This is part 2 of a two-part blog series, both intended for those to whom God is revealing His Name – you are in good company: a host of us! Yahweh, The LORD of the Host of us, wants us to know and trust His Name –Isaiah 43:10(VCE, AMPC).
you are My witnesses; you are My proof. you whom I chose for a special purpose, My servant, in order that you would know Me, believe Me (trust Me), and be faithful to Me …
Isaiah 43:10A (VOICE, AMPC)
In part 1 (Be a Babe), we saw that:
(A) God is the One Who reveals His Name.
(B)God’s Name is Yahweh (The LORD), andHis Son’s Name(Jesus) is Yeshua which means Yahweh saves. God’s Son is called by God’s Name – as it is with Jesus so it is with anyone to whom God reveals His Name or Self.
(C)WHEN God reveals His Name/Self to you, He is doing two things simultaneously: revealing His PRESENCE to you AND calling you. Who God presents His PRESENCE as to you is the Name by which He calls you.
(D)The humility of the HolySpirit (the FIRST LOVE humility) is the (our) expected response to the revelation of God’s Name and His calling. Hence, be a Babe – be a newcomer, one who humbly comes anew to God.
Here, in part 2, we’ll take a further look at (1)WHYGod reveals His Name to us, (2)WHAT HAPPENSwhen we respond as expected, and (3) whatTHE EXPECTED RESPONSEof being a Babe means in practice.
Therefore My people will know what My Name is and what it means; they shall know in that day that I AM He Who speaks; Behold, I AM!
Isaiah 52:6 (AMPC, VOICE)
Here I AM! I AM ready.
WHY?
Why does God reveal His Name to us? Why does He want us to know what His Name means? Here’s WHY:so that we can say His Name by calling upon Him again and again…
“Say My Name … Say My Name“, says The LORD
Backed up by Exodus 3:14 and Exodus 34:6, this 👆 was going to be the title of this series 😊. Both times, God said His Name twice! I increasingly believe that this is God’s name-calling style …
Furthermore, I believe that God wants us to call Him in like manner: again and again … this is the manner in/by which God comes.
In part 1, I likened God’s name-call repetition to the ‘Knock Knock’ on a door … an expression of the gentleManly nature of God’s PRESENCE. This is but one facet of God’s name-calling style. The emphasis (name-call repetition) can also be seen as an echo of God’s Voice (Psalm 62:11 NKJV), an assurance, a confirmation … it is the hearing and hearing effect by which Faith comes (Romans 10:17). It is a surety, a certainty (a HOPE).
Contrary to popular belief unbelief, HOPE is not a maybe. In Truth, howbeit unseen for a time, HOPE is a certainty, the evidence (substance) of which comes with God’s Voice … it comes when God calls you by His revealed Name.
Faith is the assurance, confirmation, substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen … Without Faith, it is impossible to walk with God and please Him. Those who come to God (Babes) must necessarily believe that HE ISand thatHE ISa rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:1, 6 (AMP/C)
Every Babe needs Faith … every Babe needs evidence of HOPE. This in part is why God reveals (and calls us by) His Name. His revealed Name is the evidence we need, our strong hold and foundation –Proverbs 18:10– our Strong Tower of defense against doubt, the sin that readily besets, attacks, or hampers us IF we respond in fear instead of Faith (the knowledge of God).
Isaiah 43:10tells us that God wants us to know and trust Him, and to be faithful to Him. To be faithful to God is to be FULL of Faith in our response to Him and all else. We can not be God’s Babe (we can not be humble, or come anew, or call on God again and again) without FIRST knowing and trusting Him.
To know and trust God is to know and trust His Name. This is what God wants and here’s WHY 👇
… SO THAT we may truthfully say His Name.
**************** A Quick Note ****************
While God wants us to call on Him again and again, it is important to note that not everyone who says LORD, LORD truthfully says God’s Name – Matthew 7:22-23. There’s a distinction … and it goes beyond merely repeating God’s Name. Those who truthfully say God’s Name are known by God because they bear and thus GO only by the Name God calls them: His Name. Case in point: Moses – God knew his God-given name. I think it was Beautiful (Exodus 2:2) and very likely why Moses had beautiful feet (Isaiah 52:7). In any case, God knew him by name(Exodus 33:12B)… Another example is Gideon – he was called by His God-given name: Mighty man of fearless courage(Judges 6:12)and so he was.
