MUST WATCH

THE DEVILS TRICKS

i want to share with you something i know very much that the devil doesn't want you to know and even if you know it, he will stop at nothing to make sure you are not conscious of it.

But before i start, let me advise you. If you know that you are not going to read every word of this write-up through to the end, just skip to the next item on your profile (Probably one of the kinds of stuff the devil wants to keep feeding you mind with to blind you from the truth). Do yourself a favour by sparing the next 15 minutes to read this through

You remember the story how it all started when God created man in His imagery so that man can be the God of the is world as He is in Heaven. He gave man a precious gift (Dominion). But man was careless with the gift and Satan stole it from man. He (Satan) guarded it so jealously that even the Bible recognises him as the god of this world.
Anyway, i know you are familiar with that story but stick with me. I'm heading somewhere.

You also remember how God came up with a rescue plan to restore what rightfully belongs to man.
I know you know that part of the story too. Just follow me. I'm heading somewhere.

Do you remember what the devil was called in the bible?
Thief, A bully [1 Peter 5:8] . Can you see that the devil is greedy and never satisfied? He stole the dominion from man held unto it for thousands of years and when God eventually made way for man to have back what rightfully belongs to him, the devil will still stop at nothing to see that he still has dominion over not one or two men. NO! all men.
In that way he will still be in charge. But thank God Christ made a way. So all the devil is doing now is trying to make sure you don’t see or discover the way and even if you do, he tries to make you doubt the way.
That makes number one of the tools he uses against us [DOUBT] knowing that without faith it is impossible to please God.
Wait a minute! He wants to put us in enmity with God. Right? Follow me. We ain’t there yet.

The summary is that he wants to do everything to make sure you are in a total state of oblivion of your absolute authority and your glorious place of dominion in this world. So I am going to share with you how he does this.

Have you ever wondered why those days when you were growing, you can read any other book for hours but the moment you pick the Bible to read, it becomes sleeping pills?
KNOWLEDGE
The devil fears those who have knowledge

Have you also ever wondered why it is when you decided to get serious with kingdom things that:
The lady who has been proving difficult for a very long time start giving you green light in a very sinful manner;
The contract you have been pursuing for years shows up but with a little compromise to make (you must bribe your way through;
You get a well-paying job that will never give you the space to even attend church activities;…?
BENEFITS
He knows humans like benefits/gains and all the flashy things of this world. So what does he do with this? He tries to seduce us with this entire gimcrack and also blind us to the fact that God has made provision for everything that pertains to life and Godliness for us. [2 Peter 1:3] [Ephesians 1:3] [Mathew 6:33]. But guess what the devil doesn’t have any real benefit to give. He doesn’t even own anything.
Follow me. We’re almost there.

Now when you struggle your way through all the hurdles to come to full knowledge of the word of God, what does he do?
He uses the same word of God to beguile you into living contrary to the whole truth you have lived for and when you finally understand his gimmicks, he comes with the tool called GUILT then suggests to you ways to atone for your own sin; ways to ‘live righteously’ by your own self and might. And to make it even worse, at this point, faith in God is no longer an issue to you. Rather, you are trying to please God by ‘living righteously’ So the loop goes on and on without end.
Try to please God by living righteously >> Fall into sin (Because you don’t have the ability to ‘live righteously) >> Guilt guilt guilt >> Try to please God again. And the loop is endless

The endless loop

Wait a minute!
You can’t please God by living righteously? This guy is talking heresy now.
I beg your pardon! Don’t you read your Bible?
To mention but a few scripture Rom. 3:28-30, Galatians 2:16-21, Galatians 3:3,11,12-13, John 3:16, Rom. 3:24, Rom. 9:30
I believe with this scriptures, you would have cleared you doubt that justification is not by your works. Anyway, that’s another day’s topic.

As a quick reminder

The devil tries to prevent you from knowing the truth
When you get to know the truth, he uses another tool, BENEFITS to seduce you.
And if he succeeds, he tries to keep you there for a long time but when you discover his gimmicks, he uses the same knowledge you have against you to keep you in guilt and suggests self-justification method (Out of faith)

He does all this to keep you depressed, steal your authority in Christ and be in charge.

So what do we do then? Good question.

