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His Name!

I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope (Psa.52:9).

The Name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe (Prov.18:10).

Lord, there is no one like you! For you are great, and your name is full of power (Jer.10:6).

I marvel at their resilience. Their homes were destroyed. Their schools and churches and shops were leveled. Their relatives and friends are dead. They had no food or water for days and just the clothes on their back. Yet the world watched as scores of Haitians marched orderly on both sides of the street singing praises to God, many lifting their hands toward heaven publicly professing their faith and hope in Jesus. Then at night we listened to their voices rising melodiously to the heavens like a rehearsed choir—singing spontaneously as they lay upon the broken ground inviting sleep to come. Where else could they turn? 

When with abundant store,
or in deep poverty,
when all the world may smile,
or it may frown on me;
when it shall help me on,
or shall obstruct my way,
still shall my heart rejoice—
I am the Lord’s today.  (Charles Naylor, 1902)

Numerous people were interviewed and asked how they survived, how they felt about the destruction, and what would they do now. I wept as I heard person after person, from the very young to the very old, answer, “God!” or “Jesus!” It reminded me of the song we sing, “Take this whole world, but give me Jesus!” These people understand the meaning of these words. Jesus is all many have now—and in Him they find comfort and hope. 

When King David escaped death, he penned the following song of thanks-giving to God for delivering him. His song likely expresses the heart of many Haitians as well as others around the world who are living on the outskirts of death:

I love God because he listened to me, listened as I begged for mercy…Death stared me in the face…I didn’t know which way to turn; then I called out to God for help: “Please, God!” I cried out. “Save my life!”… I said to myself, “Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you’ve been rescued from death; Eye, you’ve been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling.” 

I’m striding in the presence of God, alive in the land of the living! …What can I give back to God for the blessings he’s poured out on me? I’ll lift high the cup of salvation—a toast to God!  I’ll pray in the name of God…When they arrive at the gates of death, God welcomes those who love him.

Oh, God, here I am, your servant, your faithful servant: set me free for your service!  I’m ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice and pray in the name of God. I’ll complete what I promised God I’d do, and I’ll do it in company with his people…Hallelujah! (From Psa. 116, Msg).

These are profound words that resound in the ears and heart of all who have ever been delivered from a death-defying experience. The Name of God. Jesus! “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12, NLT).  Salvation – What an awesome word:  healing, rescue, deliverance, liberation, protection, victory!  God … gave [Jesus] the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:9-11). 

Jesus! The most precious name—to all who have chosen to have their life hidden in Him (Gal. 2:20).  Jesus! The most precious name to thousands upon thousands of Haitians and to millions around the world…and to each one of us who are personally acquainted with Him.  

Hear the Christians of Haiti speak His Name!  Hear the persecuted around the world speak His Name! Rise up! Look up! Fix your thoughts on things above—not on your losses, your children’s sins, the government, or any other earthly matter that’s designed to steal your hope, your joy, and your crown of life.

Those who fall into despair and feel the world is caving in around them are usually people living in prosperity who look to their money, possessions, and friends to carry them through. But we are to glorify the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel …(Isa. 24:15).

THREE STORIES:

I could share innumerable personal stories about the Name of Jesus, but I have chosen three that took place in different time periods, different places, and for different reasons. All are about the Name of Jesus. 

#1. The Name of Jesus – June 2009

I was in West Virginia to fulfill some ministry assignments for Pastor Wright while his whole family—three generations—was vacationing together in another state. At midnight the phone rang and my sister, the Pastor’s wife, said, “Yvonne, Jim has gone into cardiac arrest.” Instantaneously, the cry came out of my mouth: “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!”  There is no higher place to which we can direct an appeal for deliverance.  There is no greater prayer than saying the Name of Jesus. Pastor died six times—lost pulse completely—and was shocked back to life each time.  Immediately, the church gathered for 24-hr prayer. Tests revealed 100% blockage. Medical personnel cooperated, and God intervened. When he was released from the hospital, the church gathered for 24-hrs of praise that the Lord had brought Pastor back to his flock. (Read 1 Pet. 2:14). Today, seven months later, he is still pastoring and preaching.

