The Name of the LORD*

      Moses encountered God as He spoke to Moses from a burning bush. God gave Moses the assignment to go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses asked the God to tell him His name so he could tell the Israelites: "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." (Ex. 3:13-14). The name of God given to Moses is spelled with the Hebrew letters YHWH: yod, hey, vaw, hey ("Behold the hand, behold the nail"). It is from this name that we get the name Jehovah or LORD.

     Regarding His name, the LORD said in The Ten Commandments: "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain (meaning empty or falsely)." (Ex. 20:7). There is an event in scripture where a man of God, who was given a command from God, was deceived by a prophet who used the name of the LORD falsely, contradicting God's command to the man. The deception caused the man of God to lose his life. (see 1 Kings 13:11-24).

     The name of the LORD is so important to life, that using it falsely or in vain is forbidden by the LORD in His commandments. Proverbs 30 says: "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." (v. 4-5). Again, Proverbs says: "The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." (Prov. 18:10).

     Paul wrote that the name of the LORD is our salvation. (Rom. 10:13). The Hebrew word for "salvation" is Yeshua, which is the Hebrew name of Jesus. Proverbs asked above "...what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?" Not only is His name our salvation, but Jesus said that His name gives His authority to do miracles to those who believe: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.'...And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." (Mk. 16:15-20, excerpt). Why do some churches teach believers that these signs and miracles promised by Jesus are done away with? Are we still not called to the world? (see also Mk. 13:10).

     Not everyone who calls the name "Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said that regardless of the works that someone does in His name, it is instead he who "doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" who will enter in. Without this obedience to His Father, Jesus will deny that He even knows them. (Mt. 7:21-23). Many also will be deceived by those who claim that they come in the name of Jesus: "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Mk. 13:3-6).

     Jesus described His relationship with the Father as being One. For those who believe on Jesus, they will do the works of Jesus and even greater works since Jesus returned to His Father: "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." (Jn. 14:15). Ask anything according to the will of the Father and Jesus will do it. His name must be used properly, and not falsely. Jesus told His listeners to keep His commandments, and He detailed the two great commandments as being to love the LORD with all heart, soul and strength, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. He said that all the Law of Moses and the prophets hang on these two commandments. God's will as expressed in His commandments does not revolve around partiality, bias, prejudice or money and wealth, but mercy and compassion (see also Rom. 9:14-17). Keeping and doing the commandments of Christ make us His friends rather than only servants. We have been chosen by Christ to bring forth remaining fruit: "...that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (Jn. 15:14-16, see also Jn. 16:23-26). We judge, and we are judged, by our fruit, which reflects our spiritual growth and maturity, and our growing into the stature of Christ.

     Jesus sent His Word to the church of Pergamos in the Book of Revelation commending them that, although they dwelled where Satan's seat was located (there was a temple to Zeus on the high place of that city), they had held fast His name and had not denied His faith. There had been those who had been martyred for their faith in that city, but still these believers had held fast in faith. However, this church had not held fast the commandments of Christ. They had copied the sinful ways of Balaam who had long ago taught King Balac to put stumbling blocks of idolatry and fornication before the children of Israel. This church had also included among them the doctrine of the Nicolaitans (meaning "to conquer the laity"), which Christ hates. So, though they held the name and the faith, they also allowed sin into their church. Jesus said that if they did not repent, He would come quickly and fight against them "with the sword of my mouth." If they would repent, and hear and obey what the Spirit was saying to them, He would reward them with giving them "hidden manna" and a new name engraved upon a white stone. (Rev. 2:12-17).

     The church cannot condone sin while still claiming the name and the faith of the Lord. 

     To another church, located at Laodicea, Jesus sent this warning also about their works which reflected the fact that they were neither hot nor cold towards Jesus, but lukewarm, and like lukewarm water, this self-satisfied church would be vomited out of Jesus' mouth. Because He loved them, Jesus sent His chastening words to them, telling them to be zealous instead of lukewarm, and repent: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Rev. 3:18-22).

     It is not enough to speak the name of the LORD. Many use the name of the LORD falsely, and given the opportunity, to deceive even the elect. He will not hold them guiltless. It is necessary to hear Him and be obedient to His commandments and to walk in His qualities. In our heeding of the chastening call to repentance to the churches (see 2 Chron. 7:14), the LORD answers and comes in to us to sup with us and we with Him and He brings His rewards with Him.

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 3/15/26 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, which is evidence of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling, written by Dr. Stevenson, is available on Amazon.