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Thou Shalt Call His Name Jesus
We do not know what day, month or exactly what year Jesus was
born. The date of His birth does not matter. What matters is that Jesus was
born! In Matthew
The Bible teaches us that the name of Jesus is important. Peter
said, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under
heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts
Encouragement through the name of Jesus. Think of the joy,
confidence, peace, happiness and comfort that come through the name of Jesus.
"Jesus" is a name that gives us encouragement. "Jesus" is a
name that gives us support. "Jesus" is the name, the only name in the
entire world that is a saving name. "Blessed is the man that trusteth in
the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the
waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when
heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year
of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
Protection through the name of Jesus. In the beautiful prayer Jesus prayed, which in recorded in John 17, we learn that the beautiful name of Jesus brings protection. Jesus prayed for His apostles saying, "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are." (John 17:11) Jesus prayed, protect them, take care of them, and preserve them. Jesus prayed that those who had been given in His name would be protected. Jesus desired that all Christians enjoy the unity and great benefits of one body or one church. (John 17:20-21) His desire was that we be protected as we serve in the one body. The name of Jesus is grand because it was given by God through the angel Gabriel and it is the only name under heaven in which salvation and protection are found. It is a dishonor to the great saving name of Jesus for the religious world to be so divided.
Pardon through the name of Jesus. Pardon is through the beautiful name of Jesus. In Psalm 25:11 we read, "For Your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great." What is it? "For the name's sake of God, pardon my iniquity." David pleaded with God for pardon through God's name sake. Many call the name of Jesus but still fail to obey Him. Jesus said, "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46) The Bible teaches that Jesus "became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." (Hebrews 5:9) Those that come to God in the name of Jesus are those that humbly submit in obedience to His will. They have pardon, protection and comfort.
To have pardon, Jesus said we must hear and learn God's word. "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me." (John 6:44-45)
To have pardon, Jesus said we must believe or have faith. "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." (John 8:24)
To have pardon, Jesus said we must repent of sins. "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)
To have pardon, Jesus said we must confess Him as Lord. "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32)
To have pardon, Jesus said we must be baptized to be saved.
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not
believe will be condemned." (Mark
Remember, the name of Jesus will bring pardon only to those who obey Him.
Reverence through the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus produces reverence in our heart. "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8:9) Psalm 8:1 says, "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens!" All should come to see Jesus Christ and give reverence to Him. As servants of God we are on earth to lift Him up.
It is our purpose to glorify God through the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus is a name to be respected or revered. We pray through the name of Christ and we serve in His name. "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17.)
Courage, justification, trust and life. The name of Jesus brings courage for those who are discouraged. Hear the words of 2 Chronicles 14:11. "And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!" Asa could, in complete confidence, look to God for help, courage, trust, strength and even His life.
We must put our trust in God and the name of Jesus. "And
those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not
forsaken those who seek You." (Psalm
The impact of the Christian in the world is a powerful testimony to the reality of Jesus and the power of His name. No wonder that the apostle Paul said, "For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified." (I Corinthians 2:2)
Peter also said, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there
is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts
- - - - Charles Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer List: Stabler Hospital: Nell Davis and Jean Hayes. In
Need Of Prayers: Linda Bender, V.P. Black, Emily Cain, Meryln Carter,
Matthew Conway, Juanita Cubley, Roy Goodwin, Ramona Gravely, Montine Hardin,
Jean Harrell, Evan Hartsell, Billy Heartsill, Davis Hester, Daie Johnson, Frank
Johnson, Darrell Jones, Mary Lawrence, Steve Osborne (son of Catherine
Osborne), Marie Owens, Margaret Pierce, Mary Powell, Rouen Reynolds (sister of
Don & John Reynolds), Roger Strange, Winston Temple, Barbara Walker, Leroy
Waller and Foy Watkins (wife of James Watkins). Crowne Health Care: Laura
Ellis, Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, and Iva Lou Wright.
2. Fifth Sunday Meal: Plan to be part of the fifth Sunday fellowship on December 31st following the evening services. There will be singing and games. Please bring finger foods and your favorite game.
