)

The Holy one is your defense and your king:  “For the Lord is our defense; and the Holy One of Israel is our king” (Psalm 89:19).

Our Holy God dwells with those who are contrite and humble enough to admit they cannot achieve the standard of holiness by their own effort:

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite one.  (Isaiah 57:15)

RESPONSE:  Use a concordance to study the word holy which is used approximately 625 times in the Bible, depending on the version you are using.  Thank God for the holiness imputed to you by Jesus Christ.  As you go through this day, deliberately choose to separate yourself from sin and walk in holiness.

Take time today to praise God for His holiness:  “I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel”  (Psalm 71:22).  Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Holy God and Holy One Of Israel.

HUSBAND

ISHI

REFERENCE:    For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name…(Isaiah 54:5)

And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi… (Hosea 2:16)

REVELATION:  God is both your maker (your creator) and your husband.  He is your spiritual spouse.  The name by which God expresses His most passionate love for His people is Ishi, meaning “husband or spouse” (Hosea 2:16).  This name is drawn from the book of the Old Testament Prophet Hosea.  The purpose of Hosea’s revelation was to graphically illustrate God’s boundless love for His sinful people despite their unfaithfulness in embracing other gods.

In Hosea 3, God gives the prophet instructions to marry a prostitute. His unfaithful wife, Gomer, leaves him several times for other men, yet Hosea remains faithful.  He repeatedly finds her, redeems her, and brings her back home to him declaring: “…You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you” (Hosea 3:3).

Using this natural analogy of a spiritual truth, Hosea describes how Israel has been unfaithful to Him and how He longs for His people to repent and turn from their wickedness. Repeatedly, the Lord told Hosea to show love for his unfaithful wife as an illustration of God as a faithful spiritual spouse who loves His errant people and wants to restore them:

And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi…And I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord.  (Hosea 2:16,19-20)

God is your spiritual spouse. You can call Him Ishi.  He is faithful when you are unfaithful.  He is loving and merciful and, if you wander away from Him, He longs for you to return.  He will seek you.  He will pursue you.

This metaphor of a spiritual union between God and His people is further developed in the Song of Solomon and the New Testament, both of which reveal Jesus as your Bridegroom.  You are the spiritual Bride of Christ and He is planning a great wedding celebration:

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.  (Revelation 19:79)

What a great celebration that will be.  Don’t miss it!

RESPONSE:  No matter how far or how many times you have strayed from God, His appeal to you today is to return.  He waits to receive you with love and forgiveness. He has not divorced you.  He wants you to return to Him.

If you are single, widowed, divorced, abandoned, or in a difficult marriage, know that you are not alone.  The Lord is your spiritual spouse.  He will be your faithful companion, your help, your confidant, your protector, and your best friend.  Spend some time with your spiritual spouse today, thanking Him for meeting these needs in your life.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Husband, Ishi your spiritual spouse.

HUSBANDMAN

REFERENCE:  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (John 15:1)

REVELATION: The term husbandman means “farmer or worker of the soil.” Husbandry is an agricultural term related to the production of crops.  To “husband” is to manage efficiently by pruning, training, and cultivating.  The title husbandman is found primarily in the King James Version of the Bible. Other versions of the Bible use the words gardener, vine-dresser, or farmer.

Gardner is not a title one would normally associate with God, yet one of the first pictures we have of God in the Word is that of Him creating a garden (Genesis 13).  When sin entered the world, the garden of Eden was ruined, so God instituted a plan to restore His garden.  He planted the nation of Israel.  The Old Testament draws many analogies of Israel as the vineyard of the Lord.  Despite their continued unfaithfulness, God continued to cultivate them  (Jeremiah 2:21; Hosea 10:1; Isaiah 5:1-7; 27:2-6).

In John 15, Jesus compares God to a husbandman and Believers to crops explaining…

I  am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.  (John 15:1-8)

As Believers, we are called to bear the fruit of evangelism by reaching others with the gospel and to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit which is: “…love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23).

God removes the branches of our lives that do not bear good fruit.  Every branch that bears fruit, He purges (prunes) it, so that it will bring forth more fruit.

The key to bearing spiritual fruit is to abide in the Lord.  To abide means to remain in

fellowship and relationship with Jesus so He can do His work in you and through you to produce spiritual fruit. Jesus is the vine, not your denomination or religious organization.  God is the gardener that tends the fruit of your life.

RESPONSE: If you are being spiritually pruned and God is dealing with attitudes, sins, and hindrances in your life, it means you are a fruitful branch and He is preparing you to bear more fruit.  Take time to examine your life.  Ask God to reveal any areas of unfruitfulness and show you how you can be more fruitful.

Jesus told several parables illustrating the Kingdom of God using the gardening analogy.  Study these and record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Husbandman.

The Sower:  Matthew 13:3-8; Mark 4:3-8; Luke 8:5-8

The Gospel of the Kingdom will be spread by the sowing of the seed of the Word of God.  There will be varied responses to the sowing, depending on the attitude of the hearers.  The fruit depends not on the sower, but on the life that is in the seed itself (the Word) and the condition of the soil (man's heart).

The Tares And Wheat:  Matthew 13:24-30

Satan will try to defeat the spread of the Kingdom by sowing people described as weeds among the good seed of God's Kingdom. The weeds Satan sows resemble good wheat.  At the time of harvest wheat can be identified by the grain it produces, while weeds produce no useable grain.

The Mustard Seed:  Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:31-32; Luke 13:19

The Kingdom of God will grow like a mustard seed.  The seed is very small and has an insignificant beginning, but in maturity it grows to great size.

JEALOUS

REFERENCE:  Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of God Your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of anything, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee.  For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.  (Deuteronomy 4:23-24)

REVELATION:  Sinful jealousy is defined as suspicion, distrust, insecurity, apprehension about rivals, and possessiveness.  This is not the jealousy spoken of in this passage however.  God’s jealousy is the desire for you to put Him first in your life. This kind of jealousy is a beautiful expression of God’s love.  He wants you to Himself because you belong to Him twice, once by creation at conception and once by redemption from sin through the new birth experience.

Jealousy, as related to this name for God, reflects His intense love for His spiritual Bride as described in the Song of Songs:

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. (Song of Songs  8:6-7)

God’s love for you is a strong as death and the grave.  You are secure in His jealous love, as it compels God to continuously seek you when you go astray:

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.  (Jeremiah 31:3)

Regarding all other idols of life, our Jealous God declared:

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:5-6)

For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous       God.  (Exodus 34:14 )

RESPONSE:    You may not bow to an idol of stone, but do you have idols in your heart? Ask God to reveal any rivals in your heart.  Habits?  Addictions?  Attitudes? Materialism?  Secret sins?  People?  Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Jealous God.

JEHOVAH

I AM

REFERENCE:  And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.  (Exodus 3:14-15)

REVELATION: When Moses encountered God through the miracle of the burning bush, he asked God to reveal His name.  The reply he received was: “I Am that I Am.”  God revealed Himself as Jehovah, the God who has always existed and the one who is and will always be present with His people.  He is the Great I Am.

This name reveals that God is a person.  He is self-existent, meaning He does not depend on anyone else for his existence.  The name is present tense.  “I Am.”  He will never become irrelevant as time passes.  He is not who you say He is, but He is who He says He is.

From the beginning of the Word right through to the book of Revelation, God declares His name to be I Am:

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1:8)

From this verse we learn God is, which is His relation to the present;  He was, which indicates His relation to the past; and He is to come which confirms His relationship to the future.  In Revelation 1:17,  God declares: “I am the first and the last.”

Because the Godhead is a united Trinity, the titles “I am” and “First and Last” apply to both God and Jesus as confirmed by the prophet Isaiah:

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6)

When Jesus was being attacked by religious leaders who failed to recognize Him as Messiah, He used this name declaring:  “Before Abraham was, I Am” (John 8:58).

RESPONSE:  It is not who you are, but who God is that makes the difference in your life and in the challenges you face. Call upon the name of Jehovah, the great I Am, as you go forth today.

Mediate on these words by Helen Mellincost:

“My name is I am.  When you live in the past with its mistakes and regrets, I am not there.  My name is not ‘I was’.  When you live in the future with its problems and fears,

I am not there.  My name is not’ I will be’.  When you live in this moment, I am there.  My name is I Am.”

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Jehovah, I Am.

JUDGE

REFERENCE:  Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the Lord the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon. (Judges 11:27)

REVELATION:  This declaration of the Lord as Judge was made when the people of Ammon made war against Israel.  God was the judge between His people and the enemy nation of Amon.  He is still the judge between His people and the enemy.

The word judge in Hebrew combines three primary functions of government that many modern Western nations embrace:  The executive, legislative, and judicial.  As the divine Judge of all, God serves in all of these realms spiritually.  Because He is righteous, His judgment is righteous and just.

If you have been treated unjustly in this world, know that God has promised that “…judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it” (Psalm 94:15).  God’s judgments are just, meaning they are morally right and fair.

The Bible reveals that:

…The Lord is a God of judgment. (Isaiah 30:18)

He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth. (Psalm 96)

…there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

(Psalm 58:11)

Knowing that you are responsible before God for your life and your choices, here is the bottom line from His Word:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.  (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

RESPONSE:  Note the questions in the following passage:

O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage.  They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.  Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.  (Psalm 94:1-7)

Perhaps you have asked these same questions.  You can be assured of this: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25) and“…true and righteous are his judgments” (Revelation 19:2).

If you are being treated unjustly, continue to do what is right even though it seems hopeless, knowing that God’s justice will prevail in the end:

For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.  (Psalm 94:14-15)

Make this your prayer today: “Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man” (Psalm 43:1).

Pray for those around the world who are suffering injustices, including the persecuted church.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Judge.

KING

REFERENCE:  …mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts (Isaiah 6:5).

The Lord is King for ever and ever…(Psalm 10:16).

REVELATION:  Originally, God reigned over Israel as their King. It was a tragic day when the people requested an earthly ruler so they could be like the nations around them. Many of these rulers were evil and for centuries, often through much suffering, the people learned that no earthly ruler could take the place of their King.  We are still witnessing that truth by observing corrupt leaders of nations today who rise and fall with regularity.

Ideally, a good king in the natural world provides legislative, judicial, and executive functions for the people of his kingdom.  He makes and interprets laws and provides needed services for them.  A good king loves his subjects and does good in their behalf.  These are all functions of our God.

A person enters God’s Kingdom by the new birth experience and by acknowledging Jesus as Savior (John 3).  As a citizen of God’s Kingdom, you must accept the sovereignty of God over your life and obey His commands as found in His Word, the Holy Bible.

The Bible reveals that God is the greatest monarch of all.  He is King of the nations (Jeremiah 10:6-7).   He is sovereign over everything, and His rule extends over the entire universe.  So why then is there so much trouble and sorrow on earth?  Because of the adversary, Satan, who opposes God’s rule and ushered sin into our world.

Someday soon, Jesus Christ will return and everything will change.  Isaiah 11:1-9 describes what it will be like when God’s rule through His Son Jesus Christ is permanently extended over the whole earth.  There will be perfect peace, no violence, no trouble, no sorrow, and no death.  We are admonished to pray for this Kingdom to come (Matthew 6:33).

In a world filled with evil dictators, kings, presidents, and other rulers, know that God is the King of the nations (Jeremiah 10:7).  He is the King of kings (Revelation 19:15).   His office as King is not dependent on politics or elections.  He reigns now, He will reign in the future, and He will reign for all eternity (Psalm 29:10).

RESPONSE:  The Prophet Isaiah was given a glimpse of the throne room of God:

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. (Isaiah 6:1-8)

Isaiah’s vision of the throne room resulted in him being commissioned as a prophet of God.  As you come before the King today, ask God for a new vision for your life and ministry.

The psalmist declared:  “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises” (Psalm 47:6).  Take time to do that and make a “a joyful noise before the Lord, the King” (Psalm 98:6).  Acknowledge Him as your king:  “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray” (Psalm 5:1-2).

Claiming that God is your King must be more than lip-service.  Is He really King over every area of your life?   Your relationships?  Your finances? Your conduct and attitudes?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name King.

LAWGIVER

REFERENCE: For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us. (Isaiah 33:22)

REVELATION:  God’s first prohibitive law to govern mankind was given in the Garden of Eden when He commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17).  God’s commands are His laws, and the Bible contains the record of these commands.

Psalm 119 has much to say about God’s law.  Consider the following references:

Verse 1:    Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.

Verse 29:   Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me Your law graciously.

Verse 51:   I have not declined from Your law.

Verse 53:   The wicked forsake Your law.

Verse 55:   I have remembered Your name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept Your law.

Verse 61:   I have not forgotten Your law.

Verse 70:   I delight in Your law.

Verse 72:   The law of Your mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Verse 92:   Unless Your law had been my delight, I should then have perished in my affliction.

Verse 97:   O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Verse 109:  I do not forget Your law.

Verse 113:  I hate vain thoughts: But I love Your law.

Verse 136:  Rivers of waters run down my eyes, because they do not keep Your law.

Verse 142:  Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is the truth.

Verse 153:  Consider my affliction, and deliver me: For I do not forget Your law.

Verse 163:  I hate and abhor lying: But I love Your law.

Verse 165:  Great peace have they which love Your law: and nothing shall offend them.

Verse 174:  I have longed for Your salvation, O Lord; and Your law is my delight.

God is the only giver of the divine law and the only one able to save. Because of this, you should not criticize and judge others:  “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” (James 4:12).

RESPONSE:  Because God is the only lawgiver, you should not judge others.  Here are some simple guidelines to help you stop judging and/or deal with a critical attitude.  Pray about these:

-Recognize when you have a judgmental thought.

-Immediately ask God to forgive you.

-Turn that judgmental thought into a prayer for the person.

-Extend grace to others unconditionally with the same grace God has extended to you.

There are several other words used for the law of God in Psalm 119, i.e., judgments, commands, Word, etc.  Do you keep the commands of God?  If so, you can claim the following blessings.  The law of God…

Brings blessing and happiness (119:1-2, 122).

Keeps you pure (119:9).

Keeps you from sin (119:11, 29,121).

Gives wise advice (119:24).

Encourages the grieving (119:28).

Reassures you of His promises (119:38).

Provides answers (119:42).

Gives freedom (119:45).

Offers hope (119:49).

Comforts and revives (119:50).

Provides a thankful heart (119:62).

Brings you back to God (119:37, 67).

Instructs and gives wisdom (119:98-100).

Nourishes (119:103).

Enlightens (119:105).

Protects (119:114).

Sustains your hope (119:116).

Brings delight (119:70, 111).

Brings peace (119:165).

Delivers (119:170).

Brings love and salvation (119:41, 149).

Shows mercy to all who love His name (119:132).

Deserves respect (119:46, 120).

Is important to remember (119:141).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Lawgiver.

LIFTER OF MY HEAD

REFERENCE:  But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. (Psalm 3:3)

REVELATION:  This is the only reference in which God is called the Lifter of My Head.  In times of trouble, the head is naturally bowed down in discouragement.  For God to be “the lifter of your head” means that He comes alongside to lift you up spiritually, assuring you that He will bring you out of your times of trouble.

David wrote Psalm 3, from where our text is drawn, when his son Absalom rebelled and turned the people of Israel against him.  David fled Jerusalem with little more than the clothes on his back. In 2 Samuel 15 it records that as David left Jerusalem, he climbed the Mount of Olives, covered his head, and wept.  Such sorrow he must have experienced.  Such shame.  So many questions.  It was within this context that David declared that the Lord was the Lifter of his Head.

This word picture of  lifting up the lowered head was used as a term for bringing someone out of trouble.  Second Kings 25:27 says the king of Babylon “lifted up the head of Jehoiakin out of prison,” meaning that he was freed.  In  Genesis 40:13, it is recorded that Joseph prophesied that Pharaoh would “lift up the head” of the cupbearer out of prison and restore him to his former position. So to lift the head means that your head, bowed in sorrow, will be lifted up in joy.

In Psalm 3,  David declared that it was God who would do this for him.  He did not look to friends or family to lift up his head.  He looked to God.  God was the lifter of his head.  He would be the one who would encourage, deliver, and restore him.

RESPONSE:  Is your head bowed down spiritually because of sorrow, shame, circumstances, or grief?  Make this declaration:  “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head” (Psalm 3:3).  Then go forth in joy and victory, with your head held high.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Lifter Of My Head.

LIGHT

LIGHT OF ISRAEL

FATHER OF LIGHTS

REFERENCE:  The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

REVELATION: One of the first acts of God was to create light (Genesis 1:3-5).  During the wilderness journey, Israel was guided by a light showing the way they should go (Nehemiah 9:12). Related names of God are the Light of Israel (Isaiah 10:17) and the Father of Lights (James 1:17).

Light illuminates and reveals.  It gives clear vision.  It provides power and warmth.  Light reveals what is in the darkness and eliminates fear.  The Word of God is like a lamp, turning darkness into light.  His Word is a light to your path, giving spiritual light for your journey through this world.

Study these Old Testament passages about God your Light:

For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness. (2 Samuel 22:29)

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  (Psalm 119:105)

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.  (Proverbs 6:23)

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

(Psalm 119:130)

For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

(Psalm 18:28)

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  (Psalm 27:1)

For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.  (Psalm 36:9)

In the New Testament, Jesus brought the Light of God into a dark world.  He came…

“To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace”  (Luke 1:79).  The Gospel message is called “the light of glorious gospel of Christ”  (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Jesus is the light of the world: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).  Through Jesus, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2).

As Believers, we “…are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5).  We are “…a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

RESPONSE:  Anything that comes to kill, steal, or destroy in your life is from the enemy (John 10:10), while “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

If you are experiencing a dark time in your life, remember that the principle established in God’s Word is that light always follows darkness.  Darkness was on the face of the earth, and God spoke light into existence (Genesis 1:2-3).  Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).  God’s mercies are renewed  with the dawn of each new day (Lamentations 3:22).  Eternal life follows the darkness of death.

If you are despondent today, let God Your Light brighten your darkness. His Word to you is:

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:1-2)

It may be dark all around you, but the God of Light sends His light to shine on you today.  Pray this prayer of the psalmist and join him in this proclamation of faith:

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (Psalm 43:3-5)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Light.

LIVING GOD

REFERENCE:  And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth. Lord, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, Lord, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. (2 Kings 19:15-16)

REVELATION:  This name was instrumental in a time of great crisis when King Hezekiah sought God to deliver His people from their enemies.  Surrounded and threatened by a coalition of enemy forces, Hezekiah turned to the Living God for help…and look what happened:

And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (2 Kings 19:35)

The name Living God sets the true God apart from all false gods and idols.  Our God is not made of wood or stone, an image that cannot hear, see, or respond.  Our God is alive!  He is the Living God who can conquer every enemy in your life:  Fear, worry, sickness, addictions, immorality, temptation—whatever challenges you are facing.

As a Living God, He is not silent.  He speaks:

For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? (Deuteronomy 5:25)

The Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed the Living God to be the everlasting King: “But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king” (Jeremiah 10:10).

After King Darius found Daniel preserved from the lions, he declared:

I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.  (Daniel 6:26)

The Living God is the focus of the Gospel message.  The disciples confirmed that “…We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein” (Acts 14:15).

This Living God is our Living Father.  Jesus declared:

As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.

(John 6:57-58)

As a Believer, you are the temple of the Living God (2 Corinthians 6:16) and part of the corporate body of the Church of the Living God (1 Timothy 3:15).  You are admonished to place your confidence in God instead of the riches of this world (1 Timothy 6:17).  As the Living God, you can trust Him and His assurances of salvation and eternal life:

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God,       who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.  (1 Timothy 4:10)

Through the blood of Jesus Christ you are empowered to serve the Living God:

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)

The heart cry of the psalmist was:  “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:2).  He expressed His deep longing to dwell in the courts of the Living God: “My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God” (Psalm 84:2).

RESPONSE:  Joshua declared that God’s people would know that He was the Living God when He drove out their enemies (Joshua 3:10).  Whatever challenges or enemies you may be facing, know that you are not alone.  Like Hezekiah, ask the Living God to intervene in your behalf.  And don’t be surprised if, like Hezekiah, when you go out to the battlefield is all you see  are the remnants of a defeated enemy.

The Bible declares that you are the epistle of the Living God for others to read:

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.  (2 Corinthians 3:3)

As the “epistle of the Living God”, are you reflecting Him in your daily walk?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Living God.

LORD AND MASTER

REFERENCE:  And Abram said, Lord God (Adonai), what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?  (Genesis 15:2)

REVELATION: In this passage, God is referred to the “Lord God”, combining the name Jehovah with that of Adonai in Hebrew.  The two names often appear together in the Bible.  Lord (Adonai) is a name that implies relationship, and God (Jehovah) is your Lord and Master.

The cultural background of the name Lord and Master is associated with masters in Bible times who owned servants and took responsibility for their care and wellbeing. They provided, protected, and guided them.  The relationship between a servant and a godly master in Bible times was one of love and allegiance, not that of an evil slave owner abusing his servants.

The names Lord and Master assures that your Master loves you and has the resources and abilities to care for you.  It also implies that you can call on Him for help as you carry out your duties as His servant.

The first disciples and the Apostle Paul often referred to themselves as bondservants of the Lord (James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude1:1; Romans 1:1; Titus 1). Paul explained this spiritual relationship:

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. (1 Corinthians 7:22-23)

You are set free from the bondage of sin to be a servant of your Lord and Master.  As His servant, you should have the attitude of the Apostle Paul who wrote:

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake… (1 Corinthians 9:19-22)

As a servant of God, you represent your Master to the world and your actions must be such that lost men and women are attracted to receive the Gospel because of your witness and lifestyle.

RESPONSE:  There is a difference between acknowledgement and surrender.  You may have acknowledged God as your Savior, but is He truly Lord and Master of your life?  Are you totally submitted to serve Him whenever and however He directs with the resources He provides?  Take time to meditate and pray about this.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Lord and Master.

LORD GOD OF SALVATION

HORN OF SALVATION

REFERENCE:   O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:

Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. (Psalm 88:13)

REVELATION: When Israel was delivered from slavery in Egypt and miraculously crossed the Red Sea, a great worship service occurred with shouting, singing, and dancing.  They praised God for His salvation:

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. (Exodus 15:1-2)

The key verse for this study was written by the Psalmist during a time of great trouble when he cried out to the Lord God Of Salvation. He knew that his deliverance would come only through God.  The Lord God Of Salvation is your strength in troublesome times also:  “But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble” (Psalm 37:39).

He is the God who saves: “…He that is our God is the God of salvation” (Psalm 68:20).  The Lord God Of Salvation is a spiritual rock providing stability for your life.  The psalmist declared: “The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted” (Psalm 18:46).

The Lord God of Salvation stands ready to deliver you from all sin. The psalmist appealed: “Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness” (Psalm 51:14).

The psalmist directed his prayer to the Lord God of Salvation:

O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. (Psalm 88:1-3)

He waited patiently for guidance from the Lord God of Salvation:

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.  (Psalm 25:5)

The Prophet Micah gave this assurance:

Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.  (Micah 7:7)

The prophet Habakkuk declared:

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

God is also called the Horn Of Salvation:

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  (Psalm 18:2)

The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.  (2 Samuel 22:3)

A horn in the Bible is symbolic of strength and authority, so the title Horn of Salvation declares God’s power to save His people.

RESPONSE:  Make theses declarations:

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2).

The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.  (Exodus 15:2)

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Lord God Of Salvation and Horn of Salvation.

LORD IS THERE

REFERENCE:  …the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.

(Ezekiel 48:35)

REVELATION:  Adam and Eve originally shared an intimate relationship with God that was lost through sin (Genesis 3).  From that time, God began to reestablish His relationship with mankind.  He started by providing a way of atonement for sin through the blood sacrifice and the promise of a Savior.  The Lord was there every time a blood sacrifice occurred.

Then God chose the nation of Israel to represent Him and when He called Moses to deliver them from slavery He promised:  “…Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain” (Exodus 3:12).   God promised:  “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest” (Exodus 33:14).  He was there.

Despite their many failures, the nation of Israel was guided during their wilderness journey by a supernatural cloud and pillar of fire.  Their testimony was:   “For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?” (Deuteronomy 4:7).  God was there.

God planned the tabernacle and the temple as a place where His presence would dwell with His people.  Sadly, Ezekiel witnessed the glory of God departing from the temple in Jerusalem because of Israel’s continued unfaithfulness. Despite this, the book of Ezekiel ends on a note of tremendous hope predicting a time of restoration when “…the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there”  (Ezekiel 48:35).

God revealed this name, the Lord Who Is There, at a time when Israel was in captivity because of their spiritual rebellion. He was letting the people know that despite their failures, He had not abandoned them and that He would be there both in the present and the future as He had been in the past.

God declares:

Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:23-24)

Revelation describes the new heaven and earth where we will live forever in the presence of the Lord Who Is There.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  (Revelation 21:1-4)

Related names that assure God’s presence are:

-God Who Is Near, used in Jeremiah 23:23-24.

-God Who Sees Me, used in Genesis 16:13.

-The Lord Is With You, used in Judges 6:12.

The Lord Is There (Jehovah Shammah in Hebrew) is one of the last compound names of God revealed in the Old Testament.  Interestingly, in the New Testament one of  the first names given for Jesus is Emmanuel which means “God with us.”  Jesus was the visible manifestation of the fact that the Lord Is There.  God was there in times past.  He is there today.  He will be there in the future.

RESPONSE:  Feeling abandoned and alone today?  Know that you are never alone. The Lord is there:  God promised:

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (Isaiah 43:2)

Regardless of what you are facing in the future, you can take comfort knowing that God is already there.  Through the Holy Spirit, God now indwells every Believer: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”(1  Corinthians 3:16).

He is right there.  Within you.

In Psalm139 David addresses the question: “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” (Psalm 139:7).  He states:

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;  Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.  For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.  My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.  How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:8-17

Wherever you go today, remember God’s promise: “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest” (Exodus 33:14).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name the Lord Who Is There.

LORD OF HOSTS

REFERENCE:  Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.  (1 Samuel 17:45)

REVELATION: This name, Lord Of Hosts, emphasizes God’s rule over every power in the spiritual and material worlds.  The Lord of Hosts is the Divine Creator and is sovereign over all of creation:

For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lord, The God of hosts, is his name.  (Amos 4:13)

The Lord of Hosts is ever present with His people: “And David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him” (2 Samuel 5:10).  This name confirms the fact that God brings the forces of Heaven to the aid of His people.

Elisha’s servant was privileged to see the hosts of the Lord:

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

(2 Kings 6:15-17)

Those who trust in the Lord of Hosts are blessed: “O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee” (Psalm 84:12).  The Lord of Hosts brings salvation to His people: “Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved” (Psalm 80:19).

At the time of His crucifixion, Jesus declared:  “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53).

Twelve legions of angels numbered 72,000!

Isaiah tells how a single angel from the Lord’s hosts killed 185,000 enemy Assyrian soldiers.  These hosts of heavenly forces commanded by God are innumerable: “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels…” (Hebrews 12:22).

RESPONSE:  When David faced the giant Goliath in the name of the Lord of Hosts, he declared that the battle was the Lord’s and that the victory would confirm that there was a God in Israel.  The purpose of spiritual battle is always to confirm that there is a God and that He reigns as the Lord of Hosts.

As you face the battles of life today, know that you do not battle alone.  The Lord of Hosts is with you, backing you up with all the resources of Heaven.  God is always there to defend you, fight your battles, and win your wars.  Your victory will demonstrate to the world that there is a God!

Make this declaration right now:  “The Lord of hosts is with me; the God of Jacob is my refuge. Selah” (Psalm 46:11).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Lord Of Hosts.

LORD OUR MAKER

REFERENCE:  O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

(Psalm 95:67)

REVELATION: The Lord as our Maker is not only a reference to the initial creation of man, but to God’s ability to continue to fashion something out of what already exists.

The Bible declares that you are His temple:

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

(1 Corinthians 3:16).

If you are a Believer, then the Lord Our Maker is actively dwelling within you.  You are His spiritual temple. He is fashioning His corporate people (the Church) into a spiritual building, an habitation for His Spirit:

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we are His workmanship, undergoing a continuous process of creation for spiritual purposes:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  (Ephesians 2:10)

You can be assured that God is actively at work in you and will complete what He has started:

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.  (Philippians 1:6)

The Lord Your Maker will finish His work!

RESPONSE:  The Lord Your Maker is continuously doing a creative work in you, but you must cooperate with the process. This is why Paul admonishes:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:12)

In your prayer time today, present yourself as a living sacrifice to God.  Transform your mind by studying His Word.  Then, worship Him as your Maker, knowing He is at work in you and will complete the process.

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

(Psalm 95:67)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name the Lord Our Maker.

LOVE

REFERENCE:  …For God is love.  (1 John 4:8)

REVELATION:  Love is an emotion of deep affection, care, and concern.  It is an unconditional giving of self to others regardless of their response or the circumstances.  God is love.  It is His name, His title, and His character.

God loves you so much that He sent His only Son to die for your sins:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

(John 3:16-17)

God places His Spirit of Love within you to enable you to love God (Mark 12:30); love your enemies (Luke 6:27,32,35); and love others as you do yourself  (Matthew 19:19).  The power of love also frees you from fear (1 Timothy 1:7).

The love of God operating in your life is how you are recognized as a true Believer: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another"  (John 13:35).  If you do not love other Believers, then you are in spiritual darkness: “But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:11).

Because the love of God abides within you, your love will continually increase towards others and you will become a stable, mature Christian:

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)

God’s love enables you to become rooted and grounded and experience the fullness of God. The Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians…

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

God’s love is:

Incomparable. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Excellent. “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings” (Psalm 36:7).

Marvelous.  “Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them” (Psalm 17:7).

Better than life. “Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee” (Psalm 63:3).

Surpassing knowledge. “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).

Sacrificial.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

As we near the end of time here on earth, the love of many will not endure. The Bible states that it will wax cold, meaning that people will become uncaring (Matthew 24:12).  But Believers are given the assurance that nothing can separate us from God's love:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  shall tribulation, or distress, or       persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...For I am persuaded, that       neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor       things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate       us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:35,38-39)

RESPONSE:  Examine your life as to how you reflect the love of God as you meditate on these verses:

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.  (1 John 4:7-11)

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Love.  Use this passage from 1 Corinthians 13:

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(1 Corinthians 13, NKJV)

LORD WHO SANCTIFIES YOU

REFERENCE:  And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctifies you. (Leviticus 20:8)

REVELATION:   Sanctification means to be consecrated, holy, and set apart. The Lord is the one who sanctifies you through the blood of Jesus Christ.  You do not have to strive to become righteous and you no longer must live under condemnation of past sins.

Initial sanctification occurs at the time of conversion to Christ when your past sins are forgiven.  Progressive sanctification is the ongoing work of God in your life when, as a Believer, you confess your sins and He is faithful to forgive them and cleanse you from unrighteousness

(1 John 1:9).  Final sanctification will occur when you enter the presence of the Lord for eternity, free from sin forever.

Sanctification is not something you must struggle to achieve.  You have only to accept what Jesus accomplished on the cross:

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30)

You are sanctified through the blood of Jesus:

…we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

(Hebrews 10:10)

Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered       without the gate.  (Hebrews 13:12)

You are sanctified through His name and through the Holy Spirit:

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. (1 Corinthians 6:11)

You are sanctified by God (Jude 1);  prayer (1 Timothy 4:5);  and thorough the truth of His Word:

As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for       their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Sanctify       them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17-19)

As a born-again Believer in Jesus Christ, you are sanctified and part of His chosen people:

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

RESPONSE:   The Apostle Paul admonished:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a       living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not       conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye       may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  (Romans 12:2)

Renew your mind in the truth of God’s Word in your devotional time each day.  The Word empowers you to walk in the truth that sanctifies you and enables you to consistently live in the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name, the Lord Who Sanctifies You.

LORD WHO SEES YOU

REFERENCE:  And she (Hagar) called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi.  (Genesis 16:13-14)

REVELATION:  Hagar was an Egyptian servant to Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Because Sarah was barren, she suggested that Abraham have intimate relations with Hagar and bear them a child.  Although the custom was acceptable in the ancient world, it was not acceptable to God.  As soon as Hagar became pregnant, a rivalry developed between the two women and Hagar fled into the wilderness to escape the discord.

There in the wilderness, the angel of the Lord spoke to Hagar telling her to return to Sarah. She was given a prophetic word that the seed she was carrying within her body would be blessed and multiplied.  Then Hagar called on the name of the Lord and declared that God saw and heard her in her time of need.  The well by which she had this encounter was named Beerlahairoi, meaning “the well of Him that sees me.”

This name confirms that God sees and hears you.  He is not an absentee God, but He is present in your times of difficulty.  David declared: “I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech” (Psalm 17:6).

The prophet Isaiah declared God’s promise that “…it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

When your challenges are so overwhelming that you cannot even articulate your need, then

“… the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).

God cares so much for you that He numbers the hairs on your head (Luke 12:7).  He is the God who sees and hears you.

RESPONSE:  Thank God that although others may reject you and you feel abandoned, He is  near to comfort you and meet every need.  He sees you right now, right where you are.  You are never out of His sight.  Mediate on these words:

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  (Psalm 139:7-11)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name the Lord Who Sees You.

LORD YOUR GOD

LORD OUR GOD, LORD MY GOD

REFERENCE:  I am the Lord your God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  (Exodus 20:2, NKJV)

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.  (Deuteronomy 6:45)

For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. (Psalm 38:15)

REVELATION:  The Lord Your God and The Lord Our God are both used frequently in the book of Deuteronomy and refer to the Lord as the God of His people corporately.  The Lord Your God is the all sufficient one whom you are to love with all your being.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.  (Deuteronomy 6:45)

The Lord Our God has secrets yet to be revealed to you and through you:

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.  (Deuteronomy 29:29)

The Lord our God desires to reveal His glory to His people:

And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.  (Deuteronomy 5:24)

God desires to deliver and bless His people.  Israel boasted that “the Lord Our God delivered all unto us” (Deuteronomy 2:36).

The name the Lord My God indicates a personal relationship with the Lord which empowers your prayers:

And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments.  (Daniel 9:4)

The Lord My God provides vision, comfort, and direction. The Psalmist said: “For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness”(Psalm 18:28). The Lord My God provides healing.  The Psalmist declared, “O Lord my God, I cried unto thee and thou has healed me”  (Psalm 30:2).

Your hope is in the Lord My God:  “For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God” (Psalm 38:15).

The Psalmist speaks of the Lord My God, His wonderful works, and His many thoughts towards you:

Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to usward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.  (Psalm 40:5)

After His resurrection, Jesus said:

Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.  (John 20:17)

He is the Father of Jesus, and He is your Father.  He is your God.

RESPONSE:  Join the psalmist in praising the Lord My God.  Make these proclamations:

O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever”  (Psalm 30:12).

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.  (Psalm 86:12)

As part of the corporate body of Believers, the Lord is “Our God” to you, but you can also know Him by His name “The Lord My God.”  If you need help today, call upon the Lord My God.  Pray this prayer:

Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy: That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, Lord, hast done it.  (Psalm 19:26-27)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names the Lord Our God and the Lord My God.  Study the relationships of Moses and God (Deuteronomy 4:5) and David and God (Psalm 7:1; 2 Samuel 24:24, 1 Kings 5:45; 1 Chronicles 22:7; and 2 Chronicles 2:4).

Ezra spoke of the Lord my God in Ezra 7:28; 9:5;  Joshua used the title in Joshua 14:8-9;  Daniel used the name in Daniel 9:4,20; and the prophet Zechariah spoke of the Lord My God in Zechariah 11:45. Study these passages and summarize what you learn in your journal.

MAJESTY IN HEAVEN

MAJESTY ON HIGH

REFERENCE:  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.  (Hebrews 8:1-2)

(Jesus) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.  (Hebrews 1:3)

REVELATION:  The Majesty in Heaven and Majesty On High are titles for God describing His supreme position in Heaven (Hebrews 8:1-2; 1:3).

Daniel was first to record a vision of the Majesty In Heaven, whom he called the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7).  Here is how Daniel described the scene:

-His garment was white as snow.

-The hair of His head was like pure wool.

-His throne was like a fiery flame.

-His wheels were as burning fire.

-A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him.

-Thousands ministered unto Him.

-Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.

Daniel also saw the Son of Man (Jesus) given dominion, glory, and an eternal kingdom by the Majesty On High.  Paul confirmed that: “(Jesus) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3).

Isaiah also recorded a vision of the throne room of God, saying…

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. (Isaiah 6:1-8)

An encounter with the Majesty On High requires a response.  Isaiah repented of his sin and those of his people and responded to God’s call to service.

Perhaps the greatest revelation of the Majesty of God in Heaven is recorded by John in the book of Revelation.  John was worshipping on the Lord’s day and records that…

…Immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thundering and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal... (Revelation 4:2-6a)

John was given a glimpse of God sitting on His throne in total control, in a position of majesty and supreme power and authority, directing the course of events that will occur on earth in the end-times.

Encircling God's throne, John saw a rainbow which glowed like an emerald. The brightly colored hues of the rainbow--emerald green, sapphire blue, and ruby red--all reflected on what John described as a crystal sea of glass spread out before the throne.  In front of the throne were seven lamps of fire representing the seven Spirits of God. As John stood there, flashes of lightning shot out from the throne and he heard the roar of thunder.

John’s gaze turned from the throne to an even more glorious sight, the One seated on the throne. John did not see a form with a face, arms, and legs. He saw a brilliant light reflecting colors, which he compared to precious jewels. John said: “And there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the One who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian” (Revelation 4:2-3, NIV).  The carnelian (“sardine stone” in the King James Version) is a red stone, representing the blood of Jesus Christ.

John saw “ …a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands...”(Revelation 7:9).  He saw elders and living creatures and angels, all of whom joined the multitude in worship.

As Believers it is important that we minister to others--praying for the sick, witnessing, teaching, interceding, etc. However, we must first minister to God, the Majesty On High. This is our highest calling, and we must make it our first priority.   The word minister means “to be in attendance upon, to wait before, to receive orders.” Ministering to the Lord involves waiting in God’s presence in prayer, praise, and worship. During these times your strength will be renewed, you will receive your marching orders, and you will be empowered to minister to others.

RESPONSE: Often, Christians associate the book of Revelation with the judgments of God that are poured out upon the wicked, but John also described powerful scenes of worship in Heaven.  Through these scenes, God reveals our true purpose.  Yes, we are called to preach, teach, evangelize, and give of our resources.  But our highest calling is to be ministers and priests unto God as we worship Him.

We were created to bring pleasure to God through worship. God said of  the nation of Israel: “This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise” (Isaiah 43:21).  Under the New Covenant, Believers are redeemed, chosen, and are priests unto God: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Close your eyes right now and picture yourself standing before God’s throne as Daniel, Isaiah, and John did in their visions. Think about God’s unlimited power, His faithfulness, righteousness, unsurpassed love, and forgiveness. Begin to worship Him and as you do so, you will see Him high and lifted up over every circumstance of your life. He is on the throne. He is in complete control of the world and of your life.

Worship using the lyrics of this song by Jack Hayford:

Majesty, worship His majesty

Unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise

Majesty, kingdom authority

Flow from His throne, unto His own, His anthem raise

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus

Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King

Majesty, worship His majesty

Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus

Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King

Majesty, worship His majesty

Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings

Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Majesty In Heaven and Majesty On High.

MAN OF WAR

REFERENCE: The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. (Exodus 15:3)

REVELATION: Israel had just crossed the Red Sea and Pharoah’s perusing army had been destroyed.  As recorded in Exodus 15, the people of God engaged in a joyous time of worship during which they proclaimed “The Lord is a Man of War.”

As Israel prepared to claim their Promised Land, the Man of War (their Lord) promised:

I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

(Exodus 23:27-30)

God also declared to His people “…there shall no man be able to stand before thee” (Deuteronomy 7:24).

When Jehoshaphat faced a strong enemy alliance, the Lord promised:

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's…Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you. (2 Chronicles 20: 25,27)

You do not fight the battles of life alone.  Your God is a God of War.  He has promised to go before you into battle that no enemy can stand before you.

RESPONSE: Position yourself for victory over the enemy.  Make these declarations of faith with the Psalmist:

Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. (Psalm 144:1-2)

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. (Psalm 27:3-6)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Man of War.

MERCIFUL, GRACIOUS, LONGSUFFERING

ABUNDANT IN GOODNESS AND TRUTH

REFERENCE: And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. (Exodus 34:5-6)

REVELATION: These names were used by God when Moses appeared before Him with two tables of stone upon which God wrote the commandments.  At that time, the Lord proclaimed His name to be “Merciful, Gracious, Longsuffering, and Abundant in Goodness and Truth.”  Let’s look at each of these descriptive titles individually.

God is Merciful.  Mercy is a concept integral to understanding God's dealings with mankind. In English translations of the Bible, it is expressed in phrases such as "to be merciful, to have mercy on, or to show mercy toward. The corresponding term merciful describes a quality of God and one that God requires of His people.  As He is merciful to us, we are to extend mercy to others.

The Prophet Jeremiah declared: “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

God is Gracious.  To be gracious means to “favor, show kindnesses, and be compassionate.” This title is indicative of God’s mercy, His long-suffering, His favor, and kindness.  God longs to be gracious to you:

And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship.  (Isaiah 30:18, TAB)

God extends kindness and favor to you because He loves you.  Even when you don’t acknowledge or worship Him, He still endows you with good things because He is gracious.  The promise is “…the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him” (2 Chronicles 30:9).

For a Believer, there is light in dark times because “…Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous” (Psalm 112:4).

God is Longsuffering. The word longsuffering is composed of two Greek words meaning “long” and “temper”; literally meaning “long-tempered.” To be longsuffering is to have self-restraint when one is stirred to anger.  Repeatedly, the nation of Israel stirred God’s anger during their wilderness wanderings, yet God was longsuffering.  He repeatedly forgave them and

demonstrated restraint despite His righteous anger.

God is Abundant in Goodness and Truth.  God also declared that He was abundant in goodness and truth.  The word abundant means “beyond measure, a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than what one would expect.”  God’s goodness and truth are all that: Without measure, in quantities so abundant as to be considerably more than we would expect.

RESPONSE:  Meditate on the following verses that relate to God as Merciful, Gracious, Longsuffering, and Abundant In Goodness And Truth.

But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. (Psalm 86:15)

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.  (Psalm 103:8-12)

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. (Psalm 116:5)

The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

(Psalm 145:8)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Merciful, Gracious, Longsuffering, and Abundant In Goodness And Truth.

MIGHTY GOD, MIGHTY ONE

REFERENCE:  Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions: How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, Until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. (Psalm 132:1-5)

Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel.  (Isaiah 30:29)

REVELATION:  The titles Mighty God Of Jacob and Mighty One Of Israel refer to the continuity of the Covenant of God first promised to Abraham and extending down to Isaac, Jacob, and subsequent generations.

In the midst of affliction, the psalmist David reminded God of His covenant by referring to Him as the God Of Jacob.  The Prophet Isaiah promised God’s people that they would once again rejoice in the Lord, the Mighty One of Israel. God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises is expressed again in Isaiah 49:26 when God declares:  “…All flesh shall know the I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.”

When Israel prepared to enter their Promised Land and were facing formidable enemies, they were promised:  “Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible”  (Deuteronomy 7:21).

Our Mighty God is Lord over all creation:

The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. (Psalm 50:1)

Our Mighty God is one of judgment and correction:

Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.  (Habakkuk 1:12)

Our Mighty God is Mighty in Battle:

Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

(Psalm 24:8)

The Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed regarding the Mighty One:

Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name.  (Jeremiah 32:18)

RESPONSE:  One of the names given to Jesus, the manifestation of God in human form, was the name Mighty God, confirming His deity as part of the Trinity of God:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

God is not only the Mighty God of Jacob and the Mighty One Of Israel, He is your Mighty God.  How has God shown Himself Mighty to you in the past?  How did God reveal His might through His Son Jesus Christ?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Mighty God and Mighty One.

MOST HIGH GOD, POSSESSOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

HIGH AND LOFTY ONE

REFERENCE:  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

(Genesis 14:18-22)

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15)

REVELATION: The name Most High God occurs four times in Genesis 14:18-22.  The name means higher than the highest, that God is sovereign, majestic, and above all in every realm of life.  The psalmist declared:  “For thou, Oh Lord, art high above all the earth; thou art exalted far above all gods”  (Psalm 97:9).

The first reference in Scripture to this name is found in Genesis chapter 14 which records a battle between a coalition of kings who warred against five other kings who struggled to defend their possessions and territory.  During the battle, Abraham’s nephew, Lot, was taken captive along with his family and possessions.

You can read about the rescue mission executed by Abraham and his servants in Genesis 14.  It is within the context of this event that the name Most High God is introduced when it was used by Melchizedek, the king of Salem, who blessed Abraham using this name.  It is also used by Abraham in the same passage.  God is confirmed to be the Most High in numerous other passages in the Old Testament, including the next extensive use of this name in Daniel 3:16; 4:17,24,25, 32.

When Satan rebelled against God, he used this name as that is the position he sought:  Most High.  In the New Testament, demons acknowledged Jesus as the Son of the Most High (Mark 5:7; Luke 8:28).   Believers are called servants of the Most High (Acts 16:17).  The New Testament reveals that the Most High God does not dwell in temples made with hands, but within Believers (Acts 7:48; 1 Corinthians 3:16).

The Most High hears when you call Him:

I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. (Psalm 57:2)

Psalm 91 makes some powerful promises to those who abide in the “secret place of the Most High”  (Psalm 91:1).  The secret place described in this Psalm is an intimate place of personal relationship with God.  It can be compared to the holy of holies in the Old Testament tabernacle.  Masses of God's people assembled in the outer court to worship God, but only a chosen few accessed the holy of holies and entered the presence of the Most High God.

After the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for the sin of all mankind, the veil which concealed the holy of holies was torn apart: "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom..." (Matthew 27:51). This supernatural event was symbolic of the new, unprecedented access to God which was opened through the sacrificial death of Jesus:

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  (Hebrews 10:19-22)

Because Jesus cleanses you from sin, the way is open for you to enter into the secret place of God's presence, a spiritual habitation of personal intimacy with the Most High God:

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15)

RESPONSE:  Read the story of King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4,  He went through a difficult experience to arrive at the conclusion that indeed, God is the Most High:

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.  (Daniel 4:34)

In this troubled world in which we live, it is assuring to know that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men as declared in Daniel 4:25.

The Most High God reigns over every circumstance you will encounter today.  Acknowledge Him as Most High in your prayer time as you join in praise with the psalmist:

I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high. (Psalm 7:17)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name God Most High. Summarize what Nebuchadnezzar learned about the Most High God (Daniel chapter 4).

ONLY WISE GOD

GOD OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE

REFERENCE:  To [the] only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One)! Amen (so be it).  (Romans 16:27, TAB)

….For the Lord is a God of knowledge.  (1 Samuel 2:3)

REVELATION: God is the Only Wise God who, by wisdom, created the world (Psalm 136:5).   As the Only Wise God, He has complete wisdom and knowledge of everything.  The Psalmist declared: “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5).

God knows your every thought, word, and action:

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.  (1 Samuel 2:3)

God knows the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7) and when and where a bird falls to the earth (Matthew 10:29).  God has perfect wisdom and knowledge.  Nothing is hidden from His sight:

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.  (Hebrews 36:4)

The Apostle Paul declared:

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!  (Romans 11:33)

The Only Wise God gives wisdom and understanding to His people:

For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

(Proverbs 2:6-7)

God has sound wisdom laid up for those who are righteous.  The fear of the Lord is the starting point for gaining this wisdom:  “The fear of the Lod is the beginning of wisdom: a good

understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever”

(Psalm 111:10).

Additional revelations of God’s wisdom were manifested to the world through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is called the “Wisdom of God”  (1 Corinthians 1:24).

The fear of the Only Wise God is manifested through obedience to His commandments as demonstrated by a godly lifestyle:

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  (James 3:13-17)

James explains how to access the wisdom that the Only Wise God has stored up for you:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.  (James 1:58)

Here are the steps:

-Ask of God.

-Ask in faith.

-Do not doubt or waver.

Here are the guarantees of James 1:5:

-When you ask for wisdom, He will give it to you.

-God gives wisdom to all men who ask, removing the uncertainty that He may answer some and not others.

-God gives to all men liberally, which means bountifully as one with an open hand opposed to one who has a closed fist.

-God upbraideth not, which means He does not berate or rebuke.  God is not upset when you repeatedly ask Him for wisdom and answers for the situations in your life.

-Answers will be given to those who seek them.

RESPONSE:  Examine your life:  Are you wise with wisdom from above?  Envy, strife, confusion, and evil works confirm that one is not wise.  The wisdom from God is pure, peaceable, gentle, easily intreated, merciful, bearing good fruits, without partiality and hypocrisy.

If you are in need of Godly wisdom, ask in faith without doubting and you can be sure that God will give you wisdom in every circumstance.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Only Wise God.

PEACE

REFERENCE:  Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah Shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. (Judges 6:24)

REVELATION:  The people of Israel were enduring extreme oppression by the Midianites.  They cried out for deliverance, and God responded to their pleas by sending an angel to ordain a man named Gideon who was to be instrumental in their release.  At first, fear gripped Gideon’s heart, as he did not feel up to the dangerous task.  He reminded the Lord that he came from the weakest, poorest clan of Israel and that he was the least among them.

Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight. And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face. And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. (Judges 6:21-24)

In the midst of extreme conflict, Gideon built an altar and called on the Lord of Peace (Jehovah Shalom in Hebrew).

Peace is more than calmness.  It is not just an absence of strife.  Shalom, the word for peace in Hebrew, means wholeness, completeness, and wellbeing. There are two types of peace.  The first is peace with God:

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus       Christ.  (Romans 5:1)

The second is the peace of God.  This is the peace that enables you to live in harmony with others and have peace in your spirit regardless of the circumstances. Jesus said:

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.  (John 16:33)

Peace of God results from taking every anxiety to God in prayer:

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 4:67)

Peace in the midst of difficult circumstances is not the peace of the world.  It is a peace that passes understanding.  It is a gift from Jesus Christ who said:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  (John 14:27)

Peace results when your mind is focused on God instead of your problems:

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)

One of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is peace:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

(Galatians 5:22)

We are told to follow after things which result in peace:

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. (Romans 14:19)

We are to live in peace:

...be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.  (2 Corinthians 13:11)

The peace of God is to always rule in your heart:

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body...   (Colossians 3:15)

We are to be found in peace at all times:  “ ...that ye may be found of Him in peace...”

(2 Peter 3:14).

The God of Peace is your sanctification and preservation:

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 Thessalonians 5:23)

You are to live peaceably with all men: “Follow peace with all men...” (Hebrews 12:14).  You can keep the unity of the Spirit with others in the Body of Christ: “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

The Father, our God of Peace, sent us His Son, the Prince of Peace:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6)

Peace is not found in something, but is found in someone.  That someone is the Lord Jesus Christ.

RESPONSE:  Wars, natural disasters, calamities, riots, terrorists, and criminals running rampant in the world.  If there ever was a time we needed peace it is now!  Ask God for peace to reign in your heart and to make you an instrument of His peace.

Gideon’s revelation of  the God of Peace came in the midst of national unrest and difficult circumstances.  When it seems like the whole world is against you and you are unable to deal with your problems, turn to the God of Peace to find comfort and strength. Regardless of the chaos, confess that Shalom, the Peace of God, will rule in your heart and life today.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Peace.

