Name Above All Names

Tonight I've had an awesome little worship session.  My roommate must think I'm a crazy person because I've been sitting at my desk, hands lifted, eyes closed, mouthing the lyrics to worship songs for more than 20 minutes.  If you 20 minutes and want to have an nice worshipful time I would suggest watching this video.  http://youtu.be/92QFcpy0XC4  Two of my favorite Hillsong songs. :)  Tonight the lyrics of Inside Out really hit me.

"In my heart, in my soul

I give you control

Consume me from the inside out Lord

Let justice and praise

Become my embrace

To love you from the inside out" 

Do we really give God full control?  I know I struggle in doing so, but I'm working on it.
Another thing that hit me was the name of Jesus.  Philippians 2:5-11 says

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing, 

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death-

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place 

and gave him the name that is above every name,

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."

Let me repeat verses 9-11 with a few words italicized for emphasis. "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 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."

I know I don't bow down or confess that Jesus Christ is Lord every time I hear his name. And I know for a fact a lot of people use his name in vain.  I like Tom "The Illusionist" Coverly's shirts that say "Jesus Christ is my Savior, not a swear word" or something like that.  (If you don't know who Tom is-he's an awesome magician with a powerful testimony.  Check him out, it's good stuff)  

The name above all names goes to a man who went from "all powerful God" to nothing.  He came to be a human and die for us.  And his death was not a pretty one.  It wasn't just "I'll just die a quick and painless death."  It was hours of torture, suffering, agony, and separation from God the Father.  I can't even begin to imagine what it was like to witness Jesus's death, let alone what he was feeling.  In his Easter morning sermon, my Dad pointed out that Jesus was a human- he felt human emotions.  I will never know what it was like for him to separated from his father.  Matthew 27: 46 says "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Elio, lama sabachthani?"-which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" "  I like what my Study Bible says about this verse. It says "Jesus was not questioning God: he was quoting the first line of Psalm 22-a deep expression of the anguish he felt when he took the sins of the world, which caused him to separated from his Father. This was what Jesus dreaded as he prayed to God in the garden to take the cup from him ( [Matthew] 26:39). The physical agony was horrible, but even worse was the period of spiritual separation from God. Jesus suffered this double death so that we would never have to experience eternal separation from God."  

If you have a few listen minutes really listen to this song or just read the lyrics below. 

http://youtu.be/5eg-AlKyz3E

At the startHe was there, He was thereIn the end,He’ll be there, He’ll be there

And After all our hands have wroughtHe forgives

Oh the Glory of it all is:He came hereFor the rescue of us allThat we may liveFor the glory of it allFor the glory of it all

All is lostFind him there, find him thereAfter nightDawn is there, Dawn is there

After all falls apartHe repairs he repairs

Oh the Glory of it all is:He came here
for the rescue of us allThat we may liveFor the glory of it all

Oh He is hereFor redemption from the fallThat we may liveFor the glory of it allOh the glory of it allThe glory of it allOh the glory of it all

After nightComes the lightDawn is hereDawn is hereIt’s a new dayIt’s a new dayEverything will changeThings will never be the sameWe will never be the sameWe will never be the sameWe will never be the sameWe will never be the same

Oh, The glory of it all isYou came hereFor the rescue of us allThat we may liveFor the glory of it all

Oh you are hereWith redemption for us allThat we may liveFor the glory of it allFor the glory of it allOh the glory of it all

-Courts Mcgee

Never Underestimate My Jesus

Today two explosions went off at the Boston Marathon.  This only adds to the list of tragedies that have been plaguing our world.   As I was listening to my iTunes the song "For Moments I Feel Faint" by Relient K played.  I was struck by the lyrics.  "Never underestimate my Jesus. You're tellin' me that there's no hope, I'm tellin' you, you're wrong. Never underestimate my Jesus. When the world around you crumbles he will be strong, He will be strong." It doesn't matter if the world is literally falling apart around you Jesus will be strong.  Nothing is impossible for God.  Here is a link to the song if you want to take a listen, I strongly encourage you to do so. http://youtu.be/pr_roqia0nc

This past Sunday, Pastor Craig Groeschel  delivered a powerful message about Jesus being the Light of the world.  He talked about how Jesus is our hope, and with a little hope we can get through anything.  It's amazing to me when God ties all these events going on in the world around me together.   If you have time, watch his sermon at http://www.lifechurch.tv/watch. (It is Part 3 "I am the Light of the World")

Relient K has written some of the greatest (In my opinion) worship songs.  Some of them have certain lines that just are very convicting and really make me think.  I'll have to write a separate post about them.  

Anyways the point of all this is can be summed up in one statement: Jesus is the Hope of the world.  It doesn't matter how dire our situation may be, there is hope. Not just any hope, the hope of the world.  The Almighty God is looking out for us.  Go and share this hope with all people!

Courts Mcgee