Walk in the spirit!
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”Romans 8:1
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16
You have to understand that the enemy is the devil but the traitor is the flesh. It is the flesh that sells your dominion and liberty to the devil. You have to put the flesh under subjection for you to walk in the spirit

Walking in the spirit is consciously choosing by faith to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide in thought, word, and deed.
We can know that we are walking in the Spirit if our lives are showing forth the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23). Being filled (walking) with the Spirit is the same as allowing the word of Christ (the Bible) to richly dwell in us (Colossians 3:16).
You cannot walk in the spirit if you don’t study the word of God
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
Some Additional Tips.
Be careful what you watch, what you listen to and what you allow into your life.
Don’t disobey the Spirit of God when He says NO
Whatever you want to stop doing, don’t struggle by your own might to stop. Rather rely on the ability of the Spirit of God.
Don’t stop doing the right thing for one minute. The devil will strike quickly.
Detest all appearance of evil.

Don’t Try To Live Righteously.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." Eph. 2:8
"But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace." Rom. 11:6
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:16
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3
We are no longer under the law. Therefore justification does not come by trying to observe the laws. Righteousnes is not trying to live a holy life. If we can live righteously, then there would have been no need for the coming of Christ. Righteousness is a gift we enjoy when we live in Christ by faith and allow the Holy Spirit to direct us.

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."Galatians 5:1
in other words
"So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.[NLT]
Nontheless Liberty does NOT mean we can sin! Liberty is freedom from having to bear the consequent penalty of sin (because He was wounded for our transgressions,He was bruised for our iniquities), not freedom from having to refrain from sin! "The Bible said shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" I guess your answer is "God forbid" too. It is sin that corrupts and puts us into bondage not the law in it self.

"For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13

If you have been blessed by this write-up, don't be selfish with it. Forward it to at least 10 of your friends, share it on your facebook profile. Let us promote Jesus Christ on line and let the people know what the devil is trying to hide from them.
God bless you all

