Beloved Names of God...series "Husband"

"Husband"

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 31:31

 

• Name of God the Father
• God is referred to as a "husband" twice in the KJV.
• Husband is an old Norse term for a house holder
• In this verse, God made a new covenant, writing HIs commandments in the people's hearts.

Referring to God as a Husband and His Church as the Bride is a problem for some men. But, as is usually the case with God, His expectations aren't the same as ours. Guys needn't worry about wearing a dress to the wedding! The sole expectation of the Bride is love and adoration for the Husband.

The old term for a husband, husbonda, meant "house-holder" in days when a home was built and defended with physical strength. While some men might still protect their homes that way, the wise ones rely on faith for their family's security.

When it comes to securing the whole world by his strength, what man would be arrogant or foolish enough to take that on? Relax, guys. When it comes to the marriage between heaven and earth, settle for the loving role- because when it comes to being the Husband, God really is the only man for the job!
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Come back next week when we will look at "Father of Lights"

 



Beloved Names of God...."Horn of Salvation" (Need to finish this)

"Horn of Salvation"

 

 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

 

• Name of God the Son
• Jesus is referred to as the "horn of salvation" once in the KJV.
• The horn was a symbol of strength and also of anointing.
• After the birth of his son, John, Zechariah uses his newly restored voice to praise God and predict the coming of Jesus.

 

The horn plays various roles in the Bible. In Exodus, a blast from a horn let people know they might approach the mountain where God dwelt. Samuel anointed Saul with oil from a horn. Zadok the priest performed the same ceremony for Solomon.

 

When the Tabernacle was being raised in the time of Moses, an alter was built of bronze-overlaid acacia wood. At each corner was a horn where the priest would offer blood sacrifices. A tradition arose that people might seek sanctuary in the Tabernacle and be protected while they clung to a horn. In a real way, these horns were the people's salvation. But, as with all things man-made, the tradition wasn't perfect. Solomon had Joab killed while he clung to one of the horns hoping to be spared.

 

Jesus is the way to approach the Father, so He wonderfully fulfills the role of the announcing horn. He is God's anointed like no other ever was, and those who cling to Him - even though the world be against them- will find salvation that no other power can ever take away.

 

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Next week look at the name "Husband"

 



Beloved Names of God...series "Morning Star"

Morning Star

 I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Revelation 22:16 KJV

 

• Name of God the Son
• Jesus refers to himself as the "morning start" twice in Revelations.
• The morning start is traditionally recognized as the bright, distinctive "star" ( actually the plant Venus) that appears just before sunrise.
• In the book of Revelations, Jesus affirmed His lineage from King David. He also said that those who obey His commandments will be rewarded with eternal life while those who didn't would be left outside. Almost as a seal upon this promise, and perhaps signifying the dawning of a new way, He calls Himself "the bright and morning star."

Traditionally Venus is referred to as the morning star. The planet often appears in the eastern sky as the brightest "star," most visible as night fades and morning approaches. For people across the ages, Venus signaled that night was over and the new day had come. Jesus fulfills the same role for us. His life signified the end of dark times when sin reigned supreme, and the beginning of new life in the light of God's forgiveness.

 

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Next week we will look at "Horn of Salvation"



Beloved Names of God...series "Gift of God

Gift of God

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 KJV

 

• Name of God the Son
• Jesus is referred to as the "gift of God" twice in the KJV.
• Jesus is the epitome of all that God had to offer mankind, and the foundation of a new covenant. A true gift indeed!
• Jesus was speaking to the woman by the well. His disciples had left just before she arrived (as if it had been planned!). He told her the Messiah stood in front of her. Completely convinced, she became an unacknowledged apostle to the Samaritans.

Do you write a thank-you not when you receive a gift?

 

There's no denying that God truly blesses us with many gifts: babies, spouses, love, singing, stars, gainful employment, memories, community, etc., etc.

 

Actually we tend to give God less appreciation than He deserves because almost everything is a gift from God. You couldn't write enough thank-you notes for all that...so why not send Him a thank-you life?  

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Next Week we will look at "Morning Star"

 

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Beloved Names of God ....Shield

Shield

"For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous;

with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield."

Psalm 5:12

 

• Name of God the Father
• God is referred to as being or providing a "Shield" twenty-one times in the KJV.
• A shield is a tool of protection, typically in battle.
• King David must have been having a hard time with double-dealers. In Psalm 5, he prays that God will allow deceitful, evil people to fall by their own misdeeds and that God will protect those who are walking the straight and narrow path as if with a shield.

