The Names of God Pt. V

The Names of God Pt. V
Life & Light Community Church
Message from 10/8/2022

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 the name El Olam to the Christ follower.

The first name we will examine is El Olam, meaning the Eternal God or the Everlasting God. El Olam is the Beginning and the End; He is the One who works His purposes throughout time; He strengthens the weary. This name pictures the eternal attributes of Jesus. There are three Scripture references we will look at to help us understand the name El Olam. Our first Scripture comes from Genesis 21:33.

“Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.”
Genesis 21:33 (NASB95)

Prior to this verse, Abraham and Abimelech have made a covenant to deal rightly with one another. Abraham then complained about a well the servants of Abimelech seized from Abraham. As a sign he is dealing honestly with Abimelech, Abraham offers seven ewes as a witness he is speaking the truth – that Abraham dug the well. Once again Abraham and Abimelech make a covenant, Abraham plants a tamarisk tree and calls upon El Olam – the Everlasting God. God is with us at all times; He sees what we do, He knows what we think, He hears what we say, for it is He who is working His purposes throughout time.

Our second Scripture comes from Psalm 90:1-2:

“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)

El Olam existed before the mountains, the earth, or the world. He has been our dwelling place forever – before time began.

Our final Scripture comes from Isaiah 40:27-31 and is likely very familiar for most of us.

“Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”
Isaiah 40:27–31 (NASB95)

This very familiar passage comes in the first book of the second half of Isaiah and considers the greatness of God. The Everlasting God does not grow weary or tired. God is not too great to care, for He gives power to those who wait on or hope in Him, and they exchange their strength for His.

For the Christ follower today, there are several New Testament passages that complete the picture of El Olam. In Romans 10:12-13, Paul reminds us that those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved, however, Paul also asks a few very good questions regarding how people will know how to call on the Lord when they have not believed in or heard of the Lord from someone tell them of the Lord. In the prologue to John’s gospel account, John opens his account by telling us about the Word that existed in the beginning, this word was with God, and in fact, was God Himself. In verse 3 John tells us that ALL THINGS were made through the Word. Finally, in Revelation 1, John has a vision of the Risen, Glorified Lord who speaks to John saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and is to come, the Almighty.” And in verse 17 Jesus says, “I am the first and the last…” As Christ followers it is our responsibility to tell others about this Risen and Glorified Lord who is with us always, from the beginning, the first and the Last, El Olam, the Everlasting God.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How is El Olam with you during this season of life?
How is El Olam providing strength for you today?
How is El Olam first and last in your 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 the name Jehovah-Sabaoth to the Christ follower.

The second name we will examine today is Jehovah-Sabaoth, meaning the Lord of Hosts or the Lord of Armies. The Lord of Hosts always fulfills His promises. This name is often translated as the Lord Almighty. In 1 Samuel 17 we find the account of David and Goliath. In verse 45 David calls out the Philistine giant and bluntly tells the giant he is coming in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of armies this Philistine has been taunting. It is the Lord of Hosts who fights with and for David this day, defeating the Philistine giant through the shepherd boy and his slingshot.

In Psalm 46:7 the psalmist tells us the Lord of Hosts is always with us. This is a Psalm of trust and thanksgiving. Thanksgiving for the Lord of Hosts being the stronghold during trouble and trust that He is always with us. Finally, in Malachi 1:10-14, the Lord of Hosts is not pleased with the Israelites or their worship of Him. They have offered profaned grain offerings and defiled the table of the Lord by bringing animals that are blemished and offering things taken in robbery of others.

For the Christ follower we see pictures in the New Testament to complete this picture as well. In Ephesians 6 we find a description by Paul of the armor of God. This armor is given to us to protect us against the schemes of the enemy, we are covered from the soles of our feet to the very top of our head and all points in between! We take up the armor of the Lord of Armies. Throughout the New Testament we are called to trust in the Lord, to cast our cares upon Him, to come to Him when we are carrying a heavy burden. He is there in times of trouble, storms with raging winds and seas, and sorrow at the loss of a loved one, and during times of illness and depression. Finally, in John 4 Jesus tells us that a time has come that the true worshiper of God will worship in spirit and truth, for these are the kinds of worshipers God seeks. Our worship must be with a pure heart and a focused mind.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

How is Jehovah-Sabaoth fighting and protecting you during this season of life?
How is Jehovah-Sabaoth a stronghold for you today?
Is Jehovah-Sabaoth pleased with your worship? If not, what steps must you take to correct this?

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 the name Jehovah-Mekaddishkem to the Christ follower.

The third and final name we will examine is Jehovah-Mekaddishkem, meaning the Lord Who Sanctifies. God cleanses us from our sin, helps and matures and sets us apart as His chosen ones. We are set apart, holy, and redeemed by the blood of Christ. To help us better understand this we will examine Exodus 31:12-13.

“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.”
Exodus 31:12–13 (NASB95)

This is one of those passages that should cause all of those who claim to be Christ followers to pause, reread, and consider how this impacts their faith, their practice of that faith, and how what the church is teaching lines up with God’s word. Notice that the observation of God’s Sabbaths is included in how God has set us apart. Also notice that it is stated as Sabbaths, plural, meaning there is more than one Sabbath to be observed. We have covered this in other messages in the past, so I will not spend much time on this today, but we, as Christ followers, must follow the examples of the One who we claim to know and love, the early church, and God’s word.

Sanctification is the act of making something or someone clean or holy. We are sanctified, that is, set apart, by the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away our sin. This is what cleanses us and sets us apart, making us holy for God’s purposes. So then, why would we do as the world does? Why does the church insist on pagan rituals and worship when we have been made clean, holy, and set apart? We are to be IN the world but not OF the world. Those who call themselves “Christian” must learn to read their Scriptures, and yes this includes the Old Testament, for you simply cannot understand the New Testament without understanding the Old Testament first.

As Christ followers we are set apart by His blood, but there are other “benefits” we cannot forget, for they complete us in Christ. In Romans 5:9 Paul reminds us we are justified by this same blood of Christ. To be justified is to be proven innocent, before God, through the blood of the One who gave Himself for us. In Ephesians we are said to have redemption (1:7) and brought near to the Father (2:13). The price of our redemption has been paid through the shed blood of Christ on the cross of Calvary. Once we were strangers and enemies of God but now, through this same shed blood, we are brought near to God and have, in fact, become heirs to the Kingdom of God with Christ, the very One who shed His blood for us! Finally, in Colossians we read that we have peace through the blood of Christ (1:20). Understand the most important peace we have through the blood of Christ is with the Father who has called us into fellowship with His Son.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

What area of your life is God calling you to set apart for Him during this season of life?
How is God sanctifying you, that is, setting you apart today?
Where do you need peace with God today?

The Names of God help the Christ follower know the One who has called them into fellowship on a deeper, more personal level.

No matter your current circumstances, there is nothing bigger than the God you love and serve. There is nothing that can, will, or does take Him by surprise. In any and every situation you face, God has a name that reveals a new characteristic or attribute that will sustain, encourage, and empower you. By calling on the name of the Lord you will be saved. And now that you have three new names to add to your prayer time, daily study and reading of the Scriptures, and the storms of life that come up on you, you are better prepared to call on the name that will bring you peace, bring you near to God once again, and reveal a new attribute of our Great and Mighty God. May He bless you as you learn and grow in His presence, strength, and love.

We do all things for the glory of God, through Christ our Lord,
Amen and amen.
Next week: John 6:41-51