Everyone to whom God reveals His Name is given a God-given name … a name that expresses God’s Name. This God-given name is your calling (your purpose), a calling that happens when God presents His PRESENCE to you. Another reason to NOT take God’s Name-Reveal lightly – SeLaH.
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To truthfully say God’s Name is(1)to call upon His Name (Zephaniah 3:9) AND(2)to proclaim His Name (Psalm 68:11, 1 Peter 2:9, Matthew 5:14-16) in HUMILITY (Side Note:Humility is extravagantly Truthful– SeLaH).
How are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him (to trust in and rely upon Him) of Whom they’ve never heard? How are they to hear without a PREACHER?
Romans 10:14
The PREACHER is coming … FAITH (the knowledge of God) is coming … Yahweh, the Ever-Present One, is coming. For those wondering about how HE IS here and yet also coming, kindly note that coming in this context does NOT mean “not yet here”, instead, it means to unveil or reveal. Indeed, God is revealing His Self/Name to Babes across the four corners of the earth. WHEN this happens, LISTEN for and TRUST His Holy Name. Like Samuel, you will hear Him when He comes (Romans 10:17, Psalm 40:6 AMPC) … you will hear Him because what He says (Who He presents Himself as to you) is Who enables you to hear Him. WHEN this happens, LISTEN for God’s Name-Reveal to you … it is intimate, thus be intimate with Him. Welcome and honor (make space for) His Name. What a privilege it is to be God’s chosen dwelling place for His Name! Indeed, we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar nation –1 Peter 2:9💖.
To TRUST God’s Name is to actionably GO by the Name that He calls you (to bear His revealed Name to you).Totruthfullysay God’s Name is to say His Name in THE Way that matters to Him: obediently… trustingly– this is what happens when we respond to God’s Name-Reveal (and calling) with the humility of our first love for God. Every time we respond in this manner, we actionably say: God can NOT lie … we actionably say: God is TRUTH … we (by our actions) meaningfully say His Name. Something happens when we truthfully (humbly) say God’s Name – I Peter 5:6-7, 2 Chronicles 7:14-16.
WHAT HAPPENS?
GOD HAPPENS!
This is what the The Blind Man in John 9 was saying to the people who would not listen – He essentially was telling them that God happened! That God came to pass … that God passed by –John 9:1(CJB).
When we trustingly know God’s Name and thus truthfully say His Name …
… GOD MOVES!
… a translation happens i.e. The Blind see – this is what transpired in John 9:38… a God-inspired translation from darkness to Light (to all things bright and beautiful) happens! When God moves, things shift … things move: heaven (God’s throne) and earth (God’s footstool) move. It is accurate to say then that when we truthfully say God’s Name, God effectively moves heaven and earth! No one else can do this … none besides Yahweh 🥰.
Still on what happens when we truthfully say God’s Name …
… SHILOH COMES!
The PRESENCE of God comes to pass … to make a move. In so moving, God makes the place of the feet of His Heart GLORIOUS(Isaiah 60:13, Isaiah 52:7)… oh! how BEAUTIFUL are the feet of His Heart! The feet of His PRESENCE! God makes them so because He moves … because God moves, His host move as well (on earth as it is in heaven, none missing a mate) …
… an EXODUS HAPPENS!
Like the Pillar of Fire by night and the Pillar of Cloud by day, the ANGEL of God’s PRESENCE goes to work! He is Mighty to save! As a result …
… SALVATION HAPPENS!
God reveals His Salvation (His redemptive Name), He reveals the Kinsman-Redeemer. God reveals His Name in His Son’s Name:Yeshua: Yahweh saves!He does it through the open DOOR-Way (HEY) of Salvation that His Son is –John 10:9. In other words, God reveals Himself!
