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Name Above All Names
Name Above All Names
Lesson #1 {25 points} Call Upon His Name Lesson #2 {25 points} Be Specific! Lesson #3 {25 points} Prayer is the Key Lesson #4 {25 points} The Personal Name of the Father Lesson #5 {25 points} Name of Power Lesson #6 {25 points} Name of Promise Lesson #7 {25 points} Salvation = Complete Restoration Lesson #8 {25 points} A More Excellent Name Lesson #9 {25 points} Let this Mind be in You Lesson #10 {25 points} Precious Promise: A New Name! Lesson #11 {25 points} Cleansed! Lesson #12 {25 points} His Name in My Forehead Lesson Quiz-1 (offline/online)
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Lesson Quiz-3
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Lesson Quiz-5
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Lesson Quiz-6
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Lesson Quiz-7
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Lesson Quiz-8
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Lesson Quiz-9
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Lesson Quiz-10
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Lesson Quiz-11
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Lesson Quiz-12
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When the Earth came forth from the hand of the loving Creator, it was perfect. Every blade of grass, every petal, every creature, from the greatest to the smallest, showed forth the glory of its Maker. The crowning part of the entire Creation was Man. Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle . . . So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26, 27, NKJV) Made in the very image of the Creator! Nothing else on earth had been given this honor, only mankind. The perfect beings made in the image of the Almighty were created for the companionship of the angels and the Creator Himself. The holy pair were not only children under Fatherly care, they were students receiving instruction. They were visited often by angels and had the privilege of talking face-to-face with their Maker. The laws and function of nature were open to their astonished minds. Every living creature from the largest to the smallest was to be observed and understood. From the meadow flower to the tallest tree, from the earth and sky and sea, His children were to recognize their Fathers name written in love. In the cool of the evening the Creator came to visit with the holy pair to talk over the events of the day and share the joy of being together. As long as Adam and Eve remained loyal to the divine law of love, they constantly would be gaining new insights, new knowledge and discovering fresh sources of happiness as they obtained ever clearer understanding of the immeasurable, unfailing love of their Creator. As each happy day passed, the Creator came to the garden and called for His children to come to Him. Then a great tragedy happened: sin entered. When Satan came to tempt Eve, she was not hungry. The temptation was not food. She was tempted to doubt the love of her Creator. Satan tempted her to doubt the truthfulness of her Maker. He tempted her to desire a station that had not been given her. She wanted to be like a "god" - the very temptation into which Satan himself had fallen. (See Isaiah 14:12-14.) She aspired to a position for which she was not created: that of "knowing" (or experiencing) both good and evil. It was never the Father's plan for His children to ever experience evil.
Following that terrible day when Adam and Eve chose to sin, they found themselves devoid of the garment of light that had covered them, and they felt guilt. Having no way to cover their nakedness, or to excuse their disobedience, they ran in terror and hid when they heard the voice of the Creator calling them: "Where are you?" So he [Adam] said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, that you should not eat?" (Genesis 3:9-11, NKJV) Thus begins the long sad history of mankind's sin. Love of the Creator, joy in His presence, trust and confidence in His care was replaced with fear of all that had attracted them to Him before. As a result, they no longer enjoyed His company. The heavenly Father did not desert Adam and Eve, but explained to them that a life of pain and sorrow, of toil and sadness, would be their future experience. He explained the cost of sin: that in the fullness of time, the divine Son must die to atone for their disobedience. They were told they must leave their beautiful garden home. Adam and Eve pleaded to remain in the Garden of Eden, the home of their joy. They promised that in the future they would strictly obey, but they were told that their very nature had become spoiled by sin. By their own choice they had lessened their strength to resist Satan. They could not maintain their integrity because of their state of conscious guilt. In sadness, they went out to dwell on the earth where the curse of sin now rested. All heaven was touched with feelings of sympathy for Adam and Eve, but the Creator had a plan whereby they could be restored to their state of innocence. That divine plan provided for constant communication between the Creator and His children. They were to have immediate access to divine help if they asked for it. The descendents of Adam and Eve did not long retain loyalty to the heavenly Father. As sin became more and more prevalent, people did not hear the divine voice calling them. People did not want to retain in their minds the law of love provided by their Creator. As more people were born and grew up, people continued to forget that a Voice was calling to them. Seth, born to Adam and Eve after Cain killed Able, had a son whom he named Enos. Genesis 4:26 states: And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD." (KJV) How sad that it took so long for men and women to begin to call upon the name of their loving heavenly Father! To limit the power of Satan and to keep things equal in the great controversy between good and evil, the Creator imposed rules. Any human could contact whichever side he wished: Heaven or Satan. But neither Satan nor Heaven could directly contact the human unless first invited to do so. The Father did this in order to protect His children from constant harassment by demons. It is still the "rules of engagement."
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Throughout scripture, all are repeatedly urged to "call upon the name" of the Father. Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; . . . Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; . . . Give to the LORD the glory due His name . . . . I Chronicles 16:8-10, 29, NKJV I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD . . . I will take the cup of salvation And call upon the name of the LORD. Psalm 116:3, 4, 13, KJV Praise the LORD, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted. Isaiah 12:4 I love the LORD because He hath heard my voice and my supplications. . . . I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD. . . . Gracious is the LORD, and righteous. . . . O LORD, truly I am thy servant . . . I will . . . will call upon the name of the LORD. Psalm 116:1, 3-5, 16-17 Many other verses instruct all to praise the holy Name. Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD . . . Praise the LORD; For the LORD is good: Sing praises unto His name; For it is pleasant. Psalm 135:1, 3 Every day will I bless Thee; And I will praise Thy name forever and ever. Psalm 145:2
Other texts urge those who believe in their Maker "To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem." (Psalm 102:21) The inspired Word reveals that all may safely trust in the holy Name: "We will rejoice in Thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners." (Psalm 20:5) Everything has a name. Communication is not possible without a name to apply to everything, be it a person, a thing, a place or even an idea or emotion. The Creator Himself has a personal name. And it is upon that Name that all are to call. By His Spirit, the divine Father is always close, always available and He just waits; He waits for you to call upon His name. He longs to answer! "Lord," however, is not the Father's name and it should not have been substituted for the divine name. The English words "Lord" and "God" are mere titles and can be applied to demonic gods, too! The word "Lord" simply means master. The word translated "God" comes from the Hebrew word "Elohim." The given translation is: gods in the ordinary sense; but sepc[ifically] used . . . of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative: - God, god, judge, GOD, goddess, great, mighty . . . rulers, judges, . . . . (#430, The New Strong's Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words, emphasis original.) "Elohim" is the word used in the first commandment and it is applied to both the Creator and to false gods. The King James Version translates it: I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, . . . Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:2, 3) In other words, "I am the Elohim that brought you out of Egypt. Don't have any other elohim before Me." Elohim is a plural word translated "gods"; the singular, el, means "mighty." (See Strong's #410.) The problem with using a word or a title that can be just as readily applied to a pagan deity, is that there is no power in titles! Titles do not inspire faith in the power and love behind the divine Name when the same word can be applied to many different people (magistrates, kings, prophets, husbands, gods). In order to call upon the name of the Heavenly Father in full faith, one must know His name!
It has pleased Satan well that the divine Name has been hidden behind the title "Lord." When the Name is hidden behind titles, there is no knowledge of what the Name means and thus there is no corresponding faith in the power of the Loving One who bears that Name. The stories of the Bible reveal that all who call upon the Name receive an answer. From the belly of a whale, Jonah cried out in prayer. From the den of lions, Daniel sent his prayers heavenward and he was protected. From the burning fiery furnace, from the pit and slavery and persecution, from the heart and mind of the Creator's children, people throughout time were saved from all their troubles when they called in faith upon the divine Name. Over and over in the history of the nation of Israel, the people sinned and were taken into captivity, or otherwise punished. However, when they repented and called upon the divine Name, they were delivered and saved. In this final generation, during this last remnant of time when the great tribulation of the wrath of the Almighty will come upon the world, His people need to know the divine Name. His name is wonderful, powerful and must not be taken in vain, or foolishly. All are still invited to call upon His name in faith, and all that do will receive an answer.
QUIZ-1
1. The crowning act of creation was the making of the earth. o True o False 2. Every morning the Creator came to visit Adam and Eve. o True o False 3. The holy pair were to be students and learn about nature and their heavenly Father. o True o False 4. Adam and Eve were perfectly happy as long as they obeyed their Heavenly Father. o True o False 5. Eve was very hungry when Satan tempted her to eat. o True o False 6. Eve, like Satan, wanted to be like a god "knowing good and evil." o True o False 7. It was never the Fathers plan for His children to experience knowing evil. o True o False 8. After sinning, when the Creator called for His children to come to Him, they ran and hid. o True o False 9. Guilt is the result of disobedience. o True o False 10. Because of sin, the Father deserted Adam and Eve. o True o False 11. Adam and Eve were allowed to live in Eden the rest of their lives. o True o False
12. The Creators only plan to help Adam and Eve was to send the Saviour to die for their sin. o True o False 13. Through the years, people tended to forget the Creator and never called to Him. o True o False 14. In the time of Adams grandson, Enos, people began to call on the name of the Creator. o True o False 15. After that, only a few special people could call on the Name of the Creator. o True o False 16. There are only a four places in the Bible that say to "Call on the Name of the Lord." o True o False 17. The Creator has a personal name for us to use in calling on Him. o True o False 18. Titles do not inspire faith and hope because they have little meaning. o True o False 19. When Israel sinned and were in captivity, their Father refused to listen to their calls for help. o True o False 20. The stories of the Bible teach that all who call on the Name of the Creator will be helped. o True o False
It must ever be remembered that Satan, the Father of Lies, is also the Father of Stolen Identities. He does not have creative power himself, so he twists; he manipulates, he lies. He takes attributes belonging to the Creator and claims them for himself, while trying to paint the Father with his own evil characteristics. Thus, people are led to fear the very One to Whom they should flee and call upon for help in the fight against Satan. Satan's method of warfare, his stealing and usurping that which belongs to the Almighty alone, can be seen in his boast, made when he was cast out of heaven. This boast has been preserved in Isaiah: How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! . . . For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of . . . [Elohim]; . . . I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' (Isaiah 14:12-14, NKJV) After the flood cleansed the earth, Satan quickly reestablished idolatry, seeking to turn all to worship himself. Even while Noah and Shem yet lived, men were worshipping demons. By the time of Abraham, idol worship was fully ingrained in the minds of the majority of the people. Elohim called Abraham to come out and be separate; to serve no other gods. During this time Satan sought to bind people in service to himself by having his demons present in their temples. A rich man or a king could build a temple, appoint priests and ceremoniously invite a specific demon, by a specific name, to live in the inner sanctum, the "most holy place" of that temple. The priest appointed to serve that particular demon-god could then come in, offer sacrifices and offerings, and call upon the name of that god to petition for a favor. People would pay the priest to ask the demon questions, work magical acts or in some way bless them or curse others. This was no mere charade. The reason people were willing to pay the priest and give offerings to the god was because it worked! Satan had many ways to deceive and keep
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the people entranced with his deceptions. Their occult worship had many mysteries and fascinating ceremonies to allure the mind and keep the people coming back for more. The specific name of an individual demon-god was held to be very important. Without knowing their name, it was believed that a person could not get in touch with the demon. If an enemy learned the name of your god, he could offer a bigger offering and get your god to come over to his side and destroy you. This meant that people desperately kept secret the name of their god. Over time, there were thousands of gods inhabiting thousands of temples and answering to thousands of names. It was assumed that the more hidden the name, the more power it contained. If a god was "unknown," no one assumed he lacked a name. Instead, it was believed that the name was simply very deeply hidden. In his address to the men of Athens on the Areopagus, Paul used this belief in his favor to preach about the Creator: Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: . . . [Elohim] who made the world and everything in it." (Acts 17:22, 23, NKJV) The necessity of praying to a specific god by his personal name was a concept that was well-understood throughout the ancient world. In the ancient world, knowledge of a person's name was believed to give one power over that person. A knowledge of the character and attributes of pagan "gods" was thought to enable the worshipers to manipulate or influence the deities in a more effective way than they could have if the deity's name remained unknown. To that extent, the vagueness of the term el frustrated persons who hoped to obtain some sort of power over the deity, since the name gave little or no indication of the god's character. This was particularly true for el, the chief Canaanite god. The ancient Semites stood in mortal dread of the superior powers exercised by the gods and attempted to propitiate them accordingly. They commonly associated deity with the manifestation and use of enormous power. 1
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In order to access the god, a generic title could not be used as that was ineffectual. Thus, it was a continual battle to keep hidden the name of one's own god, while learning as many hidden names of other gods as possible. By the time of the enslavement of the Israelite nation, Egypt had over 2000 named gods and some of those gods had hundreds of names. The priests jealously guarded the knowledge of the gods secret names, because this knowledge was what gave them power over the gods since it was believed that when a god was called upon by his personal name, he must answer. No Egyptian being, natural or supernatural, can avoid the calling of his name. . . . In Egypt magic . . . is based almost entirely on the use of this possibility . . . The priestmagician devotes all his learning and power to 'knowing' (rokhu) the exact texture of the name . . . [as] the magical chant (khrou) which exactly reproduces all those elements [of the spoken name] give to him who possess it the complete ownership of the name-souls thus evoked. To the irresistible call which attracts their vital substance all beings, visible and invisible, must answer. . . . The person who is adjured or evoked, not being able to avoid the declaration of his name, . . . keeps his name secret. From the most humble spirit to the most powerful of the gods, each has a 'secret name,' which no one is supposed to know. He defends it jealously as his very life. For, as the texts say, 'this is his name by which he breathes.'2 Some Egyptian gods had multiple names. From the top 358 most well-known Egyptian gods' names, the following are just those gods whose names began with "A": Aa, Aah, Aapep, Abtu, Ah, Ahemait, Ahti(2), Ailuros, Aken, Aker, Amathaunta, Amaunet, Amemait, Amen, Amen Ra, Amen Re, Amenhotep, Ament, Amentet, Amentit, Ammam, Ammit, Ammon, Ammon Ra, Ammon Re, Ammut, Amn, Amon, Amon Ra, Amon Re,
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Encyclopdia of Religion and Ethics, James Hastings, John A. Selbie, and Louis H. Gray, eds., (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1917), Vol. 9, p. 152.
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Amsit, Amun, Amun Ra, Amun Re, Anat, Andjety, Anedjti, Anet, Anezti, Anhur, Anit, Ankh, Ankhet, Ankt, Anouke, Anpu, Anti, Anubis, Anuket, Apademak, Apedemak, Apep, Apepi, Apet, Apis, Apophis, Aptet, Arensnuphis, Ari Hes Nefer, Arsnuphis, Aset, Aten, Aten Ra, Aten Re, Aton, Aton Ra, Aton Re, Atum, Atum Ra, Atum Re, What Satan cannot destroy outright by lies, he twists and corrupts by misunderstanding or placing a wrong emphasis. While it is true that all should call upon the Father, directing their prayers specifically to Him by calling upon His personal name, it is not true that names are magical. Correspondingly, a title is not non-magical. This is the trap into which the pagans fell: belief that names contained inherent magical power. The all-important reason that one should know the Father's and the Son's personal names is because an understanding of the meaning of Their names inspires faith in the heart of the petitioner. Faith in the Father's love, faith in His willingness to hear and answer prayer, confidence in His promises is what is necessary to release the divine power. As one well-known writer put it, "prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's store house, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence." 3 There are definitely conditions that must be met before prayer is answered: repentance, obedience, the realization that one needs divine help. "Our great need is itself an argument and pleads most eloquently in our behalf. But . . . [the Father] is to be sought unto to do these things for us. He says, 'Ask, and it shall be given you.'" 4 Faith is the primary prerequisite for answered prayer. The Saviour repeatedly linked His ability to answer petitions made Him to the level of faith in the heart of the petitioner. After exclaiming in surprise over the level of faith the Roman centurion had, ("Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." Matthew 8:10) the Saviour turned to the centurion and said, "Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee." (Matthew 8:13, KJV) This principle was reinforced again later when the SyroPhoenician woman asked for her daughter to be healed. When told, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs," her faith grew stronger. "True," she said, "yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." (See Matthew 15:21-28.) To this answer of faith, the Saviour rejoiced: "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you
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desire." (Verse 28, NKJV.) Here is where the importance of knowing the Creator's personal name is seen. His name is a revelation of His power, His function and His character. When one knows this, all other gods fade into oblivion. All that remains is the one true Elohim, the Creator of heaven and earth Who loves each one of His children as though there were not another individual on the face of the planet. If anyone loves . . . [Elohim], this one is known by Him. Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other . . . [Elohim] but one. For even if there are so-called gods [elohim], whether in heaven or on earth as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is only one Elohim, the Father of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one . . . [Saviour], through whom are all things and through whom we live. (I Corinthians 8:36) This is the knowledge that is crucial for all living in the closing days of this earth's history. To many people, the days ahead appear dark and fearful. Revelation lists the seven last plagues, the wrath of Elohim, to be poured out unmixed with mercy upon this sinful earth. At this time, it is absolutely essential for Elohims people to have faith in His power to deliver, both from enemies without and sin within. Call upon the name of the Father. Lay aside titles and words Satan has appropriated for demons. Call upon Him specifically and in faith. Let your faith grasp the promises given in Love. The message of Elijah and Moses resounds through the years to this day: Who is on Elohim's side? If Baal is your god, serve him; but if Elohim is the Creator, then with repentance and humility, obedience and faith, serve Him. According to your faith be it unto you.
