“Lord, I can’t do it”, I cried to the Lord.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m only a no-named nobody!”
“So you think if you were well known, you could do it?”
“Probably.”
“Are you saying it’s your name that makes the difference between accomplishing My will or not?”
“Uh, well, I…”
“You’re right. You can’t do it, if you trust in your name. And, if you won’t attempt to do My will because you are ‘a no-named nobody’, you’ve failed already!”
Can you identify with the above conversation? I can. So can a lot of people mentioned in the Bible.
For instance: “How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.” (Hebrews 11:32-38 NLT)
Gideon, Barack, and the rest, didn’t have a “name” when God used them. There were others, such as Noah, Moses, Aaron, who were well known during their day, but not for what they accomplished for God. What they accomplished by faith in God’s Name is what gave them their place in Hebrews 11.
Throughout the New Testament there are scores of examples; examples of people who didn’t have a “name” until they yielded to, trusted in, and were empowered by “The Name”. Peter, James, John and the rest; we would never have heard of them. Others, used mightily by the Lord, did great things but didn’t have their names recorded.
In Acts 11, when people were leaving Jerusalem by the droves because of persecution, some no-named believers went to Antioch, preached Jesus to the people, and started a great church.
Even the Name of Jesus became great AFTER He believed and obeyed His Father.
“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11 NLT)
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” (Hebrews 1:1-4 NKJV)
“…obtained a more excellent Name…”
The Kingdom of God isn’t about you or I. It doesn’t increase because God finds someone with “a name” who can help Him out. As far as He is concerned, there’s only one “Star”; Jesus.
It’s quite alright to be a “no-named nobody”. It really takes away the burden of having to live up to a name that has, at best, only a limited amount of power. For even the greatest name on earth cannot save, deliver, or heal a single soul! But the Name of Jesus…ah, now that’s a Name!
“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; “they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
“So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” (Mark 16:15-20 NKJV)
Your name may not be on the lips of everyone in corporate America. It may not be listed in the book of Great Christian Leaders. You may not know if you are an Apostle, Prophet, or a Teacher. Maybe no one calls you “doctor”! But if you know God, HE KNOWS YOU. If you’ll trust Him, He’ll empower you!
Jesus! All the Name a “no-named nobody” needs!
Jan Grace 