THE GIFT OF A NAME

Dr. Marty Baker / December 6, 2009 / Isaiah 9:6-7
Welcome to the Creek. We are so glad that you are here today. I would like to welcome all of the folks at our Grovetown campus and those watching on television.
How many of you are expecting a child? Let me see your hands. One of the biggest discussions that an expecting couple has is “what names should they select for their children.” They wrestle with using family names, Biblical names, rhyming names, relevant names or cultural names. Several years ago, there was a couple that served in our church named Bill and Carol Cheatham. They wanted their son to have a name that reflected their ancestral culture, so they took a chance and named him, Diolobe Mwatta Cheatham. They knew that one day, someone would probably make fun of his name.
When he was six, it finally happened. He came home from school crying saying he wanted to change his name. Now remember that his name is Diolobe Mwatta Cheatham. Carol tried to comfort him and said, “Son, what name would you like to change your name to?” Dio said, “Anything but Cheatham.” When Carol told us that we all had a big laugh. What we expected was not what we got.
Some people fall into a naming pattern that they feel like they have to continue when a new baby is born. Patty’s older sister is Pam. They share the same birthday, one year a part. She has a younger sister named Polly. So you have three girls, Pam, Patty and Polly. We had to continue the pattern when we named our kids, Stuart, Sarah and Samuel, but not only that but all of their middle start with the letter “l”.
Names are always interesting. Have you ever noticed how Southern girls have two first names, like Mary Ann, Ima-Jean, Lessie Mae and Northern girls have two last names like Smith-Jones, Price-Johnson or Rodham-Clinton?
Some time ago, Fox News did a story on men taking the name of their wives and they highlighted Jon Coleman who married Kelly Shubert and together they are Jon and Kelly Shubert-Coleman. That’s fine, but what happens when their child marries the Price-Johnson’s kid. What is his name? John Shubert-Coleman Price-Johnson. It sounds like a law firm to me.
Choosing the right name for your child can be challenging. Names have signifiance. They mean something. Your child’s name not only provides a heritage, but it also can speak of a destiny. A name is the first and one of the most significant gifts that you will give your child.
When God’s son came into this world, he was given a name that would be above every other name. In fact, we first learn about his name from Isaiah, a Prophet in the Old Testament. He penned these words over seven hundred years before the first Christmas. He said:
Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
At this point in history, Isaiah is looking forward to a Messiah coming. He is telling his readers what to look for. He describes him with four phrases. Let’s look at them.
Wonderful Counselor
When Isaiah called him this, he used the Hebrew words: pele’ ya’ats. The word pele' (peh'-leh) means beyond understanding, too wonderful for words. The word ya`ats (yaw-ats') means to advise; to consult, to guide.
These words tell us that this child, this son would offer guidance and direction that would far exceed anything that you would commonly have. In fact, his guidence would go beyond our human understanding. It would be more than sixth sense; it would be more than enhanced perception. He would provide supernatural leadership and divine guidance.
Have you ever been at a place where you felt as though you were in over your head…that you were operating in an arena that was well above your pay-grade?
Life can be complicated. It seems that sometimes holidays and family gatherings have a way of increasing the complexity of our lives.
This year in addition to the normal challenges of getting our family together from three different states, we are adding a college graduation, and two weddings, one in South Carolina and one in Mississippi, at least seven Christmas parties.
If your life gets complicated during the holiday season, please remember that a child is born, to us a son is given and he is the wonderful counselor.
Isaiah is telling us that this Messiah would come and he would bring comfort and guidance to those who are stressed, to those who are fearful and to those who have lost their way. But, not only that, this child, this son will be called the Mighty God.
Mighty God
The original word here is El Gibbor which means warrior or champion or hero. These words communicate power and might. They were never used to describe a human being, but they point to a powerful deity, a mighty God.
Isaiah is saying that this child is no ordinary child. He is God in the flesh. He holds all of the power and all of the authority of Heaven.
John 1:3
“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
We find a similar message in Colossians 1.
Colossians 1:16-17
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
What we see here is that this child is God which means that he is:
• Omniscient.