PORTION

REFERENCE:  The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. (Psalm 16:5)

REVELATION:  David addressed the Lord as His Portion, declaring  “I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living” (Psalm 142:5).

King David had houses, lands, and wealth, but by declaring God was his portion, he was saying that God was all he needed and desired.

Here are the psalmist’s declarations regarding God as his Portion:

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.  (Psalm 73:25-26)

Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words. (Psalm 119:57)

I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.  (Psalm 142:5)

The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:24-26)

RESPONSE: What needs are you facing?  Financial?  Material?  Relational?  Spiritual?  Pray in the name of the God who is your Portion.  Make the confessions of the psalmist, acknowledging that your every need is met in God.  He is your Portion.  Forever.

I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.  (Psalm 142:5)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Portion.

POTTER

REFERENCE:  But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. (Isaiah 64:8)

REVELATION: The Prophet Jeremiah was directed by God to make a visit to the potter’s house.  His experience is recorded in Jeremiah chapter 18:

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying:" Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words."  Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. (Jeremiah 18:2-4)

The raw materials of pottery are found all over the world.  Hard rocks are decomposed by hot gases from the bowels of the earth into a soft rock containing feldspar minerals.  Years of exposure to weathering by rain, sun, and ice break down some of the feldspars into primary clays which is basically dirt.  Within these broad classifications, there is an extremely rich variety of clays, each with its own individual texture, color, and working quality.

The spiritual meaning of this analogy is that God is the Potter and we are the clay. We are made from dirt, and there is a rich variety among us in terms of different races, different talents, different spiritual gifts.  When God looks at you, He doesn’t see dirt.  He sees a plan:  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).

God works on you as a potter works on a vessel.  Sometimes, you are marred by sin, but God remolds you into another vessel.  He does not look at you as you are, but as to what you will become:  A vessel of honor, fit for service in His Kingdom (Romans 9:21).

Sometimes this process is painful.  In the natural world, pottery is decorated by incisions, pressure, and piercing and then it is fired in a hot kiln.  When you are feeling pressured and life is painful, know that the Potter is at work changing your life:  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28),

In the natural world, clay does not dictate to the potter.  It is pliable and moldable in his hands.  Likewise, the Bible declares regarding our spiritual Potter:

…O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,.  (Romans 9:20-23)

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of       the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He       hath no hands? (Isaiah 45:9)

In Jeremiah chapter 19, the prophet records another experience involving pottery:

Thus says the Lord, "Go and get a potter's earthen flask, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests. And go out to the valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the Potsherd Gate; and proclaim there the words that I will tell you...Then you shall break the flask in the sight of the men who go with you, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts:  Even O so I will break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's vessel, which cannot be made whole again...’”

(Jeremiah 19:1-2,10-11)

In the remainder of the chapter, God explains why these unpliable people will be broken beyond repair:

-They had forsaken God: Verse 4.

-They alienated their city from God: Verse 4.

-They forsook true worship (idolatry): Verses 4,5,13.

-They were alienated from God’s laws, represented by spilling the blood of the innocents (murder and abortion): Verse 4.

-They were alienated from God’s Word: Because they stiffened their necks that they might not hear God’s Words: Verse 15

RESPONSE:  If you have been marred by sin or broken by shame, God wants to recreate you into a new vessel.  In the midst of your brokenness, place the pieces of your life into the hands of the Potter, knowing that He knows what He is doing and is not done with you yet.  Be pliable.  Let Him make you into a vessel of honor.

God is the potter, we are the clay.  We are not always sure what He is doing when He is shaping us, but we can be assured that He knows what He is doing:

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.  (Philippians 1:6)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name of God, the Potter.

PROVIDER

REFERENCE:   And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. (Genesis 22:13-14)

REVELATION:   For background on this name of God, read Genesis 22.  This chapter records how God tested Abraham by commanding him to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. God does not tempt His children, but He allows them to be tested.  Temptations come from sinful desires within, while tests and trials are permitted by the Lord for special purposes (James 1:12-16).  This was a unique test to prove Abraham’s faith and obedience, as God never condones human sacrifice. The sacrifice He requires is a living sacrifice of your life in service to Him (Romans 12:12).

Abraham rose early the next day to fulfill God’s instructions.  He saddled his donkey, split wood to take along for the burnt offering, and went to the place where God had commanded.  He told the two servants accompanying him to remain with the donkey while he and Isaac went to worship.  He said “We shall return to you”, demonstrating faith that God was able to raise Isaac up even if he died.

Isaac questioned:  “Where is the lamb for the burn offering?”  Abraham, answered:  “God will provide for himself a lamb for a burnt offering.”  So Abraham built an altar, put wood on the altar, placed his son on the altar, and lifted the knife--but the Angel of the Lord called from heaven and stopped the process.

Then Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw a ram caught in a thicket by his horns.  This was the sacrifice God provided.  Note that it was a ram used in this blood sacrifice, not a lamb.  The Lamb of God would be provided centuries later in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Commemorating this experience, Abraham called that place “The Lord Will Provide”  as God was revealed as Jehovah Jireh, our provider.      The root word for the name “Jireh” means to see.  When Abraham lifted his eyes, he saw the ram in the thicket.  Often, we are so focused on our crisis that we fail to see God’s provision. God looks ahead and anticipates your needs.  He is never late with His provision.  He is right on time.

The English word provision is composed of two Latin words that mean “to see beforehand”.  In every circumstance, God sees your need beforehand and He will have provisions ready.

God is working behind the scenes quietly arranging provisions so that they will be in the right place exactly when you need them.  We also learn from this incident that when God asks you to do the impossible, He always provides a way for it to be accomplished.

RESPONSE:  Isaac was Abraham’s beloved son, yet he was willing to offer him to God. What  are you holding on to so tightly that you cannot do God’s will?  Yield it to God, and as you do you will see that God will provide every need whether it be physical, mental, spiritual, or financial.

Confess the Lord as your Provider.  Thank Him for His abundant provision, knowing that:

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  (Romans 8:32)

Claim this promise:  “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:9).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name of God Your Provider.

REARWARD

REFERENCE:  Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward. (Isaiah 58:8)

REVELATION: The Hebrew word for rearward means “the rear guard of an army that provides protection from a pursuing enemy.”  In essence, it means that God has got your back!

One of the greatest biblical examples of the name Rearward is when Israel was fleeing from the Egyptians and the Angel and the cloud God had sent to guide them moved from in front to behind them:

And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:  And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. (Exodus 14:19-20)

When the cloud shifted and moved behind God’s people, it obscured the view of Pharoah and his army and hindered their advance towards them.  God put a separation between the enemy and Israel.  God was not only going before His people, He was also protecting them from behind.

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

(Exodus 14:21-22)

With God as their Rearward, the people of Israel passed safely through the Red Sea while the enemy was drowned in its midst.

Years later, God gave  a message through Isaiah to his people who were under enemy oppression declaring: “For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward” (Isaiah 52:12).

RESPONSE:  You can advance today with confidence, knowing that God is your Rearward.  He is not only leading you, but He has your back.  Confess this promise as you face the challenges of this day:

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. (Psalm 139:5)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Rearward.  And remember:  God has your back!

REDEEMER

REFERENCE:  As for our redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.  (Isaiah 47:4)

REVELATION: The word redeem in Hebrew means “to bestow freedom”.  The word was often used in the slave industry, where one would redeem a person from slavery by paying a redemption price.

One of the most dramatic examples of redemption was the exodus of Israel from Egypt when God set them free from slavery.  The people declared: “As for our redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel”  (Isaiah 47:4).  The psalmist records:  “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name” (Psalm 111:9).  Another great example of the concept of redemption is the book of Ruth, where Boaz redeems Ruth as her Kinsman-Redeemer.

God is called Redeemer because He provided for the redemption of mankind from sin. No matter how deep your sin you can be assured that, “…with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption” (Psalm 130:7).

In the New Testament, the text makes it clear that Jesus Christ offered Himself for the redemption of all mankind from sin.  He came to free you from the power of sin and demonic powers.  You are justified by God’s grace through redemption in Christ:

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:24-25)

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the       riches of his grace…(Ephesians 1:7)

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.       (Colossians 1:14)

You are not redeemed by corruptible things:

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and       gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the       precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

(1 Peter 1:18-19)

You are sealed (secured) by the Holy Spirit until the completion of your redemption when you enter the presence of the Lord:  “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

Not only has God redeemed you from sin, but through His resurrection He has redeemed you from the power of the grave and given you eternal life:

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

(Psalm 49:15)

There will come a glorious day when “…all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob” (Isaiah 49:26).  John describes the scene in Heaven when…

…they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.  (Revelation 5:9-10)

RESPONSE:  You may be going through difficulties in this season of your life, as did the patriarch Job who lost his family, his wealth, and his health (Job 1 and 2).  Despite all this, Job never lost faith in the power of His Redeemer.  No matter what your circumstances are at present, join Job in this declaration of faith:

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

(Job 19:25-26)

Pray this prayer:  “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

The Bible commands “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy”…(Psalm 107:2).  You “say so” through praise and worship and by sharing the Gospel with others.  Today is a good day to “say so”!

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Redeemer.

REFUGE, HIDING PLACE

FORTRESS, STRONGHOLD, SHELTER

REFERENCE:  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (Psalm 91:12)

REVELATION:   Various names are used for God to describe His provision of protection for His people:  Refuge, Hiding Place, Fortress, Stronghold, and Shelter.

The psalmist declares, "He is my refuge, my fortress, my God..." A refuge speaks of a hiding place, a place of safety, security, and rest.  When no one is there for you in times of trouble and when everyone fails you, God is ever present. Don't look around for help.  Look to Him.  When relationships crumble, when hopes and dreams are dashed, when all around you is chaotic, flee to your refuge and fortress.  Run to Him!

Note that God is not just a refuge,  but the psalmist personalizes it and declares: “He is my refuge, my fortress, my God.” The Hebrew word for fortress speaks of a watchtower where a guard is set, a place of fortification against an enemy.  The declaration "...He is my God"  is the fourth in a series of names for God used in Psalm 91:12 that reflect increasing levels of intimacy.  You can come to know God as Most High (verse 1); as Almighty (verse 2); as the Lord Jehovah (verse 2); and most intimately as my God (verse 2).

The psalmist declares: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).  Our God is not some distant deity.  He is present in the midst of all of your battles to provide refuge and strength.

In Bible times, many cities were enclosed by walls 25 feet high and 15-25 feet thick.  These fortified cities also included strongholds and provided additional defense should the city’s outer walls be breached.  We need not ever fear that the power of our divine fortress will be breached by the enemy.  We are safe and secure in God Our Fortress.

The first use of the word refuge in the Bible refers to the six cities of refuge in Old Testament times where one could flee for protection from retribution for actions he had committed.  God is the Refuge to which we can flee for the sins we have committed.  There we find safety, forgiveness, and protection.  He is a refuge for the oppressed:

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. (Psalm 9:9-10)

The importance of knowing His name is emphasized in this verse.  Because you know His name, you can confidently place your trust in Him.  He is a refuge from every storm of life:

For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.  (Isaiah 25:4 )

Isaiah declares God to be your covert from the tempest, a safe place in times of spiritual storms (Isaiah 32:2).  Nahum declared:  “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him” (Nahum 1:7).  The psalmist proclaimed: “For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy” (Psalm 61:3).

You need not fear any attack of the enemy because…

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. (Deuteronomy 33:27)

God promises:

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (Isaiah 43:2)

Psalm 91 lists the benefits of making God your Refuge:

Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.  With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.  (Psalm 91:9-16)

RESPONSE:  Examine the confession you are making regarding your circumstances.  Are your confessions negative?  If so, change them to positive by declaring that the Lord is your Refuge, Hiding Place, Fortress, Stronghold, and Shelter.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding these names.  Use Psalm 91:9-16, to summarize the benefits of making the Lord your refuge.  Note that these promises are to those who make God their dwelling place.

REVEALER OF SECRETS

REFERENCE:  The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. (Daniel 2:47)

REVELATION: Revelation means to unveil a truth that has been previously hidden from natural understanding.  It is the opening of your spiritual eyes, so to speak, so that you are able to see and understand things which you cannot comprehend with your natural mind.

The key text comes from an event in the life of Daniel when the king asked him to interpret a dream which his own wise men could not explain:

Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; (Daniel 2:27-28)

God in Heaven is the one who reveals secrets.  Another great example of such revelation is in the account of Elisha’s servant and his response to the enemy:

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

(2 Kings 6:15-17)

The Lord God, the Revealer of Secrets, opened the servant’s eyes to discern the spirit world.  What he could not see in the natural world was revealed by the Revealer of Secrets.

One of the names of the Holy Spirit of God is the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, which you will study later. The Apostle Paul prayed…

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.  (Ephesians 1:17-23)

The God of Revelation reveals secrets through the Holy Spirit, providing the wisdom and revelation needed to know Him more intimately and to face every circumstance of life. Some things God may keep secret, but that which He chooses to reveal belongs to His children:

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.  (Deuteronomy 29:29)

RESPONSE:  Do you have issues for which you need an answer?  Pray in the name of the Revealer of Secrets for divine revelation.

You must realize that there are some things God chooses to reveal, others that remain hidden from your understanding:

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

Revelation is not without purpose.  When it is withheld, there is also divine purpose.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Revealer of Secrets.  What special revelations has God given you in times past?   What revelations are you presently seeking?

REWARDER

REWARD, GREAT REWARD

REFERENCE:   But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  (Hebrews 11:6)

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. (Genesis 15:1)

REVELATION:  God is called a Rewarder one place in the Bible, and that is in our key reference for this study.  God told Abraham:  “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward “ (Genesis 15:1). When He said “I am thy exceeding Great Reward”, He was promising Himself.  He is not only the Rewarder, He is the Reward.

There are numerous references to the fact that God rewards His people. Moses chose to leave the riches of Egypt knowing that He would be rewarded (Hebrews 11:26).  Both Joshua and Caleb were rewarded for their faith and permitted to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:24).

Those who faithfully serve the Lord will be rewarded.  The Apostle Paul declared:

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.  (1 Corinthians 3:6-8)

Every labor of love will be recompensed:

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

(Hebrews 6:10)

Good deeds done in secret will be rewarded:

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:6)

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.  (Matthew 6:3-4)

The smallest compassionate deed will be rewarded:

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.  (Matthew 10:42)

God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him:

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Jesus declared:  “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be”  (Revelation 22:12).

RESPONSE:  What good deeds might you do today?  Remember that no act is too small.  “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” (Colossians 3:17).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Rewarder, Reward, and Great Reward.

ROCK

REFERENCE:  Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:3-4 )

REVELATION:  Rocks in the natural world are permanent places of shade, shelter, and safety.  They were used in biblical times to construct altars, temples, houses, and city walls.  Heaps of stones were also raised up to commemorate important events in Israel’s history, and the law given to Moses by God was etched in stone.

Spiritually, the word Rock represents God’s permanence, protection, and enduring faithfulness.

With the name Rock, God testifies to the permanence of His faithfulness to His people:

As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from       henceforth even for ever. (Psalm 125:2)

David proclaimed:

Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given       commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. (Psalm 71:3)

This Rock is everlasting.  He is the Rock of ages:

So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].  (Isaiah 26:4, TAB)

This name also testifies to the permanence of God’s Word:

Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)

This Rock is the source of life.  Moses exhorted the people of Israel:  “Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee” (Deuteronomy 32:18).

This Rock is the foundation of your salvation:

Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and       my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)

(See also Deuteronomy 32:15)

This Rock is a place of safety:

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I       will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  (Psalm 18:2)

This Rock is your refuge in times of trouble:

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. (Psalm 27:5-6)

But the Lord is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge. (Psalm 94:22)

He is the perfect Rock upon which you can rely:

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.  (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Hannah declared:  “There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God”  (1 Samuel 2:2).  David declared:  “For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God?” (2 Samuel 22:32).

God is your Rock, and the New Testament describes His Son, Jesus, as the stone the builders rejected which became the cornerstone of the Church.  He is the Rock upon which you can safely build your life (Matthew 7:24-27).

RESPONSE:   Aren’t you glad for the salvation of God that drew you out of the pit of sin and set you on the Rock?  Think of the “pit” from which you have come and then join the psalmist in testifying:

I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. (Psalm 40:1-2)

Make this your prayer:

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to       the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2)

Make this declaration:

…The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Savior… (2 Samuel 22:2-3)

Lift this praise to God Your Rock:

The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. (2 Samuel 22:47)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Rock.

SALVATION

GOD OF MY SALVATION

REFERENCE:  Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2)

REVELATION:  Three names of God are given in this passage.  God is your strength, your song, and your salvation.  Strength and song are covered elsewhere in this manual. This study focuses on the name Salvation.

Salvation means forgiveness of and freedom from sin, a new perspective that transcends the human point of view, becoming a new creation, and peace with God (Romans chapter 5).  God is the God of Salvation, in that He planned and purposed it to redeem sinful mankind.  Through salvation, you become an adopted child of God and can be assured of your eternal destiny:

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.  (Galatians 4:4-7)

The Bible teaches that salvation is by grace through faith alone, entirely apart from personal merit or works of righteousness.  It was Jesus’ death on the cross and subsequent resurrection that achieved your salvation ( Romans 5:10; Ephesians 1:7 ). Scripture is clear that salvation is the gracious, undeserved gift of God ( Ephesians 2:5, 8) and is only available through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12 ).

The psalmist David used this title for God most frequently, quite often in prayer as reflected in the following passages:

The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. (Psalm 18:46)

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:5)

Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.  (Psalm 27:9)

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.  (Psalm 51:14-15)

O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee.  Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry.  (Psalm 88:1-2)

He is not only the God of David’s salvation, He is the God of your salvation.  As a Believer, your sins are forgiven and your eternal destiny is assured.

RESPONSE: Join the Prophet Habakkuk in the following declaration of faith to the God of Salvation

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:  Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Salvation and God of My Salvation.

SHADE UPON YOUR RIGHT HAND

REFERENCE:  The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon your right hand.

(Psalm 121:5)

REVELATION: The right hand, as used in Scripture, is symbolic of protection, power, and honor.  As the Shade Upon Your Right Hand, God keeps, protects, and empowers you.  In a time of great difficulty, David looked around and found no one to stand with him until he cried out to the Lord:

I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.  (Psalm 142:4-5)

Then the psalmist declared:  “I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope” (Psalm 16:8-9).

He confidently proclaimed: “Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory”  (Psalm 73:23-24).

RESPONSE:  You are not alone.  He is the shade upon your right hand, standing with you to cover and protect.  Meditate on Psalm 121, which describes the benefits of God as the Shade Upon Your Right Hand:

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. (Psalm 121)

Take time to worship God, the Shade Upon Your Right Hand.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Shade Upon Your Right Hand.

SHADOW

REFERENCE: For thou hast been…a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. (Isaiah 25:4)

REVELATION:  The “terrible ones” in this verse refers to the enemies of God’s people. When the blasts from the enemy are coming against you like the relentless heat of the sun or a terrible winter storm crashing against a wall, His Shadow is the place where you can retreat.  God will shelter you there in His presence, safe from the heat and the storm.

The psalmist David spoke often of God as his Shadow.  He prayed:

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.  (Psalm 17:8-9)

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

(Psalm 57:1)

He declared:

How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. (Psalm 36:7-8)

Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. (Psalm 63:7)

The psalmist confirmed that “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).

The prophet Isaiah speaks of the “shadow of Egypt”, which is symbolic of being in bondage to sin and this sinful world (Isaiah 30:2-3).  He declares that shame and confusion result from trusting in the shadow of Egypt.   You will either come under the shadow of Egypt or the Shadow of God. What is your choice?

RESPONSE:  The Bride in the Song of Solomon is symbolic of the Bride of Christ.  She expressed the immense pleasure that she experienced when she came under the shadow of her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.  Won’t you join her and sit in His shadow for a while today?

As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.  (SOS 2:3-4)

Dwell in your secret place.  Rejoice in the shadow of His love. Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Shadow.

SHEPHERD

REFERENCE:  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)

REVELATION: The first reference to God as a Shepherd is in Genesis 48:15 where Jacob speaks of “…the God which shepherded me all my life long”.  Even though Jacob spent many years wandering from God, he realized that the Good Shepherd had been with him all the days of his life.

The classic passage on God as a Shepherd is Psalm 23 which describes Him as:

God Your Provision: Verse 1

God Your Peace: Verse 2

God Your Healer: Verse 3

God Your Protector: Verse 3

God Who Is There: Verse 4

God Your Banner:  Verse 5

God Your Eternal security: Verse 6

As pastoral people, Israel knew the functions of a good shepherd and could appreciate the full meaning of the title of God as Shepherd. In the New Testament, Jesus is portrayed as the Shepherd, manifesting  this title of God in human form. He knows you by name (John 10:14).  He seeks for those who are lost (Luke 15:37).  He leads His sheep, and they know His voice (John 10:45).

He is the Good Shepherd that lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11,15).  He is the Great Shepherd because of His resurrection (Hebrews 13:20). He is the Chief Shepherd over His Church (1 Peter 5:24).

RESPONSE:  The Bible says that “all we like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6).  Confess the Lord as your shepherd.  Humbly admit your need for His Guidance.

Praise God for His continuous care, even when you have wandered from the fold.  Thank God that when you strayed, He sought for you and brought you back.

Be assured that “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11).

Read Psalm 23 using this outline to gain a deeper understanding of God as your Shepherd:

The Person:  He is your Shepherd.

The Provision: He provides your needs.

The Peace: He makes you lie down and rest spiritually.

The Pathway  He leads you.

The Propitiation: He restores your soul.

The Purity: He leads you in paths of righteousness.

The Presence:      He is with you in the valley.

The Protection: His rod and staff comfort you.

The Preparation: He prepares a table for you.

The Power:  He anoints you.

The Plenty: He fills your cup.

The Promise For Life:       His goodness and mercy follow you.

The Promise For Eternity: He will take you to be with Him forever

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Shepherd.

SHIELD

REFERENCE: After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.  (Genesis 15:1)

REVELATION: The revelation of God as a spiritual shield was first made to Abraham in a vision recorded in Genesis 15.

Moses declared God to be the shield of Israel and of all those saved by the Lord:

Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.  (Deuteronomy 33:29)

David described the Lord as “…a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head” (Psalm 3:3).  Despite his adversities, David could glory in the Lord and lift up his head in victory because the Lord was his Shield.

The psalmist proclaimed that the Lord had given him the shield of salvation: “Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation” (Psalm 18:5).  He said that: “…thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield”  (Psalm 5:12). He proclaims that God is” my hiding place and my shield…” (Psalm 119:114).  He declared God to be His strength and shield:

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.  (Psalm 28:7)

God is your shield because you trust in His Name, another good reason to know the names of God:

Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice       in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.  (Psalm 33:20-21)

The Word of God is a shield.  Proverbs confirms that: “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him” (Proverbs 30:5).

In warfare, defenseless troops are soon defeated.  Spiritually, your faith in God is your defensive shield.  After listing the believer’s weapons of warfare, the Apostle Paul admonished:

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  (Ephesians 6:16)

The shield is used symbolically of your faith.  There are several types of faith mentioned in the Bible.  There is saving faith, the gift of faith, and the spiritual fruit of faith. But the word faith when used in relation to the shield of faith speaks of defensive faith.  This faith is a firm trust and confidence in God which  protects your whole being.  It protects you from flaming missiles of doubt and unbelief from the enemy and is a confident trust in God which deflects all the fiery arrows of the enemy.  The shield of faith is based on salvation: “Thou hast also given me the shield of thy  salvation…”  (Psalms 18:35).

Faith is not an assumption or presumption.  It is a fact based upon God's Word.  You can increase the strength of your shield of faith by hearing God's Word (Romans 10:17); acting upon your present faith (Romans 1:17); and seeking God (Hebrews 12:2).

The Bible proclaims that “…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). To increase faith, you must study the Word of God.  The shield of faith is the constant application of God's Word to the issues of life which results in a faith that enables you to overcome the evil forces of the world:

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  (1 John 5:4)

If you fail to give the Word of God priority in your life, it will only be a matter of time before your faith beings to dwindle because faith is based on the truth of God’s Word:

He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.  (Psalms 91:4)

The Scripture says “above all taking the shield of faith”.  This does not mean that the shield of faith is more important than the other parts of your spiritual armor, but that it is to cover all other spiritual weapons.  As your shield of faith, God is covering all of your spiritual armor and you can effectively battle everything that the enemy hurls at you.

RESPONSE:  You may encounter danger today, as it is everywhere in this sinful world.   You may have to dodge a few fiery darts from the enemy, but you need not fear.  You can depend on your shield of faith.  Join David in lifting up your head and rejoicing that the Lord is your Shield.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Shield.

SONG

REFERENCE: Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2)

REVELATION:  Three names of God are given in this passage:  God is your Strength, your Salvation, and your Song.  The names Strength and Salvation are dealt with in separate readings.  The Lord as your Song is the subject of this study.

God is described as “my Song” three times in the King James Version of the Bible, one in the key reference for this reading and the other two in Exodus 15:2 and Psalm 118:14.

After God led the nation of Israel out of slavery  and delivered them in the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, the people sang a powerful song recorded in Exodus 15.  Their worship acknowledged that:

The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.  (Exodus 15:2)

The psalmist David echoed this song in Psalm 118 declaring: “The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation” (Psalm 118:14).

God is the Strength of His people, He is their Song, and He is their Salvation.  The knowledge of these truths enable you to “..trust and not be afraid” (Isaiah 12:2).

RESPONSE:  Are you fearful?  Trust in the God who is your Strength, your Song, and your Salvation and your fears will dissipate.  Make this declaration:

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my       strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2)

He is your strength.  He is your salvation. Go forth today with a song of praise.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Song.

STRENGTH

REFERENCE:  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

(Psalm 28:7)

REVELATION:  The key reference identifies God as “my Strength and my Shield”.  We dealt previously with the title Shield. This study addresses God your Strength.

The psalmist spoke often of God as his Strength. He prayed “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).  He exclaimed:  “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength” (Psalm 18:1).

David credited the Lord, his Strength, with giving him the ability to battle successfully:  “Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight” (Psalm 144:1).  David explained that “…the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble” (Psalm 37:39).  He proclaimed:  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).

In a time of great trouble, David relied on God’s strength and declared: “…My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever” (Psalm 73:26).  The really great news is that what God was to David, He is to you also.  He is your Strength,

Isaiah declared: “For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress…” (Isaiah 25:4).  The prophet Jeremiah called the Lord “…my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction…” (Jeremiah 16:19).  The Apostle Paul learned that the strength of the Lord was best manifested in his own weaknesses:

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

(2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

RESPONSE:  The Prophet Isaiah proclaimed the truth that:

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  (Isaiah 40:29-31)

If you are in need of strength today, take time to wait in the presence of the God who is your Strength.  If you need guidance, declare as the psalmist did:  “God is my strength and power: and he makes my way perfect”  (2 Samuel 22:33).

The Apostle Paul spoke of times when he was weak, and revealed the truth that when you are weak, God is strong.  He said: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Strength.

STRONG AND MIGHTY IN BATTLE

REFERENCE:  Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:8)

REVELATION: There is always something to battle in life: Failing health, difficult relationships, fleshly desires, financial problems, and negative circumstances.  But you do not fight alone. Your God is Strong in battle.  Your God is Mighty.

The Old Testament records conflicts too numerous to list where God showed Himself as Strong and Mighty in Battle in behalf of His people. The psalmist may have been reflecting back on this when he declared: “Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand” (Psalm 89:13).  You do not have to fight the battles of life alone.  The Lord who is Strong and Mighty in Battle fights with you.  He has all the hosts of Heaven at His disposal, and He has equipped you with powerful spiritual weapons that are strong and mighty to pull down the strongholds of the enemy.  The Apostle Paul confirmed that:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.  (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

RESPONSE:  What battles are you facing today? Thank God for showing Himself strong in your behalf.  Put on your spiritual armor and then go forth knowing that you do not battle alone.

…Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…(Ephesians 6:10-18)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Strong and Mighty In Battle.

STRONG TOWER

HIGH TOWER

REFERENCE:  The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.  (Proverbs 18:10)

The Lord is my…high tower.  (Psalm 18:2)

REVELATION: A strong, high tower is an impregnable fortress which protects from assaults.  The psalmist David declared regarding his the Lord:

Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:  My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.  (Psalm 144:1-2)

God teaches you how to war spiritually. He is your Strength, Fortress, Deliverer, Shield, and Strong and High Tower in the battles of life.  On the day David was finally delivered from all of his enemies, including Saul, His declaration of praise was…

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.  (2 Samuel 22:2-3)

The Bible declares that the name of the Lord is a Strong Tower into which you can retreat for safety in times of trouble: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10).

The psalmist David declared:

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. (Psalm 9:9-10)

When you use the name of God as your Strong and High Tower, you are placing your trust in Him.  When problems and trials batter your life with hurricane force, you are safe because you have taken refuge in His name.  You stand firm and immoveable in this powerful name:

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. (Psalm 51:-3-4)

RESPONSE:  Declare the name of God as your Strong and High Tower in prayer.  Then claim this promise.

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.  (Isaiah 54:17)

Whenever you face adversity, run into the Strong and High Tower of the name of the Lord!

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Strong Tower and High Tower.

SUN

REFERENCE:  For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)

REVELATION: No planets in the Universe, including our own, could exist without the Sun. Without the Sun's heat and light, the Earth would be a lifeless dark ball of ice-coated rock. The Sun warms our seas, stirs our atmosphere, generates weather patterns, and gives energy to the growing green plants that provide the food and oxygen necessary for life on Earth.

The title of the God as our Sun provides many spiritual parallels that may be drawn from the natural Sun.  As the world cannot exist without the Sun, we cannot exist without the Lord God Our Sun.  Not only did He create us, He sustains us with life: “For in him we live, and move, and have our being…” (Acts 17:28).

The Sun was made to rule in the natural world:

And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.  (Genesis 1;16-18)

As the Sun brings light to the world, God’s Son, Jesus Christ is the Light of the World spiritually  (John 8:12).   John the Revelator describes His face as “…like the sun shining in its strength” (Revelation 1:16).

The Sun in the natural world is no respecter of persons.  It shines on both the just and the unjust. The same is true spiritually because God is no respecter of persons (Matthew 5:45).  Whoever comes to Him, repents, and receives Jesus Christ as Savior will be received:

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. (Acts 10:34-35)

The prophet Isaiah proclaimed:

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:2)

As the Sun gives energy to the earth, God energizes His people:

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  (Isaiah 40:31)

To those who fear His name, the God has promised:

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.  (Malachi 4:2)

RESPONSE:  As a Believer, you are to reflect the light of God in your life.  Jesus said:

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  (Matthew 5:14-16)

How might you better reflect the light of God as spiritual sunshine in a dark world?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Sun.

SWORD

REFERENCE:   Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.  (Deuteronomy 33:29)

REVELATION: In this key reference, God is referred to as the “sword of excellency”, meaning He is the best sword, the best offense, and the best defense in spiritual battle.  He will save you, expose the lies of the enemy, and enable you to tread upon their high places which were elevated fortresses in Old Testament times that were dedicated to idol worship.

The battles you face in life are spiritual, and must be fought with spiritual weapons.  The purpose of your spiritual armor is to enable you to stand against the wiles (deceit, cunning, and craftiness) of the enemy, Satan. It is your responsibility to put on this armor:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

(Ephesians 6:10-12)

The phrase “put” on” means to "put on once and for all.”  Your spiritual armor is not like an athletic uniform you put on at game time.  You put on the armor once and for all and leave it on for the rest of your life.  Just as a soldier on the battlefield does not take his armor off in the midst of combat, you will not surrender your armor until you go to be with the Lord.

An important piece of this armor is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. God and His Word are one, so when we acknowledge God as our spiritual Sword, we are acknowledging the Word of God as our spiritual weapon.  Ephesians 6:13 says to “take unto you the whole armor of God”. To take something is to get hold of it, grasp it, and draw it to yourself.  To truly experience God as Your Sword you must come to know and effectively use the Sword of the Spirit.

The Word of God is a spiritual Sword that can be used both defensively and offensively. The Word is a defensive weapon when you use it to defend against the attacks of Satan. It is an offensive weapon when you use it to claim territory for the Lord by sharing the message of salvation, deliverance, and healing.

There are two different words used for the Word of God. One word is "logos" which refers to the total written Word of God, the complete revelation of what God has said. The second word, "rhema," refers to a specific Word of God that has special application to a certain situation. This is the word used in this passage which calls the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God.  The Sword of God’s Word is to be specifically applied to every battle in life which you face.

When tempted, Jesus used specific ("rhema") sayings of God, applicable to each immediate temptation. To be able to do this requires familiarity with the total Word of God.   If you are to use the Sword of the Word by applying specific Scriptures applicable to immediate battles, then you must have knowledge of God's total revelation.

RESPONSE:  Whatever battles you are facing, go to the sword of God’s Word to prepare. Make a new commitment to the Word of God.  Set aside a time each day to read the Word.  Learn how to study the Word.  Check out the Harvestime course entitled “Creative Bible Study Methods” available free at http://www.harvestime.org.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Sword. Study how Jesus met every temptation with the Sword of the Word of God and summarize what you learn (Matthew 4).

THE NAME

REFERENCE:  I …fear this glorious and fearful name (Hashem), the Lord thy God;

(Deuteronomy 28:58)

REVELATION:  Hashem is a Hebrew word for God that means “the name”.  “Hashem”, or The Name, is the title used in the key reference for this study. Exodus 20:7 commands:  “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7).  When reading the Torah or praying, Jews who come across the name of God will substitute the word Hashem as they are concerned about potentially blaspheming God by misusing His name.

The question arises then, is the use of God’s name Yahweh,  Jehovah, or any of His other names wrong? Is it blasphemy to speak His names, or should we use Hashem as a substitute? The answer is that there is no biblical reason to use Hashem in the place of God’s names. No passage in Scripture instructs us not to use His name. In fact, if God didn’t want us to use His many names, He would not have revealed them to us.

God instructed the priests to bless Israel by placing His name upon them:

Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:23-27)

Israel was blessed because the name of the Lord rested upon them.

Special promises are made to those who love God and know His name:

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.  (Psalm 91:14-16)

God’s name is the guarantee of His faithfulness:

For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people. (1 Samuel 12:22)

RESPONSE:  The world frequently uses God’s name in profanity.  As followers of Christ, we seek to hallow God’s name and we must never use it in a careless, profane, or unworthy manner.  Take time in prayer to examine your speech, attitudes, and conduct.  Do these honor or dishonor The Name?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding The Name (Hashem).

TRUTH

REFERENCE:  And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.  (Exodus 34:6)

REVELATION:  The word truth means to uncover, open up, and expose.  In order for something to be true, it must meet three criteria:

-First: It must be universal and apply to everyone.

-Second:  It must be uniform and apply to everyone equally.

The criteria is same for old and young, rich and poor, and all ethnicities.

-Third: It must be unending, meaning it is eternally valid.

So what is truth according to the Bible?

God is truth. The Bible states that God lives in truth and His eyes are upon the truth.       His paths, works, counsel, grace, and Word are truth. God reveals truth and judges on the       basis of truth. His truth is eternal and unlimited. He wants all men to know the truth.  He       is called the God of Truth who is abundant in truth (Exodus 34:6).

Jesus is truth.  Jesus is truth revealed in the flesh. He is the True Light, True Bread, True Vine, and is full of truth.  He is the Faithful and True Witness who bore record of the truth.        He is the Way and the Truth that leads to God and the truth that sets you free (John 14:6).

The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth (John 15:26).

The Word of God is truth, inspired by the Holy Spirit of Truth (John 17:17).

Salvation, based on the Gospel as revealed in the Word, is true (Hebrews 2:3).

The true Church is rooted in truth and is the pillar and ground of the truth

(1 Timothy 3:15).

The anointing of God is truth (1 John 2:27).

Jesus said that in the end-times “…there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24).  “If it were possible” means that if you are grounded in truth, it is not possible to be deceived.  We learn from Exodus 34:6 that God is Truth and is abundant in truth.  Every truth you need for every situation in life and for all eternity is found in the God of Truth.

RESPONSE:  As you will learn when you study the names of the Holy Spirit, one of His titles is the Spirit Of Truth.  As a born-again, Spirit-filled Believer, you need not be deceived:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16-17)

If you are confused, facing a difficult decision, or feel you have been deceived, bind the spirits of deception and ask the Spirit of Truth to reveal the truth to you.

God’s Word is Truth.  Immerse yourself in it and you will know and experience the Truth.  And remember:  A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with only an argument.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding God’s name Truth.

WALL OF FIRE

REFERENCE:  For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. (Zechariah 2:5)

REVELATION: This title is used only once in Scripture when God declared that He would be a Wall of Fire around His people and the glory in their midst.  (For study of the title Glory, see the study on the name “God Of Glory”.)  The name Wall Of Fire was given as part of a prophetic promise to Israel concerning the restoration of Jerusalem, but is a revelation for all people of God.

In Bible times, walls around cities provided protection from invaders, enemies, wild beasts, etc.  The average height of the walls around Jerusalem were 39 feet, with a thickness of over eight feet, and with 34 watch towers.  But God’s people have a greater protection than these man-made walls. God said He would be a wall of fire around them, an invisible shield of protection.

God is also described as a Consuming Fire that brings judgment on evil (Hebrews 12:29). As a Believer, you need not fear the consuming fire of God because you walk in the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.  That fire becomes a Wall of Fire of protection for you:

The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. (Isaiah 33:14-17)

God is a Wall of Fire of protection to those who:

-Walk righteously.

-Speak uprightly.

-Despise unjust gain.

-Refuse to take bribes.

-Refuse to listen to negative reports.

-Keep their eyes from evil.

To them. He declares: “…I the Lord will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her” (Zechariah 2:5).

RESPONSE: Use the list in Isaiah 33:14-17 to examine your life. Do you:

-Walk righteously?

-Speak uprightly?

-Despise unjust gain?

-Refuse to take a bribe?

-Refuse to listen to negative reports?

-Keep your eyes from evil?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Wall Of Fire.

WAYMAKER

REFERENCE:  I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters. (Isaiah 43:15-16)

REVELATION:  Their temple was destroyed and the Jewish people were in exile for decades.  There was no hope, no one to help them.  In the midst of these dire circumstances, God brought a powerful message to them:

I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters. (Isaiah 43:15-16)

First, God declared that despite their current situation, He was still their creator and King. No matter how bleak things look right now, you can be assured that God is your Creator and He is your King.  He created you, He knows you, and He is ruler over every situation in your life.

Next, God reminded them of His faithfulness in times past when He supernaturally delivered them at the Red Sea when they were being pursued by Pharoah’s army.  There was no way back, and no way forward, but God made a way where there was no way, the Red Sea miraculously opened before them and they crossed on dry ground.  God sees the situation you are in and He will make a way for you just as He did for Israel and just as He has done for you in times past.

There was a man in the New Testament who, like the nation of Israel, had lost hope.  His story is recorded by John:

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.  (John 5:2-9)

This man had lost all hope for healing and he had no one to help him.  Then Jesus stopped by and everything changed.  Jesus made a way where there was no way, the man was healed, and he walked down the path of life to a new destiny.

RESPONSE:  You may feel you have no one to help you in the difficult circumstances of life, but if you are a Believer you have God, the Waymaker.  Use the words of this song to worship Him as you profess in faith that He will make a way.

Verse 1

You are here, moving in our midst, I worship You, I worship You

You are here, working in this place, I worship You, I worship You

Chorus

You are Waymaker, miracle worker

Promise keeper, light in the darkness

My God, that is who You are

You are Waymaker, miracle worker

Promise keeper, light in the darkness

My God, that is who You are

Verse 2

You are here, touching every heart, I worship You, I worship You

You are here, healing every heart, I worship You, I worship You

Verse 3

You are here, turning lives around, I worship You, I worship You

You are here, mending every heart, I worship You, yeah, I worship You, Lord

Bridge

Even when I don’t see it, You’re working

Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working

You never stop, You never stop working

You never stop, You never stop working

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Waymaker.

YOUR GOD: GOD OF MY LIFE

REFERENCE:  Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.  (Psalm 42:8)

REVELATION:  According to the key reference, David prayed unto the God of My Life, which is another title for our awesome God.   David’s life was intricately entwined with God. He proclaimed that the Lord was the strength of his life:  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”  (Psalm 27:1).

God gave you physical life at conception and spiritual life through the born-again experience in Jesus Christ.  Jesus came that you might have life:

For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us… (1 John 1:2)

God not only created you, but your life is intricately entwined with His life:  “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring”  (Acts 17:28).

The psalmist declared that he had one major desire in his life and that was to be in the presence of the God of his life:

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.  (Psalm 27:4-6)

If that your desire?

RESPONSE:  Of all the names of God which you have studied in this section, this is perhaps the most important:  God Of My Life.  Is this what God is to you?  Is He the God of  your life?   You can study all of the names of God, but if He is not the God of Your Life then you will only have intellectual knowledge.

David had the assurance that “ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”  (Psalm 23:6).  You can have that same assurance, both now and for eternity.  God is the God of your Life.  He is with you. For life and all eternity.

The God of your life is the strength of your life.  With God’s strength flowing through you today, you can conquer every circumstance.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name God Of My Life.

PART TWO

THE NAMES AND TITLES OF

JESUS CHRIST

Each name of Jesus Christ, includes the references for that name; biblical revelation concerning it; and an opportunity for response through prayer, praise, declaration, and application using the name.  Because every name of Jesus is an inexhaustible study, you are encouraged to record in a journal additional revelations regarding each name.  If you are not familiar with the doctrine of the Jesus, obtain the Harvestime course entitled “Biblical Theology” available free at:

http://www.harvestime.org

ADVOCATE AND INTERCESSOR

REFERENCE:  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  (1 John 2)

But this man (Jesus), because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  (Hebrews 7:24-25)

REVELATION: A lawyer is a legal advocate who represents you in a court of law. Your advocate is an intercessor who defends you, secures justice on your behalf, and orchestrates a pardon.  Jesus Christ is your spiritual advocate before God and ministers in your behalf in all of these capacities.  On earth, the Holy Spirit pleads with you to refrain from sin and convicts you of sin (John 16:8).  Jesus advocates your cause before God against the accuser of the brethren, Satan (Revelation 12:10; Job 1 and 2).

Christ’s representation in your behalf includes the fact that you are a sinner, guilty as charged, deserving of conviction which is spiritual death through separation from God:  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  But He also brings the good news that He died for your sin. He took your punishment:

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  (Romans 5:6-8)

Because of what Jesus did in your behalf, you are justified before God when you accept Him as Savior:

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  (Romans 5:1-2)

Although you were once alienated from God, you are now His child:

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.  (Romans 5:10-11)

You are no longer a condemned prisoner of sin:

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  (Romans 8:1-2).

You are declared righteous and given the gift of eternal life:  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Christ’s ministry of advocacy and intercession in your behalf is continuous:

But this man (Jesus), because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  (Hebrews 7:24-25)

RESPONSE:  If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you stand condemned before God.  Repent, ask God to forgive you of your sins, and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

If you are a Believer, the next time that Satan, the accuser, attacks your mind by bringing up your past sin and shame, respond using Romans 5:1-2, 6-8, 10-11; 8:1-2.

Take time right now to thank Jesus that He is your Advocate and Intercessor who represents you before God and makes it possible for you to have a personal relationship with the Creator.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Advocate and Intercessor.

ALMIGHTY

MIGHTY GOD

REFERENCE:  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6 )

REVELATION:  The prophet Isaiah proclaimed of Christ:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6)

Scriptures abound to confirm Jesus is the Mighty God of which Isaiah prophesied.  He not only came from God, but He was God (John 1:1).

Jesus did not think it robbery to claim equality with God the Father (John 10:30), thus as God is called Almighty (Genesis 17:1), Jesus is also given the title Mighty God. He is the Creator and sustainer of all things (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:17).

The names Almighty and Mighty speak of Christ’s omnipotent power.  The names convey His unparalleled strength and ability to provide abundantly and perform the impossible.  Being Almighty, Jesus triumphs over every obstacle and opposition that you encounter.  He is not limited.  Nothing is too difficult for Him.

The Lord’s appeal to you as a Believer is:

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.  (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)

The more you separate yourself from sin and the things of the world, the more the Son of God will be revealed to you as the Mighty God.

RESPONSE:  John the revelator records that in Heaven “…they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God

Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints” (Revelation 15:3).

Use this verse to create your own original song to worship Jesus, the Almighty and Mighty.  Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Almighty and Mighty.

ALPHA AND OMEGA

BEGINNING AND THE END

FIRST AND LAST

REFERENCE:  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1:8)

REVELATION:  Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.  In identifying Himself by this name, our Lord is saying “I was there in the beginning of time and I will be there to the end of time and for all eternity. I am the first and I am the last.”

He is.  He was.  He is to come. The appeal to God’s people is “Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last”  (Isaiah  48:12).

Nothing happens outside the parameters of the beginning and the end. The Bible reveals that:

…he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:17-18)

As members of the Trinity, God and Jesus both share the title of First and Last, Beginning and the End:

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6)

One of the final proclamations from the Lord is: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Revelation 22:13).  Jesus was there at the beginning.  He will be there are the end.  He is also there with you right now, in the present.

RESPONSE:  Is Jesus truly everything, from A to Z, in your life? Are you spiritually thirsty for more of Him?  Claim this promise:

And he said…I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  (Revelation 21:6)

Sit quietly in His presence.  Drink deeply of His Spirit.  Be filled to overflowing

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.

ALTOGETHER LOVELY

REFERENCE:  His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. (Song of Songs 5:16)

REVELATION: The Song of Songs is a beautiful poetic book that describes the relationship between Jesus (referred to as the Bridegroom) and His people (referred to as the Bride).  The Song is an allegory, a story in which people, things, and events have symbolic meanings representing spiritual truths.

The cry of the Bride from the beginning of the Song is for intimacy with her Bridegroom. She appeals “Let Him kiss me and draw me” (chapter 1).  Chapters 1-4 describe the deepening relationship between the Bride and the Bridegroom as it develops in the secret place.

A group known as the Daughters of Jerusalem observes this loving relationship, and in SOS 5:9 they ask the Bride:  “What is your beloved more than another beloved, O fairest among women?” This is the cry of the world:  What does Jesus have to offer that is different from all others?  Who is He?

In answer to this question from the daughters of Jerusalem, the Bride describes her Bridegroom, although no words can adequately do so.  These are poetic descriptions that are symbolic of spiritual truths.  She describes His general appearance as being in the express image of God and His status as the chief among 10,000  (SOS 5:10).

Then, in verses 11-15, the Bride provides a detailed symbolic description of Him. Finally, in verse 16, she declares:  “…he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!”

The comprehensive statement is that He is Altogether Lovely. The word altogether means “completely and totally.”  The word lovely means “pleasant, enjoyable, and delightful.” The Bride declares her relationship to the Bridegroom as “my beloved and my friend”.   The word beloved  means “dearly loved, a much loved person”.  The word friend means “one attached to you by affection and esteem, one you enjoy being with.”

Her Bridegroom is Altogether Lovely, all she needs.  He is complete.  He is beloved and her best friend.

RESPONSE:  One of the most important question Jesus asked His Disciples was, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is a question every person must answer for themselves.  It is not what you know, but Who you know that determines your eternal destiny. What is your relationship to Jesus? Is He your beloved?  Is He your best friend?

It is not intellectual knowledge of the Bridegroom that sustains the Bride in the Song of Songs.  It is not emotions and feelings, for on occasion in the biblical account in the Song the Bridegroom withdraws the sense of His presence for a time.

Will you still follow your spiritual Bridegroom and love Him when you do not sense His presence?  Is your relationship based only on emotion or is it based on faith?  Who do YOU say that He is?  Is He Altogether Lovely to you?  If so, take time right now to express that to Him.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Altogether Lovely.

AMEN

THE FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS

REFERENCE:  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. (Revelation 3:14)

REVELATION:  The word “amen” is frequently used in Scripture as an expression of ratification and approval and is employed at the end of a prayer to indicate agreement.  The name Amen is only used once as a personal name for Jesus when John records:  “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14).  A true and faithful witness is one who can affirm what he has seen, heard, or experienced.  He can bear witness with a definitive “Amen”.

As the Amen, Jesus bears witness to all that is written in the Word of God (Revelation 1:5).  He is the divine Amen to the revelations of God.  Jesus was a witness from the beginning of time, so in Him both the faithfulness of God and the truthfulness of His Word are confirmed.

When questioned by Pilate “Art thou a King?”, Jesus answered:  “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” (John 18:37).  In His final message to the Church, Jesus called Himself a faithful and true witness:

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:9-11)

In Hebrew, the word amen  was a very strong affirmation (Numbers 5:22; Nehemiah 5:13; 8:6).  It was a formal, solemn, earnest statement meaning “I agree,” or “I affirm what was just said,” or “This is true.”  When God says “Amen,” it means “It is and shall be so.” This affirms the absolute truth and reliability of what is being stated. When man says “Amen,” it means “so let it be” which affirms his acquiescence to the truth of what is being conveyed.

Amen is basically saying yes to God’s promises.

Your employer may not keep his promises to you. Your friends may fail. Your children may not be truthful, or your spouse may abandon you.  But Jesus is always faithful. Always true.  He is  always providing the divine “Amen” to every promise in the Word of God: “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us”  (2 Corinthians 1:20).  Notice the connection between the two parts of this verse. The first half of the verse declares that all the promises of God are “yes” in Christ. The second half says that through Him, we declare our “amen” to God for His glory.  So through Jesus, God says yes to  His promises to us, and through Jesus we say yes to God in prayer by affirming by our Amen that He is the Faithful and True Witness.

Way’s Translation reads:

The same is true of all the promises of God:  They are affirmed by His, “I will” and sealed by His “Amen”.  And so God is glorified through our faith in His promises.

(2 Corinthians 1:19-20, Way’s Translation)

The Message translation puts it this way:

Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident.  God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us.  By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge, a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete. (2 Corinthians 1:20-22)

It is interesting that instead of ratifying His statements at the end with the word “amen” as we normally do, Jesus often began His statements with the words “truly” or “verily” followed by “I say to you…”  These words are repeated for emphasis.  He is actually saying “Amen, amen”, which is translated in most English versions of the Bible as “truly, truly” or “verily, verily.”

RESPONSE:  The name Amen does not just signal the end of a prayer. This title seals and affirms all of the promises of God.  As the Amen, Jesus verifies the ultimate truth of God’s Word. He is the essence and foundation of truth. He is truth personified. He is the faithful and true witness.  You can have full assurance and confidence that His words and promises are true and trustworthy. He is the Amen: “It is and shall be so.”

And for that, you should respond to Him right now with a heart-felt:  “AMEN–so let it be.”

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Amen.

ANGEL OF THE LORD

ANGEL OF HIS PRESENCE

ANGEL OF THE COVENANT

REFERENCE:  And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. (Genesis 16:7)

REVELATION:  The word “angel” means messenger, and throughout the Bible angels are dispatched from God as messengers to accomplish His purposes on earth. Genesis 21:17 is the first reference to a special angel, the Lord Jesus who is called the Angel of the Lord.

The Angel of the Lord is believed to be Old Testament appearances of Jesus Christ. The Angel of the Lord was not just from the Lord, He was the Lord. This belief is supported by the promises He makes, the actions He takes, and how He speaks for God in the first person.   The Angel of the Lord is also called:

The Angel of His Presence.  “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old”  (Isaiah 63:9).

