Sunday, January 22, 2012

DAILY TRUTH - The Significance of the Names of Jesus

There is a great significance to the names of Jesus, as they are used in the New Testament.  I feel that in today’s world, the name of Jesus has been taken for granted.  His name has been abused, cursed, used as an expletive, spoken in careless, thoughtless ways, and without a second thought.  My hope in writing this Daily Truth is to bring attention to the fact that His name has importance and extraordinary meaning.

When looking in depth at the Apostle Paul’s writings, one can notice that he uses the names of Jesus Christ in very specific ways, depending on the subject of his writings.  Sometimes, Paul speaks of the “Lord”, or “Jesus”, or “Jesus Christ”, or “Christ Jesus”.  In an article titled, “The Names of Jesus”, E.W. Bullinger states that he noted seventeen different combinations of the use of those names in Paul’s epistles. Bullinger also states that in the gospels, the name “Jesus” (on its own) is used about 612 times.  While it is used only 71 times in the other NT books (and 38 of those instances are in Acts).  Why is that?

Friday, January 13, 2012

Looking for Endurance

“…for you have need of endurance…”  (Hebrews 10:35, CLNT)

“For I am reckoning that the sufferings of the current era do not deserve the glory about to be revealed for us.  For the premonition of the creation is awaiting the unveiling of the sons of God.  For to vanity was the creation subjected, not voluntarily, but because of Him Who subjects it, in expectation that the creation itself, also, shall be freed from the slavery of corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God.  For we are aware that the entire creation is groaning and travailing together until now.  Yet not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruit of the spirit, we ourselves also, are groaning in ourselves, awaiting the sonship, the deliverance of our body.  For to expectation were we saved.  Now expectation, being observed, is not expectation, for what anyone is observing, why is he expecting it also?  Now, if we are expecting what we are not observing, we are awaiting it with endurance.  (Romans 8:22-25, CLNT)

Early this week, as I read Romans 8, the Lord reminded me (again!) that I was in need of endurance.  As I wrote these words in my journal, “And so, I see clearly I am in *GREAT* need of endurance!” a familiar chord sounded within me.  Didn’t I recall that the Lord had reminded me of that not so long ago?  Or was I imagining it?... 

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Of Faith and Boldness – Part II

“You should not, then, be casting away your boldness, which is having a great reward, for you have need of endurance...”  (Hebrews 10: 35, CLNT) 

“Now faith is an assumption of what is being expected, a conviction concerning matters which are not being observed; for in this the elders were testified to.  By faith we are apprehending the eons to adjust to a declaration of God, so that what is being observed has not come out of what is appearing.”  (Hebrews 11:1-2, CLNT)

As the Lord spoke to me regarding my faith and reminded me to allow Him to move and have His way with me, I was filled with boldness.  I felt bold in speaking out or remaining silent.  I felt bold in simply being in Christ and doing as Christ led me to do. 

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Of Faith and Boldness – Part I

“You should not, then, be casting away your boldness, which is having a great reward, for you have need of endurance...”  (Hebrews 10: 35, CLNT) 

“Now faith is an assumption of what is being expected, a conviction concerning matters which are not being observed; for in this the elders were testified to.  By faith we are apprehending the eons to adjust to a declaration of God, so that what is being observed has not come out of what is appearing.”  (Hebrews 11:1-2, CLNT)

On recent morning, as I was praying and crying out my woes to God about particular circumstances which were frustrating me and making me feel hopeless, I realized the following: