The name of Jesus is powerful because Jesus saves us from the sin separating us from God, whose holiness frees us from the sin separating us from Jesus. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 KJV). The adversary hates the name of Jesus both because he loses followers, and he can no longer be saved from his own sins. Jesus, meaning ‘Jehovah is salvation,’ seeks to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). OT Israel had a limited view of salvation for the gentile world, just as the NT church has a limited view of salvation as only delivering us from the penalty of sin, but not from the necessity of having to sin. “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Thessalonians 5:23). The “name of Jesus”: (1) is essential to “receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38), (2) was used for a lame man to “rise up and walk” (3:6), (3) was proclaimed, taught, spoken, and “preached boldly” by early disciples (4:10, 18; 5:40; 8:12; 9:27), and (4) was used to command a demon out of a fortune teller, “in the name of” (16:18). Why such critical importance for the “name of Jesus”? Because Jesus is the tip of the spear, the point of the arrow, the edge of the knife that defeats our true “adversary the devil” (1Peter 5:8), who tempts us to sin. But, of more importance, Jesus has promised to save us from ourselves. “He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). Either sin separates us from God or God separates us from sin. LORD, You are the God of Salvation, who is able to save “to the uttermost” them that come to You through the name of Jesus (Hebrews 7:25). We do not want to waste our time with gods many and lords many, but only You. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). In Jesus name, we pray. Amen and amen.
Christ
Persecution Grows the Church (Revelation 7:9)
Saul of Tarsus (the future Apostle Paul) was the berserker, who wreaked havoc on the Early Church, but the churches “were multiplied” (Acts 9:31 KJV); nonetheless, because persecution grew the Church. Likewise, a “great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” (Revelation 7:9 KJV) will respond to the Gospel witnessed by the 144,000. That multitude will be those martyred by antichrist. “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (7:14). A seeming paradox is the blood of Christian martyrs grows the Church. Tertullian (155-240 AD) defended the Christian faith before the governors of the Roman Empire. He said, “The oftener we are mown down by you, the more in number we grow; the blood of Christians is seed” (The Apology, 50.13). Though the Vanity Fair approach has been enormously successful in limiting Spiritual Christianity, even such measures will become unnecessary during the final end game of the Tribulation Week. LORD, grant unto Your children the patience of faith of Christ, Stephen, Antipas, and Your Two Witnesses that we may, too, witness a good confession for You, even unto death. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen.
Movies With Bad Endings
No one likes a movie with a bad ending. God especially knows it. The devil even admits it, so his antichrist attempts to masquerade as God in the Temple. But, in the end, “fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:9-10 KJV). Then, why does all the rest of angelic and human history have to transpire before then? The Almighty knows everything He has to accomplish to fulfill all righteousness to get to the point it could be said, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (21:3-4). Though we look at all the upcoming events with concern, we want this final outcome. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Perfect Peace of Mind
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace [Hebrew, shâlôm, completeness, tranquility], whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee” (Isaiah 26:3 KJV). In Scripture, peace is not a lack of warfare or hostilities with man. Perfect peace is a state of mind, which comes from absolute confidence and trust in God. Said our soon-to-be-crucified Saviour, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). Do not be downcast! “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (16:33).
Christ In You
“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27 KJV). What can be more balanced and sound of doctrine and practice than “in all things [Christ] might have the preeminence” (1:18)? ‘Fundamentalists’ stress soundness of doctrine about Christ. Getting people saved would be their primary goal. By comparison, the ‘other evangelicals’ stress developing a relationship with Christ. Discipling converts would be their emphasis. Both are essential. Christianity is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (1:27) with soundness of doctrine about Christ’s saving and continually sanctifying grace. The Pharisees did get right the need for obedience to God’s law, but they strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel because they forgot Yahweh wanted a people, who knew Him. “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). Automatons who obeyed without heart were not desirable. “And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). May our God receive for Himself a people walking in loving obedience with an ever increasing understanding of Him. Amen.
Did God Need to Become Flesh?
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15 KJV). The Seed War was declared by Yahweh between Himself and the Serpent. He would supernaturally place His seed in Mary to give us Jesus, while the Serpent has long sought to do the same giving us the Nephilim. “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God [fallen angels] came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown” (Genesis 6:4 ESV). God would give us His Christ, while the Serpent will give us his substitute Christ, the Antichrist (a Nephilim).
Selfishness Is Not
Selfishness is not merely physical self preservation — “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church” (Ephesians 5:29 KJV) — for even Christ acted similarly. Then, loving yourself more than God first or your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39) is the epitome of selfishness. For that reason, selfishness is the essence of sin.
Concept of Delay
The concept of delay in spiritual warfare is more important in understanding Bible prophecy than it’s simple name would indicate. For whatever reason the Sovereign Lord deems appropriate, He may delay the return of the Messiah. Though delay puts off the ultimate defeat and subsequent judgment of Satan, the LORD gains by the additional opportunity for humanity to switch their allegiance to Yahweh. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2Peter 3:9 KJV).
Just Another God
If I told you that Jesus was just another god, you should be rightly offended. If respected scientists, government officials, or even religious leaders announced Jesus was simply a well received alien (as in UFOs, UAPs), you would be justifiably angry. You know what you know. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6 KJV). In the innermost sanctum of our soul, we cling to the truth we live by. “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (2Timothy 1:12 KJV). Amen and amen.
Good News
Disciples must talk about bad news in order to bring up the good news of the gospel. The world does not always want to listen, and even fellow disciples may weary as well. “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11 KJV). Christian, your greatest advertisement for Christ is the blessed, happy life you live for the LORD, in the meantime. “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14 KJV).
We Need A Miracle 
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