MAMMON AND MONEY

The Spirit Of Mammon What Money Seminars Will Never Tell You Seminars on how to make money, how to manage your money, and how to plan for your retirement are everywhere. There are people all over the world who will, for a fee, draw up a plan for you and your money. There are books galore about how to make money. In the next three weeks I want to take you to money management principles that are outlined in the Bible. These are principles in dealing with money that you will never hear from any secular financial consultant. What’s more, it’s free! Scriptural principles for the way we use money are very much connected with the whole of our Christian life. You may have other areas of your Christian life pretty much sorted out, but if you haven’t sorted out how to handle money according to biblical principles, then your whole life is going to be out of alignment with where God wants it to go. Have you ever had the experience of driving a car where the front wheels are badly out of alignment? It’s really hard work. You have to concentrate hard, and wrestle with the thing, as it’s always trying to pull in one direction. But when the wheels are aligned correctly, the car virtually steers itself. Your life may be very spiritual in other areas, but if you are out of line with Gods principles for handling your money, money issues are always going to be a struggle. This question of handling money is a discipleship issue that some Christians never get right, and they wonder why their Christian life suffers. I’ve always thought it a bit strange that in the Christian church we have taught people lots of basics about how to become a disciple of Jesus, but have we have missed out one of the things Jesus talked most about. We teach people about the importance of the scriptures – how to read them study them, and apply them to their lives. We teach them how to pray. How to serve. But we don’t talk much about the one area of our lives that has the power to be the greatest blessing, or the greatest hindrance in our walk with Jesus. It’s the thing that messes up disciples more than anything else. How to handle money. Where do so many Christians learn about handling money? Not from the scriptures or from teaching in Church. No, they hear it from parents, who may be working from Godly principles, or they may not. They learn from books they read, and columns and articles in the newspaper written by secular economists. They learn from attending seminars on how to make money through property investments, and how to handle the stock market, and how to get rich quick by investing in this and that. If they don’t learn that way, they either learn through losing money, or worse still, they don’t learn at all. You can learn a lot from secular money seminars, but there are some things that the people running those seminars will never tell you. Here’s the first thing you will never hear at a secular money seminar. 1. The Spirit of Mammon. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus says "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”. (Matthew 6:24) What I have read to you comes from the New International Version. This verse is not translated well, for the word that is translated “money” in the NIV is not the word Jesus used. He used an Aramaic word “Mammon”. What Jesus actually said was “You cannot serve God and Mammon”. Mammon is not money. The word Mammon is more than money. When Jesus used the word “mammon” he was identifying Mammon as a personal and spiritual entity. Mammon is the dangerous and seductive spiritual power behind money. When Paul writes to the Ephesian Christians he says this: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”(Ephesians 6:12) The Apostle Paul says we are to wage war against these spiritual powers. Mammon is an evil, spiritual power that enslaves people through the medium of money. It’s the evil spirit behind the misuse of money. Jesus says we will either hold on to God and hate the evil spirit of Mammon, or we will hold on to Mammon and hate God. Note that it’s not hating money, but the evil force behind it that enslaves men and women through it. You can’t be neutral on this subject. It’s a choice of whom we serve through our money – will we use our money to serve God or Mammon. 2 Money itself is neutral. It’s neither good nor bad. But there is an addictive, seductive, spiritual power behind money that uses it to corrupt and seduce, and in some cases, to destroy people. This evil power, which Jesus identified by the name Mammon, makes a bid for our hearts. For when it gets us, it sucks the milk of human kindness out of our being. So what do we do? Do we stop using money? Of course not. We all have to use money every day of our lives. It’s part of the way our society operates. But we need to recognise that behind every bit of money we use there is a spiritual reality that Jesus alerted us to. Unless we really understand that, we will never be able to live as Jesus wants us to. So recognise that there is a rival god that is competing for your heart. And that competition comes through money. That’s why Jesus had so much to say about money. Do you realise that apart from talking about the Kingdom of God, Jesus had more to say about money than anything else? If you want a spiritual understanding as to why the whole world is in a financial mess right now, it’s because this incredibly powerful evil spirit has been hard at work in the lives of some people of influence. This spirit of Mammon has been at work in the hearts of bankers who have offered mortgages to people who haven’t had a hope of meeting their mortgage commitments. The whole sub-prime mortgage mess in the United States is a result of this powerful spirit. The spirit of mammon has been at work in the hearts of fund managers who have acted irresponsibly with other people’s money. The spirit of mammon has been at work in the hearts of the directors of some of the world biggest companies. These directors have chased excessive profits and fat bonuses, and the damage they have done to the companies they have been entrusted with has been immense. The spirit of mammon produces one thing in the hearts of men and women, whether they be rich or poor. The product of the spirit of mammon is greed. And greed is a sin. Whenever you see the results of the sin of greed, you will find the spirit of mammon has been at work. Have you ever wondered why some people get uptight when preachers and teachers begin talking about money? It’s because we are entering into a spiritual realm where we are treading on the territory of one of the most powerful evil spirits in the spirit realm. This is spiritual warfare territory. When you go to a secular seminar on money, they don’t start with a warning and say “Now what we are going to be talking about is so spiritually corrosive, it could destroy your soul.” They don’t say “We are now going to dabble in an area that is controlled worldwide by one of the most powerful evil spirits in the spiritual realm”. But Jesus knew this. Jesus was so aware of the dangers of this evil power that he said that we couldn’t be His disciples if we are under the control of the spirit of Mammon. This evil spirit is so powerful it can keep people out of the Kingdom of God. In Luke’s gospel we read of a very rich young man who came to Jesus and asked Him what he had to do to be saved. Jesus told him “Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Now Jesus didn’t say that to every person who wanted to follow Him. Why did he say it to this young man? Because Mammon had got him its grip. You know the story. The young man couldn’t do it. He missed out on being a follower of Jesus because of the power an evil spirit had over him through money. Yet Zacchaeus is the exact opposite. He broke the power of Mammon over his life by giving away a whole heap of money, and because of this, salvation came to his household. He had turned from worshipping Mammon to worshipping Jesus. I’m spending a long time on this today, because if you don’t understand that we are dealing with spiritual powers here when we talk about money, you are going to miss the whole point of the next few weeks teaching. 