Day 35, Saturday (April 13) - Living into His Name

Posted on: April 13, 2019
by: Gerrit Dawson, Senior Pastor

NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES

Name Above All Names
Day 35 Saturday

__________________________________________________

EXPLORE THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST

For us there is one God, the Father,
from whom are all things and for whom we exist,
and one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom are all things and through whom we exist (1 Corinthians 8: 6).

PHILIPPIANS 2: 5-11

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so 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.

CONSIDER

Re-reading this passage, trace the journey of Jesus which Paul describes. Where did Jesus start? What five things does Paul name as part of Christ’s obedience? What was the surprising final destination? What future does the name of Jesus have in the universe?

How can a name command the power to cause us to kneel?

How much of the cosmos will ultimately confess his Lordship? What effect does that reality have on how you think and live today?

__________________________________________________

PRAY THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Begin with the Jesus Prayer. Pray it reflectively several times, for yourself or on behalf of another.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Then pray the day’s prayer slowly and repeatedly for at least a minute (that’s about seven times). Allow the prayer to take you into the meaning of the day’s facet of Jesus’ name. Pray it for yourself and/or on behalf of another. Take your time and trust this process!

Lord Jesus Christ, Name above all names, before you every knee will bow, and this day I confess you as Lord and bow my heart to you.

__________________________________________________

LIVE INTO THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

He has granted to us his precious and very great promises,
so that through them you might become partakers of his divine
nature . . . For this very reason, supplement your faith with
virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness,
brotherly affection and love (2 Peter 1: 4-7).

PHILIPPIANS 2: 12-16

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

CONSIDER

Paul follows his great hymn to the name of Jesus with this very practical passage about our daily response to his Lordship.

What is the relationship between our work and God’s work at the end of the first sentence?

Steve Childers has noted, “We work as God works in us. God works in us as we work for him.” What are the characteristics of someone living in the bicycle pedal like tandem of God’s work and our work?

What is the missional power in the dark world created by the way those who confess the name of Jesus live?

Close by singing this glorious and famous song:

All the hail power of Jesus’ name!

Let angels prostrate fall;

Bring forth the royal diadem,

And crown him Lord of all.

Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,

Ye ransomed from the fall,

Hail him who saves you by his grace,

And crown him Lord of all.

Let every kindred, every tribe,

On this terrestrial ball,