3. Please
Pray For: (a) Sam Sanders,
son of Jerry Sanders is serving in the
4. Sympathy
Expressed: Our sympathy and love is expressed to: (a) Dawn Fullington and her family in the death of her grandmother,
Veronica Jarzyniecki, (b) Nancy
Faulkenberry and her family in the death of Her uncle, Wayne Padgett.
5. Visiting Speaker: Joshua Richardson will preach on Sunday night, December 24th. We support him at Memphis School of Preaching.
6. Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays this week are: December 24th Leroy Waller, December 25th Emma Lee Gafford, December 26th Jamie Powell, December 27th Liz Sessions, December 28th Gene Buck, and December 29th Sydney Owens.
7. Great Job: Thank you to Barbara & Jimmy Walker, Kelli & Ken Smith, Janice Box, and all others that had a part in our young adult fellowship.
8. Good Work Appreciated: Thanks to all that helped make our party at Crowne Health a great success. God bless you!
9. Thank You: (a) Thank you so much, The world’s a whole lot better place because of people like you who give real joy and pleasure by the nice things they do. And with your recent thoughtfulness still very much in mind, this is meant to bring a “Thank-You” of the very warmest kind! In Christian Love, Ryan & Melissa Bagents (b) Dear Church Family, A very special “Thank-You” for your expressions of love and concern since my accident. Your visits, calls, cards and your prayers have made great contributions to my recovery progress. I still have a way to go but it’s getting easier every day. I love you all and wish for each of you a happy and healthy Holiday Season. Margaret Pierce
10. Crowne Health Care: We will not have a class at Crowne Health Care on Saturday, December 30th.
11. Sign-Up List: The 2007 sign-up lists for communion, greeters, secure building, and van drivers are on the bulletin board. Please help by signing up now!
12.
Visitation Program: Our visitation program meets on Tuesday nights at
13. Put
These Dates On Your Calendar: (a)
January 5th – Area Wide Gospel Singing – Elmore Church of Christ
– Time 7:00 p.m. – Finger foods and refreshments afterwards (b) March 1st & 2nd – Marriage Seminar – Walnut Street
Church of Christ – Speakers Glenn & Cindy Colley (c) March 5th-8th, 2007 – Faulkner University
– Annual Bible Lectures – Theme: Our God, He is Alive (d) September 24th-26th,
2007 – Regions University – Spiritual Enrichment Forum – Embassy Suites,
Montgomery.
14. Rainbow
Omega Writes: As we enter the holiday season and our thoughts turn
toward those things for which we are thankful, I am especially appreciative of
your faithfulness in remembering Rainbow Omega. Stenson Carpenter
15.
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Challenges
From Scripture
“But seek first
the
“Do not fear any
of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to
throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have
tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of
life.” (Revelation 2:10)
“Let us draw near
with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from
an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:39)
“And you will be
hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
(Matthew 10:22)
“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)
Before You
Abort Your Child…
During the month of December, many in the
world are thinking about the Savior as a newborn infant. Though it’s all but impossible that He was
actually born this time of year, I can’t help but imagine what Jesus thinks
about all the unborn babies that are aborted every day. According to prolife.com, in the
Consider what this mother had to say about her aborted child: “Two weeks after the abortion, I went into labor. I staggered into the bathroom. And there, with my husband beside me, I delivered a part of my baby the doctor had missed. It was the head of my baby…I’ll wake up in the middle of the night, thinking I hear a baby crying. And I still have nightmares in which I am forced to watch my baby being ripped apart in front of me. I simply miss my baby. I wake up wanting to hold my child. And that’s something the doctor never told me I would experience.” (Lori Nerad - former president of Women Exploited by Abortion)
John the Baptist, when his mother received
the news of the coming Messiah, leaped for joy…while he was still inside his
mother’s womb (Lk
“I know millions of women across this country feel as I do about abortion. We all somehow know deep down inside that we alone made a horrible decision and no coined phrase about choice and rights or the denial of biological and fetal facts can ever erase the truth. For we as mothers instinctively know during those still moments of aloneness, that we ended the life of a separate human being growing inside of each and every one of us.” (Susan Carpenter-McMillan). What choice will you make about abortion?
- - - - Darrell Powell