Lydia_Jozef - we are very much in the same predicemant cwj
DelaYah - HalleluYAH!
DelaYah - Father Yahweh thank you for this blessed day and for the blessings that you have given to us
DelaYah - Help us to be worthy of calling upon you and to be grateful that you have called us
DelaYah - we thank You so much Father for the spiritual food you have given us and desire more and more of that spiritual bread that sustains us daily
DelaYah - lead us into perfection through your spirit, guide us into Your Everlasting Kingdom, which shall never perish
DelaYah - guide the speaker this evening to proclaim your truth
DelaYah - and help us to receive it Father
DelaYah - We ask for the blessing in the name of Your Son Yahushua the Messiah
DelaYah - HalleluYAH!
We apologize for the late start
I will share something briefly this evening concerning our Father's name
Many foes to the use of Yahweh's name wish to point out that Yahushua never used it
But say that He simply called Yahweh the "Father" throughout His ministry
Tonight I wish to share some things that will prove otherwise
Let us first examine the meaning of the word "name" in scripture. It comes from the Hebrew word "Shem". Here is a definition of this word in the Strong's Lexicon:
Strong's # 8034 Shem; a primitive word [perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064]; an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character: - + base, [in-] fame[-ous], name[-d], renown, report.
As we can see from the above definition, Yahweh's name is not only represents His "character" but the Name Yahweh is also "His mark".
Therefore the word "Shem"/Name refers to His literal written or spoken name as well as His character.
Some say that the definition of the word 'name' only means character (ie I come in the name of peace)
Others seem to think it only refers to His literal written and spoken name
The definition above, as well as many scriptures bear the truth that it means BOTH
If it did not refer to His literal written and spoken name then one could say that Yahweh does not have a written name at all.
But we know that is not true:
Isaiah 42:8 - I am YAHWEH: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.According to the above definition, His Name is also is His "memorial of individuality". This definition goes hand in hand with scripture:
Exodus 3:15 - And Elohim said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, YAHWEH Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.Man has set up may memorials for himself such as "The Wall" in Washington DC.
If one were to go and desecrate that memorial and replace it with a bunch of different names, this person could expect to receive a great punishment for his crime.
Now if we wouldn't desecrate one of man's memorials, then why would anyone want to desecrate Yahweh's Memorial - His Name?
Do we have the right to change His name to a title of our own liking?
Surely the Messiah would not do this, especially when reading the scriptures in the Synagogue:
Luke 4:17 - And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luke 4:18 - The Spirit of YAHWEH is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:19 - To preach the acceptable year of YAHWEH.
Luke 4:20 - And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
Luke 4:21 - And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.Let's examine some of the things the Messiah said concerning His Father's name:
John 5:43 - I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.Again, we can recognize the dual meaning of the word "Name" here. In the case of Yahushua, not only did He come by His Father's authority, but He also came in His Father's literal written and spoken name.
This is proven when we understand the Messiah's name as "Yah-shua" or "Yahweh (is) Salvation".
Peter (in Acts 3) confirmed that the following scripture was speaking of Yahshua:
Deuteronomy 18:18 - I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Deuteronomy 18:19 - And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.This is a direct statement saying that Yahshua did 'speak' in His Father's name. Surely then He did not hide it, substitute it, or change it. He spoke in it.
Also it was written of our Saviour:
Psalms 118:26 - Blessed be he that cometh in the name of YAHWEH: we have blessed you out of the house of YAHWEH.When Yahushua entered Jerusalem, look what happened
Luke 19:37 - And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise YAHWEH with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
Luke 19:38 - Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of YAHWEH: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.Some of the pharisees took exception to the crowd saying this
Luke 19:39 - And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
Luke 19:40 - And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.So here we have 3 witnesses that Yahshua did come in His Father's name and speak in His Father's name
Nevertheless, lets examine more scriptural evidence. In Yahshua's prayer in John 17 He says:
John 17:5 - And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
John 17:6 - I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.Yahushua Himself said that He manifested the Father's name
And again:
John 17:26 - And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.This was a fulfillment of scripture in the great Psalm 22:
Psalms 22:22 - I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.Scripture does not lie. If it says that Yahshua declared His name, He had to have done so.
He not only declared His Father's literal and spoken name, but also His true character to the people.
However, it is evident that not all had "ears to hear" concerning His Father's true character. Not unlike today, they had much baggage (traditions) left over from their Fathers.
