TAKE HEED ON HOW WE MUST PROPERLY ADDRESS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Is there a proper way of calling on the Lord Jesus Christ? Do we call him "Jesus Christ", "Lord Jesus Christ", or simply "Jesus"? How must we address the Son of the Most High God?

After a nice prayer we commonly hear people say, "In Jesus Name". Sometimes people would add nice descriptive words like “In the sweet name of Jesus” or “In Jesus mighty name”.

In the New Testament gospels and epistles, all names and titles used of Jesus Christ represent the different relationships which are sustained by Him.

JESUS. The same name as the Hebrew “Jehoshua”, or the abbreviated form ‘Joshua’ (used in Heb. 4:8 / Acts 7:45), and means “the salvation of Jehovah” or Jehovah the Savior. The name ‘Jesus’ expresses the relation of Jehovah to Him in incarnation, by which “He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.” (Phil 2:8); Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God”. The name ‘Jesus’ is the name associated with ‘humiliation’ which He endured in order to “save His People from their sins” (Matt 1:23).

His People never therefore never addressed Him as “Jesus”, but always as “Master” or “Lord” (Luke 6:46 / John 13:13, 14), and so should all His people today; not following the examples of demons (in Matt. 8:20), or His enemies, who irreverently called Him “Jesus”.

CHRIST. This is the Greek translation of the Hebrew ‘Mashiah’. ‘Christos’ has the same meaning, from ‘chrio’, to anoint. Hence, the noun is used of and for the Messiah, and in the Gospels should always be translated “Messiah”, as well as in the Acts, and sometimes in the later books of the New Testament.

JESUS CHRIST. In the combination of these two names, the former is emphatic by its position, the second being subsidiary and explanatory. In the Gospels it means “Jesus the Messiah”. In the Epistles, it means Jesus who humbled Himself but is now exalted and glorified as Christ. Care should be taken to note the various readings.

CHRIST JESUS. This is the converse of “Jesus Christ” and denotes the now exalted One, Who once humbled himself.

CHRIST THE LORD. This the Hebrew Mashiah Jehovah = Jehovah’s Anointed, as in 1 Samuel 24:6. It occurs only in Luke 2:11; The anointed of Jehovah, Luke 2:26. All names and titles used of Jesus Christ represent the different relationships. May all of human kind (saved or unsaved) address the Savior who now sits on High as "Lord Jesus Christ", in calling on him in prayer, or even when simply mentioning His name in conversation.

Allow me to digress a bit with regards to earthly titles or positions called for men of authority. When we address the name of a president of any nation, we properly address them as “His Excellency”… or “Mr. President”. While we mention the nicknames like “Gloria” (for Gloria Arroyo) or “Erap) (for former president Joseph Estrada) or even Bill (for former president Bill Clinton) or sometimes Will (for President Bush) --- we call them with sometime jovially mention their nicknames during relaxed conversation with friends… nevertheless, when standing in front of them, or even when officially writing a letter to them, we address them with proper title of honor, we say “His Excellency”, Mr. President" or "Madame President". Even ministers of the state and judges are addressed as “The Honorable” or as “Your Honor”.

Then, why must we not use the same title of honor when addressing the Son of the Most High who now sits at the right hand of God? On earth, there are many people now named as “Jesus”, to which Christian parents proudly named after our Lord. Simply saying “Jesus” may mean any other person “Jesus” walking on earth, but when calling on or mentioning the Son of the Most High God who is our Savior should be properly addressed as “Lord Jesus Christ”, to give Him the respect and honor which is rightfully due His position.

We hope that in the next time we approach the Lord’s presence in prayer, may we properly address the resurrected Lord, the Son of the Most High God, with all due respect... in honor and title, as “The Lord Jesus Christ”. In ending our prayers, may we properly say … “This we pray in the name our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”, or “in the name of our Lord and Head Jesus Christ”, or the converse of it “In the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen”.

Let us not follow the examples of demons (in Matt. 8:20), or His enemies, who irreverently called Him “Jesus”. Let’s approach Him with the right salutations, with proper exaltation.

Peace be to all, in the name or our Lord, Savior and Head Christ Jesus.

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FORGET THE PAST AND MOVE ON

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. (Philippians 3:13)


The world will tell you that the dominating influence in your life is your past. If you came from a difficult home life, that will determine the direction of your life. If your culture was treated unfairly, that will dictate the condition of your life today. If you were hurt or abused or if your youth was spent in rebellion, the remainder of your life will be spent struggling with your past. The world is preoccupied with the past because it faces an uncertain future. Christians, on the other hand, live in freedom because Christ has overcome our past. The “old things” have been done away with and “new things” have come_(2 Cor. 5:17). God has so totally forgiven the Christian’s sin that He chooses not to remember it (Isa. 43:25). Christians do not forget the past; but we are not controlled or motivated by it. The Christian looks to the future with hope. The people of the world focus on what they are overcoming. Christians focus on what they are becoming. Christians know that the Holy Spirit is conforming them into the image of Christ. Christians know that ultimately they will stand before Christ to give an account of their actions and will spend an eternity in the presence of God. Christians know that eventually every injustice will be addressed and every hurt comforted. They know that Satan, and death itself, will finally be brought to an end. The Christian’s future is so full and rich and exciting that it supersedes whatever happened in the past. If you are preoccupied with your past, ask God to open your eyes to the incredible future that awaits you and begin, like Paul, to press on to what is ahead.

Let us move onward to our journey, higher and higher, till we all reach the place were we belong.

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God's Eternal Perspective

Big assignments require big characters. God will give you a responsibility in proportion to the size of your character.


In Bible times, a person's name represented his character; to know someone's name was to know what the person was like. That's why God changed the name of some when He transformed their character. For example: the Lord wanted to bless the nations of the earth through Abram, yet Abram's character was too weak for such great task. God said He would make Abram's name great so that He could make him a blessing to the future generations. Then over the next 25 years, God developed Abraham's character to match the name He had given Him.

God see's your life from His eternal perspective. He will take whatever time is necessary to grow your character to match His assignment for you. If you have not received a divine commission lately, it may be that your character needs maturing. Are you impatient to begin your work before God has refined your character? A small character will fail in a large responsibility every time. Don't be too hasty to get to the work. Character-building can be long and painful. It took 25 years before God entrusted Abraham with his son and set in motion the establishment of the nation of Israel. Yet God was true to His word, and thousands of years later people continue to be blessed by the account of Abraham's life and by His descendants --- from Moses, to David, to the Lord Jesus Christ.
How is God building your character? Do you sense that He has a task for you that will require a far greater man or woman than you presently are? Will you yield to God as He works in your life to prepare you for the next assignment?

Before we take on doing that important task for God, we must begin shaping our knowledge of God's word so that we can begin to see thing's from His perspective. And then daily, through meditation on the Word, allow the Holy spirit of God to shape our character. Then one day, God will send us to that important assignment that will transform people, transport them to eternal life.

There are just too many tasks in our world today. Let's do all, but also be conscious of that one day God would like you to do something for Him in this life. That assignment is the reason why you are here on earth. Until then, let us prepare, to shape our character for that assignment.

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