2. How Does The Spirit Of Mammon Operate? Our society is built on the free reign of the spirit of Mammon. Our whole Western society is built around a desire for more. And in the last few decades, through global television and advertising, we have been exporting this desire to nations like China and India. It’s only in the last few months, through this economic crisis, that we have seen this whole edifice begin to collapse. And what has been the solution? Governments have been pumping squillions of dollars into economies to generate spending. Here are some examples of the way the spirit of mammon operates. • Advertising. In Australasia there are is a chain of jewellery stores that developed a whole new way of laying out their stores to market jewellery. In their glossy advertising they have a slogan they often use that that makes it so easy for the spirit of mammon. They have a gorgeous woman on their advertising material wearing some very expensive jewellery, and the slogan says “You deserve this”. It doesn’t say “Can you afford 3 this?” It doesn’t say, “Do you need this?” It says, “You deserve this”. It doesn’t matter if you can’t afford that car, or that holiday, or that lounge suite or that diamond ring – you deserve it”. What’s behind that? It’s the spirit of Mammon that says “instant gratification”. “You have to have this now.” “Your life will not be complete or fulfilled without this”. Recognise where that comes from. It comes from the pit of hell, and it has one object – to enslave you and put you in bondage. • Credit Card Debt. Now I want to say some things that are going to get some of our bankers uptight. If you have a Credit Card and you are not paying the whole lot off each month when it’s due, then you are wasting 20% per annum of the money the Lord has entrusted you with. If you can’t afford to pay off your Credit Card, you are living way beyond your means and living an out of control life. 75% of people who have a Credit Card, including Christians, are living beyond their means in the debt trap. Citizens of the United States owed 962 billion dollars on their credit cards last year. In Australia it’s 41 billion. The average U.S. college graduate begins his or her post-college days with more than $2,000 in credit card debt. Some of you can’t imagine anything worse than being broke. But there is something worse than being broke. It’s being in bondage. Some of you are in a spiritual bondage to some small pieces of plastic and it’s tearing your life and your family apart. Do you think that’s the way God wants you to live? Of course not. It’s the Devil and his evil angels that want to keep us in bondage. Proverbs 22:7 says “The borrower is servant to the lender”. If you are in debt on your Credit Card, you are being owned by someone else. People who are in debt on their Credit Cards are living with an ongoing sense of failure and condemnation. It’s a bondage that Satan uses to destroy our relationship with the Lord. People are living in a constant state of fear and hopelessness. The spirit of Mammon is having a field day with a whole bunch of people, including Christians, who have allowed their lives to get out of control. Here’s another example from my country. I suspect this is true in other nations as well. • Student Loans. Students are now borrowing huge amounts of money to get an education. In my country only one in 10 students are debt free. In total, New Zealand students now owe more than 7 Billion dollars of debt. And we are a country the size of Switzerland. The average male graduate will take 14 years to pay back their loans and the average female 28 years. Through successive Government policies, the spirit of Mammon has been let loose on a whole generation, and I believe we are going to pay a big price for that. The average New Zealand student is graduating with $15,000 of debt, but it’s not uncommon to find students graduating with $100,000 of debt. I’m not saying that all debt is evil. Some of us have mortgages on our homes, and perhaps are paying off a major item like a car, or furniture. But we need to ask ourselves why we have the debt we have. If we are honest with ourselves, many of us have been seduced into believing the lie that we have to have everything right now. The generation before mine knew what it was to practice delayed gratification. If you couldn’t afford something, you didn’t buy it. You saved up until you could afford it. But we now live in an age of instant gratification, where we have to have everything now, even if we can’t afford it. That value system is giving the spirit of Mammon an open door into our lives. I don’t have time this morning to deal in detail with how to break free from the spirit of Mammon. I’ll cover more of that in the next couple of weeks. But here are some things that you may need to put into practice. 3. How do we break free from the Spirit of Mammon? You may not be in debt, but still be captured by the spirit of Mammon. You may have a little money or a lot, but still be consumed by the desire for more. The spirit of Mammon can control our lives no matter what the size of our bank balance. Let me give you three ways to break the power of Mammon. • The Solution From Jesus. Just after he talked about the power of the spirit of Mammon, Jesus said “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Jesus is not saying we should be without all these things, but that God, and His purposes, and His Kingdom, have to come first. He’s talking about a change in priorities. Jesus is promising that if we put God first, He will see to it that all the financial and material things we need will be added to us. Have you proven that in your own life? Have you ever been in a position where you didn’t have the financial resources, and had to trust God? Next week, I’ll tell you about an experience Lyn and I had where were discovered the truth of what Jesus was saying. 4 • The Solution From The Apostle Paul. “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”(2 Corinthians 9:10) Next Sunday I’m going to talk about the God who is our supplier. This week, try praying a prayer like this – “Lord, I believe you are my supply – not the banks. Not my employer. You are my provider. And so, as my provider, I affirm my trust in You”. People, it’s time to stop trusting the Banks and finance companies so much, and trust God a whole lot more. When we turn to the Lord to supply our financial needs, we break the power of the spirit of Mammon over our lives. Here’s another way to break the power of Mammon. • Make money and use it for the Kingdom. God has given some of you the ability to make a lot of money. You know that that money has great power and is a powerful force that could corrupt you. But it is a victory for the Kingdom of God when you take that money and use it for Kingdom purposes. The Christian church has been hugely blessed by people who loved God, had the ability to make a lot of money, and used that money to advance the Kingdom. William Colgate, whose name is on toothpaste tubes in many of our houses, was a Christian who made a lot of money, and used it to start Universities and all manner of ministries that still go on today. Thank God for those Christians who have the ability to make lots of money. And pray for them, that the Lord will give them the ability to use it wisely for the sake of the Kingdom. And a final way to break the power of Mammon. • Give. Every time we meet together for worship as Christians we take up an offering. Now you may think that is just a boring part of the church service where you can talk to your friends, read the newsletter, think about what you are having for lunch, or listen to music that is being played. People, it’s much, much more than that. Every time we give to the Lord in that offering we are thumbing our noses at Satan. We are making a declaration to the spirit world that we are free from the spirit of Mammon. Every time you give some of your possessions away, or give money to the poor, or give to the church, or in some way advance the work of the Kingdom with your money, you are breaking the power of the spirit of Mammon over your life. Every time you exercise generosity, you are displaying the character of God in your life, and breaking the stranglehold of the spirit of Mammon. Every time you give gladly and generously, you are declaring you are free. It’s a declaration every week that you are serving God, not mammon. John Wesley, the Father of the Methodist Church said this – “Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can”. For the whole of his life he practised that. We rob money of its power over us by generously giving it away. It’s Gods purpose for you to be free. What is the next step you need to take for that to happen? For some of you here today It might mean cutting up your Credit card, or as one woman did, freezing it in a block of ice so it took a long time to thaw out before she could use it!. For some of you it might mean putting a budgeting plan in place. For some it might mean making yourself accountable to a wise Christian brother or sister who will help keep you on track. Some of you need to break the power of the Spirit of Mammon by giving in a way that you never have before. All of these are very practical issues with spiritual implications for your life. If the Lord is speaking to you right now then do what He tells you to do. 

