Sunday Morning Worship Service

Taking you to the word of the Lord this morning. I want to read two single verses as our text. We'll read from Proverbs and then from Ecclesiastes. We're going to read two verses. Uh and you stay with me for just a little bit. By the help of the Lord, we will study something special that the word has, not that I have, but that the word has. Calling your attention to the book of Proverbs, the 22nd chapter. We'll begin reading at verse number one. In Proverbs 22:1, "A good name is rather to be chosen than riches, than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold." Ecclesiastes 7:1, "A good name is better than precious ointment and the day of death than the day of one's birth." For a few moments, I hope to speak to us on this subject. What's in a name? What's in a name? Let's pray. Savior, we're grateful for your word. And I thank you for every individual that's in this house. I pray for those who are joining us for our services today online. Now, God, I pray that your word would reach down into our hearts and touch us. Lord, let us be moved, changed, and forever in your service because of the power of your word. We thank you in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. What's in the name? One of the exciting challenges of life comes when we make decisions as parents to name our children. There's a lot of factors that go into naming children. Do I name my son after myself so everybody calls him junior later on? Or in the case of multiple generation, you know, is he the second or the third or the fourth? Do I name my daughter after a beloved mother or aunt and grandmother or only to worry that any of the other beloved relatives will feel slighted because I didn't name my daughter after them? tough decisions. We contemplate all factors, including wanting to give our child a name that will later benefit them and make them successful. Oh, maybe I'll give them a Bible name. I know a lot of David's, Daniels, Samuel's, Isaac's, Joshua's, Sarah's, Ruth's, Rachel's, but I haven't run into a lot of uh Goliaths, Jezebel's, or Judas's. There's a lot to think about there with even Bible names. Sister Jamie and I, thinking we were being innovative, named my daughter Ashley, we gave her four names. Ashley Quintessa Brook Mcool. Her name was so long that when it came time for her to get a passport, they messed it up. Couldn't get it all on her passport. We followed up with my son Anthony. His name is Anthony Quinton Brooks Mcool. And you guessed it, as children, they ended up being and Bubba. But it was revised in our life to know that grandbabies get a chance at naming, too. Cuz no matter what Sister Jamie and I wanted to be called, we end up being called Mimi and Poppy. in East Tennessee. I promise you if you start asking, you'll find men, women, boys, girls, cats, and dogs, all named Payton at one time or another. Some name their children after esteemed men and women of history. My grandfather on the cook side, my mom's daddy, his name was Charles or Charlie Roosevelt Cook. His brother was also named after a president. Was it William McKinley and had a George Washington? But my grandfather, even though his name was Charlie Roosevelt Cook, they called him Rose. Still, there are other names that we just retreat from because they carry a stigma. I know of no one naming their children Benedict Arnold, Adolf Hitler, or Osama bin Laden. because the dubious deeds of those in those those individual I do know a few folks that their their names might be been lying been cheating been stealing but in Shakespeare Juliet Capulet said to Romeo Montigue when he in his passion for Juliet was willing to denounce his surname name because of their waring family. She said, "What's in a name?" That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. So I ask us today, what's in a name? Scripture is full of examples of names with particular meanings that would affect generations to come. Scripture tells us in Genesis 29:35, speaking of Leah and her last born, it said, "And she conceived again and bare a son, and she said, "Now will I praise the Lord. Therefore, she called his name Judah and left bearing or childbearing." Her previous son's names had lamented the trouble she was in. Reuben's name meant, "The Lord hath seen my affliction." >> Simeon's name meant, "The Lord hath heard I'm hated." Levi's name meant, "I hope my husband will now be attached to me." But you see, when she finally realized the importance of the last child she would bear, Judah, she named Judah, now will I praise the Lord. Her life had changed and a name had meant something. I will praise the Lord. Till this day here in the apostolic church and all that have any knowledge, if you say, "Send up Judah," that means now it's time to praise. We sing songs about let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Send up Judah. >> That means I'm going to praise. What's in a name anyway? >> Jacob would bear the name that meant suppler or deceiver. But in Genesis 32:27, we read an angel speaking to him after they had had a grappling match. And he said unto him, "What is thy name?" name and he said, "Jacob." The angel said to him, "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel." For as a prince hath a power with God and with men, and hast prevailed, an angel renamed Jacob. Jacob's old life, he had been a deceiver. He stole his older brother's birthright through all kind of hook, crook, and deceit. He had fooled a blind father. But you see, when he got in touch with an angel and he had a wrestling match. You see, that angel would step up and say, "I'm going to change your name. You're no longer a deceiver, but now your name will bear the name of God's chosen people for generation after generation. What a name change to be called, Israel." Amen. >> But you see, a multi-generational name can also bear a curse. For we see in 1 Samuel the 4th chapter after God's people had fallen into