Have you ever thought about the meaning of your name?
My name is Paulo, or Paul in English. The meaning is “Small or humble”. Also, my parents knew the story about Paul in the bible.
Most parents spend a significant amount of time trying to decide what to name their children. Why is that? Because we know a name is more than just what someone goes by. Some of us are very strategic and specific when it comes to choosing names. I know many people call their children the same name to keep the family’s story, like the grandfather is called Joseph, the father’s name is Joseph and the son will be Joseph junior….
Sometimes, parents give names to their children because they of something watched on TV, a nice movie with a character called Tom, John, or maybe when the father is a big fan of sport he chooses to call his son Michael, Cristiano, Ronaldo….
In Old Testament times, a name stood for a person’s “reputation, their fame and their glory.” The word “name” literally translates to “a mark or a brand.” Parents then often gave children names to describe their hopes and future expectations regarding that child.
A study of Bible names reveals much about the personality of the person bearing that name. For instance, David means “Beloved.” Abraham is “Father of a multitude.” Jacob is “Deceiver.” Isaac means “laughter.” Moses means “pull out or drawn out of water”.
According to each of their stories, names had meanings in the old testament. Sometimes when moms experienced difficult labours they would call their child Son of my suffering.
Today’s message is: HOPE HAS A NAME!
700 years before Jesus’ birth, Isaiah, inspired by God, wrote his book to wake the nation of Israel up. They had no more hope.
In that time, Israel was full of sins, they suffered a lot, they had hypocritical religious cults, they tried to mask injustices; they were far away from God and it transformed them into a corrupt nation, full of irreverence, idolatry, rebellion, and social injustice. There was no mutual respect, justice was denied to the needy, the poor, and kings were weak in their leadership.
At that time, people had no hope In the future, within this context, Isaiah writes it:
Isaiah 9:1-7
“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honour Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
Isaiah 9:1-7 NIV
Earth was in total gloom, in distress, affliction.
Many kings were raised up to take care of the nation, but they all failed.
Many priests were called to preach to people, but they were not able to capture their hearts. People were far away from God.
Prophets were preaching to people: Come back to God, repent, and you will be healed, but people didn’t listen to them.
Earth was in darkness. Hope was lost. Israel was oppressed by enemies, Israel was totally lost. They became cold, their hearts became harden hearts, their ears were close to God’s voice, because there was no more hope.
But, one day, Isaiah stood up before the people and began to declare:
“There will be no more gloom for those who were in distress”…Things will be changed. The new is coming, hallelujah! I have great news for you, Israel.
People who have been walking in darkness, pay attention: Those walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. It will start a new day! The light is coming!!! The joy will be increased, because The Joy is coming!
Someone is coming, and He will shatter, brake the yoke that burdens you, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of your oppressor.
No more suffering…No more oppression! He is coming….
The King is coming, as a Child is born, the government will be on their shoulders, and his name will be: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Can you imagine, What happened with Israel?
I believe many people listened to that and hope sprung up in their hearts. They started to believe that one day, The King of kings would come to save them and rescue them from darkness, The king would come to set them free! It was a message of Hope! Hallelujah!!!
700 years later, Mary was visited by God and became pregnant. She would receive The Son of God in her womb.
The Angel came to Mary and Joseph and said
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.””
Matthew 1:21
Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled on the day Jesus was born.
Oh glorious day, when Jesus was born! Heavens came to worship him, angels sang to him, kings bowed down before him….He came as The King of kings, and Lord of lords.
Jesus was born, He grew up, He started his ministry and The people who walked in darkness finally saw a great light!
The angel said: His name will be: JESUS!
The meaning of Jesus is: God is salvation / Jehovah is salvation!
When God sent Jesus to earth, by his name, God was telling us:
Don’t worry! I will save you from hell, I will rescue everyone who believes in me, I am giving you my only son to save you! God is salvation!
Hope was born, 2000 years ago.!!!
The bible tells us how important is the name of Jesus.
Look at Philippians 2
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11
God gave that name: Jesus – Every knee should bow – every tongue will confess one day….be ready for that….
When Jesus walked on this earth, Hope was walking among us!
Many blind people came to see, deaf to hear, mute sang to God…The Hope was among us!
Jesus fulfilled all prophecies about the Messiah and he was obedient until his until breath on the cross.
But Hope never died, because on the third day He resurrected from death and gave us forgiveness, Love and salvation!
Now, 2000 years later, we are here as Jesus’ Church.
We are preaching the gospel, telling you the same message that Isaiah told to Israel and I’d like to repeat it to you now:
“There will be no more gloom for those who are in distress”…Things will change. The new has come and he is coming back again, hallelujah! I have great news for you, My friend.
People who were walking in darkness, pay attention: Those walking in darkness saw a great light; for those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. A new day is starting! The light came!!! The joy will be increased, because The Joy came to this world!
Someone came, and He shattered and broke the yoke that burdened you, the bar across your shoulders, the rod of your oppressors.
No more suffering…No more oppression! He has came….
The King has come, as a Child was born, the government is on his shoulder, and his name is JESUS. His name is JESUS. He is Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Now, there is hope to you. Hope has a name, Hope is Jesus Christ.
He was born, he died, he resurrected and he gave his promise that one day he will come back again.
Even if you are suffering persecution….
Troubles….
If Someone betrayed you…
You had a bad past…you are fighting against your own mind… your thoughts…
The enemy is surrounding you. Don’t be afraid: Stand firm on the Lord!
You can find hope in Jesus. He is the hope to the hopeless! He is the light that extinguishes the darkness. He is The saviour!
He said that he would come back again, and he would end our suffering. He will conquer hell, conquer the Devil…. he will come to take us to heaven. It will be a glorious day when the Church will be raptured, and in the place we will go to, there will be no more pain, no more suffering, no more bullying, no more crying, no more diseases, sickness…
So, my brother, wait on the Lord. Just a little bit longer, and very soon Jesus will come back, we’re going to be taken from here, he will bring us to the new heaven and there we will live with him forever, we will live with our HOPE! JESUS! Patience, He is coming….He is coming….the sign is here…we can feel that he is coming..hallelujah! Stand firm!
Also the bible says, he will give us a new name!
Jesus, whose name is “God is salvation”told us: I will give a new name.
Look at Revelation:
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”
Revelation 2:17
If you name means something bad or if maybe it is linked with a bad thing from the past, I have great news for you.
You will receive a new name in heaven. God prepared a special name for you, because the hope came and changed us to a new person! Amen?
Hope has a name: Jesus! Love has a name: Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life.
He is the hope to the hopeless.
Let’s pray:
There will be no more gloom for those in distress”…
The people walking in darkness saw a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
start a new day!
The light has come!!!
Increase our joy, because The Joy came to this world!
Please, shatter and break the yoke that burdens you,
the bar across our shoulders, the rod of our oppressor.
No more suffering…No more oppression!
Hope, come upon us…..
His name is JESUS. He is Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
May God bless you, keep you and make his face shine upon you and give you peace