In this article we will familiarize ourselves with the names of GOD so we may use them in Prayer. We will become more effective in Prayer if we get to know his names by doing this we get to know GOD in a more intimate way. I do not provide a indebt study but a condensed version. This way is excellent for the new believer as well as the Prayer Warrior studying his Ministry (Gift of Intercession). I have in my Prayer studies ways of using his name in Prayer.
The great purpose of man, especially the believer in Christ, is to glorify God. “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Essential to our ability to glorify God is the knowledge of God and knowing Him personally in view of that knowledge. The word “glory” in the Greek New Testament is doxa which means, an opinion, an estimation, or reputation in which one is held. It refers to that which should accrue to God as praise, thanksgiving, obedience, reverence, and service because of who God is and what God does (past, present, and future). In other words, giving Glory to God is tied in with the knowledge of God (revelation of God), and knowing God personally (response to God).
The Lord Jesus said in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” The many names in Scripture constitute additional revelation of God’s character, His works, and His relationship to us based on His character and works. The names which God chose for Himself and which are ascribed to Him in the Word of God are additional revelations of the who and what of God that we may know and relate to God.
Note David’s declarations about God’s name and word in Psalm 138:1-2. God’s name declares much about His person, but it is God’s Word that reveals God and His name. We know what God is like, not only by His perfections and works, but also by His names. They tell us many things about God’s care and concern for his own. This is one of the fascinating studies of Scripture. The various circumstances which bring forth each of the names of God are important.
In our twentieth century Western culture, personal names are little more than labels to distinguish one person from another. Sometimes nicknames are chosen which tell something about a person, but even this is a poor reflection of the significance of names in the Bible.
Unfortunately, to many the names God or Lord convey little more than designations of a supreme being. It says little to them about God’s character, His ways, and what God means to each of us as human beings. But in Scripture, the names of God are like miniature portraits and promises. In Scripture, a person’s name identified them and stood for something specific. This is especially true of God. Naming carried special significance. It was a sign of authority and power. This is evident in the fact that God revealed His names to His people rather than allowing them to choose their names for Him. This is also seen in the fact that God often changed the names of His people: Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel. Note also how this concept of authority and power is seen when Nebuchadnezzar changed the names of Daniel and his three friends.
There are a number of instances where no name of God is employed, but where simply the term “name” in reference to God is used as the point of focus:
1. Abraham called on the name of the
Lord (Gen. 12:8; 13:4)
2. The Lord proclaimed His own name
before Moses (Ex. 33:19; 34:5)
3. Israel was warned against profaning the name
of the Lord (Lev. 13:21; 22:2, 32)
4. The name of the Lord was not to be
taken in vain (Ex. 20:7; Deut. 5:11)
5. The priests of Israel were to minister in
the name of the Lord (Deut. 18:5; 21:5)
6. The name of God is called
“wonderful” in Judges 13:18
7. To call on the name of the Lord was
to worship Him as God (Gen. 21:33; 26:25)
Consequently, from this we can conclude that
such phrases as “the name of the LORD” or “the name of God” refer to
God’s whole character. It was a summary statement embodying the entire person
of God. When we turn to the New Testament we find the
same. The name Jesus is used in a similar way to the name of God in the
Old Testament:
1. Salvation is through His name (John 1:12)
2. Believers are to gather in His name
(Matt. 18:20)
3. Prayer is to be made in His name
(John 14:13-14)
4. The servant of the Lord who bears the name
of Christ will be hated (Matt. 10:22)
5. The book of Acts makes frequent mention of
worship, service, and suffering in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:18;
5:28, 41; 10:43; 19:17)
6. It is at the name of Jesus that every
knee will one day bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil.
2:10-11).
So, just as the name of God in the Old Testament spoke of the holy character of God the Father, so the name of Jesus in the New Testament speaks of the holy character of God the Son.
1. Elohim: The plural form of EL, meaning “strong one.” It is used of false gods, but when used of the true God, it is a plural of majesty and intimates the trinity. It is especially used of God’s sovereignty, creative work, mighty work for Israel and in relation to His sovereignty (Isa. 54:5; Jer. 32:27; Gen. 1:1; Isa. 45:18; Deut. 5:23; 8:15; Ps. 68:7).
Compounds of El:
2. Yahweh (YHWH): Comes from a verb which means “to exist, be.” This, plus its usage, shows that this name stresses God as the independent and self-existent God of revelation and redemption (Gen. 4:3; Ex. 6:3 (cf. 3:14); 3:12).
Compounds of Yahweh: Strictly speaking, these compounds are designations or titles which reveal additional facts about God’s character.
