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Sermon #154 — Romans Series

 

Title:                           Three Names for Our God

 

Text:                            Romans 15:5-33

Subject:                     Divine Names Inspiring Prayer

Date:                          Sunday Morning — August 19, 2018

Reading:       Isaiah 52:1-10

 

(1) Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

(2) Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

(3) For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.

(4) For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

(5) Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

(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.

(7) How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

(8) Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.

(9) Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

(10) The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

 

Introduction

 

Throughout the Word of God names were given to children that had special meaning and significance. Sometimes a personÕs name would be changed, or a name would be ascribed to him, either by God or by someone else, indicating radical change of life. Here are few examplesÉ

  • Adam means Òred earth,Ó indicating his being created by God from the dust of the earth.
  • Jacob means Òcheat, supplanter;Ó but God changed his name to Israel, which means Òprince with God.Ó
  • Moses means Òdrawn forth.Ó He was named that because PharaohÕs daughter drew him out of the water.
  • Jesus means ÒJehovah who saves.Ó

In the Bible, the name given to a person says something about that person.

 

The same thing is true concerning the names of the Lord our God. But, no single word in human language is sufficient to serve as a name for him. Therefore, there are many words or names by which God makes himself known to man. The names applied to God in Scripture describe his glorious character, reveal his great attributes, and display his redemptive purpose.

 

Proposition: GodÕs name tells us who he is and inspires faith in him.

 

(Psalm 9:10) They that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

 

In the 15th chapter of Romans, as the inspired writer brings his epistle to a conclusion, he gives us three names for our God. LetÕs look at them together. As we do, may God the Holy Spirit graciously inscribe his name upon our hearts and teach us to trust him.

 

The God of Patience

 

1sted — In Romans 15:5 our great God is called Òthe God of patience and consolation.Ó What a great name for God this is! — ÒThe God of Patience and Consolation!Ó

 

(Romans 15:5-6 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: (6) That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

ÒThe God of Patience and ConsolationÓ — He who is ÒThe God of all graceÓ (1 Peter 5:10) and Òthe God of loveÓ (2 Corinthians 13:1) is Òthe God of patience and consolation.Ó He who teaches us patience and consolation by the things written in the Scriptures is himself both the source and the example of patience and consolation. He is Òthe God of patience and consolation,Ó the God of longsuffering and of comfort.

 

In the opening verses of this chapter Paul teaches us to be patient with one another that we might console and comfort one another. But he knew well that his exhortations would fall upon deaf ears unless Òthe God of patience and consolationÓ is pleased to teach us Òpatience and consolation,Ó working Òpatience and consolationÓ in us by his grace.

 

He who is our God is Òthe God of patience!Ó — He is the one who effectually teaches us patience and works it in us by his grace. Patience is the fruit of the Spirit produced in chosen, redeemed, heaven-born sinnersÉ

á      By Grace.

á      By His Word.

á      By His Providence. — ÒTribulation worketh patience.Ó — ÒYe have heard of the patience of Job.Ó

 

Here our hearts and minds are directed to Òthe God of patienceÓ that we might both rejoice in his goodness and imitate him. In all things our God is himself the pattern much follow. Being the God of patience, he bears much and bears long with the children of men.

 

How patient, forbearing, and longsuffering our God is and has been with us!

á      The Patient, Longsuffering Forbearance of God Our Father — See it portrayed in the Prodigal Son!

á      The Patient, Longsuffering Forbearance of God Our Savior — In the Days of Our Rebellion! — In Our Times of Languishing! — When We are Fallen!

á      The Patient, Longsuffering Forbearance of God Our Comforter — When We Hardened Our Hearts! — When We Yet Harden Our Hearts!

 

Truly, we must Òaccount that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvationÓ (2 Peter 3:5). He waits to be gracious to his elect before conversion and after it bears with our infirmities, heals our backslidings, forgives our iniquities. He patiently hears our cries, relieves our burdens, and carries us.

 

(Isaiah 30:18-19) And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. (19) For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

 

(Isaiah 46:3-4) Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: (4) And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

 

(Isaiah 63:9) In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

 

Is God patient with us? How patient we ought to be with one another!

á      Patient with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

á      Patient with unbelievers and rebels.

á      Patient with our enemies.

 

Is God patient with us? How patient his servants ought to be with those we serve! Over, and over again, in Holy Scripture GodÕs servants, gospel preachers are taught of God to be patient, patient in afflictions and in need (2 Corinthians 4:6) and patient with men, following Òafter righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meeknessÓ (1 Timothy 6:11).

 

(1 Thessalonians 5:14) We exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

 

(1 Timothy 3:1-3) This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (3) Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous.

 

(2 Timothy 2:24-26) The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

 

I have had occasion this week to correspond with two pastors about this very thing.