The Angel of the Covenant.  “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:1).

Understanding this name of Christ is important because the Angel of the Lord ministers to you as a Believer in similar ways.  From the Old Testament record of  the Angel of the Lord, we can summarize the following purposes for His appearances:

The Angel of the Lord confirms God’s covenant.  God covenanted with Abraham to make him a personal, national, and universal blessing (Genesis 12:1-3). In the process of giving these promises, God cut an unconditional covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:8-21).  Later, when Abraham was called upon to sacrifice his promised son, Isaac, the Angel of the Lord confirmed this covenant with him (Genesis 22:11-18).  Jesus Christ was sent to confirm the new covenant of deliverance and forgiveness of sins.

The Angel of the Lord gives revelation. The Angel of the Lord revealed the birth of Samson to Manoah and his wife (Judges 13).  The entire book of Revelation is the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” which was written to show Believers what will happen in the end-times.

The Angel of the Lord commissions God’s servants. The Angel of the Lord commissioned Moses (Exodus 3:7-8); Gideon (Judges 6:11-23); Samson (Judges 13:1-21); and Isaiah (Isaiah 6).  Likewise, Jesus commissioned His disciples to go into all the world with the Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20).

The Angel of the Lord protects and delivers.  The Psalmist declared: “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7).  He confirmed that:  “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:10-12).  The New Testament proclaims a similar promise from Jesus:  “… for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5).

The Angel of the Lord bring a message of deliverance.  Jesus brings this same message of deliverance to us (Ephesians 1:5-7).

The Angel of the Lord leads God’s army.  The Captain of the hosts of God appeared to Joshua and promised him victory (Joshua 5:13-15.) Jesus is the Captain of the heavenly hosts who leads God’s people to victory over the enemy as we stand strong in Him  (Ephesians 6:10-18).  In the end-times, Jesus will lead the hosts of the army of God in final battle (Revelation 16:12-16).

The Angel of the Lord represents God. The Angel of His Presence who accompanied Israel in their wilderness trek represented God to Israel:  “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old”  (Isaiah 63:9.)  The Angel of the Lord disclosed God’s glory, as did Jesus when He was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14,18)

The Angel of the Lord calls people to spiritual commitment.  The Angel of the Lord called Jacob to faith in God, giving him a new name and leaving him with a new walk, symbolic of what the Lord does for Believers (Genesis 31:11-13; 32:24-32).  One of the ministries of Jesus is to call people to new levels of spiritual commitment.  He called His disciples from fishing and tax collecting to follow Him. He called Peter to walk on water and feed His sheep.  He called Zachias to come down from the tree, and Lazarus to come out of the tomb.  He challenged people to total commitment (Matthew 11:28-30).

The Angel of the Lord redeems.  Jacob spoke of the Angel which redeemed him from all evil (Genesis 48:15-16) and the Angel of the Lord redeemed Israel (Isaiah 63:9).  Jesus is our Redeemer (1 Peter 1:18-21).

The Angel of the Lord guides. The Angel of the Lord promised to guide Israel to their destination of the Promised Land. Jesus promised to guide Believers into all truth (John 16:13).  If you follow the guidance of the Lord, you will safely make it to your spiritual destination in this life and in eternity.

The Angel of the Lord comforts. The Angel of the Lord ministered comfort to Hagar (Genesis 16:7-13).  One of the purposes of Jesus was to heal the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18).  When Jesus departed for Heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit as a comforter (John 14;16-18).

The Angel of the Lord provides.  Divine provision was made for Hagar and her son in the wilderness (Genesis 16:7-13; 21:14-19).  Jesus said He would provide good things for His children (Matthew 7:7-11) and the Apostle Paul confirmed:  “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

The Angel of the Lord is an advocate and intercessor.  Zechariah pictures the Angel of the Lord as an advocate before God, defending His people against the accusations of Satan.  (Zechariah 3:1-17).  Jesus is our advocate, defending us before God on the basis of our position in Him  (Hebrews 7:25) and He is the mediator between us and God (1 Timothy 2:5).

RESPONSE:  Why is it important for you to understand the Biblical teaching regarding the name Angel of the Lord?

First,  it reveals that Jesus existed before His earthly ministry as recorded in the New Testament.  His existence and ministry did not start at birth  (John 1:2; 8:58; 17:5,24).

Second, it assures that there was forgiveness of sins in Old Testament times (Isaiah 63:9).  They were saved by looking forward to the cross, their belief being expressed each time they made the blood sacrifice. We are saved by looking back on the final sacrifice of Jesus Christ at the cross.

Third, the closing message of the Old Testament which references the Angel of the Covenant who is Lord Jesus Christ, predicts His New Testament coming:

Behold, I send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me. And the Lord [the Messiah], Whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; the Messenger or Angel of the covenant, Whom you desire, behold, He shall come, says the Lord of hosts.

(Malachi 3:1, TAB).

The Angel of the Covenant is the Angel of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  He came to earth the first time in fulfillment of this prophecy.  He will return again as He promised, according to the terms of His Covenant. Take time to meditate on and rejoice in this truth:  The Angel of the Lord is returning!

The prophet Isaiah speaks of the Angel of the Lord and His ministry to Israel stating:  “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old”  (Isaiah 63:9).  The Angel of the Lord, Jesus Christ, ministers in your behalf in similar ways as He did in these Old Testament manifestations.  His presence will save you.  Because of His love and pity, He redeems you.  He will bear you up and carry you through this day and all of your days.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Angel of the Lord.

ANOINTED

REFERENCE:  The kings of the earth take their places; the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed One (the Messiah, the Christ). (Psalm 2:2)

REVELATION: To anoint means to dedicate or consecrate someone or something by applying oil which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The name Christ in the Greek language means "the anointed one.” Jesus introduced His earthly ministry by proclaiming:  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me...” (Luke 4:18).  Jesus made it clear that it was by the anointing of the Holy Spirit He was able to...

...preach the Gospel  to the poor...heal the brokenhearted...preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind...to set at liberty them that are bruised...to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19)

If it was necessary for Jesus to be anointed to minister to others, then it is necessary for us also. There are three  different anointings mentioned in the Old Testament.  They are natural examples or types of spiritual experiences which God wants you to experience.

The Leper's Anointing:  Relationship.  Leprosy is a dreaded disease which slowly consumes the flesh of its victim.  The  toes, fingers, and other body parts eventually rot and fall off.  The Bible uses leprosy as symbolic of sin.  In the Old Testament law, God gave specific instructions for the cleansing of a person with leprosy.  Study these in Leviticus 14.  Each of the instructions are symbolic of the cleansing you must experience spiritually in order to be anointed of God.

-A bird bearing away the guilt of sin:  One bird slain, its blood put on the other one which is released to fly away. This is symbolic of Jesus shedding His blood to take away your sin.

-Repentance and confession: This is what you must do to be born again and continuously cleansed from sin.

-Running water:  This is symbolic of water baptism.

-The anointing of oil: This is symbolic of the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.  Note that the oil was to be placed on the ear, thumb, and toe of the leper:  The ear, to be able to hear God's voice. The hand, to be able to serve Him.  The toe in order to walk in proper relationship with Him.

The Priest's Anointing:  Sanctification.  Read about this in Exodus 29 and 30 and in Leviticus 8.  The priestly anointing speaks of being set apart for God’s service and living a life that is in harmony with His Word.

The Leader's Anointing:  Ministry. The leader's anointing was one which established a person’s God-given position and gave him the power to fulfill that ministry.  The leader's anointing was to impart the position, power, and authority of the office.  The New Testament promise of this anointing of power is found in Acts 1:8.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  (Acts 1:8)

The New Testament anointing of position is described in Ephesians: “And He gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some,  pastors, and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11).

This anointing enables you to fulfill God’s purposes (Luke 4:18); teaches you what you need to know (1 John 2:27); and destroys the yoke of sin, the flesh, and man (Leviticus 26:13; Romans 7:15; Matthew 23:4).

RESPONSE:  On what basis does God give the anointing?  God does not anoint on the basis of intelligence, education, experience, abilities, or outward appearance.  The anointing is based on the attitude of the heart (1 Samuel 16:6-7).  Examine the attitude of your heart. Ask Him to remove anything in your life that would hinder your relationship with Him.

David speaks of fresh oil, which is symbolic of the fresh, continued anointing of God: “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn; I shall be anointed with fresh oil” (Psalms 92:10).  Come humbly before God.  Ask for a fresh anointing for holy living and for the power to minister in the position He has ordained for you.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Anointed.

APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST OF OUR PROFESSION

PART ONE:  APOSTLE

REFERENCE:  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.  (Hebrews 3:1)

REVELATION:   Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of Our Profession.  This study focuses on His title Apostle, and the subsequent study considers His role as a High Priest.

An apostle is one who is sent or commissioned. The term apostle appears more than 80 times in the New Testament, and in Hebrews 3:1 the word is applied to Jesus Christ as the Apostle of our profession of faith.  An apostle is an official representative charged with a commission.  Jesus was sent by God with a commission to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom and give His life for sinful mankind.  In times past, God spoke to mankind through creation and His prophets.  When Jesus was sent to earth as an Apostle, God spoke through His Son:

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:1-3)

Jesus repeatedly declared the divine mandate of His Apostleship:

“My meat is to do the will of him that send me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34).

“But I know him; for I am from him, and he hath sent me” (John 7:29).

“And he that sent me is with me…” (John 8:29).

“And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me” (John 12:45).

Jesus fulfilled His mandate as an Apostle and anointed and commissioned others as apostles, including His twelve disciples and men like the Apostle Paul.  They were to carry on the work of the Kingdom of God:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  (Matthew 28:18-20)

No one will serve as the Apostle of our profession in the same capacity as Jesus did, but the office of an apostle is one of the vital ministries of the Church:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.  (Ephesians 4:11-13)

An apostle is one who has a special ability to develop new churches in different places and cultures and oversee a number of churches as a supervisor. They often desire to minister in places where others have not labored (2 Corinthians 10:16).

Apostle means "a delegate, one sent with full power and authority to act for another.”  The apostle has a special authority or ability to extend the Gospel throughout the world by developing organized bodies of Believers.  Modern terms used by the Church for an apostle are missionary and church-planter.

God is the one who selects apostles (1 Corinthians 12:28) and there are special signs which confirm that a person has the gift of being an apostle:

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.  (2 Corinthians 12:12)

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people... (Acts 5:12)

RESPONSE:  Hebrews 3:1 says to consider Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.  “Consider” means to think about something or someone carefully, especially in order to make a choice or decision.

The original Greek word for consider in the context of Luke 12:27 means, "to perceive, remark, observe, understand and to attentively fix one’s eyes or mind upon.” Matthew used similar vocabulary, which translates it as “to learn thoroughly, examine carefully; to consider well.”

Consider and fix your heart upon Jesus as the Apostle of your faith as you prepare to face the day.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Apostle.

APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST OF OUR PROFESSION

PART TWO:  HIGH PRIEST

REFERENCE:  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.  (Hebrews 3:1)

REVELATION:   Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of Our Profession.  The previous study focused on His role as an Apostle.  This study concerns His position as High Priest.

In Old Testament times, the high priest was the supreme religious leader of the Israelites. The office of the high priest was hereditary and was traced from Aaron, the brother of Moses, of the Levite tribe (Exodus 28:1; Numbers 18:7). The high priest had to be whole physically (without any physical defects), and holy in conduct and lifestyle (Leviticus 21:6-8).

The most important duty of the high priest was to conduct the service on the Day of Atonement, the tenth day of the seventh month of every year. Only he was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place behind the veil to stand before God. Having made a sacrifice for himself and for the people, he brought the blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled it on the mercy seat which represented God’s throne (Leviticus 16:14-15). He did this to make atonement for himself and the people for all their sins committed during the year just ended (Exodus 30:10).  This particular service is symbolic of the ministry of Jesus as our High Priest (Hebrews 9:1-28).

By understanding the role and symbolism of the high priest, you can better comprehend the significance of Christ offering Himself for our sins once for all (Hebrews 9:26; 10:10, 12). Through Christ’s sacrifice for you, you are sanctified and set apart for Him. By entering God’s presence on your behalf, Christ has secured for you an eternal redemption:

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:11-15).

Our High Priest offered up the sacrifice for sin once and for all:

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. (Hebrews 7:25-27)

As our High Priest, Jesus is the minister of the true tabernacle in Heaven:

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

(Hebrews 8:1-2)

Your High Priest was tempted in all points as you are, yet without sin, so He understands your challenges:

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Because He understands temptation from personal experience, He provides help when you are tempted, tested, and tried:

For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering]. (Hebrew 2:17-18, TAB)

Jesus is both the Apostle and High Priest of your profession, meaning that by fulfilling these roles He is the living proof of your confession of faith.

RESPONSE:  Hebrews 3:1 says to consider Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.  As defined in the previous study,  the word consider means to think about something or someone carefully, especially in order to make a choice or decision.  Take some time today to do this.  Meditate on this verse:

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. (Hebrews 7:26-27)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name High Priest.

ARM OF THE LORD

REFERENCE:   Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

(Isaiah 53:1-4)

REVELATION:  The Arm of the Lord is one of the titles given to Jesus through the inspired word delivered by the Prophet Isaiah.  From this reference we learn that the Arm of the Lord will be as a tender plant and as a root out of dry ground which, in the natural, is without form or comeliness.

The Arm of the Lord is symbolic of God’s strength, power, and authority as manifested in His Son, Jesus Christ.  As the Arm of the Lord, Jesus knows no limitations. The Prophet Isaiah declared:

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. (Isaiah 59:1)

Jeremiah also referred to the Arm of the Lord,  saying:

Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.  (Jeremiah 32:17)

RESPONSE: Jesus Christ, the Arm of the Lord, stands ready to minister in your behalf. Share your deepest needs with Him, knowing that nothing is too difficult for Him.  His arm is extended to you right now, beckoning you to come into His presence and receive all that you need.

A promise to claim:  “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them”

(Deuteronomy 33:27).  The everlasting Arms are under you today.  You have nothing to fear.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Arm of the Lord.

AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION

AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF FAITH

REFERENCE:  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. (Hebrews 5:9)

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

(Hebrews 12:2)

REVELATION: The author of a book conceives, creates, develops, corrects, and edits the manuscript.  Jesus is called by two names that relate to an author.  He is the Author of  Eternal Salvation and the Author and Finisher of Faith.

Author of Eternal Salvation.  As the Author of Eternal Salvation,  Jesus fulfilled the plan of God which was conceived from the foundation of the World:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

(John 3:16-17)

Jesus authored, finished, and secured your eternal salvation on the cross of Calvary.  The only question is, will you avail yourself of His finished work?

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?  (Hebrews 2:3-4)

Author and Finisher of Faith. Jesus is also the Author and Finisher of your faith. This means He not only began it, He will finish it.  Jesus is still at work on the story of your life.  A good author in the literary world spends a lot of time doing rewrites.  As the divine Author, Jesus is editing out the irrelevant, correcting mistakes, and rewriting the script of your life.  Your story isn’t over yet.  You are a work in progress:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

Jesus gives you saving and sustaining faith.  He also provides miracle-working faith for ministry, and in the end He will give you dying faith as that exhibited by the patriarchs, prophets, and other Believers in the Bible who went confidently into His presence when their lives ended.

RESPONSE:  Your story isn’t finished yet, but you can be assured that the divine Author will complete the manuscript of your life.  The Author and Finisher of your Salvation and Faith, will complete what He has started.  Ask Him to edit out the irrelevant, correct your mistakes, and rewrite the script of your life.

You can be assured that what Jesus has started, He will finish:

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. ( Philippians 1:6)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names of Jesus related to Author.

BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD

REFERENCE:   And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. (Revelation 3:14)

REVELATION: Jesus was the Beginning of the Creation of God, a title revealed along with a triad of titles in Revelation 3:14.  He is the Amen (already discussed), and the faithful and true witness (which will be discussed later).  The third title Jesus uses to describe Himself is: The Beginning of the Creation of God.

As the Beginning of God's creation it does not mean that Jesus is a created being. It refers to the fact that He is part of the Trinity of God who was there at the beginning and originated the creation process described in Genesis chapter 1.

We know that Jesus was active in creation by what is revealed by the Holy Spirit in the book of John:

In the beginning [before all-time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.  He was present originally with God.  All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.  (John 1:1-3, TAB)

The Word is another name for Jesus.  The Word was with God and was God at the time of creation.  The Word is God.  As the Beginning of the Creation of God, He sustains creation by His power:

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16-17)

RESPONSE:  Take a walk outside today and meditate on the beauties of creation.  Jesus was there at the beginning of creation and He is with you today, walking right beside you. Meditate on these verses:

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet…O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!  (Portions of Psalm 8:3-9)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name the Beginning of the Creation of God.

BELOVED

REFERENCE:  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  (Matthew 3:17)

REVELATION: The word beloved means “precious, adored, one who is dearly loved.”  It is a title of endearment that the Father uses for His Son.  Through the Prophet Isaiah, God declared:  “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles” (Matthew 12:18).  This passage confirmed that God’s Beloved would come under the anointing of His Spirit to represent God in the World.

God used the name Beloved at the time of Christ’s baptism:

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 12:18)

At the transfiguration described in Mark 9:1-7: “…there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him” (Mark 9:7).

In the parable of the householder in Luke 20:9-16, several servants were sent to the rebellious husbandmen who were working the land, but only one is called Beloved (Luke 20:13).  The husbandmen were symbolic of the people of Israel who continuously rejected God’s prophets.  Finally, God sent His Beloved Son who they also rejected and killed.

Further consideration will be given to the various aspects of Christ’s sonship  in the study on the name “Son”, but the affirmations from God using the name Beloved Son for Jesus confirm the intimacy of their relationship.

The really good news is that because of the Beloved, you are accepted by God:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6)

RESPONSE:  Rejoice that because God has made you accepted in the Beloved, Jesus Christ, you are also beloved by God.  Charles Spurgeon once challenged his congregation to put their hand on their heart and make the following declaration.  Why don’t you do this right now?

“I may not be accepted by my fellow-creatures.  I may not be acknowledged by them and certainly before my God I can never be accepted in myself.  But in the Beloved, clothed with His righteousness and standing in His person as a member of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones, I am accepted in the beloved.”

The Song of Songs is an allegory describing the love of the Bridegroom, Jesus, for His Bride who is representative of all true Believers in Jesus Christ.  The Bride refers to her Bridegroom as “Beloved.”  Join the Bride in making these declarations of worship:

“My Beloved is mine and I am His…” (SOS 2:16)

“This is my Beloved and this is my friend.” (SOS 5:16)

“I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine.”  (SOS 6:3)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Beloved.

BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE

REFERENCE:  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. (1 Timothy 6:15)

REVELATION: The key reference is the only use of this title in Scripture.  The word blessed is from a Greek word which means “supremely, happy, consecrated, divine, and holy.”  Potentate is from a Latin word meaning “one who possesses great power.” Potentate indicates a sovereign power, which fittingly describes Jesus Christ.

The fact that Jesus is the Only Potentate means that there is no rival to His power.  As the Only Potentate, Jesus does not share His position with any earthly king or government. His decrees are established in Heaven, meaning that no man has the power to alter or abolish His Word:  “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).

As the Blessed and Only Potentate, Jesus is the head of the Church:

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:18-20)

Jesus is the only Savior of mankind: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).  Salvation cannot be obtained in the name of Moses, Mohammed, Joseph Smith, Allah, or any other name.

There is no other name so powerful:

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; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

RESPONSE:  It is one thing to understand that Jesus is the Blessed and only Potentate over the world, but it is another thing to acknowledge His power and authority in your personal life. Do your words, actions, and attitudes reflect the fact that Jesus is the ruler in your life, or are you ruled by your circumstances, emotions, and attitudes?

Thank Jesus for being your Blessed and Only Potentate.  Rest in the fact that even when life seems to be spiraling out of control, He reigns as Potentate and is in complete control of every single detail.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Blessed and Only Potentate.

BRANCH

REFERENCE: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.  (Isaiah 11:1-2)

REVELATION: One names of Jesus revealed in the Old Testament is the Branch.  Consider the words of the prophets:

Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch.

(Zechariah 3:8)

…Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.  (Zechariah 6:12)

In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.  (Jeremiah 33:15)

All of these references are to Jesus who is called the Branch of the Lord because He is God’s descendant. The metaphor of a man's offspring are called his branches because they proceed from him as branches or sprouts from a root. Jesus Christ is metaphorically called a Branch of David because in His human form He was a descendant of David.  Because He is righteous, He is called the Branch of Righteousness (Jeremiah 33:15).

An amazing story regarding the Branch occurred shortly after God delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage:

…Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” And Moses cried unto the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet;  There He made for them a statute and an  ordinance, and there He proved them. (Exodus 15:22-25)

Bitter waters are symbolic of the difficult circumstances we face in life. God does not permit bitter waters for us to drink of them.  We are not to ingest the bitterness of life's tragedies into our spirit.  It is at bitter waters that God proves us to see of what our profession of faith consists.

Our response to bitter waters, all the difficult experiences of life, should be to cast the spiritual branch of the Lord Jesus Christ into the waters.  We must look at each difficult situation and see how Jesus can be manifested in it.  Then, when we cast in the "Rod of the Branch of Jesse", the bitter waters will be made sweet, even as when Moses cast the branch into the poisoned waters of Mara.

RESPONSE:  Are there some bitter waters in your life into which you need to cast the branch of the Lord Jesus?  Your relationships?  Your marriage?  Unforgiveness?  Take time to examine your heart right now and cast the Branch of the Lord Jesus into your circumstances.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names of Jesus related to Branch.

BREAD

BREAD OF GOD, BREAD OF LIFE

LIVING BREAD, TRUE BREAD

BREAD FROM HEAVEN

REFERENCE:  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.  (John 6:50)

REVELATION: Bread was a primary staple in Bible times and it was also used in offerings in the form of loaves or cakes.  The Bread of God’s Presence consisted of 12 loaves that were displayed in the temple, the bread symbolizing the covenant between God and His people.  It served as a reminder that it was God who sustained His people in the wilderness:

…He had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.   (Psalm 78:24-25)

Manna was a type or symbol of Christ, but one cannot receive eternal life through       symbols. In the New Testament, Jesus was revealed to be the Bread of God, the Bread of Life, of which manna was symbolic, and the True Bread From Heaven:

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:32-35)

The Bread of God who came down from Heaven is the only thing that will satisfy spiritual hunger.  Jesus is the Living Bread because all who partake of Him receive everlasting life:

This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.  (John 6:50-51)

Bread is of no benefit unless it is ingested.  Jesus Christ must be internalized through the born-again experience.  You must eat of the spiritual bread of His sacrifice (John 6:51). Merely knowing about Jesus isn’t sufficient.  You must experience Him.  You must internalize Him spiritually.  Manna came only to Israel, but the Bread of Jesus Christ is available to all the world.

RESPONSE:  By providing bread in the wilderness, God not only nourished His people physically, but also spiritually as they developed faith for daily living.  As Israel, you should gather fresh manna spiritually each day by time spent in the Word, meditation, prayer, and worship. Natural bread is necessary to maintain your physical life.  Spiritual bread is necessary to maintain your spiritual life.

The prayer Jesus taught His disciples contains the phrase “give us this day our daily bread.”  This reminds us to seek God’s provision for one day at a time and not worry about tomorrow.    The God who provides today will provide for tomorrow as well.  Thank God for the spiritual Bread of Christ Jesus and the daily bread as you pray this prayer:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

(Matthew 6:9-13)

You remember Christ’s death through eating the bread and drinking the fruit of the vine which is symbolic of His sacrifice for sin.  The practice of the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion, commemorates this spiritual act. Do it as part of your quiet time with the Lord today.

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

(Luke 22:19-20)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names of Jesus relating to Bread.

BREAKER

REFERENCE:  The Breaker [the Messiah] will go up before them. They will break through, pass in through the gate and go out through it, and their King will pass on before them, the Lord at their head. (Micah 2:13, TAB)

REVELATION: This title for Christ is used only once in Scripture. It occurs in context after God described the judgment that would fall upon His errant people for their rebellious sins of which they had refused to repent.

When it seemed all hope was gone and that God had deserted them, He promised that when they repented the Breaker would go before them to break down all opposition and clear the road for them to escape out of captivity.

The word Breaker means “to break, burst out, or break open.”  In this passage it is applied to Jesus who goes before His people as their King and Lord to deliver them from the enemy.  He is the Breaker who delivered Israel from Egyptian slavery, opened the Red Sea, and repeatedly delivered His people from the enemy.

Jesus is also the Breaker in your life.  He came to earth to destroy the works of the Devil: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil”

(1 John 3:8).  When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple that concealed the Most Holy Place was ripped open.  This was symbolic of Jesus breaking through the barrier that separated sinful man from a righteous God.

Through His death on the cross, the Breaker removed sin out of the way, nailing it to the cross:

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  (Colossians 2:13-15)

Jesus is the Breaker of the chains of sin, addictions, and oppression. His Word declares: “For sin shall not have dominion over you…” (Romans 6:14).  He is also your healer, breaking through the physical, emotional, and mental barriers that have taken you captive.

When Jesus rose from the grave, He led captivity captive (Psalm 68:18).  He conquered the grave and broke through the chains of death, opening the way for you to live with Him in eternity so that you may boldly proclaim:  “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15: portions of 54-55).

RESPONSE:  Are you needing a breakthrough in your life?  Call upon the Breaker.  When the Breaker comes on the scene, chains are broken  (Acts 12:7).  You can be assured that the

Breaker, Jesus Christ, goes before you today. He will break through every opposition or problem you may encounter.  He will get you to where you need to be!

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name  the Breaker.

BRIDEGROOM

REFERENCE:   And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  (Matthew 25:6)

REVELATION: The Bible describes the relationship between Jesus and His Church in intimate terms by using the analogy of a committed marriage:  One husband, one wife, for life. Paul told the Corinthian Church:

…I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  (2 Corinthians 11:2)

Spiritually, Jesus is the husband (the Bridegroom) and the Church is the wife (the Bride).  All Believers, whether male or female, are part of the Bride of Christ.  This love relationship is our first priority: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).

The parable of the virgins recorded in Matthew 25:1-13 relates how the Bridegroom will return for His Bride.  His Bride, the Church is preparing for that day when the cry will be raised:  “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him” (Matthew 25:6).  Will you be ready?

Jesus prayed that the fervent love with which God loved Him would also be in Believers (John 17:26).  He called the Church at Ephesus, who were faithful in works, back to their first love (Revelation 2:4).  Note that this Church had left their first love, they had not lost it.  If you have lost something you may not find it again.  If you leave it, you can return to it.  If you have left your first love for your spiritual Bridegroom, heed the advice of the Spirit to the Ephesians:

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works…” Revelation 2:5).

RESPONSE:  The first commandment is to love God and there is a special book in the Bible that restores that commandment to first place by confirming that being a lover of God is to be your primary occupation. That book is the Song of Solomon, also called the Song of Songs.

Read the eight chapters of the Song of Songs which provides one of the greatest spiritual analogies of the Bridegroom and Bride relationship. To study the Song of Songs in depth, use the Legacy Bible Outline of this book available free at http://www.harvestime.org.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Bridegroom.

BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR

REFERENCE:  I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.  (Revelation 22:16)

REVELATION:  The Spirit of the Lord came upon an Old Testament prophet and he  proclaimed: “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel…” (Numbers 24:17). In the last chapter of the book of Revelation, Jesus identifies Himself as the Bright Morning Star, the fulfillment of this prophecy (Revelation 22:16).

In ancient times, the morning star was thought to herald the new day, signaling the dawn of hope and joy. The morning star is a fitting name for Christ, who ushers in each new day and eventually will usher in the everlasting day called eternity.

A condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder is a mental and emotional condition that often affects those who live where little sunlight is available in winter.  Light therapy is the treatment of choice for this problem.  But it's not only your body that suffers in darkness. Your soul and spirit suffer because of spiritual darkness, a term which describes sin, mankind apart from God, and those living a worldly lifestyle.

The Apostle Paul witnessed the powerful beacon of this Bright and Morning Star alongside a road one day, and it changed his life forever (Acts 9).  Paul said that Jesus was the brightness of the Father’s Glory (Hebrews 1:3) and that glory was reflected in the face of Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:6).  He testified that the Lord had called him to the Gentiles to “…open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18).

The Apostle Paul glorified God “…who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

He warned:  “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”

(2 Corinthians 6:14).

He cautioned: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (Ephesians 5:11).  He explained that “…The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12).

When you call on Jesus, the Bright Morning Star, you are calling on the One from whom all darkness flees, the One who “…has delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).

Peter declares that we are “…called out of darkness into his marvelous light”  (1 Peter 2:9).  John explains:  “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (John 1;6-7).

Remember the brilliant star that led the wise men from the east to the child Jesus in Bethlehem? The ministry of Jesus on earth begins with a star and it ends with a star, because in the last chapter of the Bible He calls Himself the Bright Morning Star.

RESPONSE:  Make the declaration the wise men made about the newborn king: "We have seen his star when it rose and have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:2).  Remember also that the Morning Star shines brightest in the darkness.  Because of Jesus, the Bright and Morning Star, a new day, bright with promise, has dawned.

Jesus is the most powerful light therapy ever! He is the One who destroys darkness by the light of His presence. As you watch the daybreak this morning, worship Jesus, the Bright Morning Star, who has come to shine His light on you.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Bright And Morning Star.

CAPTAIN

OF OUR SALVATION

OF THE LORD’S HOSTS

LEADER AND COMMANDER

REFERENCE:  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.  (Hebrews 2:10)

And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?

And the captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. (Joshua  5:14-15)

REVELATION:  The word captain means “a person in command or in control.”

Jesus is the Captain of our Salvation because He is the only way to salvation: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:10).  Jesus earned this title because of His death on the cross of Calvary which assured our salvation. The work of salvation and of bringing sons of God to glory (Heaven) has been committed to Jesus Christ. As the Captain of our salvation, Jesus in charge of escorting you into the presence of God. He leads you by way of the cross of Calvary and the empty tomb.

Jesus is also the Captain of the Lord’s Hosts. The name The Captain of the Lord’s Host means that Jesus leads the forces of Heaven in spiritual warfare in behalf of His people.  Elisha’s servant actually saw the hosts of the Lord (2 Kings 6:15-17), and Joshua encountered the Captain of the Lord’s hosts, Jesus Christ (Joshua 5:14-15).

At the time of His crucifixion, Jesus declared:  “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?”  (Matthew 26:53).  Twelve legions of angels numbered 72,000!    Isaiah tells how a single angel from the host of the Lord killed 185,000 enemy Assyrian soldiers.  These hosts of heavenly forces commanded by God are innumerable: “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels…”(Hebrews 12:22).

Jesus is also called Leader and Commander of the people: “Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people” (Isaiah 55:4). He guides, directs, and commands you in the way you should go: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).

In the natural world, great responsibilities fall on a captain or a leader as to what route and what direction an army will take.  He is the one who gives the commands to go, stop, or to do certain things along the way.

You will never walk a path where the footprints of your Captain has not gone before you. You will never lose your way or struggle down the path of life alone.  Your Captain is equipped for all emergencies and circumstances enroute to your eternal destination.  He sustains and strengthens you along the way.

RESPONSE:  A good captain, commander, and leader continuously encourages his people.  As Captain of our Salvation, Captain of the Lord’s Hosts, and our Leader and Commander, Jesus encourages His people along the way to their eternal destination.

Take time to meditate on these promises to you from your Captain:

-“Do not fear.”

-“I am with you always.”

-“He who has begun a good work in you will complete it.”

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Captain of the Lord’s Hosts, Captain of our Salvation, and Leader and Commander.

CARPENTER’S SON

REFERENCE:  Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? (Matthew 13:55)

REVELATION:  In Matthew 13:54, Jesus went into the synagogue of His home town and read from the prophecy in Isaiah concerning His mission:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.  (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Then Jesus proclaimed, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears”  (Luke 4:21).

The people were astonished at His teaching and began to question, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?”

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?  Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.  And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

(Matthew 13:54-58)

Sadly, the people in Christ’s home town did not recognize Him for He really was.  He presented Himself as the promised Messiah, but they saw Him as a common man, the carpenter’s son.  They were offended by Christ’s claims of deity and filled with unbelief, therefore He could do no great works among them.  He was limited by their unbelief.

An entire generation of Israelites were kept out of their Promised Land because of unbelief:

And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.  (Hebrews 3:18-19)

Jesus is not just a man, a great teacher, or a prophet. He is not just a carpenter’s son.  He is the all-powerful Son of Almighty God.  He is limited only by your unbelief.

RESPONSE:  Carpenter’s Son is a name Jesus was called by unbelievers during His earthly mission.  It is important that you know this name, because it demonstrates how you can limit the works of God in your life through unbelief.

Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?  Do you believe He is the promised  Messiah? Do you believe He is the only way to God?  Do you believe He is the same yesterday, today and forever, and that He still saves, heals, delivers, and performs miracles?

Believe the Lord for great things!  Make this your prayer: “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Carpenter’s Son.

CHIEF AMONG TEN THOUSAND

REFERENCE:  My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.

(Song of Songs 5:10)

REVELATION: The word chief means “the most important, the one with the highest rank.”

This title was used by the Bride in the Song of Songs as she described her Bridegroom. The Song of Songs is a beautiful poetic book about the relationship between Jesus (referred to as the Bridegroom) and His people (the Bride).  The Song is an allegory, a story in which people, things, and events have symbolic meanings representing spiritual truths.

The cry of the Bride from the beginning of the Song is for intimacy with her Bridegroom. She appeals “Let Him kiss me and draw me” (chapter 1).  Chapters 1-4 describe the deepening relationship between the Bride and the Bridegroom as it develops in the secret place.

A group known as the Daughters of Jerusalem observes this loving relationship, and in SOS 5:9 they ask the Bride:  “What is your beloved more than another beloved, O fairest among women?” In answer to this question from the daughters of Jerusalem, the Bride describes her  Bridegroom in terms of poetic descriptions that are symbolic of spiritual truths.  She describes His general appearance as being in the express image of God, and as part of her description she declares that He is the Chief Among Ten Thousand.

The Apostle Paul, in reviewing his sinful past, declared:

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.   Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.  (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

If the chief of sinners has been saved, then there is grace sufficient extended from Chief Jesus for all other sinners.  Moody Stuart states:  “The greatness of salvation, and the greatness of transgressions, by their very contrast suit each other; the chief of sinners needing the Chief of Saviors; the Chief of Saviors sufficient for the chief of sinners…”

RESPONSE:  How do you perceive Christ?  Does He reign over everything and everyone in your life?  Can you join the Bride in saying that He is the Chief over all?  Remember that no matter how deep you have fallen into sin, the chief of sinners has already been saved, so there is grace available for you as well.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Chief Among Ten Thousand.

CHRIST

MESSIAH

REFERENCE:  And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.  (Matthew 1:16)

REVELATION:  The Greek word “Christos” is translated Christ and means Messiah, which comes from a Hebrew word that means “anointed one” or “chosen one.”  The name Christ is combined in the Bible with several other titles to reveal even more about this name.  Study the following references.

Lord Jesus Christ. This is one of the most frequently used titles in the New Testament combining the name Christ.  Here is an example:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.  (Ephesians 1:3-5)

The title Lord means Master,  so when the Scriptures declare that He is the Lord Jesus Christ, they are saying that He is the Master over absolutely everything in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth. There is nothing outside of the rule and authority of Jesus the Christ.  Combined with the titles Jesus Christ, it means He is the supreme anointed and chosen one.  The Apostle Paul declared: “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5) .

Christ The King, King of the Jews.  There are many kings that have served in both past and present, but Jesus Christ is the King of all kings:

And they began to accuse him, saying,” We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.” And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews?” And he answered him and said, “Thou sayest it.” (Luke 23:2-3)

Christ Come in the Flesh.   “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God”  (1 John 4:2).

Christ Crucified.  “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness”  (1 Corinthians 1:23).

Christ Jesus.  “Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:4-5).

Christ Jesus Our Lord.  “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5).

Christ Of God.  “He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God” (Luke 9:20).

Christ Our Passover. As the lamb was slain to save the Israelites in Egypt, Christ is the Lamb that was slain to save us from sin.  That is why we should “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us…(1 Corinthians 5:7).  (See additional comments on the name Passover).

Christ Risen from the Dead. ”But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept“ (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Christ the Lord.  “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

Christ the Son of God. “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20).

Messiah (Messias in KJV).   The word Messiah is used three times in Scripture, once prophetically in Daniel 9:25-26; once by the woman at the well in John 4:25; and in Peter’s declaration in John 1:41: “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”

RESPONSE:  Review each of the titles in this lesson.  Do you believe that Jesus came in the flesh to die for your sins and that He is the Son of God?  Do you believe He is risen from the dead?  Most importantly is Christ your King and Lord?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the titles combined with the name Christ.

CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL

REFERENCE:  And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.  (Luke 2:25)

REVELATION: The Consolation of Israel is a name for the Messiah which is commonly used among the Jews.  This name was confirmed by Simeon when Jesus was taken to the temple as a baby (Luke 2:25).

The word consolation means “comfort, compassion, and reassurance.”  This title for Jesus is  suggested by this passage in Isaiah:

Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.  (Isaiah 49:13-16)

Despite Israel’s many failures, God assured them of His comfort.  He would not forget them.  He would send the Consolation in the form of His Son.  One of the purposes of Jesus was to “bind up the brokenhearted”  (Isaiah 61:2). Upon Christ’s return to Heaven, He sent the gift of His Holy Spirit through which we can continue to receive consolation.

The fact that Jesus is our Consolation does not mean we won’t suffer in this sinful world, but that “…as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ”

(2 Corinthians 1:5). The Apostle Paul declared that our hearts would be comforted by “…the Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace” (2 Thessalonian 2:16-17).  Through Christ, we have everlasting consolation and hope through grace.

The Apostle Paul describes this as a strong Consolation:

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.  (Hebrews 6:17-19)

This strong Consolation gives assurance of a refuge and hope for the present and future.  It serves as an anchor of the soul that is sure and steadfast.  That Consolation is Jesus Christ.

RESPONSE:  The Bible says that we are comforted in our tribulation so “…that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted”  (2 Corinthians 1:4). Who do you know that needs consolation?  Reach out to them today and share the comfort that you have received from the great Consolation, Jesus Christ.

Simeon waited with expectancy for years to see the promised Consolation of Israel and his desire was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  Do you wait with patient expectancy for the fulfillment of God’s promises in your life?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Consolation of Israel.

CORNERSTONE

STONE

REFERENCE:  This is the stone which was set at nought 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. (Acts 4:11-12)

REVELATION:  In Bible times, stones were used for building altars, homes, temples, and palaces.  The terms “cornerstone” or “head of the corner”, as used in the King James Version, refers to an important stone which stabilized the structure at the foundation.  In order to hold the building together, the cornerstone had to be perfectly fit, exceedingly strong, and properly shaped.  A flawed cornerstone would compromise the integrity of the building.

Cornerstone and the related terms of Stone and Rock are titles describing the Lord Jesus Christ:

Jesus is the Stone Cut Without Hands. “Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces” (Daniel: 2:34).  Daniel prophesied that when Jesus ushers in His universal reign, He will come as a Stone to destroy the world-system.  Then the Stone will become a great mountain that fills the earth, representing the Kingdom of God (Daniel 2:35; 7:27).

Jesus is the Stone of Israel, the foundation upon which the nation is built: “But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel” (Genesis 49:24).

Jesus is the Stone Which the Builders Refused And Rejected. Rejected by the builders who were His own people, Jesus became the Cornerstone of the Kingdom of God:  “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?’” (Matthew 21:42; Psalm 118:22-23).  John declared:  “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:11-13).

Jesus is the Stone Which Was Set at Naught who became the cornerstone:  “This 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” (Acts 4:11-12).

Jesus is the Stone Which Was Tried.  “Tried stone” in Hebrew means a stone of proof.   Jesus was tempted in every way, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).  He faithfully fulfilled His divine mission as Savior of the world. “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste”  (Isaiah 28:16).  Jesus is the sure foundation of our faith.

Jesus is a Stone of Stumbling and Rock of Offense.   To those who reject Jesus, He is a stumbling stone because rejecting Him results in the irreversible fall into eternal judgment:  “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed” (1 Peter 2:7-8).  Jesus declared “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder”  (Matthew 21:44).  Isaiah prophesied: “And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (Isaiah 8:14).  To those who accept Christ, He is the precious cornerstone of their lives.  To those who reject Him, Jesus becomes a stumbling stone, a stone of judgment.

Jesus is the Living Stone, chosen of God, and precious.  “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious”  (1 Peter 2:4).

The New Testament portrays the community of true Believers as a  spiritual temple in which God dwells.  Jesus is the Cornerstone to which we are joined together as living stones:

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.  (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Peter adds that “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”  (1 Peter 2:5).

You are not alone!  You are a living stone joined with brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are building a habitation of God through the Spirit.

RESPONSE:  If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, you need to accept Him as the Cornerstone upon which to build your life.  If you have wandered away from Him and are building your life on things of the world, return to the Cornerstone of your faith.

As the cornerstone of your life, Jesus is able to hold everything together.  When you feel like your life is being shaken and your foundation is crumbling, know that your Cornerstone remains strong.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Cornerstone and Stone.

COUNSELOR

REFERENCE:  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6 )

REVELATION:  It was a dismal time in the lives of God's people that is described by the Prophet Jeremiah.  They were backslidden, had refused to repent, and had rejected the Word of the Lord.  They were under judgment, and conditions were so dire that death was preferred to life (Jeremiah 8).

In the midst of these tragic circumstances, significant questions are raised: "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?"  (Jeremiah 8:22). Gilead was a region east of Jordan that was famous for its medicinal salve.  The questions, applied spiritually, sought answers as to why there was no cure for a suffering people.  Where was the balm?  Where was the counselor who would tell them the truth and apply the healing balm of God’s Word?  The Old Testament King Jehoshaphat raised a similar query: "Is there no prophet of the Lord?", he asked as he faced  a tremendous challenge from enemy nations (2 Kings 3).

Similar questions are echoing around the world today.  Why are so many Believers in bondage to addictions, harmful emotions, and sinful practices?  Is there no balm to heal their wounds?   Are there no spiritual physicians to apply the healing ointment of the Word of God?  Is there no counselor of the Lord to speak the Word of Life that will set them free?

Christian counseling is important because “…Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14) and “…by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 24:6).  There is a desperate need for the ministry of prophetic counseling that is wholly based upon the Holy Bible, the authoritative Word of God.  We need counselors who believe that God means exactly what He says and that the Word has within it the inherent power to meet very need:  Spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, and financial.

We need men and women of  God who will boldly declare, "Thus says the Lord" to a lost, hurting, and spiritually dying world.  Where are the spiritual leaders who will counsel prophetically, speaking forth the Word of God in answer to human need?  Where are those who, instead of referring people to secular professionals, believe God's declaration...

...so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire  and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

(Isaiah 55:11, NIV)

As born-again Believers, we believe that the Bible reveals salvation through Jesus Christ as the only way to obtain forgiveness from sin and guarantee eternal life.  If we are staking our eternal destiny on the promises of redemption and salvation, then why do we hesitate to believe God's Word for deliverance, healing, and miracles?  Why do we seek something other than the Scriptures for answers to our problems?

Biblical counseling is faithful and true:

O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.  (Isaiah 25:1)

This counsel is immutable, meaning it is unchanging.  You can depend on it!

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath.  (Hebrews 6:17)

This counsel does not change based on current research or fads.  It is unchanging because it is based upon God’s Word and “…Forever, Oh Lord, Thy Word is settled in Heaven”  (Psalm 119:89).

Many pastors and church leaders today are referring people to secular psychologists, counselors, and clinics instead of dispensing the life-changing Word of God that will meet every need--spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically.  God's command is not "refer my people", "institutionalize my people", or "put my people on medication".   His Word is "Comfort, comfort my people says your God"  (Isaiah 40:1). We have a Divine Counselor.  His name is Jesus.

Secular psychology does not bring transformation. Psychological theories and models cannot change people.  Only God can change a person from the inside out, give them a new mind, a new heart, and make them a new creature in Christ.  A Biblical counselor believes that Jesus has the answer to every problem, not secular psychology. We are not adversaries of secular psychology, but we believe relying on it for answers is denying the sufficiency of scripture to meet every need.

People with tremendous needs came to Jesus from Galilee, Judaea, and Jerusalem and the power of the Lord was present to heal them physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally (Luke 5:17).   That same power is resident within YOU because the Counselor, the Lord Jesus Christ, dwells within you.

RESPONSE:  Your past does not predict the future when you become a new creature in Christ because "...if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new"  (2 Corinthians 45:17, NKJV).  The goal of counseling is not a patched up version of the old person, rather it is a new creature in Christ.  The purpose of biblical counseling is not rehabilitation.  The goal is transformation, total change:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--

his good, pleasing and perfect will.   (Romans 12:2)

If you are receiving counseling from someone other than a Biblical counselor, change to a qualified Biblical counselor.  If you have gone through secular counseling and still have unresolved issues, bring those to the mighty Counselor today.  Let Him make everything new.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Counselor.

COVENANT OF THE PEOPLE

REFERENCE: I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.  (Isaiah 42:6)

REVELATION: Jesus is called a Covenant of the People and a Light of the Gentiles.  Another study discusses Jesus as Light, so we will focus here on the title Covenant of the People.

The key verse for today is taken from the book of Isaiah where the ministry of Jesus is prophesied:

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.  (Isaiah 42:1-7)

The Biblical meaning of the word Covenant is “an agreement between God and His people.” Jesus is the visible manifestation of God’s Covenant who was to bring the true light to the world.  Ezekiel 36:17 describes this Covenant of God through Christ like this: “And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”

The connection between Jesus and the New Covenant is explicit in Hebrews 13:20-21 which declares: “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

The blood of Christ is the eternal Covenant from God by which He promises to work in you what is pleasing in His sight.  The allegiance of the human partner (you) in the Covenant is not left in question.  God secures it with His own Son’s blood and with the infinite power of the Holy Spirit. The Covenant does not depend on you, but on God alone.

The New Covenant is God's pledge to forgive the sins of His people, to put His laws within us written upon our hearts, to be our God, and to make us His people

RESPONSE:  If you are struggling with doubt, confess it to God and then embrace the promise of God’s Covenant in Jesus.  Accept the assurance that this Covenant is not a mere possibility. It is not something that God proposed, but something that He accomplished.

This Covenant is the creation of a people for God who will not forsake Him.  They will remain true to Him. They will be His people and He will be their God.  And that Covenant extends to you.  Do you really understand it?  Are you living in Covenant relationship with Jesus?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Covenant Of The People.

DAYSPRING

DAYSTAR

REFERENCE:  And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.  (Luke 1:76-79)

REVELATION: The King James Version uses the word “dayspring” in Job 38:12:  “Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place?” The New International Version (NIV) translates the verse this way: “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place?”

In this passage the Lord emphasizes His all-encompassing power, as He is the only One who can cause the dawn.  Prophetically, it speaks of Jesus Christ who was to be the Dayspring from on High, revealing that He would know His mission to the world as surely as the sun knows when and where to dawn.

The word Dayspring as a title for Jesus is  found in Zacharias’s prophecy at the birth of his son, John. Zacharias declared that “the dayspring from on high hath visited us” (Luke 1:78)).

Dayspring is a metaphor for the promised Messiah, Jesus, who would soon arrive.

The New American Standard Version (NASB) translates this as “the Sunrise from on high.”   The word “Sunrise” is capitalized in the NASB because it refers to the Son of God who would rise like the sun to bring light to all men:

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:4-9)

A similar title for Jesus is Daystar, the Greek form of Dayspring which means light-bearing and is used indicates the arising of the light of Christ in the darkness of this world:

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.  (2 Peter 1:19)

The word Daystar refers to the morning star which is used to reference the planet Venus as it rises in the East.  Just before daybreak, there is the rising of this morning star which signals that a new day is dawning.

RESPONSE: As the world grows dim in these end-times, do not focus on the darkness.  Focus on the Dayspring, the Daystar Jesus Christ whose light is growing increasingly brighter.

Take time to watch a sunrise this week and thank God for Jesus Christ who is the Dayspring and the Daystar.

Worship Him for dawning in the midst of the darkness of your sin and shame and bringing the light of the Gospel to change your life.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Dayspring and Daystar.

DELIVERER

REFERENCE: There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer…(Romans 11:26)

REVELATION:  “Sion” or “Zion” was one of the hills of Jerusalem upon which the city of David was built.  Zion also came to denote the people of God.  When it is said that the Deliverer should come out of Zion, it meant that He would arise from among the people of Israel, which was true of Jesus.

The name Deliverer, as used as a noun and a name for Jesus, proclaims Him to be the one who rescues and preserves from sin and from the bondage, guilt, and shame associated with it.  He  delivers from the power and dominion of sin in the present, and someday in the future He will deliver from the presence of sin forever as you enter eternity.  The Apostle Paul writes concerning this three-fold deliverance that Christ secured: “Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:10).

The three Hebrew young men who refused to worship the king’s idol believed that the God they served was able to deliver them from the burning fiery furnace.  They declared that they would be delivered out of the hands of the wicked king (Daniel 3:17).  They not only believed He was able, but that He would do it!  When they were cast into the fiery furnace, a fourth man who appeared like the Son of God walked with them in the midst of the flames and they emerged without harm (Daniel 3:23-25).

Here are the precious promises of deliverance to those who abide under the shadow of Almighty God and put their trust in Jesus, the Deliverer:

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence…Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.  (Psalm 91:3,14-16)

RESPONSE:  No matter the challenges you face today, you can trust in Jesus the Deliverer.  The psalmist testified:  “Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded”

(Psalm 22:4-5).

If you are seeking deliverance in any area of your life, then call on the Deliverer, Jesus Christ.  Pray this prayer: “But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God” (Psalm 40:17).  Make this declaration with the psalmist David:  “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer…”(2 Samuel 22:2).

During the next month, read through the book of Psalms and mark every use of the words “deliver”, “deliverer” ,  and “deliverance”. Claim the promises and pray the prayers associated with this title of Jesus Christ. Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Deliverer.

DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS

REFERENCE:  And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:7)

REVELATION: This title is used once in the Bible by the prophet Haggai.  The word desire also can be translated as hope.  Jesus Christ is the Desire or Hope of All Nations who came in fulfillment of this prophecy.  Hope is confident expectation, happy anticipation, and firm assurance of the unknown future.

Hebrews 11:1 declares: “Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]  (TAB)”.  If you are discouraged, depressed, and dry spiritually you may think you are having a faith crisis, but quite often it is a hope crisis because the two are closely related.

Faith gives substance to things hoped for.  If you have no hope, then you have nothing for faith to give substance to.  Faith gives the proof and conviction of things you do not see. It reveals things that you cannot see with the natural senses. If you lose hope, your faith is affected and vice versa. Your spiritual vision is affected, because hope is related to the faith that gives you the assurance of the things you do not see.

Hope affects your spiritual stability:  “And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk

after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart” (Jeremiah

18:12).  Hope is related to your heart condition: “Hope deferred maketh the heart       sick…” (Proverbs 13:12).  Hope fosters joy, as Romans 12:12 says we are “rejoicing

in hope.”