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QUIZ-2
1. Satan claims for himself the good attributes of the Creator. o o True False
2. Satan has tried to steal the names of the Creator and make people confused as to who He is. o o True False
3. The Bible proves that Satan is a liar and twists truth and error together. o o True False
4. Satan doesnt want people to worship anything or anyone besides himself. o o True False
5. After the flood, it took many generations before idolatry started up again. o o True False
6. Satan had his demons live in the temples made by idolaters and respond to peoples' questions and requests to keep them deceived. o o True False
7. Elohim called Abraham to come out and be separate so he wouldnt get sick of the diseases in the cities. o o True False
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8. Satan taught the people that the demon-gods had powerful secret names that would give them an advantage in asking for blessings from the demon-gods. o o True False
9. Titles such as Master, Mighty One or Lord were used to address people and the demon-gods, but they had no power to persuade the god to help them. o o True False
10. Egypt had ten gods with names that everyone knew. o o True False
11. The Egyptian priest-magician devoted his time to knowing the exact hidden name and chant for a demon-god. o o True False
12.They believed that the hidden name was magical and that the demon-god could not refuse a request made in his name. o o True False
13. Faith in the loving character of the Heavenly Father is the primary requirement for answered prayer. o o True False
14. A short, repeated chant can take the place of prayer. o o True False
15. Idols had many names and idolaters had many gods. o o True False
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16.The Creator has many names as well, but they are not secret; He wants you to use them and call on Him in faith through prayer. o o True False
17. Elijah was the lone faithful prophet during the days of Israels capture by Babylon. o o True False
18. The key to getting your prayers answered is to know all the secret names and believe in their magic. o o True False
19. Satan wants people to think prayer is useless unless you are perfect. o o True False
20. During the last days of trouble, people desperately need to call on the name of Yahuwah in the faith of knowing who He is and what He is like. o o True False
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I still remember the day my son called me "Mama." My first child, each new experience with him was precious. Actually, he did not call me "Mama." It was more like mamamama! I did not care! His little face had lit up with happiness when I walked in to get him after his nap, his little arms waved, and then the sweetest sound I had ever heard: "Mamamama!" While it was not said perfectly, it was music to my ears. It showed that his little heart recognized me, his mother. This is what is experienced in a true prayer relationship with the Creator. There is great value in knowing the true, personal name of the Creator . . . but it is not for His benefit. It is for ours. He is our Father. No loving parent rejects the request of his child because a young child can only say "dada" rather than "Daddy." No loving parent refuses to listen or help unless the child stands a certain way or holds her hands "just so" when making the request. The same is true of the Heavenly Father. He has a name, a personal name and He invites all to call upon it. However, He understands that we are but dust. Some languages contain sounds that other languages simply do not contain and unless a person is raised from babyhood forming those sounds, it is not always possible to make the tongue produce unfamiliar sounds. My mother was raised in an English speaking home, but as a very young child learned French from her playmates. She could make her tongue form certain sounds that, no matter how I try, I have never been able to duplicate. No one, parent or otherwise, refuses to respond to someone calling his or her name if the person calling cannot pronounce the name perfectly or speaks with a lisp. A friend of mine is French Canadian. We have an old mutual friend named Thackery. My French Canadian friend has never once been able to pronounce his name because French does not have the soft "th" sound. The closest she gets is Zachary. However, he does not ignore her because she cannot pronounce his name correctly. Likewise, a woman named Rachelle would not ignore someone from China pronouncing her name "Lachelle." She would be understanding because Chinese does not contain the "r" sound.
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So too, ". . . [Elohim] does not stand afar off as I struggle to speak. He cares enough to listen with more than casual attention. He translates my scrubby words and hears what is truly inside. He hears my sighs and uncertain gropings as fine prose." 5 Far more important than pronouncing the divine name The Precise Way the angels say it, is to know the meaning of the name. It is only when the meaning of the name is understood, that one can fully exercise faith in the power of the One Who bears that name. It is here that the importance of knowing the Father's personal name is seen in its importance. When the divine name is understood in its fullness, it is seen to be a promise. This promise itself inspires all to call upon the Creator for every need. Certain titles are acceptable to use when calling upon the Almighty. The Saviour Himself has encouraged us to call upon the Omnipotent One. To strengthen our confidence in Elohim, the Saviour has taught us to call upon Him by a new name, a title that is entwined with the closest affections and deepest love of the human heart. He has given us the honor of calling Elohim our "Father." This name, spoken to Him and of Him, is a sign of our love and trust toward Him, and a pledge of His regard and relationship to us. Spoken when asking His favor or blessing, it is as music in His ears. That we might not think it presumption to call Him by this name, He has repeated it again and again. He desires us to become familiar with the appellation [name]. . . . [Elohim] regards us as His children. He has redeemed us out of the careless world and has chosen us to become members of the royal family, sons and daughters of the heavenly King. He invites us to trust in Him with a trust deeper and stronger than that of a child in his earthly father. Parents love their children, but the love of . . . [Elohim] is larger, broader, deeper, than human love can possibly be. It is immeasurable. Then if earthly parents know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more shall our Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? 6 Scripture tells us that Elohim is LOVE. (See 1 John 4:8.) As the embodiment of pure love, He does not set exacting standards of bodily position or perfect pronunciation before He will listen to our prayers. He assures every hesitant soul, "All that come to Me, I will in no wise cast out." (See John 6:37.) In His "Sermon on the Mount" the Saviour taught what kinds of prayer are acceptable and what kinds of prayer are unacceptable to Elohim.
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He said: When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. . . . [And] when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. 7 Prayer is never to be a particular set of words or motions we go through in order to buy divine favor. The Saviour explained that such tradition and theatrics were unnecessary when speaking to the Father. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. . . . For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 8 Prayer is not for the purpose of making known to Elohim our needs. He already knows our needs and has the way all planned to provide for us. Prayer is the opening of the heart to . . . [the Father] as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to . . . [Elohim] what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring . . . [the Father] down to us, but brings us up to Him. 9 Or, as Oswald Chambers once said: "Our ordinary views of prayer are not found in the New Testament. We look upon prayer as a means for getting something for ourselves; the Bible idea of prayer is that we may get to know . . . [Elohim] Himself." This is the purpose of prayer, and it is the reason why it is important to know the divine Name. Elohim's personal name is as holy as Himself and it is a revelation of His character. When a person knows Elohim as his loving Father, he will have the trust to call upon His name in prayer. This will not be a lazy, half-hearted, vague prayer. Charles H. Spurgeon, the well-respected minister from the 19th century once observed: "There is a general kind of praying which fails for lack of precision. It is as if a regiment of soldiers should all fire off their guns anywhere. Possibly somebody would be killed, but the majority of the
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Matthew 6:5, 7-8a, NKJV Matthew 6:6, 8b, NKJV 9 E. G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 93.
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enemy would be missed." A person who trusts his Maker as he trusts his human father, will not be afraid to lay out his needs in as simple and trusting a manner as a child asks for a drink of water when he is too short to reach the faucet. We are to trust to the promise of . . . [Elohim]. We are to go about our business believing that . . . [He] will do just what He has said He would do, and that the blessings we have prayed for will come to us when we most need them. Every petition enters into the heart of . . . [the Father] when we come believing. We have not faith enough. We should look upon our heavenly Father as more willing to help us than an earthly parent is to help his child. Why not trust Him? "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)10 Prayer is a privilege, but it is not a luxury that one can take or leave at the dictates of whim or time. Calling upon the Name of the Father is a vital necessity! As the great Protestant Reformer, John Wesley, once observed: "I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it."
Prayer is the breath of the soul, the channel of all blessings. As . . . the repentant soul offers its prayer, . . . [the Father] sees its struggles, watches its conflicts, and marks its sincerity. He has His finger upon its pulse, and He takes note of every throb. Not a feeling thrills it, not an emotion agitates it, not a sorrow shades it, not a sin stains it, not a thought or purpose moves it, of which He is not cognizant. That soul was purchased at an infinite cost, and is loved with a devotion that is unalterable. 11
One who loves his heavenly Father, will not hesitate to call upon His name in every trial or perplexity. Trusting in the love and power of the One Who bears the name of promise, it is a natural thing to follow Paul's instructions: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of . . . [Elohim] in . . . [the Saviour] for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NKJV) The Saviour
10 11
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has urged that His people pray without ceasing. This does not mean that we should always be upon our knees, but that prayer is to be as the breath of the soul. Our silent requests, wherever we may be, are to be ascending unto . . . [the Father], and . . . [the Saviour] our Advocate pleads in our behalf, bearing up with the incense of His righteousness our requests to the Father. 12 It is not possible to be continually on one's knees. However, the heart may be drawn to the Father in prayer. When in trouble, when sad or confused, prayers, like arrows flown heavenward, receive the immediate attention of the Father. In His presence is fullness of joy! It is our privilege to be in His presence when we pray. Therefore, prayer should be as natural to His children as breathing. "Accustom yourself gradually to carry Prayer into all your daily occupation -- speak, act, work in peace, as if you were in prayer, as indeed you ought to be." 13 Tell . . . [the Father] all that is in your heart, as one unloads one's heart, its pleasures and its pains, to a dear friend. Tell . . . [Him] your troubles, that . . . [He] may comfort you; . . . [tell Him] your longings, that . . . [He] may purify them; tell . . . [Him] your dislikes, that . . . [He] may help you conquer them; talk to . . . [the Father] of your temptations, that . . . [He] may shield you from them: show . . . [Elohim] the wounds of your heart, that . . . [He] may heal them. If you thus pour out all your weaknesses, needs, troubles, there will be no lack of what to say. Talk out of the abundance of the heart, without consideration say just what you think. Blessed are they who attain to such familiar, unreserved intercourse with . . . [their Maker]. 14 While engaged in our daily work, we should lift the soul to heaven in prayer. These silent petitions rise like incense before the throne of grace; and the enemy is baffled. The Christian whose heart is thus stayed upon . . . [Elohim] cannot be overcome. No evil arts can destroy his peace. All the promises of . . . [the Father's] word, all the power of divine grace, all the resources of . . . [the Omnipotent One], are pledged to secure his deliverance. It is a wonderful thing that we can pray effectually, that unworthy, erring mortals possess the power of offering their requests to . . . [their Creator]. What higher power can man desire than this,--to be linked with the infinite . .
12
13
14
Ibid.
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. [One]? Feeble, sinful man has the privilege of speaking to his Maker. We may utter words that reach the throne of the Monarch of the universe. We may speak with . . . [our Saviour] as we walk by the way, and He says, I am at thy right hand. We may commune with . . . [the Father] in our hearts; we may walk in companionship with . . . [His Son]. When engaged in our daily labor, we may breathe out our heart's desire, inaudible to any human ear; but that word cannot die away into silence, nor can it be lost. Nothing can drown the soul's desire. It rises above the din of the street, above the noise of machinery. It is . . . [Elohim] to whom we are speaking, and our prayer is heard. Ask, then; ask, and ye shall receive. Ask for humility, wisdom, courage, increase of faith. To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need. The prayers you offer in loneliness, in weariness, in trial, . . . [your Father] answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your good. 15
When you call upon the name of the Father, you may not always see or feel an immediate response. However, your prayer is always immediately heard. It is often said that sometimes the answer is yes; sometimes the answer is no; and sometimes the answer is wait awhile. But too often, people give up too soon. They either do not persevere in praying, or they think perhaps they are asking for something too large and ask for something smaller. However, the Father "does not delay to hear our prayers because He has no mind to give; but that, by enlarging our desires, He may give us the more largely." 16 Sometimes a person just learning to pray is unsure how to pray. It is always appropriate to give thanks to your Creator. Tell Him what you are thankful for! You can also pray what has come to be known as "The Lord's Prayer." This is the prayer which the Saviour taught in His Sermon on the Mount:
15 16
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Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13, KJV) This is also the prayer that He taught His disciples. (See Luke 11:2-4.) It is the model prayer because it acknowledges the Father in Heaven, it asks for His will to be done, it lays out the simple needs and asks for spiritual blessings, while leaving all to Him Who is infinite in wisdom. There would be nothing wrong with praying this perfect prayer to close one's own private times of prayer every day. Secret prayer, prayer prayed in the privacy of one's own heart, brings divine strength needed by all who would overcome in the warfare against sin and self. However, there are other types of prayer that can be a great blessing as well. Praying in groups can be a tremendous blessing, as the Holy Spirit comes and draws hearts together in unison and up to Elohim. Sometimes, if there is a large group, people will break up into small groups of four or five. Another way to pray that brings tremendous blessings is praying "in one accord." One person starts the prayer and tells the Father what is on his heart. Another person can join in at any time, and anyone else can, too. When praying around a circle, one at a time, the Holy Spirit can bring thoughts to the mind that, by the time one's own turn comes to pray, have already been forgotten. Being free to speak up and pray "in one accord" as the Spirit moves is a deeply enriching and spiritually uplifting experience. The Creator has given every encouragement for His children to call upon His name. Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless love. What a wonder it is that we pray so little! . . . [Elohim] is ready and willing to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children, and yet there is much manifest reluctance on our part to make known our wants to . . . [Him]. What can the angels of heaven think of poor helpless human beings, who are subject to temptation, when . . . [the Creator's] heart of infinite love yearns toward them, ready to give them more than they can ask or think, and yet they pray so little and have so little faith? The angels love to bow before . . . [their Maker]; they love to be near Him. They regard communion
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with . . . [their Creator] as their highest joy; and yet the children of earth, who need so much the help that . . . [Elohim] only can give, seem satisfied to walk without the light of His Spirit, the companionship of His presence. The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray. The whispered temptations of the enemy entice them to sin; and it is all because they do not make use of the privileges that . . . [the Father] has given them in the divine appointment of prayer. Why should the sons and daughters of . . . [Elohim] be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? 17 Call upon the name of your Creator! He is waiting with longing heart to answer your prayers. He will be found by all who call upon His name in faith.
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QUIZ-3
1. The Heavenly Father has a personal name. o True o False 2. In prayer, He is very particular that we say it exactly right in Hebrew without an accent. o True o False 3. The Heavenly Father accepts our best effort to say His name and He responds to every earnest prayer. o True o False 4. It does not matter whether or not we know the meaning of His name as long as we say it correctly. o True o False 5. The meaning of His name helps us have faith in who He is and what He will do for us. o True o False 6. Our prayers should be spoken very loudly so others can benefit from our thoughts. o True o False 7. True prayer is just between you and your Heavenly Father, best in private. o True o False 8. Prayer is the opening of your mind, your thoughts and feelings, to the Father as to a friend. o True o False 9. You only need to pray when you have a problem with which you need help. o True o False 10. Our prayers will only be heard if we are kneeling. o True o False
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11. When you understand the meaning of the Fathers name it will create confidence in calling on that Holy Name in prayer. o True o False 12. Prayer should be as natural as breathing. o True o False 13. We can talk to the Father in our minds as we do our daily work. o True o False 14. It is good to pray for humility, wisdom, courage, and an increase of faith. o True o False 15. Once you have prayed for something in the Fathers name, you should never pray about it again or it shows a lack of faith. o True o False 16. Giving thanks should be a part of our prayers. o True o False 17. The Messiah gave us an example of a model prayer which is recorded in the Bible. o True o False 18. You can only call on the name of the Creator once a day. o True o False 19. The darkness of evil surrounds those who neglect to pray. o True o False 20. The Heavenly Father will be found by all who will call upon His name. o True o False
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Name Above All Name Lessons 4. The Personal Name of the Father
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The very last chapter of the last book of the Old Testament contains a beautiful prophecy: But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall, and ye shall tread down the wicked. (Malachi 4:2, 3a, KJV) This prophecy is a promise that all who love, reverence and fear the name of the Almighty will grow up (in their spiritual understanding) and tread down all the lies of the wicked. The prophecy further promises: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet . . . And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers." (Malachi 4:5, 6) The Israelites applied this prophecy to the coming of the promised Deliverer. They believed that Elijah himself would return from heaven to let everyone know Messiah had come. Centuries later, when Peter, James and John saw Elijah standing with the Saviour when He was transfigured shortly before His death, they were confused. They asked Him: "Why then say the scribes that Elias [Elijah] must first come?" The Messiah knew that they were referring to this prophecy of Malachi and He gave a two-fold answer in reply: "Elias [Elijah] truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed [wished]. . . . Then the disciples understood that He spake unto them of John the Baptist." (See Matthew 17:1-13.) This is an intriguing reply. It has two parts: 1. "Elias is come already and they knew him not but have done unto him whatever they wanted." The disciples clearly understood this to refer to John the Baptist who had proclaimed the Messiah's arrival. 2. "Elias truly shall first come." This is even more intriguing because it is spoken in the future tense. There was an Elijah that was yet to come who had not come yet! What was the purpose of this future Elijah? To "restore all things!"