He knows all things. There is nothing that is hidden from his view. We may try to hide something from our spouse or our friends, but God sees it all. Every thing done in darkness will eventually be exposed by the light. There are no secrets with God. He is omniscient. He knows, but that’s not all. He is…
• Omnipresent.
This means that God is everywhere. He is present here with us now. He will be at your house when you get home, but not only that, He will ride with you on the way. Some people try to run away from God. They think that by ignoring him, He cease to be there. But, that’s not the case. He is everywhere.
Psalm 139:7-10
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
There have been people in the past who have tried to run from His presence. We see people like Jonah who ignored God’s promptings and ran the other way only to discover that God continued to pursue him inspirte of his rebellion.
Could that be you today? Are you running away from God? Are you pushing God to side thinking that you can distance yourself from Him? Well, you can’t. He is omnipresent. He is here. He is here pursuing a relationship with you. Finally, we see that this child is omnipotent.
• Omnipotent.
This means that there is nothing or no one that has more power than He does. which menas that there is nothing or no one that has more power than him.
Jeremiah 32:17
"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
This is what I want you to write down. God can do anything. He is the mighty God.
Today we are talking about the gift of a name. We know Christmas is about the birth of a baby. Isaiah said that he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God and the Everlasting Father.
Everlasting Father
This name reminds us that this is more than just a season. This child is more than just a holiday event. Several months ago, Wes was organizing the service archives and it dawned on him that Dave typically preached on holidays like MLK, Masters Week, Memorial Day, 4th of July and so forth. When he realized this, he tagged Pastor Dave as … HolliDave. Well, Dave is more than just a holiday event.
This child that Isaiah is talking about is more than a holiday event, He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. He is eternal, from everlasting to everylasting. He is the everlasting father.
As a father, we see him as compassionate and tender.
Psalm 103:8
‘The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.’
He loves and cares for his children. That’s why he says this to you.

Matthew 11:28-29
‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’
As the everlasting Father, He provides inner peace and spiritual rest for you. Some of you are troubled. Your lives are marked by fear and worry. You struggle to sleep at night because you are overly concerned about the coming days. You worry about what people think. You worry about health care. You are worrying yourself sick.
You worry about your weight. You worry so much that you need a bowl of ice cream just to calm down. You worry about your children. Your worry about your job. You worry about your finances. You worry about your debt. Listen to the words of Matthew 6:
Matthew 6:31-33
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I want you to write down: Put your trust in God.
We are talking about the gift of a name. Isaiah said that he will be called the wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace.
Prince of Peace
The original words that Isaiah used for this name was sar shalom. The word sar (sar) means the one in charge, lord, chief and general. The Romans used this word and it became CZAR and it ultimately became Ceasar like Julius Ceasar and he was the one who was in charge. The word shalom (shaw-lome') was actually a greating that one person would give to another. Shaom means rest, tranquility, wholeness, completeness. If this child is the prince of peace then the one who is in charge provides wholeness, completeness and rest. He is the captain of rest. He is the chief of contentment.
But, when I look around I see too many people who are not content. They are not at peace. I see believers, people in our church, who are stressed out all of the time. I see Christian marriages where she knows Jesus and he knows Jesus and they should have a peaceful marriage, yet they don’t. Where’s the Prince of Peace in that?
I look at people financially. Most people I know make far more money today than they have ever made in their entire life. Yet, there have more financial pressure than they have ever had. Where’s the peace in that?
I look at the relational tension. People just can’t get along whether it’s at work, in the neighborhood or the family. Where’s the peace in that?
Here’s where you can find peace. True peace comes when you surrender to the Prince of Peace. It comes when you allow the sar shalom to be in charge, to be the leader and the lord of your life. As long as you are under Christ you can have his peace.
Does that mean that we can do anything we want and still have peace? Well, of course not. Can a guy get his girlfriend pregnant and go to church and have peace? No, because he is doing something outside of the Lordship or the Leadership of Shalom.
Can a couple get into a big hairy fight and go ballistic and call each other names and embarrass their kids and expect to have the peace of God? No. Why? Because they are outside of the sar shalom.
