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September 10

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WHAT’S IN A NAME?

From: September 10, 2024

“O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might” (Psalm 54:1 ESV).

“What’s in a name?” So asked Shakespeare’s Juliet of Romeo, the implication being that his family name was a mere arbitrary label and didn’t matter to her.

Yet, David appealed to God’s “name” as the source of his salvation. He recognized the power expressed in God’s name, as he wrote in another psalm, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower” (Psa. 18:10). For God’s name is the manifestation of His character, revealing His divine attributes.

And what is the “saving” name of God revealed to us by which we might call? As Peter preached to the Jerusalem council, that name is JESUS, “For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The name “Jesus” or “Yeshua” means “God’s salvation.” God has given Him the name “above every name” (Phil.2:9). And Jesus tells us to “ask anything in His name” (John 14:14).

What’s in a name? In the name of Jesus, everything!

PRAYER: Dear Father, we come to You in prayer this day in the name that is above all other names, the name of Jesus. For through faith in Him we have been given access to come boldly before You as Your children. Thank You, Lord! Now strengthen us to proclaim the Name of Jesus to others today. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

IMMANUEL–GOD WITH US

From: September 10, 2023

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)” (Isaiah 7:14 NLT).

Isaiah gave King Ahaz of Judah this sign from God to show that within only a few years, the kingdoms of Israel and Syria would be gone. Yet, this prophetic sign had a double fulfillment. Its first fulfillment was for Ahaz, but its later fulfillment was for the entire human race. For 700 years later the virgin did indeed give birth to Immanuel, Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

In the gospel of Matthew, he wrote that an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, informing him that his betrothed, Mary, was the virgin that would bear the long-awaited Immanuel. The angel explained that “that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” and actually quoted Isaiah 7:14 to Joseph to show that the unborn child would be the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Matt. 1:20-23). He further instructed Joseph to name the child, “Jesus, for He would save His people from their sins.”

The Old Testament contains over 300 Messianic prophecies that are all fulfilled in Jesus Christ. These prophecies were given to encourage God’s people, but also to prepare them to recognize Messiah and believe in Him.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we have believed in Your Son, Jesus. He is who You say He is. He came just as You said He would. And we trust that He will return one day just as He promised. Until then, strengthen us by Your Spirit to proclaim His name to the nations. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me”’ (Isaiah 6:8 NLT).

From: September 10, 2022

GOD STILL SENDS THOSE WHO WILL ANSWER HIS CALL

Isaiah had a vision that changed his life. He saw the Lord’s heavenly throne room and heard the sound of the seraphim crying out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”

Isaiah was overwhelmed by the sight and sound of the vision and cried out in repentance because of his unclean lips. But the Lord sent one of the seraphim with a hot coal from the altar and touched it to Isaiah’s lips, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.”
That was when Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord, calling, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”

Isaiah’s response was immediate, “Here am I! Send me.”
He didn’t look around to see who else would go. No, he shouted, “Here am I! Send me.” Unlike old Moses, who after making multiple excuses, begged the Lord to send someone else (Ex.4:13), Isaiah begged the Lord to send him. Of course, God sent both Moses and Isaiah anyway. He answered all of Moses’ excuses and He purged Isaiah’s unclean mouth.

The truth is, God qualifies whom He calls. Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord. If you have ears to hear the voice of the Lord calling you, then God is sending you. And those He sends, He supplies. God doesn’t care about our ability. He cares about our availability. Do you hear Him calling?

Remember what Jesus said, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). As followers of Jesus, we are sent! Will you answer as Isaiah did?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we hear You calling us. Like Isaiah, we say “Here am I. Send me.” We do not feel worthy nor capable, but we leave that to You. We hear Your calling and we say yes. We are sent. Strengthen us for the journey and anoint us afresh for today’s work. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14 HCSB).

From: September 10, 2021

IMMANUEL–GOD WITH US

Isaiah gave King Ahaz of Judah this sign from God to show that within only a few years, the kingdoms of Israel and Syria would be gone. Yet, this prophetic sign had a double fulfillment. It’s present-day fulfillment was for Ahaz, but it’s future fulfillment was for the entire human race. For 700 years later the virgin did indeed give birth to Immanuel, which means “God with us.”
 
In the gospel of Matthew, he wrote that an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, informing him that his betrothed, Mary, was the virgin that would bear the long-awaited Immanuel. The angel explained that “that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” and actually quoted Isaiah 7:14 to Joseph to show that the unborn child would be the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Matt. 1:20-23). He further instructed Joseph to name the child “Jesus, for He would save His people from their sins.”
 
The Old Testament contains over 300 Messianic prophecies that are all fulfilled in Jesus Christ. These prophecies were given to encourage God’s people, but also to prepare them to recognize Him and believe.
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we have believed in Your Son, Jesus. He is who You say He is. He came just as You said He would. And we trust that He will return one day just as He promised. Until then, strengthen us by Your Spirit to proclaim His name to the nations. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”’ (Isaiah 6:8 NKJV).