Whether I live or die,
whether I wake or sleep,
whether upon the land,
or on the stormy deep;
when ’tis serene and calm,
or when the wild winds blow,
I shall not be afraid—I am the Lord’s, I know. (Charles Naylor, 1902)

There is comfort in the Name of Jesus. 

There is hope in the Name of Jesus. There’s peace in the Name of Jesus – the peace that says, Whether I live or die, I am the Lord’s (See Phil.1:20). 

#2. The Name of Jesus – July 1999

In the summer of 1999, a ministry friend picked me up at the Cape Town, South Africa airport and we were within a couple of miles of her residence when a car ran a stop sign and totaled her station wagon. 

As I sat there thousands of miles away from home, finding it difficult to breath and not knowing whether I would live or die, I realized I was whispering the name Jesus! No other words. No big fancy prayers. No screaming or yelling. For some time, we sat in silence as gawkers gathered around. Ruth had a nasty knot on her forehead and at first appeared to me to be in shock. After a short time, someone whom she recognized arrived on the scene and drove us to her home. 

We did not go to the hospital since it was well publicized that they had virtually no medical staff in the emergency room. She called a Christian physician friend who came to the house. My friend had whip-lash and a nasty knot on her forehead. I had a broken wrist and several broken ribs (hence the difficulty breathing). There was nothing he could do for the ribs, but he wrapped my wrist until I could purchase a brace to protect it. We went on with our schedule as if nothing had happened. I felt fine—just had to do everything with one hand, (and experienced pain every time I got up and down or turned over in the bed at night—while telling no one). Three weeks later when I arrived back home in Michigan, x-rays confirmed the broken wrist and five fractured ribs—all of which were healing nicely. The Name of Jesus! He heard my prayer and sent others to help me. 

When I am safe at home,
Or in a foreign land,
When on an icebound shore,
Or on a sunlit strand;
When on the mountain height,
Or in the valley low,
Still doth He care for me—
I am the Lord’s, I know. (Charles Naylor, 1902).

#3. The Name of Jesus – February 1981

When she invited me to her house to counsel with a friend, I was not told that the friend had been severely impaired after a mental/nervous breakdown. Apparently overwhelmed with extremely difficult circumstances, she had fallen victim to all the encumbrances.  When we were introduced, there was no response from her. Awkward. My hostess promptly went out the door leaving the two of us alone in the house. It was 7 PM.

Just exactly what was I to do? It was my first experience with being thrust into a situation like this outside of a psychiatric ward where professionals stood nearby. Carol’s face was distorted and her body was anything but calm. I did not know until later she had been like this for several weeks. She was seated in a big chair on one side of the room, and I walked across the room and sat as far away from her as possible.  

Quietly I was praying, “Lord I don’t know what to do…” (See 2 Chron. 20:10). Then deep within me I began to sing out ever so softly, “Jesus loves you, this I know…”  Over and over again, with some pauses in between, I sang that same little song. “Jesus loves me, this I know…” then “Jesus loves you, this I know…” No other words were spoken. Time passed quickly. I was no longer struggling to know what to say.  I kept alternating singing and silence. Her face began to relax. Little by little her body quieted and stopped twitching.  Her eyes focused. A smile started to form…and grew bigger and bigger. I kept singing. 

By midnight, five hours into the evening, when our hostess returned, Carol was perfectly normal. We had prayed together and were enjoying conversation. She was free as a bird that had escaped the snare of a fowler (Prov.6:5).  We did not talk about her problems. We talked about Jesus and how much He loved her.  “He escorted her to the banquet table; it was obvious how much He loved her” (Song of Solomon 2:4, Msg). 

Carol was in church service the next morning and gave testimony to His love. She returned the next day to her home in another state, went back to work, and continued a normal life, witnessing to the love of Jesus. A miracle. The Name of Jesus!

That night the Holy Spirit taught me there’s deliverance in the Name of Jesus. In awe of His love and grace, I plunged deeper into life in Him. After all, Jesus said: And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons (Mark 16:17, NIV).

HIS NAME! JESUS.

His name shall endure forever. (Psa. 72:17).

Devils tremble at His Name (See Phil.2:19).

Then those whose lives honored God got together and talked it over. God saw what they were doing and listened in. A book was opened in God’s presence and minutes were taken of the meeting, with the names of the God-fearers written down, all the names of those who honored God’s name were recorded (Mal. 3:16, Msg).