Hope is related to your salvation, as Romans 8:24 declares we are “saved by hope...”  The rapture of the Church at Christ’s return is described as the blessed hope (Titus 2:13). Hope is also the anchor for your soul (Hebrews 6:18-19).  You won’t drift or be blown around by circumstances:  “The wicked are blown away by every stormy wind. But when a catastrophe comes, the lovers of God have a secure anchor (hope)” (Proverbs 10:25, TPT).

Sadly, Jesus is not yet desired by all nations.  Many people are still lost in the darkness of sin and have no hope.  We need to reach them on time and in time with the blessed hope of salvation.

RESPONSE:  Is Jesus, the Desire of all Nations, your desire?  Is He your hope? Are you looking forward to the future in confident expectation and firm assurance?   If not, ask God to renew your hope as you meditate on this verse:  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV). Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Desire Of All Nations.

DOOR OF THE SHEEP

REFERENCE:  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  (John 10:7-9)

REVELATION:  Jesus declared, “I am the door!”  He also said:  “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).  He is the only door to salvation and to relationship and fellowship with God the Father.

In Exodus 12:7, the people of Israel put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts.  When they finished the Passover and walked out through that door, they went from slavery into a new life.  They walked out a door which had blood on each side and on the top, symbolizing the cross.

Doors in the natural world are the ways we gain entry to where we need to be.  Through our spiritual Door, Jesus Christ, we gain access to our spiritual assignments, to the deep things of the Word, and to increasing levels of intimacy with God.   Doors also keep out pests and intruders, protect from danger, and open to what lies ahead.  As the Door, Jesus does all that spiritually.

But while a door opens, it also can close.  The parable of the marriage feast in Matthew 25:1-13 describes the fate of those who were invited to the wedding when the door was open and did not enter.  Then, when they did arrive, the door was shut.  The same for Noah’s Ark of salvation during the great flood (Genesis 7:13).

There are three important spiritual doors mentioned by John in the book of Revelation.

A closed door that only you can open.  This is the door to salvation and intimate fellowship with the Lord:

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I       will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

An open door that no man can shut. This is the door to ministering for God:

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it:       for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

(Revelation 3:8).

An open door into the heavens.  This is the door open to Believers to experience revelation through prayer and God’s Word.

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I       heard       was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I       will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 4:1)

RESPONSE: Have you opened the door of your life to receive Jesus Christ as Savior?

Do you need to open the door to more intimate fellowship with Him?

Do you need to walk through the doors of opportunity God is giving you, despite the adversity?

Do you want to enter into deeper knowledge of God and the Word through the door of increasing revelation where you experience an open heaven?

Jesus is the door to all of these experiences!  Open the door of your heart to and invite Him in during your prayer time today.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Door Of The Sheep.

ELECT

REFERENCE:  Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. (Isaiah 42:1)

REVELATION: The title Elect is a Messianic reference to Jesus Christ:

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. (Isaiah 42:1-4)

Matthew quotes Isaiah, clearly revealing that Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.  (Matthew 12:17-21)

The word elect means “chosen, choice one, selected of God.” Jesus is God’s Elect who was chosen before the foundation of the world.  All true Believers are also called the elect, as they are chosen by God:

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.  (1 Peter 1:2)

As part of the elect, your sins are covered by the blood of Jesus, there is no condemnation, and nothing can separate you from His love:

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  (Romans 8:33-35)

As the elect of God, you are commanded to…

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 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.  (Colossians 3:12-17)

When Jesus returns to earth, He will gather the elect to live with Him forever:

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.  (Matthew 24:30-31)

At the final judgment, God shall avenge His elect who have suffered unjustly:

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily…(Luke 18:7-8)

RESPONSE: The title Elect is applied to Jesus, as He is the chosen one of God.  As a Believer in Jesus Christ, you are God’s elect, one of His chosen ones. Examine your life in response to the commands to the elect in Colossians 3:12-17.

-Are you merciful, kind, and meek?

-Are you longsuffering?

-Are you forgiving?

-Are you loving?

-Does the peace of God rule your heart?

-Are you thankful?

-Does God’s Word dwell in you?

-Do you admonish and encourage others?

-Do you worship in your heart?

-Do you do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Elect.

EMMANUEL

REFERENCE:  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  (Isaiah 7:14)

Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which is translated, "God with us." (Matthew 1:23, NKJV)

REVELATION:  Prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New, the name Emmanuel means "God with us".  This name for Jesus was given to Joseph in a dream which revealed that the virgin Mary, to whom he was engaged, was to be the mother of the Son of God.

This name, Emmanuel, confirms that a personal relationship with God is possible.  The intimacy that was lost through sin in the Garden of Eden was restored through the birth, life, and death of Jesus.  Because Jesus made the blood sacrifice for sin, you can have a relationship with God the Father and can boldly enter into His presence:

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;  And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  (Hebrews 10:19-20)

The name Emmanuel confirms that Jesus knows how you feel.  Because God is with you, He knows the circumstances, trials, and heartaches you are facing. He knows, because when He was here on earth He experienced every emotion known to man:

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

The name Emmanuel means that you are never alone. Jesus said, "...I will never leave you or forsake you."  Because of this, you can boldly say:  "The Lord is my helper, I will not fear..."  (Hebrews 13:5-6).  Others may abandon you, but Emmanuel is always with you.

Emmanuel, God with us, is plural.  He is with us (plural), meaning that you are part of the universal Church of true Believers.  Not only is God with you, but there is a host of true Believers around the world that are with you as well.

RESPONSE: Thank God for the name Emmanuel which means you are never alone.  Thank Him that He never forsakes you (Hebrews 13:5) and that He lives within you:

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1Corinthians 6:19-20)

Thank Emmanuel that He is with you always, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).

Are you part of a local, Bible believing Church?  If not, find one in your community and join with others who are the elect of God to worship and do a work for His Kingdom.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Emmanuel.

END OF THE LAW

REFERENCE:  For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him. (Romans 10:4, TAB)

REVELATION:  This title is used only one time in the Bible.  To understand its meaning, we must examine the Greek word “telos” which is used for the word “end” in this passage.  The word doesn’t mean to put an absolute end to something, rather it is the completion of a goal, an aim, or a purpose.

So this title means that Christ completes the goal of the law which was to reveal the need for a Savior and point sinful mankind to the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  This does not mean that the law is voided, rather that its purpose was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  Paul declares: “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law” (Romans 3:31).

You cannot be justified by keeping the law.  It is only by faith in Jesus Christ that you are made righteous:

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.  (Romans 3:20-28)

RESPONSE:  Give thanks to God that you are justified by faith in Jesus Christ.  No more striving to keep the law.  You are saved by His grace.  Meditate on this passage:

But what does it say? The Word (God's message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach,  Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with

the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.  The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.

(Romans 10:8-11, TAB)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name End Of The Law.

ENSIGN

REFERENCE:  And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10)

REVELATION:  In Old Testament times, armies carried standards or banners which served as identification, as our flags do today.  A banner, or ensign, could be seen from afar and served as a rallying point for troops when they were in battle.  If a soldier became separated from his unit during battle, he looked for his army’s ensign raised above the conflict so he could rally to that point and did not have to fight alone.

The Amalekites were enemies of Israel, and the first to attack them after their liberation from slavery in Egypt (Deuteronomy 25:17-29).  Joshua led the warriors of Israel in battle and as they fought against the enemy in the valley of Rephidim, Moses stood with  uplifted hands on the mountain, most likely with the rod of God in his hand.  Each time Moses held up his hands, the people gained ground.  When his hands came down, they lost ground.  The rod in Moses’ hands,  provided a visible sign around which the people rallied.  The rod was symbolic of God, prophetically pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ.

When Moses’s hands became heavy and could no longer hold up the rod, Aaron and Hur supported his hands until the battle was won (Exodus 17:12-13).  Following the victory:

…the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah Nissi. (Exodus 17:14-15)

Moses built an altar and the name The Lord Our Banner was revealed as one of the names of God.   In this case, the ensign over God’s people was Moses’ staff, the rod of God.  A later prophecy by Isaiah declared that Jesus would be the Ensign not only for Israel, but for all nations.

As a Believer, God has given you an Ensign for your battles of life.  That Ensign is Jesus Christ and the standard is His Word.  By coming under His banner you are identifying with Him.  You are placing yourself under His authority.  You follow that Ensign.  You fight under it.  As your Ensign, Jesus provides hope and focus, and He is the one who empowers you to win the battles of life.  You have all you need to win in every conflict you face.

RESPONSE:  Each day, as you take time to enter into the presence of the Lord, His banner of love is raised over you:  “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love” (Song Of Solomon 2:4).   As you look to Jesus Christ as your Ensign, every need is met, even as when Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness and the people were healed:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  (John 3:14-17)

Raise the name of Jesus, your Ensign, over every challenging circumstance in your life today knowing that your victory is assured:

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

(Psalm 20:78)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Ensign.

EVERLASTING FATHER

REFERENCE:  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6)

REVELATION: The Book of Isaiah contains many powerful prophecies about Jesus Christ as the coming Messiah.  The book is so filled with Messianic prophecy that Isaiah is often called the Messianic Prophet.

One beautiful example is found Isaiah 9:6 where several prophetic names are revealed. In describing the Messiah’s nature and what He would accomplish in the world, Isaiah makes a reference to the Messiah as being the Everlasting Father.

It is easier to grasp the prophecy when the phrase is rendered literally into English, “Father of Eternity.”   There is a custom in Hebrew and in Arabic, where the one who creates or owns a thing is called the father of it. This holds true in modern times as well.  For example, Sigmund Freud is often referred to as the founding father of secular psychology,

The name Everlasting Father is used here to describe the Messiah’s relationship to time.  The first part of verse six refers to the incarnation of Jesus and then presents a list of names by which He is called expresses His relationship to His people. He is  Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.

Jesus is the One who secured eternal life. By His death, burial, and resurrection, He brought new life and immortality to Believers. Truly, He is the Father of Eternity for His people. The name Everlasting Father indicates that, as a loving father provides for His children, so Jesus loves you, provides for you, and has given you the ultimate provision of everlasting life.  Jesus is God’s Son, but as part of the Trinity He is also the Everlasting Father as He declared:  “I and my Father are one”  (John 10:30).

RESPONSE:  Thank Jesus that He is your Everlasting Father and that He has made it possible for you to spend eternity with Him.  Take time to reflect on what Heaven will be like.  Thank Him for everlasting life.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Everlasting Father.

EXCELLENT

REFERENCE:   Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. (Psalm 148:13)

REVELATION: Excellence is the quality of excelling and being the very best.  Jesus has a name that is more excellent than all others:

Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.  (Hebrews 1:4)

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; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Jesus also has a more excellent ministry:

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.  (Hebrews 8:6)

Excellence is a characteristic of the Lord’s nature.  Many factors can negatively affect human excellence, things like apathy, carelessness, and laziness.  Our sinful nature is contrary to that of excellence until we are born again through Jesus Christ.  As new creatures in Christ, then we can then become excellent in all we do:

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.  (Colossians 3:17)

Paul prayed that the Corinthians might have spiritual discernment regarding excellence…

So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].  May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized].  (Philippians 1:10-11, TAB)

RESPONSE: Study the Old Testament examples of two men with an excellent spirit: Joseph (Genesis 39:1-2, 20-23) and Daniel (Daniel 5:12).

In 1 Corinthians 12;31, Paul speaks of many spiritual gifts and concludes by saying he would describe a more excellent way.  That way is detailed in 1 Corinthians 13.  What is that more excellent way? What are the character traits of one who practices the more excellent way?  How do you measure up?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Excellent.  Summarize what you learn about the excellent spirit in Joseph and Daniel.

FAITHFUL AND TRUE

FAITHFUL CREATOR

FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST

REFERENCE:  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

(Revelation 19:11)

REVELATION: The identity of the person on the white horse is revealed in Revelation 19:13:  “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.”  John states that “In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself” (John 1:1, TAB).  So the one called Faithful and True in this passage is Jesus Christ, the living Word of God.

Being faithful means to be true to one's word and promises, to be steady in allegiance, and to be consistent with the truth. A faithful person is loyal, reliable, trustworthy, and believable.  Being true is to be absolutely honest, consistent, devoted to the truth, and worthy to be depended on.

Jesus is all that!

Jesus is also called the Faithful Creator.   Peter uses the name Faithful Creator saying:  “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19).  John declares that Jesus was “…present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being”  (John 1:2-3).

Jesus is also referred to as the Faithful High Priest. “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people”  (Hebrews 2:17).

RESPONSE:  Reflect on these promises regarding the faithfulness of Christ:

…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us       from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.  (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

(2 Thessalonians 3:3)

If we are faithless [do not believe and are untrue to Him], He remains true (faithful to       His Word and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself.

(2 Timothy 2:13, TAB)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Faithful.

FIRSTBORN

REFERENCE:  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.  (Colossians 1:15)

REVELATION:  There are several names of Jesus related to being Firstborn which are important because of they describe Him in the Image of the Invisible God and reflect tremendous promises to us as Believers.

Jesus is the Firstborn of Every Creature. “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature”  (Colossians 1:15).  Jesus is the Firstborn of every creature in that He is the one who holds the place of headship over His Father’s house.  Father God appointed His Son as head of all in Heaven and Earth. It is through the Church, of whom Christ is the Head, that He presently reigns on Earth.  He is the Father’s heir, and as Believers, we are joint heirs with Him (Romans 8:17).

Jesus is the First-Begotten. “And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him” (Hebrews 1:6).  This refers to Christ’s coming into the world in human form as the Son of God.

Jesus is the Firstborn Son. “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).  Jesus was called Mary’s Firstborn Son when He came to earth in human form, but He is also God’s Firstborn and only Son.

Jesus is the Firstborn Among Many Brethren. “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren”  (Romans 8:29).   As the Firstborn of Many Brethren, Jesus has many spiritual brothers and sisters.  All true Believers are sons and daughters of God.

Jesus is the First-Begotten and First-Born of the Dead. “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first-begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5). Jesus is the first one resurrected from the dead:  “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).  He will, by the same power, raise up Believers from their graves.  “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Romans 8:11).

Jesus is the First-fruits of Them That Sleep. “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20).  Sleeping is a metaphor for death.  Because Jesus defeated death and was first to be resurrected, He is called by this name.  Because He defeated death, you too will rise again to live eternally.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

RESPONSE:  As a Believer, you need not fear death.  Fear of death is spiritual, emotional, and mental bondage, and Jesus came to free you from this and all other bondages.  If you are fearful of death, claim this Scripture:

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.  (Hebrews 2:14-15)

Make this declaration:  “Oh death, where is your sting?  Oh Grave where is your victory?”

(1 Corinthians 15:55).

Reflect on this passage regarding Jesus as Firstborn:

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard…(Colossians 1;16-23)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names of Jesus related to Firstborn.

FIRST LOVE

REFERENCE:   Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Revelation 2:4)

REVELATION:  In Revelation chapters 2-3, the Apostle John recorded messages to the seven churches.  These messages not only applied to them, but they also apply individually to all Believers and corporately to our churches.

They key verse for this study comes from the message to the Church at Ephesus.  Ephesus was located in modern-day Turkey and was once considered the wealthiest and greatest city in all Asia, flourishing as an important commercial center. It was located on the western coast of Asia with highways connecting it to important cities in every direction.  This affluent city also housed one of the seven wonders of the world, the magnificent Temple of Artemis, which was built for the goddess Diana. Thousands of priests and priestesses served the goddess Diana in this temple, and idol worship was an important industry in this city.

The Church at Ephesus was over forty years old when John wrote the message in Revelation chapter 2.  A new generation of Believers had arisen who did not have the same fervency of love and devotion as those who first received the Gospel when the Church was established (Acts 19).

This Church was commended by the Lord because they had performed many good works, persevered patiently, endured hardship, labored without fainting, and exhibited discernment in identifying evil, liars, and false teachers. But then Jesus addressed a problem. He said: "I have somewhat against thee, because thou has left thy first love" (Revelation 2:4).

Jesus did not say they had forgotten their first love or that they had lost it, but that they had left it. The Greek word used for left means "to let go or to forsake." This Church still loved the Lord, but the people had lost the fervency and intensity of their love. They continued doing good works, but their works were no longer motivated and fueled by their love for Jesus. They were caught up in a routine of doing things, busy doing what is called dead works.

In many churches today, there is an outward appearance of a strong, healthy, productive body.  There are large congregations of professing Believers, great cathedrals, organizations, and denominations. But our Lord is looking beyond these things, revealing our true condition.  Many of us have left our first love. We have replaced our love for God with our work for God

(2 Corinthians 5:14; John 21:15-17). Without a passionate love for Christ, our works are worthless. The Apostle Paul said:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NIV)

There is no substitute for undivided, fervent, undying love for Jesus Christ.

Jesus warned the Church at Ephesus to "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent, and do the first works; or else, I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove the candlestick, out of his place, except thou repent" (Revelation 2:5).   If they did not repent, judgment would fall. They would no longer be a true light and witness to the world. How many of our churches today are lifeless and mechanical? How many lack the true light of a strong witness of the Gospel?

The condition in this Church and in many of our churches and individual lives did not happen overnight. It is a gradual process whereby Believers leave their passionate love for Jesus. The first love to which Jesus called the Church in Ephesus to return can be compared with the bridal love in a new marriage.  A new bride is so in love with her husband that he is the central focus of her life. When she takes her wedding vows, she promises to forsake all others and give herself solely to him. She eagerly anticipates his desires and lovingly meets his needs. She spends every possible moment with him.

In this bridal love relationship, there is a special intimacy that develops between the bride and her bridegroom. She longs to know everything possible about him. She opens her heart to him, revealing her innermost secrets and desires. While they are apart from one another, she longs for him and eagerly anticipates when she will be with him once again. Because of her love, the bride puts her bridegroom first before all else, including her own needs, desires, and ambitions.

It is this type of love that we must have burning within us to enable us to fulfill the purposes of God in these final days of time before Christ's return. Just as Jesus called the Church in Ephesus to return to their first love, He is walking among us today, calling us to repent and return to our first love. This fervent love is required of all those who belong to the Lord. Jesus called this the first and greatest commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).

The Church in Ephesus is a solemn reminder of the seriousness of Christ's warning to repent, "or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Revelation 2:5).  A few years later, the Ephesian Church ceased to exist.

RESPONSE: Here are seven warning signs that indicate one has left their first love:

1. Christ is no longer the central focus of your life

2. You neglect your relationship with the Lord and spend less time in prayer, worship, and the Word.

3. You allow family, friends, work, and your own desires to come between you and your relationship with God

4. There is a loss of intimacy in your relationship with God. You find it difficult to hear Him speak to you.

5. You are caught in a cycle of dead works. Your work for God becomes a drudgery or business-like. Instead of being motivated by love, it is form and ritual.

6. You are more tolerant of sin.

7. You no longer have a burning passion for the lost

Reflect back on when you first came to know the Lord and your love for Him burned fervently with unbridled passion. Your works were motivated by an intense love and devotion to the Lord. Compare your love for the Lord today with what it was then. Has your love grown deeper or has it lost its fervency? Are your works motivated by a passionate love for God or are you serving merely out of a sense of duty?

Take time right now to examine your love relationship with the Lord. Are any of these major indicators present?   If so, do what Jesus commanded the Ephesian Church to do: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent, and do the first works..." (Revelation 2:5).

Ask the Lord to forgive you for leaving your first love. Begin to do your first works again by making a new commitment to the basics of prayer, worship, and the Word. Fan the flame of the dying embers of your first love through renewed communion with the Lord.

Here are the steps God gave the Ephesians and which you can take to restore your First Love:

-Remember from where you have fallen, what your Christian walk used to be like.

-Repent.  Ask God to forgive you.

-Renew.  Do the first works that you did when you became a Believer: Prayer, worship, and

the Word.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name First Love.

FORERUNNER

REFERENCE:  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 6:20)

REVELATION: A forerunner is person or thing that precedes another, coming in advance to herald the arrival of someone, an indication beforehand of something to follow. This word occurs  once in the Bible.  Here is passage in which it occurs:

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 6:19-20)

As our Forerunner, Jesus entered into the sanctuary, behind the curtain in the Holy of Holies so to speak, so that by His shed blood we can enter to have relationship with God.  He is our Priest after the order of Melchizedek, a priest in Old Testament times for which there is no record of beginning or end. As our High Priest, He intercedes in our behalf.  It is to this Forerunner, Jesus Christ, that we can anchor our soul, firm and secure.

As our Forerunner, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us:

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  (John 14:2-3)

Jesus prayed:  “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world”  (John 17:24).

Jesus is the Forerunner who has gone before you.  He conquered the grave and secured eternal life.  He is creating an eternal home in Heaven for you.

RESPONSE:  Are you facing a difficult time?  Anchor your  soul in Jesus, the Forerunner, who has gone before you.  As your Forerunner, He knows the way through the circumstances of life. Claim these promises:

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

(Isaiah 41:10)

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

(1 Peter 5:10)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Forerunner.

FOUNDATION

REFERENCE:   For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

(1 Corinthians 3:11)

REVELATION: Centuries before Jesus Christ came to earth, God declared: “…Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste” (Isaiah 28:16).  This was a Messianic prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus Christ who would be the foundation of faith for individual Believers and corporately for the Church.  Here is the Amplified translation of this verse:

Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic]. (Isaiah 28:16, TAB)

The Messiah would be a sure foundation of faith, one who was tested and proven trustworthy.  Anyone who would choose to build on Him would not be disappointed.

The Bible compares the life of a Believer to the construction of a building, revealing that “...You are God's building...”  (1 Corinthians 3:9).  Each Believer is united in Christ with other Christians to form the Church. The Bible also compares the Church to a building: “In whom [Jesus] ye also are builded together [the church united] for an habitation of God through the Spirit”  (Ephesians 2:22).

The purpose of your spiritual building is to provide a habitation [a dwelling place] for God.  His Spirit will dwell in you only when your life is built on the right foundation.  Paul asked:

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

(1 Corinthians 3:16).  Because of this you are cautioned to build your spiritual life properly:

“… let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ”  (1 Corinthians 3:10-11).

The spiritual foundation of which the Word of God speaks:

Is based on God's Word.  “God's word stands firm like a rock [foundation]; nothing can shake it”  (2 Timothy 2:19, TLB).

Is based on righteousness.  “The uncompromisingly righteous has an everlasting foundation”

(Proverbs 10:25, TAB).

Is eternal. “ ...Laying up for themselves the riches that endure forever, a good foundation for the future...”  (1 Timothy 6:19,  TAB).

Rests on two basic principles.  “But the firm foundation laid by God stands sure and unshaken, bearing this seal and inscription: The Lord knows those who are His and let everyone who names  himself by the name of the Lord give up all iniquity and stand aloof from it”

(2 Timothy 2:19, TAB).

Is built upon the Rock.  Jesus emphasized the need for building on a good spiritual foundation in a parable of two men who built houses, one on the sand and the other on the Rock, Christ Jesus.  The Bible has two accounts of this parable, one in Matthew 7:24-29 and the other in Luke 6:47-49.  The wise builder is “…like a man which built a house and digged deep and laid the foundation on a rock and when the flood arose and beat vehemently on the house it could not shake it for it was founded on a rock”  (Luke 6:48).

The good foundation is Jesus Christ. “There is no other rock; I know not any” (Isaiah 44:8, TAB).  Many professing Believers try to build great spiritual structures of Christianity in their lives.  They become involved in the programs of the Church and do many good works. The outward appearance of their building is good, but before long their spiritual building begins to sink and collapse. They become discouraged, defeated, and fall into sin. This happens because they are trying to build on the wrong foundation.

The man who built on a wrong foundation heard the admonition from God, but did not take personal action on what he heard. He is called a foolish man and compared to a person who builds on the sand instead of the rock (Matthew 7:27).  You build on the sand spiritually when you base your life on the traditions or religious beliefs of man instead of God’s Word.  You think you can make yourself spiritual by good works, church attendance, or religious ceremonies.

Jesus' story of the two builders reveals another great truth.  It is the nature of life to be stormy.  Circumstances of life result in many personal crises. You must face disease, disaster, and death.   Acts 14:22 warns that "we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God."  No one escapes the storms. Stormy circumstances of life are experienced by all people everywhere. The storms are the same, but what differs is how people respond to them. If your spiritual life does not have the right foundation you will fall and, just as the house built on sand, the fall will be great. If your life is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ and His Word, the storm cannot shake you:

...Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.  (Hebrews 12:26-27)

When the shaking experiences come, all that cannot be shaken will remain. Those who remain standing have built upon the spiritual foundation: Jesus Christ.

RESPONSE:  Just as a proper foundation is necessary to support a building in the natural world, the right spiritual foundation is necessary to support the building of your spiritual life

Jesus gave the steps for building a good spiritual foundation in Luke 6:47:

-Whosoever cometh to me...

-Hears my sayings...

-And does them.

All three steps are required. It is not enough to come to Jesus. You must also listen to what He says.  But coming to Him and listening are not enough. You must also take personal action by being obedient to His Word.

Take time to examine your spiritual house.  Are you building every aspect of your life on the Foundation, Jesus Christ?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Foundation.

FOUNTAIN

REFERENCE:  In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. (Zechariah 13:1)

REVELATION:  Zechariah prophesied that the day would come when a fountain would be opened for sin.  That Fountain is the Lord Jesus Christ who shed His blood on Calvary.  The Fountain was opened to Israel (the house of David), but was also opened for all mankind because God so loved the world (John 3:16).  This Fountain flowed forth when the hands, feet, and side of Jesus were pierced and His blood spilled forth. Christ is a Fountain of Life that is ever flowing, not a laver that needs to be replenished.

Jesus is the Fountain of Living Water.  He promised “…he that believes on me shall never thirst”  (John 6:35).  He proclaimed: “…If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38).

Man’s greatest need is to satisfy his thirst for a relationship with God.  This is what Jesus explained to the Samaritan woman in the encounter recorded in John 4.  Jesus told her: “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water”  (John 4:10).

He explained to her: “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14).

Jesus is the Fountain that never needs replenishing.  Drink deeply, and then allow that spiritual refreshing to flow through you to a dry and thirsty world.  Let the Living Water fall upon you as rain showers that water the earth: “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth “ (Psalm 72:6).

RESPONSE:  Worship today with the word from this classic hymn:

There is a fountain filled with blood,

Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,

And sinners plunged beneath that flood

Lose all their guilty stains:

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood

Shall never lose its power,

Till all the ransomed Church of God

Are safe, to sin no more:

E’er since by faith I saw the stream

Thy flowing wounds supply,

Redeeming love has been my theme,

And shall be till I die:

Are you a stagnant pool or a channel through which Jesus, the Fountain of Living Water, can flow freely to others?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Fountain of Life.

FRIEND

FRIEND OF SINNERS

FRIEND CLOSER THAN A BROTHER

REFERENCE:  …he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.  (Song of Songs 5:16)

REVELATION:  Several metaphors in Scripture portray the Believer’s relationship with God.  We are called sons, daughters, and the Bride of Christ.  Jesus is called our Brother, Bridegroom, and Husband.  We are also called “friends of God”.  In Song of Songs 5:16, the Bride declares of her Bridegroom:  “This is my friend.”  Friend is another name for Jesus Christ.

God created mankind because He wanted someone like Him who He could call a friend.  He came daily to fellowship with His newly created friends, Adam and Eve, until sin separated them.  It was a sad day when God came looking for His friends crying out, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9).

Think about the fact that the Trinity of God wants a friend. He created you for fellowship first, then service.  Your friendship with God is more important than your service for Him.  The same is true in the natural world.  A true relationship with someone is more important than what you do for them.  What you do for your friend flows out of your relationship with them.

In the Old Testament, Enoch was a friend who walked faithfully with God.  One day the Lord just took him on home with Him.  Abraham was called the “friend of God” (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23).  God spoke to Moses face-to-face as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus 33:11).  King David was a special friend who was “after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22).  The Old Testament also has some beautiful examples of friendships between people, like that of David and Jonathan and of Ruth and Naomi.

In the New Testament, Jesus was called a Friend of Sinners because He loved them and ministered to them (Matthew 11:19).  His critics meant this as a derogatory title, but actually confirmed His divine mission.  Sinners were drawn to Him:

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  (Matthew 9:10-12)

Jesus often stayed with His friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.  His friend, Joseph of Arimethea did not openly confess Christ for a time, but when Jesus was rejected, forsaken, and shamed, he came to claim the body of his friend and give Him a proper burial.  Jesus also had various levels of friendships:  The 70, the 12, the 3, and John, His most beloved friend.

Because of the death of Jesus on the cross, the way is now open for all Believers to experience friendship with Jesus.  Jesus declared:

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

(John 15:14-15)

Jesus is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). Other friends may come and go, but Friend Jesus remains faithful:  “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35).  Jesus is your greatest friend because “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (1 John 3:16).

We often chose our friends based on common interests, geographic proximity, or work and ministry relationships.  Your friendship with the Lord, however, begins when He chooses you.  Jesus said: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you…” (John 15:16).  To be a friend of God,  you must hear the Word and act upon it, starting by experiencing a born-again relationship with Jesus Christ (John 3).

After beginning your relationship with the Lord through the new birth experience, you deepen your friendship with Him as you learn to live by faith through believing and acting upon His Word.  Abraham was called the friend of God because of His faith (James 2:23; Hebrews 11:6).

Just as you spend time with good friends in the natural world, you must spend time with God, your spiritual friend.  Relationships take time to develop in both the natural and spiritual worlds. You must have a desire to know the Lord, not just for what He can do for you in terms of blessings, gifts, talents, or ministries.  You must simply want to be His friend.

A faithful friend of Jesus Christ will guard their affections because friendship with the world alienates you from Him (James 4:4).  The only thing that will prevent you from being His friend is for you to be a friend of the world by embracing its sinful lifestyle and standards (1 John 2:15-17).

A friend of Jesus is reliable with shared revelations.  Just as you carefully guard information shared by good friends in the natural world, you should also guard revelations from your spiritual Friend.  A good friend does not misrepresent their best friend by their actions or words.  Live so that your actions and words do not misrepresent Him.

A good friend advances his friend’s agenda and wants them to receive recognition.  The same is true spiritually.  As a friend of God, you should advance His purposes in the world and encourage others to worship Him.

As your good friend, Jesus is quick to forgive you: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).  He guides you:  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”  (Proverbs 3:5-6).  Your Friend helps you and shields you from danger:  “Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield” (Psalm 33:20).

Friend Jesus delivers you: “But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God” (Psalm 40:17). Jesus sympathizes with you:

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16).

He sustains you: “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22) and He provides for you: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).  Your Friend shares secrets with you: “      There’s a private place reserved for the lovers of God, where they sit near him and receive additional revelations-secrets of his promise” (Psalm 25:14, TPT).

Your Friend loves you so much that He will someday return and take you to live with Him forever:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3)

RESPONSE:  In Enjoying Intimacy With God, J. O. Sanders comments:

“It would seem that admission to the inner circle of deepening intimacy with God is the outcome of deep desire. Only those who count such intimacy a prize worth sacrificing anything else for are likely to attain it. If other intimacies are more desirable to us, we will not gain entry to that circle.”

So the question is:  Are you a friend of God, or merely an acquaintance?

Sing this old-time song in worship:

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit

Oh, what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged

Take it to the Lord in prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Declare the words of this modern chorus regarding your Friend, Jesus:

Friend Of God

Israel Houghton

Who am I that You are mindful of me

That You hear me when I call

Is it true that You are thinking of me

How You love me it's amazing

I am a friend of God

I am a friend of God

I am a friend of God

He calls me friend

God Almighty, Lord of Glory

You have called me friend

He calls me friend

He calls me friend.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Friend.

GIFT OF GOD

UNSPEAKABLE GIFT

REFERENCE:  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.  (John 4:10)

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15)

REVELATION:  God’s greatest gift to the world is His Son through whom He provided redemption for the sins of mankind:  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

This Gift demonstrates God’s great love for the world: “For  God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

You receive this marvelous Gift by faith.  There is nothing you can do to earn it:  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The Apostle Paul explains:

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  (Romans 5:15-18)

The ultimate need of every person is to fill the God-shaped void in their heart, that restless longing of their soul.  Throughout history, this has given rise to many false religions, traditions, and rituals, but none of these satisfy the innate desire for the true God.  Jesus told the woman at the well who had tried to fill the void in her life with relationships:  “…If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water”  (John 4:10).

The Apostle Paul calls this gift of Jesus the Unspeakable Gift, saying “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15).  Jesus demonstrated unspeakable love: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). God gave the world an Unspeakable Gift: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

RESPONSE:  The Gift, Jesus Christ, will fill every void in your life.  It is a free gift.  All you must do is ask in order to receive it.

Join the Apostle Paul and give thanks to God for His Unspeakable Gift, Jesus Christ

(2 Corinthians 9:15).  Thank Him for the gift of faith that made it possible for you come to God. Thank Him for every good gift that He has bestowed upon you.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  (James 1:17)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Gift of God and Unspeakable Gift.

GOVERNOR AND RULER

REFERENCE: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.  (Micah 5:2)

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. (Matthew 2:6)

REVELATION:  All men live in a natural kingdom of this world.  They also live in one of two spiritual kingdoms: The kingdom of Satan or the Kingdom of God.  The kingdom of Satan is composed of evil spiritual beings, demons, and Satan Himself.  The Kingdom of God is composed of God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the angels of God.

Governor and Ruler are Messianic titles of Jesus.  The names describe one who has authority to oversee, judge, govern, and rule. The Lord rules and directs what is occurring in the nations, allowing certain men and women to be in power and pulling down others.  Even when it seems the nations are in chaos, the Lord is behind the scenes working out His plan as Governor of the nations.

Isaiah, in his list of Messianic names, explains the government of Jesus:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  (Isaiah 9:6-7)

The Kingdom of God existed in the past, it exists in the present, and it will exist in the future, all in different forms.  At the present time in the natural world, the Kingdom of God exists individually within every man, woman, boy or girl who has made Jesus King of their lives.  In the future, there will be an actual visible revelation of God's Kingdom.

Before Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom in its final form, the Gospel must be extended throughout the nations of the world:

And this Gospel of the Kingdom  shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.  (Matthew 24:14)

As residents of God’s Kingdom governed and ruled by Jesus Christ, Believers should not only preach and teach the Gospel of the Kingdom, but they should provide a living model of life in the Kingdom of God.  They should operate by Kingdom patterns and principles, honoring Jesus as Governor and Ruler of His people and the nations:  “For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations” ( Psalm 22:28).

RESPONSE:  Have you made Jesus the Governor and Ruler of your life? If so, in spite of the chaos you may be experiencing, Jesus reigns over every circumstance.

In the most difficult times, you can lift up your head and rejoice  knowing that all will work for good to you because the Governor and Ruler of your life is in charge: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Right now, there in your quiet place, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord” (Psalm 134:2).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Governor and Ruler.

GREAT

REFERENCE:  Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name.  (Jeremiah 32:18)

REVELATION:  The prophet Jeremiah declared, “Great…is His name.” Christ’s name Great is combined with several other descriptive titles in the Bible:

Jesus is the Great Light.  “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2).

Jesus is the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, meaning of all those who follow Him:  “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant” (Hebrews 13:20).

Jesus is the Great High Priest, making intercession for you in Heaven:  “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession” (Hebrews 4:14).

Jesus is the Great God and Savior. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ…”(Titus 2:13).

Jesus is the Great Prophet.  After Jesus resurrected a dead man, the people “…glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people” (Luke 7:16).

Jesus is the Greater and More Perfect Tabernacle.  “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us”  (Hebrews 9:11-12).

Jesus is Greater than the Temple.  “But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple”  (Matthew 12:6).

Jesus is Greater than all others.

He is Greater than Jonah:  “The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here” (Matthew 12:41).

He is Greater than Abraham: “Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? …Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:53,58).

He is Greater than Jacob: “Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:12-14).

Jesus is Greater than Solomon: “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here”

(Matthew 12:42).

RESPONSE:  Jesus is Greater that the enemy, Satan and his hosts, and He has delegated that same power to you.  Claim His promise today and go forth in victory: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Someday in Heaven, we will sing this song about God’s great works.  Why not practice right now?

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.  (Revelation 15:3)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Great.

HEAD

REFERENCE:  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

(Colossians 2:10)

REVELATION: The title of Head implies a preeminent, authoritative position to rule, guide, and direct.  In disclosing the name of Jesus as Head, the Holy Spirit also revealed what He heads which includes the following:

Jesus is the Head of every man. “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ…” (1 Corinthians 11:3).  He is the head of the entire human race because He is the Creator:

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16-17)

Jesus is the Head of all principalities and power. “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power…(Colossians 2:10).   Principalities and powers are levels of demons and demonic activity who empower evil authorities and rulers. Their primary goals are to vex, harass, irritate, confuse, frustrate, and destroy.  This is why the Bible teaches us that “…we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:12-13).  Because Jesus is over all principalities and powers, you need not fear the battle.

Jesus is the Head of His Body, the Church.  “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).  Jesus was the founder of the Church, purchasing it by His own blood.  As a body severed from its head is lifeless, the Church is a lifeless form apart from Jesus the Head.  Jesus is the Head and “…we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another” (Romans 12:5).

Jesus is the Head of all things.  “And (God) hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23).  All means all.  Everything and everyone is subject to the Head of all things.

Jesus is the Head of the corner.  Rejected by His own people, Jesus became the Head and the Cornerstone of our faith:  “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner” (1 Peter 2:7).  See also the study on the names Cornerstone and Stone.

RESPONSE: Meditate on these truths about Jesus as Head and how this relates to you.

The Apostle Paul declared: “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).

Because you are in Christ Jesus  “…you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power”(Colossians 2:10).  The word complete means “lacking nothing.”  You are complete in Him who is the head of all things and lack nothing to accomplish your destiny.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Head.

HEALER

REFERENCE:  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)

REVELATION:  As revealed in the study of the names of God the Father, God pledged Himself to be the Healer of His people. He promised:

…If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. (Exodus 15:26)

This promise was manifested through the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Sickness and death are the results of sin in the world, and Jesus came to solve the sin problem.  The New Testament reveals Jesus as the Great Physician who healed all types of illness:

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. (Matthew 8:16-17)

The New Testament also teaches that Believers are empowered by God to minister to the sick:

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

(James 5:14-16)

Jesus promised His followers that “…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”

(Mark 16:18).

RESPONSE:  Jesus is your Healer.  If you need healing physically, spiritually, emotionally, or mentally, claim this promise right now:  “…I am the Lord that heals thee” (Exodus 15:26).

Now make it personal.  Declare:  “He is the Lord who heals me!”

As you reaching out to others with the healing power of God?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Healer.

HEIR OF ALL THINGS

REFERENCE:  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.  (Hebrews 1:1-2)

REVELATION: The word heir, as used in the Bible, means “one who has been appointed to receive an inheritance.”  God appointed Jesus as the heir of all things.  Jesus declared, “All things that the Father hath are mine” (John 16:15).

The inheritance that Christ received includes Believers, those whom the Father has given to the Son.  Jesus said: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

The really good news about Jesus being the Heir of all things is that through the spiritual blood-relationship of the born-again experience, true Believers also have a glorious inheritance. We are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.  The Apostle Paul explains:

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:3-7)

The Bible confirms  that “…The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:16-17a).  The promise is that “…He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son” (Revelation 21:7).

“All things” means all that belongs to God which He passed to His Heir, Jesus, who passed all along to you!  Your inheritance includes salvation  (Hebrews 1:14); eternal life (1 Peter 1:4); and benefits of an abundant life too many to enumerate!  Your inheritance is eternally secure, having been sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise:

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.  (Ephesians 1:13-14)

RESPONSE:  An heir for God is one who through faith receives Christ as Savior.  If you have not received Him, take that step now.  If you are already an heir of God, then turn your eyes from the challenges and distractions of life to meditate on the legacy of your spiritual inheritance.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. (Psalm 68:19)

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:1-5)

What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. (Psalm 116:12-14)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Heir Of All Things.

HELPER

REFERENCE:    Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

(Hebrews 13:5-6)

REVELATION: "God helps those who help themselves" is probably the phrase most often quoted and attributed to the Bible that is not found in the Bible. The Bible teaches the opposite. God helps the helpless.

In terms of salvation, we are all utterly helpless. We are all infected by sin (Romans 3:23), and condemned as a result of that sin (Romans 6:23). Nothing we can do on our own can remedy this situation (Isaiah 64:6). Thankfully, God is the helper of the helpless and while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8).

The fact that Jesus is the Helper of the helpless in terms of salvation is not an excuse for inactivity in other areas of life however.  Many people ask God for help, and then expect Him to do everything for them.  For example, they may pray for a job but do nothing to prepare themselves educationally for the kind of job they are seeking, nor do they apply for available positions.

God is your Helper, which means He comes alongside to provide divine inspiration, revelation, and power for the challenges, tasks, and ministries to which He has assigned you.  Human help may fail you, but you are never alone.  The Lord is your helper.

RESPONSE:  A helper is one who aids, attends, relieves, assists, and succors another person.  The Trinity of God fits this description.  Meditate on the following Scriptures:

…thou art the helper of the fatherless.  (Psalm 10:14)

Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. (Psalm 54:4)

For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. (Psalm 72:12)

Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20)

And the Lord shall help them and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. (Psalm 37:40)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. (Psalm 63:7)

Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.  (Psalm 94:17-18)

Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

(Psalm 146:3)

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.

(John 14:26, TAB)

Make these declarations:

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. (Psalm 42:5)

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)

So that we (I) may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall

do unto me. (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Pray these prayers:

Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. (Psalm 38:22)

Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord. (Psalm 70:1)

But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. (Psalm 40:17)

Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. (Psalm 60:11)

Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy: That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, Lord, hast done it.  (Psalm 109:26-27)

O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help. (Psalm 71:12)

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake. (Psalm 79:9)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Helper.

HOLY

REFERENCE:  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)

REVELATION:  The word “holy”, as used in the Bible, means to be set apart from sin, blameless, a person of moral and spiritual excellence.  God is called Holy God and the Holy One of Israel.  The Spirit is called the Holy Spirit.  Jesus also has several titles related to the title Holy which include the following:

His name is Holy. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).

He is the Holy Thing born of God. “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).

He is the Holy Child. “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together…And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus” (Portions of Acts 4:27-30).

He is the Holy One.  “…thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Acts 2:27).

He is the Holy One and Just. In his final message, Stephen declared that Christ’s own people “…denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you”

(Acts 3:14).

He is the Holy One of God.  Even the demons recognized Jesus as holy, “Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24).

He is Holy and True. “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth” (Revelation 3:7) .

He is the Holy High Priest.  “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself”  (Hebrews 7:26-27).

Because God, Jesus, and the Spirit are all holy, Believers are to be holy “…Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy”  (1 Peter 1:16).  We are commanded to “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

The only way we can achieve holiness is through accepting Jesus Christ as Savior:  “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate” (Hebrews 13:12). Trying to be holy by self-effort is doomed for failure.  You are holy because of the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.

RESPONSE:  Meditate on these verses regarding holiness:

…he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.  (Ephesians 1:4)

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. (2 Timothy 2:9)

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24)

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Holy.

HOPE

REFERENCE:  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.  (1 Timothy 1:1)

REVELATION:  Hope is confident expectation, joyous anticipation, and firm assurance of the future.  Hope is intricately related to your faith, as the Bible defines faith as:  “…the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]”  (Hebrews 11:1 AMP).  Your faith give substance to hope.  If you do not have hope, then you have nothing for faith to give substance to.

Jesus is the Hope of glory.  Jesus is the Hope of Glory, meaning He is the living hope of the promises of salvation and eternal life.  Christ within you through the new birth experience is that hope: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”  (Colossians 1:27).  The hope of eternity outweighs any earthly hope you may have:

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.

(1 Corinthians 15:19-20)

Jesus is the Hope of His people. “The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel”  (Joel 3:16).

Jesus it the Hope of Israel.  “For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain” (Acts 28:20).

Jesus is that  Blessed Hope which refers to the rapture of the Church:

For  the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:13)

RESPONSE:  If you think you are having a faith crisis, it may actually be a hope crisis as faith is the substances of things hoped for.  Your faith gives substance to hope.  If you do not have hope, then you have nothing for faith to give substance to.

Jesus is the source of hope.  Study the following truths regarding hope:

Hope is related to your spiritual stability. “And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart” (Jeremiah 18:12).

Hope is related to your heart condition. “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12).

Hope is related to your joy.  Paul said that we are to be “…rejoicing in hope...”(Romans 12:12).

Hope is related to your salvation. “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Romans 8:24-25).

Hope is the spiritual anchor for your soul.  Hope prevents you from drifting away from God:

…we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever…  (Hebrews 6:18-20)

The wicked are blown away by every stormy wind. But when a catastrophe comes, the lovers of God have a secure anchor. (Proverbs 10:25 TPT)

Your faith, spiritual stability, heart condition, joy, salvation, and the anchor of your soul are all related to hope.  Jesus, your Hope, provides all this and more.  Feeling hopeless? Ask Him to renew your hope.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Hope.

HORN

HORN OF SALVATION

HORN OF DAVID

HORN OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

REFERENCE:  The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (Psalm 18:2)

REVELATION: In the Bible, the symbol of the horn refers to power, glory, strength, royal authority, honor, dignity, and dominion. It is an analogy drawn from animals whose strength is in their horns.  Mighty kings and nations are often called horns in Scripture.  Individuals are called horns.  But our Horn, the Lord Jesus Christ, is stronger than all others.

To have one’s horn exalted denotes prosperity, triumph, and victory. When God exalts the horn of a man, it is a sign His favor:  “But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted” (Psalm 89:24).

When a man exalts himself, it is a sign of arrogance:  “I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn: Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another “ (Psalm 75:4-7).

Jesus is called the Horn of Salvation, the Horn of David, and of the Horn of the House of Israel:

As the Horn of Salvation,  He is redemption from sin.  Zacharias declared: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,  And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” (Luke 1:68-69). God’s greatest strength was displayed in the plan of salvation.

As the Horn of David, He is the strength of the house of David which will endure forever:  “There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish”  (Psalm 132:17-18).

As the Horn of the House of Israel, He is the supernatural power behind the nation of Israel: “In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 29:21).

RESPONSE:  Because Jesus is the Horn of  your salvation, then all His strength is yours.  You need not fear the enemy.   There are many wicked “horns” in this world, people who wield evil power.  Because our Horn is stronger than these horns, they will be brought down.

Meditate on this promise of God:  “All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted” (Psalm 75:10).

Lift this psalm of praise using the name of Jesus your Horn:

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. (Psalm 18:2-3)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Horn of Salvation, Horn of David, and the Horn of the House Of Israel.

I AM

REFERENCE:  As soon then as he (Jesus) had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.  (John 18:6)

REVELATION:  In the Old Testament, God revealed Himself as the great I Am:  “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you”  (Exodus 3:14-15).  This name is means “I am the existing one.”

As part of the Trinity of God, Jesus is the personification of the great I Am.  Jesus declared to the Jews: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). When Jesus made this statement, He confirmed His pre-existence as the eternal Son of God.

In the book of John, Jesus made several “I Am” statements that expand the meaning of what He is to Believers:

‑I am He (the Messiah): 4:26; 8:24,28; 13:19; 18:5,6,8

‑I am the Bread of Life: 6:35,41,48,51

‑I am the Light of the World: 8:12

-I am from above: 8:23

‑I am before Abraham: 8:58

‑I am the Door: 10:7,9

‑I am the Good Shepherd: 10:11,14

‑I am the Resurrection and the Life: 11:25

-I am Lord and Master: 13:13

‑I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: 14:6

‑I am the Vine: 15:1,5

-I am He (Jesus of Nazareth): 18:6

-I am King: 18:37

Additional "I am" statements by Christ in scripture include: “I am the Alpha and Omega” (Revelation 1:8); “I am the first and the last” (Revelation 1:17); “I am the God of the living”  (Matthew 22:32); “I am Jesus” (Acts 9:5); “I am alive forevermore” (Revelation 1:18); “I am He who searches the hearts” (Revelation 2:23); “I am the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star” (Revelation 22:16); and  “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).

RESPONSE:  Jesus is not “I Was”, but He is “I Am.” Because the name “I Am” is in the present tense, Jesus will never become irrelevant as time passes.  He is not who you say He is, but He is who He says He is.  He is “I am.”   And He declares: “ I am with you always!”  Thank Him that He is with you right now in your quiet time and that He will remain with you throughout the day.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name I Am.

JESUS

REFERENCE:  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)

REVELATION:  The name Jesus means  “Yahweh” or “Yahweh is salvation.”  Transliterated from Hebrew and Aramaic, the name is “Yeshua”. The meaning of the name reveals His divine mission:  Jesus was sent as salvation for sinful mankind.  The combination of the name Jesus with other titles in the Bible provides further insight into this glorious name:

Jesus Christ.   “Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages)”  (Hebrews 13:8, TAB).

Jesus Christ, the Son of God. “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”

(John 20:31).

Jesus Christ the Lord. “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:25).

Jesus Christ Our Lord. He is not only the Lord, He is our Lord: “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh” (Romans 1:3).

Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. “And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS” (John 19:19).

Jesus of Galilee.  “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee” (Matthew 26:69).

The spiritual benefits of the name of Jesus are unlimited:

Salvation is in the name of Jesus.  “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought 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”  (Acts 4:10-12).

Forgiveness of sin is in the name of Jesus. “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins”

(Acts 10:43).

Believers are baptized in the name of Jesus. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

Healing and miracles are performed in the name of Jesus. “And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all” (Acts 3:16).

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole” (Acts 4:10).

Demons are subject to the name of Jesus. “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” (Luke 10:17).

We pray in the name of Jesus.  “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” (John 14:13-14).

We preach and teach in the name of Jesus. “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem”

(Luke 24:47).

We do all in the name of Jesus. “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”  (Colossians 3:17).

Of all the Names, the name of Jesus is the most exalted by God, the name above all others.  It is to this name that every knee will bow:

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; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (Philippians 2:9-11)

RESPONSE:  Personalize 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 and pray this prayer:

“I pray that God would count me worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in me, and me in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Every knee will someday bow at the name of Jesus.  You might as well practice by kneeling  in His presence during your prayer time today.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Jesus.

JESUS THE CHRIST

JESUS THE MESSIAH

REFERENCE:  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.  (John 20:31)

He (Andrew) first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. (John 1:41)

REVELATION:  The word “Messiahs” comes from the Hebrew word mashiach and means “anointed one” or “chosen one.” The Greek equivalent is the word Christos or in English, Christ, which means Messiah. The combined name “Jesus Christ” is the same as “Jesus the Messiah.”

In biblical times, anointing someone with oil was a sign that God was consecrating or setting apart that person for a particular role. Thus, an anointed one was someone set apart for a special, God-ordained purpose.  Jesus was anointed by God with the oil of the Holy Spirit.

In addition to Andrew’s declaration of the Messiah (John 1:41), the title is used twice in the book of Daniel to predict the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ (Daniel 9:25-26).  It is also used by the woman at the well who declared:  “I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things” (John 4:25).

The title revealing Jesus as the Christ is used several times in the New Testament.  In answer to a question posed by Jesus as to His identity, Peter responded:  “Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).  Jesus instructed His disciples not to disclose this truth at that time (Matthew 16:20), but it wasn’t long until His identity was recognized because of His teaching and His works.

The woman at the well declared to the people of her village: “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” (John 4:29).  After spending time with Jesus, the village people confirmed:  “…Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world”  (John 4:42).  Martha also declared: “Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world” (John 11:27).