THE NAMES OF GOD ALL AROUND

"Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory [is] above the earth and heaven." Psa 148:13

In the Old Testament times, a name was not only identification, but an identity as well. Many times a special meaning was attached to the name. Names had, among other purposes, an explanatory purpose (e.g., Nabal, whose name means "fool," is the target of Abigail's explanation to David: "For as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him:" - 1Sa 25:25). Throughout Scripture God reveals Himself to us through His names. When we study these names that He reveals to us in the Bible, we will better understand who God really is. The meanings behind God's names reveal the central personality and nature of the One who bears them.

Who is God to you?

Is He your Most High God, All sufficient One, Master, Lord of Peace, the Lord Who Will Provide? Is He your Father? We must be careful not to make God into an "it" or a "thing" to which we pray. He is our Jehovah Raah, the Lord our Shepherd. God knows us by our name, shouldn't we know Him by His?

Hallowed be Your name?

To hallow a thing is to make it holy or to set it apart to be exalted as being worthy of absolute devotion. To hallow the name of God is to regard Him with complete devotion and loving admiration. God's name is of the utmost importance (Neh 9:5); therefore we ought reserve it a position of grave significance in our minds and hearts. We should never take His name lightly (Exd 20:7; Lev 22:32), but always rejoice in it and think deeply upon its true meaning.

EL SHADDAI (LORD GOD ALMIGHTY)

(el shad-di')
All-Sufficient One, Lord God Almighty

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament El Shaddai occurs 7 times. El Shaddai is first used in Gen 17:1.

Variant spellings: None

TWOT Reference: 2333

Strong's Reference: H7706

El Shaddai in the Septuagint: theou saddai - God Shaddai; pantokratôr (for Shaddai) - the Almighty

Meaning and Derivation: El is another name that is translated as "God" and can be used in conjunction with other words to designate various aspects of God's character. Another word much like Shaddai, and from which many believe it derived, is shad meaning "breast" in Hebrew (some other scholars believe that the name is derived from an Akkadian word Šadu, meaning "mountain," suggesting strength and power). This refers to God completely nourishing, satisfying, and supplying His people with all their needs as a mother would her child. Connected with the word for God, El, this denotes a God who freely gives nourishment and blessing, He is our sustainer.