The verse is also a statement of Kind David's devotion, and a call for those who share it to rejoice in the protection of the Lord.

Baylor University once carried out a survey on attitudes towards religion. In this seemingly increasingly secular world, more than half the adults surveyed felt they had been protected by angels at some time in their lives. Even more amazingly, 20 percent of those who claimed no religion felt they had been similarly protected.

 

Despite the worlds denials, God is still at work. In many ways, He remains a Shield for the righteous.

 

Beloved Names of God...series "Shade"

"Shade"

 

"The LORD is thy keeper: The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

Psalm 121:5 KJV

 

• Name of God the Father
• God is referred to as "Shade" once in the KJV.
• The term right -hand man usually means your most dependable friend or your most able helper. In this instance, God will be close enough to cast a shadow on your right hand, and He is both your Friend and your Helper.
• In one of the most comforting passages of the Bible, the psalm writer (probably Kind David) assured us that God does not sleep and protects us by day and by night. He will preserve us at our going out and our coming in, He will protect us "for evermore" (Psalm 121:8 kjv)

Shade from the sun is more important, and more subtle, than most people realize. Without the earth's magnetic field being in place, powerful solar winds would have long ago stripped the atmosphere from our planet. And why does the Earth have a magnetic field when it isn't a magnet? Albert Einstein described this as one of the greatest mysteries in physics.
It's either a great mystery, or the Lord is indeed a very great Shade.

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Come back next week when we will look at "Shield"

 

 

Beloved Names of God...series..."Maker"

Maker

Shall mortal man be more just than God?

shall a man be more pure than his maker?

Job 4:17 kjv

 

 

• Name of God the Father
• God is referred to as the "Maker" eighteen times in the KJV.
• God, the Maker, made the universe out of nothing and man out of dust.
• Job cursed the day of his birth because of all the "evils" that had befallen him. His friend Eliphaz encouraged him to stay firm in faith to a God who must surely know what He is doing. Of course, God did know what He was doing: He was proving to the devil that an ordinary man of faith would stay firm in his love for the Lord despite Satan's worst works.

There's a joke where scientist challenge God to a creation competition. God takes a handful of dirt and makes a man. Unimpressed, the scientist reaches down....."Ah!" says God. "First, make your own dirt!"

 

Mankind makes lots of impressive stuff. But he is simply rearranging the raw materials the Maker provided. So where does God's work stop and man's stuff begin? It never happens. Even man is part of the work of the Maker.

 

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Next week we will look at the name "Shade" See you then. :O)



Beloved Names of God....series "Refiner's Fire"

"Refiner's Fire"

But who may abide the day of his coming?

And who shall stand when he appeareth?

for he is like a refiner's fire.

Malachi 3:2 KJV

 

 

• Name of God the Son
• Jesus is referred to as a "refiner's fire" once in the KJV.
• A refiner is someone who heats metal that has been mined from the ground to remove its impurities. Like a refiner's fire, Jesus, too, is a purifying force.
• Malachi was warning the priests in the Temple of Jerusalem that they had better start living what they were teaching because God's messenger could arrive at any time.

Metals do not come from the earth in a pure state. If you've ever seen iron ore being smelted in a furnace, you probably noticed the violence the process entails. All the action takes place on the surface. It is a turbulent mix of burning black and red slag. But underneath, the iron is getting purer. The slag is the dirt, stone, and other undesirable stuff the iron has been trapped in. Burning the slag and skimming it off is the most effective way to remove it, but it's somewhat reminiscent of hell.

 

We might rail against the Lord when we suffer, when we lose, and when our hurt is more than we can bear. But in addition to being a fisher of men, He is a miner of souls. He is trying to extract us from this world. But He doesn't want all our nasty sin to come with us. He wants our purified soul. At the end of the smelting process, iron becomes stronger than it ever was. Likewise, after we are purified, we will be glorious.

• 

Beloved Names of God...series "Power of the Highest"

"Power of the Highest"

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 KJV

 

• Name of God the Holy Spirit
• The Holy Spirit is referred to as the "Power of the Highest" once in the KJV.
• The Holy Spirit is the invisible, but no less powerful, aspect of God the Father.
• In this verse, an angel is telling a surprised young woman that she will bear the child of God.

