The LORD's Name (Part 3)

1. In this three-part series on the LORD’s Name we are studying:

a. What the LORD’s Name is.

b. How the LORD wants to use His Name in the lives of His people.

c. How we receive and put on the LORD’s Name.

2. The LORD’s Name reveals who He is: His person, character, attributes, etc.

3. When the LORD puts His Name on us it identifies us, covers us, and grants us great privileges.

4. Today we are going to study how the LORD puts His Name on His people.

I. The LORD Puts His Name On His People By Drawing Them To Himself

A. The Importance Of A Person’s Name In The Bible (A person’s name revealed who they were.)

1. The LORD has revealed Himself through His Name.

a. In the OT the LORD summed up the revelation of all His Names by revealing Himself as, “I AM”

(1) (Exodus 3:14, ESV) God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”

b. In the NT the LORD’s Name was fully revealed in the LORD Jesus Christ!

(1) (John 17:11, NIV) ... Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, ...

2. The LORD’s Name can’t be separated from the LORD Himself.

a. To misuse the LORD’s Name is to speak against the LORD Himself.

(1) (Exodus 20:7, NIV) “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

b. That’s why the LORD commands that we honor His Name; by honoring His Name we are honoring Him!

(1) (Malachi 2:2) ... if you do not resolve to honor my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.

3. To be united to the LORD’s Name is to be united to the LORD Himself.

B. Initially We Receive The LORD’s Name When We Are Born Again

1. (Jn. 1:12) ... to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

2. But we are also made a part of the Body of Christ where the fullness of His Name is revealed.

C. Those Who Are United To The LORD’s Name Become Living Revelations Of Jesus!

1. Revealing the presence of Jesus. (People see Jesus in us!)

2. Revealing the purity of Jesus. (Nothing but Jesus! His character, not our flesh!)

3. Revealing the power of Jesus. (i.e. the armor of God)

II. Putting The LORD’s Name On Us Is An Action That Requires Both The LORD And Man

A. Man Can’t Do It Without The LORD And The LORD Won’t Do It Without Man

1. Initially we RECEIVE the LORD’s Name when we repent, submit, and put our faith in Jesus (i.e. we are “born again.”)

2. Thereafter the LORD continues to cloth us with His Name so that we become a revelation of the LORD Himself.

a. In the OT the LORD did this through the ministry of the priests.

b. (Numbers 6:27, NIV) “So they (i.e. Aaron and his sons) will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

B. The Calling And Responsibilities Of Priests

1. You had to be born into the priesthood.

a. Every “born again” follower of Jesus is born into the priesthood.

b. (Revelation 1:6, NIV) ... has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father ...

2. The priests had to be dressed properly to fulfill their ministry in the Tabernacle/Temple

a. (Exodus 28:4) ... make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests.

b. Because of their ministry in the Tabernacle/Temple the priests garments would be:

(1) Covered with blood and oil! (Representing the blood of Jesus and the anointing of the Spirit)

(2) (Exodus 29:21, NIV) And take some blood from the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. ...

3. Just as the LORD used the OT priests to put His Name on the Israelites, He uses His priestly leaders to do the same today.

a. (Ephesians 4:11–12, NIV) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

b. This involves more than teaching; it involves filling us (i.e. impartation) and equipping us (i.e. clothing & equipment)

C. The LORD Used His Priests To Clothe The Body With His Name (Not Individuals)

1. The priestly blessing applied the LORD’s Name on the LORD’s Body, NOT on individuals.

2. The priestly blessing is all about the LORD’s presence in the corporate, united Body!

a. (Numbers 6:23–27, NIV) “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 “ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’ 27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

b. The LORD is addressing the whole Body, yet each “you” is singular which emphasizes that the whole Body, make up of a multitude of individuals, is one!

3. The LORD wants The Name Of Jesus on the whole Body, not just individuals.

a. There is coming the day when the whole Church will rise up, clothed with the LORD’s Name, revealing the presence, purity, and power of Jesus!

4. Yet, to receive the blessing of the LORD’s Name required more than physical presence, it required spiritual unity.

a. United with the Body in that which the LORD is doing.

b. More than physical presence; it is spiritual engagement.

c. You can be present but not engaged; such a person isn’t “united” with the Body although they are physically present.

D. How Did The LORD Use The Priests To Clothe His People With His Name?

1. They spoke the Word with divine authority.

2. Preach the Word (Jesus) with the anointing of the Spirit! (In so doing you are putting God’s Name upon His people!)

III. However, Every Follower Of Jesus Has The Responsibility To Daily Clothe Themself With The Name Of Jesus

A. We Are Called By His Name And We Have Been Corporately Clothed With His Name

1. (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV) ... my people, who are called by my name, ...

2. (Numbers 6:27, NIV) “So they will put my name on the Israelites, ...

B. Yet We Are Also Responsible To Daily Clothe Ourselves In The LORD’s Name

1. (Romans 13:14, NIV) ... clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,

C. How Do We Do That? In The Same Way That The OT Priests Put On Their Priestly Garments

1. They took off their dirty clothes and washed themselves.

a. (Exodus 40:12, NIV) “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water.

2. They put on their priestly garments.

a. (Exodus 40:13–15, NIV) Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. 14 Bring his sons and dress them in tunics. 15 Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. ...

3. Take off the old and put on the new.

a. (Ephesians 4:22–24, NIV) You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

b. Start each day by washing yourself in His Word and putting on the LORD’s Name! (Pray, meditate on His armor, etc.)

D. In Conclusion, Putting On The Name Of Jesus Has Two Essential Parts

1. Every individual believer must daily put on the Name of Jesus.

2. Every believer must be a functioning part of the Body of Christ where the fullness of His Name is revealed!