Spiritual Weapon: Names of God
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 02:02PM 
To name someone signifies authority and power over him or her. Therefore, God reveals His names to us rather than permitting us to choose names for Him. Each of God's names allows us to know Him better.
I am no expert yet on the Word of God, but I know enough of His Word to realize I must call on His name for all of my needs. I know God well enough to testify to what He has done for me, even before I understood what He would do.
When the world (human "wisdom") said in 1992 that I would probably die of breast cancer, El-Shaddai (God Almighty) had already declared that Diane "shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord" (see Psalm 119:17).
Doctors told me I would not survive because I refused chemotherapy, but Jehovah-rapha (God Heals) kept His promise, though I didn't know it at the time) that through the sacrifice of Christ "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). God alone knows my future.
When I was afraid I'd die young from Crohn's Disease, El Elyon (The Most High God) had already called me to follow Christ and minister to others with His good news. I had no idea.
I know when I lift and praise Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner), I receive Jehovah Shalom (The Lord My Peace), and when it looks like all is lost, Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide) shows up and shows out. He has brought me through the trauma of watching my first husband die and through the drama of marrying my second husband just a few months later and trying to stay sane while my whole life changed in short order. If it wasn't for the grace of knowing God and His names, and having Him to depend on, I wouldn't be standing now.
Each name of God corresponds to a promise. The most important of these promises lives in the name of Jesus the Christ, our Savior. God the Father was always our Almighty, our Healer, our Most High, our Banner, our Peace, and our Provider, but He had to come to us in the form of the man Jesus in order to be our Redeemer. The Bible says salvation is through His name (John 1:12), believers are to gather in His name (Matthew 18:20), and prayer must be made in His name (John 14:13-14). In Acts 4:12 Peter pledges, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is NO OTHER NAME under haven given to men by which we must be saved." (Capitalization mine.)
In Philippians 2:10-11, the Contemporary English Version of the Bible says, "So at the name of Jesus, everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And to the glory of God the father, everyone will openly agree, 'Jesus Christ is Lord.'"
How has your life been altered by calling on the name of God?
This is part of my series on W.E.A.P.O.N.S. of Spiritual Warfare, begun 12/29/08.
Next: Spirit of God
(Names of God poster available at inspirationart.com)
Christ, El Elyon, El-Shaddai, Jehovah, Jehovah-jireh, Jehoval-nissi, Jesus, names of God
Reader Comments (3)
Great testimony Diane! Yes, the Word of God stands forever. No matter what, we must cling to His promises. I'm looking forward to this series continuing. God bless!
When we were so poor, my mother always say "God will provide" and she will cry out, "Jevohah Jireh, provide food on the table." When we got bankrupt after years of being wealthy, I learned to cry out , "Jevohah Jireh, God provides."
It's comforting to know that each name of God corresponds to a promise. That is why we should always exalt His name everday.
Bingkee,
Thank you for sharing how your mother taught you to depend on God.I love stories about God-loving parents teaching their children to praise and worship the Lord.