The Name Of The Lord

Mark: How are you guys? Awesome. Thank you for responding. That was so joyful and pleasant. That's good. That's good. As I get my stuff settled here, you guys can go ahead and turn in your scriptures, if you've got your Bibles with you, whether in physical or digital, to John, the book of John, chapter 17. We're going to be talking this morning about the name of the Lord. The name of the Lord. John, chapter 17, as you guys are still turning there, just want to remind you that our Quip classes are starting a new rotation this coming Wednesday. And if you didn't get a chance to participate in another class, we're rotating the classes so you guys can get another look at those. And it's good material, it's good stuff that will get practically in your hands in your walk. Let's jump in. John chapter 17 verse 11. Jesus is praying here and this is what he says. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the Son of Destruction that the scripture might be fulfilled." Let's pray, guys. Lord Jesus, we gather today. as your followers have gathered countless times throughout the years as people of your name, the redeemed, the ones who believe in you. And Father, I ask in the name of Jesus that you would speak through your word today to freshly ignite faith, hope, to remind us of the truth, and to burn in us the reality of the power of the name by which we are saved. In the name of Jesus, everybody said, amen. Scripture talks a lot about the name of the Lord. It's sprinkled throughout scripture. I'm gonna read off a few verses. You're not gonna see them on the screen. I'm just gonna read off a few and I bet you guys know these verses. If you know them, complete them with me. Proverbs 18, 10 says this, name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are saved. Psalm 27, it says some trust in Some trust in, but we will trust in. That's it. Psalm 44, five. This might not be one that you memorized in Sunday school, but I think it's awesome. Through you, we push down our foes. Through your name, we tread down those who rise up against us. Psalm 54, one. Oh God, save me by your name. Vindicate me by your might. Psalm 124, 8, our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. You know, all of these verses that talk about the name of the Lord and salvation, it's not only unpacking the name of the Lord, but it's also telling us something very important. And that is, you, my friends, and I were in danger. something is against us. And it has been since the dawn of time. If you guys remember back in the garden, the Lord says to Cain, this is after the fall, and you would think at this point, this fresh into the journey, that people would really be striving to try to get back right with God. And here it is in Genesis chapter four that the Lord has a conversation with Cain. And I don't know if you guys think about this, we don't have time to get into Christophanies and the beauty of Jesus in the Old Testament. I would encourage you to do a deep dive on that. It will magnify your love and your amazement and your wonder at who Jesus is. But God has a conversation with Cain because Cain is grumpy. Any of you guys ever been grumpy before? Any of you thought you were right, but you were actually wrong? How many of you were right, but you were still wrong? All the husband said, Amen. Kane is in a bad mood. It's because he thinks he's right, but he's actually wrong. And Jesus, God has a conversation with him. And he says this, why are you angry? Why is your face falling? There's a logical kind of response here. If you do well, it's going to go well with you. Will you not be accepted? If you do not, sin is crouching at the door and its desire is for you. You must rule over it. See, guys, sin here right in the beginning, it's not portrayed as a mistake. or an accident or something we fell into. It's portrayed as a beast, an animal of prey that salivates over you and your future. Sin is crouching at the door and it wants you. The Lord spoke to Cain not to curse him. He spoke to Cain to save him. He told him the truth. And Kane leaves that moment of warning. and commits a premeditated act of murder. first ever recorded of humanity after having a convicting reminder from the Lord. It wasn't God. that wanted to devour him. It was sin. From the beginning of humanity, people have realized that something is against us. Something's out to get us. It's been called by all kinds of names and all kinds of characters and all kinds of personalities. But if you dig through the archaeological records, anybody in here like into history, into archaeology? Minority, fantastic. Journey with us. If you dig through the archaeological record, what you're going to find just tons and tons and tons of examples are, these little, sometimes larger, but most times smaller, amulets. These things that, whether they come in different forms, it's like talismans and amulets and carvings and rituals and rites, things to either protect you by keeping you safe from something else or things to try to bring harm on someone else so that you can get ahead. And this is sprinkled out through the record of history. You can't begin to get into archeology very much, even in Israel, without digging up stuff like this. And it is interesting that people throughout time have been willing to make a deal even with the devil himself. to stay off the hit list. They're trying to find something that would protect them. Something. Now just