The Privilege & Power of Prayer



Phil. 2:1-11 ¹If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, ²Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. ⁴Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. ⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ¹⁰That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; ¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. There is said to be approximately 5.3 billion people on the earth. Every one of them has a name. This "name" identifies them as an individual, but it does more... it forms in the mind of others, ALL that the individual is in essence. His total character is brought to mind as his name is mentioned. Most of the names in the Old Testament have a definite meaning of character. C/f. Moses (drawn out); Jacob (trickster or supplanter); Israel (Prince of God). The Greek word for name (on'-om-ah) means "character." The Hebrew (shem) shame, means a "mark" or memorial of individuality; by impl.= authority, honor, character. The Bible speaks of the "Book Of The Living." (Psa. 69:28; 139:16) Psalm 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. = "living" refers to raw flesh *(khah'-ee)* Psalm 139:16 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. (KJV) Today, we want to consider the Holy, Exalted, & Precious NAME of JESUS! I. The Father Gave To His Only Begotten Son His Name. Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save His people from their sins. (KJV) Matthew 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. (KJV) Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. (KJV) Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (KJV) JESUS – SAVIOR Both Greek & Hebrew = *JESUS (Jehoshua)* = Jehovah Is Salvation, & is used 972 times in the Bible. II. The Father of Jesus, The Almighty God, exalted His Son's Name. Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (KJV) HE did this because His Son became obedient even to the two-fold deaths of the cross... dying spiritually & bodily. The "wherefore" refers to: Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (KJV) exalted = *hoop-er-oop-so'-o* = to elevate above others; raise to the highest position. To elevate and exalt above ALL names! The Father exalted JESUS, HIS SON... He did not exalt Himself! But He humbled Himself, and thus became able to become obedient to the will of the Father... which was to become a man and became sin for man. The form that this humility took was: Philippians 2:6-8 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross! (NIV) Charles B. Williams (CBW) translation: Though He was existing in the nature of God, He did not think His being on an equality with God a thing to be selfishly grasped, but He laid it aside (alm.= took the force out of the fact), as He took on the nature of a slave and became like other men. Because He was recognized as a man , in reality as well as in outward form, He finally humiliated Himself in obedience so as to die, even to die on a cross. This is why God has highly exalted Him, and given Him the Name that is above every other name." The admonition at the beginning of this Scripture is to each of us, and is the LORD'S appeal to His children who are true offsprings of this One Incorruptible Seed... to have this same kind of humble & obedient mind found in His Only Uniquely Begotten Son. Stop acting from motives of selfish strife or petty ambitions, but in humility practice treating one another as your superiors. Stop looking after your own interests only, but practice looking out for the interests of others, too." (CBW) This is paralleled in the matching sentences in v. 1-2, He appeals to our union with Christ Jesus... that we, His children live in harmony with each other. He appeals to the persuasive power in God's kind of love... that each of us foster the same disposition of love. Because we each have a common share in the Holy Spirit... Let your hearts be beating in unison. Since there is in God's true children, tenderheartedness & sympathy... Set your minds on ONE PURPOSE! Stop acting from selfish motives and petty ambitions, and exalt Jesus! III. This Is What We Need To Set Our Minds On & Proclaim To the World. There Is No Other Name By Which Man Can Be Saved From Sin. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (KJV) There is NO Other Name Through Whom We may reach the Almighty God through prayer, except Jesus. John 14:13-14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it]. (KJV) John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJV) There is but One Who is to pass judgment upon each individual = JESUS. John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: (KJV) Acts 17:30-31 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: ³¹Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead. (KJV) JESUS AND HIS EXALTED NAME CANNOT BE IGNORED. At some point in each person's existence, each will do these things: In the Name of Jesus: Philippians 2:10-11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; ¹¹And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Every eye shall see HIM, the genuine, true Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (KJV) Will see as Sacrificial LAMB, or LION of wrath. IF YOU are ashamed to confess JESUS and ALL that HIS HOLY NAME stands for today...even NOW, he will be ashamed of you when HE comes. Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (KJV) TODAY, NOW, IS GOD'S ACCEPTABLE TIME TO SAVE YOU ! 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 We then, [as] workers together [with him], beseech [you] also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. ²(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.) (KJV) Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (KJV) WHAT MUST YOU DO TO BE SAVED? Repentance toward God; Faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Rom. 10:9-13.

	The End