March 23

What’s in a Name?

Pastor Bill asks the provocative question

Child of God…

Mr. or Mrs. Christian!

Often, and rightly so, we have a tendency to be offended when someone misuses our name.  And we know why! It’s because our name is pretty important to us, yes? It’s not merely a word, but it is our name that identifies who we are.

Did you know that God is also very offended when His Name is misused?  God let’s us know through His name, who He is.  His name is a revelation of who He is.  In every Name that He calls Himself, God, has made Himself known. Made himself known by revealing to man, some of the attributes of His divine character.  So misusing His name is, of course, an affront to His very character.

So, what are some of the ways we can misuse God’s name?  Well, it happens when we Attach His name to profanity in any way! Or, when we use “my God” or “my Lord” or “Jesus Christ” as a way of expressing our shock, dismay, surprise, elation, or, it could be just a word casually injected into our conversation. Or, even when we’ve used His name in any way, frivolously or disrespectfully. It may also be, when we praise God in our songs without truly meaning what we say, or uttering His name  insincerely.

The honoring of His name is important to God. We may have even misused His name through some of our actions and deeds. When we, as  believers in Jesus live like the world, we treat His name with disrespect. As we do, we give the world occasion to blaspheme the good name of the Lord God  (Romans 2:24), “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you”.

The way we handle God’s name is a reflection of our true relationship with Him, our love for Him and our esteem for Him.

We should read and head Exodus 20:7, “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who missuses His name.”

Why do so many people choose to disrespect God by misusing His name? Yet,have the guts to  ask,  “why our country is in such a mess”!

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Assistant Pastor Todd Ovitt sings “To God Be the Glory”

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Pastor Bill’s Message!

WHAT DOES GOD THINK OF ME NOW?  PART 2 (Now that I have a New Name)!

Fill in the blanks. (Check answers below.)

Ephesians 1:12-14 Pastor Bill’s teaching outline- you fill in the blanks:

1. Our __________ stands firmly on the Almighty God, His Plan, and His Work.

2. We should make it our goal to live the ______ life to the best of our ability.

3. We are chosen in Christ; we are truly blessed and our position in Christ is _____________.

4. We have been ___________________ through the blood of Jesus Christ.

5. Our redemption has been paid by the death of our Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary. He paid this ransomed price “through His blood”. This denotes the ____________ of Christ’s work on the cross as our ____________.

6. Satan does not _________ us. God __________ us!

7. The ransom, our debt, has to be paid to ________ Himself.

8. God is a righteous God, and as a righteous God, He cannot remain righteous if He lets wrong go _______________. So the ransom price must be paid to satisfy God’s very nature.

9. In Christ, all of us who _________ in Him have been set free. We are free because Jesus _________ our ransom price. Galatians 3:10-13, 4:1-5; and Romans 5:1

10. We have been ____________ from slavery to sin and to Satan so that we can live ________________. Titus 2:14

11. We ought to have confidence that we will never be _______________.

12. We ought to be _________, __________, and _________ to be prepared to be made ready to serve.

13. The Lord rejoices when our behavior ___________ His view of us of having been rescued from sin’s penalty and power. He is not happy when we live as ________ of the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

14. God sees us as __________ in Christ, as full ______ of all of His riches. Ephesians 1:5

15. We enter God’s family in two ______, by _______, and by ___________.

16. Knowing that in Christ we are _________ of God’s ______ family should cause us to live up to the family name by being kind, honest, true, loyal, and pure. It should give us a confident assured triumphant attitude.

17. Knowing that everyone that is in Christ and members of God’s family should motivate us to ________ one another truly like brothers and sisters.

18. If we fail to see ________ as members of God’s family, we will not experience His close, loving fatherly presence. He is always eager to restore intimacy when we confess our sins and failures to Him. 1 John 1:9

19. God sees us as chosen in Christ, having been rescued in Christ and adopted in Christ. He also sees us as _________ in the Son, in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:7-14

20. We have been made a part of God’s “_______ ___________”.

To find the answers to “fill in the blanks”, click here to view God Tube TV or here for Sermon TV. 

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The Ladies! Kathy, Mary, Mary, Sandy, Carrie and Phyllis

Lovely Ladies, one and all

 

Our Church cook out was a huge success, as we bid adieu to Fred (in front view) and his wife Sandy (in photo with the ladies), as they prepare to make their way back up to their northern home.  Assistant Pastor Todd is the acting chief for the day.  Scott and Bobby are in the background.

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A Reminder!!!

Our Church Service starts at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, followed by a food fellowship, with Bible Study (The Truth Project)at 11:30 a.m. Bible Study is repeated on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.

     CH_ _ CH, What’s Missing? U R!!

A QUESTION THAT DEMANDS AN ANSWER!

“Can you be a follower of Jesus, and NOT follow Jesus?  AND, If you’re NOT a follower of Christ, are you a Christian?

 

Video files of our worship services are available on the Internet. Last week’s viewings totaled  489 on God Tube TV and 384 on Sermon TV for a total of  873.  We pray that you were blessed by last week’s message and look forward to hearing from you.  To view this week's message click here for God Tube TV or here for Sermon TV.

Continue to pray for us as we seek to serve the Lord here in Arizona.
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