at the bottom of that chapter in Genesis 4, we're told something very important. This is the first time that this shows up in scripture and it says this. says, Seth also a son was born and he called his name Enosh. At that time, people began to call on the name of the Lord. Now scholars will... kind of take one of two paths on this. One, some believe that this is a mention to a godly lineage forming in after the son of Seth. That people begin to call him the name of the Lord and they're doing so because they want to be right with him. Other scholars say this is actually the beginning of a great evil. In other words, they're saying it's not that so much that people are calling on the name of the Lord, they're calling anything Lord. They're trying to get things for their own design. They're trying to get things, and whichever way that this folds, what I want us to zero in this morning on is the name, the importance of the name, of the way. Now, the revelation of the name of God begins kind of slow. After the flood, things reset and we follow chronology. If you're familiar with the Old Testament, you follow chronology and you see that God has a desire to connect with a man named Abram. And Abram wants just one thing. Abram's not a complicated man. He just wants a kid. He just wants a son. The Lord appears to Abram. and he makes a covenant with him. And here the Lord reveals himself, El Shaddai, God Almighty. In other words, all the other gods of the nations have already began to be worshiped. These demonically inspired kingdoms and realms have been set up. And God says, Abram, I am the God above all gods. And I want to make a covenant with you. I want to make you the father of many nations. Have you guys ever wanted something very simple? and you pray and you seek for it. And the Lord gives you a promise that seems to have nothing to do with what you're asking. Abram is asking for a kid. Just one. One will do. And God says, I want a nation, want to make a deal. He reveals himself like this. Now what's so interesting is that he has such a personal connection with Abram. And yet when Moses interacts with the Lord, the Lord reveals something a little extra. He says, by my name, the Lord, I did not reveal myself or they did not fully know me, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I am the God of your fathers. I'm the one they worshiped, but they didn't know me in this way. Moses encounters the Lord and in this season, he begins to lead God's people, this nation that started through a revelation of who God is and would eventually become the family, the lineage, the heritage by which salvation would enter the world. It's the drumbeat of destiny has started, but the players don't quite know how it's all gonna unfold. They're just taking part. Moses is the mouthpiece of the Lord to Pharaoh, and then he's the mouthpiece of the Lord to the people. And as he's telling them, God warns them again. He warns them, and he says this, he says, You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain." Pay attention to what's being done here. Just like Cain, God's not trying to sneak up and destroy his people. He's trying to warn them because there's things that they don't know about. Everybody just kind of look to your neighbor and say, there's things you don't know about. How many parents do we have in here? We've all been through the stages, right? You go through the stages where your kid wants to stick their finger in the... Yes. Then they want to run into the road and experience a vehicle at 50 miles an hour. And they're absolutely distraught when you say no. There's things you do not know. And God is trying to save His people by giving them simple commands. Here he says this, make no mention even of the names of other gods. Don't let them be heard on your lips. God is like paving a way here with the people and he's trying to communicate the importance of staying true to the name of the Lord. Just one, there's only one way. And that should lead us to ask a question, what's in a name? What is it that's so special about this? Remember God back with Abraham, He changed, his name wasn't always Abraham, he changed his name and that's what he became, right? Abram and then Abraham. God changed him, he became the father of nations. God did the same thing with Jacob, right? Jacob to... We're fading. Israel, right? And this was a play on words because Jacob was known as a trickster, a heel grabber. If you've never looked at this story in just the hysterical poetry that it is, Jacob is a trickster and he gets tricked himself. And he finally gets a point where he is wrestling with the angel of the Lord. Most scholars would agree this is Jesus himself. He's wrestling with him. And he grabs a hold of him and won't let him go. He is living out his expression of his name. Now, I don't know about you guys, but some of you in here probably have wrestled if you've got your son or maybe a nephew. ⁓ I'm a wrestling dad and a wrestling nephew. I mean, uncle. That too. And you can't help but notice in that scripture as the Lord is wrestling with Jacob that he kinda... He kind of likes that guy. Even though he's wrestling, he won't let him go. So he dislocates his hip. All is fair. and he renames him. He says, you know what? You know what, kid? You got spunk. You're one who wrestles with the Lord and has favor. That's who you are. Names are a big deal. I'll tell you something that's so special to us. A lot of