3. Adonai: Like Elohim, this too is a plural of majesty. The singular form means “master, owner.” Stresses man’s relationship to God as his master, authority, and provider (Gen. 18:2; 40:1; 1 Sam. 1:15; Ex. 21:1-6; Josh. 5:14).
4. Theos: Greek word translated “God.” Primary name for God used in the New Testament. Its use teaches: (1) He is the only true God (Matt. 23:9; Rom. 3:30); (2) He is unique (1 Tim. 1:17; John 17:3; Rev. 15:4; 16:27); (3) He is transcendent (Acts 17:24; Heb. 3:4; Rev. 10:6); (4) He is the Savior (John 3:16; 1 Tim. 1:1; 2:3; 4:10). This name is used of Christ as God in John 1:1, 18; 20:28; 1 John 5:20; Tit. 2:13; Rom. 9:5; Heb. 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:1.
5. Kurios: Greek word translated “Lord.” Stresses authority and supremacy. While it can mean sir (John 4:11), owner (Luke 19:33), master (Col. 3:22), or even refer to idols (1 Cor. 8:5) or husbands (1 Pet. 3:6), it is used mostly as the equivalent of Yahweh of the Old Testament. It too is used of Jesus Christ meaning (1) Rabbi or Sir (Matt. 8:6); (2) God or Deity (John 20:28; Acts 2:36; Rom. 10:9; Phil. 2:11).
6. Despotes: Greek word translated “Master.” Carries the idea of ownership while kurios stressed supreme authority (Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24; Rev. 6:10; 2 Pet. 2:1; Jude 4).
7. Father: A distinctive New Testament revelation is that through faith in Christ, God becomes our personal Father. Father is used of God in the Old Testament only 15 times while it is used of God 245 times in the New Testament. As a name of God, it stresses God’s loving care, provision, discipline, and the way we are to address God in prayer (Matt. 7:11; Jam. 1:17; Heb. 12:5-11; John 15:16; 16:23; Eph. 2:18; 3:15; 1 Thess. 3:11).
EL: God ("mighty, strong, prominent") used 250 times in the
OT See Gen. 7:1, 28:3, 35:11; Nu. 23:22; Josh. 3:10; 2 Sam. 22:31, 32; Neh. 1:5,
9:32; Isa. 9:6; Ezek. 10:5. El is linguistically equivalent to the Moslem
"Allah," but the attributes of Allah in Islam are entirely different
from those of the God of the Hebrews. ELAH is Aramaic, "god." Elah
appears in the Hebrew Bible in Jer. 10:11 (which is in Aramaic, and is plural,
"gods"). In Daniel (the Aramaic sections) Elah is used both of pagan
gods, and of the true God, also plural. Elah is equivalent to the Hebrew Eloah
which some think is dual; Elohim is three or more. The gods of the nations are
called "elohim." The origin of Eloah is obscure. Elohim is the more
common plural form of El. Eloah is used 41 times in Job between 3:4 and 40:2,
but fewer than 15 times elsewhere in the OT.
ELOHIM: God (a plural noun, more than two, used with singular verbs);
Elohim occurs 2,570 times in the OT, 32 times in Gen. 1. God as Creator,
Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong. Eccl., Dan. Jonah use Elohim almost
exclusively. See Gen. 17:7, 6:18, 9:15, 50:24; I Kings 8:23; Jer. 31:33; Isa.
40:1.
EL SHADDAI: God Almighty or "God All Sufficient." 48 times in
the OT, 31 times in Job. First used in Gen. 17:1, 2. (Gen. 31:29, 49:24, 25;
Prov. 3:27; Micah 2:1; Isa. 60:15, 16, 66:10-13; Ruth 1:20, 21) In Rev. 16:7,
"Lord God the Almighty." The Septuagint uses Greek "ikanos"
meaning "all-sufficient" or "self-sufficient." The idols of
the heathen are called "sheddim."
ADONAI: Lord in our English Bibles (Capitol letter 'L ', lower case,
'ord') (Adonai is plural, the sing. is "adon"). "Master'' or
"Lord" 300 times in the OT always plural when referring to God, when
sing. the reference is to a human lord. Used 215 times to refer to men. First
use of Adonai, Gen. 15:2. (Ex. 4:10; Judges 6:15; 2 Sam. 7:18-20; Ps. 8, 114:7,
135:5, 141:8, 109:21-28). Heavy use in Isaiah (Adonai Jehovah). 200 times by
Ezekiel. Ten times in Dan. 9.
JEHOVAH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd" Psa. 23, from "ro'eh"
(to pasture).
