Hyphens and Jehovah’s Name

Hyphens and God’s Name

At the burning bush, Moses asked God what His name was. God gave His name. He was Jehovah (Ex. 3:14). God explains the meaning of that name. It means, “I AM” or “I AM WHO I AM” and emphasizes the eternal, unchanging nature of God. In the rest of the Bible, this name is tied to various qualities of God. The translators often use the words “the LORD” and then translate that quality. In the English, this is sometimes made obvious by using hyphens.

He is Jehovah-Jireh (Genesis 22:14)

After the Lord had spared Isaac and provided the ram in the thicket, Moses writes, “And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide.” He is Jehovah-Jireh—He is our Provider.

He is Jehovah-Rapha (Exodus 15:26)

The Jews had just crossed over the Red Sea, and God miraculously gave them water and promised them that He would not bring on Israel the afflictions He brought on the Egyptians. He then told Israel that He was The-LORD-Who-Heals. He is Jehovah-Rapha—He is our Healer.

He is Jehovah-Nissi (Exodus 17:15)

The nation of Israel was not equipped to fight against the Amalekites who attacked them before they got to Mt. Sinai. The battle was won because Moses’ hands were lifted high as he appealed to God. Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner. In our struggle against evil, He is our Jehovah-Nissi—He is our Banner.

He is Jehovah-M’Kaddesh (Leviticus 20:8)

Before the Jews left Mt. Sinai, Moses warned them of the sinfulness of idols and seeking God’s messages from mediums and familiar spirits. He told them that God had said, “I am the LORD who sanctifies you.” He is The-LORD-Who-Sanctifies. He is our Jehovah-M’Kaddesh. He is our Sanctifier.

Space does not permit us to look at other times a quality of God is tied to the name of Jehovah. Take time to study the context and meaning of times when the name of God is hyphenated with His character. He is Jehovah-Shalom—the LORD-Is-Peace (Judg. 6:24). He is Jehovah-Sabbaoth—the LORD-Of-Hosts (1 Sam. 1:3). He is Jehovah-Rohi—the-LORD-Our-Shepherd (Psa. 23:1). He is Jehovah-Shamah—the LORD-Is-There (Ezek. 48:35). He is present.  Finally, the sacred name of Jehovah is applied to Jesus. He is Jehovah-Tsidkenu—The-LORD-Our-Righteousness (Jer. 23:6).

God gave to Moses a name which signifies so much about God. This name is tied to His character in other places in the Bible. Make sure that the LORD-Is-Your-God.

Posted in Dan Jenkins | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Hyphens and Jehovah’s Name

Thou Shall Call His Name _____

Thou Shall Call His Name _____

There is no doubt that His given name was Jesus. The angel told Joseph, “You shall call His name Jesus…” (Matt. 1:21). Gabriel said to Mary, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus” (Luke 1:31). His given name is Jesus. However, this was not the only “name” He was given by God. Look at some of these other “names” and see the significance of each of them.

Immanuel

Over 700 years before His birth the Holy Spirit gave these words, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14). Why was His name Immanuel? The New Testament quotes these words and then defines this “name”: “Which is translated, ‘God with us’” (Matt. 1:23). This name of Jesus defines His deity. He was not only with God in the beginning, but He was God (John 1:1). He truly was God (deity) in the flesh!

Wonderful Counselor

Read these other words from Isaiah about His name. “For unto us a Child is born…and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). Four “names” are given here with each of them being preceded by descriptive words—wonderful, mighty, everlasting and prince.

Is there any doubt that He manifests His wonderful name, His awesomeness, His deity seen in His miracles? Is there any doubt He is the supreme counselor? From Him comes all truth and every aspect of life and godliness (John 16:13; 2 Pet. 1:3).

Mighty God

The Godhead in the Old Testament is called the Almighty God. Jesus showed His power in overcoming death and the powers of Satan and manifesting Himself as King of all kings. He was God in the flesh—to see Him was to see God (John 14:9).