If God the Father appeared to you, well, you would probably notice Him. Moses certainly did! If Jesus came to visit, you would surely recognize Him. But the Holy Spirit? What would that look like?

 

When you think of electricity, you might think of power lines, appliances, plugs, and sockets. But these tools simply channel a power that is impossible to see. Nuclear power conjures images of weapons, submarines, and massive power plants; but again, these images merely imply how the energy is distributed- not the energy itself.

 

Both these energy sources are a part of creation, put in place for our benefit, but they can't be seen. We only become aware of them through their results. Those results have changed our world. So how much more impressive, how much more world- changing then, would the power of the One who created creation be?  

 

We never see the Holy Spirit, but, like electrical and nuclear powers, the Power of the Highest is visible through its results. And, in the instance that angel was preparing Mary for, those results were wonderful indeed!
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Next week we will look at "Refiner's Fire" See you then. Hopefully I will be able to get a few more posts put up between now and then. :O)

Beloved Names of God..."Jesus of Nazareth" need to finish....

 

 

"Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him,

of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazerath, the son of Joseph."

John 1:45



• Name of God the Son
• Jesus is referred to as "Jesus of Nazareth" seventeen times in the KJV.
• Nazareth is the hometown of Jesus. The meaning of the name is disputed, but it may derive from ne'tser, meaning "branch," in accordance with the prophecy of Isaiah.
• In this verse, Jesus was gathering His disciples around Him. Nathanael doubted that anything good could come from such a small, unimpressive town, which lends to the reality of how humble Jesus' origins really were.  

What's the name of that little town along the road? The place where they're less sophisticated, less cultured, a little...unrefined? Imagine you heard that someone from that vicinity claimed to be the savior of mankind. Would you bother going to see them, or would you dismiss them as crazy right then and there?
Nathanael took the second option, but moments after meeting Jesus, he changed his mind! May we be as open-minded when we meet Him.

 

 

Beloved Names of God ....series "Jesus of Nazareth"

"Jesus of Nazareth"

"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 kjv

 

• Name of God the son
• Jesus is referred to as "Jesus of Nazareth" seventeen times in the KJV.
• Nazareth is the hometown of Jesus. The meaning of the name is disputed, but it may derive from ne'tser, meaning "branch," in accordance with the prophecy of Isaiah.
• In this verse, Jesus was gathering His disciples around Him. Nathanael doubted that anything good could come from such a small, unimpressive town, which lends to the reality of how humble Jesus' origins really were.

What's the name of that little town along the road? The place where they're less sophisticated, less cultured, a little...unrefined? Imagine you heard that someone from that vicinity claimed to be the savior of mankind. Would you bother going to see them, or would you dismiss them as crazy right then and there?

Nathanael took the second option, but moments after meeting Jesus, he changed his mind! May we be as open- minded when we meet Him.

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Next week we will look at "Power of the Highest" see you them :O)

Beloved Names of God...series "King of Kings"

"King of Kings"

"And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written,

KING of KINGS, and LORD of LORDS."

Revelations 19:16 NASB

 

• Name of God the Son
• Jesus is referred to as King of Kings three times in the NASB.
• In empire times, it was not unusual for one ruler to have dominion over many less powerful rulers, but the terms King of Kings and Lord of Lords are used here to indicate the One whom all rulers should kneel in honor.
• In the book of Revelations, John paints an awesome and terrible vision of Jesus at the Second Coming. His name is The Word of God, but across His blood-soaked robe is the name King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

 

Not a king, but perhaps the most powerful royal ever Queen Victoria ruled the British Empire at its height, encompassing once-quarter of the worlds population. Even so, she knew where true authority lay.

She once wished Jesus would return in her lifetime. When asked why, she replied, "Because I should so love to lay my crown at His blessed feet."

Victoria was wise enough to know who the King of Kings- and queen really was.

 

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Next week we will look at "Jesus of Nazareth" 

Beloved Names of God..series "Wall of Fire"

Wall of Fire

 

"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 KJV

 

 

• Name of God the Father
• God is referred to as a "wall of fire" once in the KJV.
• In an age when fireproof materials were all but inconceivable, a wall of fire would have been considered an unbreachable defense.
• Zechariah was predicting a return to glory for Jerusalem - a city once again under God's protection. The scattered Jews would return from exile and people of many nations would worship in Jerusalem. it would be a time when God would dwell in the city. Zechariah may have been predicting Jesus or the Second coming.

