"Our fathers in Egypt understood not nor appreciated Your miracles; they did not [earnestly] remember the multitude of Your mercies nor imprint Your loving-kindness [on their hearts], but they were rebellious and provoked the Lord at the sea, even at the Red Sea. Nevertheless He saved them for His name's sake [to prove the righteousness of the divine character], that He might make His mighty power known." -King David
Since the beginning of time, God has always performed miracles for HIS NAME'S sake.
Have you ever been humbled by God doing something so incredibly great that you reply, "God I don't deserve this?"
Why did God do it? Not just because He loves you; but for HIS NAME'S SAKE.
Samuel said to the people in 1 Sam 12:20-22:
"FEAR NOT. You have indeed done all this evil; yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve Him with all your heart. And turn not aside after vain and worthless things which cannot profit or deliver you, for they are empty and futile. The Lord will not forsake His people for His GREAT NAME'S SAKE, for it has pleased Him to make you a people for Himself."
God made us for Himself and is pleased to call us His own.
Just think for a moment and get excited, that in spite all of our failures, all of our sins and transgression that FOR HIS GREAT NAME'S SAKE, God will NEVER forsake us. He will not forsake His anointed, His sons and daughters, His joint heirs, His kings and priests, His human purpose or plan on the earth that was fashioned and created in His own image.
That means, we never lose access to His THRONE. Yet in the midst of what I have done and what He is still giving me, I learn that God answers prayer not because I am perfect, OR because I have earned it, OR have done everything right in the past, but for His Name's sake.
My wife and I have been reading a marriage devotional by Dr. Gary Smalley called "I PROMISE YOU FOREVER" and one of the promises to make to your spouse is, "I PROMISE TO LOVE YOU UNCONDITIONALLY WITHOUT CRITICISM OR EXPECTATION."
And I am learning that no matter how I sugarcoat it, God will not prosper any act birthed (or done) in the wrong spirit, motive or intention. In the past, I have been guilty of doing things to try and make her fill some need that I had; but because my needs were paramount in doing it, it lacked genuine love or authenticity.
But God will not release His Presence into anything where my will is imposed or forced.
To the contrary, when I focus on my wife's needs and nothing else, the most amazing thing happens: somehow ALL OF MY NEEDS GET MET.
So, when we come into the Presence of God, we come boldly; His doors are wide open for us. No sin is too great, no alley IS toO dark, no chasm IS too wide that His grace and forgiveness CANNOT reach. Paul was a murderer of Christians and God transformed his heart (as the watercourses in the sea) to build what he had formally destroyed.
And when your name has been ruined or smeared by your past (and it no longer meets the criteria or standard of men), God has a name that is far above the name of every other name, every failure, every accusation, every sin and offense in your life.
AND HE WILL DO WHAT HE SAID FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE.
King David wrote in Ps. 31:1-4:
"IN YOU O Lord, do I put my trust and seek refuge; let me never be put to shame or [have my hope in You] disappointed; deliver me in Your righteousness! Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily! Be my Rock of refuge, a strong Fortress to save me! Yes, You are my Rock and my Fortress; therefore for Your name's sake lead me and guide me. Draw me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me, for You are my Strength and my Stronghold."
GOD DO IT FOR YOUR NAME SAKE.
· I don't deserve the promotion.
· I don't deserve the million dollar client or contract.
· I don't deserve the house or marriage.
· I don't deserve the second chance to be healthy, raise my children or walk in my dreams.
BUT DO IT FOR YOUR NAME SAKE.
· Lord, I fixed my credit in the past, but messed it up again.
· My business is suffering.
· My relationships are in distress; the cancer has come back.
BUT LORD, DO IT FOR YOUR NAME'S SAKE. Give me favor, wisdom, integrity and hope to heal, repair and refresh my life again.
RIGHT NOW, there are two things God wants to do for you:
1. RESTORE YOU SUPERNATURALLY.
Ps. 80:7-10: "Restore us again, O God of hosts; and cause Your face to shine [upon us with favor as of old], and we shall be saved! You brought a vine [Israel] out of Egypt; You drove out the [heathen] nations and planted it [in Canaan]. You prepared room Before it, and it took deep root and it filled the land. The mountains were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs of it were like the great cedars [cedars of God].
Your life is preparing to take deep root. This a season for BOLD DREAMS, BOLD PRAYERS/REPENTANCE, BOLD LEADERSHIP AND GIVING so God can replant you and fill the land again with your influence.
2. CLEAR OUT YOUR BARNS TO MAKE ROOM FOR SOMETHING NEW.
Lev 26:3-9: "If you live by my decrees and obediently keep my commandments, I will send the rains in their seasons, the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. You will thresh until the grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting time; you'll have more than enough to eat and will live safe and secure in your land. 6-9 "I'll make the country a place of peace-you'll be able to go to sleep at night without fear; I'll give you my full attention: I'll make sure you prosper, make sure you grow in numbers, and keep my covenant with you in good working order. You'll still be eating from last year's harvest when you have to clean out the barns to make room for the new crops.
Today, make room for something new.
You will possess your inheritance the same way God possessed His out of Egypt (the world system):
"...By trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand, by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, before their eyes in Egypt." (Dt. 4:34)
The old crops; that old job, old client cannot compare to the new one God is giving you.
God has promised a harvest so great that it will last until planting time. No more superficial ideas (without plans), no more surface repentance (without reforms), no more surface volunteering (without allegiance), no more surface work (without commitment and loyalty.)
HIS FACE WILL SHINE AGAIN WITH FAVOR.
And when God does something new in your life, you will never be ashamed of your past (the old.)
