What’s in a name?
When my husband and I was expecting our first child, we bought a book with children’s names, it had both the name and its meaning. Suzanne – lily. Philip – fond of horses. John – Jehovah has been gracious. Martha – lady. Peter – the rock. Andrew – strong.
The name and its meaning describes the character and the aptitude of a person.
Character; personality, nature, disposition, mentality, stamp, mould. Persona: attributes, properties, essential quality, essence; individuality, identity, spirit, complexion, ambience, feel.
Aptitude; talent, gift, expertise, genius, natural ability, adeptness, suitability.
Mary had been instructed by the angel Gabriel to call her son Jesus. Luke 1:31. Among the Jewish people at the time of Jesus, the name Jesus was an ordinary name, God chose it for its very special meaning ‘Saviour.’
Saviour – one who saves from evil, a deliverer, a title applied to Jesus Christ, who saves men from the power and penalty of sin. Chamber’s Dictionary 1901 Edition.
Descriptive of the character of the nature of Jesus the stamp of God. “God is love” 1 John 4: 8. “Love the Lord your God with all your soul, strength, mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.” Luke 10: 27. “He reflects the glory of God and bears the stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power.” Hebrews 1: 2.
The aptitude of Jesus his natural ability and inclination to love all people in his selfless attitude in laying down his life to be our Saviour. “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, that whoever, believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16. RSV Bible.
The names and its meaning in the Bible: Adam – earth. Eve – life giver. The names of people were changed: Abram – high father. Abraham – father of a multitude. Genesis 17: 5. Unger’s Bible Dictionary.
Isaiah 7: 10-16. Isaiah’s name means “Jehovah is salvation.”
God is Salvation – “In the Old Testament the term refers to various forms of deliverance, both temporal and spiritual. God delivers his people from their enemies and from the snares of the wicked Psalm37:40.59:2.106:4. New Testament: God also saves by forgiveness of sins, answers to prayer, joy, peace Psalm 79:9. 69:13.51:12. Unger’s Bible Dictionary.
King Ahaz of Judah (Southern Kingdom) refused to join the alliance of Israel (Northern Kingdom) and Syria in opposing Assyria, as a result they planned to depose him. Isaiah wanted Ahaz to ask God for a sign, but he refused he wouldn’t test God. The Lord gave him a sign, “Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Immanuel.”
Immanuel meaning ”God with us.”
Isaiah believed that his wife was referred to in the prophecy, “Then the Lord said to me, “Take a large tablet and write upon it in common characters, Belonging to Mahershalahashbaz.’ And I got reliable witnesses, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah to attest for me. And I went to the prophetess and she conceived and bore a son.”
Isaiah’s wife gave birth to their youngest son. However, they did not name him ‘Immanuel’ it was the name on the tablet, Mashershalahashbaz,’ the meaning of his name “ “For before the child knows how to cry, to cry, ‘My father,’ or ‘My Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria.” Isaiah 8: 1-8.
But the sign that was fulfilled when Mahershalahashbaz was three years old. In 732BC the Assyrian army swiftly conquered Damascus and within ten years Israel was defeated and its people exiled, and the land was deserted 722BC.
Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ
Matthew quoted from Isaiah 7: 14 in connection with the birth of Jesus, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1: 21.
Matthew writing his gospel between A.D. 60 and 70 identified Jesus and the meaning as the ‘Saviour- of our sins.’
Matthew knew this from his own experience and like many Christians down the centuries also have this experience of being saved and released from sin.
Our soul/spirit coming together with God’s Spirit we are made alive through forgiveness of sin. The King James’ Bible translation used the word “Quickened” “And you who were quickened who were dead in trespasses and sin.” Ephesians 2: 1
Experiencing Jesus being born in us is like when I was 3 months pregnant with my first baby, I felt the baby move for the first time and that fetal movement is called ‘Quickening’.
“When a pregnant woman is likely to first feel her baby move, called quickening, depends on several things. . . . ” www.webmd.com/features/when-feel-bay-move
Mary the Virgin gave birth to God’s Son
Anyone who has received healing through prayer will be able to witness that God is able to do what seems impossible to us. Mary conceived when the Holy Spirit overshadowed her, without her flesh being touched. Luke 1: 35
The resurrected Jesus in Spirit
Just as God sends the rain to water the ground, so God is able to knock on the door of our heart.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him/she and eat with him/she, and he/she with me. Those who conquer, I will grant them to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on His throne. Those who has an ear, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3: 20 22.
The name ‘Christian’ and its meaning. Acts 11: 26.
Meaning – Christ-like
Characteristics: nature, personality, mentality,. stamp. persona: spirit of love, faithful, committed, identity, mentality,
God fulfilling his promise to Abraham that he would be a father of a multitude.
A child of God has chosen to believe in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. “Those who believe in his name he gave the power to become children of God. children born not of natural decent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1: 12, 13.
It is personal salvation to us as individuals, it is not by hereditary means, we can’t inherit our salvation. Neither can we receive salvation through marriage. Jesus tells us that there is no marriage in heaven, we all are children of the Father, His love upholds and sustains us. Luke 20:34,35.
Our nature being transformed to understand and feel how God hates sin, but God loves the sinner. Love that wills to do the will of God, that is obedient, truthful. Christ in you in Spirit, the authority and power to prophecy, discern thoughts, intentions of the heart.
Aptitude: anointed natural and God given gifts, adeptness, suitability.
We are complete in Christ having the whole seed of faith. The Holy Spirit distributes the dominate gift through prophecy at the beginning of a Christian’s journey.
Today both men, women and children who declare, know Jesus as their Saviour are entitled to Jesus’ provision of his precious promises. Peter writing, “To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with them in the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Jesus’ divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and Godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion and become partakers of the divine nature.” 2 Peter 1: 1. 3, 4.
Paul the Apostle – one who has seen Christ – the resurrected Christ.
The word of prophecy given to Paul was that he would be a light to the Gentiles an Evangelist: teach, preach, pray, heal, etc. Colossians 1: 27.
Using the gifts within the church.
Pastoring is the gift of having a loving servant’s heart, to put Jesus before family and personal desires, to put the friend who asks for help at an untimely hour is the role of the servant. To discern the leading of the Holy Spirit in all situations.
Several people using the same gifting for example: the gift of evangelism, faith, love, joy- encourages, prophecy, intercession, healing, discernment, teaching, praise-music, and preaching, tongues, administration, helps etc. 1 Corinthians 12
Love the greatest gift.
“God is love” by Dorothy Newton
Written during the Week for Christian Unity January 1995
Love participates in unity, bending the will to love another.
Love brings a togetherness, a lovers’ beauty, a gracious food of unceasing joy. *
.Love doesn’t hide itself or shy away.
Love takes hold of the prickly thorn and caresses it
Love picks up the bruised heart and cherishes it and makes it, it’s own.
Love gives off a radiance like the heat of a summer’s day.
Love its fragrance enriches unity, time stands still.
Love has a strength of its own. Love gives in to love.
Love is a safe place, without any walls, no barriers of fear and wars. Love prepares to serve all human weaknesses.
Love bears the pain of love; rejection grieves the lover.
Love ceases not to love;
Love is God our creator.
* (pure, holy love 2 Corinthians 11: 2)