At the conclusion of the Gospel of John, the final declaration is:

“…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.”  (John 20:31)

Jesus fulfills the role of Prophet, Priest, and King, which is further evidence of Him being the Messiah. He is a Prophet, because He embodied and preached the Word of God (John 1:1–18; 14:24; and Luke 24:19).  He is a Priest because His death atoned for our sins and reconciled us to the Father (Hebrews 2:17; 4:14).  He is a King, because God gave all authority to Him (John 18:36; Ephesians 1:20–23; and Revelation 19:16).

The Jews of Jesus’ day expected the Messiah to redeem Israel by overthrowing the rule of the Romans and establishing an earthly kingdom (Acts 1:6). It wasn’t until after Jesus’ resurrection that His followers understood what the prophecies in the Old Testament really meant (Luke 24:25–27). The Messiah would first deliver His people spiritually by redeeming them from sin (John 8:31–36).  When Jesus returns, He will deliver His people physically from this evil world  (Isaiah 9:1–7).

In the final hours of His life, Jesus confirmed His identity as the Christ, the Messiah:

And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.  (Mark 14:60-62)

A test for the standard of Biblical truth is what one believes about Jesus Christ:

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. (1 John 2:22-23)

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1)

RESPONSE: Jesus Christ was recognized by His teaching and His works.  As a follower of Jesus the Christ, are you recognized by your teaching and works? Ask God for a new anointing of the Holy Spirit to minister the Word and the works of God.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Messiah.

JUDGE

REFERENCE:  For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king.  (Isaiah 33:22)

REVELATION:  The word judge means to separate or make a difference between. This includes bringing to trial, examining evidence, determining guilt or innocence, and deciding the penalty for sin.  Job 9:33 uses the title “Daysman” for the word Judge, meaning an umpire or arbiter. This word is formed from a Latin word meaning to “fix a day for hearing a cause”. A judge is empowered by mutual consent to decide a case and impose a sentence.

Eternal judgment is the great and final judgment spoken of in the Bible which determines the eternal destiny of all souls.  The judges will include:

God.  God is the judge of all  (Hebrews 12:23; Acts 17:30-31).  God's desire is that all men come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ (John 3:16).  He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), but that all men everywhere repent (Acts 17:30-31).

Jesus Christ.  God has given Jesus authority to judge, that is why one of the names for Jesus is Judge:

...for He has given all judgment--the last judgment and the whole business of judging--entirely into the hands of the Son...  And He has given Him authority and granted Him power to execute [exercise, practice] judgment, because He is a Son of man [very man].

(John 5:22,27, TAB)

The saints of God.  In the final judgment true Believers will help judge the world:

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?   Know ye not that ye shall judge angels?...(2 Corinthians 6:2-3)

The standard by which we all will be judged is the Word of God:

And if any man hear my words and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:  the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.  (John 12:47-48)

The Bible reveals that judgment is necessary because of sin against God's law, ungodliness, unrighteousness, unbelief, trespasses, and evil deeds.  These are different words, but they are all words for sin.

At the time of final judgment, Believers will be judged for their works and rewarded accordingly:  “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God”  (Romans 14:12).

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every man may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

(2 Corinthians 5:10)

You will  be judged by how you have built your life:

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;  Every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself  shall be saved...

(1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

The works of true Believers will be judged on the basis of obedience, as illustrated in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 and the parable of the pounds in Luke 19.  These stories confirm how our Master left us with a divine responsibility which is known as the Great Commission:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

(Matthew 28:19-20)

Some are called as pastors, apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers, but every born-again Believer has responsibility in reaching the world with the Gospel.  Believers will be judged on the basis of their faithfulness to the responsibilities God has given them:  “Moreover it is required  in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).

RESPONSE:  Knowing that you will someday stand before the divine Judge, reflect on your works in light of God’s Word.  Are you faithful in your work for God?  Are you fulfilling the Great Commission?  Are your works based upon the foundation of the Word of God?

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing   , whether it be good, or whether it be evil.   (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Judge.

JUST ONE

JUST PERSON

REFERENCE:  Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.  (Acts 7:52)

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.  (Matthew 27:24)

REVELATION:   Someone who is just  behaves and acts according to what is morally right and fair.  Considering the use of the word “just” in Scripture as well as in modern language, other synonyms for just are “accurate” (as in measurement); “correct” (as in judgment); and “righteous” (as in a description of a person’s nature).

In his defense of the Gospel before the Sanhedrin, Stephen condemned these leaders when he declared that they had murdered Jesus, the Just One (Acts 7:52).  Peter, in his sermon on the day of Pentecost, charged them with having denied the Holy and Just One (Acts 3:14). Even Pilate declared that Jesus was a Just Person, meaning He was righteous (Matthew 27:24).  As the Just One, Jesus never committed sin or wrongs, yet, this Just One was unjustly tried and condemned to death.

We can be thankful that Jesus is not only holy and just, but He is also merciful, combing absolute justice with mercy.  This is why the psalmist declared:  “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies” (Psalm 103:2,4).

There is no other Savior like Jesus, the Just:

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me. (Isaiah 45:21)

RESPONSE:  Jesus is just, and His followers who emulate Him are also to be just in our relationships, conduct, and decisions.  Meditate on the following verses from the book of Proverbs:

The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. (Proverbs 3:33)

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:9-10)

Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. (Proverbs 10:6-7)

The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

(Proverbs 10:20)

The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

(Proverbs 10:31)

The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. (Proverbs 12:13)

…the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. (Proverbs 13:22)

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. (Proverbs 20:7)

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. (Proverbs 24:16)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Just.

KING OF KINGS

REFERENCE:  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. (Revelation 19:16)

REVELATION:  A king is a ruler who inherits the position by right of birth.  Jesus is the King of kings because He inherited this position as the Son of the Living God.  This verse also calls Jesus Lord of lords. A Lord is one who has mastery, power, and authority.  This name is considered in a separate study.

Jesus is the King of Israel and the Jews. “Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel” (John 1:49).

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”

(Matthew 2:2)

The Prophet Zechariah declared: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass”  (Zechariah 9:9).  This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey amidst the accolades of the people (Luke 19:38).

Jesus is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people declared:  “…Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest” (Luke 19:38).

Jesus is our eternal, immortal, and invisible King. “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17).

Jesus is King forever and ever.  “The Lord is King forever and ever“(Psalm 10:16).

Jesus is the King over all the earth. “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one” (Zechariah 14:9).

Jesus is the King of Glory.  The psalmist declared:

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24:7-10)

Jesus is the King of Heaven.  Nebuchadnezzar declared:  “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase” (Daniel 4:37).

Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16).

Jesus is the King of Righteousness and Peace:  “To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace”  (Hebrews 7:2).

Jesus is the King of all of the Saints.  Saints are all who are truly born-again and part of the Church.  The Bible says that in Heaven “…they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints” (Revelation 15:3).

RESPONSE: Is Jesus your King?  Does He rule and reign in every area of your heart and life?

No matter how difficult life becomes, know that King Jesus reigns over every turbulent circumstance:  “The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King forever” (Psalm 29:10).

You are meeting with the King of all the Earth in your quiet time today.  Worship Him!  Give praise to your king!

…sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. (Psalm 47:6)

With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.

(Psalm 98:6)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name King.

LAMB OF GOD

REFERENCE:  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  (John 1:29)

REVELATION:  John called Jesus the “Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).  This fulfilled the prophetic statement of Abraham who, when questioned by his son Isaac as to where the sacrifice was, prophetically replied:  “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering…” (Genesis 22:8).

The title Lamb of God was greatly significant to the Jews.  They sacrificed a lamb for the Passover which celebrated Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 13:1-13). The slaying of the Passover lamb and the applying of the blood to doorposts of the houses picture Christ’s atoning work on the cross. His shed blood, when applied, covers sin.

Lambs were also used as sacrifices for sin.  Every morning and evening, a lamb was sacrificed in the temple for the sins of the people (Exodus 29:38-42). These daily sacrifices foreshadowed the  perfect sacrifice of Christ on the cross of Calvary.  By calling Christ the Lamb of God, John was declaring that Jesus was the forever sacrifice for sin.

The Old Testament prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah foretold the coming of one who would be brought like a lamb led to the slaughter and whose sacrifice would provide redemption for Israel (Jeremiah 11:19; Isaiah 53:7).   That person was Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

The Bible declares that the wages of sin is death; that we are all sinners; and that none of us are righteous before God (Romans 3:23 and 6:23). Only through the atonement of Jesus Christ in our behalf can we be reconciled to God.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1 Peter 1:18-21)

Jesus is the Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World. “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).

Jesus is the Lamb That Was Slain.  “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever” (Revelation 5:11-13).

Jesus is the Lamb Who Is in the Midst of the Throne. “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17).

RESPONSE:  The primary image in the book of Revelation is Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God.

Study more about the Lamb of God in the following references:  Revelation 5:6-13; 6:1,16; 7:9-17; 12:11; 13:8,11: 14:1,4,10; 15:3; 17:14; 19:7,9; 21:14; 21:22-23; 22:3.

Join the hosts of heaven by declaring with a loud voice:

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. (Revelation 5:12-13)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Lamb Of God.

LIFE

REFERENCE:  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

REVELATION:  Whenever Jesus used the phrase "I AM," He made specific revelations regarding His identity and nature. These revelations emphasized that He was much more than a rabbi or prophet.  Jesus was the Messiah, God in human form.

Jesus declared, “I am the life.”  True life is not found in something, but in Someone. True life is found in Jesus Christ: “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself” (John 5:26).  Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  Jesus is not a way, He is the way to life.  He is the only way.  There is no other path that leads to life:  “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

John bore witness that true life is found in Christ declaring…

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1-3)

Jesus is called the Prince Of Life, meaning He is the one who created life, who sustains it, and who provides both abundant and eternal life (Acts 3:15).  Jesus is called the Bread of Life, as He provides both spiritual and physical sustenance:

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst…Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life” I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.  (John 6:35, 40, 47-48, 57).

Jesus is the water of life, declaring:  “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely” (Revelation 21:6).

Jesus gives abundant life: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Jesus gives eternal life to all who believe:

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25-26)

The exclusive nature of this only path to life is expressed in the statement “I am…the Life.”  Eternal life is found only in the one true God and His Son, Jesus Christ: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).

The life of Jesus is manifested in the lives of true Believers.  The Apostle Paul declared:  “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”  (Galatians 2:20).

A person may be physically alive,  yet spiritually dead.  Those who live only for pleasure are in this category:  “But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth” (1 Timothy 5:6).  Jesus spoke of those bound in religious tradition and rituals as “whited sepulchres” meaning they were like a beautiful burial vault which only contained dead bones (Matthew 23:27).

The Church at Sardis had a name that they lived, but Jesus declared that they were spiritually dead (Revelation 3:1).  He told them:

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.  (Revelation 3:2-3)

God’s five-fold plan to renew your spiritual life is contained in these verses:

Watch.  The Amplified Bible says to "rouse yourself and keep awake." It is time to wake up, recognize the signs of the time, and be active for God as never before.

Strengthen.  Take hold of the things that remain and are ready to die in your spiritual life and strengthen them through prayer and the Word.

Remember.  Reflect on the promises of God and His faithfulness in times past.

Hold Fast.  Hold fast to the things you have received, your faith, and God’s Word.

Repent. Repent so you will be ready for Christ's return.  He will return as a thief, so don't be caught unawares  (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10).

RESPONSE:  The bottom line is this: “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:11-12) Is Jesus the source of life for you, or do you look to other things to provide happiness:  People, entertainment, pleasures, or addictions?

If you feel spiritually dead, follow God’s five-fold plan in Revelation 3:2-3:  Watch, strengthen,

remember, hold fast, repent.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Life.

LIGHT

REFERENCE:  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

REVELATION:  Darkness and light are consistent themes from the beginning of the Bible.  The Word opens with darkness on the face of the deep until God declares, “Let there be light”  (Genesis 1:3).  After sin entered the world, physical light remained but mankind was plunged into deep spiritual darkness that could only be eliminated by Jesus Christ who declared, “I am the light of the world.”

Jesus came into the world as a light so that all who believe in Him would no longer remain in darkness.  He explained: “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46).  He said:  “…I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

John confirms that Jesus is the Light:

In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  (John 1:1-4)

The sad reality was that His light was not recognized by many people: “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:5).

As in the natural world, spiritual light is essential because…

-Light warns of dangers that lie ahead.

-Light protects from the pitfalls of darkness, i.e., from falling and being injured.

-Light penetrates the darkness so one can see clearly.

-Light reveals.

-Light guides.

-Light makes it possible to discern the right way from the wrong one.

-Light enlightens as it changes a person's comprehension.

-Light is clear and pure.

All of this is true spiritually of Jesus.

Several other references expand our knowledge of Jesus as the Light:

Jesus is the Light of the Gospel of Christ. “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Jesus is the Light of the Morning.  “And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain” (2 Samuel 23:4).

Jesus is the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God.  “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Jesus is the Light of Israel.  “And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day” (Isaiah 10:17).

Jesus is the Light to Gentiles. “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” (Luke 2:30-32).  “Gentiles” is another world for the nations.  Jesus is the light to the nations of the world.

The Bible declares that “… ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).  The one who follows Jesus will not walk in the darkness of this sinful world.  As a child of light, they will reflect His light to the world:

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Jesus is the Light of Men. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).

Jesus is the Light of the World.  “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”

(John 8:12).

Jesus is the Light of the City of God.  Someday soon, we will live forever with Jesus, the Light, in the city of eternal light:

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.  (Revelation 21:23-25)

Jesus is the Great Light.  “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined”  (Isaiah 9:2).

Jesus is the Everlasting Light. “Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended” (Isaiah 60:20).

RESPONSE:  The Bible states of unbelievers that “…the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:4).  Pray for unbelievers whose spiritual eyes are blinded by the enemy preventing them from receiving the light of Jesus.

As a child of light, are you reflecting the light of Jesus to the world?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Light.

LION OF TRIBE OF JUDAH

REFERENCE:  I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.”  (Revelation 5:4-5)

REVELATION: From ancient times the images of lions have graced flags, thrones, palaces, gates, and temples, including the temple in Jerusalem. First Kings indicates that King Solomon's throne was adorned with twelve lions, symbolizing his great power.  Throughout the Bible, the lion appears as a symbol of strength, might, and power.

The title Lion of Judah comes from the time when Jacob, nearing the end of his life, prayed a blessing over his son, Judah.  He compared Judah to a lion, hence the phrase "the Lion of the Tribe of Judah".  Jacob's prediction that the scepter would not depart from the tribe of Judah and the title Lion of the Tribe of Judah were prophetic statements about the coming Messiah and His eternal reign (Genesis 49:9-10).

The book of Revelation  portrays Jesus as the one who has triumphed and the only one worthy to open the scroll that contains the ultimate unfolding of God's purposes for the world. The word triumphed means “to prevail, subdue, and conquer.” Within this context, the Bible refers to Jesus as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

You previously studied the name of Jesus the Lamb.  How can He be both a Lamb and a Lion?  This is because the Lion and the Lamb are descriptions of two aspects of His nature.  He is the compliant Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world, but He is also the victorious and conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

The book of Revelation depicts the risen Christ as the mightiest of all victors. He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the only one found worthy to open the scrolls of history, meaning that He is in charge of history and of how the world's destiny unfolds.

RESPONSE:  The Bible compares our spiritual enemy, Satan, to a roaring lion. Peter warns:

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

(1 Peter 5:8-9)

Note that Satan is not a lion, as that designation is given to Christ.  Satan is “as a roaring lion”, meaning that he imitates the power and authority of a lion.  Satan prowls around seeking whom he may devour.        That Satan is seeking those he may devour means there are people who he may not devour because they are alert to his attacks.

Peter did not draw this analogy to make you fearful.  He did not write this passage to scare you, rather to prepare you.        This passage provides four keys to confront this imposter.

Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset‑‑rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same  (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9, TAB)

Key one: “Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind).”  When you are out of control emotionally or mentally, you are in danger.  Do not give in to anger, bitterness, or unforgiveness. Do not come under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Key two: “Be vigilant and cautious at all times.”  Vigilance means to be watchful.  Realize that Satan, disguised as a roaring lion, wants to deceive and destroy you.  He will roar accusations against you.  Temptations will be loud and strong.  Be vigilant.  Be cautious.

Key three:  “Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset‑‑rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined].”        To do this, you must know the basis of your faith. That comes through study of God’s Word.  Jesus resisted Satan in the faith by using the Word of God.

Key four: “Knowing that the same ( identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.”   When you are faced with difficulties, don’t isolate yourself from other Believers and throw a pity party. The devil will show up for sure! Realize that the same sufferings and battles you are facing are being experienced by others. Stay close to the people of God.

Are you using these keys given by the Lion of the Tribe of Judah to confront the enemy imposter?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Lion of the Tribe Of Judah.

LIVING ONE

REFERENCE: When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last,  And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead).  (Revelation 1:17-18, TAB)

REVELATION:  The Roman government banished John to the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Asia Minor, in modern-day Turkey. While John was at Patmos, the risen and glorified Son of God appeared to him and commanded him to write ''the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this'' (Revelation 1:19).

Revelation 1:17–20 reports John's dramatic response to seeing the glorified Son of God.

Verses 17-18 confirm that Jesus is alive. He died, but death could not hold Him. He arose and is alive forevermore. He is the Living One.  The truth of the resurrection is unique to Christianity. All religions are based on founders who died and did not return to life. Only Christians know and serve a living Savior, one who died and lives again.

Jesus possesses the keys of Death and Hades. Death and the realm of the departed dead are under the control of the risen Savior. Believers need not fear death because it ushers them into the presence of God in Heaven.

RESPONSE: Jesus is the Living One, and because He lives you will also live for all eternity.

Meditate on the following scriptures.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:51–57)

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  (2 Corinthians 5:1–8)

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. (Philippians 1:21–24)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Living One.

LORD

PART ONE

REFERENCE:  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. (John 13:13)

REVELATION: The word Lord as used in the Bible indicates the sovereign strength and power of Deity, so it is used of both Jesus and God.  The name expresses the relationship of the Creator to His creatures and their responsibility to the one who created them.

In the Old Testament, God’s Hebrew name “YHWH” is usually translated in English versions as LORD in all caps.  In the New Testament, the word Lord, as applied to Jesus Christ, means “Master who has all authority in Heaven and earth.”

That Jesus is called Lord is confirmed by His own statements.  He said to Satan: “…It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Matthew 4:7).  He proclaimed that “…Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”  (Matthew 7:22-23).

That God is also called Lord is confirmed by Jesus:  “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matthew 11:25).  Jesus proclaimed this unity of the Trinity in terms of their Lordship:  “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord” (Mark 12:29).

Jesus acknowledged that the Spirit of the Lord (of Lordship) was upon Him: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19).  Thus, Jesus is Lord, functioning in union with the Lordship of God through the Spirit of the Lord.

The name “Lord” as it refers to Jesus is combined with many other titles that provide insight into His Lordship.  Study the following references.

My Lord and My God.  “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God”

(John 20:28),

Our Lord and Savior.  “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11).

The Lord from Heaven.  “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven”  (1 Corinthians 15:47).

The Lord Jesus. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

The Lord Jesus Christ. “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons” (James 2:1).

The Lord God Almighty. “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come… And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments” (Revelation 16:7; 4:8).

The Lord Strong and Mighty. “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” (Psalm 24:8.)

The Lord God Omnipotent. “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (Revelation 19:6).

The Lord God Who Judges.  “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her” (Revelation 18:8).

The Lord Holy and True.  “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10).

The Lord Who Is and Who Was and Who Is to Come. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).

The Lord's Christ. “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

The Lord Our Righteousness. “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6).

RESPONSE:  Jesus asked: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).  It is not enough to call Jesus Lord.  If He is truly Lord of your life, you will do what He says in His Word.  Examine your heart.

Read Psalm 8 audibly, lifting praise to the Lord.

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent (majestic and glorious) is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory on [or above] the heavens.  Out of the mouths of babes and unweaned infants You have established strength because of Your foes, that You might silence the enemy and the avenger.  When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established,  What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?  Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor.  You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet:  All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field,  The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent (majestic and glorious) is Your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8, TAB)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Lord Of and its various extensions.

LORD

PART TWO

THE LORD OF…

REFERENCE:  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all.  (Acts 10:36)

REVELATION: We continue the study of the name Lord, focusing on verses that reveal the unlimited parameters of His Lordship.  He is:

Lord of All the Earth.  “Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan” (Joshua 3:11).

Lord of the Whole Earth. “The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth”  (Psalm 97:5).

Lord of Hosts.  “Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.”

(Psalm 24:10)

Lord God of Israel. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen” (Psalm 41:13).

Lord of Lords. “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15).

Lord of Peace. “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

Lord of the Dead and Living.  “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living” (Romans 14:9).  As Lord, He has authority over both the living and the dead.  His authority extends beyond the grave.

Lord God of the Holy Prophets.  “And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done” (Revelation 22:6).

Lord  of the Sabbath.  “Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath” (Mark 2:28).

Lord of the Vineyard.  “So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first”  (Matthew 20:8).

Lord of the Harvest.  The harvest speaks of the spiritual fields of the world that must be sown, nurtured,  and reaped.  Jesus said: “…The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest”  (Luke 10:2).  He is the Lord of the Harvest that sends forth workers to reap the souls of men and women.

Lord of All.  “The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Chris: He is Lord of all. (Acts 10:36).

RESPONSE:   Because Jesus is Lord over all “…know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's”

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Consider:  Are you glorifying God in both your body and spirit?

Respond to the invitations of Scripture to praise the Lord.

I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high. (Psalm 7:17)

O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. (Psalm 8:1)

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.  (Psalm 34:3)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Lord Of.

LORD

PART THREE

LORD OF GLORY, GLORIOUS LORD

GLORIOUS NAME, GLORY IN THE MIDST OF HIS PEOPLE

REFERENCE: …The Lord of Glory. (James 2:1)

REVELATION:  In Hebrew the word glory means the weightiness of God’s presence. When God’s manifested presence descends, there is a weight of spiritual glory that hovers in the atmosphere.  It is like Jesus walked into the room.  People may respond by falling to their knees or on their faces or they may be so overcome that they are silent.  When God manifests His presence in this special way, you will know it.  Only those who have never experienced the manifested glory of God can argue against it.

Although the heavens declare the glory of God and the earth demonstrates His handiwork (Psalm 19:1), additional revelations of God’s glory on earth were needed, so He sent His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus became the physical manifestation of the glory of God.  Upon seeing the Christ-child, Simeon declared:  “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32).

Jesus  is also called:

Lord Of Glory.  “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7-8).

Glorious Lord.  “But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby” (Isaiah 33:21).

Glorious Name. “As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name” (Isaiah 63:14).

Glory In The Midst Of His People.  “For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her” (Zechariah 2:5).   John declared: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

RESPONSE:  Experiencing the manifested presence of God’s glory is not an intellectual pursuit.  It is an experience that comes only through worship.

“The effectiveness of worship is not measured by atmosphere. That means the credibility

of true biblical worship is not measured by how fast the songs are sung, or how deeply we meditate in solitude. It is not measured by a new plexiglass pulpit, a split chancel pulpit, or the new trend of using no pulpit at all. It is not measured by raising hands, affirming the Apostle's Creed, or congregational applause. It is not measured by responsive readings from both Old and New Testaments, viewing the Bible projected on the screen, or listening to an expositional sermon based on a proper interpretation of the text. True worship is always measured by the response of the Believer's heart to God…True worship is measured by the transformation of the worshipper because he/she has been in the presence of God.”  Elmer Towns

No matter how dire your circumstances and how long your “to do” list is for today,  take time to worship in God’s presence.  In the most difficult times, the Glory will be manifested in your life.  Speak these words to the gates of your life:

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:7-8)

Make this declaration with the psalmist: “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head”  (Psalm 3:3).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Lord of Glory and Glorious Lord.

LORD

PART FOUR

SPIRITUAL ASPECTS

REFERENCE:  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” (Colossians 3:17).

REVELATION: As we continue learning about the name Lord, this study focuses on the spiritual aspects of the name.  The name of the Lord is essential in salvation, justification, water baptism, healing, and ministry.

Salvation is by the name of the Lord.  “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Justification is by the name of the Lord. “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”

(1 Corinthians 6:11).

Water baptism is to be done in the name of the Lord.  “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

Healing comes through the name of the Lord. All healing, whether spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, or demonic is through the name of the Lord.  “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him”  (James 5:14-15).

Ministry is to be done in the name of the Lord.  “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” (Colossians 3:17).

RESPONSE:  The Bible declares:  “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” (Colossians 3:17).  Try it!  Everything you do today, whether it be important or seemingly insignificant, do all in the name of the Lord.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the spiritual aspects of the name Lord.

MAN

REFERENCE:  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.  (1 Timothy 2:5)

REVELATION: Throughout Scripture the Lord’s deity and humanity are emphasized by various titles. One of these is the title of Man, for indeed, Jesus...

…made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  (Philippians 2:7-8)

Jesus was born of a woman, possessed a material body, and was subject to the laws of human development.  One of His other titles was Son of Man, referencing His birth in human form. If He was only spirit, then He could not be called man, but He had the physical and emotional faculties of man. He experienced thirst, hunger, and tiredness.  He was tempted as all men are, yet without sin. Jesus was God’s perfect Man and man’s perfect God.

On the occasion when Jesus stilled a storm at sea, the disciples “…feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41).  The answer was that the elements obeyed Him because of His deity.  He was the one who created them!

The officers who brought Jesus to the priests and Pharisees declared, “…Never a man spoke like this man” (John 7:44).  Jesus spoke with the power and authority of God because He was deity in human form,

Caiaphas, the high priest, declared prophetically that this one Man would die for the sins of mankind:

Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.  (John 11:50-52)

Peter, in his sermon on the day of Pentecost, urged the people to give heed to the words of Jesus “…a man approved of God” (Acts 2:22).

The Apostle Paul explains how that by one man (Adam) sin entered the world, and that by one man (Jesus) the grace of God abounded to the world:

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.  (Romans 5:15)

Jesus is the one who continues forever as our high priest:

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  (Hebrews 7:22-25)

Once this Man offered the eternal sacrifice for sins and was resurrected from death, He returned to Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.  His mission of salvation and redemption was finished.

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.  (Hebrews 10:12)

RESPONSE:  Because Jesus lived in human form on this earth, He understands everything you are going through now and all that you will experience in the future.  Open your heart to Him and share your challenges.  He has been there and done that!

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Man as it refers to Jesus.

MAN OF SORROWS

REFERENCE:  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:3-5)

REVELATION:  The Prophet Isaiah speaks of a servant to come who would  bring justice to the nations and through His suffering redeem many.  These messianic passages refer to the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ which are recorded in Isaiah 42:1-4; 49:1-7; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12.

One of the titles of Jesus revealed in these prophecies is the Man of Sorrows.  Jesus experienced much sorrow during His life time.  He experienced the rejection of those He came to save.  He was hated by the religious leaders.  He sorrowed over the condition of Jerusalem and the world, and wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus.

Many people ceased to follow Him when He revealed the facts of His impending death.  He suffered abandonment by His disciples in the final hours of His life, and was betrayed by one of them.  He endured beatings, abuse, and the agony of death on the cross.  Isaiah prophesied:

[For many the Servant of God became an object of horror; many were astonished at Him.] His face and His whole appearance were marred more than any man's, and His form beyond that of the sons of men — but just as many were astonished at Him.

(Isaiah 52:14, TAB)

Through His suffering, Jesus carried your sin, sickness, grief, and sorrow. The Man of Sorrows did it in your place.

RESPONSE:  Grief is intense emotional suffering caused by personal loss or tragedies of life.  Bereavement is sorrow caused by the loss of a loved one.  God never intended grief, sorrow and bereavement.  These all came into the world because of the original sin of Adam and Eve (Acts 3). All the losses you experience are due to sin, not necessarily your own personal sin, but because of the presence of sin in the world.

The Bible says Jesus was familiar (acquainted) with grief and bore your grief. Jesus bore your sin so that you no longer have to bear it.  If He also bore your grief and sorrow, which He did, then why are you bearing it?

There is a time to mourn over losses, but extended grief is different than experiencing sorrow from a loss.  The Bible says you are blessed if you mourn, not because you remain sad, but because the Holy Spirit comforts you:  "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be

comforted"  (Matthew 5:4). Jesus carried both your grief and sorrow so that you do not have to do so.  He wants to give you the garment of praise for the spirit of mourning (Isaiah 61:3).

The Apostle Paul declared:

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Man of Sorrows.

MASTER

REFERENCE:  Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

(Matthew 23:10)

REVELATION:  One of the commonly used names for Jesus in the Bible is Master.  Jesus Himself declared, “…I am Lord and Master” (John 13:13).  The title Master refers to one who has complete power and absolute ownership.  When used of Jesus, this name implies unlimited authority and sovereignty.

Jesus spoke of Himself as Master in Matthew 10:24-25; 26:18; Mark 14:14; Luke 6:40; 22:11; and John 13:14. He revealed that He was the only true Master (Matthew 23:7).  He was addressed as Master by others in Matthew 9:11; 17:24; Mark 5:35; Luke 5:5; 8:24; 9:3,49; 17:13; and John 11:28; 13:13.  He is also called the Master of the House in Matthew 10:25; Luke 13:25; and 14:21, meaning that He is the authority over the House of God.

When someone acknowledges another person as Master, it means they are committed to them as a servant and yielding to their authority.  Everyone serves someone or something.  Jesus declared that you cannot serve two masters:

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24)

This specific passage addresses mammon which is a Syriac word that denotes wealth, possessions, and riches. Mammon was also the name of a pagan god whose idol was worshiped for his power over material riches. This passages confirms that Jesus Christ must be Master over every aspect of life, whether it be riches, ambition, position, idols, or people.

When it comes down to the bottom line, one master will rule your life.  You must make a choice. By choosing one, you automatically reject the other.  It is as simple as that.

Jesus was also called Good Master by a rich young ruler who came to Him asking about eternal life (Mark 10).  Jesus said to him:  “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God” (Mark 10:18). Jesus was not saying that He was not a Good Master, but He was emphasizing that if this man did not believe in His deity, then he could not call Him good because only God is good.  Only if he acknowledged that Jesus was God could the man call Him good.  And indeed: Jesus is God, our Master, and He is a Good Master.

RESPONSE:  After meeting Jesus privately, His friend Martha “…went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee” (John 11:28).  Just think:  Jesus, the Master of the universe, cares for each person individually.  He called for Mary.  He is calling your name today, inviting you to spend time with Him and acknowledge Him as Master of your life.

When the disciples encountered a storm, they questioned Jesus asking, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”  (Mark 4:38).  If you are facing a storm of life, know that the Master you serve is not only with you, He is sovereign over every situation.  He does care.  And you won’t perish.  Give Him thanks.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Master. Use these verses:

Jesus spoke of Himself as Master in Matthew 10:24-25; 26:18; Mark 14:14; Luke 6:40; 22:11; and John 13:14 and revealed that He was the only true Master (Matthew 23:7).

Who addressed Jesus as Master in the following verses? Matthew 9:11; 17:24; Mark 5:35; Luke 5:5; 8:24; 9:3,49; 17:13; and John 11:28; 13:13.

Jesus is also called the Master of the House in Matthew 10:25 and Luke 13:25 and 14:21, meaning that He is the authority over the House of God.

MEDIATOR

REFERENCE:  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)

REVELATION:  A mediator is an official go-between who acts as a link between two parties to reconcile their differences. The term literally means “one who stands in between.” In legal disputes, a mediator represents the interests of both parties, working as an intercessory agent to negotiate a settlement. In global conflicts, a mediator intervenes between opposing world powers to try to achieve peace.

Moses was the mediator of the Old Testament covenant (Galatians 3:19; Exodus 20:19, 21–22; Deuteronomy 5:5, 22, 23, 27, 31; Acts 7:38). Moses entered God’s presence on behalf of the people of Israel. He drew near to God, speaking and interceding as their representative. Moses was God’s chosen mediator to lead the Israelites to a relationship with God.

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ became the Mediator of a new and better  covenant: “But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6, NLT).  The promises are forgiveness of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and, through the resurrection, eternal life.  The promises also include freedom from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13); freedom from the power of the flesh (Romans 8:2-4); and freedom from the power of sin (Romans 6:14).

We are all born into sin (Psalm 51:5) which blocks our relationship with God.   We are separated or estranged from God (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 5:10, 12) and deserving of His wrath because of our sin (Ephesians 2:3).  The Bible explains that the penalty for sin is death, not only physical death but spiritual death (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:11–15).

Because of our sinful condition, we need a mediator to negotiate peace with God, and that person is Jesus Christ: “Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us” (Romans 5:1, NLT).

Jesus, God’s incarnate Son, is the perfect intermediary, because He is fully human and fully divine (John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 2:17).  Thus, He is uniquely equipped to represent both sides. He alone stands in the gap between God and man. He meets the righteous requirements of the law, opening the way into God’s presence once and for all through His death on the cross and His subsequent resurrection to life (John 1:17).

The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” You do not approach God through a priest, guru, or religious leader.  Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).   Jesus Christ is the one Mediator, the one and only Savior of the world (John 1:29; 1 Timothy 1:15).

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.  (Hebrews 9:15)

RESPONSE:  Because Jesus is your Mediator, He has made it possible for you to come into the presence of Father God.  Exercise that privilege right now.  Come into His presence with thanksgiving. Make a joyful noise with the psalms:

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. (Psalm 95:2-3)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Mediator.

MESSENGER

REFERENCE:  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)

REVELATION:  A messenger is one who delivers a message. In the Bible, this may be a human messenger or an angel.  But note in the key verse that God is saying “my” Messenger.  God’s special messenger was Jesus Christ, His only Son.

As the Messenger of God, Jesus bore the good news of the Gospel of salvation.  He brought us the message of God’s plan for all mankind, the good news of the New Covenant.  The Prophet Jeremiah speaks of this New Covenant:

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:33)

Unlike the Old Covenant of the law,  it is no longer a case of what you do (under the law) or who you are related to (under the Abrahamic covenant).  It is in whom you trust for salvation (under the New Covenant).

RESPONSE:  Have you accepted Christ’s message of the good news of the Gospel by receiving Jesus as your personal Savior?

As a Believer, what are you doing to be a messenger of God, sharing the good news of the Gospel with others?  Proverbs 13:17 says that “…a faithful messenger brings health”.  Are you a faithful messenger whose words bring healing to those around you?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Messenger.

MIGHTY GOD

REFERENCE:  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

REVELATION:  The one true God is revealed in three distinct personalities of the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. They are one in essence, one God with three distinct natures.  The doctrine of the Trinity must be accepted by faith, as it is difficult to grasp with your finite mind.

Some names are unique to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and indicate their specific functions.  Other names are used of more than one of the Trinity, as is the case of the name Mighty God.  This name applies both to God and Jesus because they are one.  God the Father is called the Mighty God, the Mighty One of Israel and of Jacob.  God the Son is also called the Mighty God.

The word mighty means “to have strength, power, and ability.”  As Mighty God, Jesus has strength, power, and ability equal to that of the Heavenly Father and greater than  that of all other so-called gods.  Jesus said: “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).

RESPONSE:  As Mighty God, Jesus has given you mighty spiritual weapons to face the battles of life:

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.  (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

Here are your spiritual weapons.  Use them as you face the challenges of this day:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.  (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding this name and summarize your study of the spiritual weapons provided by your Mighty God.

MYSTERY OF GOD

REFERENCE:   My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2-3, NIV)

REVELATION:  It was a mystery throughout the ages, hidden for generations until God revealed it to the Apostles and Prophets.  The Apostle Paul clearly identified this Mystery as the Lord Jesus Christ in whom rested God’s plan of salvation for sinful mankind:

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 1:26-27)

Jesus and the plan of salvation is the Mystery of God now made manifest to the world:

Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (Colossians 2:6-8)

One of Paul’s purposes in ministry was to reveal this great Mystery:

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:8-9)

This Mystery has the power to establish you in God. The Apostle Paul declared:

Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to additional revelations of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. (Romans 16:25-26)

The Mystery Of God, now revealed, is Jesus Christ who personified God’s plan for salvation from the foundation of the world.

RESPONSE:  Meditate on the Mystery Of God.  Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Mystery Of God, using these verses.

Romans 11:25; 16:25

1 Corinthians 2:7

Ephesians 1:9; 3:3-4, 9; 5:32; 6:19

Colossians 1:26-27; 2:2; 4:3

OINTMENT POURED FORTH

REFERENCE:  Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. (SOS 1:3)

REVELATION:  It is a person, not a religion, doctrine, or denomination that changes lives.  It is the fragrance of His name poured forth.  The Passion Translation reads: “For your lovely name is Flowing Oil.” The Voice states: “The pleasant aroma of your fragrance rises in the air; your name is like precious perfume poured out.”

Just to speak the name of Jesus is like pouring forth a fragrant ointment, a precious oil which heals and soothes.  He is the anointed one and whatever you need is found in His name.  There are five “ingredients” in the ointment of His name.  His name is:

-Wonderful

-Counsellor

-The Mighty God

-The Everlasting Father

-The Prince of Peace.

(Isaiah 9:6)

As a Believer, the fragrance of Jesus Christ should be being evident in your life through your conduct and attitudes, but in order to heal and soothe others this fragrance must not be horded.  It must be poured out to a hurting world.  There is no fragrance as long as it is shut up in the bottle.  You must offer it as a sacrifice:

After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death.  But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people." And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.  But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted?  For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply.  But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.  For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.  She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.  Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."   (Mark 14:1-9)

RESPONSE:  You have met Jesus, the Ointment Poured Forth.  You have received the fragrance of this anointing, but your life is only fragrant as you pour out what you have been given in loving sacrifice to the Lord.  With whom could you share the fragrance of Jesus today? What hurting person needs this Ointment Poured Forth?

For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:  To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh].  (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Ointment Poured Forth.

PASSOVER

REFERENCE:  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.  (1 Corinthians 5:7)

REVELATION: Christ our Passover is a title given to Jesus to commemorate Israel’s deliverance when the destroying angel passed through the land of Egypt.  Each family was to sacrifice a Lamb, which prefigured the Lamb of God whose blood would take away the sins of the world.

The blood of the lamb placed on the lintel and two side posts of the house symbolized the required sacrifice for sin and prophetically represented the cross of Jesus. Protected by the blood of the lamb, each family feasted on the slain lamb as the death angel passed over.

God called the sacrificial lamb "the Lord's Passover" and "the Passover sacrifice of the Lord" (Exodus 12:3-11,27). It was so named because God promised, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you" (Exodus 12:13).  Some 1,500 years later, the apostle Paul used this same term to describe Jesus Christ, cognizant of the fact that the Passover lambs slain at the time of the Exodus were symbolic of the final sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.

The book of Hebrews confirms that Jesus put away sin when He offered one sacrifice for sins forever (Hebrews 9:26; 10:12).  This is further detailed in the follow passage:

(Jesus declared) I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever. (John 6:51-58)

Eating the bread symbolizing the flesh of Christ means appropriating Him as the sustainer of  life.  As physical food is required for physical life, so spiritual food is required for spiritual life. Drinking the juice symbolizing the blood of Christ indicates appropriating His shed blood for the sins of all mankind.  The practice of the Lord’s Supper is symbolic of this as we drink the juice and eat the bread.

RESPONSE:  Jesus celebrated the Passover with His Disciples on the final night before His death and instructed them to do this in His memory.  During your time with the Lord today, partake of a small piece of bread and a cup of juice to remember and celebrate Jesus the Passover.  Use the following passage for your observance:

For I have 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 brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.  (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Passover.

PHYSICIAN

REFERENCE:  And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.  (Luke 4:23)

REVELATION:  The lament of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah was:  “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?”  (Jeremiah 8:22).  Sin, sickness, and death all entered the world as a consequence of man’s transgression. This broken world needs a Physician, and Jesus is that Physician!  It was for this purpose that He came to earth in human form:

And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  (Mark 2:15-17)

During His earthly ministry, Jesus forgave sins, healed the sick, and raised the dead.  He revealed Himself as the Great Physician:

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  (Matthew 11:2-5)

As the Great Physician, Jesus did not come to call those who were whole, but He came to those who needed a physician to heal their sin and sickness.  As the Great Physician, Jesus has the power to heal your sin-sick soul and every physical, mental, or emotional condition.  The Prophet Isaiah declared: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed”  (Isaiah 53:5).

The prediction by Jesus that His people would say to Him “Physician, heal thyself” came true at the cross:

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.  (Mark 15:29-31)

The statement by the chief priests was true.  In order to save others, He could not save Himself.  In order to heal others, He could not heal Himself.  But there, at Calvary, He became the Savior and Healer of the whole world.

RESPONSE:  Whatever your need, whether spiritual, mental, emotional, or physical, the Great Physician Jesus Christ is your answer.  Meditate on the following verses:

As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. (Psalm 55:16)

Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.  (Psalm 71:3)

Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy: That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, Lord, hast done it.  (Psalm 109:26-27)

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.  (Jeremiah 17:14)

…If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.  (Exodus 15:26)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Physician.

POWER OF GOD

REFERENCE:  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24)

REVELATION:  The key verse for today states that Jesus is both the power and wisdom of God.  We will deal with the Power of God in this reading and with the Wisdom of God in another.  Both the power and wisdom of God are personified in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus has power over all creation.  Everything was created by Him and the universe is upheld by His power.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  (Colossians 1:12-17)

Jesus has the power to forgive sins (Luke 7:48; John 8:11; Matthew 9:6).  He boldly confronted the scribes who questioned His power to forgive:

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.  (Matthew 9:4-6)

Jesus has power over all flesh:

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.  (John 17:1-3)

Jesus has power to raise the dead:

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

(John 11:43-44)

Jesus has power to heal.  He declared “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal…”(Luke 4:18).

Even at the cross, Christ’s power did not fail Him.  He willingly laid down His life. It was not taken from Him.  He boldly declared:  “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?” (Matthew 26:53-54).

He declared that “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:18).

Christ’s finished work at the cross is the transforming power of God to all who believe:  “…the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Before Jesus returned to Heaven, He delegated power to His followers to fulfill the Great Commission to spread the Gospel to the world:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  (Matthew 28:18-20)

He declared:  “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

He promised:  “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

His final declaration was: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

RESPONSE: Are you walking in the delegated power of Jesus Christ that is rightfully yours?  Read Acts chapter 2 and receive His promise of power through the experience of Holy Spirit baptism.  If you have already had this experience, ask God to refresh the anointing in your life and empower you to fulfill your divine destiny.

Go forth today knowing that “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Power Of God.

PRINCE OF PEACE

REFERENCE:  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

REVELATION:  Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. The Hebrew word for peace means much more than the absence of strife.  The word conveys wholeness, completion, health, satisfaction, success, and wellbeing.  In a prophetic word thousands of years before Jesus was born, Daniel spoke of the Messiah as the Prince of God and provided the exact timing of His coming:

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. (Daniel 9:25)

Jesus is called the Prince of Peace because only He can restore relationships between you and God and you and others:

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. (Ephesians 2:14-18)

You can have peace in your spirit knowing that “…There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-1-2).

Your ongoing peace is assured by Jesus Christ who serves as the Mediator and Advocate between you and God:

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…

(1 Timothy 2:5)

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  (Hebrews 7:25)

Jesus is the key to having a life that brings peace and fulfillment.  The Holy Spirit produces spiritual qualities, including peace, which enable you to live an abundant and well-balanced life:  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

You can have…

-Peace that results through justification with God: Romans 5:1.

-Peace that results from loving God's Word:  Psalm 119:165.

-Peace that comes by prayer:  Philippians 4:7.

-Peace through being spiritually minded:  Romans 8:6.

-Peace that comes by remaining focused on God:  Isaiah 26:3.

-Peace that results from keeping God's commandments: Isaiah 48:18.

Beyond the temporal physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of this life, Jesus gives everlasting peace because He assures you of victory over death and eternal life:

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)

Jesus serves as the restorer of your relationships with God and man; as Mediator and Intercessor between you and God; and guarantees eternal life.  Because of this, He is able to give you the true peace that no one else can offer:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

Note that it is HIS peace, not the peace offered by the world.

The name Prince is combined with several other descriptive titles in the Bible that reveal more about our Lord in this ministry.  He is called:

Prince and Savior. “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for…forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31).

Prince of Life. Meaning Jesus is originator of eternal life: “…they killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses” (Acts 3:15).

Prince of Princes. Jesus is the Prince above all other Princes, against whom no power can stand:  “And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand” (Daniel 8:25).

Prince of  the Kings of the Earth.  Jesus is over every prince and power of the earth:  “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”  (Revelation 1:5).

RESPONSE:  Peace with God comes through the new birth experience.  The peace of God is a gift.  Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).  As with any gift, it must be received in order to be possessed and appropriated.  Have you experienced this?

Jesus declared:  “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  The things Jesus declared are written in the Word which is a supernatural source of peace as it focuses your mind on God instead of your circumstances:

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.  So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].  (Isaiah 26:3-4)

Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit which should be manifested in your life: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).  Because peace is called a fruit, it means that it can continuously grow and develop in your life. Is the fruit of peace being manifested in your life?  If you need peace in your circumstances, follow this biblical directive:

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.  And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippian 4:6-7).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Prince of Peace.

PROPHET

REFERENCE:  The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken…(Deuteronomy 18:15)

REVELATION:  In Old Testament times, the primary role of a priest was to speak to God in behalf of the people. The prophet’s primary responsibility was to speak to the people on behalf of God.  Under the New Covenant, Jesus serves in both of these capacities.  We previously studied the title Apostle and High Priest of our Profession.  Here we will consider the title of Prophet.

Jesus is called a Prophet, but unlike the prophets who proceeded Him, He revealed God’s message perfectly.  Jesus is not just a prophet, He is the Prophet of God. In Stephen’s final message before his martyrdom, He identified Jesus as the Prophet of whom Moses had spoken. He declared:

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.  (Acts 3:19-23)

The Bible explains that…

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:1-3)

Jesus was God’s spokesman sent to declare the Father’s message.  Many who observed Christ’s ministry recognized Him as a Prophet (Matthew 21:11; John 6:14; 7:40).  Sadly, others rejected Him:

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

(Matthew 13:54-58)

Jesus is called The Prophet.  “Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet” (John 7:40).

Jesus is called the Prophet Mighty in Deed and Word.  “…Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people” (Luke 24:17).

Jesus is called the Prophet of Nazareth. “And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee” (Matthew 21:11).

Jesus is called the Prophet of the Highest. “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways”  (Luke 1:76).

RESPONSE:  God speaks to His people through prophets, but the greatest message of all was delivered by Jesus Christ, the Prophet of God, who perfectly represented God’s Word to the world.  Thus, it is vital that we heed His message.

But Jesus must become even more to you than the Prophet of God.  Read the story of the healing of the lame man in John 9 and his various responses to the Lord. At first he views Jesus as just a man (John 9:11).  Eventually he recognizes Him as a prophet (John 9:17).  In verse 33, he acknowledges that He is from God.  Finally, in verse 38, the man proclaims Jesus as Lord of His life.

Like the man in John chapter 9, you may know acknowledge that Jesus was a man who lived among us, a great teacher, and a Prophet sent from God.  But is He truly Lord of your life?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Prophet.

PROPITIATION

REFERENCE:  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.  (1 John 2:2)

REVELATION:  The Bible teaches that sin is the great barrier between men and God which must be appeased.  There is nothing whatever that human beings can do to eliminate this gulf, but Jesus became the propitiation or satisfaction of this great need. The biblical concept of propitiation relates to God’s righteousness being completely satisfied by the death of Christ at Calvary, thereby enabling Him to save sinners who place their faith in Him:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. (Romans 3:23-25)

The basis on which God can righteously justify sinners is not the law, because no one can attain perfection by keeping it.  Our sins are propitiated only through faith in Jesus Christ. At the cross Jesus bore the judgement sin demanded so that just as all have sinned, so all can be declared righteous.

Propitiation does not involve God overlooking sin, rather one is justified when a person trusts in Jesus Christ. God has already had all of the claims of righteousness satisfied. His claims are met in full by the death of Christ. Therefore, when a person believes in Christ he is declared righteous.  Sending Christ as the propitiation for sin demonstrates God’s great love for you:

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)

RESPONSE:  The propitiation for your sin came at a great cost.  It was through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Meditate on this passage:

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1 Peter 1:18-21)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Propitiation.

REDEEMER

REFERENCE:  As for our redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.

(Isaiah 47:4)

REVELATION:  In Scripture, the word redeem means “to buy back.” The Biblical definition of a redeemer is “one charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs through a ransom payment” (Leviticus 25:48-49).

The name Redeemer is applied to Jesus Christ because He redeemed mankind from sin through His death on the cross. The debt against you is not viewed as simply cancelled, but is fully paid. Christ's blood is the ransom by which your redemption is secured.

Israel was redeemed with the blood of a lamb (Exodus 13:13), which foreshadowed the offering of Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29).  Job proclaimed: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25).  David sang of his Redeemer:

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

(Psalm 78:35)

The Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed:  “Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is his name” (Jeremiah 50:34). The prophet Isaiah spoke often of the Redeemer:

And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression… (Isaiah 59:20).

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6)

Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.  (Isaiah 44:24)

Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

(Isaiah 48:17)

For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.  (Isaiah 54:5)

All four Gospels tell the story of how the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, sacrificed His life so that we might be redeemed.

The Apostle Paul confirms that Believers are “…in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption”  (1 Corinthians 1:30).  He declares that we are “…justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).  It is through Christ that “…we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

As a Believer, you are redeemed from your past sin and from the power of sin in the present.  The final stage of your redemption will be the future redemption of your earthly body.  Jesus said when end-time circumstances become difficult, “…then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28 ).   Paul declares that “…we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption to wit, the redemption of our body”  (Romans 8:23).  Because of redemption, we are…

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:13-14)

When you accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, you were sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of your final redemption (Ephesians 4:20).  Paul explains that “… after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory”  (Ephesians 1:13-14).

You are redeemed from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13); the grave (Psalm 49:15);

death (Hosea 13:14); and destruction (Psalm 103:4).

RESPONSE:  Thank the Father for redemption from sin through your Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  Use the following passage.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:12-14)

The psalmist says: “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:2).   “Say so” by sharing the Gospel with someone today.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Redeemer.

REFINER’S FIRE

FULLER’S SOAP

REFERENCE:  But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller’s soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver… (Malachi:3:2-3)

REVELATION: Two titles refer to Jesus in this passage:  Refiner’s Fire and Fuller’s Soap:

Refiner’s Fire.  A refiner’s fire is used to purify precious metals like gold and silver. The refiner sits before the crucible, fixing his eye on the metal, and taking care that the fire is not too hot.  He keeps the precious metal in the fire only until he knows the impurities are completely removed.  He knows it is ready when he can see his own image reflected in the glowing mass.

Fuller’s Soap.  In a similar analogy of purifying, Jesus is called a Fuller’s Soap.  In Bible times, clothes were washed by a person called a fuller who would beat them with a bat or stomp on them in a tub of water that was filled with various alkaline substances used as detergents and whitening agents.

Both titles reflect a hard but necessary process of cleansing.  Spiritually,  the trials of life and spiritual chastisement are permitted to cleanse Believers of their impurities.  Jesus applies the spiritual fire and soap to purge away the dross in His people and cleanse them of their sin:

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  (Hebrews 12:8-11)

The purpose of these processes are that His own image will be reflected in their lives and prepare them for His glorious return: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son”  (Romans 8:29).  The Amplified Version explains: “… For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness].”

