LET'S GET ACQUAINTED WITH GOD! Peggy Kannaday We Need to Know God Through His Wonderful Names! Let's get Acquainted with God! Peggy Kannaday (2,281 words) When we first meet a person, we learn his or her name. As we become closer friends with them, their names connote a certain type of person. When we think of their names it will bring to our minds their personality, their spirit and their character. We can learn about God in this same manner. His many names reveal His attributes, His character, His personality and His Spirit. Let's get acquainted with almighty God through those who have put their trust in His Name, the meanings of His Names and through what the Word of God says about how we as Christians are to honor His Name in our daily lives. The Men and Women of God that were successful put their total trust in the Name of the Lord. Everything that they did they did in the Name of the Lord. Examples: David: 1 Samuel 17:45, "Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied." of God put their trust in the Name of the Lord: David: Psalms 124:8, "Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth." Elijah: 1 Kings 18:32, "And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed." Isaiah: Isaiah 50:10, "Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God." Matthew: Matthew 28:19, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" John: John 3:18, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Paul: Acts 16:18, "And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour." James: James 5:14, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:" As they put their trust in God; then they received His great power, authority, ability and wisdom. Throughout all history, the Christians that did all in the Name of God and the ones that put their absolute reliance on almighty God were victorious and fruitful. Why? Because the Name of the Lord is the only Name in heaven and earth that we can safely rely on at all times. If we put our faith in man, in circumstances, in governments, in any other thing; they will eventually have to fail. Nothing should come before our trust in God and our honoring of His holy Name. God the Father has given Jesus Christ all power and authority through His blood sacrifice on the cross. Matthew 28:18, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." We as born-again Christians can appropriate the power in the Name of Jesus Christ through the faith of God. We can get acquainted with the Lord by learning about His attributes from the meanings of His names: Old Testament: ADONAI: "Master'' or "Lord" used 300 times in the OT EL: God ("mighty, strong, prominent") used 250 times in the OT. ELOHIM:. God as Creator, Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong. Eccl., Dan. Jonah use Elohim almost exclusively. See Gen. 17:7, 6:18, 9:15, 50:24; I Kings. EL SHADDAI: God Almighty or "God All Sufficient." Used 48 times in the OT, 31 times in Job. JEHOVAH: LORD in our English Bibles (all capitals). Yahweh is the covenant name of God. Occurs 6,823 times in the OT. The first use Gen. 2:4 (Jehovah Elohim). From the verb "to be", havah, similar to chavah (to live), "The Self-Existent One," "I AM WHO I AM" or 'I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE" as revealed to Moses at the burning bush, Ex.3. The name of God, too sacred to be uttered. JEHOVAH-JIREH: "The Lord will Provide." Gen. 22:14. From "jireh" ("to see" or "to provide," or to "foresee" as a prophet). JEHOVAH-ROPHE: "The Lord Who Heals" Ex. 15:22-26. From "rophe" ("to heal"); implies spiritual, emotional as well as physical healing. (Jer. 30:17, 3:22; Isa. 61:1) God heals body, soul and spirit; all levels of man's being. JEHOVAH-NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner." Ex. 1:15. God on the battlefield, from word which means "to glisten," "to lift up," See Psa. 4:6. JEHOVAH-M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies" Lev. 20:8. "To make whole, set apart for holiness." JEHOVAH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" Judges 6:24. "Shalom" translated "peace" 170 times means "whole," "finished," "fulfilled," "perfected." Related to "well," welfare." Deut. 27:6; Dan. 5:26; I Kings 9:25 8:61; Gen. 15:16; Ex. 21:34, 22:5, 6; Lev. 7:11-21. Shalom means that kind of peace that results from being a whole person in right relationship to God and to one's fellow man. SHEPHERD Psa. 23, 79:13, 95:7, 80:1, 100:3; Gen. 49:24; Isa. 40:11. JUDGE: Psa. 7:18, 96:13. JEHOVAH ELOHIM: "LORD God" Gen. 2:4; Judges 5:3; Isa. 17:6; Zeph. 2:9; Psa. 59:5, etc. JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU: "The Lord Our Righteousness" Jer. 23:5, 6, 33:16. From "tsidek" (straight, stiff, balanced - as on scales - full weight, justice, right, righteous, declared innocent.) The God Who is our righteousness. JEHOVAH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd" Psa. 23, from "ro'eh" (to pasture). JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord is There" (Ezek. 48:35). JEHOVAH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts" The commander of the angelic host and the armies of God. Isa. 1:24; Psa. 46:7, 11; 2 Kings 3:9-12; Jer. 11:20 (NT: Rom. 9:29; James 5:24, Rev. 19: 11-16). EL ELYON: 'Most High" (from "to go up") Deut. 26:19, 32:8; Psa. 18:13; Gen. 14:18; Nu. 24:16; Psa. 78:35, 7:17, 18:13, 97:9, 56:2, 78:56, 18:13; Dan. 7:25, 27; Isa. 14:14. ABHIR: 'Mighty One', ("to be strong") Gen. 49:24; Deut. 10:17; Psa. 132:2, 5; Isa. 1:24, 49:26, 60:1. KADOSH: "Holy One" Psa. 71:22; Isa. 40:25, 43:3, 48:17. Isaiah uses the expression "the Holy One of Israel" 29 times. SHAPHAT: "Judge" Gen. 18:25 EL