God elevated [Jesus] to the place of highest honor and gave Him the Name above all other names (Phil. 2:9).  

Many scriptures and hundreds of songs have been written about the Name of Jesus and the provisions therein. “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus…How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er.”

THE NAME OF JESUS!  

The Name of Jesus gives hope for the people of earthquake-torn Haiti and others who are poor and persecuted around the world—including in the United States. Hope for the sinner. Hope for the hungry. Hope for the sick. Hope for the demon-possessed. Hope for the depressed. Hope for the dying.  Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psa.124:8).

Do we not fully embrace Jesus’ proclama-tion at the beginning of His ministry? The Spirit of the Lord is upon me for he has anoin-ted me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be re-leased, that the blind will see, that the op-pressed will be set free… (Luke 4:18-19).

The late Dr. Judson Cornwall once posed the challenging question: “Do we really mean it when we sing ‘All that thrills my soul is Jesus?’  When we’re hungry and need food?  When we’re thirsty and need water? When we’re naked and need clothing?  When these are provided in the Name of Jesus, the soul is thrilled! Isn’t this what Jesus said we should do in His Name? May every detail in our lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way (Col. 3:17, Msg). 

Like Peter, we may have to say, “I don’t have a penny to my name, but such as I have I give to You…in the Name of Jesus…” (Acts 3:6). Lord, may it be so, in Jesus’ Name.

____________

yvonnekarl@yvonnekarl

This article is from The Alabaster Box Vol 25 (c) C. Yvonne Karl

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Standing on the edge of yesterday and the brink of tomorrow

David, the psalmist King, often reflected on his past only as a reminder of how the Lord had helped him. He used these memories to help him focus on the future with faith and hope in Almighty God.

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side! Let Israel now say—If it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive when their wrath was kindled against us. Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,. The stream would have gone over our soul. Then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul. Blessed be the Lord who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. (From Psalm124)

A plot has been devised to destroy every Christian’s faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but God has extended His protection, His strength, and His power to His children. David describes this plot as being like a trap set by a bird catcher. It appeared they had trapped us, but by God’s grace the snare was broken, and we escaped. Who broke the snare for us? The Lord! He’s our helper. When the snare is broken, we have to run away from it. (See Psa. 124:7)

One of the most prevalent ways the enemy traps us is getting us to take offense. Jesus said, Offenses will come! We cannot prevent offense from coming. But we’re also told, Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing causes them to stumble. (Psa.119:165). Whether to take the offense or not is our choice.

The Israelites were offended that God sent them the same food every day. They felt they deserved better. They blamed Him for bringing them out of Egypt—where they were slaves—to this free place where He did the grocery shopping for them every day! I can’t imagine anyone being unhappy about not having to slave in the mud to make bricks while a soldier stood by ready to beat them if they didn’t work fast enough. Yet here they were, complaining. It’s true, they left their homes behind never to be revisited but were also walking away from slavery.  Yet rather than seeing their future prosperity, they took an offense toward God, became bitter, and began making their list of demands. What might have happened if they had said, “God we wish you would vary the menu a bit; nevertheless our hearts are full of gratitude that you’re feeding us and we don’t have to make bricks in the hot sun anymore. It’s okay, God. We love you. And we thank You for the manna.” With this attitude, who knows what blessings God might have poured upon them.

Like the Psalmist, I look back over my life and say with conviction, If it had not been the Lord who was on my side, where would I be? I can point to specific times and situations where I realize that nothing or no one except the Lord could have saved me. David comments that men rose up against him and his people to destroy them. I have experienced this. We have all been between a rock and a hard place. We have been pressed into doubting that God really cares at all about us. We have wondered whether He really hears when we cry out to Him. Then we understand the Psalmist’s joyous exclamation: If it had not been the Lord who was on our side… When it looked like an impossible situation, God made a way of escape.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1Cor. 10:13).The word picture here is one of a strong column or pillar that holds up an overpass. In other words, God will strengthen us and uphold us that we may be able to get through the danger zone. Many of God’s people have been on the brink of ruin only to see God intervene miraculously at 11:59 and 59 seconds!

