"Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our LORD, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the LORD Jesus Christ." -1 Corinthians 1:1-3
In this passage, Paul wished grace and peace upon the church at Corinth. But not only from him, but with all who call upon the name of Jesus. It is the name of Jesus to which the apostles gave heed.
The Bible says in Acts 5:41, “They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.”
They preached in the name of Jesus, Acts 9:27, “But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.”
They knew one day all would bow to the name of Jesus, the Bible says in Phil. 2:10, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.”
How can I take the name of Jesus with me? I can take the name of Jesus with me by my Speech, and Actions.
A name shows authority. If I go to the bank to cash a check, it better have the right name – right authority. If I am to pay for anything in this manner, I must take my name with me.
Take Jesus with us in our speech:
When you go to a foreign country, usually others can tell where you are from by your speech. People can tell what country we are from spiritually as well, by our speech.
The Bible says in Col. 4:6, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.”
Ephesians 4:25, “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.”
Look at Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Do we take the name of Jesus with us in our speech?
Take Jesus in our actions:
It does not take long for the actions of a visitor to reveal him as being out of place. So also, our actions, as citizens of a heavenly kingdom, ought to reveal the name of our King.
1 Thessalonian 4:3-5: “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God.”
Instead, Christians behave in a holy way exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit; Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
May God continue to bless and keep you.
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