ROI: "God of Seeing" Hagar in Gen. 16:13. The God Who opens our eyes. KANNA: "Jealous" (zealous). Ex. 20:5, 34:14; Deut. 5:9; Isa. 9:7; Zech. 1:14, 8:2. PALET: "Deliverer" Psa. 18:2. YESHA: (Y'shua) "Savior" Isa. 43:3. Jesus is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Joshua." GAOL: "Redeemer" (to buy back by paying a price). Job 19:25. MAGEN: "Shield" Psa. 3:3, 18:30. EYALUTH: "Strength" Psa. 22:19. TSADDIQ: "Righteous One" Psa. 7:9. EL-OLAM: "Everlasting God" (God of everlasting time) Gen. 21:33; Psa. 90:1-3, 93:2; Isa. 26:4. EL-BERITH: "God of the Covenant" Judges 9:46. EL-GIBHOR: Mighty God (Isa. 9:6) ZUR: "God our Rock" Deut. 32:18; Isa. 30:29. Malachi calls Messiah "The Sun of Righteousness" (Malachi 4:2). Isaiah calls Messiah "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God (El Gibhor), Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6). 'Attiq Yomin (Aramaic): "Ancient of Days," Dan. 7:9, 13, 22. MELEKH: "King" Psa. 5:2, 29:10, 44:4, 47:6-8, 48:2, 68:24, 74:12, 95:3, 97:1, 99:4, 146:10; Isa. 5:1, 5, 41:21, 43:15, 44:6; 52:7, 52:10. FATHER: Num. 1:9; I Sam. 16:6; Ex. 4:22-23; 2 Sam. 7:14-15; Psa. 2:7; Isa. 63:16, 64:8; Mal. 1:6. THE FIRST AND LAST: Isa. 44:6, 48:12. New Testament Scriptures: God is Love Personified. 1 John 4:8, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. He proved His great love for us. KURIOS: "Lord" Found some 600 times in the NT. DESPOTES: "Lord" 5 times: Lu. 2:29; Acts 4:24; 2 Pet. 2:1; Jude 4; Rev. 6:10. THEOS: "God" (equivalent to the Hebrew Elohim), 1,000 times in the NT. In the NT all the persons of the trinity are called "God" at one time or another. "I AM": Jesus upset his generation especially when He said, "Before Abraham was, I AM," John 8:58. Note also his claim to be Jehovah in such phrases as "I AM the Light of the world," "the bread of life," living water," "the Resurrection and the Life," "the Way, Truth and the Life" in John's Gospel. THEOTES: "Godhead" Col . 2 :9; Rom. 1:20. HUPSISTOS: "Highest" Mt. 21:9. SOTER: "Savior" Luke 1:4 7. JESUS: Derived from the Hebrew "Joshua" (Y'shua) or "Je-Hoshua" meaning JEHOVAH IS SALVATION. CHRIST: is equivalent to the Hebrew 'Messiah' (Meshiach), "The Anointed One." Other New Testament Titles for Jesus: Shepherd of the Sheep; Master; King of kings; Lord of lords; Bishop and Guardian of our Souls; Daystar, Deliverer, Advocate, Second Adam, Ancient of Days, Branch, Chief Cornerstone, Immanuel, First Born, Head of the Body, Physician, Rock, Root of Jesse, Stone, Potentate; Chief Apostle; Great High Priest; Pioneer and Perfecter of our Faith (or Author and Finisher); Lamb of God; Lamb Slain before the Foundation of the World; Lord God Almighty. LOGOS: "The Word of God" John l; Rev. 19:13. SOPHIA: "The Wisdom of God," referring to Christ, refers back to Proverbs (I Cor. 1,2) Father, Son, Holy Spirit: Christianity has always understood God to be One God in Three Persons (Elohim). In The New Testament each person of the godhead is called "God" and "Lord" at least once. Names for the Holy Spirit: Counselor; Comforter; Baptiser; Advocate; Strengthener; Sanctifier; Spirit of Christ (not the same as the spirit of Christ); Seven-Fold Spirit (Rev.); Spirit of Truth; Spirit of Grace; Spirit of Mercy; Spirit of God; Spirit of Holiness; Spirit of Life. Symbolized in OT and NT by (l) breath or wind; (2) fire; (3) water; (4) oil; (5) light; (6) a dove. Meditate on the names and meanings of God's Names. As Christians, How are We to Treat the Name of the Lord? Trust in it and remember it: Psalms 20:7, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God." Minister in the Name of the Lord: Deuteronomy 18:5, "For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever." We are to praise His Name: Deuteronomy 18:5, "For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever." We are to bless the Name of the Lord: Psalms 113:2, "Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore." We are to call upon the Name of the Lord: Psalms 116:4, "Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul." Blessed also are those who come in His Name: Matthew 21:9, "And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." We are baptized and cleansed in the Name of the Lord: Acts 22:16, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." We are saved by calling upon His Name: Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." We are sanctified and justified in the Name of the Lord: 1 Corinthians 6:11, "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." We are healed in His Name: James 5:14, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:" All Christians are admonished to do everything in The Name of the Lord: Colossians 3:17, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." The Names of God represent God Himself, and these names hold all of His authority, power and might. His Name is sacred, holy and pure. His Name should be worshipped and adored, as we love Him. God's Name alone is excellent and worthy to be praised: Psalms 148:13, "Let them praise the name of the LORD: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven." We find the strength of the great men and women of God was found in their faith in God and His Name. We learn God's great attributes from His names, and as we meditate on His names; we can better understand the power present in the anointed use of His name. As we read the Word of God; we can learn of the many ways that we should use the Name of God. His name is above all other names. Philippians 2:9-12, "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." Let's get acquainted with God in a new and wonderful way today!