The Names of God
Life & Light Community Church
Message from 8/13/2022
Life & Light Community Church began in the early months of 2020. What began as an opportunity for me, my wife and step-kids to continue to worship together, has now evolved into a ministry that has expanded to include close friends, family, and those who are simply hungry for the word of God. You can find us on Facebook, so please, feel free to reach out and join us.
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:12–13 (NASB95)
Scripture tells us that “whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13).” But which name are you calling upon? Yes, that’s right, our Lord God has more than one name. The Names of God, which we are looking at today, are found in the Old Testament. Each name shows a different characteristic or attribute of God. These names are revealed to those who needed God, and a specific part of God, at that moment in time. There are some amazing things revealed about God in His names and those things will help the Christ follower develop a deeper faith.
This message will seek to help the Christ follower understand why The Names of God are important to develop a deeper faith.
The Names of God help the Christ follower know the One who has called them into fellowship on a deeper, more personal level.
1). The importance of El Shaddi to the Christ follower.
The first name of God we will explore is El Shaddi. El Shaddi means “The All Sufficient One, The God of the Mountains,” and “God Almighty. This is the name God used when He confirmed His covenant with Abraham. Consider what we read in the following Scriptures:
In Genesis 17: 1-5 we read these words to Abraham:
“Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.” Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. “No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.”
Genesis 17:1–5 (NASB95)
“Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him. God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; You shall no longer be called Jacob, But Israel shall be your name.” Thus He called him Israel. God also said to him, “I am God Almighty; Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, And kings shall come forth from you. “The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, And I will give the land to your descendants after you.”
Genesis 35:9–12 (NASB95)
“Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. When it was told to Jacob, “Behold, your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel collected his strength and sat up in the bed. Then Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and He said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession.’ Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are.”
Genesis 48:1–5 (NASB95)
“From the God of your father who helps you, And by the Almighty who blesses you With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.”
Genesis 49:25 (NASB95)
“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”
Psalm 90:1–2 (NASB95)
I mentioned we would see some amazing things about our God, and it begins in Genesis 17 when God called Abraham to walk before Him and be blameless. God Almighty promised to make Abraham the father of a multitude of nations. All of this has happened in Abraham. He walked blamelessly before the Lord and has certainly become the father of a multitude of nations. God Almighty continues to call His people to walk blamelessly before Him. In the New Testament we read the words,
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48 (NASB95)
God Almighty has blessed His people and continues to bless them today. He has blessed them with the blessings of heaven. Paul tells us,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” Ephesians 1:3 (NASB95)
God Almighty is the eternal One who has also given birth to the mountains. But perhaps the most amazing things seen in the name El Shaddi happens in Genesis 35 where Jacob is given the name Israel. He is commanded by God Almighty to go forth and multiply and then God makes an incredible statement that becomes a prophecy fulfilled in our time. God tells Israel a nation and a company of nations shall come from him.
In Genesis 48 Israel claims the sons of Joseph as his own and blesses them. Israel crosses his hands as he blesses Ephraim and Manasseh, placing Ephraim, the younger, before Manasseh, the older. Manasseh becomes the nation destined to be the greatest nation in the world, while Ephraim becomes the company of nations destined to be the greatest empire ever seen. Why is this important? Because the United States, the greatest nation the world has ever seen, is from the descendants of Manasseh. The company of nations was fulfilled in Great Britain, the greatest Empire the world has ever seen, comes from the descendants of Ephraim.
El Shaddi – the All-Sufficient source of our blessings. No problem is too big for God.
Questions for discussion/reflection:
In what area of your life is El Shaddi calling you to walk blamelessly before Him today?
How has El Shaddi blessed you in this season of life?
How is El Shaddi revealing His eternal existence to you during this season of life?
The Names of God help the Christ follower know the One who has called them into fellowship on a deeper, more personal level.
2). The importance of Jehovah Jireh to the Christ follower.
The next name we will examine is Jehovah Jireh. The name Jehovah Jireh means “The Lord Will Provide.” This is the name used by Abraham when God provided the ram for the sacrifice instead of Isaac. Consider the following Scriptures:
In Genesis 22 we read,
“Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.”
Genesis 22:13–14 (NASB95)
Psalm 23 is another Scripture where we can find Jehovah Jireh as He provides for all of our needs throughout that beloved Psalm.
The Lord will provide for all of our needs, no matter how great or how small. Yeshua, the Son of God, came as the Bread of Life and our Passover Lamb, providing for all of our needs – physical and spiritual. In addition, as our Shepherd, God provide for all of our needs – rest for the body; peace in chaos; restoration for the soul; guidance in our daily lives; comfort in difficult times; strength and courage in the face of adversity; discipline and correction when needed; food for physical health; protection against spiritual attack; we leave blessings, grace and mercy wherever we go; and an eternal resting place.
God meets all of our needs, including sending His Son to die for our sins.
Questions for discussion/reflection:
How is Jehovah Jireh providing for you today?
Is there an area of your life that needs the provision of Jehovah Jireh?
What is the provision of Jehovah Jireh you are most aware of at this season of life?
The Names of God help the Christ follower know the One who has called them into fellowship on a deeper, more personal level.
3). The importance of Yahweh to the Christ follower.
The final name of God we will examine in this message is Yahweh. Yahweh means “I AM, The One Who Is,” and “The Self-Existent One.” This is the personal name of God given to Moses. It is translated as LORD in English versions of the Bible. Consider the following Scriptures:
“Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3:13–14 (NASB95)
“For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6 (NASB95)
God is who we need Him to be – His name my change given our circumstances and our needs. Throughout the Old Testament, the name of God corresponds to the needs of the people, or the person, at that moment in time. God does not change – He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Our needs change and thus a new characteristic or attribute of God is revealed to us in that need.
Questions for discussion/reflection:
Who is Yahweh for you today?
What is Yahweh revealing to you about Himself in this season of life?
What area of life do you need Yahweh to speak into today?
The Names of God help the Christ follower know the One who has called them into fellowship on a deeper, more personal level.
These are but a few of The Names of God but now that you have a better understanding of them, I pray you can call on His name in a more personal and profound way. As He speaks into your life, may you sense His presence in a new way, His provisions in abundance and His love for you in all things. Pay close attention as Yahweh reveals a new part of His attributes or a new characteristic that you may soon be needing. He is who we need Him to be, God Almighty, the Lord who will provide.
We do all things for the glory of God through Christ our Lord,
Amen and amen.
Next Week: John 6:1-15
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