times we'll read over this. God names Himself. Did you guys notice that? In Scripture, I want you guys to turn with me real quick. Matthew chapter one. I don't know if we have this or not, but Matthew chapter one, verse 21. It says this, she will bear a son and you will call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel God with us. Jesus name comes from two words in the Hebrew. One is the sacred Tetragrammaton. Yud Hey, Vav Hey, that's Yahweh. We just sang about it this morning. And the second one is Shavah, means to save. Jesus' name, Yahweh saves. And I love what Pastor Josh was talking about, you know, the triumphant entry. Jesus comes into Israel, comes into Jerusalem, and as people are on the road calling out Jesus, or Lord help, Lord help, Lord save us, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. And who is this? It's Yahweh saves. And says, I'm right here. Isaiah chapter 45, verse 21 through 25, it says this, it says, declare and present your case. Let them take counsel together. Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides me, a righteous God and a savior. There's none besides me. Turn to me and be saved. All the ends of the earth. For I am God and there is no other. By myself I have sworn from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that will not return. John records and says this in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance. Only in the Lord it shall be said of me. our righteousness and strength. To him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him, all the canes who thought they were right when they were actually wrong. In the Lord all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory. You guys remember back to John 17 where we started. Jesus said he kept the disciples, the ones who were following him in the name that God had given him. He kept them in their name. Now there's a lot that's grouped up in here. I'm just gonna hit a few things with you real quick. How did Jesus do this? What mechanisms did he use to safeguard, to keep, to watch over, to protect the disciples? Number one, Jesus called and chose them. Remember Jesus said, you did not choose me, I chose you. Jesus interrupted their life for the most important thing. Has Jesus ever interrupted your life before? I remember one day I was driving to the store and at the time where we lived, was about a 25 minute drive and I had my earbuds in and I'm just enjoying life, singing a couple of worship songs, just enjoying life. Wasn't thinking anything about it. Went to the store, parked in the back parking lot. I closed the door, I took two steps and I heard, Mark Byerly, is that you? And it was a coach who's living in an odd lifestyle. I can say odd. It's not hate, it's odd. It was odd. And as I stepped out, I realized I haven't seen this person. They lived on another side of town. They didn't come to this store. But today, they made an exception. It wasn't my store day. I just decided to go. And right then the Lord interrupted my life. Why? To save someone. Jesus is the name of the Lord. He'll interrupt what you're doing, the normalcy of just every day to save. Jesus revealed the Father to them. Remember Thomas is talking about, well, Lord, where are you gonna go? And Jesus says, you know the way, Thomas. He says, I don't know where you're going. How can I know the way there? And Jesus says, I. am the way. Remember at the same conversation they said, Jesus just show us the Father, it'll be enough. And he says, guys, if you've seen me, you've seen the Father. Jesus kept them from man's religion. Remember all the times he rebuked the Pharisees and he warned the disciples to not let that leaven in them? kept them from judgment. Remember how they were walking through the fields, eating grain, seemingly breaking the Sabbath. And instead of letting his disciples come under condemnation, he turns and rebukes the Pharisees. He kept them from hypocrisy, from wanting to be served. He revealed the Father to them. He kept them from spiritual death, and He showed them what God in human form looked like. You know, I'm going to say this, and I know a lot of you probably could...we'll apply this to modern day, but this is from our past church history. Right after the church was formed, a really odd deception snuck in, and it came in the form of this thing called Arianism. And let me tell you how damaging deception can be. And all this did was it just shifted the needle from one point of truth. So Jesus really wasn't fully God. He just is a way to God. And so God kind of deified him. That one little shift, there is a decent amount of textual evidence now that one of the Arian prophets went and had a meeting with a man named Mohammed. And it gave birth to a religion that destroyed a decent part of the world. And it started with one little shift, one little shift. Stay out of deception. Last week, Pastor Gary gave us a real important reminder. Stay in the Word. You how you stay out of being deceived? Stay in the Word. And stay in the love of God. Know the truth and let it set you free. Refuse all the other. Number three. Satan was the father of eyes. Jesus told his disciples the truth. He told them the truth. How many of you guys have ever been corrected by the Lord? You thought you were doing good. Thought it was beautiful. But it wasn't. Jesus said His Word would not pass away. was the truth. Jesus interceded for them that they wouldn't fall away. Remember with Peter, Peter