lusting after a leadership who had gone past his prime and had refused to say no to his son. speaking of Eli and his sons Hoffni and Phineas. Their evil and their disobedience before God had led to these events. In verse 16 of 1st Samuel 4, we read, "And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army." And he said, "What is there done to my son?" God's people had gone to war against the Philistines, but because of their sins, God no longer would protect them and give them victory. And a messenger had escaped the battle and returned to Eli the prophet. And the messenger answered and said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines. They're turning and running in defeat. And there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons, Hoffni and Phineas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. And it came to pass when he, speaking of the messenger, made mention of the ark of God, that he, speaking of the prophet Eli, fell from off the seat would back back backward by the side of the gate. his neck break and he died. Two generations now have died because of disobedience. It says for he was an old man and heavy and he had judged is Israel 40 years and his daughter-in-law Phineas wife was with child near to be delivered. And when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself in travail, for her pains came upon her. She began to deliver during this most stressful time. Her husband and her brother-in-law have been killed in battle. Her father-in-law has died as he fell off of a fence when he heard that that thing that represented the authority of God had been taken by the Philistines. Now the trauma has brought child birth upon her. And notice what happened. And about the time of her death, she would die in childbirth. The women that stood by her said unto her, "Fear not, for thou hast borne a son." But she answered not, neither did she regard it. And she named the childcod saying the glory is departed from Israel. Can you imagine a third generation your name the name that you would bear would be little Icabad. God's glory has departed from you and from this generation. You see the term glory means magnificent or of great beauty, praise, worship, thanksgiving and honor that has departed from this generation. God help us if we pass the wrong name spiritually to another generation. What will we pass to our children figuratively and in the house of God? First Apostolic Church, what name will the next generation have? What will we leave them? What lineage will we leave? Will they be praisers? Will they be Judas? Or will they be Icabads? Will they be deceivers? Or will they be chosen like Israel? >> What name will you leave another generation? But you see, one of the greatest examples of a name meaning something we find when we start reading the story of Joseph and his dwelling in Egypt. In Genesis 41, we read, "And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea. Very much until he left numbering, for it was without number." And notice verse 50. And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came. Now, get the setting that's been talked about. I need not go and tell you Joseph's entire story, but I will summarize with this. remembering Joseph because of the jealousies of his brothers sold into slavery to Midenite slaves who then took him to Egypt and he was sold again to be a slave and because of God's blessings and Joseph's spirit and attitude Joseph the dreamer and the one who God had blessed with the ability to interpret dreams would rise to authority would be lied on put in prison and then again delivered and rise to authority to second in command only to Pharaoh. It would be his wisdom that would prepare Egypt to face seven years of famine because of his wisdom and advice to store up while they had a time of plenty and not waste all. It's making the statement they gathered corn when it was a time of season as it was the sands of the sea. They had all the plenty. They b built storehouses. And during this time, Joseph now even though he was of the lineage and and of the bloodline of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, even though he was in that bloodline, right now his culture and his existence is in Egypt. >> And he bears two sons. Verse 50 said, "And Joseph of Joseph was born two sons before the year of the famine came, which as Enith the daughter of potterer's priest of on bear unto him." And Joseph called the name of his firstborn Manessa. For God said he hath made me forget all my toils and all my father's house, and the name of the second called he Ephraim. For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. His firstborn would be Manessa. God hath made me to forget. Now understand, in the natural, I wish I had a better memory. Yes, it seems the older I get, my ability to remember facts, names, appointments, and events, it's increasingly more difficult. Of course, the older I get, there's more things to remember. I heard one guy, he said, "I was so old when I was in school, they didn't teach history because there wasn't any history back then." Now, that's old. My papa Mcool used to make a joke and gist. He would say there are three signs of getting old. He said number one is you get forgetful. Then he'd pause for a moment and say and I forgot the other two. But you see, when it's to your spiritual advantage, if you know God, you can birth a Manessa spirit in your life to forget some things that you ought not to be holding on to. There's some things that you need to put in your past and forget it. Go on past it. Don't let it be held over your head anymore. God has forgiven you of some things that you need to stop bringing up, digging up, and trying to remember. >> Satan himself wants you to remember certain things so he can remind you of your sinful past. He wants to use details, vivid memories of one's past to cultivate fear, guilt, anger, revenge, grudges, regrets, and bitterness. He's