á     An Older Friend Discouraged about Lack of Expressed Appreciation for His Work — I wrote to him, ÒIÕve been writing bulletin articles for our congregation, two every week, for more 50 years. In all those years I donÕt recall ½ dozen encouraging comments from anyone. Many donÕt even bother to take them home. — What a sad commentary about the people for whom we labor! All the more reason for us to labor on.Ó

 

á     A Younger Friend Frustrated with His People — To this young man I wrote, ÒNever carry your anger and disappointment into the pulpit. Rather, always seek to do what we are commanded to do in preaching (Isaiah 40:1-2). Pastoring is a relentless, heavy burden. It is not for the faint of heart. If God has put you in this work and given you the high honor of this gift, you must constantly seek his grace and strength to supply you withÉ

á     A Tender Heart for His People,

á     An Ear Deaf to Criticism and Slander, (It is hard to hold your tongue, but you will never regret holding it. It is easy to speak your mind, but you will usually regret speaking it.)

á     Shoulders Broad Enough and Strong Enough to Carry Piles of Rocks,

á     Hands Gentle Enough to Wipe a BabyÕs Tears,

á     A Backbone of Steel as Wide as a Freeway, and

á     The Hide of a Rhinoceros.

I am fully convinced that there is no work more demanding, less appreciated, and more totally consuming, and no work so honorable, so blessed, and so satisfying as the work of the ministry.Ó

 

Is God patient with us? How patient we ought to be before him! Wait patiently before his providence. Shelby called my attention to something that came across her desk this week that both she and I found both delightful and instructive.

 

ÒOne Sunday morning at a small southern church, the new pastor called on one of his older deacons to lead in the opening prayer. The deacon stood up, bowed his head, and said, ÔLord, I hate buttermilk.Õ The pastor opened one eye and wondered where this was going.

 

The deacon continued, ÔLord, I hate lard.Õ Now the pastor was totally perplexed.

 

The deacon continued, ÔLord, I ainÕt too crazy about plain flour. But after you mix Ôem all together and bake Ôem in a hot oven, I just love biscuits. Lord, help us to realize when life gets hard, when things come up that we donÕt like, whenever we donÕt understand what you are doing, that we need to wait and see what you are making. After you get through mixing and baking, itÕll be something even better than biscuits. Amen.Ó

 

Blessed Spirit of God, God of Patience, teach me patience! He it is upon whom and for whom we should patiently wait.

 

As he is Òthe God of patience,Ó the Lord or God is Òthe God of consolation!Ó — All true, real, solid comfort comes from him. Our Lord Jesus Christ, his dear Son, is Òthe consolation of Israel He is our Comfort.

 

God the Holy Spirit is Òthe ComforterÓ sent down from heaven to comfort chosen, redeemed sinners.

á     By the Gospel in Conviction (John16:7-11)

á     By the Doctrines and Promises of His Word Giving Strong Consolation to the Heirs of Promise

á     By the Ordinances of the Gospel — The Breasts of Consolation

á     Faithful Gospel Preachers — The ChurchÕs ÒBarnabasesÓ — Sons of Consolation (Acts 4:36)

 

Look at Romans 15:5-6 again.

 

(Romans 15:5-6) Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: (6) That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

ÒGrant you to be like minded one toward another.Ó — PaulÕs prayer here is that Òthe God of patience and consolationÓ might make us patient, longsuffering, and forgiving, and a source of comfort to one another, according to his own example in Christ (Ephesians 4:30-32).

 

(Ephesians 4:32-5:2) Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (5:1) Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; (2) And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

 

When I have forgiven every wrong against me, when I have borne every hard word or thought, when I have overlooked every weakness and comforted every fallen friend, I still have not endured one atom of what Christ bore for me and from me (Matthew 18:21-22).

 

Read onÉ

 

(Romans 15:6) That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

á     God is glorified when the perfections of his nature are recognized and the work of his hands is praised.

á     God is glorified when his mercy and grace in Christ are received, adored, and proclaimed.

á     God is glorified when his people approach him in worship and adoration.

á     God is glorified when our lives and conversations are agreeable to his calling!

á     How can we glorify God if we are divided in heart, spirit, and doctrine?

 

God has promised he will give his people one heart and one way, that we may fear him. And he gives his redeemed one heart and one way to love and serve one another. That Way is Christ.

á     The Doctrine of Christ

á     The New Commandment of Christ

á     The Example of Christ

 

The God of Hope

 

2nd— In Romans 15:13 we are given another name by which our God makes himself known — ÒThe God of Hope

 

(Romans 15:13) Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

(Psalm 146:5) Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.

