Sermon Tone Analysis

By Pastor Glenn Pease

Corrie Ten Boom is one of the best known names in the 20th century.

But many do not know that Corrie had more than one name.

In 1977 a group of several hundred Christian Indians honored her in Flagstaff, Arizona, by giving her an Indian name.

Tom Claus, a

Mohawk and president of the group, made this presentation-

"I want you to know that we accept you as an Indian; you are our

blood sister, and you are our spiritual sister in Jesus Christ.

When we bestow an Indian name, it is the highest honor we can

give.

When your name was nominated to our CHIEF committee we

thought that we would like to pick a name that is really meaningful to

you, Corrie.

We realize that in the past you have identified with the Jews in

their suffering-now you have identified with American Indians in

our plight.

Even though you have been on the front line of battle and

have seen bloodshed and war, you have always been a demonstration of God's love.

That is why we give you the name Loma-Si, which

is Hopi for "beautiful flower," because you are one of God's beautiful flowers.

We do thank God for you ...."

Like many of the people of the Bible she received a new name of honor.

Because names have always been important to Indians they have left their mark on our culture.

Over 20 states have Indian names.

The great rivers like the Mississippi and Missouri and 4 out of 5 of the Great Lakes have Indian names.

There are hundreds of cities and lakes and streams all over our nation with Indian names.

The poet has rightly said,

Ye say they all have passed away

That noble race and brave

That their light canoes have vanished

From off the crested wave.

That mid the forests where they roamed

Their rings no hunter's shout

But their name is on your waters

Ye may not wash it out.

Author Unknown

Names play a major role in our history and our heritage as Americans.

In 1507 a German professor in a French college edited a map of the world.

As he read up on the discovery of the new world he found that much of it was explored by Americus Vespucci.

He said, "I do not see what hinders us from calling it America."

He did so name it and the name stuck.

Professor David Muzzy in his American History writes, "so it came about that this continent was named by a German professor, in a French college, for an Italian navigator in the service of the King of Portugal."

Names have determined so much in our history and our environment but more important yet they determine our destiny.

God is a great lover of names and name giving.

The book of Revelation says, we will get new names in heaven.

The Bible is full of genealogies which are just lists of names.

Many of them mean nothing to us but they were important to God and His people.

God gave the first man and woman their names and He gave the second Adam His name as well.

This most important child ever born on this planet was named by his true Father in heaven.

Gabriel came to Mary and said to her in Luke 1:31, "you will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.' Later in a dream the same message came to Joseph in Matt.1:21.

The angel of the Lord said to him, "she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sin."

Like the spirit of the child, the name of the child also came from heaven.

This name was so important to God He made sure both of His earthly parents received a supernatural message as to what they were to name Jesus.

This name is now the most celebrated name in history.

Like the vast majority of babies Jesus was born without fanfare or fame.

There were no reporters and no headlines for though all heaven rang as the angels sang, on earth there was barely a ripple.

Everything is different now, as the hymn says,

"There's no other name like that of Jesus,

There's none in all the world beside,

For there's no other name can give salvation,

In His love I will abide."

There are more songs on the name of Jesus than any other name-Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know; Take The Name Of Jesus With You; There's Something About That Name and His Name Is Wonderful, Just to mention a few that are well known.

The prophet Isaiah predicted that a child would be born in Israel who would acquire a name for himself- a name above every name.

If you like to know big names then you will want to get acquainted with this coming child, Isaiah would advise.

His name will be the biggest ever.

In fact, His name is so big it is a multiple name.

There are not enough powerful descriptive adjectives to describe it.

Isaiah says He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Wonderful, or full of wonder is His name.

It inspired Handel's Glorious Messiah with it's Hallelujah Chorus that has brought millions to their feet before the bearer of this name.

Napoleon was rightly awestruck by this name.

He said, "Is it not amazing that whereas the ambitious dreams of Caesar, Alexander and myself should have vanished into thin air, a Judean peasant should be able to stretch a hand across the centuries and control the destinies of nations and the children of men."

There is no other name like that of Jesus.

It is truly a wonder.

Emerson said, "His name is not so much written as ploughed into the history of the world."

At one time the Christians celebrated the birth of Jesus on a pagan holiday.

Now the pagan world celebrates on a Christian holiday.

Everything connected with the name of Jesus is transformed for His name is wonderful and does wonders.

There is no greater wonder in the universe than the wonder of Christmas.

This marks the day when our planet was invaded by a superior force from another realm.

A power opposed to the sin and folly of human nature, and yet it did not invade to destroy, but to redeem.

This is no minor wonder, but rather the greatest wonder of all, and that is why His name of Wonderful.

He did not come to judge the world,

He did not come to blame,

He did not come to seek, it was to save He came,

And when we call Him Savior, then we call Him by His name.

There are so many names of Jesus in the Bible that He is literally all things to all men.

He is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.

Someone put together this interesting list:

"He is to the artist-THE ONE ALTOGETHER LOVELY

He is to the architect-THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE

He is to the baker-THE LIVING BREAD

He is to the biologist-THE LIFE

He is to the builder-THE SURE FOUNDATION

He is to the carpenter-THE DOOR

He is to the doctor-THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

He is to the educator-THE TRUTH

He is to the farmer-THE LORD OF THE HARVEST

He is to the florist-THE ROSE OF SHARON, THE LILY OF THE VALLEY

He is to the philosopher-THE WISDOM OF GOD