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord is There" (Ezek. 48:35). "The One Who is with us everywhere for He is
Omnipresent" - The Jerusalem of Ezekiel's vision (see Ezekiel 48:35
margin) was known by this name. Compare text at Isaiah 60:19-20 and Revelation
21:3.
JEHOVAH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts" The commander of the
angelic host and the armies of God. Isa. 1:24; Psa. 46:7, 11; 2 Kings 3:9-12;
Jer. 11:20 (NT: Rom. 9:29; James 5:24, Rev. 19: 11-16).
The Lord of Hosts, our Protector." C.H. Spurgeon said this about the phrase "The Lord of Hosts:
"The Lord rules the angels, the stars, the elements, and all the hosts of Heaven; and the Heaven of heavens is under His sway... [the Lord] is on our side -- our august Ally; woe unto those who fight against Him, for they shall flee like smoke before the wind when He gives the word to scatter them."
ZUR: "God our Rock" Deut. 32:18; Isa. 30:29.
MELEKH: "King" Psa. 5:2, 29:10, 44:4, 47:6-8, 48:2, 68:24,
74:12, 95:3, 97:1, 99:4, 146:10; Isa. 5:1, 5, 41:21, 43:15, 44:6; 52:7, 52:10.
Malachi calls Messiah "The Sun of Righteousness" (Malachi 4:2).
Isaiah calls Messiah "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God (El Gibhor),
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6).
'ATTIQ-YOMIN: (Aramaic): "Ancient of Days," Dan. 7:9, 13, 22.
"The Angel of the Lord: " Gen. 16:7ff, 21:17, 22:11, 15ff, 18:1-19:1,
24:7, 40, 31:11-13, 32:24-30; Ex. 3:6, 13:21, Ezek. 1:10-13. Seen in the
theophanies, or pre-incarnate appearances of the Son of God in the OT (See I
Cor. 10:3 NT).
FATHER: Num. 1:9; I Sam. 16:6; Ex. 4:22-23; 2 Sam. 7:14-15; Psa. 2:7;
Isa.
63:16, 64:8; Mal. 1:6.
THE FIRST AND LAST: Isa. 44:6, 48:12.
KURIOS: "Lord" Found some 600 times in the NT.
DESPOTES: "Lord" 5 times: Lu. 2:29; Acts 4:24; 2 Pet. 2:1; Jude
4; Rev. 6:10.
THEOS: "God" (equivalent to the Hebrew Elohim), 1,000 times in
the NT. In the NT all the persons of the trinity are called "God" at
one time or another.
I AM: Jesus upset his generation especially when He said, "Before
Abraham was, I AM," John 8:58. Note also his claim to be Jehovah in such
phrases as "I AM the Light of the world," "the bread of
life," living water," "the Resurrection and the Life,"
"the Way, Truth and the Life" in John's Gospel. From the Hebrew OT
verb "to be" signifying a Living, Intelligent, Personal Being.
THEOTES: "Godhead" Col. 2:9; Rom. 1:20.
HUPSISTOS: "Highest" Mt. 21:9.
SOTER: "Savior" Luke 1:4 7.
JESUS: Derived from the Hebrew "Joshua" (Y'shua) or "Je-Hoshua"
meaning JEHOVAH IS SALVATION.
CHRIST: is equivalent to the Hebrew 'Messiah' (Meshiach), "The
Anointed One."
Other NT Titles for Jesus: Shepherd of the Sheep; Master; King of kings;
Lord of lords; Bishop and Guardian of our Souls; Daystar, Deliverer, Advocate,
Second Adam, Ancient of Days, Branch, Chief Cornerstone, Immanuel, First Born,
Head of the Body, Physician, Rock, Root of Jesse, Stone, Potentate; Chief
Apostle; Great High Priest; Pioneer and Perfecter of our Faith (or Author and
Finisher); Lamb of God; Lamb Slain before the Foundation of the World; Lord God
Almighty.
LOGOS: "The Word of God" John l; Rev. 19:13.
SOPHIA: "The Wisdom of God," referring to Christ, refers back
to Proverbs (I Cor. 1,2)
Father, Son, Holy Spirit: Christian orthodoxy has always understood God
to be One God in Three Persons (Elohim). In The NT each person of the godhead is
called "God" and "Lord" at least once.
Names for the Holy Spirit: Counselor; Comforter; Baptiser; Advocate;
Strengthener; Sanctifier; Spirit of Christ (not the same as the spirit of
Christ); Seven-Fold Spirit (Rev.); Spirit of Truth; Spirit of Grace; Spirit of
Mercy; Spirit of God; Spirit of Holiness; Spirit of Life. Symbolized in OT and
NT by (l) breath or wind; (2) fire; (3) water; (4) oil; (5) light; (6) a dove.