is right in the middle, you know, the Lord have mercy. It's so easy for us to make vows and things to the Lord. Peter's in the moment at Jesus' most dramatic moment of his ministry. And Peter's like, I'll die for you. And Jesus says, Thanks for that, Peter. I'll welcome you back in after you've blown up the night. But he said this, says, you know, Satan has desired to sift you like wheat. It's that same warning, same warning to King. Something's after you. It wants you. Peter, I'm praying. I'm praying. that you will not fall, that your faith won't fail. Jesus is interceding for you guys. Did you know that? Sometimes it's hard, you need to remind yourself of the truth. That's why staying in the Word is important. It should make a difference in your life if you know Jesus, the Son of God, is interceding for you. That kinda changes things, it should. Jesus laid down his life for the sheep. If you look at Jesus' ministry in the gospels, Jesus knew how to get out of dodge. Did you guys notice that? Sometimes they would be in a moment and it seems like they're gonna kind of throw him off a cliff or, and he's like, he just kind of went through the crowd. Even at the moment where he was betrayed, what did he say about the disciples? Let them go. Jesus protected his own. And he eventually laid down his life for those that could not do it themselves. and Jesus made a way to be with him forever. Jesus, through his life, his death, his teaching himself, his name, he kept the believers, the disciples as one. Not one in just their lineage or their heritage or the style that they liked. How many of you guys like fast music? Raise your hand. How many you like slow music, raise your hand? How many like no music, raise your hand? Yeah, if we got a couple. God bless you. It's not our styles, it's not our likes that bind us together, it's the honor of the one. It is the name that keeps us unified, keeps us together. You know, today is Palm Sunday. It's the triumphant entry of the Lord. And if you'll turn right here, John 12, we're gonna read this just real quick. And we've already hit some of this this morning. John chapter 12, verse 12 through 16, it says, the next day the large crowd had come to the feast and heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, Hosanna, Lord come, Lord save. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel. This next little picture here, Jesus, here he is, he's come. He's God in the flesh. He didn't come as a mighty king. He didn't come as a usual suspect, as some type of demi-god full of vice and bloodlust. He didn't come as a demon of the underworld that was gonna take care of all of their evils. The reason why I'm mentioning this is because that's what the charms would be pulling on. He didn't come with unhinged rage and violence. He didn't need any extra charms or potions. thousands of years ago, back in Genesis. He heard a distinct sound. I don't know what you guys think about this. Do you know that God can hear you? He heard a distinct sound. It sounded... like a man who had surrendered himself to evil. and the repercussions of that. And it came out as blood crying from the ground. Lord goes to Cain and says, what have you done? Your brother's blood is crying to me from the earth. Jesus knew what that sound was. Abel's blood was speaking a word. It was crying for justice. It was a cry of a victim. Jesus wasn't a victim. He was a savior. He would save by being a spotless sacrifice, an obedient and willing recipient of shameful torment. And so, he let himself be taken and beaten by a priesthood that he established. He gave his head to thorns which grew from a rebellion against his own word. He gave his back to a whip designed to limit rebels and fools from corrupting the world. He climbed on a hill that he made, rested his back on wood that he allowed to grow, endured nails and curses from creatures he had given life to. All of this occurring just outside a city that belonged to him in a land which he had provided. Guys, has that precious blood. leaked from his body. body he prepared for himself. the name of the Lord was poured out. as salvation for mankind. He heard when people said, come help. And he said, I'm here. Paul writes to the church in Philippi and he quotes Isaiah. He says this, being found in human form, he humbled himself by being obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. So God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every other name so that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess. that Jesus Christ is Lord. It's the name of the Lord that provokes a response. Some of you guys have ran into this. People might be okay with you talking about God. And when you use the name, things can get interesting. But Jesus says, Lord, it provokes a response. I remember ministering as someone on the street and we were talking. And while we were talking, his girlfriend at the time was with him. And I said, you know what, man, I'd like to pray for you. And I said, Dear Jesus, and when I said Dear Jesus, This girl who had been acting completely normal up to that moment. She covered her ears and she goes walking away. She says, I can't do this right now. And the guy looks at her, very odd. He's like, what in the world is wrong with you? She's like, you can pray, but just pray real quiet. I'm going to stand over here. Guys, this stuff is real, The name of Jesus is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are