Names of God # 2

     A few weeks ago we began looking at the names of God. 1st we took up the name Jehovah, and we found out that Jehovah is the Lord Jesus Christ. I don’t have time to get into it but the Word of God often give us scriptures in the OT that talk about Jehovah, but in the NT it says that this is Jesus.

     For instance, in (Isaiah 44:6) Jehovah said that He was the 1st, and the last. But in (REV 22:13) Jesus says that He is the 1st and the last. We have scriptures like that throughout the Word of God.

     I. Last week we looked at “ELOHIM.” Elohim is the plural for the Hebrew word “El.”

              A. Elohim refers to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

                        1. Elohim describes God’s Greatness, His Power, His Glory, His Strength, and Might.

                        2. Our God is the God of Power.

                                  a. In the book of (GEN) we can see that power. (Genesis 1:1) Says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” KJV

                                           i. The only time that there was a greater display of God’s power was when God raised Jesus from the dead.

                                  b. When Jesus was raised from the dead we too were raised from the dead.

                                           i. (Ephesians 2:5-6) “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” KJV

                                           ii. Satan and all of his cohorts could not keep Him down, though they tried, Death could not hold Him and when He was raised form the Dead, you and I were also raised from the dead.

                                           iii. When Jesus was raised from the dead, we were made spiritually alive unto God.

              B. Not only was “Elohim” (God the Father, God the Son and God the HS) all actively involved in creation by a great display of His POWER, He is also a God of Covenants.

                        1. In (GEN 17) we see God entering into a covenant with Abram. Let’s turn there GEN 17:1-5

                                  a. At that time his name was changed to Abraham.

                                           i. That is part of a covenant relationship.

                                           ii. When 2 people enter into a covenant their names are changed.

                                  b. Marriage is a covenant relationship, and if you’re married, then your name was changed.

                                           i. Most obvious is the wife’s name, she now takes the husband’s last name.

                                           ii. But what about the Husband, for this to be a true covenant relationship, the husband would also have to change his name.

                                           iii. It’s not as obvious in America, but the he does take on the wife’s name in a sense. Together that are now known as Mr. And Mrs.

                                  c. In (V 5) Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, but what about God.

                                           i. For this to be a true covenant, God’s name had to be changed.

                                           ii. Look at GEN 17:7

                                           iii. The NIV says, “To be your God.” This is just a hint that God’s name was going to be changed.

                        2. EXO 3:15

                                  a. This is to be his name forever.

                                           i. God took on Abraham’s name to show to all that God, Elohim, was in a covenant with Abraham.

                                  b. Go back to GEN 17:7

                                           i. Notice that this covenant is not just with Abraham, but also to his seed after him to be an everlasting covenant.

                                           ii. (Galatians 3:29) “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” KJV

                                  c. That means that if you’re in Christ you are in a covenant with God.

                                           i. No wonder God says in His Word that He would never leave you or forsake you. He can’t He’s in a covenant with you.

                                           ii. (2 Corinthians 2:14) Says, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place.” KJV

                                           iii. (1 Corinthians 15:57) Says, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” KJV

                                           iv. WHY, because we’re in a covenant with Him.

                        3. Here is just a little side thought, When 2 people enter into a covenant, each of them take part of the covenant partners name as there own.

                                  a. Example:

                                  b. We saw how God took Abraham’s name. Now called the God of Abraham.

                                           i. But when Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, how was that part of God’s name.

                                           ii. God took the last 2 letters of Jehovah, the “AH” and put it right in the middle of Abram’s name to make it AbrAHam.

     II. The next name of God that I want to look at is El Shaddai.

              A. If you remember last week, we briefly looked at “El” that name for God which refers to God’s power and might.

                        1. El Shaddai is a compound name, which 1st appears in GEN 17.

                                  a. Let’s look at it GEN 17:1-2

                                           i. In (V 1) God refers to Himself as “Almighty God.”

                                           ii. This is “El Shaddai.”

                        2. “El Shaddai” means more then just “Almighty.”

                                  a. “El” means “Mighty” or “All mighty.”

                                  b. “Shaddai” refers to “Abundance,” meaning “The God of abundance.”

                                           i. It also means “The God who supplies abundantly.”

                                           ii. That’s where we get the term “The God of more than enough.”

              B. Turn to GEN 22

                        1. Just after Abraham was stopped from offering up Isaac on the alter, the Lord spoke to Abraham.

                        2. GEN 22:15-17

                                  a. El Shaddai, the God who is more than enough, said, “I’m not just going to bless you, but I’m going to bless you with more than enough. I’m not just going to multiply you, I’m going to multiply you beyond what you can ask or think.

                                  b. Turn to EPH 3:17-19 (Paul’s prayer)

                                           i. The word “Fullness” can also be translated “Abundance.”

                                           ii. [(V 19)] “That ye might be filled with all the “Abundance” of God.”

                                  c. EPH 3:20

                                           i. “El Shaddai,” The God who is more than enough, the God who supplies with more than enough.

                                           ii. Our God is not holding back from you, put your Trust and Faith in Him and He will meet all your needs, and supply you with more than enough.

WOLCC Sun AM 7/21/96