aware as long as he can keep you looking backwards, you're not likely to be able to effectively move forward. >> You know, I heard one fell say, he said, "Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt." He said, "My wife was driving the other day and looked back and turned into a telephone pole. You can't go forward when you're looking backwards. You need to make sure you keep your eye on the prize. If God has forgiven you, you need to birth a Manessa spirit in your life. Say, "Devil, you're not going to bring up my past. If we got to talk about things, let me tell you about your future. Scripture tells me where you're headed. Stop bringing up the things that God has forgiven me for. Satan wants you to have a selective memory. He would have us to remember our sins but forget God's forgiveness. You see, if anyone in the word of the Lord would have appeared to have the right to hold a grudge, to have anger, regret, and bitterness as motivation for their very existence, it would seem to be Joseph hated by his brothers. His prize coat of many colors forcibly taken from him and destroyed with animal blood to develop a lie to his father. Sold into slavery. His demise to his father told that he was dead. >> He was lied on by Potter's Piper's wife even though he was trying to do the right thing. >> He was thrown into prison. He was separated from his family, from his culture, from his customs, from his religious upbringing that he held so dear. These are the makings of a vengeful, grudgeholding, angry man. Joseph could have easily named his firstborn, I I want you to meet my son, Bitter. This is my boy, Bitter, because the way I've been treated. Oh, you want to meet my other son? This is my son, vengeance. I want to be reminded every day. See my See my boy Vengeance here. He he when when when I ever get the chance, I'm going to get my brothers back for what they've done. I want you to meet my family bitter and vengeance. Hey, have you seen my little boy hold a grudge? I want you to meet hold a grudge here. Joseph by human standards had every right to call those things up every day and let that those seeds of bitterness and revenge see inside him. But you see, because of his spirit and his attitude, because of his walk with God in the most dire of circumstances, Joseph would produce sons that would be named in a manner that spoke of his outlook on life. Oh, what a lesson we can learn from Joseph >> and the name he would pass to another generation. God had blessed the dreamer with the gift of forgiveness. He named his firstborn Manessa. For God said, "He hath made me to forget all of my toils. He's made me forget all that stuff I went through. And he's made me forget my father's house. He's made me forget all the inequities and the mistreatment of my family against me. Did this mean he forgot who his daddy was? No. Would he not know his brothers? Of course, he knew who his brothers were. But it was the spirit and attitude toward them that God was giving him the ability. Listen, there's people in this room under the sound of my voice. You've gone through family trials and tribulations. You've gone through what would seem to be unfair breaks in your life. Let me tell you, if you'll birth a Manessa spirit in your life, God's got something special for you. There's some stuff you need to let go of. There's some things if you just turn them loose. Oh, you may never get an apology. But don't worry about that. God's forgiveness is greater than any of man's apologies. Hear me. Hear what I'm telling you under the sound of my voice today. God's calling somebody to birth a Manessa spirit in your life and say, "I'm going on. I'm going to put some stuff behind me. I'm going to let it go. God, I want to go forth. I want to be fruitful and multiply. As long as I hang on to the past, I can't grow. I can't be fruitful. Oh God, let my mind be cleansed of those things that the enemy would place in my memory. >> Hallelujah. >> You see, he could have had it indelibly etched in his memory. If I ever see Reuben, >> I'm going to take care of business. He's one that was the eldest and could have saved me. If I ever see Simeon, his life will end. Yes, he knew who his brothers were, but God had given him a Manessa spirit. Now, obviously, I'm not speaking of unrepentant sin. You don't forget unrepentant sin. Scripture says, "He who coverth his sin shall not prosper, but who so confessth and forsake them shall have mercy." But you see, here's where we're at. In Micah 7:18, we we read, "Who is a God like unto thee?" This is a rhetorical question. English is wrong, but the message is right on. Ain't no God like my God. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage. He retainth not his anger forever, because he delights in mercy. We've got a God who delights in mercy. He don't just think about it. He delights in it. He's in the business of giving mercy to those who don't even deserve mercy. He will turn again. He will have compassion upon us. He will subdue our iniquities. And thou will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. >> Hebrews 10 said it this way. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us. For after all that he hath said before, this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, sayeth the Lord. I will put my laws in their heart, and in their minds will I write them. >> But notice verse 17. