Lifting Up The Name Of Jesus
A lot of times my friends and I talk about sin, death and Hell. We talk about the need to repent and trust Jesus. These are necessary subjects to talk about. They are biblical. Jesus talked about them. But I must confess that I may talk too much about sin, about people dying in their sins and suffering the torments of eternal damnation. So tonight, I want to spend more time lifting up the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior.
Again, pointing out the reality that most people are on the broad road to destruction is a necessary topic. People need to hear the truth; they need to be warned. Listen to what Jesus said: Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13-14).
Don’t miss this, Jesus warned about the broad road to destruction and said that many people are on that road. He said only a few people are on the narrow way that leads to life. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).
Million Roads To Hell
Jesus is the way, the only way of salvation. There is no other way. There aren’t a million roads to God, but there are a million roads to Hell with no way of escape. Once you die in your sins and go to Hell there is no way out. There are no second chances, no early release, no parole.
Yes, I talk about sin because we’ve all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory and the wages of sin is death. So, I do talk about sin, death and Hell because those who die in their sins will suffer the torments of Hell for all eternity. It’s a horrible place to go and we all deserve to go to Hell. We’ve all rebelled against God. Each and every one of us have sinned against God and we deserve His righteous indignation over our rebellion against Him.
We are the sinners, yet Jesus took the punishment that we deserve. Jesus bore the wrath of God as He hung on the cross. The Lord Jesus was beaten beyond recognition. He suffered bled and died on the cross. Yet He rose from the grave three days later. Salvation is freely offered to all who repent and surrender their lives to Jesus. When you do this, God no longer sees you as the sinner that you are. He sees you through the righteousness of Jesus. You can now have peace with God. This doesn’t give you a license to sin; instead you have a godly desire to sin less.
Do You Have Peace With God?
Please listen to Romans 5: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
But God commended (demonstrated) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Atonement Through Christ Alone
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Never the less death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Disobedience And Obedience
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
More over the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Praise God! Thanks be to God! I have been redeemed through Jesus Christ. Now I have peace with God. I laid down my weapons of rebellion against Him and I have surrendered my life to Jesus. I’m saved. My sins have been forgiven. I am a new creature in Christ. God has taken away my heart of stone and given me a heart of flesh. I have been justified or been made right with God through Jesus. He is the only Mediator between God and man.
My Lord And Savior
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I have eternal life. Jesus will never leave me nor forsake me. He walks with me in this life and I will be with Him for all eternity in the next life. I am saved. Jesus saves His people from their sins. He is the life and the resurrection. Oh, He is worthy of all honor, praise and glory. There is no greater honor in this life than lifting up the name of Jesus. My Redeemer lives. He sits at the right hand of God the Father and He intercedes for me and for all other believers.
Worthy is the Lord Jesus of praise. He is worthy, worthy, worthy. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.
And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And have made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Worthy Is The Lamb
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever (Revelation 5:8-13).
Worthy is the Lamb. Worthy is the Lord Jesus of all honor, praise and glory. When Jesus walked this earth, His triumphal entry into Jerusalem was described in this way: And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
And when he came near, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest (Luke 19:35-38).
We’re Lifting Up The Name Of Jesus
We’re out here lifting up the name of Jesus because He is worthy of praise, honor and glory. Jesus is worthy of praise because He is Lord of all. Revelation 17:14 says: These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:5-11).
Jesus Is Lord Of All
Jesus is Lord, Lord of all. My friends and I willingly lift up the name of Jesus. He is Lord. Jesus is Lord of my life. Is He Lord of your life? Have you repented from your sins and surrendered your life to the Lord Jesus? Does Jesus rule over your life? Have you submitted to the King of kings and the Lord of lords?
Oh, I’m lifting up the precious name of Jesus tonight. He is the King of kings. He is the Lord of lords and Jesus is Lord of my life. There is no greater privilege or honor than lifting up the name of Jesus. I do so willingly and gratefully in this life and will do so forever in the next life.
Praise The Lord!
Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvelous works among all nations. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Glory and honor are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place. Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigns. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he comes to judge the earth. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endures forever (1 Chronicles 16:23-34).
Do You Love The Lord?
Do you love the Lord tonight? Oh, do you praise the name of Jesus Christ? Have you repented and surrendered your life to Him? If not, do so tonight. Cry out for God to have mercy upon you. Repent from your sins believe the Gospel. Call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. Then join us in praising His name in this life and forevermore. Join us in lifting up the name of Jesus. I love you Lord Jesus and I praise Your Holy name. I love You and praise You. Thank You Lord for loving me first. Thank You for saving me. Your name will be praised forever and ever. Amen.
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, MO on November 9, 2018)