Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the name of Jesus.

Jesus told His disciples in today’s scripture, John 16:23-28 (NLT)…
[23] At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. [24] You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. [25] “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. [26] Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, [27] for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. [28] Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”

Consider…
Have you ever had a person ‘name drop’ to curry favor?

If you have siblings, do you recall hearing, ‘Momma said’ or ‘Daddy said’, in order to get what they want?

Or if you worked in a company, has an executive ever told you to use their name to get access to sensitive or protected information?

All of these questions reveal there’s implied authority in names.

Allow me to draw your attention to the most authoritative name in Heaven and Earth. Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT) states…
[9] Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

According to God, Jesus is the greatest name! That’s because, Jesus is the name that His Heavenly Father gave Him.

In Luke 1:30-33 (NLT), Jesus’ mother was told by the angel Gabriel…
[30] “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! [31] You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. [32] He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. [33] And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

And in Matthew 1:18-21 (NLT) we learn how Jesus’ stepfather was independently told to name him…
[18] This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. [19] Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. [20] As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. [21] And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Notice, the angel Gabriel gave the same instructions to Mary and Joseph to name God’s only begotten Son, Jesus. That fact tells me that the name of Jesus was important to God from the beginning.

But let’s dig a little deeper into the significance of our Lord and Savior’s matchless name.

The prophet Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)…
[14] All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

And Matthew 1:22-25 (NLT) confirmed…
[22] All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: [23] “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” [24] When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. [25] But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

This tells me that while God gave His Son the formal name of Jesus, He also shared His nickname would affectionately be Immanuel. That means Jesus wasn’t just the Son of God, but He is God with us! Therefore, when people talk to Jesus, they’re actually talking to God!

That just brought these lyrics to my mind…

I once was lost in sin but Jesus took me in
And then a little light from heaven fill my soul
He bathed my heart in love and He wrote my name above
And just a little talk with Jesus makes me whole

Now let us have a little talk with Jesus
Let us tell Him all about our troubles
He will hear our faintest cry
And He will answer by and by
And when you feel a little prayer wheel turnin’
And you will know a little fire is burnin’
Find a little talk with Jesus makes it right

I may have doubts and fears
My eyes be filled with tears
But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night
I go to him in prayer
He knows my every care
And just a little talk with Jesus makes it right

Now let us have a little talk with Jesus
Let us tell Him all about our troubles
He will hear our faintest cry
And He will answer by and by
And when you feel a little prayer wheel turnin’
And you will know a little fire is burnin’
You will find a little talk with Jesus makes it right

And just as that tune fades, I hear another that says…

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
O what peace we often forfeit
O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer

I tell you my friend, there’s no name more precious than Jesus. It’s truly music to my ears.

Speaking of music, yet another song captures the beauty of God’s baby boy’s name. The lyrics say…

… You were the Word at the beginning
One with God, the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You, our Christ

… What a beautiful Name it is, what a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ, my King
What a beautiful Name it is, nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is, the Name of Jesus

… You didn’t want Heaven without us
So Jesus, You brought Heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now?

… What a wonderful Name it is, what a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ, my King
What a wonderful Name it is, nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is, the Name of Jesus
What a wonderful Name it is, the Name of Jesus

My Lord, the Holy Spirit is playing a Jesus concert in my mind. That’s because He is emphasizing…

‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His Word
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
Oh, for grace to trust Him more

I’m so glad I learned to trust Him
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend
And I know that He is with me
Will be with me to the end

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
Oh, for grace to trust Him more

Here’s the deal, the name of Jesus represents the unfailing love, enduring mercy and unfathomable grace of God to us. You see, it’s by Jesus’ name that we’ve received salvation (Romans 10:9). And it’s in the name of Jesus that we have direct access to God, as pointed out in today’s scripture.

You see the fullness of God is found in Jesus. Colossians 2:9 (NLT) testifies…
[9] For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

The Holy Spirit is showing me the various names used for God by His people, like Jireh (Provider), Nissi (victory), Rapha (healer), Shalom (peace), Rohi (shepherd), etc… Then the Holy Spirit pointed out all the names we use are encapsulated in the name of Jesus. For instance Yahweh Yireh is what Jesus described in John 14:12-14 (NLT) when He said…
[12] “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [13] You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. [14] Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

Notice Jesus said ask me and I will do it! That means whether I ask Jesus or in His name, the LORD will provide.

Needless to say, I could go on and on about the precious name of Jesus, but today’s message is simply, appreciate the name of Jesus.

God says, when you name drop ‘Jesus’ with Me, all that I AM, and have, is made available to you!

The name of Jesus is the access code to all the promises of God!

The name of Jesus is the username and password to all the programs God has loaded for our lives.

As the hymn says…
The name of Jesus is so sweet,
I love its music to repeat;
It makes my joys full and complete,
The precious name of Jesus.
Jesus! oh, how sweet the name,
Jesus! every day the same;
Jesus! let all saints proclaim
Its worthy praise forever.

Today, pause and appreciate the name of Jesus. Find a song, I have already shared a few, and put it on repeat in your mind.

It’s funny that when I think about appreciating the name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit keeps adding to my playlist. He just added…

There is a name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth;
it sounds like music in my ear,
the sweetest name on earth.

O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
because he first loved me!

And He’s telling me to close with…

Can’t stop praising His name
I just can’t stop praising His name
I just can’t stop praising His name
Jesus
Jesus
Hallelujah Jesus
Praising His name

Spend today appreciating the GREAT NAME OF JESUS!!!

Today’s Song is…
Your Great Name

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)