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.
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yvonnekarl@yvonnekarl
This article is from The Alabaster Box Vol 25 (c) C. Yvonne Karl
Musings by Yvonne. Selah! 