When their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive. Why? Whenever a person allows anger to build up inside, they strike out at their target. They shoot daggers at it. I know how that feels. I’ve not only had to repent of shooting some arrows, but I have been that target! I could literally feel the fiery darts trying to penetrate me. I felt like I was about to drown under the circumstances. The Psalmist understood this feeling well.

The flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away. The anger of our enemies, like water, poured over our lives. They were determined to destroy us, our comforts, and all that is dear to us. But remember what God has promised? When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they shall not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; and the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isa.43:2)

Did He not do this for the Israelites as they fled from Egypt? They stood with the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s army coming upon them from behind. The Lord was on their side! He parted the waters so they could go across on dry land, and then He brought the waters back together to swallow up their enemies. Did He not do this for Daniel? He didn’t escape the lion’s den, but the Lord was in there with him and shut the lion’s mouth so he wasn’t harmed . (see Daniel 6). Did He not do this for Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego ?(see Daniel 3) They did not escape the furnace, but the Lord was in there with them and didn’t allow them to be burned. And most assuredly, He has done that for me! Of course, I would like to have avoided going through the waters and the fires, but with the Lord was on my side, so why should I fear what man could do to me? (Psa. 118:6)

Satan is seeking whom he may devour (1 Pe.5:8).  He is a thief and has come to steal our joy, our health, and our assurance of salvation; then he’ll kill us and totally destroy any evidence of our existence. He’s not content to just tear us to pieces; he wants us lost forever! But Blessed be the Lord who is on the side of His children. The victory, my friend, is in our soul! Paul and Silas were in prison and their feet and hands were placed in stocks so they couldn’t move. Their enemies had succeeded in stopping their bodies, but their souls were free! They had escaped the snare of the fowler. They sang praises at midnight when all was dark and looked hopeless. Yes, they sang praises! Those praises broke through the enemy’s territory, and God sent an earthquake and set Paul and Silas free. (see Acts 16). The Lord lives in our praises (Psa. 22:3).

OUR HELP IS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

Which lord? The Lord who made heaven and earth (Psa.124:8). We may be caught in a situation where we have no helper but God. Rehearse the praises penned by so many who have been where you are. Think about His love. Think about His goodness. His Name is higher than any other. His name is Jesus! Jesus! Oh, how sweet the Name. Jesus! Name above all names. There’s healing in the Name of Jesus. There’s deliverance in the Name of Jesus. There’s victory in the Name of Jesus. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Up to now, we have stepped across many timelines from one day to the next, one week to the next, one year to the next. We remember with the Psalmist, If it had not been the Lord on our side, we would not have been able to walk across the bridge that took us from the edge of one time period to the brink of the next.

When the Israelites stood at the Jordan River and wanted to cross into Canaan Land, they could not look back to their failures. They had to let go of the past and forgive. They had to march forward to the land flowing with milk and honey. As a nation, they had missed the opportunity once, but they determined not to miss it again. The Lord said to them and their leader, Joshua, forget the past, press toward the future. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law… Be strong and of good courage; Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go (Josh 1:9). The Lord is on our side!

We’re at the end of a year that people have been wishing away for months now, and we’re on the brink of a brand-new year. Exactly what lies ahead, no one knows, but everyone hopes sickness, disease, racial conflict, and war will somehow disappear from the scene.

Every day is the edge of a yesterday and the brink of a tomorrow. Every day is a day of decision and choices.

If you are not a child of God, pray now. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and come into your heart. If you have grown weary and fainted in your Christian life, repent. Confess your weaknesses and transgressions to the Lord. Give Him your failures and disappointments, discouragements and defeats of the past. Determine to serve Him with all of your might as long as He gives you life. Follow Jesus.  Acknowledge the Holy Spirit as your helper. Be sure you are on His side. Then you will have the assurance that the Lord is on your side and you can say, Whether I live or die, I am the Lord’s I know (Rom. 14:8).

That’s victory! That’s joy! That’s real living! That gives great hope for tomorrow. That’s what I did. Now I look forward to God’s deliverance in the difficult situations of life. He’s the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He goes before me and comes behind me. Everywhere I am, He is. He is the foundation upon which I build. He is the Author and Finisher of my faith. I am the apple of His eye. I am engraved in the palm of His hand.

yvonnekarl@gmail.com

Edited from The Alabaster Box Vol.11 No 01. © C. Yvonne Karl