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All have inherited errors and traditions passed down from paganism. Often these traditions were handed down out of ignorance of the truth. On other matters, such as the Holy name of the Creator, scribes and translators have actively changed what was originally written. Now, in the closing days of earth's history, knowledge is being increased as promised in Daniel 12:4. In the approaching "time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation" (Daniel 12:1) those who are faithful to their Creator will need to exercise faith in His power to keep them and provide for their needs when every earthly support is cut off. It is for "such a time as this" that the divine name is being restored. "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the . . . [the Creator], to serve Him with one consent." Zephaniah 3:9 The personal name of the Heavenly Father is not "God" or "Lord." These are merely titles and cannot inspire faith in Him as the Creator because they are words that are also applied to pagan gods, magistrates, titled members of the nobility or, a long time ago, even a husband! There are a number of suggested names among those who want to use the Father's personal name. One of the most common variations is Yahweh. Another variant is Jehovah, which arose before it was understood that ancient Hebrew did not contain a "J" sound. However a careful study of the Bible, comparing Scripture with Scripture, reveals that neither of these names is correct. The true, personal name of the Omnipotent Creator is: Yahuwah. Written without vowels, as it was in ancient Hebrew, it is spelled: YHWH. While this may sound odd to modern ears, it is a name rich in meaning and beauty. In the modern English alphabet, each letter represents a particular sound or sometimes two. However, each letter in ancient Hebrew represented much more: pictograph (picture), syllable (name), mnemonic (meaning) and phonetic (sound). YHWH The early Semitic pictograph of the first letter is an arm and hand. The meaning of this letter is work, make and throw - all functions of the hand. The Modern Hebrew name yud is a derivative of the two letter word yad meaning "hand," the original name for the letter.
Semitic pictograph of an arm and hand.
The original pictograph for the next letter is a man standing with his arms raised.
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The
"Behold!"
original and Modern Hebrew for this letter is hey. The Hebrew word hey means behold. This word can also mean breath or sigh as one does when looking at a great sight. The meaning of the letter is behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out.
The original pictograph used in the Early Semitic script for WAW is a , a picture of a tent peg. The tent pegs were made of wood and may have been Y-shaped to prevent the rope from slipping off.
WAW: nail.
The holy name ends in another "hey." In symbology, then, the name of the eternal Father in the ancient Hebrew reveals His plan of salvation through His only begotten Son: Hand, behold, nail, behold. How wonderful our Father is! In Modern Hebrew, the name looks like this: 18
"Behold!"
There are two ways words move between languages: 1. Translation 2. Transliteration
18
All pictographs courtesy of Jeff A. Benner, Ancient Hebrew Research Center, www.ancient-hebrew.org.
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A word is translated when its meaning, its definition is expressed in the new language. Sometimes, the words can be completely different. For example, in English, the tall buildings that rise many stories high are called "skyscrapers." In French, the term is "skyscratchers." Such substitution is perfectly acceptable in translation where the main thrust is to communicate the original meaning. Transliteration is what is commonly done with names. When a word is transliterated, the attempt is to find letters in the new language that come the closest to making the correct sound. An example of this is found in the English name, John. The Russian equivalent of John is "Ivan" . . . however that is not how "Ivan" is spelled in the Russian Cyrillic alphabet. The letters between the Cyrillic alphabet and the English alphabet are completely different. Therefore, although "Ivan" is translated into English as "John," it is transliterated from the Russian letters into "Ivan." When it comes to understanding the personal name of the Creator, it is important to know both the meaning of His name (for that is what inspires faith) and how to pronounce it. There are several variations in spelling: Yahuah, IOUA, IOUO, IAUE, etc. However, using standard English rules of spelling and pronunciation, Yahuwah is the clearest spelling that provides the closest approximation of the original sounds.
Josephus the Jewish historian wrote that the set-apart name consisted of "four vowels" (Jewish Wars, 5. 5. 7.). Why did Josephus write this? Please consider the following thoughts. Remember, Josephus was writing to a Greek audience! He first wrote his history [at least his notes] in Hebrew Aramaic (Antiquities 12.5. 1-4 footnotes; Against Apion 1. 9). After the Jewish/Roman war, he had time, and with long perseverance, he mastered the Greek language, and compiled his history in Koine Greek, which was the international language of the world at that time. Though it was the international language, do not think it was the every day language in Israel, for it was not! Josephus frequently altered Hebrew names, spelling them after the fashion of the Greeks, "to please [his Greek] readers" (Antiquities 1. 5. 1.). Josephus describes the head-gear worn by the Levitical priest: "Of this was a crown made, as far from the hinder part of the head to each of the temples; but this ... did not cover the forehead, but it was covered by a golden plate, which had inscribed upon it the Name of (Elohim) in SETAPART CHARACTERS." (Antiquities 3. 7. 6. set-apart title and emphasis added).
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The term HOLY CHARACTERS, means not just Hebrew letters, but the ancient Hebrew, known as Paleo-Hebrew, used in the time of Moses, and David. Anciently, even the Greek language, like the Hebrew, was written from right to left. Also, the ancient Greek letters were similar to Paleo-Hebrew. Therefore, the ancient Greek would have written the set-apart name very similar to the ancient Hebrew, which appeared like this: . The Modern Greek equivalent would be written IHYH, and understood as IEUE. But do not think that this, in any wise, proves the pronunciation of the setapart name. Josephus was writing to the Greeks, the equivalent of YHWH. It was from this [Greek form] that the heathen formed their Jeue, Jove, and Jeve (see Adam Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 3:14) It is true that the letters , , can function as vowel letters. Let us consider a few examples: the yod acts as a vowel in the words "Eli" (Mt 27:46) also #430 Elohim, #4899 Mashiach, ish (Gen 2:23 margin KJV) etc. Yet it also functions as a consonant in other words like #3050 Yah, #2968 ya ab, etc. Sometimes it acts as a vowel and a consonant all in the same letter, as in Eliyah, where it is a double yod. "The is stronger and firmer than , and never loses it's consonantal sound in a middle of a word . . . . On the other hand, at the end of a word it is always a mere vowel letter, unless expressly marked by Mappiq as a strong consonant." (As in Grammar, p. 81 Yahh, and Eloahh) Gesenius' Hebrew
The waw also can act as a vowel in words like #452 Eliyahu, #3194 Yutah etc.. It also carries the "o" sound, as in #3117 yom. On the other hand, it acts like a consonant in words like #2331 chavah, actually the consonant is not a V, but as in Arabic, or as the English sound of "w". Sometimes the acts like a vowel and a consonant all in the same letter; they can also be consonants, depending on the usage. Concerning the Set-Apart Name, the structure of the letters tell us that the yod is a consonant, as in the word YAH (Ps. 68:4 & Isa. 12:2; 26:4; 38:11 NKJV). Also the is a consonant, since "it never loses its consonantal sound in the middle of a word." Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar, p. 81 Also, the waw in always acts as a consonant when ending words (except
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expressed in Hebrew as or ; therefore, if the Hebrew word ends , it will always act as a consonant, ending like "wah" or "weh" etc. The final in is the vowel letter in the set-apart name, "at the end of a word it is always a mere vowel letter." Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar p. 81 Conclusion: When Josephus said "four vowels", he was talking to his Greek audience trying to express the Tetragrammaton in a way that they would comprehend, trans-letter-ating from Paleo-Hebrew , which in Paleo Greek was , then into modern Greek, thus arriving with IHYH (literally IEUE.) 19
The Israelites never "forgot" the divine name. It was an integral part of many of their own names! It is from these other names that we get confirmation that the correct pronunciation of the divine name is not Jehovah, or Yahweh but Yahuwah: ya WHO uh, or sometimes YAH whuh. Even in New Testament times, parents gave their children names containing part of Yahuwah's name: #2197 #2993 #2491 Zacharias Matthew John (ZacharYAHU - Yahuwah has remembered) (MattithYAHU - gift of YAHUWAH) (Yahchanan - YAHUWAH favored)
Even Simon Peter's name, sometimes translated Cephas, was actually KephAH, meaning "my rock is Yahuwah." In the ancient world, far more than today, people understood the power of the divine name. It is possible that this understanding was at least partially responsible for the Israelite attempts to change or hide the name. "In Egypt, for example, the concept of the 'concealed Name' was extremely common." 20 Some scholars state that belief in the power within a god's name extended so far as to lead the followers to hide the name. This was done because the people feared that if a personal (or national) enemy learned the name of their god, the enemy could entice that god away to aid himself! It is possible that such a fear led the Israelites to try to hide the name of the Creator from their enemies. What is far more likely, however, is that during the wars with Babylon and the subsequent Babylonian captivity, the name was
19 20
B. Earl Allen, Publish the Name of Yahuwah, pp. 20-22. The Encyclopedia of Occultism & Parapsy, as cited in Publish the Name of Yahuwah, by B. Earl Allen, p. 7.
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deliberately hidden by unconsecrated priests in an attempt to guard it from blasphemy by the pagans. (One must remember that the entire reason the Israelites were taken into Babylonian captivity was because they were not truly committed to the worship of Yahuwah.) Jeremiah (whose name, YiremYAHU meant "exalted of Yahuwah") was the lone faithful prophet during the final dark days of Israel's fall to the Babylonians. An insight into how the Israelites justified "hiding" the name of the Almighty is recorded in a passage where Yahuwah Himself speaks: I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in My name, saying I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause My people to forget My name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten My name for Baal. (Jeremiah 23:25-27, KJV)
Whatever the reason, it is unfortunate that the very name on which all are to call has been so long unknown. Satan knows that the name of the Almighty contains the power that brought the universe into existence. He also knows that all who call upon that name in faith, will receive an answer of peace. It has greatly pleased the Devil to have the name buried and all but forgotten. There is no excuse for hiding the name of the only One that is a very present help in trouble. Salvation is of Yahuwah alone and in order to heed the instruction of scripture and call upon His name, all must know the name. In this time of prevailing iniquity, a loving Creator is revealing His long-forgotten name: Yahuwah. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Yahuwah shall be delivered. Joel 2:32 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of Yahuwah our Mighty One." Psalm 20:7 Call upon the name of Yahuwah. He will hear and answer the prayer of faith.
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Name Above All Names Lessons 4. The Personal Name of the Father
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QUIZ-4
1. Elijah the Prophet was promised to come back to earth at the end of time and bring a drought. o True o False 2. Knowing the personal name of the Creator is unimportant because He knows when we are talking to Him. o True o False 3. All need to know the Fathers name so they can exercise faith in Him now at the time of the end of the world. o True o False 4. The name of the Creator is, and has always been, God or Lord. o True o False 5. In Hebrew, each letter of a word could represent a picture, a name of the letter, a meaning and a sound. o True o False 6. In ancient Hebrew one of the common letters was "J." That is why the Bible has the word Jehovah sometimes for God. o True o False 7. The meaning of a name is called a pictograph. o True o False 8. Written without vowels, the ancient Hebrew wrote the name of the Creator as YHWH. o True o False 9. The true personal name of the Creator is Yahuwah. o True o False
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10. When a word is changed from one language to another, the transfer of meaning is called transliteration. o True o False 11. When the sound of a name if transferred from one language to another it is called translation. o True o False 12. The ancient languages of both Greece and Hebrew wrote their letters like the Arabs do, from right to left. o True o False 13. The Israelites never forgot the divine name as it was a part of many of their own names. o True o False 14. The Creator wants people to freely use His divine name in sincere prayer. o True o False 15. Many times in the history of Israel the people forgot to use the Creators name and instead called upon the god, Baal. o True o False 16. Simon Peters name, Cephas, meant Rolling Stone. o True o False 17. All languages have the same sounds for their letters. o True o False 18. It is important for people to understand both how to pronounce the Holy Name as well as understand what it means. o True o False 19. Yahuwah is the clearest spelling of how the name of the Creator was pronounced in ancient Hebrew. o True o False 20. Josephus described the Holy Name to his Greek readers as being written by four vowels. o True o False
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Grammar was always one of my most difficult subjects in school. It did not matter that English was my native tongue, all those terms: predicate nominatives, stative and transitive verbs, subjunctive, present participle, past perfect progressive, dangling modifiers - it might as well have been a foreign language to me. And the verbs of being: there were so many! Am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being, shall be, will have been, and on and on and on. After yet another homework assignment ended in tears, my mother finally told me, "Look, forget the terms. You know this already. You have been raised to speak proper English. Just write down what sounds right and you will get it correct." She was right! From then on, I had no more difficulties with answering the problems. Although to this day I still cannot explain the difference between transitive, intransitive and ditransitive verbs, I can use them correctly in a sentence! (And I ended up giving the same advice to my children: "Just be glad you are not learning English as a second language. I have taught you correct usage. Just write down what sounds right and you will be correct.") Grammar is simply the rules any language has regarding how that language is to be correctly used. When the languages were changed at the tower of Babel, they retained certain similarities of sentence construction and word categories. Each new language had words for Deity, their family members, tools, foods, cattle, region, etc. All languages still have nouns and verbs to show action and state of being. Certain types of words are necessary in order to communicate. Over the millennia, the sounds and eventually the spelling of words have changed, but the basic communication structure has remained. "Names" fall under the category of nouns. In fact, the word "noun" means "name." Everything has a name, whether it is a person, a thing or an emotion. Without names, it is not possible to communicate. Sometimes other words can function as a name. For example, Mother, Father, Aunt, Grandfather, etc. are all titles that serve as names. There is nothing inherently wrong with using titles to apply to Yahuwah. He used titles Himself to designate what He is: He is Elohim, the Almighty. Titles have limitations, however. Titles may explain that Yahuwah is the Almighty Creator, but a title does not reveal Who He is. Knowledge of the meaning of His personal name is necessary for that. Thus, it is truly unfortunate that the personal name of the Creator was not transliterated in the Bible. The true significance of the name is found in its meaning because the definition
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of the name reveals Who Yahuwah is. The definition of Yahuwah is difficult to translate into English. The word has much more meaning than can be summed up in a single English word. The phrase generally used to translate the meaning of Yahuwah is Ayah Asher Ayah. The most common translation of this descriptive phrase is I AM THAT I AM although other sources also translate it as: I WILL BE WHAT I WILL TO BE I AM WHAT I AM I AM WHO I AM
The name of the Almighty Creator, unlike all other names, is not a noun but a verb of being. No parents name their baby boy Is, or their little girl Was! For Yahuwah to choose a verb of being for His personal name communicates an important message: He is the only One Who Is, Who Was, and Who Is to come. He is self-existent, meaning He did not get life from some other source. He is Himself the source of all life, including His own. He is ever-present, all-knowing and all-powerful. The only way to express the qualities of infinity is to use a verb of being and call Himself "AM." He could just as easily have called Himself Is, or Was, or Shall Be. All verbs of being are correct and true when applied to the source of all life. "AM" shows the continual nearness of His immediate presence. To human ears, this sounds awkward. "Am" is a word that is commonly used in every day speech. However, I AM THAT I AM/I WILL BE WHAT I WILL TO BE is as close as human language can come to express the all-encompassing, infinite nature of the Almighty Creator, Yahuwah. Invoking the name He has given Himself in prayer directs that prayer to the all-powerful Creator: the Elohim above all false elohim. The significance and the vast power of the divine name is revealed in the story of Moses' commission to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. The story, as told in Exodus 3, states that the Creator identified Himself to Moses at the burning bush as "the Elohim of your father, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob." (See Exodus 3:6.) Moses had spent many years in the court of Egypt. He understood the significance which the Egyptians and, through Egyptian influence, the Israelites placed upon the name of a god. It is in this context that Moses asked an intriguing question. He said, "When I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The Elohim of your fathers has sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say unto them?" (See Exodus 3:13.) What a question! Most scholars are of the opinion that Moses wrote the book of Genesis during the 40 years he spent in Midian. Both "Elohim" and "Yahuwah" are used in Genesis. And yet, here Moses is asking, "What is your name?" As translated into English by the King James Version of the Bible, the answer given Moses was:
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"I AM THAT I AM. Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. "And . . . [He] said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, . . . [Yahuwah] hath sent me unto you: this is My name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations." Exodus 3:15, KJV Before repeating the name that Moses already knew, Yahuwah explained His name by using the same verb of being in a different form - a form that revealed the power within His name! The phrase translated as I AM THAT I AM comes from the Hebrew word: Hyh. It means to be. When Moses asked, "Who shall I say sent me?" the answer was BE! BE! Hyh is a very powerful word. "The use of Hyh in such passages declares the actual release of power, so that the accomplishment is assured." (#410, The New Strong's Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words.) This is the answer the Almighty gave when a weak mortal, Moses, asked "What is Your name?" The answer, BE! contained the power that brought the universe into existence! Scripture clearly states that the very words of Yahuwah, breathed by His Holy Breath (Spirit) contain the power to do what He commands. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith . . . [Yahuwah]. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it [My word] shall not return unto Me void, but it [My word] shall accomplish that which I please, and it [My word] shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:8-11, KJV) Words express thoughts. This is the very essence of communication. Words also contain power, as they exert influence upon another's emotions, beliefs or behaviors. However, only the omnipotent Creator has words that contain power within themselves!