 

IF you have a computer, it is probably protected by a firewall. When you go online, the firewall filters all messages, allowing the permissible ones through and blocking potentially harmful ones.

 

God, Ezekiel promised, would be that kind of protection for Jerusalem, It wouldn't need city walls; it would have a divine Wall of Fire.

 

The Lord can be a Wall of Fire for our lives, too. Jesus activate a program called prayer- it's the best firewall around.

 

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Next week we will look at "Quickening Spirit"

Beloved Names of God..series "Plant of Renown"

Plant of Renown

"And I will raise up for them a plan of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.

Ezekiel 34:29 KJV

 

• Name of God the Son
• Jesus is referred to as a "plant of renown" once in the KJV.
• The term Plan of Renown may have been another way of referring to the Branch of Jesse, a description ( and prediction) of the coming Messiah. In talking about being hungry no more, Ezekiel was probably referring to the Plant of Renown satisfying our spiritual hunger.
• Ezekiel reminded the Israelites that, despite present troubles God was still with them and would be their deliverance.

After all the uproar about genetically modified crops, there are still people who think that what the scientist are trying to achieve is a find and worthwhile goal. The plans they want to "create" will, they hope, thrive in harsher environments, provide a greater yield, and help sustain life. Of course, we wouldn't have to manipulate our agriculture into working overtime if people could be convinced to turn away with war, corruption, and greed, concentrating instead on "Love they neighbor,"

 

It was a Plant of Renown who gave that advice. The Holy Spirit planted a seed that grew and lived in such a hostile environment that it was killed a mere three years after glowering. But in those three years, it produced a yield of first twelve, then hundreds, and then millions of others. And as for sustaining life, the Plant of Renown sustains lives of renown, and no just until the next harvest- forever!

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Next week we will look at "Wall of Fire"

 

• 

 

Beloved Names of God...series "Firstfruits"

Firstfruits

 

"But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits;

 afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming..."

1 Corinthians 15:23

 

• Name of God the Son
• Jesus is referred to as "firstfruits" twice in the KJV.
• The firstfruits were traditionally the part of a crop, or the part of an increase, which was offered to God as a sacrifice.
• Paul told the church at Corinth that Christ had conquered death and through His victory would come ever lasting life for His people.

 

Throughout the Old Testament, people were directed to offer God their firstfruits- or, the best they had to offer. If they offered wheat, it had to be the freshest, their offerings of bread had to be leavened, and only animals without defect could be sacrificed. It might seem a lot to ask of something that was...well, basically going to be destroyed by fire on the alter.

 

But then God made a sacrifice for us. He didn't say, "I am God, so I don't owe anybody anything"- although He could have, how could we have argued? He didn't offer us a few years of better harvests or generations of peace, although both were well within His power, and people would have been grateful.

 

No. Instead of divine gimmicks, He offered the very best He had to give, His only begotten son, His own Firstfruits, to be destroyed upon a rough wooden cross. He didn't do it because He had no other choice. He did it because He loves us and wanted to guarantee our eternal salvation. Surrounded as we are by that kind of love, how could we possible offer anything but our very best in return?

 

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Next week we will look at "Plant of Renown"

 



 

 

 



Beloved Names of God ....series "Author and Finisher of Our Faith"

Author and Finisher of Our Faith

 

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

 

• Name of God the Son
• Jesus is referred to as the "author and finisher of our faith" once in the KJV,
• As Author and Finisher, Jesus is the creator, fulfiller, and the very last word on Christianity.
• The author of Hebrews urged his listeners to be good examples because many were watching them. He urged them to turn from temptation, knowing that the prize waiting for them was an eternity in heaven in the company of a faithful Savior.

 

Jesus Christ came telling parables, or stories. Like most stories, they had beginnings, middles and ends- but they often left people feeling unsatisfied and confused. Likewise, his life was the story of the creation of Christianity. It had a wonderful beginning, a little-known middle, and a glorious end- and millions of people have asked, "What was it all about?" since then.

 



As God the Father, He authored His story at the beginning of time. As the Son, He brought it to a conclusion and He told us "whodunit." But, just like those puzzling parables seemed to have more to them, He had more to offer after His death and resurrection. He promised us a sequel. The Sequel would be like no other story ever told; it will have a beginning, it might have a middle- but it will never, ever end!
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Next week we will look at "Firstfruits"



Beloved Names of God...series "Majesty on High"

Majesty on High

"Who being the brightness of His glory...when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."

