What’s In A Name?

During my service in the British Royal Navy, I spent some time aboard a ship which was taken into a complete refit program. This meant that the ship was almost completely stripped of everything including most of the electrical circuits and systems. This is where I met “Taff The Lamp.”

In the Royal Navy, there are many nicknames and titles given to people because they carry out specific jobs or roles, or come from certain places. In this case, the name Taff is given to anyone born in Wales. It is also a supposed name of anyone who was born near or by the river Taff in Wales. But, because there were many men born in that area, their extended title or name was given to differentiate one man from another. For example, a man born by the river Taff who was a milkman, would be called “Taff the Milk.” Another who was the postman would be called “Taff the Post.” And so, in typical military fashion, a Welshman is always called Taff, and the extension to his name would be what he did or what his service was.

So, Taff the Lamp, was an electrician, because of what he did for a living.

But the complete title of “Taff The Lamp” here is a combination of both the origin of the person, and the role that he carried out. Nobody would doubt what Taff The Lamp did, what his role was, because his title indicated that. Pretty simple really.

So, just like Taff The Lamp, when we study the names and titles of God we are given great insight into who He is and the multiple roles that He performs as our God. 

Primarily the name, and title given to God is “Jehovah.” This name is given to mean “Father.” A further addition to this is the word “El”, which means “The one.” And, the word used in this format depicts that the person to whom it is applied is the one and only. It is applied to a specific person, meaning that there is no other like them. So, investigating that first name, Jehovah, meaning “Father” means the origin, the first, the creator. The one that stands above all. THE Father.

The Names of God:

• El Shadday (pronounced “shad aye”) – meaning Almighty God
• Jehovah Rapha (pronounced “raffa”) – meaning My Healer
• Jehovah Rohi (pronounced “ro hee”) – meaning My Shepherd
• JehovahTsidkenu (pronounced “sid-ken-you”) – meaning My Righteousness
• Jehovah Shalom (pronounced “sha–lom”) – meaning My Peace
• Jehovah Shammah (pronounced “sha-ma”) – meaning My Ever-Present God
• Jehovah Nissi (pronounced “nee-see”) – meaning My Victory and My Covering
• Jehovah Sabaoth (pronounced “sab-a-oth”) – meaning The Lord of Hosts
• Jehovah Jirah  (pronounced “ji-rah”) – meaning  My Provider

Throughout the Bible, the Lord reveals himself in many different ways. During the early, Old Testament books, He has used specific names like these above. They are not just names, but more so descriptions in an attempt to show us, not only what He has done in the past, but who He eternally is, and that, as He performs in these roles, He is giving us proof that He is both willing and able to do so. 

When we read God’s word and study it from a historical point of view we are reading records of things that happened. Throughout the Bible the Lord has continuously given us the opportunity to come to know Him. When we come to know someone we come to know their character. We come to know how they act and react in different circumstances. We come to know the extent of their capabilities, and their willingness to perform them in different circumstances. So, when you know that person is firstly capable of performing a task and, secondly willing to do it, especially for you, you begin to trust them. And, the more that you witness their performances, the greater that trust becomes. In a time that you are in a situation that requires them to perform, you come to know that they are willing to perform, and you will trust them, and trust in them; because they have proven themselves to you beforehand. What you have done is put your faith in them. You do so because of that prior proof of them. That is why the Lord has given us the Bible. In it, He has performed something for us, giving us proof of what He is capable of, and when we receive the revelation of who actually performed this thing, and why He did it, He simply tells us, by giving Himself the name which describes that performance and explaining that He is the father, the source of that provision. 

He is constantly showing us His love, constantly providing for us, constantly protecting us, constantly looking after us, and then, from the words of the Bible, His words, He tells us that what He has done for one, He will do for all. The key, of course, is believing Him. When you do, when you place more and more faith in Him, you will accept more and more of the promises He is giving us. You will receive more and more from Him and, eventually, you’ll understand that He truly is the source of all things that we both need and desire.

In the following scripture, which is an epistle, we see Simon Peter preaching the fact that all good things provided by our Father:

(2Peter 1:1)  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
(2)  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
(3)  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
(4)  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
(5)  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
(6)  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
(7)  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
(8)  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(9)  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
(10)  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
(11)  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
(12)  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Peter continues to expand in his epistle about Christ’s Glory and the Prophetic Word given through the Scriptures from the Holy Ghost:

(16)  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 
(17) For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 
(18)  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 
(19)  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 
(20)  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 
(21)  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

All that is left then, is for us to accept the evidence, the ongoing evidence, of the great promises given to us, that Jesus came and gave us authority over all things, to walk in faith that all things have been, and always will be provided for us. If we believe that, if we always place our faith in what He has said will be done, it will be done; if we walk in faith because we know Him and because we believe Him, we will obey Him. So when He tells us “Go ye.”, we will go knowing that we can.

(Mark 16:15)  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
(16)  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
(17) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
(18)  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

And remember this….  In my name shall they….(verse 17.) this is where Jesus gave us the authority to use His name to accomplish those things that we are sent to accomplish.

(Philippians 2:9)  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Jesus’ name ranks, (rules) above every other name. Has ultimate authority.

(Philippians 2:10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Think about this:

Cancer is the name of a disease. 

Sickness is the name of a condition.

Poverty is the name of a condition.

Pain, Suffering, Lack, Oppression, Depression, Fear, Anger, Disappointment, Discouragement, Disbelief, Gossip, Unforgiveness, Guilt, Loneliness, Lust, Pride, Lying, Self-Denial, Distrust, Worry, – names!

Anything that has a name given to it is inferior to the name of Jesus. Using His name, through the given authority that we have, dominates over any other named thing. For example, we are authorized to command Cancer to remove itself and never to return again. Jesus is the Word itself, therefore, the spoken words of Scripture become Commandments which carry the authority of His name and the promises of God. Knowing, and applying God’s Word brings about those promises, and God keeps His promises. So, we would speak against Cancer something like this:

“In the name of Jesus, I command you Cancer to come out of this body, to remove yourself and to stay away from it! Now, body I command you to be completely healed and restored, in the name of Jesus. As it is written in First Peter, chapter 2 verse 24, “…. by his stripes ye were healed.”

Our closing Scripture for this teaching is something that each of us should stand upon in order that the results that we desire to come into manifestation:

(Mark 11:23)  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall SAY unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
(Mark 11:24)  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Simply stand in faith!

The whosoever means “anyone”. There is no restriction on what you say or command, but be aware that we can speak bad things into existence just as easily as we can the good. But note that it is the SPOKEN word in this instance that CREATES which is why a great rule to live by is “Watch your mouth!” The Apostles Peter and James separately put it like this:

(1st Peter 3:10)   For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

(James 3:5)  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

Remember how God created the Earth and all that it should contain? He spoke all things into existence! Watch what, and how you say it!

You can be the author of your own life!

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