SOMETHING ABOUT THAT NAME

SOMETHING ABOUT THAT NAME*

Prayer: LORD GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, eternal God and Father,
wash us clean of all we have done against you and each other by the
Blood and in the power of YESHUA HA MESSIACH, JESUS the CHRIST, our only
Hope and let us hear what you would have us hear and do what you would
have us do through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.


"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there's just something about that Name."*

What is that "something" about the Name of JESUS? Why is it so
offensive to some folks? What does it mean in Exodus 20:7 when it warns
"Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD Thy GOD in vain, for He will
not hold guiltless those who take His Name in vain"?

Many people think "taking the Name of the LORD in vain" means cursing,
like saying "God damn it!" Ironically, it's when we feel as if our
situation is already damned that we tend to say that and we certainly
don't want God to damn it any more if He already has or at all!

I propose to you that there is another phrase that is just as dangerous
as "God damn it!" and that is, "In JESUS' Name, Amen!"

Right now there is a great debate going on in the Chaplaincies across
the services about when and where to pray in the Name of JESUS. But I
have another question for you, WHY do you pray in the Name of JESUS?

I have a memorandum here requesting a promotion which the Director of
Training, the Assistant Commandant and the Commandant have said they
won't give me. It is written for the Chief of Chaplains and has the
signature block of the Deputy Chief of Chaplains. Which of you will
step forward and sign this for me in the name of the Deputy Chief of
Chaplains?

I didn't think so. If you had I would have the number for Mental
Health for you.

Yet how easily we pray "in the Name of JESUS" when that is just what we
are doing, signing for JESUS on that prayer request or that event or
that action. It is no different than signing a memorandum in the name
of the Chief.

Throughout the Bible, the Names of GOD are used to define His
attributes to us because we frankly can't understand Him very well. So
He uses names we can understand in order to describe Himself to us. We
don't have time here to discuss the meanings of them all...or to even
list more than just a few: "I AM THAT I AM", "I AM Your Healer", "I AM
Your Deliverer", "I AM Your Shelter", "I AM Your Very Great Reward",
Mighty Counselor, Prince of Peace, Almighty God, GOD with Us, the Good
Shepherd, I AM the Way, I AM the Truth, I AM the Life, LORD, Father,
Savior, Counselor, The Lamb of God slain before the Foundations of the
World, The Bright and Morning Star, The One Who Opens and No One Can
Shut and Shuts and No One Can Open...The LORD GOD, the Almighty...

And on and on!

I propose to you that it is dangerous to pray "in the Name of Jesus"
for three reasons:

1. WHEN YOU PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS YOU ARE USING HIS SIGNATURE OF
APPROVAL ON WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING. When you call on the Name of JESUS do
you know Him yourself? Are you a Believer? Have you been a disciple of His
and spent time with Him? Are you really expecting Him to be
there? As an ambassador of CHRIST, are you really sure that He is
endorsing the event, the words, the actions that you are blessing in His
Name? Remember the Seven Sons of Sceva in Acts 19. They were sons of a
high priest and thought they had the right to drive out an evil spirit
in the Name of JESUS. Well, the evil spirit came out alright and said
"JESUS I know, and Paul I've heard of, but who the hell are you?!" Be
wary of praying in the Name of JESUS unless you know Him yourself and
have His blessing, literally, on what you are doing. Otherwise you are
using the Name of the LORD thy GOD in vain (with no real intent of His
approval).

2. WHEN YOU PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS, BE PREPARED FOR HIM TO ACT. If you
pray in the Name of JESUS are you really expecting Him to do
something? If you insist on praying in the Name of JESUS at a command
function where non-believers may be present, are you prepared for Him to
actually work on those non-believers? To have them react right there
and then to suddenly being confronted with Him?

I am convinced that the reason the Name of JESUS is so offensive to
non-believers is just what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2:16, that it is
the smell of death to them. Because when you say the Name of JESUS,
even if you're a non-believer, you see Him. You see His face come up
before you. He is suddenly a real person to you. And it is probably
going to be the face of Him on the cross, bruised and bleeding with a
crown of thorns your sins put there. Non-believers know this. They
just don't want to face it, pun intended, and when you say His Name they
are literally face to face with Him. Are you prepared for their
reaction to that? Some people will react very emotionally either at
that time or later, toward Christ or against you. Be wary of praying in
the Name of JESUS unless you are prepared for Him to act right then and
there. Otherwise you are using the Name of the LORD thy GOD in vain
(with no real belief that He will act).

3. WHEN YOU PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS, BE READY FOR THE AFTERMATH. When
Lazarus died, Mary and Martha wanted JESUS to be there, but He wasn't. When
He finally got there, they criticized Him for being too
late. Yet when He said that He was going to raise their brother from
the dead, Martha shouts out "But LORD, he has been dead for three days!
He stinks!" (John 11:39) After all that crying and kvetching she and
her sister had done wanting JESUS to do something, when He is about to
literally do a miracle to answer their prayers the response is "That boy
be stinky!" When you pray in the Name of JESUS, be prepared for a
stink! He is going to do something, whether you like it or not, whether
others like it or not, and you may not expect what He is going to do.

If you have prayed alone over the situation (and you should always pray
before each situation and event) and have a conviction that you should
pray in the Name of JESUS, be prepared for the consequences. It may
mean a heavier counseling load. It may mean being called to bring
someone to JESUS at an inconvenient time, or to give up meals or time to
disciple someone.

I have been at the Chaplain School for a long time and can tell you
that training has always been to simply respect the presence of
non-believers. You can be more effective by being non-offensive. If
you are in a Christian service or gathering, you are expected to pray in
the Name of JESUS if that is your faith tradition. But if your
convictions require you, after much prayer, to pray in the Name of JESUS
when there are unbelievers present, be prepared for the consequences.
And be sure you are doing so because He directed you to do so, not
because you are on an agenda of your own. When you pray in the Name of
JESUS, be prepared for the consequences without complaining about them.
Otherwise you are taking the Name of the LORD thy GOD in vain and the
LORD will not hold guiltless those who use His Name in vain.

The name of JESUS, YESHUA, has intrinsic power because of the One it
represents, Yeshua, the express image of GOD, the One by Whom and for Whom
and through Whom all things exist and are held together. The One before
whom every created being that ever existed or ever will exist will fall
before in worship before He, in turn, offers all back to the Father. This
same JESUS, YESHUA, is the One who became a man for my sake and yours, who
willingly endured a sin-filled world while staying sinless and bringing me
to new life through His painful death and resurrection on my behalf. Don't
dare to speak His Name in anything but awe and reverence it deserves as
representing Him and His love for you.

"JESUS, JESUS, JESUS...Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but
there's something about that Name."