William Shakespeare made famous the line, “What’s in a name?That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” It may not make any difference what we call a rose, but there is great significance and power in one name, and that is the Name of Jesus. It is that Name alone which makes Satan and all of his demons tremble. Jesus overcame the curse of sin— and its penalty death— on the cross.That meant defeat for Satan and victory for God!Satan knows he is a defeated foe who only has the power of bluff; true power lies only with Jesus. Satan hates to be reminded of the One Who brought his defeat.
America has been great because throughout our history we have recognized the power of the One True and Almighty God. We have trusted in the reality of Proverbs 18: 10, “The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.” From the time the Puritans landed in Jamestown; throughout the Revolutionary War and the creation of our great Constitution; through Civil War days and then through World War I and WWII, the Name of Jesus was highly revered and integral to the life of this nation.
Like weeds that take over a garden, the Enemy has infiltrated America and now is dictating a whole new direction for our Country. We are now living in a day when public prayers cannot end with the words, “in the Name of Jesus.” Recently, it has been determined that even our military chaplains cannot share His Name without risk of reprisal. Mikey Weinstein, the new head of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, says Christians who share the gospel of Jesus Christ in the military are guilty of “treason,” and of committing an act of “spiritual rape” as serious a crime as “sexual assault.” He also asserted that Christians sharing their faith in the military are “enemies of the Constitution.”
Given that every true believer knows there is power in the Name of Jesus, do you not think that it is interesting that it is on the watch of our President—a professing believer—that the freedom of religion that is guaranteed in our Constitution that he swore to uphold, is being denied for Christians alone?It seems logical that if you know that there is power in the Name of Jesus; if you truly believe in Him; and that you desire America to prosper; that you would do everything you could to exalt rather than wipe out that Name, doesn’t it?
Just last month a picture depicting Jesus was removed from a middle school in Jackson, Ohio, even though it had hung there since 1947.We don’t want Jesus anywhere in our public institutions.We would rather have classes on condom use, STDs, bullying, and endorsement of the gay lifestyle. Have we considered that He is a gracious God Who will not force Himself on anyone?Have we considered the consequences of kicking him out of our nation?
Have you stopped to consider that America has not won a war since we removed prayer from our public schools and the public display of the Ten Commandments? Is that merely coincidence, or is it possible that since we have chosen to remove Jesus from our institutions that Jesus has chosen to remove His protection from our nation? Have you thought that all of the terrorists attacked that have occurred have taken place since we have quit asking for His guidance and protection?
We used to be a mighty nation, when we were a nation under God, under the banner of the Name of Jesus.We will not be one again unless and until we humble ourselves, repent, and return to acknowledging Jesus, the Name Above All Names.
Martin Luther, famous theologian and leader of the Protestant Reformation, wrote the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” in 1531.Like all truth, it stands the test of time. Stanzas two and three of this inspiring hymn sum up the power of the Name of Jesus:
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth, his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
Written by Julie Van Gorp