 

(Jeremiah 17:7) Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

 

(1 Peter 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

 

ÒThe God of HopeÓ — What a great name that is for our God! In verse 12 the Apostle speaks of our Lord Jesus Christ, Òthe Root of Jesse,Ó whom he has given us grace to trust. Now, trusting him, we have hope, Òa good hope through grace!Ó

 

(Romans 15:12) And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

 

(Isaiah 11:10) In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

 

(Isaiah 11:12) And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

 

(2 Thessalonians 2:13-17) We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (14) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (15) Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. (16) Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, (17) Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

 

The Lord our God is called Òthe God of hopeÓ because all true hope with respect to forgiveness of sin and divine favor is from God and is effectually wrought in the heart by God himself. Any hope of which he is not the Author and Giver is false and fatal!

 

ÒFill you with all joy and peace in believingÓ — True joy and peace are the gifts of God in Christ. Joy and peace generated by human philosophy, fleshly comforts, and emotional spasms of religious excitement are temporary.

á     ÒThere is pleasure in sin for a season,Ó but only for a season!

á     The joy of redemption and the peace of Christ are eternal and real, even in the midst of human misery and severe trial.

 

ÒThat you may abound in hopeÓ — The more we know the joy and peace of Christ, the greater will be our hope. Joy and peace, as well as all other spiritual blessings, come from God through faith and in proportion to faith. The more we are able to rejoice in our blessings in Christ and enter into the peace of Christ, the stronger will be our confidence and hope of future glory.

 

ÒThrough the power of the Holy GhostÓ — God gives us hope through the agency and by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18).

 

(John 14:16-18) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; (17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

 

We have patience and consolation from God just in proportion as we trust Christ and find hope in him.

á     Hope in His Covenant

á     Hope in His Righteousness

á     Hope in His Redemption

á     Hope in His Promises

á     Hope in His Rule

á     Hope in His Intercession

á     Hope in His Coming

 

(Isaiah 26:1-4) In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. (2) Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. (3) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (4) Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

 

The God of Peace

 

3rd — Go back to Romans 15 again. This time we will look at verse 33. Here is the third name given to our God in this chapter — ÒThe God of Peace.Ó

 

(Romans 15:33) Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

 

This seems to have been one of PaulÕs favorite names for God. What a good name for him it is — ÒThe God of Peace!Ó

 

(2 Corinthians 13:11) Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

 

(Philippians 4:9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

 

(1 Thessalonians 5:23) The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

(2 Thessalonians 3:16) Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

 

(Hebrews 13:20) Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.

 

(Romans 16:20) And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

 

á     ÒThe God of PeaceÓ made peace between himself and his people by the blood of Christ.

á     His thoughts toward us are Òthoughts of peaceÓ from everlasting (Jeremiah 29:11).

á     He entered into a Covenant of Peace with Christ for us (Ezekiel 34:25; 37:26).

á     The Counsel of Peace is between them both (Zechariah 6:13).

 

Christ our Savior is the Prince of Peace and the Way of Peace. It pleased God to reconcile us to himself by punishing his own dear Son in our place (Colossians 1:20; Isaiah 53:4-11; Psalm 89:19-37). The chastisement of our peace was laid on him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 

(Isaiah 53:4-11) Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (7) He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (8) He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. (9) And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. (10) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (11) He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

 

(Psalm 89:19-37) Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. (20) I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: (21) With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. (22) The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. (23) And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. (24) But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. (25) I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. (26) He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. (27) Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (28) My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. (29) His seed also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. (30) If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; (31) If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; (32) Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. (33) Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. (34) My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. (35) Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. (36) His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. (37) It shall be established forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

 

It is God the Spirit who gives sinners, when born again by his grace, Òpeace in believingÓ (Romans 15:13), true and solid conscience peace, the peace of God, Òwhich passeth all understanding.Ó

á     Peace of Righteousness

á     Peace of Atonement

á     Peace of Forgiveness

á     Peace of Justification

á     Peace of a Pure Conscience

á     Peace of Confident Faith

á     Peace of Bowing (Matthew 1128-30)

 

The Amen

 

4th — Now, look just briefly at the very last word of this chapter — ÒAmen.Ó Let me say just a little about the Amen. We seldom pay much attention to this word ÒAmenÓ because it is used so often in Scripture and because it is a word we often use. It means Òsurely, so be it, so it shall be, verily, certain, sure, true, faithful.Ó But this, too, is one of the distinguishing names of our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, as Christ God-man Mediator (Revelation 3:14).

 

(Revelation 3:14) Unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

 

Our blessed Savior is JehovahÕs Yea and Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20), the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. That is in his mediatorial character.

á     Christ is the Amen to the God of Patience and Consolation who shall make his people one and shall present us faultless before the presence of his glory to the glory of God.

á     Christ is the Amen to the God of Hope who will soon fulfil and satisfy our hope with himself.

á     Christ is the Amen to the God of Peace who is and will be our peace forever in the world to come.

 

(Romans 15:5-6) Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: (6) That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

(Romans 15:13) Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

(Romans 15:33) Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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