Proverbs confirms that: “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts” (Proverbs 17:3). The psalmist declared:

For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. (Psalm 66:10-12)

Peter assures that “…the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).

…And God declares: “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10).

RESPONSE:  Every trial you encounter has the divine purpose of refining and cleansing you to be a better servant here on earth and be prepared for the Lord’s return.   The key verse for this study questions:  “Who may abide in the day of His coming?  The answer is: “Those who have been refined and purified.”

You say that you want to be chosen and used by God?  You are chosen in the furnace of affliction (Isaiah 48:10).  Will you cooperate or rebel at the process?

Pray a prayer of commitment to submit to the process and then declare with Job that despite the difficulties: “…He knows the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Refiner’s Fire and Fuller’s Soap.

RESTING PLACE

REFERENCE:  My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray [to favorite places of idolatry] on mountains [that seduce]. They have gone from [one sin to another] mountain to hill; they have forgotten their [own] resting-place.  (Jeremiah 50:6, TAB)

REVELATION:  In Old Testament times, Israel repeatedly departed from their spiritual Resting Place to embrace immorality and idiolatry.  God’s appeal to His people was:

O Israel, return to the Lord your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;

Take words with you, And return to the Lord. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.” (Hosea 14:1-2)

If they repented and returned to their Resting Place, God assured them: “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him”  (Hosea 14:4).

In the New Testament, Jesus invited:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

If you are tired, burnt out, and exhausted spiritually, mentally, and physically, then return to your Resting Place.  If you have sinned, bring with you words of repentance.  Then spend time resting quietly in the presence of the Lord.

RESPONSE:   Study the following passage regarding the spiritual Resting Place, Jesus Christ.  What is the urgent message from the Holy Spirit?  What are the warnings given?  Of whom are  Believers partakers?

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.  (Hebrews 3:7-19)

What is the warning in the following passage? How do you enter into this divine Resting Place?

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest… (Hebrews 4:1-3)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Resting Place.

RESURRECTION

REFERENCE:  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?  (John 11:25-26)

REVELATION: The meaning of the word resurrection is a “raising or rising up.”  Scripturally, it means to cause to raise up one from the dead.  The doctrine of the resurrection is one of the foundations of the Christian faith listed in Hebrews 6:1-2.

Jesus resurrected several people who died during His earthly ministry, and He Himself was resurrected from the dead.  The Bible confirms that not only was Jesus resurrected from the dead, He is the Resurrection who restores life to the dead:

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. (John 11:25)

There are three different resurrections identified in the New Testament:

The past resurrection. This is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead which occurred three days after His burial:

In the end of the sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre...And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen as He said.  Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead...  (Matthew 28:1,5-7)

The present resurrection. This is the spiritual resurrection of Believers in Jesus Christ, meaning that those who were once spiritually dead in sin are now made alive spiritually through Him:

And you (he made alive) when you were dead (slain) by (your) trespasses and sins...  Even when we were dead (slain) by our own shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ.  He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickeneth Him... (Ephesians 2:1,5,  TAB)

And you, being dead in your sins...hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses. (Colossians 2:13)

Therefore if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ, the Messiah, he is (a new creature altogether) a new creation; the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come.  (2 Corinthians 5:17, TAB)

Baptism in water is an outward sign of death to the old life of sin and the spiritual resurrection of  a Believer in Jesus Christ. But it is not only water baptism that confirms your spiritual resurrection. It is the new life that you live:

We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, we too might habitually live and behave in newness of life. For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be one with Him in sharing His  resurrection by a new life lived for God.  (Romans 6:4,5)

Evidences which confirm your spiritual resurrection include:

-Death to sin resulting in a new life:  You do not live like you used to live. You are dead to the evil things of the world and alive in Jesus:

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Romans 6:11)

-A New Master:  Spiritual resurrection makes Jesus the master of your life. Instead of living for yourself, you live to serve Him:

And that He died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto Him which died for them and rose again.

(2 Corinthians 5:15)

-A new life purpose:  A new life purpose results from spiritual resurrection. Instead of concern about temporal things of the world such as material gain, ambition, etc., your attention is focused on eternal things:

If then you have been raised with Christ (to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead), aim at and seek the (rich eternal treasures) that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  And set your minds and keep them set on what is above--the higher things--not on the things that are on the earth.  (Colossians 3:1-2,  The Amplified Bible)

The future resurrections of all who have died.  Those who accept Jesus as Savior will be raised to eternal life in the new Heaven and earth.  Those who were unbelievers when they died will be raised to spend eternity separated from God in Hell.

For Believers, the resurrection means death is defeated:

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil.  (Hebrews 2:14)

Believers will be instantaneously changed:

Behold I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

(I Corinthians 15:51-52)

Paul explains that Jesus…

…shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.  (Philippians 3:21)

Believers who are alive at the time of Christ’s return will never die:

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality.  (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)

When Paul says "we shall not all sleep" he means all true Believers who are alive at the time of Christ's return for His Church.  These Believers will never experience death.  They will be caught up to meet Jesus and be reunited with Christians resurrected from the grave.  Unbelievers will be resurrected at a separate time to face eternal judgment.

RESPONSE:  The Apostle Paul declared:  “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death”  (Philippians 3:10).  Do you really know Jesus in the power of His resurrection?

If you are a Believer filled with the Holy Spirit then  “… if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Romans 8:11).

Meditate on the importance of the Resurrection as detailed by the Apostle Paul in the following passage.  Summarize its truths in your journal and record additional revelations regarding the name Resurrection.

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.  (1 Corinthians 15:12-26)

RIGHTEOUSNESS

REFERENCE: But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30)

REVELATION: The name the Lord our Righteousness was revealed in the book of Jeremiah when the southern kingdom of Judah was experiencing great spiritual decline. The northern kingdom of Israel was already under judgment for their apostacy through deportation by the king of Assyria.  Jeremiah warned that Judah was about to experience similar judgment because they had also turned away from God.

In the midst of these dire circumstances, God revealed the name of the coming Messiah as the Lord Our Righteousness:

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.  (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

Righteousness involves being honest, just, accurate, faultless, and a person of truth and integrity. Righteousness is defined as the standard required for us to be acceptable to God, so how can a righteous God relate with people who are sinful?  The prophet Isaiah declared:

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

(Isaiah 64:6-7)

God makes you righteous through the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.  When you place your faith in Christ as your Savior, then you are made righteous and you are sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul declared: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”  (2  Corinthians 5:21).  Even Pilate and his wife recognized Jesus as a righteous man (John 18:38; Matthew 27:19).

Several other titles are combined with the name Righteous to further define this name of Jesus:

Jesus Christ The Righteous. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”

(1 John 2:1).

Righteous Branch. “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth” (Jeremiah 23:5).

Righteous Judge. “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

Righteous Lord.  “For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright” (Psalm 11:7).

Righteous Man. “Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man”  (Luke 23:47).

Righteous Servant. “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities”

(Isaiah 53:11).

The Righteousness of God. “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth”

(Romans 10:3-4).

RESPONSE:   A confrontation with the righteousness of God always demands a response.  Isaiah describes his experience in the throne room:

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 6:3-5)

What will be your response to this revelation of Christ as the Righteousness of God?

The biblical standard of righteousness exposes sinful actions and attitudes in your life so you can deal with them. The purpose is to become righteous like Christ and that can only occur through a personal relationship with Him:

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16)

Recognize that we “…have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

Jesus “…did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:22-24).

Thank God for making you righteous so that when you stand before Him someday, He will see only the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ:

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. (Hebrews 7:26-27)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Righteousness.

ROCK

REFERENCE:  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

REVELATION:  In the natural world, a rock is a place of beauty, refuge, permanence, stability, strength, and foundation.  The same is true in the spiritual world.  Jesus is called a Rock because He is beautiful, a refuge, permanent, stable, strong, and provides a firm foundation for your life.

Matthew 16:18 has been misinterpreted by many who thought Jesus was saying Peter was the rock upon which the Church would be built. In reality, Jesus was declaring that He Himself was the foundational Rock on which His Church would be constructed.

All true Believers who have chosen Jesus as the foundation for their lives are part of His Church:  “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”  (1 Peter 2:5).

Jesus declared:

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.  (Matthew 7:24-27)

The interpretation is clear:  If you build on the shifting sands of this world, your spiritual house will fall.  If you build on Jesus Christ the Rock, your spiritual house will remain strong despite the storms of life.

Several other titles are combined with the name Rock in Scripture to give additional insight into the meaning of this name:

Jesus is the Rock of Salvation. “But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation” (Deuteronomy 32:15).

Jesus is the Rock of Israel.  “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God” (2 Samuel 23:3).

Jesus is Rock of Spiritual Refreshment.  “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ”  (1 Corinthians 10:1-4).

The food and water in the wilderness was called spiritual because it was supernaturally provided by God. The Rock from which they drank is clearly identified here as the Rock Christ Jesus.  Israel was not alone in their journey.  Moses reminded them:  “…the Lord thy God hath been with thee, thou has lacked nothing” (Deuteronomy 2:7).

Jesus is the Rock of Refuge. “But the Lord is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge” (Psalm 94:22).

Jesus is the Rock of Strength. “Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips” (Isaiah 17:10).

Jesus is the Higher Rock.  “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2).

Jesus is the Smitten Rock.   In Exodus chapter 17, the people of Israel were in the wilderness with no water to drink.  God told Moses to strike the rock and water would pour out (verse 6).  The psalmist declared:  “He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as out of the deep” (Psalm 78:15).  This was symbolic of the Rock, Jesus Christ, who would be smitten to provide the water of salvation to the world.  When Jesus died, He “poured out his soul unto death” (Isaiah 53:12).  The Prophet declares: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).

RESPONSE:  Are you building your life on the Rock or the shifting sands of this world?  (Matthew 7:24-27).

If you are building on the Rock, join the psalmist in praise to that Rock:

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.  (Psalm 95:1)

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. (Psalm 40:2)

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower… (Psalm 18:2)

For who is God save the Lord?... Or who is a rock save our God?... The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. (Psalm 18:1-2,31,46)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Rock.

ROOT

Tender Plant

REFERENCE:  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.  (Revelation 5:5)

REVELATION:  Root is a term used symbolically to describe the origin of persons and their ancestry.

Jesus is the Root and Offspring of David.

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

(Revelation 5:5 )

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16)

Jesus is also called the Root of Jesse.

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10)

The Apostle Paul confirmed this title in Romans 15:12:  “And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.”

Both Jesse and David died, but God promised that the house and reign of David would continue.  From the root of their lineage, the tribe of Judah, came the Lord Jesus Christ.  The titles Root of David and Root of Jesse refer to Christ’s descent from the ancestorial lineage of Jesse and David.

Jesus is the Root Out of Dry Ground. An even deeper revelation of the name Root is given by the prophet Isaiah.  In speaking of the coming Messiah he declared:

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we

did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  (Isaiah 53:2-6)

Jesus grew as a tender plant in God’s presence, a root out of dry ground from an ancient stock of the house of David. Although He exhibited the beauty of holiness, goodness, mercy, and grace, carnal hearts did not receive His message and were not attracted by Him.

Isaiah uses the metaphor “a root out of dry ground” to emphasize the unfavorable conditions in which the Messiah would appear.  Jesus did not arrive in a palace or make His appearance among the religious elite. He came without pomp and circumstance.  His coming was like the slow growth of an overlooked plant, a tender root in dry ground that springs to new life.  Jesus came to earth in the likeness of men and in the humble environment of a stable (Philippians 2:5–8).

Israel had anticipated a Messiah who would display power and glory, lead them to victory over the Romans, and usher in a Kingdom of prosperity and peace. But that is not what happened.

Jesus came to “give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).  Even though He was rejected by His own people, like so many roots in the natural world that appear dead but spring to life again, He brought life to all who believed in Him (John 14:6).  The Root Out of Dry Ground had more life than anyone imagined because He was resurrected from the dead and offers eternal life to all who believe in Him (John 3:16-18).

Isaiah writes of the Messiah’s future glory: “In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious” (Isaiah 11:10).

RESPONSE:  Jesus confirmed his identify as the Root to John the Revelator:

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.  (Revelation 22:16).

Then the angel declared:

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

(Revelation 11:27)

Come drink of the water of life from the Root, Jesus Christ.  Then join the Holy Spirit and the Bride of Christ declaring” “Come Lord Jesus.”

Rejoice in the promise that…

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  (Revelation 22:20)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Root.

ROSE OF SHARON

LILY OF THE VALLEYS

REFERENCE:   I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. (SOS 2:1)

REVELATION:  The flowers mentioned in this verse are wild roses and lilies that grow in harsh environments.  These are not “hot house” hybrids that only bloom and live in a controlled environment.  Neither is our Lord a hot house rose that only functions  in a controlled setting, but wilts when faced with the harsh environments of this world.  Jesus, the Rose Of Sharon, is there with us in both good and bad times.

Note that the word “valleys” is plural in SOS 2:1.  There are many valleys of difficult circumstances of life where our Bridegroom sheds His beauty and fragrance.  Even though you walk through the valley of death, He is with you:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  (Psalm 23:4)

Jesus is the only one who can make the desserts of life blossom as a rose (Isaiah 35:1).

Jesus later used these common flowers to illustrate perfect trust. Beautiful but wild, they neither toil nor spin in order to flourish.  Jesus said:

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:28-33)

Some believe it is the Bride speaking in SOS 2:1, stating that she is the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys because the word “I” used here is feminine in Hebrew.  It may actually be the words of the Bride concluding her description of her Beloved (Jesus)  started in chapter one. Whether it is the Bridegroom or the Bride speaking is not a point of debate, for as His Bride, you are a reflection of His nature.  If He is a rose and lily, so are you as He recreates His nature in you through the Holy Spirit.

RESPONSE: Are you a hot house Christian that blooms only in the good times and wilts in harsh environments?  Or are you like the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valleys, emitting your fragrance in both pleasant and difficult circumstances?

If you are worried and have many concerns today, take a long walk, find a blooming wild-flower, and meditate on the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valleys.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Rose Of Sharon and the Lily of the Valleys.

SANCTIFICATION

REFERENCE:  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.  (1 Corinthians 1:30)

REVELATION: The Greek word translated sanctification means holiness. To sanctify, therefore, means "to make holy."  God calls His people to be holy as He is holy (Leviticus 21:44), but human beings cannot sanctify themselves so how are we to comply with His command?

We are sanctified by God.  “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called…”(Jude 1)

We are sanctified in the name of Jesus. “…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”

(1 Corinthians 6:11).

We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth”

(2 Thessalonians 2:13).

We are sanctified through the truth of God’s Word. “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth” (John 17:19).

A Believer is sanctified and set apart through positional sanctification at the time of salvation;  progressive sanctification throughout their lifetime; and permanent sanctification when they enter the presence of God at the end of their time on earth.

RESPONSE:  Being sanctified does not mean you are perfect, rather it means that you are spiritually mature.  You know that you do not have to walk in condemnation when you fail and that if you confess your sins He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

If you are struggling with condemnation, meditate on the following passage regarding your sanctification in Christ:

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  (Romans 8:1-4)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Sanctification.

SAVIOR

SALVATION

REFERENCE:  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  (Luke 2:11)

REVELATION: The name Savior is perhaps one of the most beautiful names of Jesus Christ.  Only through understanding Jesus as Savior and the Salvation He offers can your life be changed and your eternal destiny secured.  Jesus is:

The Salvation of God.  Simeon, when he first held the Christ child, proclaimed:  “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32).  John the Baptist proclaimed the “All flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6).

The Horn of Salvation. The Old Testament is filled with prophecies regarding the coming Messiah who would be the Savior of the world.  The New Testament begins with a powerful prophetic word about the Savior from Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist:  “And… Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David”  (Luke 1:67-69).  The horn is represents power and strength, symbolizing the tremendous power of our Savior.

The Salvation of Israel. “…truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel”  (Jeremiah 3:23)”.

The Savior of All Men.  Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world: “For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe” (1 Timothy 4:10).

A Prince and Savior.  Stephen told the Jews:  “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:30-31).

Savior of the World. “And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).

Our Savior.  Paul repeatedly used the phrase “God and our Savior Jesus Christ”.  Here is an example:  “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:13-14).

Paul explains how Jesus, the Savior, brought salvation:

But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)

Paul declares that “…Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28).  He directs our attention to the blessed hope that someday our earthly bodies will also be saved:

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)

Hebrew 7:25 declares: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”  Uttermost means forever, but it means more than that.  It means complete, in that that Jesus will complete our salvation when He returns and saves us from this sinful world.

The Apostle John sums it up by saying “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:14-15).

Peter proclaims: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

RESPONSE:  Read through the book of Psalms and underline every use of the words “salvation” and “saved”.  Use these verses to praise your Savior for the gift of salvation.

Claim this promise: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them”  (Hebrews 7:25).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Savior.

SEED

REFERENCE:  Now the promises (covenants, agreements) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed (his Offspring, his Heir). He [God] does not say, And to seeds (descendants, heirs), as if referring to many persons, but, And to your Seed (your Descendant, your Heir), obviously referring to one individual, Who is [none other than] Christ (the Messiah).

(Galatians 3:16, TAB)

REVELATION:  An interesting title used in the Bible for Jesus is that of Seed.

Jesus is the Seed of the Woman.  After Adam and Eve sinned, God pronounced judgment on Satan saying, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel”  (Genesis 3:15).   There would be constant warfare between the seed of Satan and the Seed of the woman, but there would eventually come one (Jesus Christ) who would crush the head of the enemy.  The NIV conveys the meaning of this passage by translating it as, “He shall crush your head, and you will strike His heal”.  This is the first prophetic reference to the coming Messiah as being the Seed of woman.

Jesus is the Seed of Abraham, meaning He is the descendant of Abraham through whom and to whom the promises of God were made:  “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ” (Galatians 3:16).    All true Believers are part of Christ’s seed to whom the promises given to Abraham are extended (Galatians 3:9).

Jesus is the Seed of David, meaning that He is the promised Messiah of the lineage of David who was revealed in human flesh.  The Apostle Paul spoke concerning God’s Son “…Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead”  (Romans 1:3-4).   As the seed of David and the King of the promised everlasting kingdom, Jesus was resurrected from the dead:  “Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel” (2 Timothy 2:8).

Jesus is the Seed of the Word.  In John chapter 1, Jesus is revealed to be the Word of God, the incorruptible seed which brings forth the harvest of the new birth in the lives of men and women: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever”  (1 Peter 1:23).

Jesus is the Fruitful Seed. He was planted in death and resurrected to life so that a great spiritual harvest could be reaped: “And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:23-24).

The fruit of His Seed was salvation and eternal life for all who believe.

Jesus is the Seed within you which prevents you from continuing in known sin:  “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).  The Amplified Version states:  “No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God's nature (His seed) abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.”

This does not mean that you never sin.  We know this from the Lord’s prayer which includes a petition for sin.  It means you do not willingly persist in known sin.

RESPONSE: Through Jesus Christ, you are a descendant of the spiritual seed of Abraham and, as such, you are his heir and an heir of Jesus Christ. Learn more about the promises of God made to Abraham and to you through the Seed, Jesus. Study the following passages:

Genesis 12:1-3,7

Genesis 13:15-17

Genesis 15:1-21

Genesis 17:1-22

Genesis 22:16-18

See also the Harvestime publication entitled  Covenant Of Abraham which is free at http://www.harvestime.org

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Seed.

SERVANT

REFERENCE:  Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.  (Matthew 12:18 and Isaiah 42:1)

REVELATION:  One of the greatest revelations of the character and mission of Jesus was His servanthood.  He declared: “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:27-28).

The servant songs in Isaiah 42:1-4; 49:1-7; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12 are prophecies about the suffering, death, and resurrection of God’s Servant, Jesus.  God declared “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high” (Isaiah 52:13).  God said that He would “…see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53;11, NKJV).

Through the suffering and death of this Righteous Servant Jesus, we are justified.

One of the great examples of Jesus as Servant was when He washed the feet of His disciples:

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.  (John 13:12-17)

The Apostle Paul reveals that Jesus…

…made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 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; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:7-11)

Jesus is also called the Servant of the Branch in Zechariah 3:8, meaning He was the branch that sprouted from the almost extinct royal line of David.   He is called the Servant of Rulers (Isaiah 49:7), meaning He did not exert His power against rulers of the world during His earthly ministry.  (That will change when He returns!)

Jesus came to minister and to serve, not to be served.  Our mission should be likewise: “And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all” (Mark 9:35).

RESPONSE: Study the servant songs in Isaiah 42:1-4; 49:1-7; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12 and record what is revealed about Jesus Christ as a Servant.

Consider Mark 9:35: “And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” Are you a servant of all?

In a world that worships celebrities,       do you aim to be a servant instead of a star? Do you want to be famous, or do you want to be       faithful to God by serving, even in small, unobserved tasks or in the forgotten regions of the world?

Reflect on this:  God has called you to greatness (John 14:2), but if serving is beneath you, then greatness is beyond you.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Servant.

SHILOH

REFERENCE:  The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10)

REVELATION: This name of Jesus was revealed by Jacob when He was blessing his sons prior to his death.  Judah was the one to whom the leadership role would pass. Normally this honor was passed to the oldest son, but Reuben was denied this privileged position because he had disrespected his father by having sex with his father's concubine. The next two sons in seniority were Simeon and Levi, who were also rejected because of their revengeful massacre of the men of Shechem.

Jacob declared that his son Judah, whose name means praise, would father a strong and courageous tribe that would be successful in warfare.  The tribe would be as a lion, who is the king of beasts.  Then the dying patriarch, Jacob, prophetically looked down the ages of time to see the coming of the Messiah who would establish His eternal Kingdom. He prophesied that this authority would pass from one generation to the next in the line of Judah until Shiloh comes.

The name Shiloh means “bearer of rest.”  Jesus is the Shiloh who was promised to come through the lineage of Judah to give sinful mankind peace with God.  He is the Lion from the tribe of Judah who has broken the chains of sin, death, and Hell and secured our spiritual rest.

The prophetic word that the gathering of the people would be unto Him meant that the entire world would eventually be gathered to Jesus:

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)

RESPONSE:  Rejoice that Shiloh has come.  Claim His rest as your God-given heritage. Very soon Shiloh will return in the clouds of heaven to establish His eternal Kingdom.  Be ready!

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Shiloh.

SHEPHERD AND BISHOP

REFERENCE: For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.  (1 Peter 2:25)

REVELATION: This double designation of Jesus as Shepherd and Bishop of your soul provides a beautiful revelation of His care for His people.

Shepherd.  Jesus spoke of Himself as the Good Shepherd who would give His life for the sheep (John 10:11).  The Apostle Paul describes Him as the Great Shepherd of the sheep who was resurrected after shedding His blood to fulfill God’s everlasting covenant  (Hebrews 13:20).  Peter describes Jesus as the Chief Shepherd, revealing that “…when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:4).

Jesus declared:

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:14-16)

Open your Bible to John chapter 10 and read the characteristics of Jesus, the Good Shepherd:

He…

-Knows His sheep: John 10:14,27

-Gathers His sheep together: John 10:16

-Calls His sheep by name: John 10:3

-Guides His sheep:  John 10:3-5

-Feeds His sheep:  John 10:9

-Protects His sheep:  John 10:12-13

-Gives His life for His sheep:  John 10:11

-Gives eternal life to His sheep: John 10:28

-Provides security:  John 10:28

Bishop.  The word bishop means “overseer and guardian” and is applied to one who carefully watches over someone or something.  The requirements for the office of bishop in the Church are given in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.  Jesus Christ, however,  is the Great Bishop of your soul, a beautiful expression that confirms that He has your soul in His care.

You can confidently commit the keeping of your soul to Him as unto a faithful Creator (1 Peter 4:19).  You can be assured that He “…is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).

RESPONSE:  Study further about the Shepherd of your soul. Psalm 23.  He is:

Your provision:                    Psalm 23:1            Philippians 4:19

Your peace:                  Psalm 23:2            John 14:27

Your path:                          Psalm 23:3               Proverbs 4:11

Your protection:                Psalm 23:4            Isaiah 43:2

Your preparation:             Psalm 23:5            Proverbs 16:7

Your promise:                  Psalm 23:6                  John 14:1-3

Respond to the invitation of Psalm 95:6-7: “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.”

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Shepherd and Bishop.

SON

REFERENCE:  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:16)

REVELATION:  In human relationships, a son is a male child born to a woman and a man.  Although Jesus was born of Mary, He had no earthly father but He was the Son of God, deity clothed in flesh.

Jesus is the Son of David and Abraham, in the sense that He descended from this earthly line: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1).  This is a Messianic title given to Jesus, prophetic of His human ancestry.

Jesus is called the Son of Joseph and Mary, although His true Father was God:  “Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45).

Jesus is the Son of God.  “Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel”  (John 1:49).

Jesus is the Son of Living God.  “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mathew 16:16).  Not any god.  Not a dead god.  He is Son of the Living God: “And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:69).

Jesus is the Only Begotten Son.  This title is used in what is called the heart of the Gospel:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

Jesus is the Son of God that cleanses from sin. “This then is the message which we have heard

of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7).

Jesus is the Dear Son of God, dear not only to God but to us whom He has redeemed.  He is the one: “…Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins”  (Colossians 1:13-14).

Jesus is the Son of the Blessed (God being the Blessed One). “But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?  And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:61-62).

Jesus is the Son of the Heavenly Father. “Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love” (2 John 3).

Jesus is the Beloved Son of the Father. “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21-22).

Jesus is the Son of the Highest. “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David” (Luke 1:32).

Jesus is Son of the Most High God. “And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not” (Mark 5:7).

Jesus is the Son Who Is Consecrated for Evermore.  Unlike the Old Testament priests who served only a life term, Jesus is our eternal High Priest:  “For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore” (Hebrews 7:28).

Jesus is the Son from Heaven who delivered us from God’s wrath. “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

Jesus is the Son of Man.  This was the Lord’s  preferred designation for Himself to emphasize His humanity. He was fully human and fully deity: “And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man” (John 1:51).

Jesus used this title concerning His earthly ministry: “For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10).

He used this title when speaking of His death and resurrection:  “The son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elder sand chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day” (Luke 9:22).

He also used this title when speaking of His second coming:  “For as the lightning cometh out of the east , and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the son of man be” (Matthew 24:27).

RESPONSE:  The most important question that you will ever answer is this:  “…Whom do you say that I am?”  (Matthew 16:15).  The Apostle Peter responded to this question with the correct answer:  “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).  Who do you say He is?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Son.

STAR AND SCEPTER

REFERENCE:  I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel…(Numbers 24:17)

REVELATION:  The words of this key reference were spoken by Balaam, who although he was a wicked prophet was not always a false prophet in that God did give him some true prophecies to deliver.  Balaam’s heart was not right with God however, and he eventually betrayed Israel and led them astray from God.

Jesus is a star out of Jacob and a Scepter out of Israel in that His earthly lineage was from the tribe of Jacob and the nation of Israel.

Jesus is called a star because His birth, marked by an actual star in the sky, brought light to this dark world.  He brought hope to the world through His death for the sins of all mankind and His subsequent resurrection.  His name Star also  points to the time when God’s light will shine eternally wiping away all tears, taking away sin and suffering, and making all wrongs right.

Jesus declared:

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.  (Revelation 22:16)

Jesus is called a scepter.  A scepter is the rod or staff of a ruler that symbolizes his power and authority, as when the golden scepter was extended in acceptance to Esther (Esther 5:2).  The first prophecy of Jesus being a Scepter was given through Jacob who declared:

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.  (Genesis 49:10)

The promise was that the tribe of Judah would reign until the coming of Shiloh (another name for the Messiah) who would reign over the whole earth.  This is confirmed in the book of Hebrews:

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.  (Hebrews 1:8-9)

The psalmist declared:  “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter”  (Psalm 45:6).

RESPONSE:  Unlike Esther in Old Testament times, you need not wonder if the Scepter of the King will be extended to you.  The Scepter is always extended spiritually when you come into the presence of the Lord clothed in the righteousness of Jesus and with prayer, praise, and worship upon your lips.  The light of the Star will provide you clear vision for the days ahead.

Take time right now to enter the presence of King Jesus, the Bright and Morning Star.  His Scepter is extended to you and His Star awaits to shed its light upon you.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Star and Scepter.

SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

REFERENCE: But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” (Malachi 4:2)

REVELATION: The last book of the Old Testament contains a Messianic prophecy concerning Jesus who would come as the Sun of Righteousness.  Malachi 4:2 compares Jesus to the Sun which provides light in the darkness of the world.

The One described as the Sun of Righteousness can be no other than Jesus Christ Himself. The Lord is called “the Lord your righteousness” in Jeremiah 23:6 and His coming is pictured as sunrise in several passages (Isaiah 60:1; 2 Samuel 23:4; Habakkuk 3:4; and Luke 1:78-79).

Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the light of the world saying, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Because Jesus came to earth, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2).

Isaiah declared that:  “…behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee” (Isaiah 60:2).

Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, has arisen over this dark world to provide spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental healing to those who fear His name. The Sun of Righteousness rising with healing in His wings invokes a picture of the wings of a bird stretched across the sky, offering healing to those in its shadow.

According to Malachi 4:2, this promise of healing through the Sun of Righteousness belongs to all those who fear His name.  To fear His name is to honor it and treat it with respect, which you are doing as you engage in this study on The Names.

RESPONSE:  In the natural world, the sun radiates light, called solar energy, which makes it possible for life to exist on Earth. The sun provides light energy (which is converted to food by plants through photosynthesis) and heat energy (which maintains livable conditions on earth).  The sun’s light kills bacteria, and without the sun the earth would freeze. Reflect on these benefits and apply them spiritually to Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness.

Claim this promise today:  “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

Now, personalize it:  “For the Lord God is a sun and shield to me: the Lord will give me grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from men as I  walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Sun of Righteousness.

SURETY

REFERENCE:  By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. (Hebrews 7:22)

REVELATION: A surety is a guarantor of another’s obligations, one who undertakes to pay the debt for another.  Examples in Scripture include Judah who became surety to his father for his brother Benjamin (Genesis 43:9) and Paul, who was willing to become surety to Philemon for Onesimus (Philemon 18-19).

Jesus Christ is Surety for you to God.  As your Surety, Jesus united the divine and human natures together in His own person, thereby giving assurance of reconciliation between you and God.

Through the shedding of His blood, Jesus became the Surety of the everlasting covenant for redemption from sin by making the blood sacrifice of animals obsolete. He mediated between the creditor (God) and the debtor (mankind), and became surety for the payment of the debts of the latter.  He is the Surety that guarantees that your debt of sin has been paid.

It was because of the everlasting priesthood confirmed by God’s oath that Jesus became the Surety of the New Covenant and that He is able to save completely those who come to God by Him:

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest…By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:19-25).

As the Surety of the New Testament Covenant, Jesus is your assurance that everything connected with the Covenant of your faith is eternally secure.

RESPONSE:  It is your Surety, Jesus Christ, who is “…able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).  Thank God that you can be “…confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Thank God for the assurance that all the promises are fulfilled in Christ and are “yes and Amen in him” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Surety.

TEACHER

RABBI, RABBONI

REFERENCE:  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

(John 3:1-2)

REVELATION:  The Bible provides the meaning of the word Rabbi when Nicodemus addressed Jesus as Rabbi and Teacher.  The word teacher means “instructor, trainer, and educator.”

The word Rabbi is a term used for one who teaches Jewish law.  It also means Master and is a term of respect.  Rabboni, as used by Mary in John 20:16, is the is the longer form of Rabbi, and indicates an even deeper respect.  Both names refer to Jesus.

The Pharisee Nicodemus realized that Jesus was not just any teacher, but He was the teacher from God because He taught “…not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth” (1 Corinthians 2:13).

Jesus taught in the synagogues (Matthew 4:23); in the temple (Matthew 21:23); in the villages (Matthew 9:35); and in outdoor settings (Mark 2:13). Jesus preached the Word of God to them wherever they were--walking along the way, in homes, etc.--and when  He did so, the power of the Lord was present to do miraculous works (Mark 2:2; Luke 5:17).

The goal of this great Teacher in your life is to make you: “…confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”  (Philippians 1:6).

RESPONSE: A good teacher knows their students, knows their subject, provides individual instruction as needed, will listen to their students, and will empower them to meet the challenges of life.

Read that sentence again and reflect on how Jesus is all that to you.  He knows you and knows the subject, not only because He wrote the book but because He is the Word.  He provides individual instruction, listens, and empowers you to meet the challenges of life.

The doctrine of Jesus was from God:

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.  (John 7:16-18)

If you want to study more about the doctrine Jesus taught, use a Bible with the words of Christ printed in red.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Teacher.

TESTATOR

REFERENCE:  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. (Hebrews 9:16)

REVELATION: A testator is a person who has written a will or bestowed a legacy.  As a Testator, Jesus has a written will which is the Word of God.  His legacy of salvation and eternal life is fully explained in that will.

For a will or legacy to be legally executed, the testator must die.  The spiritual application of this is explained in Hebrews chapter 9:

For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.  (Hebrews 9:16-28)

The Levitical system of the Old Covenant pointed to the need for a New Covenant since the way into the heavenly Holy of Holies was not yet manifest.  Jesus Christ validated the New Covenant by His death and resurrection which opened the way for sinful mankind to approach a righteous God.  He is the divine Testator of your spiritual legacy of salvation, healing, deliverance, peace, joy, righteousness, and eternal life.

RESPONSE:  If you received  word that you were named in a will, what would be your response?  You would immediately want to read every word of the document to discover the legacy you had been given.  The Bible is your spiritual legacy.  Read Psalm 103 and make a list of some of the amazing benefits of which you are an heir.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Testator.

THE LAST ADAM

REFERENCE:  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:45-47)

REVELATION: One of the names of Jesus is The Last Adam.  The Apostle Paul uses this analogy between the first and last Adam to contrast the natural body and the spiritual body and to connect creation with recreation as a new creature in Christ through the process of redemption.

Paul recognized both spiritual parallels and spiritual contrasts between Adam and Jesus.  The first Adam was created to be God’s representative and steward on the earth to fulfill a divine purposes.  He was created innocent, but sinned and all who descended from him were born in sin.  He became the father of a race tainted by his sin:  “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

God so loved the world that He gave His only Son as a ransom to purchase back what Adam forfeited:

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive...The first man Adam became a living being, the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:21–22; 15:45–47)

Jesus was like the first Adam in that He had no human father and was sent to earth to fulfill a divine purpose.  Hence the analogy of Christ and Adam.  Unlike the first Adam however, Jesus remained sinless and freely offered Himself as atonement for man’s sin.  Paul reveals:

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Romans 5:17-21)

The title The Last Adam reveals that there will be no third Adam. No other sinless man will ever be created because it is not necessary.  As the Last Adam, Jesus fulfilled the mandate of the

first Adam which was  to represent God on the earth.  Through His death for the sins of all mankind, He also assured that  “…as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive”

(1 Corinthians 15;22).  The first Adam died.  The Last Adam became a lifegiving spirit:

Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life].

(1 Corinthians 15:45, TAB)

RESPONSE:  No matter how deep your sin, God’s grace abounds to forgive you when you confess and repent.  The more sin, the more grace is extended.  Thank God that  “…as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord”  (Romans 5:17-21).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name The Last Adam.

TREASURE

REFERENCE: For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)

REVELATION: You have the Treasure, Jesus Christ, in your earthen vessel.  Jesus lives within you.  There is no greater treasure.  No gift can compare.  No riches are greater.  In this same passage and because of this truth, the Apostle Paul declares:  “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed…” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).  No matter what circumstances you are facing, you can stand strong in adversity because the Treasure, Jesus Christ, lives within you.

He is a Treasure, and as His child you are His treasure.  God promised Israel:

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:5-6)

In the New Testament, the promise was expanded to include true Believers:

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.  (1 Peter 2:9-10)

You have obtained mercy through the Treasure, Jesus Christ.  You are chosen.  You are a treasure.  You are part of a royal priesthood, holy, peculiar, and called out of darkness into light.  Because you have Jesus, the Treasure, in your heart, good things flow out of your innermost being:

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.  (Luke 6:45)

As a Believer, you know that real treasure is not in earthly possession, so you follow the Lord’s admonition to…

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  (Matthew 6:19-21)

RESPONSE:  Does your life reflect Jesus, the Treasure, as being resident in you?  What treasures are you laying up in Heaven through your ministry?  Your finances?  Those you lead to the Lord?  Those you disciple in the ways of the Lord?

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Treasure.

TRUTH

REFERENCE:  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

REVELATION:  The word "truth" means to uncover, open up, and expose.  In order for something to be true, it must meet three criteria:  First: It must be universal and apply to everyone.  Second:  It must be uniform and apply to everyone equally. The criteria is same for old and young, rich and poor, and all ethnicities. Third: It must be eternally valid.  As the Truth, Jesus meets these standards.

So what is truth according to the Bible?

God is truth. The Bible states that God lives in truth and His eyes are upon the truth.       His paths, works, counsel, grace, and Word are truth. God reveals truth and judges on the       basis of truth. His truth is eternal and unlimited. He wants all men to know the truth.  He       is called the God of Truth who is abundant in truth (Exodus 34:6).

Jesus is truth.  Jesus is truth revealed in the flesh. He is the True Light, True Bread, True Vine, and is full of truth.  He is the Faithful and True Witness who bore record of the truth.        He is the Way and the Truth that leads to God and the Truth that sets you free (John 14:6). His mission statement is:  “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” (John 18:37).

The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth (John 15:26).

The Word of God is truth, inspired by the Holy Spirit of Truth (John 17:17).

Salvation, based on the Gospel as revealed in the Word, is true (Hebrews 2:3).

The true Church is rooted in truth and is the pillar and ground of the truth

(1 Timothy 3:15).

The anointing of God is truth  (1 John 2:27).

The name Truth, as used for Jesus, is combined with several other titles to reveal even more about this name:

Jesus is the True Bread from Heaven. “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world”  (John 6:32-33).

Jesus is the True Light.  “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not… That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world”  (John 1:4-5, 9).

Jesus is the True Vine. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman”

(John 15:1).

Jesus is Faithful and True. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war”  (Revelation 19:11).

RESPONSE:  Take time to meditate on the truth of these things:  “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

If you are in bondage in any area of your life, meditate on the truth of God’s Word for “…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).

Pray this prayer:  “Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day” (Psalm 25:4-5).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Truth.

VINE

REFERENCE:   I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  (John 15:5)

REVELATION:   In John chapter 15, Jesus referred to God as the Husbandman and Himself as the Vine.  Let’s look at the passage where He makes this declaration:

I  am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:1-6)

Jesus proclaims that He is the true Vine, as opposed to a counterfeit.  He is the Vine, not a certain denomination or religious organization.  God is the Husbandman.  Husbandry is an agricultural term related to the production of crops. To husband something is to manage it well.  A vine must have a husbandman to plant, tend, and harvest its fruits.  Jesus was the Vine of God’s planting sent to earth to reap the harvest of souls of men and women.  He is the spiritual Vine and Believers are the branches as we are grafted into Him through the new birth described in John chapter 3.

When you are united with Christ as a branch,  your life will bear the evidence of it by spiritual fruitfulness. You are called to bear the fruit of evangelism by reaching others with the gospel.  You are also called to bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit:

…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

(Galatians 5:22)

For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth…(Ephesians 5:9)

Those who are truly grafted into Jesus are purged so that they can produce more fruit. Purging or pruning is the removal of things in your life that hinder fruitfulness. If you are being spiritually pruned, do not despair.  It means you are a fruitful branch and He is preparing you to bear more fruit.

In order to bear spiritual fruit, you must abide in Jesus, which means you must maintain an intimate relationship with Him.  You must remain in fellowship and relationship with Him so He can work in you and through you to produce spiritual fruit.

So-called branches who are not abiding in Him will not bear fruit, just as a branch that is not attached to a vine withers and dies.  Their works will be cast into the fire, as they are worthless self-efforts.

RESPONSE:  Are you in a difficult time of trial and testing?  If you are truly abiding in Jesus, then rejoice:  You are a fruitful vine that is being purged so that you can bear more fruit.

Examine your spiritual fruitfulness in light of these passages:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  (Galatians 5:22-23)

For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:9-10)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Vine.

WAY

REFERENCE:  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  (John 14:6)

REVELATION:  Road signs sometimes annoy us:  No U-turn.  Dead end.  Stop.  Road closed. These signs, however, are posted to assure safe passage to our destination. The same is true in the spiritual world.  There is only one way to our eternal destination, and that is Jesus Christ.  There are not many ways to God.  Jesus Christ is the way.  He is the way of truth and the way to abundant life in this world and for all eternity.

When Jesus made the declaration that He was the Way, He said He would be returning to Heaven to prepare a place for His followers.  Thomas questioned, “How can we know the way?”  Jesus responded that He was the way to the place that He was preparing for them.  Only through receiving Jesus as Savior could they know the Way and follow Him.

“The Way” implies a specific road.  The Phillips’ translation reads:  “I myself am the road.  No one approaches the father except through me.”  The Apostle Paul confirms:  “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

The book of Proverbs warns:  “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).  Be sure you are on the right road, the only road.  Follow Jesus Christ, the Way.

RESPONSE:  Jesus is the way.  Are you following?  Are you heeding the spiritual guidance of dead ends, stops, and road closures?  Are you being tempted to make a U-turn and return back to the old life?

If you are at a place of decision, claim this promise:

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Way.

WISDOM

REFERENCE:  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:24-25)

REVELATION:  Centuries before Jesus came to earth, the question was asked: “Where shall wisdom be found?” (Job 28:12).  That question is answered in Jesus Christ “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).  Jesus is the manifest Wisdom of God:

But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin].

(1 Corinthians 1:30, TAB)

You need wisdom to recognize the attacks of the enemy, to deal with difficult people, to fulfill your destiny, and to recognize deceiving spirits.  This kind of wisdom does not come through education, but it comes from God and is manifested through Jesus and His Holy Spirit of Wisdom. Wisdom provides a greater revelation of God and an increased manifestation of His presence in your life.  The purposes of this supernatural wisdom and revelation are detailed in the following passage:

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church…(Ephesians 1:17-22)

The wisdom from God as manifested in Jesus Christ brings:

-Enlightened understanding.

-Knowledge of His calling.

-Comprehension of the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

-Understanding of the exceeding greatness of His power.

-Recognition of your position with Christ in the Church.

The fear of the Lord is the starting point for gaining true wisdom:  “The fear of the Lod is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever”  (Psalm 111:10).  The fear of the Lord is demonstrated by respect for God, obedience to His commandments, and a godly lifestyle:

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  (James 3:13-17)

RESPONSE:   If you are in need of wisdom, ask for it in faith and without doubting.  He will manifest His wisdom to you through Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit of Wisdom.  James explains how to access the wisdom of God which is manifested in Christ:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.  (James 1:58)

Here are the steps:

-Ask of God.

-Ask in faith.

-Do not doubt or waver.

Here are the guarantees in James 1:5:

-When you ask for wisdom, He will give it to you.

-God gives wisdom to all men who ask, removing the uncertainty that God may answer some and not others.

-God gives to all men liberally, which means bountifully as one with an open hand opposed to one who has a closed fist.

-God “upbraideth not”, which means to He does not berate or rebuke you.  God is not upset when you ask Him for wisdom and answers for situations in your life.

-Answers will be given to the one who seeks them.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Wisdom

WONDERFUL

REFERENCE  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6 )

REVELATION: Only one place in the Bible is Jesus called Wonderful, and that is in the prophecy in Isaiah 9:6.  The word wonderful means “marvelous, inspiring, delightful, that which exceeds expectations, excites, and calls forth wonder”.  That is why our Savior is called Wonderful.

His birth was wonderful, for although He had a human mother He was conceived by the Holy Spirit  (Luke 1:31-35).

His person was wonderful, in that He combined Deity and humanity and “God was manifest in the flesh”  (1 Timothy 3:16).

His teaching was wonderful, as people declared “Never a man spoke like this man” (John 7:46).

His character was wonderful, for He was sinless (Hebrews 4:15).

His works were wonderful, as He manifested power over nature, demons, the devil, disease, and death (Mark 4:41).

His death and resurrection were wonderful, in that it secured eternal life for all who believe on Him (John 3:16-17).

His return will be wonderful, as He will come for those redeemed by His blood and take them to live with Him for all eternity  (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

RESPONSE:  Read Psalm 107:8,15,21,31 where the psalmist repeatedly declares that men should praise the Lord for His wonderful works. Use this psalm to praise Jesus, your Wonderful Savior.  Join the psalmist in this declaration:

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; no one can compare with You! If I should declare and speak of them, they are too many to be numbered. (Psalm 40:5)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Wonderful.  Make a list of the Lord’s wonderful works mentioned in Psalm 107:8,15,21, and 31.

WORD OF GOD

REFERENCE:  …and his name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:13)

REVELATION:   John describes a powerful scene he witnessed in Heaven:

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (Revelation 19:11-13)

John saw a white horse and the person on it was Faithful and True.  He was crowned as King, and clothed in garments dipped in blood.  His name was The Word of God.  This was a graphic portrayal of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

John also speaks of Jesus Christ as the Word in the first chapter of his Gospel where he declares:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  (John 1:1-2,14)

John uses the Greek word “logos” to identify Jesus as the “Word” in 1 John 1:1. Logos was the term for “word”  used by the ancient Greeks.  It denoted reason and divine wisdom that orders all things, so John identifies Jesus as the ultimate source of wisdom in the universe by using this name for Him.

Jesus was the Word incarnate, meaning the Word in human form.  His works confirmed the Word:

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.  (John 14:10-11)

The Word of God is God Himself and the Word is manifested in Jesus.  The Word is Jesus.  Because of its importance, the Word is magnified even above all the beautiful names of the Trinity of God which we are studying.  The psalmist declared: “ I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name”  (Psalm 138:2).

RESPONSE:   God used words to bring the entire universe into existence (Genesis 1).  Prior to their fall into sin, Adam and Eve talked freely with Him in the Garden of Eden.  In order to really know God, it requires words.

First,  you must come to know Jesus Christ, the Living Word, through the new birth experience.  You must use words of repentance to come to God and ask forgiveness for your sin and confess your belief in His Son.

Second, after being born again, you must align your life with the written Word to guide your life and fulfill your destiny.   Read it, listen to it, study it, memorize, and meditate on it. Hide it in your heart and apply it in your life.

If you really want to know God, then come to know the Living Word (Jesus Christ) and the written Word (the Bible).  Make a new commitment to the written Word of God.  Set aside a special time to study it each day.  As you do this, you will come to know God more intimately through the Living Word, Jesus Christ, and His written Word, the Holy Bible.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Word.

WORTHY

REFERENCE:  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11)

REVELATION:  A worthy person is one of valor, one who has worth and merit.  Jesus is Worthy because He is a member of the Trinity of God, the Creator, He is without sin, and He is the Savior of all mankind.  James speaks of the “worthy name by which you are called” (James 2:7).

John’s vision of Heaven reveals the worthiness of our Lord and Savior:

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

(Revelation 5:12-5)

A great chorus in Heaven joined together in praise to Jesus who is Worthy:

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.  (Revelation 5:9-12)

RESPONSE:  He is Worthy!  Acknowledge His worth right now in praise and worship.  Join in singing the Heavenly song:

Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Make the declaration of the elders:

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and       strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Worthy.

PART THREE

THE NAMES AND TITLES OF

THE HOLY SPIRIT

Each name of the Holy Spirit includes the references for that name; biblical revelation concerning it; and an opportunity for response through prayer, praise, declaration, and application using the name.  Because every name of the Holy Spirit is an inexhaustible study, you are encouraged to record in a journal additional revelations regarding each name.

If you are not familiar with the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, obtain the Harvestime International Network course entitled “Ministry Of The Holy Spirit” available free at http://www.harvestime.org

NAMES RELATED TO THE FATHER

REFERENCE:  When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.  And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17)

REVELATION:  The relation of the Holy Spirit to the Father is revealed in the following references in the Bible.  The Holy Spirit is called:

The Spirit of God/Our God.  “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2)

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.” (Matthew 3:16)

The Spirit of the Lord.  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”  (Luke 4:18)

The Spirit of the Lord God. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me…” (Isaiah 61:1)

The Spirit of the Living God. “…Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”  (2 Corinthians 3:3)

Your Holy Spirit.  “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:11)

The Spirit of Your Father.  “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.”

(Matthew 10:19-20)

My Spirit. ”And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.” (Acts 2:17-18)

RESPONSE:  The exciting reality is that, as a true Believer, the Holy Spirit of God dwells in you! When you really grasp this truth, there will be no challenge of life too great to overcome.

Use these names of the Holy Spirit in your prayer time today.  Thank God that you can face the challenges of life through the Spirit that is within you.

-The Spirit of God.

-The Spirit of the Lord.

-The Spirit of the Lord God.

-The Spirit of the Living God.

-Your Holy Spirit.

-The Spirit of Your Father.

-My Spirit.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names of the Holy Spirit that relate to God the Father.

NAMES RELATING TO JESUS

REFERENCE:  ...Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

(Romans 8:9)

REVELATION:   The one true God is revealed in three distinct personalities of the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, one God with three distinct natures.  This means that the Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit, and that the Holy Spirit is the same Spirit that dwells in Jesus.  He is called the Spirit of Jesus the Son, the Spirit of The Father, and the Spirit of The Lord—all names related to Jesus.

The relation of the Holy Spirit to Jesus is revealed in the following names.

The Spirit of Christ.  “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit       of God dwell in you.”  (Romans 8:9)

The Spirit of Jesus Christ.  “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”  (Philippians 1:19)

The Spirit of the Lord.  “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the       Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way       rejoicing.”  (Acts 8:39)

The Spirit of His Son/The Son.  “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a       son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:6-7)

The Spirit of the Son was sent forth to adopt you into the family of God.  You are no longer a servant.  You are a son and an heir of God through Christ.

Jesus said:

...If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the       scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water--But this spake he of       the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive... (John 7:37-39)

If you have accepted Christ as Savior, this wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit that indwelt Him also dwells in you and flows through you to minister to a spiritually thirsty and dying world.

RESPONSE: Pray that the Spirit of Jesus Christ will be manifested in you and through you.

Thank God that the same Spirit that indwells Christ dwells in you. Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names of the Holy Spirit related to Jesus Christ.

SEVEN ATTRIBUTES OF THE SPIRIT

REFERENCE:  And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord... (Isaiah 11:2)

REVELATION:  Seven attributes of the ministry of the Holy Spirit are revealed in the names listed in Isaiah 11:2:

-The Spirit of the Lord:  Reflecting the identity of the Holy Spirit.

-The Spirit of Wisdom: The ability to discern with spiritual insight.

-The Spirit of Understanding: The ability to apply wisdom.

-The Spirit of Counsel: The ability to make right decisions.

-The Spirit of Might: The ability to implement God’s purposes through the power of the

Holy Spirit.

-The Spirit of Knowledge: The accumulation of knowledge of the truth.

-The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord:  The reverential awe of God.

The Spirit's names as related to the number seven provide the Believer with spiritual identity, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord.

Note that the names are set forth in pairs that complement each other:  Wisdom and understanding; counsel and might; knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Wisdom (spiritual insight) leads to understanding.  Proper counsel results in the ability to minister in the supernatural might of God. Knowledge leads to the fear of the Lord which is the reverential awe of God.