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If I am in a dark room, I can say, "Light, BE!" all I want and the room will stay dark. In order to get light, I have to turn on the light switch. Not so with the Creator! All He has to do is to say the word and what was not, now is. The divine name, Yahuwah, is the assurance of infinite power. Thus Yahuwah encouraged Moses to undertake what, to all rights, should have been a suicide mission. When the actual word is inserted into the passage, when Moses asked "What's Your name?" Yahuwah replied: "BE! BE! Thus you shall say unto the children of Israel, BE! has sent me unto you." And Elohim further said to Moses, "Thus you shall say unto the children of Israel, Yahuwah, the Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, has sent me unto you: this is My name forever, and this is My memorial unto all generations. (See Exodus 3:14, 15.) The promise of power contained within the divine name "became reality through Moses, to whom . . . [Elohim] explained that He was not only the '. . . [Elohim] who exists' but the '. . . [Elohim] who effects His will." (#3068, Yahuwah, The New Strong's Expanded Dictionary.") The promise of power in the divine name is still there for all who, through faith in the merits of the blood of the Saviour, will only claim it. Yahuwah is the Elohim Who Was and Who Is and Who Is to come. He assures everyone, "I AM Yahuwah, I change not!" (See Malachi 3:6.) The Creator, Himself the source of all life, has given Himself a name that is an assurance that He will be everything His people need. Yahuwah, Thou has been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art Elohim. (See Psalm 90:1, 2.)
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QUIZ-5
1. Grammar is the study of how words are correctly arranged in a sentence. o True o False 2. Most names are nouns. o True o False 3. Titles are words that take the place of names, like master or father. o True o False 4. How the Creators name is said is more important than what it means. o True o False 5. Moses did not know any name for the Creator. o True o False 6. Moses lived all of his life in the desert and did not understand the ways of the palace in Egypt. o True o False 7. The divine name of the Creator is a verb of being used as a noun. o True o False 8. The closest translation of the name is I AM THAT I AM. o True o False 9. The very essence of communication is the expression of thoughts. o True o False 10. It is very bad to use a title to address the Creator. o True o False 11. Using just a title does not have the same power as praying in the true personal name. o True o False 40
12. Many scholars believe that Moses wrote Genesis just before he died. o True o False 13. Yahuwah explained the meaning of His name to Moses as "BE!" o True o False 14. The Israelites didnt really care what the Creators name was. o True o False 15. The word spirit in the Hebrew means a ghost. o True o False 16. The word BE when spoken by the Creator has the power to accomplish what it is spoken to do. o True o False 17. The Creator wants everyone to call upon His name in prayer. o True o False 18. The Creator gave Himself a name that is an assurance that He will be everything His people need Him to be. o True o False 19. At the burning bush, Moses asked the Creator His name because he didnt have any other name for Him. o o True False
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By the word of Yahuwah were the heavens made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
(See Psalm 33:6.)
The word of Yahuwah contains infinite power. His very breath itself holds all the power that called the universe into existence! Scripture opens a view of the primordial past, at the point Yahuwah came to earth to form it and create life upon it. In the beginning . . . [Elohim] created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of . . . [Elohim] moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1, 2, KJV) The word "spirit" comes from the Hebrew word, rwach (#7307), and means, literally, breath. This is the same breath that transformed Adam from a big mud pie into a living, breathing soul, made in the image of his Maker. "And . . . [Yahuwah Elohim] formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7, KJV) The word hyh, or BE!, from which comes the divine name, Yahuwah, was spoken throughout the Creation of the world. While the English renders the divine command, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3), the Hebrew is much more direct: Light . . . BE! (The release of creative power to do the thing commanded.) Light was. (The statement of fact after the act has been performed.) Both "be" and "was" are state of being verbs. In the Hebrew, the same word, hyh, is used to express both the command and the fulfillment of the command: Light . . . HYH! Light hyh.
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The use of this powerful word, the root of Yahuwah's own divine name, continues throughout the account of Creation. Gathered waters . . . HYH! (BE!) Gathered waters . . . hyh (were). Dry ground . . . HYH! (BE!) Dry ground hyh (was). Lights in the heavens . . . HYH! (BE!) Lights in the heavens hyh (were). And evening hyh (be) and morning hyh (be). The indescribable beauty contained in the name of the all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere-present eternal Father is that it contains unlimited, omnipotent power. It was for this reason that Yahuwah chose to call Himself the name that He did. Indeed, it is the only word that could be His name. There is purpose in everything the Father does and the purpose He had in calling Himself Yahuwah was to inspire faith in the hearts of His children. Faith is a word that is often heard in religious circles. We sing "Trust and obey!" and we encourage each other to "just have faith." But what is faith? What does the word mean? Scripture states that "without faith it is impossible to please" Yahuwah. (Hebrews 11:6) So what is this word that is spoken so often, but rarely, if ever, defined? The dictionary defines faith as: Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity [truthfulness], without other evidence; the judgment that what another states or testifies is the truth. . . . The assent of the mind to the truth of a proposition advanced by another. 21 Faith is not some mysterious something which some people are born with and others are not! In fact, true faith is a gift. Scripture states that Yahuwah "has dealt to each one a measure of faith." (Romans 12:3, NKJV) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of your selves: it is the gift of . . . [Yahuwah]." (Ephesians 2:8, KJV) While it is likely in the latter verse that Paul was referring specifically to the fact that salvation is not
21
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of yourselves, it is a gift of Yahuwah, the point is similar. The ability to trust in Yahuwah for salvation is itself a divine gift. The Saviour provided a working example of faith. Now when . . . [the Saviour] had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, ". . . [Master], my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." And . . . [the Saviour] said to him, "I will come and heal him." The centurion answered and said, ". . . [Master], I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When . . . [the Saviour] heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kindom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Then . . . [He] said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour." (Matthew 8:5-13, NKJV) The centurion was worried about his servant. He came to the Saviour and asked Him to heal his servant. When the Saviour replied, "I will come and heal him," something in the centurion's answer led the Messiah to marvel and exclaim, "That is faith - faith the likes of which I have not found even in Israel!" What was it that the Son of Yahuwah identified as faith?
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When the centurion heard, "I will come and heal him," his immediate response was, "I am not worthy for you to come to my home. Just speak the word and he will be healed." He then explained that he recognized the authority with which the Son of Yahuwah spoke when he added, "I myself am a soldier under authority which I obey and I have soldiers under my authority who obey me. I tell one to do something and he does it! You do not need to come and heal my servant. You have the authority to just speak the word and he will be well." "THAT is faith," the Saviour marveled. Faith is simply taking Yahuwah at His word. It is the agreement of the mind that what He has said is true because of who He is, without any other evidence. Faith is the acceptance of the mind that what Yahuwah has promised, He will do because of the power He has at His command, without needing to see or feel any proof that He will keep His promise. A child who has been raised in a safe environment where Mama always meets his needs, has complete and utter faith that his mother will give him a drink of water when he asks for one. When Mother says something, he believes what she says because past actions have proven that she is trustworthy. He trusts her because of who she is: she is his mother. She has the power and the authority to give him what he needs, and her past actions have proven that she will always help when he asks for help. As children of the heavenly Father, we are to have complete and utter faith in Him. Children have more faith in the word of their earthly parents than adults do in the word of their heavenly Father. This was the point the Messiah was making when He said, "Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3, NKJV) A child who is struggling to carry a burden too heavy for her, asks her father for help in perfect confidence that he, in his superior strength, will help her lift and carry it. The trials and difficulties of daily life are meant to lead us to call upon our heavenly Father for help and trust in Him to keep His promises. It is these very difficulties that bring us to the audience chamber of the Most High, to seek counsel of the One who is infinite in wisdom. He loves to
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have us seek Him; He loves to have us trust Him and believe His word. If we had no perplexities, no trials, we would become self-sufficient and lifted up in ourselves. The true saints will be purified, and made white and tried. 22 George Mueller, a true faith warrior, once said, "Faith is the assurance that the things which . . . [Yahuwah] said in His word are true; and that . . . [He] will act according to what He has said in His Word. This assurance, this reliance on . . . [Yahuwah's] Word, this confidence, is Faith." "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of . . . [Yahuwah]." (Romans 10:17, NKJV) It was to inspire faith (and trust) in His children, that Yahuwah gave His name. His name itself is a promise that He will BE everything you need in order to be saved. When His name is combined with a need, it becomes a promise that your need will be fulfilled. Are you sick? His promise to you is: I AM your Healer. BE well! (Exodus 15:26) Are you afraid? I AM your Refuge. BE safe! (Psalm 9:9) Are you weak? I AM your Strength. BE strong! (Psalm 27:1) Are you overwhelmed with difficulties? I AM a Man of War. BE delivered! (Exodus 15:3) Are you in danger? I AM your Shield. BE protected! (Psalm 3:3) Are you alone? I AM your Kinsman/Redeemer. Be cherished! (Isaiah 43:14) Have you been taken advantage of and left in need? I AM your Provider Who Sees. BE provided for! (Genesis 22:14) Do you feel alone? I AM Desirous of Your Love. BE loved! (Exodus 34:14) For anything and everything He has promised, those who live in humble obedience may ask for and gratefully claim. Scripture contains 360 composite names - names in which the divine name, combined with a need, becomes a promise. Call upon the name of Yahuwah! Claim the divine promises! He is waiting with a longing heart to help you. When you combine the name of Yahuwah with your need, and you let
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your faith grasp the promise, He will keep His Word. He will BE all that you need Him to be. Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of . . . [Yahuwah] . . . as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, . . . by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:2-4, NKJV) Wait patiently for . . . [Yahuwah]. He will be to you a present help in every time of need. . . . [Yahwuah] is good. Praise His Holy name. . . . [Elohim] loves to have us trust Him, loves to have us have confidence in His promises. Only believe, and we shall see the workings of . . . [the Almighty]. 23 Yahuwah, the great and almighty I AM will BE all that you could ever need Him to be under any and every circumstance. Trust all to Him as unto a loving Heavenly Father. He will never fail you nor forsake. He is safe to trust! Call upon Him today and rest in His love.
When we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take the step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for us to stand on or we will be taught to fly. Patrick Overton
Following is a partial list of composite names Yahuwah has provided in Scripture to encourage hearts and inspire trust. HahYah - BE! (Exodus 3:14) Yah - I AM Yahuwah - I AM THAT I AM (Genesis 2:4; Exodus 20:7)
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Yah Amen - I AM the Truth (Deuteronomy 7:7-9) Yah Bore - I AM [the] Creator (Isaiah 40:28) Yahuwah Elohei Hashamaim Welohei Haarets - I AM the Mighty One of the Heavens and the Mighty One of the Earth ( Genesis 24:3) Yah Elohei Yeshu'ati - I AM, Mighty One of My Salvation (Psalm 88:2) Yah Eloheka - I AM Your Mighty One (Deuteronomy 8:7) Yah Elohei ColBaser - I AM [the] Mighty One of All Flesh (Jeremiah 32:27) Yah Eloheka - I AM Your Mighty One (Deuteronomy 16:1) Yah Elohi Israel - I AM the Mighty One of Israel (Judges 6:8) Yah Elyon - I AM Most High (Psalm 47:2; 97:9) Yah Goelkem - I AM Your Kinsman-Redeemer (Isaiah 43:14) Yah Hama'leh - I AM Who Brings Out (Leviticus 11:45) Yah Hamastir Panaio - I AM [He] Who Hides His Face (Isaiah 8:17) Yah Hizqei - I AM [your] Strength (Psalm 18:1) Yah 'Hosenu - I AM [your] Maker (Psalm 95:6) Yah Ish'i - I AM [your] Light and Salvation (Psalm 27:1) Yah Ish Malchamah - I Am a Man of War (Exodus 15:3) Yah Jireh - I AM your Provider Who Sees (Genesis 22:14) Yah Lemish'ka - I AM Your Support (Psalm 18:18) Yah Magen - I AM Your Shield (Psalm 3:3) Yah Makkeh - I AM Who Smites (Ezekiel 7:9) Yah Ma'on - I AM [your] Strength (Psalm 27:1) Yah Machosehu - I AM his Refuge (Psalm 14:6) Yah Minat - I AM [your] Portion (Psalm 16:5) Yah Melek - I AM [your] King (Psalm 10:16)
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Yah Migdal - I AM [your] High Tower (Proverbs 18:10, Micah 4:8) Yah Mishgab - I AM [your] Refuge (Psalm 9:9) Yah Nissi - I AM [your] Banner (Exodus 17:15) Yah Ohev Mishpat - I AM a Lover of Justice (Isaiah 61:8) Yah Ori - I AM [your] Light (Psalm 27:1) Yah Qana - I AM Desirous of Your Love (Exodus 34:14) Yah Quadosh - I AM Holy (Leviticus 20:26) Yah M'Qadeshkem - I AM your Sanctifier (Exodus 31:13) Ya Roi - I AM [your] Shepherd (Psalm 23:1) Yah Ropheka - I AM your Healer (Exodus 15:26) Yah Sal'i/Sil'i - I AM your Rock (Psalm 18:3) Yah Shalom - I AM your Peace (Judges 6:24) Yah Shoken - I AM He Who Dwells With You (Numbers 35:34) Yah Shammah - I AM There (Ezekiel 48:35) Yah Shemesh weMagan - I AM a Sun and Shield (Psalm 84:11) Yah Shibreka - I AM Your Keeper (Psalm 121:5) Yah Tsabaoth - I AM the Mighty One, the Master of the Faithfully Serving Sun, Moon and Stars (1 Samuel 1:3; Amos 5:16) Yah Tzilka - I AM [your] Shade (Psalm 121:5) Yah Tzuri - I AM is my Rock (Psalm 28:1) Yah Tzidkenu - I AM is Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16) Yah 'Uzi - I AM [your] Strength and Shield (Psalm 28:7) Yah Eloheka - I AM Your Covenant Keeping Mighty One (Deuteronomy 16:1) Yah Shemo - I AM is My Name (Psalm 68:14) Adon - Master, Ruler of the Earth (Psalm 12:5)
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Adonai - Master, Husband, Ruler (Exodus 5:22) Adonai - My Master [Blesser of the Earth] (Genesis 20:4) Adonim - Master [Owner of the Earth] (Judges 6:15; 13:3) Adonai Elohei - My Master, My Mighty One (Psalm 38:16; 86:12) Adonai Tishu'ati - My Master, My Salvation (Psalm 38:22) Adonai Yahuwah - My Master Yahuwah (Genesis 15:2,8) Elohei Amen, El Amen - Mighty One of Truth (Isaiah 65:16) Elohei Chasdi - Mighty One of my Mercy (Psalm 59:18) Elohei Emeth - Mighty One of Truth (2 Chronicles 15:3) Elohei HaMispat - Mighty One of the Judgment (Malachi 2:17) Elohei Hesedi - Mighty One of My Mercy (Psalm 59:10, 17) Elohei HaShamaim - Mighty One of the Heavens (Genesis 24:3, 7) Elohei Israel - Mighty One of Israel (Exodus 24:10) Eli Malki - My Mighty One, My King (Psalm 68:24) Elohei Marom - The Exalted Mighty One (Micah 6:6) Elohei Ma'zi - Mighty One My Stronghold (Psalm 43:2) Elohei Me'onah - Mighty One Your Refuge (Deuteronomy 33:27) Elohei Merachoq - Mighty One Far Away (Jeremiah 23:23) Elohim Mibal'adi - Mighty One Beside Me (Isaiah 45:21) Elohei Mikarov - Mighty One Near at Hand (Jeremiah 23:23) Elohei Mishaphat - Mighty One of Justice (Isaiah 30:18) Elohim Moshi'a - Mighty Covenant Keepers My Saviour (Psalm 7:10) El Nu'aratz - Mighty One to be Feared (Psalm 89:7) Elohei Qedem - Mighty One [of] Dawn (Deuteronomy 33:27) Elohei Tehilati - Mighty One of My Praise (Psalm 109:1)
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Elohei Tzuri - Mighty One My Rock (2 Samuel 22:3) Elohei Yacob - Mighty One of Jacob ( Psalm 46:12) Elohei Yish'i - Mighty One of My Salvation (Psalm 18:47) Elohei Zidqi - Mighty One My Righteousness (Psalm 4:1) Eloah - Supreme Mighty One [Who Wills] (Deuteronomy 32:15, 17) El - Mighty One (Isaiah 44:10, 15) Eli - My Mighty One (Psalm 18:3; 22:1, 2, 11) El Amunah - Mighty One of Truth (Deuteronomy 32:4) HaEl Yahuwah - The Mighty One Who is Yahuwah (Isaiah 42:5; Psalm 85:9) El Chai - Living Mighty One (Joshua 3:10) El Deot Yahuwah - All-Knowing Yahuwah (1 Samuel 2:3) El Echad - Mighty One [is] One (Malachi 2:10) El Elyon - Mighty One Everlasting (Genesis14:18-22) El Emeth - Mighty One of Truth (2 Chronicles 15:3) El Emunah - Mighty One of Faithfulness (Deuteronomy 32:4) El Gamuloth Y' - Yahuwah Mighty One of Recompenses (Jeremiah 51:56) El Hakevod - Mighty One of the Glory (Psalm 29:3) HaEl HaGadol - The Great Mighty One (Deuteronomy 10:17) El Gibbor - Mighty One [the] Champion (Isaiah 9:5) El Hakevod - Mighty One of Glory (Psalm 29:3) HaEl Ma'uni - The Mighty One My Fortress (2 Samuel 22:33) El Mistater - Mighty One [Who] Hides Himself (Isaiah 45:15) El Nose - Mighty One [Who] Forgives (Psalm 99:9) El Olam - Everlasting Mighty One (Genesis 21:33) HaEl HaQadosh - The Holy Mighty One (Isaiah 5:16)
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El Quana - The Mighty One Desirous of Love (Exodus 20:5) El Rachim - The Compassionate Mighty One (Exodus 34:6) El Ra'i - The Vigilant Mighty One (Genesis 16:13) El Sal'i - Mighty One, My Rock (Psalm 18:3) El Shaddai - The ALMIGHTY Mighty One (Genesis 17:1) Eli Tzuri - My Mighty One, My Rock (Psalm 18:3) El Tzadiq - Mighty One of Righteousness (Isaiah 45:21) El Yeshuati - My Almighty Saviour (Isaiah 12:2) Elohei Zidki - Mighty One My Righteousness (Psalm 4:2)
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QUIZ-6