Further references of the name El Shaddai in the Old Testament:Gen 17:1; Gen 28:3; Gen 35:11; Gen 43:14; Gen 48:3

EL ELYON (THE MOST HIGH GOD)

(el el-yone')
The Most High God

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament El Elyon occurs 28 times. It occurs 19 times in Psalms. El Elyon is first used in Gen 14:18.

Variant spellings: None

TWOT Reference: 1624g, 1624h

Strong's Reference: H5945

El Elyon in the Septuagint: ho theos ho hupsistos - the God most high

Meaning and Derivation: El is another name that is translated as "God" and can be used in conjunction with other words to designate various aspects of God's character. Elyon literally means "Most High" and is used both adjectivally and substantivally throughout the Old Testament. It expresses the extreme sovereignty and majesty of God and His highest preeminence. When the two words are combined - El Elyon - it can be translated as "the most exalted God."(Psa 57:2)

Further references of the name El Elyon in the Old Testament: Gen 14:18;Gen 14:19; Gen 14:20; Gen 14:22; Psa 57:2; Psa 78:35

ADONAI (LORD, MASTER)

(ad-o-noy')
Lord, Master

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Adonai occurs 434 times. There are heavy uses of Adonai in Isaiah (e.g., Adonai Jehovah). It occurs 200 times in Ezekiel alone and appears 11 times in Daniel Chapter 9. Adonai is first used inGen 15:2.

Variant spellings: None

TWOT Reference: 27b

Strong's Reference: H136

Adonai in the Septuagint: kurios - Lord, Master

Meaning and Derivation: Adonai is the verbal parallel to Yahweh and Jehovah.Adonai is plural; the singular is adon. In reference to God the plural Adonai is used. When the singular adon is used, it usually refers to a human lord. Adon is used 215 times to refer to men. Occasionally in Scripture and predominantly in the Psalms, the singular adon is used to refer to God as well (cf. Exd 34:23). To avoid contravening the commandment "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" (Exd 20:7), sometimes Adonai was used as a substitute for Yahweh (YHWH). Adonai can be translated literally as, "my lords' " (both plural and possessive).

Further references of the name Adonai in the Old Testament: Complete list available here.

YAHWEH (LORD, JEHOVAH)

(yah-weh)
Lord, Jehovah

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Yahweh occurs 6,519 times. This name is used more than any other name of God. Yahweh is first used in Gen 2:4.

Variant spellings: YHWH, Jehovah

TWOT Reference: 484a

Strong's Reference: H3068

Yahwehin the Septuagint: kurios - Lord, Master
despotês - Lord, Master, denoting the omnipotence of God (TDNT), despot, absolute ruler

Meaning and Derivation: Yahweh is the promised name of God. This name of God which (by Jewish tradition) is too holy to voice, is actually spelled "YHWH" without vowels. YHWH is referred to as the Tetragrammaton (which simply means "the four letters"). YHWH comes from the Hebrew letters: Yud, Hay, Vav, Hay. While YHWH is first used in Genesis 2, God did not reveal Himself asYHWH until Exodus 3. The modern spelling as "Yahweh" includes vowels to assist in pronunciation. Many pronounce YHWH as "Yahweh" or "Jehovah." We no longer know for certain the exact pronunciation. During the third century A.D., the Jewish people stopped saying this name in fear of contravening the commandment "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" (Exd 20:7). As a result of this, Adonai is occasionally a substitute for YHWH. The following compound names which start with "YHWH" have been shown using "Jehovah." This is due to the common usage of "Jehovah" in the English of these compound names in the early English translations of the Bible (e.g., the Geneva Bible, the King James Version, etc.).

Further references of the name Yahweh in the Old Testament: Complete list available here.

JEHOVAH NISSI (THE LORD MY BANNER)

(yeh-ho-vaw' nis-see')
The Lord My Banner, The Lord My Miracle

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Jehovah-Nissi occurs only once inExd 17:15.

