Phil. 2:9-11 THE NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME
Intro: Each of us possesses a name. It is a name given to us by our
parents. Perhaps we were named after some relative, or we were just given a name that our
parents liked. Whatever the reason and however you came by your name, there is probably no
great significance behind your name or mine. (Just for the record, the name
"Alan" means "handsome." You can figure out the significance of that
for yourselves.)
In our text, we are told of a name that does have great significance.
The name of Jesus stands out as a name above all other names. In the Bible, Jesus is given
many names and titles. He is called:
He is Adam, Anointed, Apostle, Author, Amen, Alpha and Ancient of Days.
He is Beginning, Begotten, Beloved, Branch, Bread, Bridegroom, Bright
and Morning Star, Bishop of our souls, Brightness of the Father's glory.
He is Captain, Consolation, Chief Cornerstone, Counselor, Covenant,
Chosen of God, Christ.
He is Daysman, Deliverer, Dayspring, Daystar, Door, Desire of all
nations.
He is Elect, Ensign, Everlasting Father, Emmanuel.
He is Finisher of the faith, Forerunner, Friend, First Fruits, Faithful
Witness, Fountain of life issuing from the cave of death.
He is God, the Gift of God, Governor, Guide, Glorious Lord.
He is Help, Hope, Husband, Horn of Salvation, Hearer, Head of the
Church, Heir of all things, High Priest, Hell's dread, Heaven's wonder, the holy One.
He is I AM, Inheritance, Image of God's Person, Immortal, Invisible.
He is Judah, Just, the Judge, Jesus.
He is King - King of Israel, King of Kings, King of glory, King
everlasting.
He is the Life, the Light, Love, Lily, Love, Lion, Lamb, Lawgiver, The
Living Stone, the Lord of glory.
He is Messenger, Messiah, Mediator, Master, Mighty God, Mercy's Paradox.
He is a Nazarene.
He is the Offspring of David, Omega, Only Begotten of God, Offering, and
Offerer.
He is Priest, Passover, Potentate, Prophet, Propitiation, Prince of
life, Prince of peace, Physician.
He is Righteous, Rabbi, Ransom, Rest, Root of Jesse, Root of David,
Refiner, Refuge, Resurrection, the Rose of Sharon blooming in the shades of Hell, Ruler,
Redeemer, Rock of Ages.
He is Stone, Shepherd, Son of God, Son of man, Shield, Servant, Seed of
the woman, Surety, Sufferer, Savior, Sinless Sacrifice, the Same yesterday, today and
forever.
He is Teacher, Truth, Tabernacle, Testator, Treasurer, Tree of Life.
He is Witness, the Word, the Way, the Wisdom of God, the Wonderful.
In the words of the Bible He is the Fairest among ten thousand. He is
the Altogether Lovely One.
Of all the names given to this man, none is as precious, as sweet or as
majestic as the name Jesus. Tonight, I would like for us to look at The Name That Is Above
Every Name. I would like to share three thoughts about this name that make it a name above
every name.
I. IT IS A SPECIAL NAME
(Ill. The name Jesus was very popular in that day. It was no different
than any other name which could be given to children. Even in our day, in Latin America,
the name Jesus is very common. While this is true, this is still the name chosen by the
Heavenly Father for the Son to use during the time of His humiliation. Therefore, there
must be something very special about this Name. I feel that it is special because:)
A. It Is A Name Picked By The Father - The name
Jesus was not given to our Lord by Mary and Joseph. It was a name handpicked by God, Matt.
1:21. This alone makes it a name that stands out as special. A name that is worthy of
further investigation.
B. It Is A Name That Points Back To The Father -
The name Jesus means, "Jehovah Is Salvation." This precious,
sweet name reveals a side of Jesus that many fail to grasp. While God is a God of wrath
and judgment, He is purely and wholly love, 1 John 4:8; 16. God is love and everything He
does is an outgrowth and an expression of His love. Therefore, when the Father sent Jesus
to come into the world, He was sending a message to humanity. It was a message that said,
"I have not forgotten, nor forsaken you. I love you and I give you my Son who
will reveal me to you." (Ill. John 14:9)
C. It Is A Name That Paint's God's Portrait -
The name Jesus at once reveals the Son's mission, (Ill. Luke 19:10), and the Father's
heart, (Ill. 2 Pet. 3:9). God isn't in the damning business. He is in the saving business!
He wants no one to go to Hell. In fact, He tells us that hell was not made for the lost,
it was made for the devil and his angels, Matt. 25:41. When the Father chose the name
Jesus as the one His Son would bear during the time of His humiliation, He was telling
every creature in His universe in one word that His goal was the redemption and salvation
of mankind. This is what He wanted and this is what He accomplished through the Name of
Jesus!