From: September 10, 2020

GOD IS STILL SENDING THOSE WHO HEAR HIS VOICE

Isaiah had a vision that changed his life. He saw the Lord’s throne room and heard the sound of the seraphim crying out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”
 
Isaiah was overwhelmed by the sight and sound of the vision and cried out in repentance because of his unclean lips. But the Lord sent one of the seraphim with a hot coal from the altar and touched it to Isaiah’s lips, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.”
 
That was when Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord, calling, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”
 
Isaiah’s response was immediate, “Here am I! Send me.”
 
He didn’t look around to see who else would go. No, he shouted, “Here am I! Send me.” Unlike old Moses, who after making multiple excuses, begged the Lord to send someone else (Ex.4:13), Isaiah begged the Lord to send him. Of course, God sent both Moses and Isaiah anyway. He answered all of Moses’ excuses and He purged Isaiah’s unclean mouth.
 
The truth is, God qualifies whom He calls. Isaiah “heard the voice of the Lord.” If you have ears to hear the voice of the Lord calling you, then God is sending you. And those He sends, He supplies. God doesn’t care about our ability. He cares about our availability. Do you hear Him calling?
 
Remember what Jesus said, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21).
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we hear You calling us. Like Isaiah, we say “Here am I. Send me.” We do not feel worthy nor capable, but we leave that to You. We hear Your calling and we say yes. We are sent. Strengthen us for the journey and anoint us afresh for today’s work. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“For you have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to triumph over my enemies” (Psalm 54:7 NLT).

From: September 10, 2019

YOU PLUS GOD IS A MAJORITY

The inscription over this psalm states that David wrote it during the time he was hiding from King Saul in the land of Ziph, where the locals sought to reveal his hideout. It seemed that no matter where he hid, even strangers sought to have him killed. But God protected him and ultimately gave him triumph over his enemies.
 
Do you face trouble today? Are enemies at your door? The same God that rescued David will rescue you. Call on Him. Put your trust in the Lord. Regardless of the trouble you’re facing or the size of your opponent, God is able. You plus God is a majority!
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that we can bring our troubles to You. For You are our Rescuer. Thank You that we can face any enemy with You. For You are our Champion and our Deliverer. Therefore we will not focus on our troubles nor our enemies, but we will focus our eyes upon You. Strengthen us today for the battle before us, knowing that You have already won the victory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28 NLT).

From: September 10, 2018

THE PASTOR’S BURDEN
After listing many of the trials and tribulations he had endured as a church planter, the apostle Paul named the one constant concern that weighed on him— his burden for the churches. Certainly, the Spirit of the Lord strengthened Paul to carry this burden, yet it was the Lord that gave it to him in the first place.
 
Just as Jesus had told Peter, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” So, Paul keenly felt this same calling.
 
It was the apostle Peter who wrote this instruction to pastors: “Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you” (1 Peter 5:2). Paul felt this pastor’s burden. And so does every pastor today that is called of God and seeks to please Him by caring for His sheep.

“And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’” (Isaiah 6:9 NKJV).

From: September 10, 2017

Isaiah was given a difficult preaching assignment. He was to preach knowing that the people of Israel would not “understand,” nor “perceive” his message. The Israelites had been given the greatest access to the Word and works of God of any people in history, yet they had not listened to His Word, nor remembered His works. Therefore, God’s judgment would be according to their sin. He would continue to declare His Word and perform His works before them, yet they would not hear, nor see. The fulfillment of this prophecy was during the time of Christ, who was the supreme revelation of God to His people, yet they did not receive Him. Jesus quoted this passage from Isaiah many times during His earthly ministry knowing that only a remnant would believe (Matt. 13:14-15, Mark 4:12, John 12:40).
 
I’m glad that we have a new preaching mission today, the same one given to the apostle Paul by Jesus “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).

“O God, save me by your name” (Psalm 54:1 ESV)

From: September 10, 2016

“What’s in a name?” So asked Shakespeare’s Juliet of Romeo, the implication being that his family name didn’t matter to her. Yet, David appealed to God’s “name” as the means of his salvation. He recognized the power expressed in God’s name, as he wrote in another psalm, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower” (Psa. 18:10). For God’s name is the manifestation of His character, revealing His divine attributes. And what is the “saving” name of God by which we might call? As Peter preached to the Jerusalem council, that name is JESUS, “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The name “Jesus” or “Yeshua” means “God’s salvation.” God has given Him the name “above every name” (Phil.2:9). Jesus tells us to “ask anything in His name” (John 14:14). What’s in a name? In the name of Jesus, everything.

“If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity” (2 Corinthians 11:30 NKJV)

From: September 10, 2015

The Corinthians had fallen prey to false teachers who claimed greater authority than Paul. In response to this, Paul found himself in the awkward position of establishing his own credentials. Paul didn’t like to boast, unless it was to boast of Christ. So instead, he boasted of his “infirmity,” his weakness. He listed the number of times he had been beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, hungry, naked, and left for dead. Paul chose to see what others might call a record of disgrace as his resume of suffering for Christ. He was fulfilling the calling that Christ had given him on the road to Damascus, namely: “he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16). Most boast of their successes to elevate their position, but Paul boasted of his sufferings, that Christ might be the One elevated in status.