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. If God forgot it, why don't you? I said, "If God forgot your problems that he's forgiven you of, why don't you forget them? Quit hanging on to it. If God settled it, let him have it settled it. You forget it and go on." Oh, hallelujah. Quit repenting and reminiscing over sins that are already been forgiven. >> And I'm here to give you good news. If you birth a Manessa spirit, there is another offspring in your future. Manessa will not be an only child, for there was an Ephraim to follow. Because Genesis 41:52 said, "In the name of the second called he Ephraim, for God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." You can be successful no matter your circumstance. >> Let me say that again. You can be successful in God no matter your circumstance. God will bless you even in the middle of a trial in the middle of an affliction. If you have a Manessa spirit, Joseph would become second only to Pharaoh. Such advancement could have never taken place had Joseph wandered around as a bitter man. Had he walked around revengefilled, holding grudges at his family, I submit to you, he would not have had the personality and the ability to rise to second command to Pharaoh. >> Never feel, let me say this carefully. Pause. Listen to this statement. Never feel that you can compartmentalize grudges and still be as fruitful as God wants you to be. You know, I'll hold a grudge against this one person, but I'm going to love everybody else. >> You can't compartmentalize grudges. It's all or nothing when it comes to forgiveness and going on. It will come out in some other aspect of your life, including your children and another generation. You see, if we're to be fruitful in the present and future, we must forget and forgive the sins of our past. So, here's what would happen. Joseph's Manessa. And you who are scripture readers, you already know the story, but let's all revisit it to understand the details. Joseph spirit of Manessa and his spirit of Ephraim would still be tested. You know, it's easy to say, "I'll forgive if I ever get a chance or to make those uh apologies that go like this. If I've ever done anything, then forgive me." Just say, "I'm sorry." We don't have to qualify our apologies. I'm sorry. You see when you ask for forgiveness without any restrictions suddenly those you ask the forgiveness for has the full load and responsibility of forgiving Genesis 50 it would be put to the test and when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead they said Joseph will her adventure hate us and will certainly require us all the evil which we did unto him. Get the picture. Famine has now hit Canaan land, Joseph's homeland. And his brother's fate and God's defined will has created the situation that his brothers would come and stand before him with their hand out during a time of famine. Joseph's knowledge and wisdom had led to plenty in Egypt while Joseph's absence had likely contributed to the famine that was in his homeland. So they sent word and they sent a messenger unto Joseph saying, "Thy father did command before he died, saying they tried to pull daddy on him. They tried to speak for a dead daddy." So shall ye say unto Joseph, forgive, I pray thee, now the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin, for they did unto thee evil, and now we pray thee, forgive the trespasses of the servants of God, of thy father. Man, they are putting it on thick, aren't they? They're blaming it on dead, daddy, and God. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we be thy servants." Joseph's at a crossroads. Did you really birth a Manessa and an Ephraim? Their fate, their lives are in your hand, your second in command. No one in Egypt would blame you for taking full advantage and revenge right now. And Joseph said unto them, "Fear not, for am I in the place of God?" I just wonder, I can use my imagination a little bit. I wonder when they finally stood before him, if he didn't say, "Hey, Manessa, come here and stand by me. I want y'all to meet my son, Manessa. I just have to wonder if Joseph didn't bring the memories, the one that represented a forgiving and forgetful spirit. He said, "But as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people alive." God had a plan all the time. I didn't understand it, but I said, "God, I'm in your hands. I'm in your will. I've been going through this trial. I feel like I've been wronged, but God, I'm going to go ahead and forgive. God, help us to know he still has the plan for our lives." He said, "Now, therefore, fear you not. I will nourish you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spake kindly unto them. Amen. >> And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he his father's house. And Joseph lived 110 years. And please notice verse 23. And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation, grandbabies, great grandbabies, great great grandbabies. Listen, I don't know how many of us are going to make it to 10 years old. >> But if God carries, >> I don't want to have grandbabies and great grandb babies and great great grandb babies that the Mool name means vengeance. I don't want my cool babies that don't know how to be Judas and worship. I I want there be another generation that'll step up and say I want to carry on the Manessa bloodline. I I want my family lineage and heritage as long as God carries. If there's another generation, you see, it would be that Joseph bones that would go out of Egypt because he had that Manessa spirit. He had that Ephraim spirit that he had passed to his children. Now, Philippians said it this way, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ. You see, this is why we are buried in baptism in the name of Jesus. We take on the name of Jesus. You see, this is a Jesus name, church. That's why we're so vehement and adamant about taking on the name of Jesus. Anybody remember Elder Johnny James telling us that we needed a name change? He said, "I used to be Johnny James, but he said after I got baptized, I'm Johnny James Jesus." >> You see, we're all in one great big family of God. We can't hold grudges. We need to >> You see, Romans 6:4 said, "Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life." You may have been living a sinful life in this house. You may be carrying some ugly names. Hallelujah. >> But I'm going to let you in on a little secret. If you're in this house today and you feel like you you're carrying on uh some ugly names in your life, uh let me tell