Evangelism Part 15: Calling the name of the LORD Series
Evangelism Part 15: Calling the name of the LORD is calling the Father Almighty
As Christians, we all know the importance of prayer, but have you ever noticed that the phrase call on the name of the Lord is mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible? God’s people have called on the Lord throughout the centuries. Bible Gateway Isaiah 43: NIV, but now, this is what the LORD says– he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. In other words, to call upon the Lord’s name means accepting the Gospel into our hearts, making it our soul’s inspiration, and obedience to every commandment of God’s written by His fingers.
When someone calls upon the name of the Lord from the heart means a pure submission to Father’s plan. Jesus is the Son of God and is part of the plan. We must repent, be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and be part of God’s Divine plan. Jesus’ reconciliation act brings us back to God’s family.
They are using the name of God that gives us the spiritual joy and feelings of a personally uplifted relationship while being faithful and true to our faith. We call God our Father, LORD, Jehovah, Allah, Adonai, and Yahweh. Many names belong to Him alone and cannot be shared with anyone else. While the word Lord is a title for the Son that God sent to wipe out the sins of the world, and through him, the world has been saved. The Father loves him because he laid down his life to save the world. The lord title is used for different gods, masters, kings, and the like. Many fail their faith because their focus and prayer are addressed to the wrong Lord.
We have to remember that the LORD is sovereign and the only one that can have this name and title; he is the Almighty One. The word Lord is for the Son, the mighty Son, King of kings and Lord of lords. He is higher than the angels, the kings, and the lords of the earth. The lords or gods often refer to those rulers and masters holding power to administer the laws of the land. God is God; the Son is man and God, and gods, which Jesus refers to as the sons of God. From spiritual to physical and from physical to spiritual, both can live under God.
The all-capital word LORD refers to the almighty or the Creator. Jesus is often referred to as Lord more often than calling him God. To be closer to God, we must be aware when we open our prayers; let us be mindful that we are addressing directly Him, the Almighty. Many prayers are left unanswered because they may not have reached heaven for many reasons, and one is when we call the name of God, often addressed to the Son.
Jesus has so many names. He is addressed as the Savior, Lord, Master, the Word, Christ, Son of God, Teacher, and Son of man. Emmanuel is another name the angel had said when speaking to Mary, but the Bible never confirmed that Jesus was called or named Emmanuel, which means God’s saves. Jesus never claimed that he is the Father, and many believers of the Oneness of Christ believe he is the Creator of the universe, the savior of humanity. When Jesus said that the Father and I were one, it did not mean that they were not distinct from one another. How about the word that Jesus expressed in John 16:23 when he states: “If you ask the Father anything in my name, He will give it to you.” Is that one person involved or two different entities?
Many Christians’ prayers end in calling “In Jesus’ name.” What is wrong with that? When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, he started calling the name of the Father first and foremost, opening up the heaven. If Jesus is the only key to opening the ears of heaven, then it limits the power of God, and His sovereignty is compromised. Jesus even admitted that God is mightier than him; he also said that whoever the Father sent to him, he cannot reject, this shows the power of God over the Son, and he said that the word coming out from his mouth was from God.
The power of Jesus can be called upon, and there is no doubt when he said he is the way, the truth, and the life. The way he reconciled us with God with his life, the truth of the word of God he delivered for us is about the love of the Father and for us to be saved, and he wiped out our sins to have a new life (born again).
Calling on the name of the LORD is not well explained by Peter standing before the eleven apostles, and he quoted from the Prophet Joel, “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). But what does it mean? Who are we addressing when we call on the name of the Lord today? In Acts 2:37, The Judean asked Peter and the rest of the apostles what they should do. Peter replied, “Repent and let every one of you is baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Peter made these promises for thousands of Judean listening at that time. Is that what God said, or Jesus said, or Peter alone?
The author of Acts is the same person as in the Gospel of Luke. Peter’s speech was included not as an author but as a contributor, and he was called a beloved physician. Luke was a doctor; he cared for Paul during the illnesses he suffered on his missionary journey. The title of Acts of the Apostles is a concern to many believers. Luke was not an apostle but was believed to be the co-writer of Paul as his secretary. Most scholars think Paul dictated his letters (epistles) to a secretary named Tertius —Romans 16:22.
Be mindful of whom you call the name of the LORD or the name of the Lord. Listen very carefully to your heart.
God is all in all.