If the Church world would wake up and see that the seven redemptive names of God are not put in the Old Testament as a decoration. But as a way of expressing His readiness and availability to address every situation and circumstance that we the body of Jesus Christ may find ourselves in. Every circumstance imaginable that we usually have to do with has already been addressed in or through these seven redemptive names of our God. These are the names through which God meets you and me at the point of our needs. These names reveal God to us in His various capacities as He meets every need that arises in the life of man especially that of every born again child of God.
Jewish people understood that for each need that arose there was a side of God that would respond to that need, and hence they took advantage of that availability of God to quickly address their needs. I believe it was by corrupting these attributes of God that made the Greeks came up with the gods of fertility, the gods of rain, etc, such as the names given to Barnabas and Paul of Zeus and Hermes (Acts 14: 11-13).
The good thing about these names of God is that they were not restricted to the Jewish people alone, they were for the whoever believes in the finished worked of Calvary by the Son of God. And that is our good news, whoever dares believe in Jesus becomes a beneficiary of these seven redemptive names of our God and Father. These names also reveal the nature of God as a loving Father. God never meant for the Jews to make a monopoly of these Names.
This was done because Israel took their God to be a personal possession who was protected from being accessed by men from other nations. But God showed that he was for all the people of the earth as long as they could accept to abide by His Word, which was by then the Law of Moses. The good thing about God our Father is that He never changes, and His commandment to man has never been altered. When He spoke to the nation of Israel on the need for them to keep His Law He said these words; Deut. 10: 17, 18
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.
He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.
The writers of the New Testament interpreted the word impartiality as no respecter, therefore from this statement you can see that God treats all men equally as longs as they submitted to His authority and rule.
Look at these names individually and see what each name has in store for each one of us who are born again into the family of God through the work of Calvary.
The Seven Redemptive Names of God
JEHOVAH-JIREH
"The Lord our provider" - This is also the name Abraham gave to the place where the Lord provided a sacrifice in place of Isaac. (Gen. 22:14).
JEHOVAH-NISSI
"Our banner, a banner of love and protection" - Also the name Moses gave to the altar he built after defeating the Amalekites (Ex. 17:15).
JEHOVAH-SHALOM
"Our perfect peace" - Also the name Gideon gave to the altar he built at Ophrah (Judges 6:24)
JEHOVAH-TSID-KENU
"The Lord is our righteousness" - The name is applied to a future Davidic king who would lead his people to do what is right and thus bring peace (Jeremiah 23:6) and to the restored city of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 33:16). The name is possibly a play on the name of Zedekiah ("Righteous [is] the Lord") who reigned from 597 to 587 B.C..
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH
"The One Who is with us everywhere for He is Omnipresent" - The Jerusalem of Ezekiel's vision (see Ezekiel 48:35 margin) was known by this name. Compare text at Isaiah 60:19-20 and Revelation 21:3.
JEHOVAH-SABAOTH
"The Lord of Hosts, our Protector." C.H. Spurgeon said this about the phrase "The Lord of Hosts:
The Lord rules the angels, the stars, the elements, and all the hosts of Heaven; and the Heaven of heavens is under His sway... [the Lord] is on our side -- our august Ally; woe unto those who fight against Him, for they shall flee like smoke before the wind when He gives the word to scatter them."
JEHOVAH-RAAH
"Our Shepherd Who tenderly leads us, loves us and will keep us safe." - the famous Psalm 23 tells us that "The Lord is our Shepherd and we shall not want...." Being illustrated as a shepherd implies a relationship with His sheep (His believers). The term shepherd appears approximately 80 times in the Scriptures, denotating meanings of: feeder, keeper, companion, friend, pastor and herdsman.
God did not give Himself these names so that He could sound fanciful. He put them in operation because He knew that we the human race would need them to keep the devil away from all and us that belong unto us.
Revelation 1:7-8 Jesus was the Almighty.
Genesis 17:1 And the Almighty was God.
