A More Excellent Name

Hebrews 1:1-4

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

A More Excellent Name

This passage may be familiar to many of you, either from previous study, or because it was referenced in our Sunday School lesson yesterday.  

Verse four stood out to me.  It's one of those kinds of statements that show up often in the Word, where something that is already superlative is taken higher...more than a conqueror, greater works than these, Name above all names, and this more excellent name.

The writer was referring to Jesus, the Son of God, Who is given a station above the angels by His relationship with God, the Father.  He has, by relationship and inheritance, been given a MORE excellent name.

And, beloved, so have we.

Because of the sacrifice of Christ, born into sin, yet sinless, having done all that the Father had sent Him to do, despite obstacles, death threats and attempts, abandonment - because of all this, we too inherited this 'more excellent name'.

Galatians 4:4-7King James Version (KJV)

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

So we, as joint heirs, have this more excellent name.  No disparagement to anyone's family name, but in Christ, that excellent name is made more excellent.  

In Jeremiah's account about the potter's wheel, the broken vessel was made again into a new vessel that pleased the potter...not repaired, but new, again.

Here is the real gift of Christmas.  Adoption into a more excellent name with full restoration as a son, not a servant.  There are lessons to learn, chores to do, rules to follow as in any family, but THIS family has a name above all names.  A name above cancer, debt, poverty, depression, loneliness, grief, anxiety, pride, jealousy, and any other name we can conjure.  

This Christmas, get a new name.  And if you've already been adopted in, embrace the family ways and be new again another.

Jeremiah 18:1-6

18 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

In the name of Jesus, a more excellent name indeed, may God continue to bless you.  And a very Merry Christmas.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Hwy 138 W. Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Between GA Hwy 85 and US 19/41

Across from EJ Swint Elementary School

Church Website - Fellowship Church Where Passions Become Reality Because You Are A Chosen Generation

And Yet Stand...

1 Corinthians 15:58

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

And Yet Stand...

Beloved, be encourage.  The Word of God is true;  it's true in good times, bad times, high times, low times, times of clarity and times when nothing makes sense.  His Word is true.

That promise you received?  True.  The healing that seems illusive?  True.  My God shall supply all my need?  True.  I will never leave you or forsake you?  True.  Every word is true.  Every promise is true.  Every principle, every statement, everything that each of us has received of God it true.

So, when faced with anything that exalts itself against God, just remember, God is true.

Peace and steadfastness.

2 Corinthians 10:1-6

10 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

Stand

Ephesians 6:11-13

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand

There are some verses in the Bible that even the unsaved just know.  For God So loved....I can do all things....I Am That I Am, In the beginning....Some of the Word has managed to cut through the noise and pollution of the world and just become interwoven with our society.

The verse above is another one of those, though it's usually phrased having done all to stand, stand therefore.  It brings a picture to mind of facing down whatever has come against us.  Like the soldier on the battlefield refusing to yield despite insurmountable odds.  Or the parent who refuses to give up on a wayward or sick child.  Amazing courage from the depths of our being.  I am grateful that God restores, restrengthens and renews in those circumstances.

But what about less dramatic, but equally as destructive circumstances?  Those little battles that we all face.  The ones that seem too insignificant to even consider as a battle.  Not studying the Word of God.  Shirking on our responsibilities to a ministry...just every now and then.  Indulging our appetite for that 'thing' we know we're not supposed to have...be it food, drug, entertainment, or people.  These aren't really worthy of the attention of God, are they?

They are.  And we can see the result of ignoring these little things all around us.  Consider the forts of old that withstood battle after battle...or the pyramids in central Mexico as well as Egypt.  The great structures built when one civilization dominated another.  Many of these structures remained in tact for hundreds of years, only to be brought down by a breach of integrity that started as a leak, or a lodged seed, or a small crack.  Or even the strength of a man can dissolve into nothing by the presence of a tumor the size of a walnut.  The Ebola virus does nothing until it gets inside the body.  Then, just its presence has the power to throw a whole nation into panic.  Something too small to be seen by the naked eye can make the most powerful nation on earth run in fear.

As children of God, we have nothing to fear that comes from the outside.  The things that truly destroy us start from the inside and often start small.  It is these things that we are called to attend.  We must be diligent about what we take into our Spirit because it will affect what comes out.

Dear ones, no matter how hard the struggle may be over that 'thing', if it hinders our relationship with God, it has to be attended.  There is nothing that we're are asked to lay aside that isn't met with exceeding abundance when we walk in obedience.  After all, we have not resisted to blood on that thing (Hebrews 12:4).

Fall is a time of glorious color and change.  For many people, this is their favorite time of year.  For others, it can be a time of loss and stress.  Whether you welcome this time of year with gladness or disdain, I encourage you to focus on what's really important.  Not on what's coming at you, but on what's coming out.

And, having done all to stand in the face of depression, and sickness, and loss, stand therefore.  Having done all to stand in the face of lack, and desperation and falling self worth, stand therefore.  Having done all to stand in the face of anything that exalts itself against God, including our own pride, stand therefore.  God will avenge Himself.  And His thoughts toward us are for good and not evil, to give us an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11).  

And knowing that the end result is victory, as it always is with God, just stand.  

I love you and I'm praying for you.

Psalm 146

146 Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul.

2 While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:

6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. TheLord looseth the prisoners:

8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:

9 The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

10 The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  

 

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

 

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

 

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Hwy 138 W. Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Between GA Hwy 85 and US 19/41

Across from EJ Swint Elementary School

Church Website - Fellowship Church Where Passions Become Reality Because You Are A Chosen Generation

Just More Praise - Stand the Watch

Habakkuk 2:1-4

2 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Stand the Watch

In the Body of Christ, we are all given a task...a watch.  Each and every one of us has an assignment.  In truth, every living person has an assignment; but those of us who have accepted salvation have literally volunteered our service. 

We have a watch.  And with a watch, our duty is to stand the watch.  

Whatever the watch is, that's the calling.  If we are called to be a Pastor, then we must pastor. Called to teach?  Teach.  Called to serve?  Serve.  Called to feed?  Feed. Called to clean up?  You get it.  

Good times, bad times, cooperative times, teeth pulling times.  We are to do the thing we're called to do. Sometimes the work can seem thankless and hard. And yet, if we're honest with ourselves, it's not the work.  It's us.  

Thanks came at the cross, and is expressed everyday from a loving, devoted Father.  And as far as the work being hard, more times than not it's that the work...the work we're designed to do... it's not that it is hard.  It's that it clashes with our own agendas.  

Think about it...sharks don't tire of swimming.  Migrating geese don't get  together and decide 'lets walk instead of flying'. Trees don't bend over and take a nap.  Dogs don't meow.  Cows don't produce orange juice.  When we're designed to do something, we function at our absolute best when we're doing it.

Loved ones, service to the Father isn't hard.  Yielding is.  And when we remember that we are not responsible for the results, just our obedience, it takes all the pressure off us, and gives all the glory to Him.

Stand your watch.  Do the work assigned.  Be in the right place at the right time as He has designed. Follow after the Holy Spirit, even when His leading makes no earthly sense.  Don't worry about the means or the ends. All that God intended from our labor will come to pass.  Though it tarry, just do the work.

Be blessed.  

And please forgive my absence.  I will stand my watch.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Hwy 138 W. Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Between GA Hwy 85 and US 19/41

Across from EJ Swint Elementary School

Church Website - Fellowship Church Where Passions Become Reality Because You Are A Chosen Generation

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