I. It is A Special Name
II. IT IS A STAINLESS NAME
(Ill. To every other name could be attached a list of the good and evils
done by that person. To the name of Jesus, however, can only be attached praise, honor and
worship. The Bible tells us that when this name is heard, it is to be reverenced through
praise and worship.)
This worship is to involve:
A. Humility - The bowing of the knee is a clear
sign of humility and reverence. Christ is, and will be honored on three vastly different
levels.
1. In Heaven - There the precious name of Jesus is
honored as it is nowhere else. When the name of Jesus is heard in the heavenly realm, it
is the catalyst for rejoicing and praise. In Heaven the name of Jesus is a constant source
of praise, Rev. 4:7-11; Rev. 7:9-11; rev. 19:1-3.
2. In Earth - For most, the name of Jesus is nothing
more than a by word. It is to be used like the words, damn, hell, and God. Yet, there are
some who truly reverence the name of Jesus. When the sweet melody of this name is heard,
the mind of the saint goes back to the hour when Jesus came in and lifted the weight of
sin. Our minds return to the myriad of times Jesus has appeared upon the storms of our
lives and has spoken peace to the billowing waves that have threatened our peace and
sanity. While there are a few who love and worship that name, there is coming a day when
the name of Jesus will be exalted throughout the entire earth. The day will come when the
earth will bow at the sweet name of Jesus!
3. In Hell - While Jesus was here on earth, the demons
gave Him deep respect and reverence, Ill. Mark 5:6; Luke 4:41; James 2:19. However, they
still work against Him and try to overthrow His kingdom. They do this by promoting false
systems of worship and by spreading liberal theology, but the day will come when all the
demons of Hell, all the henchmen of Satan and even the devil himself will bow at the feet
of Jesus and will confess Him to be Lord, Rev. 20:10. (Ill. Rom. 14:11 - I don't know if
the devil and demons have knees and tongues, but they will prostrate themselves before the
Lord of Glory and they will exalt His name before they are consigned to an eternity in
Hell!)
B. Honor - Not only will there be a bowing of
knees before Jesus, but the name of Jesus will also be confessed by the lips of every
creature. Men, angels and devils alike will join their voices in one mighty chorus and
will together exalt the blessed name of Jesus Christ! I don't know about you, but I look
forward to the day when the universe is filled with the deserved praises of our holy and
righteous Lord.
(Ill. This is why vocal praise is so vital and so important. When we
publically exalt the name of Jesus, we are merely getting in on God's plan for Jesus and
for His people.)
I. It Is A Special Name
II. It Is A Stainless Name
III. IT IS A SAVING NAME
A. The Meaning Of The Name - By its very
definition, the name of Jesus speaks about salvation. The name means, "Jehovah Is
Salvation." This is an appropriate name for the Lord because it is in His name and
His name alone that salvation is to be found. May I remind you this evening that there is
none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, Acts 4:12. (Ill.
Also John 3:36; John 14:6) (Ill. 1 Cor. 3:11; Luke 6:48-49)
B. The Ministry Of The Name - According to verse
5-8, this man named Jesus climbed Calvary and died for all men. He humbled Himself and He
died in the sinner's place. (Ill. During the Roman rule of Palestine, tens of thousands of
Jewish men were crucified by the Romans. They crucified so many on one day that the
soldiers ran out of wood. But, of all these who died on the Roman cross, none are
remembered but this man named Jesus. All the others lie forgotten in their graves, but
this man named Jesus, when He died, died in the place of others that they might live
through Him.)
(Ill. The name of Jesus can be miss spoken by the sinner and will
accomplish nothing more than making his day of judgment worse for the blaspheme of
mistreating that ho\y name. However, if that glorious name is spoken out of a heart of
faith, then that same sinner can experience firsthand that salvation that is contained in
that name.)
C. The Majesty Of The Name - These verses carry
the sense that they are speaking to us about a man who is yet alive. Folks, we do not hang
our futures, base our hopes or exalt the name of one who is dead. No, our Savior lives!
(Ill. Rev. 1:18; Matt. 28:1-6.) (Ill. "Wherefore" in verse 9. This is why God
has exalted this holy name. Jesus and Jesus alone entered this sin cursed world, stepped
boldly into the gaping jaws of death and snatched victory from the icy grasp of death and
defeat. Jesus and Jesus alone conquered death, Hell, the grave and sin for all men for all
time. He is worthy of exaltation!)
Conc: Yes, there is something special about that name. Do you know Him
this evening? Have you experienced the power behind the name? If you have, then you know
why this is a name above every other name. You know why Jesus is exalted and why just the
mention of that precious name can speak peace to the troubled, comfort to the hurting,
life to the dead, joy to the sad, hope for the hopeless and glory to the saved soul. Do
you need Him this evening? He is as close as the mention of His name - Isa. 55:6.
