His Name, His Love, His Friendship By Terry Somerville

- His  name is about the love of God coming to earth to save dying humanity.

- His name is the love that mends a broken home, and restores a shattered heart.
- His name is the love of God that heals sick bodies and minds.
- His name is the love of God restoring society.  
- His name is the highest name in the highest Kingdom.  
- Gods Kingdom is a kingdom of love pouring forth from the redeemed heart into a broken world.

ARE WE MISSING SOMETHING ABOUT USING JESUS NAME?

As Christians we  pray almost everything in "Jesus Name".  But what does it mean to pray in His name?  What is His name all about? Most of us would say we are using Jesus name as our authority. We belong to Him, and we petition the Father "over His signature" so to speak.  

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
John 16:23, 24

The problem with this scripture is,  it doesn't often seem to work!  We ask the Father using  Jesus name and we don't receive what we ask for.  Yet we just go on, convinced we must do it.  

Could it be we are missing something about the name of Jesus?  Is there something more than simply saying His name, like a formula.  Yes. The Jesus name is much deeper than that!  Real Christianity is the nature of the Father birthed in our born again spirit. Only His nature and character  in us can bring forth the  name of Jesus in an effective way.  

An Example: How A Child Uses Mothers Name
This difference in using Jesus name is like a 10 year old boy saying to a babysitter "Mom told us we can  stay out after midnight"  Mom's name  doesn't work. You know this was his idea, not Mom's.  But if the boy said  "Mom said I have to rake the lawn, can you help me with the bags?" You know that idea came from Mom and you help!  In the same way, the name of Jesus is more than a saying, or a prayer formula. It has much to do with asking according the heartbeat of God.

Ye ask, and do not receive, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your passions.
James 4:3

The question is, What is the passion of Jesus? Find that out, and all heaven will listen when you use His name!

WHAT DOES THE NAME OF JESUS MEAN?
The name of Jesus  is  transliterated "Yeshua", (or Joshua)  It literally means "Jehova is our salvation". In other words  Jesus name is pointing to the Father and His name. Jesus pointed the disciples to the Fathers name constantly. He wanted to reveal something deep to them.

“And I made Your name known to them and I will make  it known, so that the love  with which You loved Me shall be in them and I in them.” John 17:26

What was Jesus revealing about the  Fathers name?  It was His love. His purpose was that the same love the Father had put in Him would be in us!  The name of the Father is totally intertwined with His love, because He IS love.

THE LORD (Jehovah) REVEALED HIS NAME TO MOSES - IT IS LOVE 

And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.....
Exodus 34:6,7a

Here it is clear that the name of God and the love of God are synonymous. This is the name that our salvation in the name of Jesus.  When we use Jesus name we are invoking the character and love of God.  Not only that, when we act in love we are expressing the new creation nature, which is God's nature in us. Look at this amazing verse.

We have come to know and believe in the love that God has for us. God is love, and the person who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
(I John 4:16)

1. Abiding In Love And Abiding In God is the Same Thing For The Christian!    The character of the Lord comes forth from us when we abide in love. His love is in us already in us, shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said if we obey His commands we will abide in His love. His commands were simple. Love one another.

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
(John 15:10)

“This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you.
(John 15:12)

2. God Abides In Us When We Abide In Love. What an amazing verse. From Strong's abide means  "to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy):--abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own".

Imagine. God ABIDES in us when we abide in love.  


3. The Love Anointing - His Love Flows In Power Through Us
My own experience for the last ten years has taught me a lot about this love. Whenever I talk about His love for us, in us or blessing others through us,  IMMEDIATELY His anointing begins to come. It is amazing to me.  This happens in one on one conversations and in preaching to congregations.   The Father says to me "Just tell them about my love".  When we minister this love and pray in His name miracles happen.  Its  simple. Not a formula.

FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD
This love is the realm of truly knowing Him.  That is why Moses wanted to know Jehovah's name.  That is why David was after Gods heart.   Most of my Christian life I just had a legal relationship to the Lord.  Yes, I was His, an adopted son. Yes His Spirit, the counselor and comforter was in me.  Yes,  I tried hear Him and follow Him.  I would ask "what do you want me to do?" I would do ministry and spiritual gifts.    This was all "legal relationship".

Friendship with God is more than a legal relationship.   Friends share their heart.  I never knew this was possible until I sought out the love of God. Then  the Lord would share His heart with me. The first time He shared with me how He felt about India, about the Hindu idol worship.  He passionately loves Hindus and wants them to love Him as they do their idols.  I was astonished and broken, and changed.  Friends tell friends how they feel.

CONCLUSION
God IS Love. His name is about His love. His ways are His love. His story is His love.  The life in us is His love. When we abide in love, we abide in Him. Then we can use His name and receive from Him.

Terry Somerville
www.totalchange.org