RESPONSE: Thank God for each of the seven aspects of the Holy Spirit as revealed in Isaiah 11:2.  Ask God for these manifestations of the Spirit to be evident in your life.

-Ask for the Spirit of the Lord to be manifested.

-When you need wisdom, ask for the Spirit of Wisdom.

-When you need understanding, claim the operation of the Spirit of Understanding.

-When you need counsel, call upon the Counsel of the Holy Spirit.

-When you need abilities to implement His purposes, call upon the Spirit of Might.

-When you need revelation, ask for the Spirit of Knowledge to be activated in your life.

-Ask for the reverential Spirit of the Fear of the Lord to increasingly govern your life.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding these seven names.

ANOINTING

UNCTION, OIL OF GLADNESS

REFERENCE:  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:27)

REVELATION:  Unction and oil describe the anointing of the Spirit in the lives of Believers. Oil symbolizes light, healing, and anointing for service.  In the biblical record, people or objects that were anointed with sacred oil were set apart to God for His service.

Unction, as used in the Bible, means to anoint, as with oil:  “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things” (1 John 2:20).  One of the main functions of the Holy Spirit is to teach Believers all things, and it is the anointing of the Holy Spirit that does this.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

The Holy Spirit is also called the Oil of Gladness because of the joy that results from being set apart to the Lord and used for His purposes (Psalm 45:7; Hebrews 1:9).

The purposes of the anointing are listed in Luke 4:18-19 and Acts 10:38:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.  (Luke 4:18-19)

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  (Acts 10:38)

The same Spirit of the Lord that anointed Jesus anoints you to:

-Share the Gospel.

-Minister to the poor.

-Heal the brokenhearted.

-Heal the sick.

-Share deliverance to those in spiritual bondage.

-Open the eyes of those in spiritual blindness.

-Set free those who are bruised and wounded by the enemy.

-Preach the acceptable year of the Lord, meaning the era of God’s extended grace and

mercy.

-Go about doing good.

-Heal all those oppressed by the Devil.

RESPONSE:  Anoint yourself with oil during your devotional time today.  This is symbolic of the Spirit's anointing that rests upon your life.  Thank God for the manifestation of the unction, the precious anointing of the Holy Spirit, and for the Oil of Gladness that permeates your life.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the anointing and unction of the Holy Spirit

A SPIRIT OF POWER, LOVE, AND A SOUND MIND

REFERENCE:  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

REVELATION:  If fear is a spirit, and according to this verse it is, then a sound mind that is free from fear is a result of having the mind of the Holy Spirit.

A sound mind means having clear understanding, sound judgment, and a mind that is under the control of the Holy Spirit.  It is a sober mind that is well balanced and regulated by the Holy Spirit to think, speak, act, and minister properly.  Most spiritual battles begin in the mind, so this ministry of the Spirit in your behalf is vital.

Previously in this passage, the Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to stir up the spiritual gifts which he had been given, and then he warns against the spirit of fear. Fear stifles creative thoughts and actions and is a major roadblock to God's plans for your life.  Fear steals peace and contentment and creates doubt.  It not only affects you spiritually, but is the root cause of many physical, mental, and emotional problems.

The power, love, and sound mind of the Holy Spirit will free you from the spirit of fear that  troubles you and hinders the manifestation of the spiritual gifts with which you have been entrusted.

Everyone experiences times of anxiety and apprehension. When you feel fear trying to grip your mind, ask yourself:  Where does this fear come from?  The answer is:  It is not from God.  So reject it and accept His Spirit of Power, Love, and  a Sound Mind.

RESPONSE:  Ask God for clear understanding, sound judgment, and for your mind to be totally controlled by the Spirit.  Rebuke the spirit of fear that would hinder your ministry. Praise God that you are set free from fear to operate in power, love, and with a sound mind.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding these names of the Holy Spirit: Power, Love, and A Sound Mind.

BLESSING

REFERENCE:  ...I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon your offspring.  (Isaiah 44:3)

REVELATION:  What is the blessing that God promises to pour out?  It is His Holy Spirit. And God promises to give the Spirit not just in measure, but to pour it out.  No limits.  Without measure:

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.  (Joel 2:28-29)

God wants to bless you. He wants His blessings to not only come upon you, but to actually pursue and overtake you:

And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto       the voice of the Lord thy God.  (Deuteronomy 28:2)

Imagine: God loves you so much that He will chase you down with His blessings!  And these blessings are unlimited:

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.       Selah.      (Psalms 68:19)

And it doesn't end there.  He desires to pour out the blessing on your descendants as well:

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

(Acts 2:17-18)

The most important blessing that God gives is forgiveness of sin and the new life that comes through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. The material blessings you enjoy from day-to-day are temporary, but the spiritual blessings available through the Holy Spirit encompass time and eternity:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the       heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  (Ephesians 1:3)

RESPONSE:  Ask God to release an unprecedented outpouring of the Blessing into your life.

Thank God for the many blessings that are abundantly bestowed on you through the Blessed Holy Spirit. Join the psalmist in this declaration:

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all my iniquities; who heals all my diseases; Who redeems my life from destruction; who crowns me with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies my mouth with good things; so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:1-5)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Blessing of the Holy Spirit. Start a gratitude journal to record your blessings  Be sure to list the benefits mentioned in Psalm 103:

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.

BREATH

BREATH OF LIFE

BREATH OF THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD

BREATH OF THE ALMIGHTY

REFERENCE: And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)

REVELATION: In the original biblical text, the word spirit means breath.  Your breath is invisible, but without it you cannot live in your natural body.  The Holy Spirit is invisible, but without Him you cannot continue to live spiritually.  The Holy Spirit is called the Breath of Life, Breath of the Spirit of the Lord, and the Breath of the Almighty.

When God created man, He breathed into him the Breath of Life and he became a living being:

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)

The Holy Spirit is the Breath of Life to the soul and spirit of mankind.   Isaiah speaks of the Breath of the Spirit of the Lord:

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.  (Isaiah 40:7-8)

Job spoke of the Spirit of God being in his nostrils:

All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. (Job 27:3-4)

Job declared that the Breath of the Almighty gave him life:

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

(Job 33:4)

Elisha breathed the breath of life into a dead child, and the child was resurrected (2 Kings 4:32-35).  Ezekiel prayed that the four winds of the Breath of the Spirit would blow upon dry bones so that they could live again:

Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. (Ezekiel 37:9-10)

When the Holy Spirit breathes upon you spiritually, you receive new life, new vitality, and new vision.  Visions and dreams that have died will be resurrected.  You will be refreshed spiritually, mentally, and physically.

RESPONSE:  Close your eyes and sit quietly in God’s presence.  Ask the Holy Spirit to breathe on you.  Thank God for the Breath of the Spirit that infuses new life into your soul and spirit. Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Breath of the Holy Spirit.

CLOTHING

REFERENCE:   But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with Himself and took possession of him, and he blew a trumpet, and [the clan of] Abiezer was gathered to him. (Judges 6:34, TAB)

REVELATION:  The phrase "came upon" as used in this passage means that the Spirit of God clothed Gideon, thus clothing is an emblem of the Spirit.   It is a spiritual covering for specific purposes.  Other Old Testament examples of men being clothed with the Spirit are:

Othniel.  “And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the Lord delivered”  (Judges 3:10).  He was empowered as a judge.

Amasi.  ”Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains”

(1 Chronicles 12:18).  The Spirit of the Lord empowered him as a leader.

Jahaziel. “Then upon Jahaziel…came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation”… (2 Chronicles 20:14).   He gave a powerful prophetic word to the people.

Samson.  “And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he began to deliver Israel from the enemy” (Judges 14:6).  The Spirit enabled Samson to deliver God’s people.

Saul.  Samuel told Saul: “And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man” (1 Samuel 10:6).  The Spirit turned Saul into another man and he prophesied.

David.  “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 16:13).

David was anointed as king.

Jesus was clothed with the Spirit (Luke 4:18), and He said that His followers would be endued (clothed) with power from on high.  Thus, the New Testament empowerment of the Holy Spirit is compared to the natural act of being clothed.  This clothing of the Spirit covers and protects you spiritually, just as clothing covers and protects your physical body.

You wear clothing to keep you cool or warm, depending on the weather.  Some clothing is designed to prevent physical injury such as safety vests, military clothing, and the gear worn by firemen and other first responders. In the spiritual world, the clothing of the Spirit will keep you warm when you feel cold and cool you down when you are emotionally hot and agitated.

Your spiritual clothing protects you from harm and gives you strength to complete your tasks.  But the spiritual clothing of the Spirit goes far beyond the function of clothing in the natural world.  The Spirit endues you--literally clothes you--with  power to accomplish your God-given destiny.

RESPONSE:  Ask God to clothe you with

The garment of salvation:            Isaiah 61:20; 2 Chronicles 6:41

The garment of praise:            Isaiah 61:3

The robe of righteousness:            Isaiah 61:10

The garment of humility:            1 Peter 5:5

The garment of power:            Luke 24:49

The garment of love:                    Colossians 3:14

Your spiritual armor:                  Ephesians 6:11-18

The nature of God:                  Colossians 3:12

The new man:                        Ephesians 4:24

Jesus Christ:                        Romans 13:14

Study these scriptures and record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Clothing of the Holy Spirit.

COMFORTER

REFERENCE:  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:16-18)

REVELATION:  The Greek word for comforter means "called alongside with another."   The AMPC translation of the key verse states:  “And I will ask of the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever.”

Jesus Christ is the Comforter, and He is in Heaven interceding in your behalf.  The other Comforter, referred to by Jesus as "Another Comforter", means "one of the same kind" as Jesus.  This Comforter, the Holy Spirit, was sent to dwell in Believers when Christ returned to Heaven.

Jesus said, "I will not leave you comfortless"...(John 14:18).  The word for comfortless means “desolate, deserted, and empty."  Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to comfort you in the desolate times of your life.  In difficult times, He brings to your remembrance the promises of Jesus, assures you of the Father's love, and verifies the truth of the Word  (John 14:26;16:26.)  Believers are advised to walk in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, which means to live perpetually relying on His comfort:

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.  (Acts 9:31).

You are comforted so that you can comfort others with the same comfort you have experienced:

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

RESPONSE:  If you are a true Believer, you are never alone.  The Holy Spirit has come to abide with you forever.  If you are in need of comfort, tell the Holy Spirit:  "Holy Spirit, come and do your job."  And He will.  Thank God for the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Record in your journal additional revelations regarding Comforter as a title of the Spirit

DEW

REFERENCE:  I will be as the dew... (Hosea 14:5)

REVELATION:  The process that produces the dew begins as the sun begins to set and night falls.  As an exposed object cools, atmospheric moisture condenses at a rate greater than that at which it can evaporate.  This results in the formation of the water droplets known as dew.

In the natural world, as dew covers a plant it absorbs the life-giving substance through its leaves, giving it what it needs to survive another day. Without this daily source of water, plants will not endure until the rains come.

Likewise, the dew of the Holy Spirit comes quietly in the night-times of your life to renew and refresh you.  The moisture of the Spirit quickens your spiritual dryness.  You are refreshed by His presence and receive what you need in order to survive another day.

God's promise to His people is "I will be as the dew..." (Hosea 14:5). The biblical record confirms, however, that the  dew of the Spirit is sometimes withheld because of disobedience:

“…Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit” (Haggai 1:10).

To renew the presence of the dew of the Holy Spirit, you must repent and return to God's Word: "Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, as raindrops on the tender herb, and as showers on the grass.  For I proclaim the name of the Lord.”  (Deuteronomy 32:2-3,

NKJV).

The unity of God’s people also attracts the dew of the Holy Spirit:

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (Psalm 133)

RESPONSE:  Ask for the dew of the Holy Spirit to fall fresh upon your life today.  Bind the spirit of disunity that would hinder the presence of this spiritual dew.  Thank God for the refreshing power of the dew of the Holy Spirit. Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the dew of the Holy Spirit.

DIFFERENT SPIRIT

REFERENCE:  But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.

(Numbers 14:24)

REVELATION:  The scriptures state that Caleb had a different spirit.  Different from what other spirit or whose other spirit?

Caleb was one of ten spies sent to check out the Promised Land prior to Israel entering in to claim it.  Ten of the spies returned with a negative report saying:  "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we…The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature... and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight" (Numbers 13:31-33).

Only Caleb and Joshua returned with a good report and encouraged Israel to take the land God had promised them:  “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30). The other spies exhibited spirits of fear and unbelief.

According to 2 Timothy 1:7, fear is a spirit: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  God has not given you the spirit of fear, so if He didn't give it guess where this spirit came from?  From the enemy. God’s Spirit is one of power, love, and a sound mind.

The spirit of unbelief, also from the enemy, prevents you from entering into the promises of God:

While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.  (Hebrews 3:15-19)

Caleb's spirit was different because it was the Holy Spirit--a Different Spirit--that empowered him.  If you truly want to follow God, you must have a Spirit that is different from the world. You must reject the spirits of fear and unbelief and embrace the Different Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God, to work in you and through you.

This Different Spirit is distinct from other spirits that operate in the world, spirits like greed, immorality, ungodliness, etc.  When this Spirit is operative within you, you will be set apart as a peculiar person:

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

RESPONSE: As a Spirit-filled Believer, the Different Spirit dwells within you to overcome  fear and unbelief.  Thank God for the Different Spirit that will work in you and through you today to set you apart from the evil spirits manifested in the world.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Different Spirit.

DOVE

REFERENCE:  And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. (John 1:32)

REVELATION:  The emblem of the Dove represents the Holy Spirit.  It indicates:

Approval from God. “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” ( Mark 1:10-11)

Peace of God.  ”And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest.”  (Psalms 55:6)

Purity through God. He views you as “My dove, my undefiled...”  (Song of Solomon 6:9)

There are several characteristics of a dove mentioned in the Bible which are applicable to the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit is beautiful. “…you shall be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and       her feathers with yellow gold.”  (Psalm 68:13)

The Spirit is loving.  The appeal of the Bridegroom to the Bride is:  “Open to me, my       sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled,” (Song of Solomon 5:12)

The Spirit is gentle. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye       therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”  (Matthew 10:16)

The Spirit of God, like a dove, seeks rest. “And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove!       for then would I fly away, and be at rest.” (Psalm 55:6)

“Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of       the ground; But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto       him…” (Genesis 8:8)

RESPONSE: Pray for dove-like qualities of the Spirit to be manifested in your life:  Love, gentleness, peace, and purity.  Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Dove as an emblem of the Holy Spirit.

EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE

REFERENCE:  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:12-14)

REVELATION: In many business transactions, earnest money, a guarantee, or a deposit, is required to assure that the transaction will be completed.  The Holy Spirit is the guarantee that assures that your redemption will be completed.  The Amplified Version of Ephesians 1:14 reads:

That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the first fruits, the pledge and foretaste,       the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our       acquiring [complete] possession of it--to the praise of His glory.

The Holy Spirit is the first installment of your ultimate redemption, a down payment that assures that the transaction will be completed:

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.1 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:22)

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (1 Corinthians 5:5-8)

Because of the Earnest of the Sprit you can be "...confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ"…  (Philippians 1:6).

RESPONSE:  Make this confession:  "I am confident that He who has begun a good work in me will perform it  until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).  Thank God for the assurance given by the Holy Spirit regarding your redemption and your eternal inheritance. Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Earnest of Our Inheritance.

ETERNAL SPIRIT

REFERENCE:  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  (Hebrews 9:14)

REVELATION:  Jesus Christ made the sacrifice for sin through the power of the Eternal Spirit.  The word eternal means “without beginning or end, ever present.” That same spirit, the Eternal Spirit of God, purges your conscience from dead works so that you can serve the living God.

"He (Jesus) from eternity, with His divine, and everlasting Spirit, concurred with the       Father's will of redemption by Him. His offering began on the altar of the cross, and was       completed in His entering the Holiest with His blood. The eternity of His Divine Spirit       gives eternal efficacy to His offering, so that not even God's infinite justice has any       exception to take against it." (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary)

Because of the Eternal Spirit (the Holy Spirit who anointed Him), Jesus was able to look beyond the suffering of the cross to the eternal consequences of salvation for all who would believe.  Paul encourages us to be…

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

The Holy Spirit is eternal.  Christ's sacrifice, made through the Spirit, is eternal.  Through redemption enabled by the Spirit, you have the promise of eternal life:

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he       were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.       Believest thou this? (John 11:25-26)

If you are a born-again Believer in Christ, welcome to eternal life!  You are already living it.

RESPONSE:  Focus your prayer today on eternal things rather than the things of the world. Thank God that because the Eternal Spirit lives within you, you will live eternally. Record in your journal additional revelations  regarding the name Eternal Spirit.

FINGER OF GOD

REFERENCE:   But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Luke 11:20)

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

(Matthew 12:28)

REVELATION:  In Luke 11:20, evil spirits are cast out by the Finger Of God.  In Matthew 12:28, this Finger is identified as the Holy Spirit of God.

This title is synonymous with the omnipotent power of God.  It is evidence of His divine authority as manifested in supernatural works.  The Finger of God is manifested:

In creation.  The psalmist declared that creation is "...the work of your fingers"

(Psalm 8:3).

In the Word of God.  The Ten Commandments were written with the finger of God (Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:10).  Because the authors of the Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit, they were literally writing under the guidance of the Finger of God.

In divine judgment.  The Egyptians confessed that the judgment they experienced was the Finger Of God (Exodus 8:19).  At the feast of wicked King Belshazzar, the Finger wrote the mandate of judgment on the palace wall (Daniel 5:5;24-31).

In the power of God.  This is demonstrated in the casting out of demons by the Finger of God's Holy Spirit (Luke 11:20; Matthew 12:28).

In the lives of God's people.  The epistle of Christ is written on the hearts of God's people by the Spirit, hence by the Finger of God.  (2 Corinthians 3:3; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16).

RESPONSE: Ask God to release the power of the Finger of God in your ministry to manifest supernatural works for His glory. Thank God for the Finger of the Holy Spirit that is evidence of His presence and authority in your life.  Study the references used in this reading and record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Holy Spirit as the Finger of God.

FIRE

REFERENCE:  John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.  (Luke 3:16):

REVELATION:  John the Baptist spoke of one who would come after him who would baptize with the Holy Ghost and Fire.  That one was Jesus Christ.  What exactly is meant by this baptism of the Spirit and fire?

Fire is used as a symbol of the presence of God.  “For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire…”  (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29)

Fire is used as a symbol of the approval of the Lord.  “And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering…” (Leviticus 9:24)

Fire was a symbol of the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Divided tongues like fire marked the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost: “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:3-4).

The positive purposes of fire in the natural world parallel those in the spiritual world:

Power.  Fire generates steam which powers industrial equipment.  The Holy Spirit is the driving power in the life of Believers functioning as spiritual steam.

Warmth. Fire gives warmth, as does the Holy Spirit whose fire warms cold hearts.

Purification.  As fire purifies precious metals, so the Holy Spirit purifies Believers.  He is described as a Refiner's Fire (Malachi 3:2; Isaiah 6:1-8) and God's judgment is symbolized by fire (Hebrews 12:29) and a spirit of burning (Isaiah 4:4).

Consummation.  In the natural world, fire consumes what is combustible and reveals what is enduring.  Likewise,  the fire of the Spirit burns up spiritual stubble in your life:

Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work

shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

(1 Corinthians 3:13-15)

Light. The Holy Spirit is the source of spiritual illumination for Believers:

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. (Ephesians 1:17-19)

Protection and guidance.  When Israel traveled through the wilderness the Lord went before them in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to protect them and guide them in the way (Exodus 13:21).

RESPONSE: Ask God to rekindle the fire of the Holy Spirit in your life. Thank God for the manifestations of the fire of the Holy Spirit which include power, warmth, purification, consummation, light, protection, and guidance. Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Fire of the Holy Spirit

FREE SPIRIT

REFERENCE:  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

(Psalm 51:12)

REVELATION:  This psalm was penned by David after his adulterous sin with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11).

The psalmist prayed for forgiveness and then asked that his joy be restored, which implies that he lost his joy due to his sin.  Sin always has these consequences:  Multiplied losses and the need for restoration.

The psalmist prays to be upheld by God's Free Spirit which is the Holy Spirit.  To uphold means to "sustain and keep from falling".  The word free in this passage means “willing, ready, prompt, and generous”, which aptly describes the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit wants to lead you to repentance.  He is prompt to perform His ministry when called upon.  He is generous with His anointing and gifts.

The Holy Spirit is willing and ready to sustain you, keep you from falling, and uphold you by His Free Spirit. Even if you should fall, know that He will be prompt to help you back up again:  "For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again" (Proverbs 24:16).

RESPONSE: Pray these words from Psalm 51:

Have mercy upon me, oh God, according to Your loving kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against You, and You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight...Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your free Spirit.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Free Spirit.

GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

GIFT OF GOD

REFERENCE:  And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away, [even] to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself. (Acts 2:38 -39, TAB)

REVELATION:  In Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit came upon God's people for specific purposes.  For examples, see Exodus 31:3, Judges 6:34 and 1 Samuel 16:13.  In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit came to remain in Believers:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:16-18)

In Acts chapter 2, the Holy Spirit came upon Believers (verse 3); filled them (verse 4); and spoke through them (verses 4-11).  This event was prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:28-29); predicted by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16); and promised by Jesus (Acts 1:4).   Note that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was not only for Jewish Believers, but is also extended to Gentiles (Acts 10:44-48).

This gift of the Holy Spirit enables you to…

Be regenerated by the Spirit.  “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”.

(John 3:5)

Be indwelt by the Spirit.  “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (Romans 8:9)

Be sealed by the Spirit. “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of       truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed       with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the       redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

(Ephesians 1:13-14)

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

Be baptized in the Holy Spirit. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13)

The Holy Spirit is called a gift, meaning the Spirit is freely given by God to Believers (John 14:16).  As with any gift, however, you must accept it.  Someone may offer you a gift, but to make it yours you must receive it:

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the       Holy Ghost…(John 20:22)

When you accept the Gift of the Holy Spirit, then you receive supernatural power to become a witness for Jesus Christ:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

You are also blessed with spiritual gifts and fruit that the Holy Spirit bestows in the lives of Believers.

The Holy Spirit is the gift God gave to you through Christ:

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.  (Acts 2:38-39)

RESPONSE:  If you have not received the Gift of the Holy Spirit, accept it today in your prayer time.  To see how this gift is manifested when it is received, study the following passages:

-The day of Pentecost: Acts 2:2-4.

-At the house of Cornelius: Acts 10:44-46.

-On the converts at Ephesus: Acts 19:6.

Thank God for His Gift of the Holy Spirit. Study more about the gifts of the Holy Spirit in

1 Corinthians 12:4-13.  Record in your journal additional insights regarding the Gift of The Holy Spirit.

GOOD SPIRIT

REFERENCE:  Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.  (Psalm 143:10)

Thou  gavest also  thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness so that they lacked nothing...  (Nehemiah 9:20)

REVELATION: These two scriptures confirm that the Holy Spirit  is good and does good.  The psalmist proclaims:  "Thy spirit is good."   Nehemiah confirms that it was the Good Spirit of the Lord that sustained Israel during their wilderness wanderings and brought too them into their Promised Land.

Although the people of Israel were recipients of many blessings from God, they repeatedly turned against His Good Spirit: “Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them” (Nehemiah 9:30).  The Apostle Paul warns Believers against despising the riches of goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering:

And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the       same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his       goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God       leadeth thee to repentance? (Romans 2:3-4)

Paul verifies that it is God’s Good Spirit who bestows the goodness that leads people to repentance.

One of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is goodness. Scripturally, goodness is not a mere passive quality in a Believer, but it is the deliberate preference of right over wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of moral evil, and the choosing and following of what is morally good.

RESPONSE: Ask God to shower the blessings of His Good Spirit on your unsaved friends and relatives, as it is His goodness that will draw them to repentance.

Thank God for His Good Spirit that bestows goodness in you and through you to a hurting world.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Good Spirit.

HOLY

SPIRIT OF HOLINESS

REFERENCE:  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. (Psalm 51:11)

REVELATION: The Hebrew word for holy means “separateness, and sacredness.”  In the New Testament, the Greek word for holy means "set apart, revered, and sacred." The word holy is used frequently in Scripture to describe the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit is holy in character and represents a Holy God.  He is the Holy Spirit that inspired men of God to write the Holy Scriptures.

He is the Spirit of Holiness, as the Apostle Paul confirmed when he wrote “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:3-4).

Holiness is one of the hallmark attributes of the Trinity.  As a member of the Godhead, the Spirit is Holy as the following names reflect:

His Holy Spirit. “He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 4:8)

Holy One/His Holy One. “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all       things.” (1 John 2:20)

Holy Spirit (Ghost). “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your       children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that       ask him?” (Luke 11:13 )

Holy Spirit of God.  “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto       the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

Holy Spirit of Promise. “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”  (Ephesians 1:13-14)

He is also referred to as the Promise of My Father (Luke 24:49);  Promise of the Father (Acts 1:4); Promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33); and Promise of the Spirit (Galatians 3:14).

Holy Spirit Sent From Heaven. “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves,       but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that       have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which       things the angels desire to look into.” (1 Peter 1:12)

Holy Spirit Who Dwells in Us (corporately).  “That good thing which was committed       unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.” (2 Timothy 1:14)

Holy Spirit Who Is in You (individually).  “What? know ye not that your body is the       temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your       own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your       spirit, which are God's.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

In his great prayer of repentance in Psalm 51, David recognized the necessity of the Spirit as he asked God to not remove the Holy Spirit from him.  Paul acknowledged that all spiritual things  are committed to Believers who are kept by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:14).

RESPONSE: If you have sinned, ask forgiveness of God and pray the prayer of Psalm 51:11:  “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”

Claim the promise of 2 Timothy 1:14: “That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”   It is impossible for you to be holy through your own efforts.  It is only by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Holiness, that you can be righteous.  Meditate on these verses:

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16)

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

(2 Corinthians 7:1)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Holy and The Spirit of Holiness.

INTERCESSOR

REFERENCE:   Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  (Romans 8:26-27)

REVELATION:  The Holy Spirit helps you in times of need by serving as your intercessor.

Whether it is an infirmity, a trial, a difficult circumstance, or sin, He makes intercession for you and through you.  When you do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit will bring things to your remembrance and make intercession in your behalf according to God's will:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

The Apostle John used a similar term to describe Jesus.  He said "...if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). The title advocate has the same meaning as the Greek word "paraclete"  or  "comforter" which Jesus used to describe Himself:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:16-18)

In the natural world, an intercessor or advocate serves as counsel for your defense in a court of law.  In the spiritual world, the Holy Spirit serves as your intercessor, constantly interceding for you in prayer.  Jesus Christ serves as your advocate, continually representing you before God:

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him,       seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  (Hebrews 7:25)

According to Scripture, Jesus is the judge:

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick       and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.  (2 Timothy 4:1)

Think about it:  In a court of law, if your judge becomes your advocate--your defense attorney--then the case against you is over!  Charges dropped. You are free!

RESPONSE:   Allow the Holy Spirit to intercede through you in your prayer time.

Thank God that since the Holy Spirit and Jesus are your intercessors and advocates and God is your judge, your sins have been acquitted!

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Intercessor.

NEW SPIRIT

REFERENCE:  And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20)

REVELATION:  New means something recently introduced or created as opposed to something old.  God promises to give you a new heart and spirit:

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

God created mankind in the image of God with the ability to think, speak, respond emotionally, and create as no other creature on earth.  Because of sin and prior to experiencing salvation, mankind is characterized as being spiritually dead.  Only by the new birth experience through Jesus Christ can your dead spirit be made alive:

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

(Ephesians 2:1-9)

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. (Colossians 2:13)

Just as God breathed natural life into the first human at the time of creation, the Holy Spirit breathed spiritual life into the disciples:

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. (John 20:22)

Adam was made alive by the Spirit of God breathed into his body.  We are made alive through the New Spirit breathed into us by the Holy Spirit:

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4).

This New Spirit within you makes it possible for you to live as a new creation in God:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;       behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

RESPONSE:  Set your mind and will to walk in God's statues and keep His Word through the power of the New Spirit within you.

I  beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

Thank God for the New Spirit that has made you a new creation in God.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name New Spirit.

ONE SPIRIT

SAME SPIRIT OF FAITH

SAME SPIRIT THAT RAISED CHRIST

REFERENCE:  There is one body, and one Spirit... (Ephesians 4:4)

REVELATION: Although the Holy Spirit has many names and manifests His ministry in many forms, there is only One Spirit:

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

It is through Christ, by this One Spirit, that Believers have access to God the Father:

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:18)

When you chose to believe, you receive the same spirit of faith as other true Believers.  They may attend different local churches of different denominations, but if they are true Believers they all are united with you and other true Christians by the Spirit of Faith:

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believe and therefore have       I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.  (2 Corinthians 4:13)

It is this One Spirit that causes brothers and sisters of faith to dwell together in unity:

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (Psalm 133:1-3)

The Same Spirit is the spiritual power behind the diverse gifts that are manifested in the lives of Believers:

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit…But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will…For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

(1 Corinthians 12:4,8-9,11,13)

This Same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in Believers to quicken their mortal bodies both now and in the future:

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up       Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in       you. (Romans 8:11)

Through this Same Spirit, Believers are resurrected from spiritual death to spiritual life.  Through this Same Spirit, their future resurrection from physical death will be manifested: "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25).

RESPONSE: One Spirit. The Same Spirit. The Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. And He dwells in you!  Give praise to God for this great revelation.

Ask God for positive relationships between you and other Believers that are of the Same Spirit, unity which assures the commanded blessings of God in your life.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the titles relating to One Spirit and The Same Spirit.

PORTER

REFERENCE:   For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. (Mark 13:34)

REVELATION: Today, in modern buildings of major cities, there is often a doorman stationed at the entrance.  He provides security and opens the door to those authorized to enter.  He also serves as a porter to assist in carrying packages and luggage.

As a spiritual Porter, the Holy Spirit opened the door to prepare the way for Jesus Christ to enter the world, as He was conceived by the Spirit.  He opens the door to the sheepfold so that the Lord and His sheep can enter (John 10:1-16).  The Holy Spirit also opens the hearts of men and women to be receptive to the gospel.

As a Porter, the Holy Spirit comes to your aid to lift your heavy burdens and to take from you the baggage you carry of your past and present.  He also guards the door of your life so that strangers or enemies cannot enter.  He keeps you from deception, false doctrines, and the attacks of the enemy.

It is the Holy Spirit of God that "...opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens..." (Revelation 3:7).  The Apostle Paul said of the city of Ephesus: “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:9).

-Great means gigantic.

-Effectual means ready to set in motion to produce a desired result.

-A door is a God-given opportunity.

-Opened  means it is already standing open awaiting your arrival. You won’t need to use a battering ram to open it.

-Unto me means that, even as Paul was specifically chosen by God to minister in       Ephesus, there are doors specifically designed for you.

-Many adversaries are around this door, not just a few.  Whenever God opens a       supernatural door, there will always be supernatural adversaries.  But the same God who       opened the door will guide you through it and defeat every opposing foe. There may be       adversaries, but the Holy Spirit is holding the door open.  Go right on in!

RESPONSE: Thank God for the Holy Spirit who serves as the door keeper and porter of your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the doors to your heart and mind to receive all God has for you and to close the door on the attacks of the enemy.  Ask the Lord to make you perceptive and responsive to every open door the Spirit sets before you. Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Holy Spirit as Porter.

PROMISE OF THE FATHER

POWER FROM ON HIGH

REFERENCE:  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)

REVELATION:  The Holy Spirit is called the Promise Of The Father and Power From On High. The promised power of which this verse speaks is the Holy Spirit power given on the day of Pentecost described in Acts chapter 2.

The coming of the Holy Spirit was confirmed through the major ways we process information and experiences:  The eyes, ears, and mouth--visually, audibly, and orally.  It was like a mighty rushing wind and like fire.  The wind was representative of the life-giving Spirit of God (Ezekiel 37:9; John 3:7-8). The fire was symbolic of the purging and refining work of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 48:10.)  The fire apparently looked like a human tongue, as the tongue is the vessel through which the Gospel is shared.

All who were present in the upper room were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.  This sign of speaking in tongues was repeated at the house of Cornelius and for Jewish converts who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:17 and 19:1-7).

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon God's people for specific purposes.  For examples, see Exodus 31:3, Judges 6:34, and 1 Samuel 16:13.  In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit came to reside in Believers in answer to the promise made by Jesus (John 14:16-17).

The Holy Spirit came upon them according to Acts 2 verse 3; filled them (verse 4); and spoke through them (verses 4-11).  The event which occurred in Acts 2 was prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:28-29); predicted by John (Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16); and promised by Jesus (Acts 1:4) . Note that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was not only for Jewish Believers, but is also extended to Gentiles, meaning all nations (Acts 10:44-48).

Before Jesus returned to Heaven, He delegated the power of the Holy Spirit to His followers to fulfill the Great Commission:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  (Matthew 28:18-20)

He declared:  “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you”   (Luke 10:19).

He promised:  “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high”  (Luke 24:49).

His final declaration was: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

RESPONSE:  In Acts chapter 2, Peter’s four-fold challenge to his audience was for them to repent from their sins; turn to God; be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins; and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  If you have failed to do any of these, do it now!  The Promise of the Father and Power From On High is for you:

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.  (Acts 2:39)

For additional study of the promise of the Holy Spirit, see the Harvestime International Network publication entitled "Ministry Of The Holy Spirit" available free at http://www.harvestime.org

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the names Promise Of The Father and Power From On High.

PROPHETIC NAMES

REFERENCE:  ...and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. (Revelation 4:5)

REVELATION:  The number seven in scripture represents perfection and is used symbolically and prophetically for the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is described prophetically as having:

Seven Eyes.  This description reflects the Spirit's discernment, perfect knowledge, perception, and understanding:

For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. (Zechariah 3:9)

For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. (Zechariah 4:10)

Seven Lamps of Fire. These lamps are depicted as burning before the throne and are symbolic of divine holiness:

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. (Revelation 4:5)

Seven Horns.  In scripture, a horn symbolizes power.  Seven horns represents the Spirit's unlimited power:

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns… (Revelation 5:6a)

Seven Spirits of God.  This title reflects the perfection of the Spirit's manifestations at  work in world:

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (Revelation 5:6)

Thus, the prophetic names of the Holy Spirit provide Believers with spiritual discernment which results in knowledge, perception, and understanding.  These names also are manifested in your life in holiness, supernatural power, and the assurance of God at work in the world.

RESPONSE: Ask God to give you increased spiritual discernment, holiness, power, and a new assurance that God is at work in the world and in the circumstances of your life. Thank God for this revelation regarding the prophetic names of the Holy Spirits. Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the prophetic names of the Holy Spirit.

SEAL

SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD

REFERENCE:  Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)

REVELATION:  The seal spoken of in this passage is the Seal of the Holy Spirit.  The book of Revelation also reveals that an angel has the Seal of the Living God and that in the end times, a seal of protection will be placed in the foreheads of God's servants (Revelation 9:4; 7:2).

In Bible times, a seal was a token of the completion of a transaction.  When a law was passed or an agreement concluded and the price paid, a seal was added to the contract to make it official (Jeremiah 32:9-10).  A similar practice continues today as documents are sealed by a government stamp, a corporate seal, or the seal of a notary public.

The Bible declares that the Lord has sealed all true Believers by His Holy Spirit:

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

(2 Corinthians 1:20-22)

A seal is a special mark indicating ownership.  It also indicates a finished transaction.  At the moment you are born again, you are sealed by the Spirit.  He places a divine stamp of ownership upon you confirming that the Lord knows those that are His. The foundation of our faith rests upon this seal of ownership:

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.  (2 Timothy 2:19)

The Holy Spirit is the seal of authenticity that has been applied to your life.  Your redemption is complete.  It is a done deal!

RESPONSE:  The Bible indicates that the Holy Spirit who has sealed you is grieved by sinful actions. Thus you are warned:  "...grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30).  Confessing your sin assures that you will not grieve the Holy Spirit who has sealed you.  When you confess your known sins the Lord not only forgives those, but He cleanses you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

As the psalmist, ask God to cleanse you from secret sins (Psalm 19:12). Thank God for the Seal of the Holy Spirit that has been applied to your life.

Record in your journal additional revelations  regarding the Seal of the Holy Spirit.

SEED

REFERENCE:  No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God's nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.

AMP (1 John 3:9, TAB)

REVELATION:  A seed in the natural world brings forth new life. Likewise, the seed of God's nature, the Holy Spirit, brings forth new life in the spiritual world.  God's Spirit draws you to salvation and you are born again of incorruptible seed:

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:23-25)

As a Believer, when you sin you have representatives before the Father through the advocacy and intercession of Jesus and the Holy Spirit:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 2:1-6).

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

(Romans 8:26-27)

Although you may sin,  as a true Believer you no want to longer practice sin because of the Seed of God’s Spirit within you. The divine nature, that Seed of the Spirit convicts you of sin so that you can no longer deliberately, knowingly, and habitually practice it.

RESPONSE:  Thank God for the Seed of the Holy Spirit that has been planted within you.  Water it today with the Word of God, worship, and prayer.  The seed may lie dormant, as it does in the natural world but--as a seed in the natural world--given the "rain" of the Holy Spirit and the light of the "Son", it will spring forth in new growth.  Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Seed of the Holy Spirit.

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SPIRIT OF ADOPTION

REFERENCE:  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God... (Romans 8:15-16)

REVELATION: The word adoption used in the key reference means “to place as a son or daughter.”  The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Adoption:

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:15-17)

The Spirit is actively working to adopt the unsaved into the family of God, make them sons and daughters of God, and assure them that they are joint-heirs of God with Jesus Christ.

Before coming to Christ, we were children in bondage and slaves to sin.  Now we are sons and daughters of God:

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:3-5)

God loves you so much that you were predestined to be adopted into His family.  All it takes is your decision to accept this privilege:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6).

As a Believer, you are adopted and the Spirit of Adoption is actively at work to bring others into the family of God.  You can also be an agent of adoption to show others the way they can be set free from sin and become part of this wonderful spiritual family.

RESPONSE: If you are not yet spiritually adopted, accept Jesus as Savior and become part of the family of God.

Pray for your lost loved ones, releasing the Spirit of Adoption to minister in their behalf in regards to salvation.  Ask God to use you as an agent of adoption to the lost.

Thank God for the Spirit of Adoption that brought you into the family of God and continues to bears witness that you are His Child.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Spirit of Adoption.

SPIRIT OF FAITH

REFERENCE:   We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

(2 Corinthians 4:13-14)

REVELATION:  The key verse for this reading was written at a time when the Apostle Paul was going through many difficulties.  In previous verses in the same chapter he declared: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9.)  No matter what Paul experienced, the Spirit of Faith sustained him.

Faith means to believe and have assurance of something. To believe means to have trust. The words faith, believe, and trust are somewhat synonymous when used in relation to God.  The Bible defines faith as: “...the  substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). The Amplified Bible adds to this definition:

Now faith is the assurance, the confirmation, the title deed of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see, and the conviction of their reality. Faith is perceiving as real what is not revealed to the senses.  (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith gives assurance that the things promised but not yet manifested are true.  It assures that unseen things are real.  The Spirit of Faith is vital because: “…without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”  (Hebrews 11:6).

It is through faith you are saved: “For by grace are ye saved, through faith...” (Ephesians 2:8).  Each Believer has a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). You can advance the operation of the Spirit of Faith in your life by immersing yourself in the Word of God because faith increases by the Word:  “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).

You must hear the Word of God in order to repent of sin and receive Jesus as Savior.  Saving faith comes by hearing God's Word.  After you are saved,  Biblical teaching and preaching increases your faith.  The more you hear the Word of God, the more your faith will increase. The more faith increases, the easier it will be to live a holy life and defend against the spiritual attacks of the enemy.

Just a small amount of faith is very powerful:

And Jesus said unto them...For verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.  (Matthew 17:20)

Nothing is impossible if you have even a small amount of faith.  Since the Holy Spirit of Faith dwells within you, this means nothing is impossible!

RESPONSE:  Read Hebrews chapter 11 of those who “… having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise’  (Hebrews 11:39).  The promise of which this verse speaks is that of the coming Messiah. Thank God that you have received this revelation, plus the gift of the Holy Spirit of Faith.  Study Hebrews 11 and list examples of faith and their accomplishments.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Spirit Of Faith.

SPIRIT OF GLORY

REFERENCE:  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

(1 Peter 4:14)

REVELATION: The word glory as used in the Bible means “the external manifestation of  God the Father, the Son, and/or the Holy Spirit.”  It is the invisible qualities, character, or attributes of God displayed in a visible or knowable way.

The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Glory.  God’s glory appears (Exodus 16:10); can be seen (Numbers 14:22); and is revealed to mankind (Isaiah 40:5).

The Spirit of Glory rests upon Believers who suffer in behalf of Christ:

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

(1 Peter 4:14)

His glory is active in transforming Believers into the image of Christ:

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into       the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

(2 Corinthians 3:18)

As human beings created in God’s image, Believers share in His glory as image-bearers of that glory.

RESPONSE: Pray for a new manifestation of the Spirit of Glory in your life. Thank God for the Spirit of Glory who is changing you into the same image as Jesus Christ.

Believers are admonished to glory in His holy name: “Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord” (Psalm 105:3).  As you learn the names of the Trinity of God in this study and glory in these names, you will experience new joy in the Lord.    Glory in His name!  Rejoice!

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Spirit of Glory.

SPIRIT OF GOD

REFERENCE:  And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him:  And lo a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  (Matthew 3:16-17)

REVELATION:  The Holy Spirit is distinguished from and yet closely related to the Father and the Son.  He is equal with God and Jesus, as He is  part of the Trinity of God:  "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" (1 John 5:7).  The Holy Spirit is not some elusive spirit floating around in the heavens.  He is part of the Trinity of God.

The first name of the Holy Spirit is revealed in Genesis 1:2 where He is called the Spirit of God.  In Matthew 3:16-17 the Spirit descended upon Jesus and the Father spoke concerning Him, thus verifying the doctrine of the Trinity of God.

As a member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is not an "it", any more than you would speak of God or Jesus as "it".  He is referred to in the Bible with personal pronouns.  Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit as "He.”  Jesus said:

I will send Him unto you. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I       go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will       send him unto you.” (John 16:7)

He shall speak of me and not of Himself. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he

shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”  (John 16:13)

He shall glorify me. “He shall glorify me…” (John 16:14)

He will reveal things to you. “…He will show you things to come…for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:13,15)

RESPONSE:  Although you pray to God in the name of Jesus, you can also address the Holy Spirit in prayer.  Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself as you study about Him, His names, titles, and emblems.  Thank God for the Holy Spirit and His work and ministry in and through you.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Holy Spirit of God as a member of the Trinity of God.

SPIRIT OF GRACE AND SUPPLICATIONS

REFERENCE:  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.  (Zechariah 12:10)

REVELATION: The Spirit of Grace flows to you from the God the Father. This grace is given without measure.  It is not stingily doled out, but it is poured out.  Where there is abundant sin, there is more abundant grace:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:1-4)

It is by grace through faith that you are saved:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God makes all grace abound towards you so that you have all sufficiency in all things:

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

You have divine sufficiency for every work you are called to do because you have an abundant, unending supply of God’s grace.

The Apostle Paul warns of the seriousness of despising the Spirit of Grace and likens it to treading underfoot the blood of the Son of God:

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath       trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant,       wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of       grace?  (Hebrews 10:29 )

The Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of Supplications.  The Spirit of Grace is linked with the Spirit of Supplication as grace inspires prayer.  Grace comes first, because if you are not saved by grace although you can pray to God, you cannot pray in the Spirit.  The use of the plural "supplications" implies prayer without ceasing. The Spirit of Grace and Supplications becomes a lifestyle, not a once-a-day event during your devotional time.

RESPONSE: Romans 5:1-2 states:  “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  You have access to God and His grace by faith and the Spirit of Grace that dwells within you.  Use that access to come into His presence.

Note in the key verse for this reading that God wants to pour out the Spirit of Grace and Supplications on you.  Receive it now!  Allow the Spirit of Grace and Supplications to pray through you in behalf of others. Thank God for the Spirit of Grace and Supplications that functions in your behalf, makes supplication through you, and extends from you to others.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Spirit of Grace and Supplications.  Grace is one of the key words in the New Testament. Use a concordance to study more about this important subject.

SPIRIT OF HOLINESS

REFERENCE:  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it.  (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

REVELATION:  How can sinful man stand blameless before a righteous God when Jesus returns?  The key is given in this passage.  God sanctifies you and preserves you through His Spirit.  He is faithful.  He will do it!

The Greek word translated as sanctification means holiness, so the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Spirit of Holiness in Romans 1:4.  Sanctification is the process by which a Believer is separated from sin and purified by a life lived in the Spirit.   The process begins at the time of conversion and continues thereafter.  It is a spiritual work that involves the whole man:  Spirit, soul, and body.

As a Believer, you are able to keep the Lord's Word and be holy because the Holy Spirit works in you to sanctify you.  The command is to be holy, as God is holy (Leviticus 20:7).  You are sanctified through the Holy Spirit and by believing and acting upon the truth of God's Word:

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

If you continue to walk each day in the Spirit, then you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh:

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  (Galatians 5:16-18)

Initial sanctification occurs at the time of conversion.  Progressive sanctification is the continued work of the Holy Spirit throughout your lifetime. Ultimate sanctification will occur when you enter the presence of the Lord for eternity.

RESPONSE: Ask God to reveal any areas in your life where you are not walking in the Spirit of Holiness.  Seek forgiveness and request the power of the Spirit of Holiness to function in these areas.  Thank God for His Spirit of Holiness which has prepared you to stand blameless in His presence.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Spirit of Holiness.  Study this in Romans 8:1-14 and summarize what you learn.

SPIRIT OF JUDGMENT

REFERENCE:  And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:8-11)

REVELATION: The word to judge means to separate or make a difference between. This includes bringing to trial, examining evidence, determining guilt or innocence, and deciding the penalty for sin.  The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Judgment in Isaiah 4:3-5.

Eternal judgment is the great and final judgment spoken of in the Bible which determines the final destiny of all souls.  The Bible reveals that God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Believers will participate in this judgment (Isaiah 32:22; John 5:22,27; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3).

Worldly principles of judgment vary from nation to nation because people interpret certain acts in different ways. The same act interpreted as wrong in one culture may be acceptable in another.  For example, killing a cow is viewed quite differently in America where it is used for meat, than in India where the cow is considered sacred by some people. The judgment of man varies because the standards by which they judge vary.  But the principles of God's judgment do not change.

Judgment is on the basis of His Word. “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” (Psalms 119:89)

Judgment is according to knowledge.  “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

Judgment is individual. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;       that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done,       whether it be good or bad.”  (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Judgment is without partiality. “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of       persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in       fear.” (1 Peter 1:17)

Judgment must occur because sin has penalties.  “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the       law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” (Romans 2:12-13)

“To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 15)

Judgment occurs because of unbelief.  “He that believeth on him is not condemned:       but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name       of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the       world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

(John 3:18-19)

The Holy Spirit is already active in judgment. He convicts so that you can repent, receive forgiveness, and avoid chastisement.  He shows you how to be righteous and convinces of future judgment:

And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:8-11)

RESPONSE: Examine yourself as directed in 1 Corinthians 11:28.  Ask God to reveal any sin or unbelief in your life.  Deal with these issues by repenting and asking for forgiveness.

Thank God for the Spirit of Judgment that is at work in your life to convince and convict you of sin.

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

(1 Corinthians 11:31-32)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Spirit of Judgment.

SPIRIT OF LIFE

REFERENCE:  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

REVELATION: The Spirit of Life is the Holy Spirit producing spiritual life in you and through you including salvation, peace, joy, deliverance, etc.  This is in contrast to the law described in Romans chapter 7 which demonstrates why mankind needs a Savior who provides salvation by grace rather than works.

The law of the Spirit of Life sets you free from the law of sin and death.  No longer do you struggle to keep rules and regulations.  Rather, the Spirit of Life lives in you and through you. This does not mean you are perfect, but the Spirit of Life frees you from the deadly influence of sin.  The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Life because when you are is born again you are set free from the enslaving power of sin, condemnation, and spiritual death:

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  (Romans 8:1-2)

When you live life in the Spirit, you will mortify the works of the flesh:

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  (Romans 8:13-14)

The same Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you:

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.  (Romans 8:10-11)

You can have new life through the Spirit of Life, you can live life in the Sprit, and you can anticipate resurrection life through the Spirit.

RESPONSE: Allow the Spirit of Life to work in you to remove sin, shame, and condemnation.

Claim your freedom from the controlling influence of sin.  Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Spirit of Life.  Summarize Romans 7-8 regarding the law vs. the Spirit of Life.

SPIRIT OF LOVE

REFERENCE:  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (1 Timothy 1:7)

REVELATION: Love is an emotion of deep affection, care, and concern.  It is an unconditional giving of self to others regardless of their condition or circumstances.  The Holy Spirit of Love enables you to love God (Mark 12:30.); love your enemies (Luke 6:27,32,35); and love others as you do yourself  (Matthew 19:19).  The power of love frees you from fear (1 Timothy 1:7).

The Spirit of Love operating in your life is how you are recognized as a true Believer: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another"  (John 13:35).  If you do not love other Believers, then you are in spiritual darkness: “But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:11).

Because the Spirit of Love abides within you, your love will continually increase towards others and you will become a stable, mature Christian:

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)

This Spirit enables you to become rooted and grounded in love and experience the fullness of God:

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

The Spirit of Love also empowers you to minister in love to others:

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father. (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

(Hebrews 6:10)

One of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in your life is love  “…because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5). Love is the key to the operation of all spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 13) and is a fruit of the Holy Spirit:  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

RESPONSE:  Meditate on these additional revelations regarding the Spirit of Love: Psalms 31:23; 18:1; 40:16; 97:10; 116:1; 119:97, 113, 119, 127, 132, 159, 163, 105, 167; 122:6; 145:20.

Study the book of 1 John and 1 Corinthians chapter 13.  Ask God to release His love to flow through you to others.

Record in your journal additional insights regarding the Spirit of Love derived from your meditation on these scriptures.

SPIRIT OF PRAISE

REFERENCE:  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.  (Isaiah 61:3)

REVELATION: Just as there was a prescribed way to enter the Old Testament tabernacle, there is a proper way for you to enter God's presence.  You "enter His gates with thanksgiving and come into His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4).  You move towards the destination of His presence by thanksgiving and praise.

Thanksgiving focuses on what God has done.  The Bible says "Forget not all His benefits",-meaning the things He has done for you (Psalm 103:2).  Praise focuses on God, who He is, and His characteristics.

You praise God by the power of the Holy Spirit of Praise that operates through you.  As you do so, you build a spiritual place for God's presence as He inhabits the praises of His people:  “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3).  You literally cast off the garments of sadness and are clothed with the garment of Praise (Isaiah 61:3).

Many Believers are preoccupied with ministering for God by preaching, teaching, training, etc.  But your most important ministry is to minister to God through worship, of which praise is an integral part:

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.  (1 Peter 2:9)

Praise is your purpose.  And perfected praise is only achieved through the Spirit of Praise that dwells within you.