you who's sitting around you. >> 1 Corinthians 6:9 said, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor adulterers, nor idolattors, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkers, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God. >> Boy, it been nice if he could blame that on everybody else, but he just had to keep going. He's talking to the church, the Corinthian church. We're the church as well. >> He said, "And such were some of you." Let me tell you, if you feel like you're the worst one, you're probably not even the worst one in the building. >> Because in this room, I'm pointing at me. I'm pointing at everybody in the house. >> We just got our name named. If you don't think your name's in that list, then you might need to go back and look for liars. He said, "And such were some of you, but ye are washed. Ye are sanctified. Ye are justified in the name of Jesus Christ." I wish somebody would stand up in this house right now and say, "I've been justified in the name of Jesus." Musicians, get ready. I've been changed by the name of Jesus. I'm not Mark Mcool, that sinner in that laundry list of horrible things, but I've had my name changed when I took him on. I'm Mark Mcool Jesus. Now, I've been sanctified. I've been washed. I've been justified >> by the spirit of almighty God >> in the name of Jesus. Colossians went on to say it this way. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, >> giving thanks to God in the Father by him. That's why I'm adamant and reminding us all that you need to take on the name of Jesus and let it be reflected in your life. Just as he's a merciful God, we must be a merciful, forgiving people. Just as he promised an Ephraim spirit of being fruitful in his kingdom. >> We have that opportunity. I would give you one less p one last passage. Colossians 2:8 said, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit and traditions of men after the rudiments or fundamentals of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily." Jesus was God manifest in flesh. And we are complete in him which is the head of all principalities and powers. Verse 12 says buried with him in baptism wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God whoath raised him up from the dead. >> Would you lift your hands and love Jesus just a minute? Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I praise you. God, right now in this house, Lord, I'm asking you to give us a shower of blessings that is full of forgiveness because we know your name. God, you have a name that is above every name that we have the precious opportunity of taking on. God naming us. There's so many faults, so many failures. God, I pray this prayer right now that we here in your house this morning never allow human emotions of self-righteousness to enter in. But Lord, understanding instead the statement that says, "And such were some of you, God, let me never have a phariseical spirit to look down my nose at someone that walks through those doors, Lord, that has not had the advantages and the multi-generational teachings. God, I know that you prophesied to First Apostolic Church when this building was dedicated. God, the voice of a precious bishop spoke to us and said, "Our altar would never be large enough." God, I'm calling on you right now to baptize us with a fresh anointing of forgiveness. God, don't let me be judgmental. And Lord, don't let me be phariseical because there are those that will come through our doors that we don't understand what they've been through. But God, instead, let me minister with love. Let me care about the disadvantaged. Lord, I know that you will give us guidance to direct and to guide. And God, let us be thankful for the fruitfulness that you've given us in our life. For being in another generation and bringing another generation along, God, let us carry the name of your people that we are a loving people. If you want a ba a fresh bathing and shower this morning of the name of forgiveness of a Manessa spirit of an Ephraim spirit, would you step out right now and say, "God, make me fruitful and make me forget. Make me fruitful and make me forget this day." Would you step out right now? Let's love the Lord together. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Shame. Yeah. Yeah. I'm so glad he changed me. Darkness held me down. Jesus pulled me down. Now I'm no longer bound. I'm so glad he saved me. I now a new creation in Christ. The oldest pro I live by faith by my side. There is a new name written down in glory and it's mine. Yes, it's mine. Now I the author of my story and he's mine. Yes, he's there rising down before he's the author of my story and he's singing it again. I am who I am because the I am tells me who I am. >> I am who I am because the I am tells me I am who I am because the I am tells me who I am. I am who I am because the I am I am. I am who I am because the I am tells me who I am. I am who I am because the I am tells me who I am. I am who I am because I am telling you who I am. I am because I am telling who I am. >> >> There is a new day rising down in glory and it's mine. Yes, he's mine. I left the altar of my story and he's mine. Yes, he's mine. There is a new thing written down in glory and he's mine. Yes, he's mine. I'm living on the roof my story and he's mine. >> Would you love Jesus together right now? Hallelujah. Savior, I thank you. God, I thank you for the wonderful opportunities that you have afforded us. Lord Jesus, could we go from this place today with fresh fire and determination to win the lost, knowing that you have forgiven us and you have given us the spirit of forgetfulness of the past and you will make us fruitful in you. Bring us back this night with our minds centered on you. For all this, we're grateful and thankful. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. And amen. Would you greet your brothers and sisters in the name of Jesus? You are dismissed before the Lord.