Hebrews 1:3 KJV

 

• Name of God the Father
• God is referred to as the "Majesty on high" once in the KJV
• Majesty is defined as "grandeur, regal bearing, imposing character, having greatness or supreme authority," Kings and queens have traditionally been referred to as "Your Majesty."
• The writer of Hebrews describes how God used to speak to mankind through prophets, but in later years He spoke to the world through the person of Jesus Christ. And now Jesus has been raised up to sit at the right hand of the Majesty on High.

The term Your Majesty has been applied to some doubtful characters. Frederick William of Prussia marched his soldiers through his bedroom and Queen Juana of Castile had such a jealous streak that she even kept pretty women away from her dead husband's coffin. Nebuchadnezzar from the book of Daniel ate grass!

 

Of course, there have been good, civilized kings and queens, too, but if we want real majesty, we need to look higher. The throne of heaven is where we will find the true, unflawed Majesty on High.

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Sorry I am late getting this posted. We are having temps in the 60's - right now it is 60 and cloudy and overcast. I think I am going to go to the park and get a walk in. I hope you all are doing well.

 

Next week we will look at "Author and Finisher of Our Faith" See you then! :O)  

Beloved Names of God...series "Dwelling Place"

"Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations."

Psalm 90:1 KJV

 

 

• Name of God the Father
• God is referred to as a "dwelling place" once in the KJV.
• The psalm writer uses the term dwelling place to signify the place where humankind truly belongs.
• Psalm 90 paints a picture of mankind turned loose to vent its youthful (and destructive) nature and suffer from the disapproval of God. But from the beginning, God has always welcomed us back to Him. In our few fleeting years on earth, we should try to acquire wisdom and an appreciation of the Lord before returning, like wayward children, to our final Dwelling Place- our loving, patient Father!

What are houses made of? Timber? Brick? Concrete? Corrugated iron? Leaves and branches? Man may have processed them, but God made them all!

 

Since the days of Adam and Eve, we have called our physical man-made structures home, but our souls have always been most at home with God. Only when we lay aside the shelter of our divinely inspired bodies will we really know what it is like to be home- in a Dwelling Place we need never leave again!

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Next week we will look at "Majesty on High" :O) 

Beloved Names of God....Restorer

Restorer

 

"He restoreth my soul:

 he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

Psalm 23:3 kjv

 

•  Name of God the Father
• The name "Restorer" is mentioned seven times in the KJV.
• Restore means "make things good as new."
• Psalm 23:3 is part of one of the most famous pieces of scripture ever. Believed to have been written by King David, the psalm begins, "The Lord is my Shepherd," a tribute from a kind who cared for sheep in his youth. The line, "Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death," is often taken as a description of Jesus' path to eternal life.

Imagine how amazing it must have been, walking in the perfect environment of Eden with God right there by your side! Mankind has become so trapped by its illusion of independence that such a relationship has been reduced to a myth- or at best, an impossible dream.

 

But it's not impossible. The history of man's interaction with God has been one of mutual intimacy. We can get back to that if we trust in the Restorer!

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Come back next Sabbath as we look at "Dwelling Place" Have a good week-end! :O)

 

 

Beloved Names of God....Emmanuel

Emmanuel

 

"Behold, a virgin... shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name Emmanuel."

Matthew 1:23 KJV

 

• Name of God
• Jesus is referred to as "Emmanuel" once in the KJV.
• Emmanuel is the theophoric name - in other words, a name containing the name of God. El refers to God and Imanu means "with us."
• Joseph, a descendant of David and an honorable man, was "espoused" to Mary, but the marriage had not yet been consummated when she was impregnated by the Holy Ghost. Joseph, not knowing of the divine plan, was considering sending her away to avoid shame on both sides when an angel explained the true nature of the Child.

Mary's pregnancy must have brought images of financial ruin to Joseph's mind! The disgrace would surely cost him customers and his good name. But once the angel explained that God would be living in his house, Joseph stepped up and played a heroic role.

 

The name Emmanuel and the reassurance that God actually is with us is the greatest comfort we could ever be given. If God is with us, it doesn't matter who is against us!

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Next week we will look at the name "Restorer" :O)