John 8:58 Jesus was the "I Am"
Exodus 3:14 and the "I Am" was God
Acts 3:14 Jesus was the "HOLY ONE"
Isaiah 43:15 and the "HOLY ONE" was God
John 8:24 Jesus is the "I Am He"
Isaiah 43:10 and the "I Am He" was God
Revelation 22:13 Jesus is the "First and the Last"
Isaiah 44:6 and the "First and the Last" was God
I Corinthians 10:4 Jesus was "The Rock"
Psalm 18:31 and "The Rock" was God
II Corinthians 11:2 Jesus was the "One HUSBAND"
Jeremiah 31:32 and the "One HUSBAND" was God
Matthew 23:8 Jesus was the "ONE MASTER"
Malachi 1:6 and the "ONE MASTER" was God
John 10:16 Jesus was the "One SHEPHERD"
Isaiah 40:11 and the "ONE SHEPHERD" was God
Acts 4:12 Jesus was the "ONE SAVIOR"
Isaiah 45:21 and the "ONE SAVIOR" was God
Luke 1:68 Jesus was the "ONE REDEEMER"
Isaiah 41:14 and the "ONE REDEEMER" was God
Revelation 19:16 Jesus was "LORD OF LORDS
1 Timothy 6:14 Jesus was "LORD OF LORDS
Deuteronomy 10:17 and the "LORD OF LORDS" was God
Philippians 2:10 Every knee must bow to Jesus
Isaiah 45:23 Every knee must bow to God
John 1: 3-10 Jesus was the "ONE CREATOR"
Isaiah 44:24 Jesus was the "ONE CREATOR"
Genesis. 1:1 and the "ONE CREATOR" was God
John 1:49 Jesus was "KING OF ISRAEL"
Isaiah 44:6 and the "KING OF ISRAEL" was God
Deuteronomy 4:35 The Lord He is God, there is NONE else beside him
Deuteronomy 4:39 there is None Else
Deuteronomy 6:4 the Lord our God is ONE Lord
Deuteronomy 32:39 I even I, am He and THERE IS NO GOD WITH ME
1 Kings 8:60 The LORD is God - There is None Else
2 Kings 19:15 You ALONE are the only true God
Psalm 86:10 You are God, YOU ALONE
Isaiah 40:8 I am Jehovah, and to no one else shall I give my own glory
Isaiah 43:10,11 Before me there was no God formed
NEITHER SHALL THERE BE AFTER ME. I, EVEN I AM THE LORD:
AND BESIDE ME THERE IS NO SAVIOR.
Isaiah 44:6 I AM THE FIRST, AND THE LAST: AND BESIDE ME THERE IS NO GOD
Isaiah 45:5 I am the Lord, and there is NONE ELSE, THERE IS NO GOD BESIDE ME
Isaiah 45:6 There is NONE beside Me. I am the Lord and there is NONE else.
Isaiah 45:15 you are a God, the /god of Israel, a Savior.
Isaiah 45:22 turn to me and be saved. For I am God, and there is no one else
Isaiah 48:11 I will not give my glory unto another.
Isaiah 45:5
Isaiah 48:12 I am he, I am the first, I also am the Last. Revelation 1:8
Hosea 13:4 I am Jehovah your God, there was no God except me, and there was no savior but I.
Joel 2:27 I am your God, and None Else
Zechariah 14:9 In that day shall there be ONE LORD AND HIS NAME ONE
Philippians 2:11 that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father
Matthew 23:9 For one is your Father, the heavenly one
Mark 12:29 Jehovah our G_D is one Jehovah
Introduction
Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and lo, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, "I will turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here am I." Then he said, "Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the LORD said, "I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters; I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?" He said, "But I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain." Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, `The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, `What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, `I AM has sent me to you.'" God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, `The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you': this is my name for ever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (Exodus 3:1-15)
1. Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, `He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Lord, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:26-35)
2. Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The Pharisees then said to him, "You are bearing witness to yourself; your testimony is not true." Jesus answered, "Even if I do bear witness to myself, my testimony is true, for I know whence I have come and whither I am going, but you do not know whence I come or whither I am going. You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone that judge, but I and he who sent me. In your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true; I bear witness to myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness to me." They said to him therefore, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father; if you knew me, you would know my Father also." These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. (John 8:12-20)
3. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
4. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father." (John 10:10-14)
5.[Jesus]...said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep." The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead; and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world." (John 11:11-27)
6. "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him." (John 14:1-7)
7. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.(John 15:1-10)
8. Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see death." The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, `If any one keeps my word, he will never taste death.' Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you claim to be?" esus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your God. But you have not known him; I know him. If I said, I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad." The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." So they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.(John 8:51-59)
9. When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples across the Kidron valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, procuring a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to befall him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I AM." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When he said to them, "I AM," they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he; so, if you seek me, let these men go." This was to fulfill the word which he had spoken, "Of those whom thou gavest me I lost not one." (John 18:1-9)
"Prayer is for the Religious life what original research is for Science - by it we get contact with reality"
P.T.
Forsyth
The Soul of Prayer
"This has been a small concept of the names and uses of the Names of GOD. As you see from all my articles that I get right to the point. The way it should be. This will get you to use them in your Prayer time!"