RESPONSE: Pray these praise verses to the Lord during your devotional time today:  Psalm 18:49; 47:6-7; 56:12; 68:4,32; 75:9; 78:4;92:1; 108:3;135:3; 144:9; 146:2; 147:1; 149:3,6.

Use the Appendices of this study guide to praise, thank, and worship God by using specific names and titles.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Spirit of Praise.

SPIRIT OF PROMISE

REFERENCE:  In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.  (Ephesians 1:13-14)

REVELATION: The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Promise.  He is called:

The Promise. “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts  2:39)

Promise of My Father. “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but       tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

(Luke 24:49)

Promise of the Holy Ghost. “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and       having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this,       which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33)

Promise of the Spirit.  “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles       through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”       (Galatians 3:14)

Holy Spirit of Promise.  “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth,       the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that       holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the       purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”  (Ephesians 1:13-14)

It is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18).  He is faithful to His promises (Hebrews 11:11).

Joel 2:28-29 records the promise of the Holy Spirit which was fulfilled in the New Testament.

Jesus promised to send His Spirit (Luke 24:49), and the Promise was fulfilled in Acts 2.  It is still being fulfilled in the lives of all who believe:

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:16-18)

You receive the promise of the Spirit through faith:

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:14)

The promise is to all who respond to the call of the Lord:

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts 2:39)

It is the Holy Spirit of Promise that seals and confirms your salvation:

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your       salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of       promise... (Ephesians 1:14).

RESPONSE: Ask God for the power of Pentecost, the Spirit of Promise, to be manifested in your life. Thank God for the Spirit of Promise that has sealed you and guaranteed your redemption.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Spirit Of Promise.

SPIRIT OF PROPHECY

REFERENCE:  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.  (Revelation 19:10)

REVELATION:  The special gift of prophecy and the office of a prophet are abilities given by the Holy Spirit.  In a general sense however, a prophet is any person who speaks God's truth to others because the English word for prophet comes from a Greek word which means "one who speaks forth or advocates". This is why the Bible indicates that we all should prophecy:

For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

(1 Corinthians 14:31)

The words spoken by a prophet under divine inspiration are called prophecies. To prophesy means to declare openly words from God that exhort, edify, and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3).

Prophecy ministers not only to Believers through edification, but also to the unsaved.  Prophecy convicts unbelievers and cause them to turn to the Lord:

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)

Because there are false prophets, God's Word provides several ways to identify true prophecies.

False prophets teach false doctrine. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach       any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be       accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto       you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8-9)

False prophets perform deceiving signs and make false claims. “And many false       prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many…Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here       is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets,       and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall       deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:11,23-24)

False prophets bear bad spiritual fruit. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.”

(Matthew 7:15-18)

The prophecies of false prophets are not fulfilled. “But the prophet, which shall       presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that       shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine       heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet       speaketh  in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the       thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously:       thou shalt not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).

Prophecy is not just repeating what everyone else is saying. God said: “Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words everyone from his neighbor”

(Jeremiah 23:30).

For a people or nation to be without prophets is a sign that they are under judgment. The psalmist lamented:  “We are given no miraculous signs; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be”  (Psalm 74:9, NIV).

RESPONSE: Ask the Holy Spirit to manifest the Spirit of Prophecy through you.  Thank God for the Spirit of Prophecy within you who confirms the truth of prophetic messages.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Spirit of Prophecy.

SPIRIT OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD

REFERENCE:  And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.  (Isaiah 11:2)

REVELATION: The fear of the Lord is loving reverence for God, His person, His Word, and His actions.  According to Isaiah 11:2, the fear of the Lord was manifested in the life of Jesus by the Holy Spirit who rested upon Him.  It is God’s desire that the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord rest upon you also.

When you fear the Lord, you obey His Word. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”  (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

When you fear the Lord, you walk in His ways. “Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.”

(Deuteronomy 8:6)

When you fear the Lord, you serve Him in sincerity and truth. “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.”  (Joshua 24:14)

When you fear the Lord, you faithfully follow Him with all your heart. “And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.” (2 Chronicles 19:9)

When you fear the Lord, you depart from evil. “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”  (Proverbs 3:7-8)

If you fear the Lord, you need not fear man.  Jesus said: “Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:26-31)

RESPONSE:  Join the psalmist in praise for these benefits of fearing the Lord:

Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.  His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. (Psalm 112:1-9)

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the name Spirit of the Fear of the Lord.

SPIRIT OF TRUTH

REFERENCE:  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16-17)

REVELATION:  The word truth means to uncover, open up, and expose.  In order for something to be true, it must meet three criteria:  First: It must be universal and apply to everyone.  Second:  It must be uniform and apply to everyone equally. The criteria is same for old and young, rich and poor, and all ethnicities. Third: It must be unending, meaning it is eternally valid.

So what is truth according to the Bible?

God is truth. The Bible states that God lives in truth and His eyes are upon the truth.       His paths, works, counsel, grace, and Word are truth. God reveals truth and judges on the       basis of truth. His truth is eternal and unlimited. He wants all men to know the truth.  He       is called the God of Truth who is abundant in truth (Exodus 34:6).

Jesus is truth.  Jesus is truth revealed in the flesh. He is the True Light, True Bread, True Vine, and is full of truth.  He is the Faithful and True Witness who bore record of the truth.        He is the Way and the Truth that leads to God and the truth that sets you free (John 14:6).

The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth (John 15:26).

The Word of God is truth, inspired by the Holy Spirit of Truth (John 17:17).

Salvation, based on the Gospel as revealed in the Word, is true (Hebrews 2:3).

The true Church is rooted in truth and is the pillar and ground of the truth

(1 Timothy 3:15).

The anointing of God is truth (1 John 2:27).

The Spirit of Truth teaches you all things because He inspired the Word of God:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

This does not mean that you do not need teachers, as God anoints and sets in the Church those who are gifted to teach His Word.  What it means is that you can recognize the truth through the Spirit of Truth.  Who better to explain the Book than the one who wrote it!

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:21)

RESPONSE: Ask the Holy Spirit for a deeper illumination of the truths of God's Word.  Thank God for the Spirit of Truth that sets you free from the lies of the enemy.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Spirit of Truth.

SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION

REFERENCE: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him...(Ephesians 1:17)

REVELATION: Paul prayed that God would give the Ephesians the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, both of which come through the Holy Spirit.  At the time of salvation, you receive a new spirit, but that spirit must be nurtured just as one would nurture a baby.  Through the Word of God, you increase in the wisdom and revelation of the Spirit.

Wisdom means insight and having the capacity to understand something or someone at a deep level.  Revelation means to unveil a truth that has been previously hidden from the natural understanding.  The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation is the opening of your spiritual eyesight so that you are able to see and understand spiritual things which you cannot comprehend with your natural mind.  The word for knowledge in Greek and means "precise and correct knowledge".  So in Ephesians 1:17, Paul is asking the Lord to help Believers come to know God more intimately through the wisdom and revelation of the Holy Spirit.

You need wisdom to recognize the attacks of the enemy, to deal with people in ministry, to fulfill your destiny, and to recognize deceiving spirits.  This kind of wisdom does not come through education, but it comes through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation enables God's wisdom to flow from Him into your spirit.

Wisdom and revelation are both necessary, as the wisdom you gain results in a greater revelation of God and an increased manifestation of His presence in your life.  The purposes of this supernatural wisdom and revelation are detailed in the following passage:

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church…(Ephesians 1:17-22)

The wisdom and revelation of the Holy Spirit brings:

-Enlightened understanding.

-Knowledge of His calling for your life.

-Comprehension of the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

-Understanding of the exceeding greatness of His power.

-Recognition of your position with Christ in the Church.

God reveals all things to you by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit:

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  (1 Corinthians 2:9-14)

You do not have to depend on your own wisdom.  God has given you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation to face every circumstance of life.

RESPONSE: Pray this personalized prayer adapted from a prayer of the Apostle Paul:

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give unto me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: That the eyes of my understanding being enlightened may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to those of us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:17-23)

Thank God for the wisdom and revelation of the Holy Spirit that will be manifested in your life today.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation.

SPIRIT OF YOUR FATHER

REFERENCE For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

(Matthew 10:20)

REVELATION:  The key reference is referring to the Spirit of your Heavenly Father. You may have negative memories of your biological father, but you have a Heavenly Father that exceeds all of your earthly expectations.  You may have lost your earthly father through abandonment or death.  But the Spirit of Your Heavenly Father will never leave you or forsake you: “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”  (Hebrews 13:5).

The qualities of a good father include being a good spiritual leader, being loving, patient, kind, a good provider, an excellent mentor, and a positive example.  Our Heavenly Father is all of these and much more.

The Spirit of Your Father is not only with you, He is in you as you navigate the difficult journey through this world:

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.  (Matthew 10:16-20)

You never need to fear.  You do not have to fret over what you should say or do. The Spirit of Your Father is in you and speaks to you and through you.  You are your Father’s child.

RESPONSE:  If you are affected because of negative issues with your biological father, bind the spirit of rejection from operating in your life. Realize that, unlike your earthly father, the Spirit of Your Father will never fail you.

If you are facing challenges or spiritual battles, do not plot or plan what you will do.  Ask the Spirit of Your Father who dwells in you to help you.  Rejoice that He will never leave you or forsake you.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Spirit Of Your Father.

VOICE

REFERENCE:  Wherefore--as the Holy Ghost saith--Today if ye will hear his voice,

Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.  (Hebrews 3:7-9)

REVELATION: There are many voices in the world including the voice of man, the voice of self, the voice of Satan, and the voice of God which is inclusive of that of Jesus and the Holy Spirit as the key verse of this reading reflects.

One of the purposes of the Holy Spirit is to teach Believers:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

If the Holy Spirit teaches, then He obviously has a voice.  His Voice has sometimes been referred to as a still small voice in your spirit such as Elijah heard:

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-12)

The Voice of the Spirit has also been described as a sound from Heaven like a mighty rushing wind:

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like  of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:2-4)

The Scriptures were inspired by the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to holy men who wrote down His Words, so when you are reading the Word you are hearing His Voice “…For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21).

The Holy Spirit also speaks through prophets, teachers, pastors, evangelists, and spiritual gifts in messages that are in harmony with the written Word of God.

RESPONSE: There is no question that the Holy Spirit speaks.  The question is:  Are you listening?

Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you and then wait quietly in prayer for His Voice.  Sometimes He will speak through a still small voice in your spirit.  Other times He will speak to you through a Scripture or a prophetic word.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Voice of the Holy Spirit.

WATER

A WELL/SPRINGS

RAIN/SHOWERS

FLOODS/RIVERS

REFERENCE:  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.  (John 7:37-39)

REVELATION:  The Feast of Tabernacles commemorated God’s provision for Israel in the wilderness, including the time when Moses struck the rock and water poured forth.   On the last day of this feast, Jesus stood up in the midst of the crowd and declared that rivers of living water would flow from those who believed in Him.  The text makes it clear that He was speaking of the Holy Spirit which would be given after He returned to Heaven.

Water is used in Scripture as an emblem of the Holy Spirit and of the Word of God which was inspired by the Spirit.   As water is vital to sustaining life in the natural world, the water of the Holy Spirit is essential to sustaining new life in the spiritual world.   Jesus promised that "Whoever drinks of these waters will never thirst again" (John 4:13).

In addition to the description of Living Water in the key reference, several other terms are used to describe the Holy Spirit as water.  These include the following:

A well of water. "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).  Like a deep well of water, the Holy Spirit has unfathomable depths from which you can draw spiritual refreshment.

Springs.  The psalmist declared, "All my springs are in thee" (Psalms 87:7), meaning that his joy and his very life came from the springs of the Holy Spirit instead of things of the world.

Rain and showers that water the earth. "He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth" (Psalm 72:6).  Like the earth, we need spiritual showers to refresh us and enable growth.

Floods on the dry ground. "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground:  I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring" (Isaiah 44:3). The floods of the Holy Spirit not only refresh your spiritually dry ground, but the blessing is passed on to your descendants.

Rivers.  Jesus said: "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake He of the Spirit..." (John 7:37-38).  The Prophet Ezekiel describes these spiritual rivers as waters to swim in and being so deep that they cannot be measured (Ezekiel 47:1-12).

RESPONSE: Ask God for the refreshing water of the Holy Spirit to be released into the dry and barren areas of your life.  Make this declaration:  “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God…” (Psalm 42:1-2).

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the water-related titles of the Holy Spirit

WIND

REFERENCE:  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

(John 3:8)

REVELATION:  The wind is an emblem that represents the power of the Holy Spirit.  In the original Bible text, the word spirit means wind.

John 3:8 relates the wind to the new birth experience.  You cannot see the wind, but there are evidences of it.  As God breathed the breath of life into man when he was created, the Spirit breathes spiritual life into the new creature who is born again in Christ.

In Acts 2:1-2, the mighty, rushing wind symbolizes the Holy Spirit:

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  (Acts 2:1-2)

"Mighty" refers to the strength of the Spirit. "Rushing wind" suggests the His all-encompassing power.

You cannot see the wind in the natural world, but you can certainly see visible effects of the wind.  Sometimes it is soft and caressing, and at other times it is hurricane force.  Both reflect the various moves of the Spirit in your life. Sometime the Spirit moves sweetly and softly.  At other times He moves as a mighty rushing wind.

In the natural world the wind has special functions.  These functions are parallels of the wind of the Holy Spirit in the spiritual world:

Wind produces life.  It scatters seeds as it blows and this results in new growth. The Holy Spirit produces life through the seeds of the Word of God as they are scattered in the hearts and minds of men.

Wind separates the wheat from the chaff.  It purifies as it blows away the debris.  The Holy Spirit serves as a purifying power in the life of the Believer.

Wind fans dying coals and sets them ablaze. The wind of the Holy Spirit fans God's

people in revival and makes them a flaming fire of ministry to the world.

RESPONSE: Ask the Holy Spirit to send the wind of His power to produce new life, purify you, and make you a flaming fire of ministry to the world.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Wind of the Holy Spirit.

WINE

REFERENCE:  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.  (Ephesians 5:18)

REVELATION:  In this verse, the Holy Spirit is compared to wine.  The command is to be filled with the Spirit instead of being drunk with wine.  "Be filled", as used in this passage, means to be continually filled, not a one-time experience.

Wine in Scripture points to the filling of the Spirit (Acts 2:1‑40; Ephesians  5:18‑19; Luke 5:36‑39).  Natural wine brings joy, it is a stimulant, and it deadens pain.  The same is true in the spiritual world.  On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were accused of being drunk, so great was their experience in the Spirit (Acts 2:13-15).

In Song of Solomon 1:2, the Bride cries out:  "Your love is better than wine..." There comes a time that the comforts of life, material goods, money, prominence, and even romantic relationships will not satisfy.  You become willing to abandon all of these things in order to deepen your relationship with the Lord.  Whatever you give up, His love is better!

So how are you to be continually filled with the Spirit?  The Apostle Paul explains how in the  verses immediately following the command in Ephesians 5:18.  You do it by:

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:19-20)

Here are the guidelines for being continually filled with the Holy Spirit:

-Rehearse psalms.

-Sing hymns.

-Compose and sing your own spiritual songs.

-Sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord.

-Give thanks for all things.

RESPONSE: Read a psalm.  Sing a hymn to the Lord.  Compose and sing your own spiritual song.  Give thanks for all things, and as you go throughout this day sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the emblem of Wine as it relates to the Holy Spirit.

WITNESS

REFERENCE:  The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God...

(Romans 8:16)

REVELATION:  A witness is one who is brought into judicial proceedings to testify because they have firsthand knowledge of an event.  The Holy Spirit is the witness that testifies of Christ because He is part of the Trinity of God and has firsthand knowledge of Jesus (John 15:26).  The Holy Spirit also serves as a divine witness to the covenant the Lord has made with us:

Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:15-17)

The Holy Spirit bears witness…

That Jesus is the Son of God.  John the Baptist bore witness to this, but Jesus declared that the works of the Spirit through Him was a greater witness: “…I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”  (John 5:36)

That we are pardoned from sin.  “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

(Romans 8:1)

That we have been adopted into God's family.  “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…”(Romans 8:16-17a)

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:6-7)

That we are abiding securely in God. “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” (1 John 4:13)

Jesus said that when the Comforter came, He would not only bear witness of these things, but He would empower you to be a witnesses also (John 15:27).  The promise is:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  (Acts1:8)

RESPONSE: Thank God for the witness of the Holy Spirit that assures you of pardon for sin; that you are adopted into God's family; that you are abiding securely in Him; and that you are being sanctified by the truth of which He is a witness.  Ask God to empower you to fulfill your mandate as His witness.

Record in your journal additional revelations regarding the Holy Spirit as a witness.

EPILOGUE

NEW NAMES

So many names we have studied!  And yet, we must acknowledge with the prophet Isaiah: “To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?” (Isaiah 40:18). Even with the proliferation of names we have learned, there is infinitely more to discover about the names of God, revelations disclosed in the Word which will take us deeper in intimacy with the Trinity of God.  We encourage you to continue your study of the names and add new revelations to your journal.

Because you now understand the power of God’s names, you are empowered to declare to crippled humanity:  “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee…in the Name of Jesus, rise up and walk”  (Acts 3:6). Like Peter and John, you may not have finances, you may not have advanced education, you may not have many natural talents—but you have the Name of Jesus!  And that is all you need.

All your prayers, all of your worship, and all you proclaim from this time forth will be in the name:

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18)

Because you have learned these names, you now bear a responsibility to proclaim the name of the Lord to a lost and dying world:

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. (Psalm 105:1-3)

People often “drop the names” of important people they know.  The names of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are the most important names to drop into a conversation, because belief in these names have the inherent power to change lives and destinies.

As you conclude this study, determine to hold fast to this revelation of His name (Revelation 2:13).  Do not let go.  Keep His name carefully and faithfully.  Cherish and rejoice in it. Claim this promise:

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

(Psalm 89:15-18)

The Prophet Micah declared: “For all people will walk everyone in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever” (Micah 4:5).  You will walk in the name of someone or something.  Let it be the name of the Lord your God.  The Apostle Paul admonishes:

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 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.  (Colossians 3:16-17)

Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord, At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.  (Ephesians 5:19-20)

The Unknown Name

There is one name we cannot address in this study.  It is a sacred name not yet revealed, one that will remain unknown until the day that Jesus is united with His Bride in Heaven.

In his vision of Heaven, John the revelator “… saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself” (Revelation 19:11-16).

Your New Name

In Bible times, when a decision was rendered in a court of law a black stone was given to confirm a person was condemned, while a white stone was awarded to indicate he was pardoned.  As an overcomer entering eternity, you will not be condemned because your sins have been pardoned through Jesus Christ.  There, on that glorious day, you will receive the revelation of a new name awarded to you from God, a name that will be unique to you,  Jesus promised:

…To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17)

And when at last you are in the presence of the Lord:  “…there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads”  (Revelation 22:3-4).

-That name you have cherished...

-That name you have used in authority to minister and in which you have prayed...

-That name to which you dedicated your life....

-THE NAME OF JESUS...will become part of your identity for all eternity.

The Prophet Zechariah declared that in that day: “The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name”  (Zechariah 14:9).  The Lord’s name will be the only name!

And that will be the day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that precious Name:

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; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (Philippians 2:9-11)

APPENDIX ONE

NAMES AND TITLES OF GOD

With Key References

ALMIGHTY GOD:  Genesis 17:12

Great God: Deuteronomy 10:17

Mighty One Of Jacob: Genesis 49:24

ANCIENT OF DAYS:  Daniel 7:9,13-14,22

AWESOME: Psalm 68:35

BANNER: Exodus 17:14-15

CONSUMING FIRE: Deuteronomy 4:23-24

CREATOR: Genesis 1:1,26-27

DEFENCE: Psalm 59:9

DEFENDER OF WIDOWS:  Psalm 68:4-5

DELIVERER: Psalm 18:2

EVERLASTING GOD: Genesis 21:33

EXCEEDING JOY: Psalm 43:4-5

FAITHFUL GOD: Deuteronomy 7:9

FATHER (Abba): Romans 8:15

FATHER IN HEAVEN: Matthew 6:9

Heavenly Father: Luke 11:13

FATHER OF ALL:  Ephesians 4:6

FATHER OF MERCIES: 2 Corinthians 1:3

FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS: 1 Peter 1:3

FATHER OF RIGHEOUSNESS: John 17:11,25

FATHER OF SPIRITS: Hebrews 12:9

FATHER OF THE FATHERLESS: Psalm 68:5

GOD MY HELP: Psalm 33:20

GOD OF ALL COMFORT: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

GOD OF ALL FLESH: Jeremiah 32:27

GOD OF BETHEL: Genesis 31:13

GOD OF GLORY: Psalm 29:3

Father Of Glory: Ephesians 1:17

GOD OF GODS: Deuteronomy 10:17

Lord Of Lords: Deuteronomy 10:17

Lord Of Kings: Daniel 2:47

GOD OF HOPE: Romans 15:13

Hope Of Israel: Jeremiah 17:13-14

GOD OF ISRAEL: Genesis 33:18-20

God of Abraham: Genesis 31:42

Fear of Isaac: Genesis 31:42

God Of Jeshurun: Deuteronomy 33:26-27

God of Jerusalem: Ezra 7:19

GOD OF MY GOODNESS: Psalm 144:1-2

GOD OF MY PRAISE: Psalm109:1

GOD OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS: Psalm 4:1

GOD OF OUR FATHERS:  Deuteronomy 26:7-9

GOD OF PATIENCE AND CONSOLATION: Romans 15:4-5

GOD OF RECOMPENSE: Jeremiah 51:56

GOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH: Isaiah 54:5

GOD OF TRUTH: Deuteronomy 32:4

GOD WHO FORGIVES:  Psalm 99:8

GREAT GOD: Deuteronomy 10:17

GUIDE: Psalm 48:14

HEALER: Exodus 15:26

HEALTH OF MY COUNTENANCE: Psalm 42:11

HOLY GOD: Joshua 24:19

Holy One Of Israel: Psalm 89:19

HUSBAND:  Isaiah 54:5

Ishi: Hosea 2:16

HUSBANDMAN: John 15:1

JEALOUS: Deuteronomy 4:23-24

JEHOVAH: I AM: Exodus 3:14-15

JUDGE: Judges 11:27

KING: Isaiah 6:5; Psalm 10:16

LAWGIVER: Isaiah 33:22

LIFTER OF MY HEAD: Psalm 3:3

LIGHT: Psalm 27:1

Light Of Israel: Isaiah 10:17

Father Of Lights: James 1:17

LIVING GOD: 2 Kings 19:15-16

LORD AND MASTER: Genesis 15:2

LORD GOD OF SALVATION: Psalm 88:13

Horn Of Salvation: Psalm 18:2

LORD IS THERE: Ezekiel 48:35

LORD OF HOSTS: 1 Samuel 17:45

LORD OUR MAKER: Psalm 95:67

LOVE: 1 John 4:8

LORD WHO SANCTIFIES YOU: Leviticus 20:8

LORD WHO SEES YOU: Genesis 16:13-14

LORD YOUR GOD:  Exodus 20:2

Lord Our God: Deuteronomy 6:45

Lord My God: Psalm 38:15

MAJESTY IN HEAVEN: Hebrews 8:1-2

Majesty On High: Hebrews 1:3

MAN OF WAR:  Exodus 15:3

MERCIFUL, GRACIOUS, LONGSUFFERING,

ABUNDANT IN GOODNESS AND TRUTH: Exodus 34:5-6

MIGHTY GOD, MIGHTY ONE: Psalm 132:1-5; Isaiah 30:29

MOST HIGH GOD:  Possessor Of Heaven And Earth: Genesis 14:18-22

High and Lofty One: Isaiah 57:15

ONLY WISE GOD: Romans 16:27

God Knowledge: 1 Samuel 2:3

PEACE: Judges 6:24

PORTION: Psalm 16:5

POTTER: Isaiah 64:8

PROVIDER: Genesis 22:13-14

REARWARD:  Isaiah 58:8

REDEEMER: Isaiah 47:4

REFUGE, HIDING PLACE, FORTRESS, STRONGHOLD, SHELTER: Psalm 91:12

REVEALER OF SECRETS:  Daniel 2:47

REWARDER, REWARD, GREAT REWARD:  Hebrews 11:6; Genesis 15:1

ROCK: Deuteronomy 32:3-4

SALVATION, GOD OF MY SALVATION:  Isaiah 12:2

SHADE UPON YOUR RIGHT HAND:  Psalm 121:5

SHADOW:  Isaiah 25:4

SHEPHERD: Psalm 23:1

SHIELD: Genesis 15:1

SONG: Isaiah 12:2

STRENGTH: Psalm 28:7

STRONG AND MIGHTY IN BATTLE: Psalm 24:8

STRONG TOWER, HIGH TOWER: Proverbs 18:10; Psalm 18:2

SUN: Psalm 84:11

SWORD: Deuteronomy 33:29

THE NAME: Deuteronomy 28:58

TRUTH:  Exodus 34:6

WALL OF FIRE:  Zechariah 2:5

WAYMAKER:  Isaiah 43:15-16

YOUR GOD: GOD OF MY LIFE: Psalm 42:8

APPENDIX TWO

NAMES AND TITLES OF JESUS CHRIST

With Key References

ADVOCATE AND INTERCESSOR: 1 John 2; Hebrews 7:24-25

ALMIGHTY, MIGHTY GOD: Isaiah 9:6

ALPHA AND OMEGA: Revelation 1:8

Beginning and the end: Revelation 1:8

First And Last: Isaiah 48:12

ALTOGETHER LOVELY: Song of Songs 5:16

AMEN, FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS: Revelation 3:14

ANGEL OF THE LORD: Genesis 16:7

Angel Of His Presence: Isaiah 63:9

Angel Of The Covenant:  Malachi 3:1

ANOINTED: Psalm 2:2

APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST OF OUR PROFESSION: Hebrews 3:1

Part One:  Apostle Of Our Profession: Hebrews 3:1

Part Two: High Priest Of Our Profession: Hebrews 3:1

ARM OF THE LORD:  Isaiah 53:1-4

AUTHOR:  Hebrews 5:9; 12:2

Author Of Eternal Salvation: Hebrews 5:9

Author And Finisher Of Faith: Hebrews 12:2

BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD: Revelation 3:14

BELOVED: Matthew 3:17

BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE: 1 Timothy 6:15

BRANCH: Isaiah 11:1-2

BREAD: John 6:50

Bread Of God: John 6:32-35

Bread Of Life: John 6:32-35

True Bread: John 6:32-35

Bread From Heaven: John 6:32-35

Living Bread: John 6:50-51

BREAKER:  Micah 2:13

BRIDEGROOM: Matthew 25:6

BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR: Revelation 22:16

CAPTAIN: Hebrews 2:10

Of Our Salvation: Hebrews 2:10

Of The Lord’s Hosts: Joshua 5:14-15

Leader And Commander: Isaiah 55:4

CARPENTER’S SON:  Matthew 13:55

CHIEF AMONG TEN THOUSAND:  Song of Songs 5:10

CHRIST/MESSIAH: Matthew 1:16

Lord Jesus Christ: Ephesians 1:3-5

Christ The King, King of the Jews: Luke 23:2-3

Christ Come in the Flesh: 1 John 4:2

Christ Crucified: 1 Corinthians 1:23

Christ Jesus: Acts 19:4-5

Christ Jesus Our Lord: 2 Corinthians 4:5

Christ of God: Luke 9:20

Christ Our Passover: 1 Corinthians 5:7

Christ Risen from the Dead: 1 Corinthians 15:20

Christ the Lord: Luke 2:11

Christ the Son of God: Acts 9:20

Messiah:  John 1:41

CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL:  Luke 2:25

CORNERSTONE, STONE:  Acts 4:11-12

Stone Cut Without Hands: Daniel: 2:34-35; 7:27

Stone of Israel: Genesis 49:24

Stone Which the Builders Refused and Rejected: Matthew 21:42; Psalm 118:22;

John 1:11-13

Stone Which Was Set at Naught: Acts 4:11-12

Stone Which Was Tried: Isaiah 28:16

Stone of Stumbling and Rock of Offense: 1 Peter 2:7-8

Living Stone, Chosen of God, and Precious: 1 Peter 2:4

COUNSELOR:  Isaiah 9:6

COVENANT OF THE PEOPLE:  Isaiah 42:6

DAYSPRING, DAYSTAR:  Luke 1:76-79

DELIVERER:  Romans 11:26

DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS:  Haggai 2:7

DOOR OF THE SHEEP:  John 10:7-9

ELECT:  Isaiah 42:1

EMMANUEL: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23

END OF THE LAW: Romans 10:4

ENSIGN: Isaiah 11:10

EVERLASTING FATHER: Isaiah 9:6

EXCELLENT: Psalm 148:13

FAITHFUL AND TRUE:  Revelation 19:11

Faithful Creator: 1 Peter 4:19

Faithful High Priest:  Hebrews 2:17

FIRSTBORN: Colossians 1:15

Firstborn of Every Creature: Colossians 1:15

First-Begotten: Hebrews 1:6

Firstborn Son: Luke 2:7

Firstborn Among Many Brethren: Romans 8:29

First-Begotten and First-Born of the Dead: Revelation 1:5; Colossians 1:18

First-fruits of Them That Sleep:  1 Corinthians 15:20

FIRST LOVE:  Revelation 2:4

FORERUNNER:  Hebrews 6:20

FOUNDATION:  1 Corinthians 3:11

FOUNTAIN: Zechariah 13:1

FRIEND:  Song of Songs 5:16

Friend Of Sinners: Matthew 11:19

Friend Closer Than A Brother: Proverbs 18:24

GIFT OF GOD: John 4:10

Unspeakable Gift:  2 Corinthians 9:15

GOVERNOR AND RULER:  Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6

GREAT: Jeremiah 32:18

Great Light: Isaiah 9:2

Great Shepherd of the Sheep: Hebrews 13:20

Great High Priest: Hebrews 4:14

Great God and Savior: Titus 2:13

Great Prophet: Luke 7:16

Greater and More Perfect Tabernacle: Hebrews 9:11-12

Greater than the Temple: Matthew 12:6

Greater than All Others:

-Than Jonah:  Matthew 12:41

-Than Abraham: John 8:53,58

-Than Jacob: John 4:12-14

-Than Solomon: Matthew 12:42

HEAD: Colossians 2:10

Head of Every Man: 1 Corinthians 11:3

Head of All Principality and Power: Colossians 2:10

Head of the Body, the Church: Colossians 1:18

Head of All Things:  Ephesians 1:22-23

Head of the Corner: 1 Peter 2:7

HEALER:  Isaiah 53:4-5

HEIR OF ALL THINGS:  Hebrews 1:1-2

HELPER:  Hebrews 13:5-6

HOLY:  Luke 1:35

Holy Name: Isaiah 57:15

Holy Thing Born of God: Luke 1:35

Holy Child: Acts 4:27-30

Holy One: Acts 2:27

Holy One and Just: Acts 3:14

Holy One of God: Mark 1:24

Holy and True:  Revelation 3:7

Holy High Priest: Hebrews 7:26-27

HOPE: 1 Timothy 1:1

Hope of Glory: Colossians 1:27

Hope of His People: Joel 3:16

Hope of Israel: Acts 28:20

Blessed Hope:  Titus 2:13

HORN:  Psalm 18:2

Horn Of Salvation:  Luke 1:68-69

Horn Of David: Psalm 132:17-18

Horn Of The House Of Israel: Ezekiel 29:21

I AM: John 18:6

I am He (the Messiah/Jesus of Nazareth): John 4:26; 8:24,28; 13:19; 18:5,6,8

I am the Bread of Life: John 6:35,41,48,51

I am the Light of the World: John 8:12

I am From Above: John 8:23

I am Before Abraham: John 8:58

I am the Door: John 10:7,9

I am the Good Shepherd: John 10:11,14

I am the Resurrection and the Life: John 11:25

I am Lord and Master: John 13:13

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: John 14:6

I am the Vine: John 15:1,5

I am He  (Jesus of Nazareth): John 18:6

I am King: John 18:37

I am the Alpha and Omega: Revelation 1:8

I am the first and the last: Revelation 1:17

I am the God of the living: Matthew 22:32

I am Jesus: Acts 9:5

I am alive forevermore: Revelation 1:18

I am He who searches the hearts: Revelation 2:23

I am the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star: Revelation 22:16

I am with you always: Matthew 28:20

JESUS: Matthew 1:21

Jesus Christ:  Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ, the Son of God:       John 20:31

Jesus Christ the Lord: Romans 7:25

Jesus Christ Our Lord: Romans 1:3

Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews:       John 19:19

Jesus of Galilee: Matthew 26:69

JESUS THE CHRIST: John 20:31

Jesus the Messiah: John 1:41

JUDGE:  Isaiah 33:22

JUST ONE: Acts 7:52

Just Person: Matthew 27:24

KING OF KINGS: Revelation 19:16

King Of Israel/The Jews: John 1:49; Matthew 2:1-2

King Who Comes in the Name of the Lord: Luke 19:38

King Eternal, Immortal, and Invisible: 1 Timothy 1:17

King Forever and Ever: Psalm 10:16

King Over All the Earth: Zechariah 14:9

King of Glory: Psalm 24:7-10

King of Heaven:  Daniel 4:37

King of kings and Lord of lords: Revelation 19:16

King of Righteousness and Peace: Hebrews 7:2

King of all the Saints: Revelation 15:3

LAMB OF GOD: John 1:29

Lamb That Was Slain from the Foundation of the World: Revelation 13:8

Lamb That Was Slain: Revelation 5:11-13

Lamb In the Midst of the Throne: Revelation 7:17

LIFE: John 14:6

LIGHT: John 8:12

Jesus is the…

Light of the Gospel of Christ:  2 Corinthians 4:4

Light of the Morning: 2 Samuel 23:4

Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God: 2 Corinthians 4:6

Light of Israel: Isaiah 10:17

Light to Gentiles: Luke 2:30-32

Light of Men: John 1:4

Light of the Morning: 2 Samuel 23:4

Light of the World: John 8:12

Light of the City of God: Revelation 21:23-25

Great Light:  Isaiah 9:2

Everlasting Light: Isaiah 60:20

LION OF TRIBE OF JUDAH: Revelation 5:4-5

LIVING ONE:  Revelation 1:17-18

LORD:  Part One: John 13:13

My Lord and My God: John 20:28

Our Lord and Savior: 2 Peter 1:11

The Lord from Heaven: 1 Corinthians 15:47

The Lord Jesus: Romans 10:9

The Lord Jesus Christ: James 2:1

The Lord God Almighty: Revelation 16:7; 4:8

The Lord Strong and Mighty: Psalm 24:8

The Lord God Omnipotent: Revelation 19:6

The Lord Who Judges: Revelation 18:8

The Lord Holy and True: Revelation 6:10

The Lord Who Is and Who Was and Who Is to Come:  Revelation 1:8

The Lord's Christ:  Revelation 11:15

The Lord Our Righteousness:  Jeremiah 23:6

LORD: Part Two: The Lord Of…Acts 10:16

Lord of All the Earth: Joshua 3:11

Lord of the Whole Earth: Psalm 97:5

Lord of Hosts: Psalm 24:10

Lord God of Israel: Psalm 41:13

Lord of Lords: 1 Timothy 6:15

Lord of Peace: 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Lord of the Dead and Living: Romans 14:9

Lord God of the Holy Prophets: Revelation 22:6

Lord  of the Sabbath: Mark 2:28

Lord of the Vineyard: Matthew 20:8

Lord of the Harvest: Luke 10:2

Lord of All: Acts 10:36

LORD Part Three:  Lord of Glory: James 2:1

Lord of Glory: 1 Corinthians 2:7-8

Glorious Lord: Isaiah 33:21

Glorious Name:  Isaiah 63;14

Glory In The Midst Of His People:  Zechariah 2:5

LORD Part Four: Spiritual Aspects: Colossians 3:17

Salvation: Romans 10:13

Justification: 1 Corinthians 6:11

Water baptism: Acts 22:16

Healing: James 5:14-15

Ministry: Colossians 3:17

MAN:  1 Timothy 2:5

MAN OF SORROWS:  Isaiah 53:3-5

MASTER: Matthew 23:10

MEDIATOR:  1 Timothy 2:5

MESSENGER:  Malachi 3:1

MIGHTY GOD:  Isaiah 9:6

MYSTERY OF GOD:  Colossians 2:2-3

OINTMENT POURED FORTH:  Song of Solomon 1:3

PASSOVER: 1 Corinthians 5:7

PHYSICIAN: Luke 4:23

POWER OF GOD: 1 Corinthians 1:24

PRINCE OF PEACE: Isaiah 9:6

Prince and Savior: Acts 5:31

Prince of Life: Acts 3:15

Prince of Princes: Daniel 8:25

Prince of the Kings of the Earth: Revelation 1:5

PROPHET: Deuteronomy 18:15

The Prophet: John 7:40

Prophet Mighty in Deed and Word: Luke 24:17

Prophet of Nazareth: Matthew 21:11

Prophet of The Highest:  Luke 1:76

PROPITIATION: 1 John 2:2

REDEEMER: Isaiah 47:4

REFINER’S FIRE, FULLER’S SOAP:  Malachi 3:2-3

RESTING PLACE:  Jeremiah 50:6

RESURRECTION:  John 11:25-26

RIGHTEOUSESS: 1 Corinthians 1:30

Jesus Christ, the Righteous:  1 John 2:1

A Righteous Branch: Jeremiah 23:5

Righteous Judge: 2 Timothy 4:8

Righteous Lord: Psalm 11:7

Righteous Man: Luke 23:47

Righteous Servant: Isaiah 53:11

The Righteousness of God: Romans 10:3-4

ROCK: Rock: Matthew 16:18

Rock of Salvation: Deuteronomy 32:15

Rock of Israel: 2 Samuel 23:3

Rock of Spiritual Refreshment: 1 Corinthians 10:1-4

Rock of Refuge: Psalm 94:22

Rock of Strength: Isaiah 17:10

Rock That Is Higher: Psalm 61:2

Rock That Is Smitten: Psalm 78:15; Isaiah 53:4-5

ROOT: Revelation 5:5

Root and Offspring of David:      Revelation 5:5; 22:16

Root of Jesse:       Isaiah 11:10; Romans 15:12

Root out of Dry Ground: Isaiah 53:2-6

ROSE OF SHARON, LILLY OF THE VALLEY: Song of Solomon 2:1

SANCTIFICATION: 1 Corinthians 1:30

SAVIOR, SALVATION: Luke 2:11

The Salvation of God: Luke 3:6

The Horn Of Salvation: Luke 1:67-69

The Salvation of Israel:  Jeremiah 3:23

The Savior of All Men: 1 Timothy 4:10

A Prince and Savior:  Acts 5:30-31

Savior of the World: John 4:42

Our Savior:  Titus 2:13-14

SEED: Galatians 3:16

Seed of the Woman: Genesis 3:15

Seed of Abraham: Galatians 3:16

Seed of David: Romans 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:8

Seed of the Word: 1 Peter 1:23

The Fruitful Seed:  John 12:23-24

The Seed Within You: 1 John 3:9

SERVANT:  Isaiah 42:1; Matthew 12:18

Servant the Branch: Zechariah 3:8

Servant of Rulers: Isaiah 49:7

SHILOH: Genesis 49:10

SHEPHERD AND BISHOP: 1 Peter 2:25

SON: Matthew 16:16

Son of David and Abraham: Matthew 1:1

Son of Joseph and Mary: John 1:45

Son of God: John 1:49

Son of the Living God: Matthew 16:16

The Only Begotten Son: John 3:16-17

Son of God that Cleanses From Sin: 1 John 1:5-7

The Dear Son of God: Colossians 1:13-14

Son of the Blessed One: Mark 14:61-62

Son of the Heavenly Father: 2 John 3

Beloved Son of the Father: Luke 3:21-22

Son of the Highest: Luke 1:32

Son of the Most High God: Mark 5:7

Son Who Is Consecrated for Evermore: Hebrews 7:28

Son from Heaven who delivered us from God’s wrath: 1 Thessalonians 1:10

Son of Man:  John 1:51

STAR AND SCEPTER:  Numbers 24:17

SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:  Malachi 4:2

SURETY:  Hebrews 7:22

TEACHER:  John 3:1-2

Rabbi,       Rabboni: John 20:16

TESTATOR:  Hebrews 9:16

THE LAST ADAM:  1 Corinthians 15:45-47

TREASURE:  2 Corinthians 4:6-7

TRUTH: John 14:6

True Bread from Heaven: John 6:32-33

True Light: John 1:4-5,9

True Vine: John 15:1

The Faithful and True: Revelation 19:11

VINE: John 15:5

WAY: John 14:6

WISDOM: 1 Corinthians 1:24-25

WONDERFUL: Isaiah 9:6

WORD OF GOD: Revelation 19:13

WORTHY:  Revelation 4:11

APPENDIX THREE

NAMES AND TITLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

With Key References

NAMES RELATED TO FATHER: Matthew 3:16-17

The Spirit of God/Our God: Genesis 1:2; Matthew 3:16

The Spirit of the Lord: Luke 4:18

The Spirit of the Lord God: Isaiah 61:1

The Spirit of the Living God: 2 Corinthians 3:3

Your Holy Spirit: Psalm 51:11

The Spirit of Your Father:  Matthew 10:19-20

My Spirit: Acts 2:17-18

NAMES RELATED TO JESUS: Romans 8:9

The Spirit of Christ:  Romans 8:9

The Spirit of Jesus Christ:  Philippians 1:19

The Spirit of the Lord: Acts 8:39

The Spirit of His Son/The Son: Galatians 4:6-7

SEVEN ATTRIBUTES OF THE SPIRIT:  Isaiah 11:2

The Spirit of the Lord:  Isaiah 11:2

The Spirit of Wisdom: Isaiah 11:2

The Spirit of Understanding: Isaiah 11:2

The Spirit of Counsel: Isaiah 11:2

The Spirit of Might: Isaiah 11:2

The Spirit of Knowledge: Isaiah 11:2

The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord: Isaiah 11:2

ANOINTING: 1 John 2:27

Unction: 1 John 2:20

Oil: Psalm 45:7; Hebrews 1:9

A SPIRIT OF LOVE, POWER, AND A SOUND MIND: 2 Timothy 1:7

BLESSING: Isaiah 44:3

BREATH:  Genesis 2:7

Breath Of Life: Genesis 2:7

Breath Of The Spirit Of The Lord: Isaiah 40:7-8

Breath Of The Almighty: Job 33:4

CLOTHING: Judges 6:34

COMFORTER:  John 14:16-18

DEW: Hosea 14:5

DIFFERENT SPIRIT: Numbers 14:24

DOVE: John 1:32

EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE:  Ephesians 1:12-14

ETERNAL SPIRIT:  Hebrews 9:14

FINGER OF GOD: Luke 11:20; Matthew 12:28

FIRE:  Luke 3:16

FREE SPIRIT:  Psalm 51:12

GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: Acts 2:38-39

GOOD SPIRIT:  Psalm 143:10; Nehemiah 9:20

HOLY, SPIRIT OF HOLINESS: Psalm 51:11

His Holy Spirit: 1 Thessalonians 4:8

Holy One/His Holy One: 1 John 2:20

Holy Spirit (Ghost): Luke 11:13

Holy Spirit of God:  Ephesians 4:30

Holy Spirit of Promise: Ephesians 1:13-14

Promise of My Father:  Luke 24:49

Promise of the Father: Acts 1:4

Promise of the Holy Spirit:       Acts 2:33

Promise of the Spirit: Galatians 3:14

Holy Spirit Sent from Heaven: 1 Peter 1:12

Holy Spirit Who Dwells in Us (Corporately): 2 Timothy 1:14

Holy Spirit Who Is in You (Individually): 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

INTERCESSOR: Romans 8:26-27

NEW SPIRIT: Ezekiel 11:19-20

ONE SPIRIT: Ephesians 4:4

Same Spirit of Faith: 2 Corinthians 4:13

Same Spirit that Raised Christ: Romans 8:11

PORTER: Mark 13:34

PROMISE OF THE FATHER, POWER FROM ON HIGH: Luke 24:49

PROPHETIC NAMES:  Revelation 4:5

Seven Eyes: Zechariah 3:9; 4:10

Seven Lamps of Fire:       Revelation 4:5

Seven Horns:       Revelation 5:6a

Seven Spirits of God:       Revelation 5:6

SEAL: 2 Timothy 2:19

SEED: 1 John 3:9

SPIRIT OF ADOPTION: Romans 8:15-16

SPIRIT OF FAITH:  2 Corinthians 4:13-14

SPIRIT OF GLORY: 1 Peter 4:14

SPIRIT OF GOD:  Matthew 3:16-17

SPIRIT OF GRACE AND SUPPLICATIONS:  Zechariah 12:10

SPIRIT OF HOLINESS: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

SPIRIT OF JUDGMENT: John 16:8-11

SPIRIT OF LIFE: Romans 8:2

SPIRIT OF LOVE: 1 Timothy 1:7

SPIRIT OF PRAISE: Isaiah 61:3

SPIRIT OF PROMISE: Ephesians 1:13-14

SPIRIT OF PROPHECY: Revelation 19:10

SPIRIT OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD: Isaiah 11:12

SPIRIT OF TRUTH: John 14:16-17

SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION: Ephesians 1:17

SPIRIT OF YOUR FATHER: Matthew 10:20

VOICE: Hebrews 3:7-9

WATER:  John 7:37-39

A Well of Water: John 4:14

Springs of Water: Psalm 87:7

Rain and Showers: Psalm 72:6

Floods on the Dry Ground: Isaiah 44:3

Rivers of Living Water: John 7:38; Ezekiel 47:1-2

WIND: John 3:8

WINE: Ephesians 5:18

WITNESS:  Romans 8:16

APPENDIX FOUR

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES TO THE NAME

THE PHRASE “NAME OF GOD”

Exodus 6:3

3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

Psalms 69:30

30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Daniel 2:20

20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his.

Romans 2:24

24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

1 Timothy 6:1

6 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

Revelation 16:9

9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

THE PHRASE  “IN MY NAME”

Deuteronomy 18:19

19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

Deuteronomy 18:20

20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

Psalms 89:24

24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

Jeremiah 14:14

14 Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

Jeremiah 14:15

15 Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.

Jeremiah 23:25

25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

Jeremiah 27:15

15 For I have not sent them, saith the Lord, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.

Jeremiah 29:9

9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:21

21 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes.

Jeremiah 29:23

23 Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord.

Matthew 18:5

5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

Matthew 18:20

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 24:5

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mark 9:37

37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

Mark 9:39

39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

Mark 9:41

41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Mark 13:6

6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mark 16:17

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.

Luke 9:48

48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

Luke 21:8

8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

John 14:13

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 14:14

14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

John 14:26

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:16

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

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

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:26

26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you.

THE PHRASE “IN HIS NAME”

Deuteronomy 10:8

8 At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.

1 Chronicles 16:10

Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

1 Chronicles 23:13

13 The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the Lord, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.

Jeremiah 20:9

9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

Zechariah 10:12

12 And I will strengthen them in the Lord; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith

the Lord.

Matthew 12:21

21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Luke 24:47

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

John 2:23

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

Acts 3:16

16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

THE PHRASE “NAME OF JESUS”

Acts 2:38

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 3:6

6 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 4:10

10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Acts 4:18

18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Acts 5:40

40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Acts 8:12

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Acts 9:27

27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

Acts 16:18

18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

Acts 26:9

9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

1 Corinthians 1:2

2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.

Philippians 2:10

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.

THE PHRASE “NAME OF THE LORD”

Genesis 4:26

26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.

Genesis 12:8

8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.

Genesis 13:4

4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

Genesis 16:13

13 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

Genesis 21:33

33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.

Genesis 26:25

25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

Exodus 20:7

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Exodus 33:19

19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

Exodus 34:5

5 And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.

Leviticus 24:11

11 And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses…

Leviticus 24:16

16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.

Deuteronomy 5:11

11 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Deuteronomy 18:5

5 For the Lord thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons forever.

Deuteronomy 18:7

7 Then he shall minister in the name of the Lord his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the Lord.

Deuteronomy 18:22

22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Deuteronomy 21:5

5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the Lord; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried.

Deuteronomy 28:10

10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.

Deuteronomy 32:3

3 Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

Joshua 9:9

9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

1 Samuel 17:45

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

1 Samuel 20:42

42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

2 Samuel 6:2

2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.

2 Samuel 6:18

18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

1 Kings 3:2

2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the Lord, until those days.

1 Kings 5:3

3 Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.

1 Kings 5:5

5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.

1 Kings 8:17

17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

1 Kings 8:20

20 And the Lord hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

1 Kings 10:1

10 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions.

1 Kings 18:24

24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

1 Kings 18:32

32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

1 Kings 22:16

16 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord?

2 Kings 2:24

24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

2 Kings 5:11

11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

1 Chronicles 16:2

2 And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.

1 Chronicles 21:19

19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the Lord.

1 Chronicles 22:7

7 And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God.

1 Chronicles 22:19

19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord.

2 Chronicles 2:1

2 And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord, and an house for his kingdom.

2 Chronicles 2:4

4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the Lord our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.

2 Chronicles 6:7

7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

2 Chronicles 6:10

10 The Lord therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

2 Chronicles 18:15

15 And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the Lord?

2 Chronicles 33:18

18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.

Job 1:21

21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

Psalms 7:17

17 I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.

Psalms 20:7

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

Psalms 102:15

15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

Psalms 102:21

21 To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem.

Psalms 113:1

113 Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.

Psalms 113:2

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.

Psalms 116:4

4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

Psalms 116:13

13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.

Psalms 116:17

17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.

Psalms 118:10

10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them.

Psalms 118:11

11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

Psalms 118:12

12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

Psalms 118:26

26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.

Psalms 122:4

4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.

Psalms 124:8

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Psalms 129:8

8 Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we bless you in the name of the Lord.

Psalms 135:1

135 Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord.

Psalms 148:5

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.

Psalms 148:13

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

Proverbs 18:10

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Isaiah 18:7

7 In that time shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, the mount Zion.

Isaiah 24:15

15 Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea.

Isaiah 30:27

27 Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire.

Isaiah 48:1

48 Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.

Isaiah 50:10

10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.

Isaiah 56:6

6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant.

Isaiah 59:19

19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

Isaiah 60:9

9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.

Jeremiah 3:17

17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

Jeremiah 11:21

21 Therefore thus saith the Lord of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the Lord, that thou die not by our hand.

Jeremiah 26:9

9 Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

Jeremiah 26:16

16 Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.

Jeremiah 26:20

20 And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the Lord, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath-jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 44:16

16 As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee.

Joel 2:26

26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

Joel 2:32

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

Amos 6:10

10 And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the Lord.

Micah 4:5

5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

Micah 5:4

4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.

Zephaniah 3:9

9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.

Zephaniah 3:12

12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.

Zechariah 13:3

3 And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the Lord: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.

Matthew 21:9

9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Matthew 23:39

39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Mark 11:9

9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Mark 11:10

10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

Luke 13:35

35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Luke 19:38

38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

John 12:13

13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Acts 2:21

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 8:16

16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Acts 9:29

29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

Acts 10:48

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Acts 19:5

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 19:13

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

Acts 19:17

17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

Acts 21:13

13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 22:16

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Romans 10:13

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

1 Corinthians 6:11

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.

Colossians 3:17

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.

James 5:10

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

James 5:14

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

APPENDIX FIVE

JOURNAL TEMPLATE

The Names

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