As He did with Moses, God comes to show you His Way, His Glory – He lets His Goodness pass in front of you, right before your eyes. God Himself passes by and shows you Himself: Salvation(Psalm 50:23) Peace and Prosperity(Haggai 2:9) … Good Success (Psalm 118:25)… Oh the GLORY! Both that of the early and latter RAIN (Joel 2:23)
Deuteronomy 11:14,Isaiah 45:8(AMPC) – This RAIN of SALVATION and the bounty thereof (Haggai 2:19, Joel 2:19, Hosea 2:22) … this Righteous Gift of Salvation (Hosea 10:12) is what happens and what you can expect: The GLORY of God! His POWER and MIGHT … His PRESENCE! God in FULL view!
Look! Here is your God! Look at Him! Yahweh comes in power, ready to go into action. Behold (HEY), Yahweh comes with might, and His arm will rule for Him. Behold (HEY), His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.
Isaiah 40:9B -10 (MSG, CJB, AMPC)
THE EXPECTED RESPONSE
Rightfully put, the expected response is to be a Babe … always. Another way to put it is: One … Two … Three … Go! Always Go to God anew, with God and in God. Let’s take a look at what this means in practice.
(1)Respond with Thankful Praise
It is the praising life that honors Me. As soon as you set your foot on the Way, I will show you My SALVATION.
Psalm 50:23 (MSG)
Honor God with a response of Thankful Praise – this is exactly what Jesus did when God revealed His Name … when God revealed Himself (Salvation) … when God called Him by His Name. Indeed, Salvation is Jesus’ calling – Who and What He is called to be. A calling and revelation to which Jesus responded with overflowing JOY … the Joy of Salvation aka The Joy of The LORD.
Jesus, filled with joy by the Holy Spirit (the Ruach HaKodesh), said: I thank You Father, Lord of heaven and earth,BECAUSEYou concealed these things relating to SALVATION from the sophisticated, educated … know-it-alls yet You revealed these things relating to SALVATION to Babes, to new comers, to those who humble themselves. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this Way.
Luke 10:21 (CJB, AMPC, MSG)
Jesus responded with Yahweh’s Joy –Psalm 16:11(AMPC), the Joyfulness of God’s PRESENCE (the FULLness of Joy found in God’s PRESENCE).
(2)Give God PRESENCE
Here I am
Genesis 22:1,11, Genesis 31:11, Exodus 3:4,
1 Samuel 3:4-10, Isaiah 6:9
This is the ULTIMATE RESPONSE … it is inclusive of both (1) and (3). I’ll elaborate more on this when I share on The Desire for PRESENCE. In the interim, it is worth noting that Abraham (Genesis 22:1,11), Jacob (Genesis 31:11), Moses (Exodus 3:4), Samuel (1 Samuel 3:4-10), and Isaiah (Isaiah 6:9) each said ‘Here I am’ to God when He presented His PRESENCE to them – in other words, each of them were present (in attendance, they attended to God’s PRESENCE).
(3) Bless The LORD … Bless Yahweh
What does it mean? What does it mean to bless The LORD? What does it mean to bless The One Who is Blessed … the One from Whom ALL blessings flow? How does one bless Yahweh? All VERY valid questions 🙂.
How about we start with what it means to bless …
(1) To bless is to give something of value to someone. The something given is of value to the recipient AND comes at a cost to the giver. The perfect example: God gave us redemption (His Righteous Gift of Salvation) at the cost of His Son –John 3:16💖.
(2) To bless is to speak good of someone or something. I found and thoroughly enjoyed seeing this definition in the AMPC version of Genesis 2:3 🥰👌.
God blessed (spoke good of) the seventh day. He set it apart as His Own and hallowed it because on it God rested from all His work which He had created and done.
Genesis 2:3 (AMPC)
We bless God when we speak good of Him in our thoughts, with our words, and by our actions … we bless God when we praise His Name – when we exalt His Holy Name above all else. We exalt God’s Holy Name when we actionably believe Him i.e. trusting and obeying Him. When we believe (accept, embrace, welcome, honor, trust, obey) His WORD: When we believe that HE IS Who He says HE IS … when we believe Who He reveals His Name as or Who He presents Yahweh as.
Keep in mind that this presentation may not always come in the manner that you expect. When God presented His WORD (PRESENCE) as Yeshua in the person of Jesus, a lowly man from Nazareth, many did not believe Him … they would not (they willed not to) believe Him.