Yahshua clearly condemned the traditions that were not in line with Yahweh's word. As He had said:
Mark 7:9 - And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of YAHWEH, that ye may keep your own tradition.One of the traditions held by some was that Yahweh's name was too holy to pronounce.
The question might be asked "Why did Yahshua refer to Yahweh as "Father"?
I believe that there are many scriptures that indicate the Messiah was also called "Yahweh" in the old testament. For instance:
Isaiah 44:6 - Thus saith YAHWEH the King of Israel, and his redeemer YAHWEH of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no Elohim.Notice 2 Yahwehs in this passage
Because of this, I believe it is possible that one reason Yahshua called Him "Father" was to distinguish Father Yahweh from Himself.
Perhaps I cannot directly prove this. Nevertheless, besides the fact that Yahweh was His Father and this is what He wanted all to know, this is one other possible reason Yahshua often called Him "Father".
It is not a wrong thing to call Yahweh by a title that fitly describes Him.
The problem lies in replacing, changing and failing to praise, exalt, bless, love, teach, preach, anoint, assemble, believe, give thanks, honor and call on His name as scripture teaches us.
Now let's examine the trial in which Yahshua was sentenced to death.
Matthew 26:64 - Yahushua saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.'right hand of power'
Matthew 26:66 - What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
Matthew 26:65 - Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
Matthew 26:66 - What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.In light of these verses, it is fascinating to study the historical context of what was going on. Based on the above scripture, it is evident that the official charge against the Messiah was "blasphemy".
The word "Power" in verse 64 was a popular 'euphenism' or substitution for the divine name Yahweh.
Now according to historical record (the mishna):
"He who blasphemes is liable only when he will have fully pronounced the Divine Name. Said R. Joshua ben Qorha, "on every day (of the trial) they examine the wtnesses with a substituted name.
When sentence was to be given they did not decalre him guilty of death with the substituted name, but they put everyone out and ask the most important of the witnesses, saying to him, "Say, what exactly did you hear?" And he says what he heard. And the judges stand on their feet and tear their clothing, and they may not mend them again.(m.San. 7:5)"
Therefore, it is evident that historically no man could be sentenced for blasphemy unless he had actually spoken the Divine Name.
This is furthur proven when we see that the High Priest "rent his clothes" upon hearing the name since Yahshua was his own witness (as he said "what further need have we of witnesses?").
Finally, there is strong evidence that Yahshua spoke the name aloud in Mt. 4:7; 4:10; 5:33; 21:42; 22:37 & 22:44. The Hebrew version DuTillet has 3 yods in the place of the name "Yahweh" and the Shem Tob has a "Heh" in those places.
These all indicate He spoke the name since there is no Hebrew word with a single Heh or 3 consecutive Yod's. This is one of the multitude of attempts to falsify His name by those who believed in the ineffable name doctrine.
The ineffable name doctrine states that Yahweh's name is too holy to pronounce. Clement of Alexandria did use the name Yahweh, but others did not hold to this doctrine, like Jerome:
"For no one can utter the name of the ineffable deity; and if any one dare to say that there is a name, he raves with a hopeless madness. (I Apol.,61)"
"But to the father of all, who is unbegotten, there is no name given. For by whatever name he be called, he has as his elder the person who gives him the name. But these words, Father, and Deity, and Creator, and Lord, and Master, are not names but appelations derived from good deeds and functions. (II Apol., 6)"
With this in mind, it is no wonder that the manuscripts we have today do not contain the name. We know that the 'church fathers' quickly apostated from the true Sabbath.
It shouldn't be difficult to believe that they also quickly dropped the use of the true name of our Creator.
It is very evident that the "ineffable name" doctrine is totally unscriptural. It contradicts scriptures like:
Exodus 9:16 - And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
Isaiah 52:6 - Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.
Psalms 116:4 - Then called I upon the name of YAHWEH; O YAHWEH, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
Psalms 116:13 - I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of YAHWEH.
Psalms 116:17 - I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of YAHWEH.
Isaiah 12:4 - And in that day shall ye say, Praise YAHWEH, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.I think it is better to trust in what the scriptures say concerning His name rather than trusting in the reasoning that "since the greek manuscripts which we have today (which are not original) do not contain the name, it must not be important."
The scriptures already have declared the importance of His name. I will close with one final scripture:
Psalms 105:1 - O give thanks unto YAHWEH; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.I believe this last scripture is one of many commandments to call on His name. Why not do so?
Let's do so. May Yahweh bless you all!
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