THE NAME OF THE LORD IN YOUR HOME
Part 3

"For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people"
(1 Samuel 12:22).

DESIRE the name of the Lord

Isaiah 26:7 says, "Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee." Is the desire of our hearts to His name? What about everyone in our family?

FACE THE ENEMY in the name of the Lord

We constantly face onslaughts from the enemy of our souls. We continually face battles. How, therefore can we face them? In the name of the Lord. There is no greater answer.

When David, a young teenager, faced the great giant Goliath who was fully clothed with strong protective armor, he faced him in the name of the Lord of Hosts. Read his powerful confession in 1 Samuel 17:45-47, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand and I will strike you and take your head from you . . . that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel."

The Psalmist confidently confesses three times in Psalm 118:10-12 that he will destroy his enemies in the name of the Lord, "All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them. They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them."

Psalm 44:5 says, "Though thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us."

You have no power in your own strength, but you too, can face your enemy in the powerful name of the Lord of Hosts. Read also Mark 16:17 and Luke 10:12).

FEAR the name of the Lord

Isaiah 59:19 says, "So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun."

We dare not take the name of the Lord lightly for His name is the most holy name in all the earth. Guard how the name of the Lord is spoken in your home. Do not allow your children to get away with speaking the name of the Lord irreverently. God Himself will not allow this. Part of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:7 says, "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." And don't forget to read this powerful story in Leviticus 24:10-16.

God judges seriously a son or daughter who makes light of their father and mother (Proverbs 20:20 and 30:17). What about God Himself? Read also Leviticus 19:12 and Deuteronomy 5:11.

GATHER together in the name of the Lord

Don't you love the promise of Jesus in Matthew 18:20? He says, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." This means that when you gather your family around your table in the name of the Lord, He is with you. When you gather your family to pray and have devotions together that He comes right into your midst. Isn't that wonderful? You certainly won't want to miss gathering together when you know that He is waiting to be with you, will you?

GIVE A CUP OF WATER in the name of the Lord

Mark 9:41 says, "For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward." This is speaking of more than a cup of water. It means that anything you do for one of His saints, even the lowliest saint, is noticed by your Heavenly Father. But, remember to do them in the name of the Lord.

GIVE THANKS to the name of the Lord

Why does God save us from the heathen and make us His saints? Psalm 106:47 tells us, "Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise." We have been saved to give thanks to His name.

How often do you give thanks? When everything is going well? When you feel happy? Ephesians 5: 20 encourages us, "Giving thanks ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." This doesn't give us one tiny excuse, does it? In everything! And for all things! Do you think you could start making this a habit in your life? And let's encourage everyone in the home to make it their habit, too. What an exciting home to live in. Can you imagine the atmosphere when every person is thanking the Lord in every situation and at all times?

Read also 1 Chronicles 16:35; 41; Psalm 105:1; 122:4; 140:13 and Hebrews 13:15.

Blessings from NANCY CAMPBELL
www.oboverubies.org

PRAYER:

"Holy God, whose name is Holy, please help me to sanctify your great name in my home. Help me to teach my children the awe and wonder of your name. Help us to always be thanking you for everything. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I am facing all challenges and temptations of the enemy in the name of the Lord of hosts.