1. The word of Yahuwah contains all power. o True o False 2. The word spirit in the Bible means breath. o True o False 3. In the beginning the Creator just thought everything into existence. o True o False 4. Faith is a mysterious feeling people get when they choose to be a Christian. o True o False 5. The word of Yahuwah spoke into existence all the world and the animals. o True o False 6. When He said BE, what Yahuwah said came into existence. o True o False 7. The Bible says that faith is something we make up in our own minds. o True o False 8. The Saviour gave an example of true faith in the experience with the Roman centurion. o True o False 9. The centurion said that his little girl was sick. o True o False 10. The Saviour said that the centurion had faith just like the Israelite priests and rulers. o True o False 11. The Saviour told the man Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you. o True o False
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12. True faith is believing what someone else has said because of who they are and not needing any further proof. o True o False 13. Faith comes into the mind from hearing the word of Yahuwah. o True o False 14. The name of Yahuwah is a promise of what He will be for us in our need. o True o False 15. There are only 25 composite names for the Heavenly Father in the Bible. o True o False 16. Composite names have all or part of the Creator's names along with another word or phrase. o True o False 17. Only children under twelve years of age have the right to call Yahuwah their Father. o True o False 18. Every human being is a child of the Heavenly King. o True o False 19. Yahuwah has given a measure of faith to every person on earth. o True o False 20. We need to keep the name of the Creator, Yahuwah, a secret. o True o False
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Mr. D. was by far the most popular teacher in the school. The fact that he was handsome, single and only a few years older than the students he taught, made him popular with the girls. The fact that he loved cars made him popular with the guys. One year, the talk of the school was the new car Mr. D. had ordered: a Ford Mustang, the best of the muscle cars. The students were almost as disappointed as Mr. D. when, in January, there were so many demands for the car that it took an extra couple of months for the local dealership to get in the model he had ordered. Finally, it came! What a beauty! Brilliant red paint, highly polished chrome bumpers, sleek lines, aerodynamically designed; it was a high-performance machine obviously built for speed. After classes were over, guys and girls would hover around the car, listening to Mr. D. extol its virtues: the soundness of the engine, how well it handled on tight curves, how fast he could reach 100 miles per hour in it. The best part of all, was that Mr. D. was willing to show off his baby by giving kids rides in his car during his one free period. One of my favorite high school memories was the day I finally got to ride in Mr. D.'s car. I was one of the last to get a ride, because I had a class during Mr. D.'s free period. Finally, one day after the class I had from him, we dashed out to his car, jumped in and headed out to a long, straight stretch of road just outside of town. Stopping, turning around and pointing back toward town, Mr. D. turned and grinned. "You ready?" "Ready!" Gunning the engine, Mr. D. "laid rubber." In a matter of seconds we were flying down the road at 115 miles an hour (185 kph) - this at a time when the legal speed limit was only 55
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mph (88 kph)! To complete the thrill of the illicit adventure, Mr. D. even wrote out a permission slip to excuse the fact that I was a good 10 minutes late to my next class! 24 Then tragedy struck. About a month before school let out for the summer, someone stole Mr. D.'s Mustang. The whole student body was upset, and none more so than Mr. D. His beloved car in which he took such delight, his baby, for which he had waited, and saved, (and for which he still had many payments left to make), was gone! Police reports, endless paperwork for the insurance company, notices posted around town, all followed. But the police were not able to locate the car. It had vanished as quickly as Mr. D.'s joy. Some began to wonder if it had been taken to a "chop shop" and dismantled for parts to ship overseas. The school year ended, and no Mustang had been found. When school started again, we were all eager to see if Mr. D. had purchased a new car. No, he was still driving the same old clunker he had driven before purchasing the Mustang and he was still heart-sick over the loss. Six weeks into the new school year, Mr. D. got a phone call. The police had finally found his car! The bad news, was that it was in wreckage yard in a city 200 miles away. When the VIN number was run, workers discovered the car had been stolen and called the police. Mr. D. raced to the wreckage yard. What a sad sight to greet his eyes! In place of the tenderly cared for car, was a pile of junk. One side mirror was broken, the other was entirely missing. The front windshield and one side window were broken. Deep grooves along the sides told of hard use, with little care for what was brushed up against. When he tried to raise the hood to see the engine, he could not even do that. Too many dents and cracks held the hood firmly in place, making it impossible to lift. Great was the indignation at school the next day when we learned that Mr. D. had actually had to pay to get his junk heap back! It belonged to him, after all! To have to actually pay the wreckers $200 to regain what was rightfully his seemed very unjust to us. But redeem it he did. And then he did something that did not make any sense to the girls: he took it to a body repair shop! Mr. D. was going to fix his car! Why he did not just start over with a new one made no sense to the girls, but the guys understood. Mr. D. loved that car; that particular car was the only one he wanted. The slow work of restoration began. The body repair shop fixed what dents they could, replacing what they couldn't. The inside of the car had been so
This story is not to condone this sort of action. Such behavior on the part of a teacher today would likely get him fired. Nevertheless, it remains one of my favorite high school memories!
24
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damaged that the driver's seat had to be entirely replaced, with the other seats reupholstered. The day finally came when the body repair shop called: Mr. D. could come collect his car. There it stood! What a beauty! Brilliant red paint, highly polished chrome bumpers, sleek lines, aerodynamically designed; it looked like a high-performance machine built for speed. Then he lifted the hood. The sight that met his eyes was enough to make a grown man cry. There would be no driving of this beauty. Not yet. Mr. D. had the car towed to a mechanic and the slow work of restoration began all over again. A new engine was required, along with many other repairs. It was the work of months, for many replacement parts had to be ordered. Finally, one day in spring, Mr. D. proudly drove the Mustang to school. It was beautiful! The wax sheen on the new paint job shone in the early morning sun. The highly polished bumpers reflected the faces of the students thronging around. It was once again a high-performance machine obviously built for speed. Strangely enough, Mr. D. loved that car more than ever before. Although it had cost him so much time, effort, grief and extra money, having it back, redeemed from the junk yard, restored to its former glory, the car was more precious to him than before! Watching this drama unfold before my eyes over the course of two school years, made a deep impression on my young mind. Aside from not understanding that level of devotion to a car, I couldn't understand why Mr. D. would lavish so much extra time and money on that car. Why not simply start over? If you are going to put that much money in to fixing it up, why not just buy a brand new one? As I have gotten older, I have come to understand the reasons why Mr. D. would make such sacrifices to reclaim and tenderly restore the car. It was not just any car: it was his car. Yes, it had been stolen from him, but it still belonged to him. That was why he was willing to pay $200 to redeem a heap of junk. He loved that car, and simply replacing it with another would not be the same. This is precisely what Yahuwah has gone through for us. When Adam and Eve sinned, He could so easily have just started over! He could have blotted them, and Lucifer and his angels out of existence. He could have erased the memory of them from the minds of the holy, unfallen beings. He was the Creator after all! Who could have stopped Him? No one would ever have known! But He would have known. It would have been a very easy thing for the Creator to start over with a brand new race of beings. Far simpler than saving what had been destroyed. But it was the route of salvation that He chose.
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Yahuwah decided to save the guilty race at any cost to Himself. His Son, who was One with the Father, in purpose, in love, agreed with the costly decision. The two entered into covenant agreement. The guilty race was not to be abandoned or replaced. Instead, it was to be redeemed and, once redeemed, it was to be restored back to favor with the Creator. [D]ivine love had conceived a plan whereby man might be redeemed. The broken law of . . . [Yahuwah] demanded the life of the sinner. In all the universe there was but one who could, in behalf of man, satisfy its claims. Since the divine law is as sacred as . . . [Yahuwah] Himself, only one equal with . . . [Elohim] could make atonement for its transgression. None but . . . [the Son] could redeem fallen man from the curse of the law and bring him again into harmony with Heaven. . . . [The Son] would take upon Himself the guilt and shame of sin--sin so offensive to a holy . . . [Elohim] that it must separate the Father and His Son. . . . [The Saviour] would reach to the depths of misery to rescue the ruined race. 25 This was an extremely expensive undertaking! The divine law, the Law of Love, was perfect and thus could not be changed. The requirements of the law were simple and clear:
E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 63. American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, ed., 1828.
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instituted the communion service at the Last Supper, "He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.'" (Matthew 26:27, 28, NKJV) The Saviour spoke of death as but a sleep. When Lazarus died, He let the disciples know of His intent to resurrect him by stating: "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." (John 11:11, NKJV) To the Life-giver, death is but a sleep - a rest from labors. It is because the redemption price has been paid that death is, for the child of Yah, but a sleep. This is not the death which the Messiah died. The Saviour died the "second death" that all must die who reject His offer of salvation. This is why the emotional agony on the cross was so great that He scarcely felt the pain of crucifixion. The second death is complete and total separation from Yahuwah, the source of all life. It was this that wrung from His lips the cry, "My El! My El! Why have You forsaken Me?" (See Matthew 27:46.) On the cross, the Saviour bore the weight of guilt for every sin ever committed by every single person who has ever lived or who shall ever live. He, the sinless One, bore the guilt of sinners that they, through Him, might be restored to favor with Yahuwah. His resurrection was proof that He had lived a sinless life because the divine law decrees that all who obey shall live. It is an assurance to all who will trust in their Saviour that they, too, shall live again, even if they "fall asleep" in Him. But the process of salvation was not yet complete. The redemption price had been paid, but that was all. The next step was restoration. Mr. D. redeemed his car by paying the junk yard $200, but it was not yet drivable. Before he could once again enjoy the Mustang, it had to be painstakingly and tenderly restored. At first, Mr. D. couldn't even look inside the hood to see the engine. Exterior body work had to be done first. This has its parallel in human lives. Often the Saviour will work on the outside of a person first. Addictions to pet sins, be they alcohol, drugs, nicotine, movies, music or novels, or anything else that beclouds the mind, must first be cleaned up in order that the mind will be clear and ready for the next stage of the restoration process. This next stage of the process is invisible to any human eye. It is impossible for finite minds to comprehend the work of redemption. Its mystery exceeds human knowledge; yet he who passes from death to life realizes that it is a divine reality. The beginning of redemption we may know
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here through a personal experience. Its results reach through the eternal ages. 27 The active agent in the restoration of mankind is the Holy Spirit. The Saviour likened this to the wind: it cannot be seen; no one knows where it comes from or where it goes, but it can be felt and the effect can be seen. While the wind is itself invisible, it produces effects that are seen and felt. So the work of the Spirit upon the soul will reveal itself in every act of him who has felt its saving power. When the Spirit of . . . [Yahuwah] takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven. No one sees the hand that lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend from the courts above. The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to . . . [Yahuwah]. Then that power which no human eye can see creates a new being in the image of . . . [Yahuwah]. 28 The Creator knew a profound truth. Redemption without restoration is not truly salvation. In order for the fallen race to once again enjoy oneness with the Creator, the inner heart must be cleansed of all sin. The mind itself must be recreated that the image of the Father could once again be enshrined in the soul. This is not something that anyone can do for him- or herself. It can only be done through faith in the Son of Yah, for only by His merits can anyone be saved. The promise is given to all who will believe: A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments and do them. . . . and ye shall be My people, and I will be your . . . [Elohim]. And I will also save you from all your uncleannesses. (Ezekiel 36:26-29, KJV) The plan of salvation embraces much more than the mere redemption price paid for a soul. It provides for the entire restoration of the divine image in the human soul. A soul thus redeemed and restored is brought into an even closer relationship with Divinity than if he had never fallen because the Saviour, having once taken on a human body, will forever remain one with the human race.
27 28
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There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in the Son, for the law of the Spirit of life in the Saviour has made me free from the law of sin and death. What shall we then say to these things? If Elohim be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of Elohim's elect? It is Yahuwah that justifies. Who is he that condemns? Who shall separate us from the love of the Saviour? Shall tribulation, or distress, or pesecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of Yahuwah which is in His Son our Saviour. (See Romans 8.)
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QUIZ-7
1. The name of the Messiah was told to his mother by an angel. o True o False 2. The Messiahs name contains His Fathers name. o True o False 3. When Adam and Eve sinned the Creator could not have started over. o True o False 4. Redemption without restoration is not salvation. o True o False 5. The name of the Messiah means that He can and will save those who come to Him in faith. o True o False 6. The Father needed to be pacified by a blood sacrifice, so the Son was crucified. o True o False 7. The Bible teaches that there is only one kind of death. o True o False 8. The Saviour lived out a life of obedience as an example to people as to how the Heavenly Father would be if He were on earth. o True o False 9. The Son of Yahuwah was the lamb of sacrifice to pay the price for sin. o True o False 10. The Saviour scarcely felt the pain of crucifixion because of mental agony. o True o False 11. Because the Son died on the cross, all people will be saved. o True o False
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12. It doesnt matter what we do in our life as long as we believe that the Father's Son was the Messiah. o True o False 13. The Saviour has promised to restore our minds to reflect His image, that is to be like Him in word and deed. o True o False 14. The change in the life takes place by our will power. o True o False 15. The Father gave us all things in the gift of His beloved Son. o True o False 16. The full plan of salvation is easily understood by mankind. o True o False 17. The resurrection of the Son proves that He lived a sinless life. o True o False 18. Yahuwah's Son became a man to show us His love. o True o False 19. If a person sins too long there is no hope for them even if they want to repent. o True o False 20. The inner heart, the mind, must be cleansed and restored to be like Yahuwah. o True o False
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Yahuwah "has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, . . . who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, . . . having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." (Hebrews 1:2-4, NKJV) The name of the only begotten Son of Yahuwah is very special and full of meaning. This is underscored by Paul's point that the Son has by inheritance obtained a name that is more excellent than that of the angels. To inherit something means "to receive by nature from a progenitor. [I.e.], The son inherits the virtues of his father . . . ." 29 Because the Saviour is the Son of Yahuwah, He has inherited a name that is above all other names. Centuries before the Saviour's birth, Yahuwah encouraged Moses with the assurance: Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice . . . for My name is in Him." (Exodus 23:20-21, NKJV) The name of the eternal Father, Yahuwah, is in the name of the Son. The angel Gabriel was divinely commissioned to instruct Mary what to name her Son. And the Messenger [Angel] came to her and said to her, "Peace to you full of grace, our Master is with you and so you are blessed among women!" But when she saw him she was disturbed at his saying and wondered, "What is this greeting?" And the Messenger said to her, "Do not be afraid, Maryam, for you have found grace with Elohim. For behold you will receive conception and bear a son and you will call His name Yahushua. This one will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest, and Master Yahuwah Elohim will give to Him the throne of Dawid. (See Luke 1:26-32, Aramaic English New 30 Testament. )
29 30
American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828. The Aramaic English New Testament actually gives the Messiah's name as Y'shua. "Y'shua" is a contraction of the longer, more accurate Yahushua.