In returning to Me and resting in Me shall you be saved; in quietness and in trusting confidence shall be your strength. But you would (willed) not. Oh, that you had hearkened to My commandments. Then your peace and prosperity would have been like a flowing river, and your righteousness like the abundant waves of the sea. Oh, that My people (Israel) would listen to Me and walk in My ways (not their wicked ways).
Isaiah 30:15 (AMPC), Isaiah 40:18, Psalm 81:13
Who are those who willed not? Those whose unbelief (whose unwillingness to trust that God has done what He said He would do) shut them out from stepping foot into all that God has in store and has prepared for them. They were given the Good News and the opportunity but they willed not to humble themselves … they willed not to receive it, welcome it, or honor it. This inevitably led to disobedience,Hebrews 3:7 – 4:7(AMPC). They did not say blessed is He Who comes in the Name of The LORD because they did not believe that Jesus (Yeshua) came from God … they did not believe that He was The Anointed (Blessed) One: they did not speak good of Him.
We bless (speak good of, praise, exalt) God when we obediently trust His WORD – this happens as a result of believing that God is Who He reveals Himself to be and that He has done what He said He will do. God values obedience … it belongs to Him – Genesis 49:10(AMPC). It is an integral part of believing and thus trusting God … it is an integral part of actionably, trustingly, truthfully, or meaningfully saying God’s Name – THIS is what it means to bless The LORD. We bless God by our welcoming (receptive) and humble (responsive) action of whole-hearted obedience.
As mentioned earlier, it is costly to bless … as such, blessing God will cost each one of the host of us something. Believing, trusting, and obeying God will cost us something … actually, it will cost us everything – everything we are and have within us. Blessing God will cost us everything just as it cost Him everything (Himself) to bless us with Salvation (Himself). Like Jesus too was broken or broke (and no, I don’t mean money-wise), we too must be broke in order to truly bless God. We must be all-broken-hearted or whole-heartedly broke, having poured out all of our heart before God … loving Him (giving God to God) with all that is within us.
It is from this place of costly broke-ness (or brokenness) that we trustingly and truthfully say: Yahweh! Yahweh! It is from this place of nothing-else-ness that we bless The LORD with all that is within us and thus meaningfully say God’s Holy Name: The LORD! The LORD! It is from this place of humility that we cry: Abba! Father! … here is where we call upon the Name of The LORD and are saved by Him. He does not despise nor forsake a broken heart. Like the fragrance of a broken jar of pure spikenard or spice, whose every costly content is poured out, God values and glories in our broken (humble) heart. He is blessed by the humility of our obedient trust. It is from this place of obedience that we GO with God and that we walk humbly with Him. This humble, obedient walk with God is key to what happens next … MORE! God! He is The MORE 💖. Oh sooo much MORE!
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The PREACHER (the One Who speaks) is coming – His Name (Yahweh) is near. The One from Whence He comes (and to Whom all obedience belong) says:
Now get yourselves ready. Look! I AM sending a Heavenly Messenger – My Angel (The Angel of My Presence – My PRESENCE) to pass before you – to protect you during your journey with Me and to lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you. Pay attention to all that He shows you and obey whatever He tells you … He carries My Name in Him.
Exodus 23:20-21(MSG, VOICE)
HEY faithful … humble … Babe, The LORD your God is coming to reveal His Name to you … to present Himself to (and then through) you … God’s PRESENCE is coming. He is The Divine LORD (Rabbani) … The TEACHER (Rabboni) … The PREACHER … The Heavenly MESSENGER … He is The One Who speaks. Listen for Him (seek Him). Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving and His Courts with Praise. Bless Him with ALL that He is (deepest) within you –Psalm 103:1(AMPC).
His Name is in you (in your deepest, most intimate and private part – the secret place of The MOST HIGH). He truly is as near as the tongue in your mouth and the heart in your chest – a treasure chest. His Name is the weight of His Glory in you – His glorious inheritance. GO here-to-forward proclaiming the praise of His glorious Name (Grace). GO humbly forward with God and give Him what He values most: PRESENCE … a weighty splendor!
Rivers in the Desert 