saved. But if you're not His, that name gets on you. Now that's not a call for judgment. It's a call for warning and freedom and life. John 1 says this, to all who did receive him who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God. That's how you know that you can make it right there. The name of Jesus, the name of the Lord is life to us. It is a promise from God. It's an inheritance of salvation. And I don't know where you are this morning. I don't know what you're walking through. I don't know what your struggle is. I don't know what your history is, but the Lord knows. And you have a Redeemer in heaven who cares for you. He shed His blood for you. I love the scripture that says this. It says, While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. That's the proof. That's the proof that the Lord loves you. If you guys turn to Romans 8, I wasn't gonna read this, but I just feel like this is a promise. And if you wouldn't mind, could I get one of the worship team members to come up here real quick? You know, we can get so accustomed to just, you know, I don't want to pick on anything or anyone. I've done these things myself. Like, please don't mishear what I'm saying. But we can get so accustomed to, you know, Jesus, you know, this and Jesus that and Jesus is my homeboy and Jesus is this. I don't mean, guys, like, look, if you've done that, like, no judgment, grace, okay? But. This is the name above all names. And if you guys remember, just as like an evidence of this, the book of Acts, there were those who were wanting to see people free, but they didn't want to commit to the name. So they go and they try to cast out someone who's been overcome by darkness and set him free. And the demons respond. They say, I know who Jesus is. I know who Paul is. I don't know who you are. We've been given something very special in our existence as humans and it's faith. It's like a liquid asset that we can spend at will. And your faith in the name of Jesus is the thing that provides the way for salvation. It also opens the door for others to be able to encounter the King of Kings. Because in as much as you believe, in as much as you obey His word and live with a conviction of who He is, people are going to be able to see that on your life. you know, in Acts, the disciples are taken into custody and questioned. And it's so funny what the issue comes down to. The rulers of the day say, okay, we're gonna let you go just as long as you promise to not mention that name anymore. And they respond very wisely. say, well, whether it's better for us to obey you or to obey God, we'll let you decide. But as for us, we can't help but tell what we have seen. And if you have a testimony in you working, it is the letter of the Lord written to a people, just like he tried to warn Cain. One of the touching moments, most touching moments in scriptures when Jesus stood outside Jerusalem and said, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you persecute the prophets. I wish I could save you. I wish I could protect you, but you just wouldn't. Let the name of the Lord work through you. Let the name of the Lord warn people. Let the name of the Lord convict sin. Let the name of the Lord correct you when your doctrine has gone off. Let the name of the Lord save you. Let the name of the Lord intercede for you. Let the name of the Lord be your salvation, your light, your hope, your guidance, your truth in the name of Jesus. Could you all stand with us this morning, please? Romans 8 says this, starting in verse 29, for those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Those whom he predestined, he also called, and those whom he called, he also justified. and those whom He justified He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he also not now with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It's God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died and more than that, he's the one who was raised. Who is at the right hand of God and who indeed is interceding for us? Everybody point at yourself and just say, thank you, Jesus. Because of you, I can make it. Guys, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? How about tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No. In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. The name above all names. Guys, this might be a crazy year. It might be a normal year. there's a name in heaven that rules over all. He wanted you into his family, he warned you, he saved you, he's cleaned you, he's working in you if you'll let him. Can we just lift our hands and thank the Lord for a second? Father, we want to be one with you. We want to be one together underneath your name. So Lord, we're giving you permission to work in us. Interrupt us when necessary, God. Correct us when necessary. Warn us. Use our lives to be an expression to the world outside in the name of Jesus. We want to solidify ourselves on you and on your word, on your name, and no one else. you name of Jesus. Amen. Guys, I wanna just thank you for being together, being one this morning. You're my brothers and sisters. And now you have a crazy uncle. It's God. We love you. Listen, please be in prayer and invite somebody. I know we're packed. We'll make room. Invite somebody, okay? You guys enjoy the rest of this day. I'm sure it's gonna be a good one. God bless you. Have a good day.

John 17 · chapter mention John 17 · chapter mention John 17:11 Isaiah 45:21–25 John 12:12–16