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As with the Father's own personal, Son's name is found in its definition.
divine
name,
the
importance
of
the
The beautiful meaning contained in the Saviour's name is an all-encompassing revelation of the mighty salvation offered sinners. Yahushua means: Yahuwah Save! (A cry for help to the only One who can help.) Yahuwah Saves! (A joyous statement of fact.) Yahuwah Saving (An present-tense immediate action.) Yahuwah's Salvation (An all-encompassing statement of who and what the Saviour is.)
The plan to save guilty man was not an afterthought. It was no spur-of-the-moment "brainstorm" after the fall. The plan of salvation revealed the secret that had been kept in silence from ages past. This secret was that, should sin ever arise, the Father would stop at nothing to save His creatures. In order to save the human race, it required a level of self-sacrifice on the part of the Father which baffles selfish human hearts. The plan of redemption did not guarantee that all would be saved. It offered the opportunity to sinners, but did not force them to accept the salvation offered. Yahuwah sacrificed His beloved Son in order to give people the chance to choose! What wondrous love! With absolutely no guarantees that any would choose to accept such a priceless gift, the Father and the Son entered into covenant agreement to save the guilty race at any cost to Themselves. The very name of the Saviour is an encouragement to believe and accept the gift offered. It inspires faith: Yahuwah saves to the uttermost all that come unto Him through His Son. The import of the Saviour's name is clearly expressed in Acts 4:12: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (KJV) This is a profound statement! "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved!" The apostles clearly understood the importance of the Saviour's name: To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43, NKJV)
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Therefore . . . [Elohim] also has highly exalted Him [Yahushua] and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of . . . [Yahushua] every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that . . . [Yahushua the Anointed is Master], to the glory of . . . [Elohim] the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11, NKJV) And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son . . . [Yahushua] and love one another, as He gave us commandment. (1 John, 3:23, NKJV) With such vast importance being found in the holy Name, it was Satan's studied attempt to hide the Name whereby all must be saved. The name "Jesus" comes from an attempt to transliterate the name through several different languages. It does not come direct from the Hebrew or the New Testament Aramaic. "Yahushua" as a name was used by others recorded in the Old Testament. The most well-known was Joshua, son of Nun, who led the children of Israel into the Promised Land. While "Joshua" itself is not a precise transliteration of "Yahushua" it is certainly closer than "Jesus"! In investigating the Saviour's name, the first thing to realize is that Hebrew did not contain a "J". In fact, such a letter is of fairly recent origin even in English. The adoption of "J" into English, (which influenced the names Joshua and Jesus) was as recent as the 17th century. The first book to be published in English which made a difference between I and J was published in 1634. It was the last of the 26 letters to be added to the English alphabet. Prior to that time, the letter "I" was used, spoken as a "Y". The word hallelujah is a good illustration of the evolution of this letter. When Noah Webster wrote his dictionary in the early 19th century, he insisted on spelling the word HALLELUIAH, although even in his day it was already being spelled with a J. The word means "Praise be to Yah" or "Praise ye Yah." Webster noted in his definition of the word: This word is improperly written with j, in conformity with the German and other continental languages, in which j has the sound of y. But to pronounce the word with the English sound of j destroys its beauty. The like mistake of the sound of j in Jehovah, Jordan, Joseph, has perverted the true
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pronunciation, which was Yehovah, 31 Yordan, Yoseph. This perversion must now be submitted to, but in Halleluiah it ought not to be tolerated. 32 The transformation from Yahushua to Jesus can be seen when one looks at the Greek rendering for the name Joshua. Again, Joshua is the same name as Yahushua in Hebrew. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek in the third and second centuries BCE, the Greek translators ran into a problem when transliterating the name Joshua/Yahushua. The name contained two sounds which Greek did not have: Y and Sh. In an attempt to get the Name as close as possible, but still readable to their Greek speaking readers, the name was spelled variously as:
This spelling of Yahuwah with a V was based on a lack of knowledge regarding ancient Hebrew. Hebrew did not originally contain a V sound, thus the name is Yahuwah, not Yahovah. 32 "Halleluiah," American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828.
31
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Using English letters, that would be IESOUS (ee-ay-soos). Contributing to the name change was the fact that when the "ua" was transliterated into Greek, it was a feminine singular ending. This created confusion for the Greek reader, as it denoted a woman's name in the Greek! Most Greek names for males ended in S: Achilles Leonidus Icarus Erebus Hermes Aeneas Lrtes Apollos Proteus Aristedes Xanthus Lykaios Makis Ulysses Midas Minos Odysseus Zelotes Orpheus Otis Zenos
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The altered form of the Name opened up the charge from pagan writers that the name Iesous was actually the same as their demon god, Zeus and indeed, one can hear a close similarity between Zeus and ee-ay-soos. Zeus was the chief god of the Greek pantheon and his name was frequently added to names and geographic locations as a way of honoring him. The endings sus, seus and sous are simply phonetic pronunciations of this pagan god. The sacred mountain, Parnassus, as well as the hero Odysseus, both had such endings. Two of Zeus' sons also had name-endings which honored their father. These were Dionysus and Perseus. When the Greek was translated into Latin, the Name was corrupted still further into Iesus. In Latin, masculine singular gender is denoted by the "us" ending. (This can be seen in the Latin male names: Claudius, Augustus, Aurelius, Marcus, etc.) The Latin form of Jesus was used in one English Bible printed in 1560. Note that although it appears to have been spelled Iefus, it is actually the Latin form, Iesus. In Old English, the letter s when contained within a word bore a striking resemblance to the modern f without the cross stroke.
21 When Peter therefore sawe him he said to Iesus, Lord, what shal this man do? 22 Iesus said vnto him, If I wil that he tarie til I come, what is it to thee? followe thou me. Certain languages take the Latin form and spell it as Jesu (yay-zoo) or Jess (hay-soos). The problem with these corruptions of the sacred Name, is that nowhere in them can one find the name of the Father, for the name of Yahuwah must be in the name of His Son. To have faith to call upon the name of the Saviour, one must know the name. That name is Yahushua, not Jesus. Yahushua recognized the significance of His name and all that it implied about His mission to save the lost. He stated: "I am come in My Father's name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." (John 5:43, KJV) In Isaiah's famous prophecy of the Messiah, he stated: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name, Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14, KJV) "Immanuel" means,
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literally, Elohim with us. This is what Yahushua, the divine Son of the Infinite, is to every son and daughter of Adam. Yahushua is the very embodiment of His Father's character. Since He came to earth, all may know that Elohim knows and sympathizes with our trials and sorrows. Every sinner may know that the Creator is the friend of sinners. Through the great plan of salvation, the all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere-present Yahuwah is revealed as the Elohim of Love. Satan's charges against Yahuwah are silenced in the gift of His only begotten Son to die for the human race. In the Son, all may see the love of the Father and throughout eternal ages the redeemed will praise Yahuwah for His infinite Gift:
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QUIZ-8
1. The Father has spoken to us in these last days by His Son. o True o False 2. The name of the Son, the Messiah, has special meaning. o True o False 3. The Bible says that the messenger or angel told Mary, the mother of Yahushua, that she needed to be very afraid. o True o False 4. To inherit something means that you have earned it. o o True False
5. The angel told Mary that her child would be called the Son of the Highest. o o True False
6. How the name is said is less important than knowing what the name means. o o True False
7. People can be saved by believing in any of the names of the prophets of the Bible. o o True False
8. The only name given to mankind by which they can be saved is the name Yahushua. o o True False
9. Satan tried to hide the Messiahs name by transferring it incorrectly to other languages. o o True False
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11. Yahushua, as a name, was never used by other Hebrews as it was a unique name given by the angel. o o True False
12. The name Jesus was used in all languages. o o True False
13. Some pagan idols had names that sounded like Jesus. o o True False
14. The Bible says to call in prayer on both the name of the Father and the Son. o o True False
15. Just saying the name has the power even if you dont know what it means. o o True False
16. Satans charges against Yahuwah, that He is selfish, are silenced by the giving of His only Son to die for sinners. o o True False
17. The plan of salvation assures that no one will lose eternal life. o o True False
18. Part of the Fathers name was often used in other names and words in ancient Hebrew. o o True False
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19. Satan doesnt care if we know the true name of the Messiah. o o True False
20. Yahushua was the exact demonstration of His Fathers character. o o True False
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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. The same was in the beginning with Elohim. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (See John 1:1-5.) The beautifully sublime words of the beloved disciple, John, reveal the nature and mission of the Saviour of mankind. They show Yahushua's preexistence and union with the eternal Father in the work of Creation. A study of the divine Names is a study of words. John's choice of words in this passage is very interesting. To encapsulate the very essence of Son, Who and What He is, both to us and to His Father, John described Him as "the Word."
the
Words are crucial in order to communicate. Without words, no true and accurate communication can occur. Grunts, smiles, frowns, and pointing can only get you so far. To convey information on any depth, words are required. Words express thought. This is why John called Yahushua "the Word." From the days of eternity past, Yahushua was one with His Father. He was the very image of Elohim; the image of His greatness, His majesty, His glory, His goodness. It was to reveal the Father's character that Yahushua came to earth. The Son came to demonstrate in His own life the thoughts and feelings of Yahuwah. As prophesied in Isaiah, He came to be, literally, "Elohim with us." (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22, 23)
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By coming to dwell with us, . . . [Yahushua] was to reveal . . . [Elohim] both to men and to angels. He was the Word of . . . [Elohim -- His] thought made audible. In His prayer for His disciples He says, "I have declared unto them Thy name"--"merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth"--"that the love wherewith Thou has loved Me may be in them, and I in them." But not alone for His earthborn children was this revelation given. Our little world is the lesson book of the universe. . . . [Yahuwah's] wonderful purpose of grace, the mystery of redeeming love, is the theme into which, "angels desire to look," and it will be their study throughout endless ages. Both the redeemed and the unfallen beings will find in the cross . . . their science and their song. It will be seen that the glory shining in the face of . . . [Yahushua] is the glory of selfsacrificing love. In the light from Calvary it will be seen that the law of selfrenouncing love is the law of life for earth and heaven; that the love which "seeketh not her own" has its source in the heart of . . . [the Father]; and that in the meek and lowly One is manifested the character of Him who dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto. . . . 33 The Father is revealed in His Son. Looking at Yahushua, the inner thoughts and feelings of Yahuwah Elohim are shown to be pure love and benevolence, patience, kindness, longsuffering, and mercy to all. If the Father Himself had come from Heaven and lived out a life on earth, hiding His glory and taking on a human body so that all could look upon Him, the record we have of the Saviour's life would not have been changed at all. In every act of the Son, in every lesson He taught, in every kind and forgiving word and deed, we can see and hear the Father. In every particular, the life of the Son reveals what the Father would be like if He were a human. Yahushua is the only begotten Son of the living . . . [Elohim]. He is to the Father as a word that expresses the thought,--as a thought made audible. . . . [the Son] is the word of . . . [the Father]. . . . [Yahushua] said to Philip, "He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father." His words were the echo of . . . [Elohim's] words. . . . [The Son] was the likeness of . . . [His Father], the brightness of His glory, the express image of His person. As a personal being, . . . [Elohim] has revealed Himself in His Son. . . . [Yahushua], the outshining of the Father's glory, "and the express image of his person" (Hebrews 1:3), was on earth found in fashion as a man. 34
33 34
E. G. White, Reflecting Christ, p. 15. E. G. White, Sons and Daughters of God, p. 21.
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The purpose of this costly revelation was to reveal to sin-darkened minds the Father's character of love. After sin, human beings were no longer able to discern or even comprehend Yahuwah's character of infinite, self-sacrificing love. The divine character was viewed with fear. It was to reveal the love of the Father, that the Saviour came to live in human flesh. Every beautiful character attribute originates in the Father and is revealed in His Son. Kind: "Disposed to do good to others, and to make them happy by granting their requests, supplying their wants or assisting them in distress; having tenderness or goodness of nature." 35 Gracious: "Favorable, kind; friendly . . . benevolent; merciful; disposed to forgive offenses and impart unmerited blessings." 36 Benevolent: "Having a disposition to do good; possessing love to mankind, and a desire to promote their prosperity and happiness." 37 Compassion: "A suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration." 38 Pity: "To feel pain or grief for one in distress; to have sympathy for; . . . to have tender feelings for one, excited by his unhappiness." 39 Mercy: "That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment." 40 Nowhere are these beautiful, divine character attributes seen more clearly than in the story of the woman who had been caught in adultery and brought to Yahushua for judgment. Without a doubt, she was guilty. She had been caught in the very act! When the men who had dragged her before Him demanded what punishment she should receive, the Saviour responded in the same way Yahuwah would have acted had He been standing there. The Majesty of Heaven stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." And
35 36
American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, ed., 1828. Ibid. 37 Ibid. 38 Ibid. 39 Ibid. 40 Ibid.
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again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And . . . [Yahushua] was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (John 8:6-9, NKJV) Merciful Redeemer! Kind and loving Saviour! Looking with compassion into her shame-filled eyes, He asked: "Where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?" (See John 8:10.) And she, who had been cringing in terror, waiting for the first hard rock to crush into her soft flesh, answered, "No one, Master." Then the beautiful words, straight from the heart of Yahuwah fell upon her ears: "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." (John 8:11) Here is revealed the two-fold plan of restoration: 1. Yahuwah does not condemn us, so our hearts are drawn to His love which is revealed to be infinite. 2. The Creator's biddings are ennablings, so His command to "go and sin no more" contains the power to enable the repentant sinner to obey the divine injunction. It is a divine principle that to know Yahuwah is to love Him. Thus, it was necessary to reveal the divine mind to sinners that they, in turn, might be drawn to Him. . . . [Yahushua] the Light of the world, veiled the dazzling splendor of His divinity and came to live as a man among men, that they might, without being consumed, become acquainted with their Creator. . . . [Yahushua] came to teach human beings what . . . [the Father] desires them to know. In the heavens above, in the earth, in the broad waters of the ocean, we see the handiwork of . . . [Elohim]. All created things testify to His power, His wisdom, His love. But not from the stars or the ocean or the cataract can we learn of the personality of . . . [the Father] as it is revealed in . . . [His Son]. 41 By the revelation of divine love, minds were to be attracted to the divine mind and restored to the divine image. The step-by-step process of infinite humiliation to which the Son willingly subjected Himself in order to reveal His Father's love is outlined in Scripture. Let this mind be in you, which was also in . . . [Yahushua]: Who, being in the form of . . . [Elohim], ["Did not cling to His privileges as . . . (Elohim's) equal"]: 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
41
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humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore . . . [Elohim] also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of . . . [Yahushua] every knee should bow . . . and that every tongue should confess that . . . [Yahushua the Annointed One is Master], to the glory of . . . [Yahuwah] the Father. (Phillipians 2:5-11, KJV; bracketed quote, J. B. Phillips translation.) Because love is awakened only when love is given, the revelation of the Father's character of love is what leads sinners to be willing to surrender their own stubborn will to the divine will. Love replaces fear and total confidence takes the place of distrust when the character of the Father is seen in the life of the Son. Tender, compassionate, sympathetic, ever considerate of others, He represented the character of . . . [the Father], and was constantly engaged in service for . . . [Elohim] and man. . . . As . . . [Yahushua] was in human nature, so . . . [Yahuwah] means His followers to be. In His strength we are to live the life of purity and nobility which the Saviour lived. 42 When Love replaces Fear, then the promised recreation is accomplished. The restoration is complete and the human perfectly reflects the image of the divine. Everyone who will, by faith, claim Yahuwah's Salvation in the promise of Yahuwah Saves! will receive the gift of complete restoration. Their redemption, begun at the cross, is completed as they are fully restored to reflect the character of the Father, because His law is written in their hearts.