Everlasting Father

When one first sees these words, he might think the emphasis is that Jesus is the Father. No, He is the Son of God. Check the marginal reading. He is the “father of the ages.” He is the supreme focus of every period of man’s existence. He is supreme and has existed from eternity to eternity.

Prince of Peace

He is the source of all true peace. He said, “My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). He gives a peace no mortal can understand. Think on this “name” and all of them. Jesus is God and has every attribute of God and His “names” show this.

Posted in Dan Jenkins | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Thou Shall Call His Name _____

The Apple of Thine Eye

The Apple of Thine Eye

“My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.” (Proverbs 7:1-2 KJV)apple eye

Solomon is admonishing his son to keep, or give heed to his words and retain them. He says to hide them in his heart as a man buries treasure to keep them and protect them. He says in so keeping his commandments that he would prosper spiritually and live a spiritual life. He advises also to keep or live by his fatherly directions and instructions – his law. He says to keep these words, commandments, and laws as “the apple of thine eye.” “The apple of the eye” Refers to the pupil. He is essentially saying to make these things, I.e. his father’s wisdom, the focus of his eye. Today we are often admonished to “keep our eye on the prize,” Meaning to focus on the goal and not be distracted by other things.

Likewise, if Christians keep our heavenly Father’s words, Commandments and laws, and hide them within our hearts and make them the focus of our lives, then we will truly have a spiritually prosperous life.

Read John 6:63; Psalms 119:11, 105

Posted in Jack McNiel | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Apple of Thine Eye

Knowing the Mission Makes the Difference

Knowing the Mission Makes the Difference

Tragically, the current crisis in Ukraine gives us an incredible insight into the comparison between two very different – and in fact, diametrically opposed – responses,when it comes to war-time casualties; a contrast which may very well help to ultimately decide the difference, between absolute victory, and utter defeat.difference in war

On the one hand, you have the Russian military – many of whom have absolutely no idea why they are there, or what they are supposed to be accomplishing. With their mission a mystery, their objectives unknown, and their casualties piling up, they have, in many places, not only ground to a deadly halt, but in some cases,begun a caustic retreat.

On the other hand, you have the Ukrainian military. They know exactly why they are there, and exactly what their mission is: To defend their homeland and drive the brutal Russian invaders out at all cost – even fighting to their deaths if that’s what it takes.Hence, as their casualties mount up, they just sadly, solemnly, but ever more resolutely, simply close ranks, and keep on coming.

It is virtually impossible to defeat such a foe; one who knows their mission; understands what is at stake;knows the cost of what must be done; and is hence, willing to take the absolute worst and most deadly that their adversary can possibly throw at them, and just resolutely close ranks, and keep on coming.

It has been that same way in the Lord’s church since day one. Shortly after Christ’s church was established on the Day of Pentecost in 33 A.D. (as recorded in Acts Two), “a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem… As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison” (Acts 8:1-3), where after many were put to death (Acts 26:10). It is therefore not at all inconceivable that in that day and age, from one week to the next, that many of the brothers and sisters who assembled with and sat beside you in worship one Sunday, might very well be gone forever – imprisoned or even put to death for their faith – by the following Sunday, never to be seen or heard from again… a cycle which would have most certainly continued to repeat itself over and over again, as these first-century ‘wartime’ casualties continued to mount up in the Lord’s church. So; what did the remaining saints do? Simple. Because they knew exactly what their mission was (Matt. 28:18-20); precisely what was at stake (Matt. 16:26); and the absolutely infinite cost that Jesus had paid for the souls of all men everywhere (Jn. 3:16); they simply closed ranks and kept on coming; moving forward andfighting the good fight of faith (2 Tim. 4:7); taking the gospel into all of the world and turning it upside down with their unyielding zeal and dedication to the heavenly mission (Acts 8:4-40, 17:1-7; Col. 1:23).