Can a person charge up all of their credit cards and spend more money than they make and expect to have a peace? No, because they are outside of the will of the sar shalom.
We can have peace when we place ourselves under the lordship of the sar, the one who is in charge. When we do that we will experience His peace.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
The amazing thing is what when we have His peace it is beyond human understanding. You will be able to weather the storms. The storms will still come but you will have the inner strength to make it through them.
Just as the sar shalom can give you peace, he can also take that peace away.Why would he do that? Because he is the sar shalom. He may remove your peace to get your attention. He may remove your peace when you have left him to draw you back to Him.
Write this down: Make peace WITH God, then receive the peace OF God.
Today we are talking about the gift of a name. Isaiah said that he will be called…
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah was looking forward to the day that this Messiah would come. But’s what’s his name? Every baby has a name.
Let’s roll the pages forward to Matthew chapter one where we meet a young Jewish man named Joseph who is pledged to be married to a virgin named Mary. An angel appeared to Joseph and said:
Matthew 1:21
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
When I was a kid, they use to sing a song in our church called: There’s Something About that Name. That’s true. There is something about the name of Jesus. I can’t tell you how many times that I have been situations where life was spinning out of control and in those times I have found peace by just praying in the name of Jesus. Jesus told his disciples:
John 14:14
14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it
What do you need? The answers to your prayers are found in the gift of the name of Jesus. Today’s talk is focuses on the Gift of a Name.
We have been given the name of Jesus as a gift. What does that mean? We have his power. We have his authority. It’s like a heavenly check. When I sign my name to a check, I am giving that person the authority to use my resources. When Jesus died on the cross, he paid for our mistakes and he opened heaven’s door. Now, we can approach our Heavenly Father in His name.
In His name is healing. In His name is joy. In His name is forgiveness of sins. In His name there is new life. In his name there is hope.
The name of Jesus is more than just a good way to stop praying. How many times have I said, “In the name of Jesus, AMEN.” I use his name to signify that the prayer is over. But, it’s more than that. The name of Jesus is the most powerful word in your vocabulary.
You have been given the gift of the name of Jesus. His name is above every name. Listen to the words of Philippians.
Philippians 2:9-11
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus came that first Christ so that you and I could be saved from our sins. I know that some of you feel that you have made too many mistakes. You have done too many bad things for God to give you the gift of his name.
The miracle of Christmas is that Jesus came so that you could be forgiven, so that you could have a new start. In fact, not only will He give you the gift of salvation, but He has a new name for you.
Today we have focused on the writings of Isaiah. Listen to what he said in chapter 62.
Isaiah 62:2-4
2 …And you will be given a new name by the Lord 's own mouth.
3 The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see— a splendid crown in the hand of God.
4 Never again will you be called "The Forsaken City" or "The Desolate Land." Your new name will be "The City of God's Delight" and "The Bride of God,"for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride.
Closing Thoughts and Prayer
"Chuck Colson was a high-powered advisor under President Richard Nixon, but the Watergate Scandal ended his political career and landed him behind bars. While in prison, he found Jesus Christ and once he was released, he created a ministry called Prison Fellowship and he has dedicated his life to reaching prisoners and their families with the love and hope of Jesus.
Colson tells the story of a time he was delivering Christmas gifts to a needy family whose father was in prison. He was met at the door by energetic boy who gave a warm smile and introduced himself as "Emmanuel". Colson smiled in return and crouched down to hand the boy a gift and he said, "Merry Christmas, Emmanuel. Tell me, do you know what your name means." The child shook his head no. Chuck Colson smiled and said, "It's a beautiful name. It means 'God with us'". Emmanuel looked at his wrapped gift and then looked up with a huge smile and tears in his eyes. He took off running through the house looking for him Mom and shouting, "Mommy, guess what! God is with us! God is with us!"
At Christmas, we're not simply celebrating an excuse to overeat, and get presents and see distant relatives. We are celebrating the best news that this world has ever known.
We have a Savior who loves and forgives us. He is Emmanuel, Jesus Christ the Lord. Because of what He has done on our behalf, we have the joy of knowing that God is with us. God is with us. That is the real Gift of Christmas."