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QUIZ-9
1. In the beginning the Son was called the Word because He was the expression of the Father's thoughts and feelings. o True o False 2. Back in ancient times people did not communicate with spoken words. o True o False 3. By coming to dwell with humanity, Yahushua revealed a love greater than words can tell. o True o False 4. The example of Yahushuas life was only for our world. o True o False 5. In every word and kind deed in the life of Yahshua we can see the love and kindness of the Father. o True o False 6. Satan tried to hide both the pronunciation and the meaning of the names of the Father and the Son. o True o False 7. The Son, Yahushua, was not divine as His Father, Yahuwah, always was. o True o False 8. Yahushua demonstrated Mercy when he told the woman brought to Him that He did not condemn her. o True o False 9. When we are forgiven we are free to sin again because Yahushua always forgives us. o True o False 10. Every good quality originates in the Father and the Son. o True o False 11. The name of the Messiah, Yahushua, can mean I AM Saves" as well as "Yahuwah's Salvation." o True o False
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12. To have the law written in our hearts means we are not free to sin ever again. o True o False 13. Yahushua wants to be our friend, but He can not hear us or speak to us. o True o False 14. Words are necessary to communicate fully and meaningfully. o True o False 15. The name of the Son is not important to say in prayer. o True o False 16. At the judgment every knee will bow to the name of Yahushua. o True o False 17. Yahushua, the Son, does not condemn us, but His Father does. o True o False 18. The very name of the Son, Yahushua, tells of His purpose to save us. o True o False 19. The Father was fully revealed by the words and actions of the Son. o True o False 20. All of our prayers to the Father should be prayed in the name of Yahushua. o True o False
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Name Above All Name Lessons 10. Precious Promise: A New Name!
Go to Lessons Index Go To Quiz (offline/online)
"To him who overcomes . . . I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." (Revelation 2:17, NKJV) "He who overcomes, . . . I will write on him the name of My . . . [Elohim], and the name of the city . . . the New Jerusalem . . . And I will write on him My new name." (Revelation 3:12, NKJV) Scripture contains many, many promises for those who will inherit eternal life. One of the most beautiful, yet least understood, is the promise that the divine name will be written on the forehead of each overcomer. Because most people have not understood what is meant by such a promise, it has long been overlooked. However, it is one of the most encouraging, hope-inspiring promises in the Bible. Names are used to identify individuals, families, and tribes. In many cultures, a bride takes her husband's family name at marriage. In a few cultures, the man will take the bride's family name. The point, however, is that their names are joined together just as the two of them are now considered "one flesh." (Genesis 2:24) Likewise, when a baby is born, the child usually takes the name of the father, although in some cultures the child takes the combined names of the parents. Again, what is shared is the name. Having the family name extended to include the baby is a way of identifying the new child as part of the larger family. In the last twenty years, various place nouns have become popular as personal names: Dakota, China, India, Sierra, Asia, etc. Names are sometimes drawn from things in nature: Rose, Dawn, Aspen, Rain, Brooke, etc. Sometimes parents even make up a totally unique name that has no meaning, based solely on sounds that are pleasant to their ears, such as the popular LaToya, LaKeisha, Shanique, Jimarr, etc. In Bible times, names were selected for their meaning. Parents would name a baby after a physical trait or for a character attribute they hoped to see in their child. Esau, "rough,`" was given his name because he "came out red, all over like an hairy garment." (Genesis 25:25) As Rachel was dying in childbirth, she named her youngest son, Benoni, which meant "son of
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my sorrow." His father changed the name to Benjamin, meaning "son of the right hand." (Genesis 35:18) It was also a common practice to name children after the god the parents worshipped. King Nebuchadnezzar was named after the Babylonian god of literature and science, Nebo. His name meant: "Nebo, defend the boundary." Nebuchadnezzar's son, Evil-merodach, showed great kindness to King Jehoichin, releasing him from prison 37 years after King Nebuchadnezzar had imprisoned him. However, Evil-Merodach's name meant "Soldier of Marduk." The father of wicked Queen Jezebel, King Ethbaal, had a name which meant "with Baal." Israelite parents often named their children after Yahuwah. Scripture contains hundreds of names with Yah or Yahu as part of the name. Names ending in YAH: #29 Abijah (AbiYAH - my Father is YAHUWAH) #138 Adonijah (AdoniYAH - my lord is YAHUWAH) #223 Uriah (UriYAH - my flame is YAHUWAH) #274 Ahaziah (AchazYAH - possession of YAHUWAH) #452 Elijah (EliYAH - my Elohim is YAHUWAH) #3414 Jeremiah (YirmeYAH - exalted of YAHUWAH) #5662 Obadiah (ObadYAH - Servant of YAHUWAH) #6846 Zephaniah (TsephanYAH - hidden by YAHUWAH) #2899 Tob-adonijah (Tob AdoniYAH - pleasing to my Lord YAHUWAH) Names beginning in YAHU: #3059 Jehoahaz (YAHUachaz - YAHUWAH seized) #3075 Jehozabad (YAHUzabad - YAHUWAH endowed) #3076 Jehohanan (YAHUchanan - YAHUWAH favored) #3078 Jehoiada (YAHUyakin - YAHUWAH-known) #3079 Jehoiakim (YAHUyaqim - YAHUWAH will raise) #3088 Jehoram (YAHUram - YAHUWAH-raised) #3085 Jehoadah (YAHUaddah - YAHUWAH adorned) #3092 Jehoshaphat (YAHUshaphat - YAHUWAH judged) #3100 Joel (YAhwEl - YAHUWAH is his El [God]) Name with YAHU in the middle: #454 Elihoenai (ElYAHUenai - toward YAHUWAH are my eyes)
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There were many more names that used El as a reference to "Elohim." Elisabeth - Elisbet: El of (the) oath Ezekiel - YechzqEl: El will strengthen Gabriel - Gabriy'El: man of El Michael - Miyka'El: who is like El? Mishael - Mysha'El: Who is what El is Samuel - Shemuw'El: heard of El Daniel - DaniEl: judge of El The practice of naming a child after the national Hebrew deity was so wide-spread in Israel, that even wicked kings named their sons after Yahuwah. Ahaz, one of the worst kings Israel ever had, named his son Hezekiah (YechizqiYAH, meaning "my strength is YAHUWAH." See 1 Chronicles 3:13.) Jehoiachin (YAHUWAHkeen) "did that which was evil in the sight" of Yahuwah (2 Chronicles 36:9), even though his name meant "Yahuwah will establish." His brother Zedekiah, the last king of Israel, was equally corrupt although his name (TsidekiYAH) meant "my righteousness is YAHUWAH." Under such practices, it is likely there were some people who did not like the names given them. One person in particular who hated his name was the patriarch, Jacob. As the younger twin, he was born holding onto his brother's heel. (Genesis 25:26) It was for this reason that he was called Jacob, a name which means "supplanter." "Supplant" is defined as: "to take the place of [something]; to supersede, especially through force, scheming, or treachery; to remove or uproot in order to replace with something else." 43 What a name with which to burden a child! One might just as well have called him Sneak or Cheater. Divine wisdom has provided in the story of Jacob the key to understanding the promise that the Father's name will be written in the forehead of all who gain eternal life. It is a story that should inspire hope in the heart of everyone who has ever sinned and longed for forgiveness and restoration. The history of Jacob's life, as preserved in the Bible, is one long record of dishonesty; of his attempts, in real life, to supplant his older brother, Esau. As the first born son, Esau was entitled to inherit three things:
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1. The role as patriarch of the family, with the family line continuing through his descendants; 2. All the father's wealth; 3. Priest and spiritual leader of the home, the ancestor of the promised Messiah. While still young, Esau was impatient of restraint. He was a hunter that loved the wild freedom of the chase. His contempt for the high honor of being the inheritor of the promise that through his seed the Messiah would be born is seen in the fact that he married heathen wives. These women "were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah." (Genesis 26:35, KJV) The negative influence the two heathens brought to the home and the resulting unhappiness was so great that Rebekah told Isaac, "I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth [Esau's wives]: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?" (Genesis 27:46) Jacob, by contrast, "was a plain man, dwelling in tents." (Genesis 25:27) His gentle, giving nature found much greater pleasure in the company of the sheep and lambs, and helping his mother around home, than in ranging over the wilds, looking for animals to kill. Jacob did not envy Esau's position as first born entitled to all the wealth and power that would come with being head of the family. The one thing Jacob wanted more than any other was to inherit the spiritual birthright. Jacob longed to be priest of the family, the ancestor of the promised Messiah. Esau's contempt for the high privilege of being the progenitor of the Promised One, only served to increase Jacob's longing to be that himself. One day, Jacob was out in the field watching the sheep, cooking some food for himself over a campfire. Esau staggered in famished and exhausted. Smelling Jacob's pottage, he demanded, "Feed me . . . for I am faint." (Genesis 25:30) Jacob seized the opportunity: "Sell me this day thy birthright." (Verse 31.) Esau protested, "Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?" (Verse 32.) But Jacob was insistent. No birthright; no food. "Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright." (Genesis 25:33, 34, KJV) While Esau certainly despised his birthright, being pressured to bargain it away was not right, either. This sin of Jacob's was compounded later when Isaac was going to pronounce the
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birthright blessing on Esau anyway. Jacob went into his blind father and deceived him into giving him the birthright blessing. Esau was so furious over this lie, that he threatened Jacob's life. Jacob fled to Haran and lived there for over 20 years. All this time, regret was a cancer eating away at his soul. Jacob knew that Yahuwah could not honor what he had done: gaining the birthright by deceit. Every time his name was said, it was a reminder of his sin: "Jacob! Supplanter! Sneak! Cheater!" When he finally returned to Canaan, he received word that Esau was coming toward him with 400 men, doubtless seeking revenge. The climax of Jacob's life had come. He had sought forgiveness for his great sin, but if only he could know for sure that he had been forgiven and restored to the divine favor! In great agony of mind and spirit, he sent his family and the animals over the brook, Jabbok, while he remained behind to pray. And a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, . . . He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he [Jacob] said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" (Genesis 32:25-26, NKJV) Had Jacob not previously repented of his great sin, such audacity would have been met with instant death. But his was the plea of a soul that knew his sinfulness and, trusting in the promises of a covenant-keeping heavenly Father, cast all upon Him. The gracious answer given to Jacob, is an assurance for all. When Jacob begged for a divine blessing the response was: "What is thy name?" And he said, "Jacob." And He said, "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with . . . [Elohim] and with men, and hast prevailed." (Genesis 32:27, 28, KJV) What a gift! What reassurance! Jacob had understood that his name, Supplanter, was reflective of his sins. Now his name had been changed to "Israel" which meant "prince with
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El." And to underscore the meaning of his new name so that there would be no doubts, the Angel explained, "for as a prince has thou power with Elohim and with men, and hast prevailed." The significance of that statement was not lost on Jacob/Israel. His sins had been forgiven! He had been restored to favor with Yahuwah. Furthermore, the fact that he had "prevailed" with the Almighty was a promise that he would also prevail in his encounter with Esau the next day. The fact that his name was changed in answer to his request for a blessing, signified that his sinful nature had been cleansed and restored in the image of his Maker. This was the blessing for which Jacob's soul had longed and which his new name revealed had been granted to him. Just like Jacob, everyone alive has sinned and fallen short of the glory of Yahuwah. All have tendencies to sin that are both inherited and cultivated. But there is hope for modern Jacobs, too! Isaiah 58, a chapter addressed especially to the final generation, states: "Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins." (Isaiah 58:1, NKJV) This is an amazing statement. It was made centuries after Jacob had been forgiven and gifted with a new nature and new name: Israel. The fact that the name "Jacob" is used in this passage is revealing. The call is sent to those who claim to be Yahuwah's people, but are sinning. It is a call to repent and be forgiven. Sin defaces the image of the Creator in His human children. Recreation of the mind can only be done by the Creator. Sanctification is a gift. Exodus 31:13 states: "Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am . . . [Yahuwah] who sanctifies you." (NKJV) Obedience to the law of Yahuwah is required in all that would be sanctified. Of course, this is not something which is possible in human strength. This is why Scripture repeatedly urges all to "call upon the name of Yahuwah." Isaiah 58 closes with a very beautiful promise for all who will return in repentance to Yahuwah and, in His strength, keep His law. If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of . . . [Yahuwah] honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, Then you shall delight yourself in . . .
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[Yahuwah]; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of . . . [Yahuwah] has spoken. (Isaiah 58:13-12, NKJV) The heritage of Jacob our father is a new name, indicative of a new, transformed and recreated character! The name of the Saviour is itself an encouragement to all to "call upon Him" because the very name is a promise that "Yahuwah saves!" Call upon Him today. He is waiting with arms wide open to receive all who will come to Him. You, too may receive a new, cleansed and restored character - a new name written in your forehead, the seat of subconscious thought. His promise to you is: "the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." (John 6:37, NKJV)
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Name Above All Names Lessons 10. Precious Promise: A New Name!
Go to Lessons Index Go To Lesson #10
QUIZ-10
1. In Bible times, names were selected for their meaning. o True o False 2. Jacobs name meant red and rough. o True o False 3. Jacobs life illustrates healing, forgiveness and a new name. o True o False 4. In Bible times, people often included part of the name of the deity they worshiped in their childs name. o True o False 5. Esaus mother liked his wives. o True o False 6. Esau didnt value his birthright because he sold it. o True o False 7. Jacob lied to his mother. o True o False 8. Esau sold his birthright for 30 pieces of silver. o True o False 9. The place of head of the family and all the wealth were part of the birthright. o True o False
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10. Supplant has to do with Jacobs work in the garden. o True o False 11. Today people sometimes choose a childs name just for its sound. o True o False 12. Yah, meaning I AM was often part of Hebrew names. o True o False 13. To all who overcome will be given a new name. o True o False 14. The new name from our heavenly Father will reveal our character. o True o False 15. The Hebrew word El was never used as part of their names. o True o False 16. Names are not used to identify families and tribes, only individuals. o True o False 17. As Rachel was dying in childbirth, she named her son Benjamin. o True o False 18. Jacob liked to care for the herds of sheep and goats for his family. o True o False 19. Jacob only wanted to inherit the spiritual blessings of the birthright. o True o False 20. Jacobs determination to seek forgiveness is an example for us. o True o False 89
I was blessed to have a number of talented, dedicated Sabbath School teachers while growing up. Of them all, one woman was by far the best and was the favorite of all the kids. A skilled public speaker and a committed Christian, she understood the power of a good visual aid. From a pirates treasure chest filled with a trove of worldly allurements to her best crystal vase filled with beautiful flowers, rotten food and dog poop to illustrate secret sin hiding within a "beautiful Christian," her visual aids captured our attention while teaching profound spiritual truths in ways our young minds could grasp. The ability of a good visual aid to illustrate hard-to-understand concepts cannot be overestimated. Yahuwah Himself used a very elaborate visual aid for teaching one of the hardest to understand concepts in the plan of redemption: the cleansing of the soul itself. The divine plan to meet the emergency of sin, the plan of redemption, was no simple, haphazard action put into place at the last minute. It was a part of those things which had been kept in silence from time immemorial and which would have forever remained hidden, had Adam and Eve not sinned. The plan of salvation embraced much more than forgiveness of sins. It involved more than being able to give repentant sinners eternal life. The ultimate goal in the plan of redemption was to restore in man the very image of Yahuwah: to recreate the human mind so that it would no longer be like Satans mind but would henceforth be one with the divine mind. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. The ability to grasp deep sacred truths was lost at the fall when mankind took on the nature of Satan. In order to teach sin-darkened minds the truths of the plan of salvation, the Creator designed a visual aid: the most beautiful, complex, multitextured visual aid ever created. Yahuwah gave us the sanctuary. The sanctuary used symbols to explain the principles involved in the salvation, the salvaging, of the human race. Because the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22), death was required to meet the demands of the broken divine law. This was symbolized in the sanctuary service by the animal sacrifices. However, the blood of the lambs was only a symbol of the blood that would be shed by Yahushua, the Lamb of . . . [Yahuwah] who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29, NKJV)
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The blood shed by lambs, goats and bulls never cleansed anyone of sin! They could not cleanse and recreate the soul simply because they were nothing more than a symbol. The Law possessed only a dim outline of the benefits . . . [Yahushua] would bring and did not actually reproduce them. Consequently it was incapable of perfecting the souls of those who offered their regular annual sacrifices. For if it had, surely the sacrifices would have been discontinued on the grounds that the worshippers, having been really cleansed, would have had no further consciousness of sin. In practice, however, the sacrifices amount to an annual reminder of sins; for the blood of bulls and goats cannot really remove the guilt of sin. (Hebrews 10:1-4, J. B. Phillips Translation, emphasis supplied.) In other words, the law requiring animal sacrifices was but a faint representation of what would be accomplished by the true sacrifice: the death of Yahushua on the cross. This can be seen by the fact that people had to keep offering sacrifices. They kept sinning because the blood of animals did not have the power to recreate their souls in the divine image! Therefore, when . . . [Yahushua] enters the world, he says: Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me; In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hadst no pleasure: Then said I, Lo, I am come (In the roll of the book it is written of me) To do thy will, O . . . [Elohim]. After saying that . . . [Yahuwah] has no pleasure in sacrifice, offering and burntoffering (which was made according to the Law), . . . [Yahushua] then says, Lo, I am come to do thy will. That means that he is dispensing with the old order of sacrifices, and establishing a new order of obedience to the will of . . . [Elohim], and in that will we have been made holy by the single unique offering of the body of . . . [Yahushua our Saviour.] (Hebrews 10:5-10, J. B. Phillips Translation, emphasis supplied.) The Israelites in Yahushuas day looked to the sacrifices themselves as being the thing that made them holy. However, the sacrifices were merely visual aids! They were object lessons to point to the true cleansing that could occur in the mind and soul of the individual after Yahushuas death.