We would note the same thing in the more recent history of the Lord’s church as well. When the 1906 census was released, it showed that the recently re-united church of our Lord in America, which had, only a few mere decades before, escaped captivity to the soul-damning doctrines and commandments of men, then suffered a staggering setback between 1880-1906, as the vast majority of her members had once again been re-captured by Satan, becoming spiritual ‘prisoners of war’ to many of the same sorts of vain and man-made doctrines from which they had so recently been liberated. In fact, the census data from that year reported that when the “Disciples of Christ” sect or division of the Lord’s church left those faithful saints who would continue to stand and march forward on the word of God alone as their sole rule and authority, that they took a staggering 75% of the congregations (7,799) of that day with them, along with a whopping85% (923,698) of her members!

What did that small portion or remnant of the Lord’s church (159,123 members and 2,642 congregations) that was left behind do?Simple. Because they also knew exactly what their mission was (Matt. 28:18-20); precisely what was at stake (Matt. 16:26); and the absolutely infinite cost that Jesus had paid for the souls of all men everywhere (Jn. 3:16); they simply closed ranks, and kept on coming; kept on going; kept on moving forward and fighting the good fight of faith, taking the gospel into all of the world while turning it upside down with their unyielding zeal and dedication to their heavenly mission.Do you know what happened as a result? Just 20 short years later, in 1926, that 159,123 membership number had swollen to over 435,000. Another 15 short years later, in 1941,it was estimated to have grown to around 600,000. By 1965 it was 915,000; and by 1980 it was 1.24 million(www.encyclopedia.com).

However, since then it has not gone so well. Congregations are shrinking, struggling, and in some cases, being forced to close their doors forever. The reasons for this are many and varied – everything from culture, to complacency, to most recently, the devastating 25-30% losses inflicted on many congregations by the pandemic’s soul-poisoning dynamics.

So; what will the Lord’s church do today? Simple. The Lord’s church, will simply do, what it has always done, whenever taking such devastating losses since day one: Because they know exactly what their mission is (Matt. 28:18-20); precisely what is at stake (Matt. 16:26); and the absolutely infinite cost that Jesus paid for the souls of all men everywhere (Jn. 3:16); they will simply close ranks and keep on coming; close ranks and keep on going into all the world with the gospel, starting right next door, at home, and in their own communities; closing ranks and moving forward for the kingdom, as they keep on fighting the good fight of faith (2 Tim. 4:7); turning the world today upside down with their unyielding zeal and undying dedication to the heavenly mission (Acts 8:4-40, 17:1-7; Col. 1:23).

Now… are we the Lord’s church… or not?

Posted in Doug Dingley | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Knowing the Mission Makes the Difference

The Little Things Count

The Little Things Count

Several years ago, a man named Richard Carlson wrote a book titled, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff … and it’s all small stuff.” I think his point was not to worry about little things, and certainly that is good advice since any form of worry demonstrates a lack of faith in God (Matthew 6:33-34). However, there is a sense in which he was wrong as well. Jesus said, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10). Jesus’ point in this context had to do with the Pharisees who thought they were “big men,” and could be responsible for the “big things.”little things

The situation reminds me of the lyrics of the Jim Croce song “Working at the Car Wash Blues.” The singer (who was just paroled) thinks that he should be an“executive” because he was a “genius.” He opines that he should be sitting in an office chair and is an undiscovered Howard Hughes, but all he can do is work at the car wash, which gives him the blues. Having an overinflated sense of self will often create such a mental paradox!

Jesus was talking about that in Luke 16:10. His point is that when we think more of ourselves than we ought to think (Romans 12:3), then we won’t be responsible for what we have. If we want more responsibility, then we need to take care of our own “little” business first, but this requires humility. When we demonstrate that we are faithful in the little things, that proves that we can be faithful in more.

Posted in Kevin Cauley | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Little Things Count