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Many wonderful studies have been done on the beauty and the meaning contained in the sanctuary service. WLC encourages the reader to make a study of this very important topic. There are layers upon layers of valuable instruction contained in this multi-faceted visual aid. The most important meaning to be grasped, however, is what the sanctuary teaches about the human soul. The sanctuary consisted of three areas:
The entire tabernacle is a symbol, a visual aid of the plan of salvation.
1. The courtyard, where sacrifices were performed. 2. The Holy Place where the blood of the sacrificial animal was sprinkled, transferring the sin of the repentant person to the sanctuary. 3. The Most Holy Place. This was entered only once each year by the High Priest himself on the Day of Atonement. This solemn service cleansed the sanctuary of the record of sins that had been accumulating there all the previous year. Each of these three places represents an aspect of the individual life.
The Courtyard
The courtyard is a symbol of the words and actions of every individual. A persons words and actions are seen and heard by others. There is nothing hidden in the courtyard of a persons life. What occurs in the courtyard, the words spoken, the deeds done are all the result of what occurs in that persons thoughts and feelings.
The courtyard represents words and actions. (Picture courtesy of BrianMorley.com.)
The words and actions of the courtyard, are merely the outward revelation of what the thoughts and feelings have been, all of which has its origins in the attitudes and beliefs buried deep in the subconscious mind. One can almost hear the chuckle in the Saviours voice as He added, But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man. (Matthew 15:20, NKJV) This was a recurrent theme in the Saviours teaching. There is no such thing as a good tree producing worthless fruit, nor yet a worthless tree producing good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit: you do not gather figs from thistles, and you do not pick grapes from brambles. A good man produces good from the store of good within himself; and an evil man from evil within produces evil. For the words that the mouth utters come from the overflowing of the heart. (Luke 6:43-45, New English Bible) In order for the acts of the "courtyard" to be pure, the thoughts and feelings flowing from the "Holy Place" must be unpolluted. In order for the thoughts and feelings to be holy and unpolluted, the attitudes and beliefs within the subconscious "Most Holy Place" must be cleansed and one with the divine nature. Such a deep cleansing of the frontal lobe is impossible for anyone to do for himself. This can only be done for the person by the Saviour. My teacher's crystal vase containing lovely daffodils stuck into stinky rotten food and dog poop could not clean itself out. Only a power outside of itself could get the filth out. This is done in the heart of a person by one power only: divine power exercised on behalf of the sinner when he claims the promises by faith. When the subconscious mind is cleansed and brought into oneness with the divine mind, the heart overflows with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, forbearance and every other divine attribute. Peter understood this when he wrote: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of . . . [Elohim], and of . . . [Yahushua our Master], according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature . . . . (2Peter 1:2-4, KJV, emphasis supplied.) The Most Holy Place of the individual heart is cleansed when Yahushua, the great High Priest, removes the satanic nature everyone is born with and recreates the subconscious mind to
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reflect the divine image. The entire book of Hebrews is an explanation of the high priestly ministry of Yahushua who cleanses the subconscious soul of all who come to Him in faith. Faith is not feeling. The two are completely separate. Many people wait to feel that they are cleansed before believing it. Such make a mistake. Faith is "the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity [truthfulness], without other evidence." 44 In other words, faith is taking Yahuwah at His word because of who He is, without needing any other proof. It is believing that He will keep His promises because He says so. "Faith is the substance [margin: assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV) Faith is a gift that Yahuwah gives, but it is ours to choose whether or not we will exercise that faith to claim the desired promise. "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23, NKJV) Do you want cleansing? Do you want restoration? Do you want the divine image recreated in your subconscious mind? The promise is yours to claim if that is your desire. The reality of the power of Yahuwah to recreate is no secret to anyone who has ever experienced that restoring power. It was a strange group to invite for a Bible study, but Henrietta Mears was determined. She had been blessed by the young visiting evangelist, and wanted her friends to receive the same blessing. And so it was that a glittering group of famous Hollywood personalities gathered in the Mears' home in Beverly Hills for a Bible study. Among those who came was the hard drinking, hard living star of westerns, Stuart Hamblen. Although Stuart was almost as famous for his gambling and brawling as he was for his singing, acting and popular radio show, the young minister and the movie star hit it off. When the evangelist invited Stuart to the meetings, Hamblen accepted and before the series was over, had surrendered his life to the Saviour. The news spread. Stuart Hamblen had been converted! Newspapers picked up the story and soon all of Los Angeles was buzzing about the tough-guy star who was now a Christian. Stuart himself was not silent about the transformation that had taken place in his life. On his radio show, he joyfully shared his testimony.
Stuart Hamblen: actor, singer, radio personality
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One day he met up with a friend, John, a fellow actor with whom he had starred in a number of films. Whats this I hear about you, Stuart? asked John. Well, Duke, it is no secret what God can do," Hamblen smiled
John Wayne
Hm. Sounds like a song, John Wayne observed. Stuart went home and turned the statement into a song, the first of over 220 songs that he would write before his death in 1989. It is a simple, yet powerful statement of the love of the heavenly Father to accept and transform sinners by His grace. It is no secret what Yah can do. What Hes done for others, Hell do for you. With arms wide open, Hell pardon you. It is no secret what Yah can do. 45
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Adapted from It Is No Secret by Stuart Hamblen, copyright 1950 (Renewed) Songs of Universal, Inc.
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QUIZ-11
1. Good visual aids make it easier to understand difficult concepts. o True o False 2. The Hebrew Sanctuary was an idol like the Babylonians used. o True o False 3. The Hebrew Sanctuary was designed to teach the plan of salvation. o True o False 4. The sacrifice of a lamb washed away the sins of the people. o True o False 5. The plan of salvation is only for the forgiveness of sins committed. o True o False 6. Symbols should never be used in teaching truth. o True o False
7. Because the Messiah, Yahushua, died for our sins we do not need to offer animal sacrifices anymore.
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o True o False 8. The Hebrew Sanctuary had three areas. o True o False 9. The courtyard was just to keep animals and children away from the Sanctuary and had no spiritual meaning. o True o False 10. The Sanctuary in the wilderness had three rooms inside. o True o False 11. The priest carried the blood of the sacrifice into the Holy place each day. o True o False 12. The character is made up of all the thoughts and feelings. o True o False 13. Once a year on the Day of Atonement the High Priest went into the Most Holy Place. o True o False 14. When Yahushua said, a man is not defiled by what goes into his mouth, He meant we could eat and drink anything. o True o False
15. The behavior, the words and actions are a result of what the mind is thinking. o True
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o False 16. Great faith is the good feelings that come from doing good. o True o False 17. Every person can choose to ask for the mind of Yahushua to be created in his mind by faith in His All-Powerful name. o True o False 18.The aim of salvation is complete restoration. o True o False 19. The Jewish rulers criticized the disciples of Yahuwah because they ate between meals. o True o False 20. True faith is a gift that is given to all who ask for it in the Name of Yahuwah. o True o False
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Within the heart of every person who has ever lived, be he noble king or sly thief, be she treasured wife, or hardened hooker, is the longing to be loved and accepted for who one really is - and despite all that one is really not. Everyone yearns for understanding. It has often been said that there is a "God-shaped hole" in the heart of everyone. Deep in the heart of all is a yearning for a oneness with the Creator. Because of sin, it is often not recognized for what it is. Fear of Yahuwah, and doubt of His love, make the desire an unfulfilled agony of longing. This wrenching heart-cry was so well stated in one song that it struck a responsive chord in many hearts. Many people identified with the longing expressed in the song. If I had just one wish, Only one demand, I hope he's not like me. I hope he understands . . . 46 Sin destroyed the knowledge of Yahuwah in the heart of man. It almost entirely defaced the divine image in the soul. However, all who will call upon Yahuwah, seeking forgiveness and cleansing, will be restored. The image of the divine will be restored and a people will reflect the glory, the character, of the Creator. Scripture contains 360 unique composite names of Yahuwah. Each name reflects a different facet of the multi-faceted divine character. The longing of the Father to reveal His character to His straying, earth-bound children can be seen in the many different ways He represents Himself in these beautiful names. Some of the names are strongly masculine names: I AM your Strength; I AM your Shield; I AM your Kinsman; I AM a Man of War. These names reassure His children of His strength and power; His ability to provide for every need.
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Other names, to human ears, sound feminine: Rose of Sharon; Lily of the Valley; the ManyBreasted One. These names are a comforting promise of gentle understanding, lovingkindness and nurturing care. The whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the "glory" (character) of Yahuwah, when His people, repentant, forgiven, cleansed, and recreated, perfectly reflect His character. This is having the Father's name written in the forehead. Finite humanity, restored into the image of the divine, will have the high honor of reflecting different facets of the divine character. This does not destroy the individual personality. Individuality is not absorbed and obliterated. Rather, the true one-of-a-kind beauty of a person is unfolded. Purified from all Satanic tendencies that warped, the true character now shines forth as it was intended to be: a revelation of a unique aspect of the divine character. Scripture describes Moses as the meekest man in the world. "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth." (Numbers 12:3, KJV) Many modern versions translate the word as "humble," which is unfortunate. The word humble does not have the same meaning as meek. Various definitions of humble include lowly, submissive, to be abased and to be brought down. People often equate "meek" with "humble" in their minds. But a person who is meek is much more than merely humble. Meekness is too often viewed with contempt as weak or spineless. Most especially is this true in Western cultures where individuality is lauded as supreme and songs such as "I Did It My Way" become popular hits. However, a person who is meek actually will always have greater strength of character than a person who is a slave to his emotions, exercising no control over his emotions or his tongue. The dictionary definition sheds light on this precious, often under-rated divine character attribute. MEEK: Mild of temper; soft; gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; yielding; given to forbearance under injuries. 47 A person who is meek is not weak-spirited. Moses had quite the temper! One of his displays of temper led to the murder of an Egyptian overseer. (Exodus 2:11, 12) Eighty years later, another display of temper (under extreme provocation) led to him being denied the privilege of
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leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. (Numbers 20:12) However, in the divine school, instructed by the Greatest Teacher the world has ever known, Moses learned to control his temper. That which had been a great weakness in his character and had led to the act of murder, became sanctified under the divine influence. Moses gained great self-control. He became one who was meek; a man "given to forbearance under injuries." 48 "Forbearance" is simply "self-control; patient restraint." 49 Meekness does not deny that a wrong or an injustice has been committed. But, in the face of admitted insult and injury, a meek person exercises "selfcontrol" and is patient and forgiving. Moses' character was not spineless and without feeling, once it was purified of self. It was stronger than before in true strength of character. More than anyone else on the face of the earth, Moses was privileged to reflect the beauty of a divine character trait rarely seen in the sons of men. Yahuwah Himself is very meek. He exercises great self-control and is patient under personal injury. "For I AM . . . [Yahuwah], I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Malachi 3:6, KJV) Each person saved will have a well-balanced character. But within that, each will have a distinct personality which has developed to a high degree some unique facet of the divine character. A child who, in his own life, reveals the Father's character as one that is "disposed to do good to others, and to make them happy by granting their requests, supplying their wants or assisting them in distress" 50 will have the name KIND written in his forehead. Kindness is the divine attribute that has been especially developed in his own character. A person who has, by faith in Yahushua, developed the divine ability to always do what needs to be done because it must be done, regardless of the cost, fear or danger, will have COURAGEOUS written in his forehead. Courage is the particular facet of the divine character that is most clearly demonstrated in his life. For another who, in her life, reveals Yahuwah's own "benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves," 51 receives the name MERCY in her forehead, for that is the aspect of Yahuwah's character which she most clearly displays in her own character.
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Ibid. Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, 1983. 50 "Kind," American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, ed., 1828. 51 "Mercy," ibid.
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A personal acquaintance once shared that, as a young person, she had read that the Saviour "ever lived to bless others." At the time, she determined in her heart that she wanted the same to be true of her as well. Now, years later, she is the most unselfish, generous person I know. Her self-forgetful generosity is not limited to just money, although, when circumstances require it, she is generous with money as well. She gives of herself in a multitude of ways. Truly, she ever lives to bless others. The Bible closes with a promise. The veil is drawn aside on eternity future and one is permitted to gaze into that boundless realm of bliss. After describing the water of life, "clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne" (Revelation 22:1), the promise is given for all time to come: "there shall be no more curse: but the throne of . . . [Yahuwah] and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads." (Revelation 22:3,4) Yahushua took on the fallen nature of Adam after sin. The Son revealed what the Father would be like if He were a human. However, Yahushua never sinned! He had no cultivated tendencies to wrong that had to be overcome. The long running controversy between Good and Evil, Holiness and Wickedness is finished when Yahuwah has a group of people fully surrendered to Him, cleansed and restored into the divine image. People who have sinned but who, through repentance and forgiveness now have the divine impress on their subconscious brain: His name in their foreheads. The earth will be lightened with the glory of the Eternal One when His character is revealed in His waiting people. The world will know what Yahuwah would be like, what words He would say, how He would act, as a 55-year old man facing the loss of his job for refusing to break the Sabbath. The world will see demonstrated Yahuwah's own reactions, what He would do, if He were a 34-year old mother of three, losing her marriage for following truth. The divine character will be displayed in a young person who, when faced with bright career possibilities, will be willing to count all things as loss in order to stay true to principle. The world will see how Yahuwah would act under all circumstances, and in all situations because His character, His thoughts and feelings, will be the thoughts and feelings, the words and actions of His people.
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All who enter Heaven will have Yahuwah's name written in the forehead, written there because He is the center of their thoughts. No one can get himself ready, but Yahuwah's very name is a promise that He will BE everything you need Him to be, in order to get ready. Call upon the name of Yahuwah. Trust Him. You, too, can reflect the glory of the divine character. "He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to . . . [Yahuwah] through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25, NKJV)
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QUIZ-12
1. Only insecure people long to be loved and accepted for who they are. o True o False 2. Everyone yearns to be one with the Creator, although not everyone recognizes that longing for what it is. o True o False 3. Sin in the heart does not make any difference about how a person feels about the Creator. o True o False 4. Sin almost entirely destroyed the divine image in the human soul. o True o False 5. All who call upon Yahuwah for forgiveness and cleansing will be restored. o True o False 6. Sin has so destroyed the divine image that not even the saved will be able to completely reflect the divine character. o True o False 7. Scripture gives 10 beautiful, unique composite names for Yahuwah. o True o False
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8. Each name reflects a different facet of the multi-faceted divine character. o True o False 9. All of the divine names are strongly masculine names. o True o False 10. Having the Father's name written in the forehead means that the person receives a glowing, divine mark on the forehead that can be seen by everyone. o True o False 11. Having the Father's name written in the forehead means that the person receives a beautiful mark on the forehead that can be seen only by other people who also have that same mark. o True o False 12. The whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yahuwah when His people perfectly reflect His character. o True o False 13. Scripture states that Daniel was the meekest man that ever lived. o True o False 14. A person who is meek is weak spirited. o True o False 15. Each person who is saved will have a well-balanced character. o True o False
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16. A "courageous" person is one who has developed the divine ability to always do what needs to be done because it must be done, regardless of the cost, fear or danger. o True o False 17. Yahushua took the nature of Adam BEFORE he sinned. o True o False 18. The long running controversy between Good and Evil is finished when Yahuwah has a group of people fully surrendered to Him who have been cleansed and restored to reflect His image in their own characters. o True o False 19. The divine plan is to use restored people to reveal to the world what Yahuwah would be like if He were a man, a woman or a child, at every point of life and under all circumstances. o True o False 20. Yahuwah's name is a promise that He will BE everything you need Him to be in order to get ready for Heaven. o True o False
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