Variant spellings: Jehovah Nisi; Jehovahnissi

TWOT Reference: None

Strong's Reference: H3071

Jehovah Nissi in the Septuagint: kurios kataphugê mou - the Lord is my refuge

Meaning and Derivation: Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havahmeaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Nes(nês), from which Nissi derived, means "banner" in Hebrew. In Exd 17:15, Moses, recognizing that the Lord was Israel's banner under which they defeated the Amalekites, builds an altar named Jehovah-Nissi (the Lord our Banner). Nes is sometimes translated as a pole with an insignia attached. In battle opposing nations would fly their own flag on a pole at each of their respective front lines. This was to give their soldiers a feeling of hope and a focal point. This is what God is to us: a banner of encouragement to give us hope and a focal point.

Further references of the name Jehovah Nissi in the Old Testament:Exd 17:15

JEHOVAH-RAAH (THE LORD MY SHEPHERD)

(yeh-ho-vaw' raw-aw')
The Lord My Shepherd

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Jehovah-Raah (The Lord my Shepherd) is used in Psalm 23.

Variant spellings: Jehovah Rohi; Jehovah Ro'eh

TWOT Reference: 2185, 2186

Strong's Reference: H7462

Jehovah-Raah in the Septuagint: kurios poimainei me - the Lord shepherds me

Meaning and Derivation: Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havahmeaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Rô'ehfrom which Raah derived, means "shepherd" in Hebrew. A shepherd is one who feeds or leads his flock to pasture (Eze 34:11-15). An extend translation of this word, rea', is "friend" or "companion." This indicates the intimacy God desires between Himself and His people. When the two words are combined - Jehovah Raah - it can be translated as "The Lord my Friend."

Further references of the name Jehovah-Raah in the Old Testament:Gen 48:15; Gen 49:24; Psa 23:1; Psa 80:1

JEHOVAH RAPHA (THE LORD WHO HEALS)

(yeh-ho-vaw' raw-faw')
The Lord That Heals

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Jehovah-Rapha (The Lord that Heals) is used in Exd 15:26.

Variant spellings: Jehovah-Rophe; Jehovah Rophecha; Jehovah Raphah

TWOT Reference: 2196

Strong's Reference: H7495

Jehovah Rapha in the Septuagint: kurios ho iômenos se - the Lord your healer

Meaning and Derivation: Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havahmeaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Rapha(râpâ') means "to restore", "to heal" or "to make healthful" in Hebrew. When the two words are combined - Jehovah Rapha - it can be translated as "Jehovah Who Heals." (cf. Jer 30:17; Jer 3:22; Isa 30:26; Isa 61:1; Psa 103:3). Jehovah is the Great Physician who heals the physical and emotional needs of His people.

Further references of the name Jehovah Rapha in the Old Testament:Exd 15:26

JEHOVAH SHAMMAH (THE LORD IS THERE)

(yeh-ho-vaw' shawm'-maw)
The Lord Is There

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Jehovah Shammah occurs only once inEzekiel 48:35.

Variant spellings: Jehovah Samma

TWOT Reference: None

Strong's Reference: H3074

Jehovah Shammah in the Septuagint: estai to onoma autês - the name thereof

Meaning and Derivation: Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havahmeaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Shammahis derived from the Hebrew word sham, which can be translated as "there."Jehovah Shammah is a symbolic name for the earthly Jerusalem. The name indicates that God has not abandoned Jerusalem, leaving it in ruins, but that there will be a restoration.

Further references of the name Jehovah Shammah in the Old Testament:Eze 48:35

JEHOVAH TSIDKENU (THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS)

(yeh-ho-vaw' tsid-kay'-noo)
The Lord Our Righteousness

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Jehovah Tsidkenu occurs 2 times.Jehovah Tsidkenu is first used in Jer 23:6.

Variant spellings: Jehovah Tzidkaynu; Jehovah Tsidqenuw

TWOT Reference: None

Strong's Reference: H3072

Jehovah Tsidkenu in the Septuagint: kuriou tou theou hêmôn elalêsen pros hêmas - the Lord our God spoke to us

Meaning and Derivation: Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havahmeaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Tsedek(tseh'-dek), from which Tsidkenu derived, means "to be stiff," "to be straight," or "righteous" in Hebrew. When the two words are combined - Jehovah Tsidkenu - it can be translated as "The Lord Who is our Righteousness."

Further references of the name Jehovah Tsidkenu in the Old Testament:Jer 23:6; Jer 33:16

JEHOVAH MEKODDISHKEM (THE LORD WHO SANCTIFIES YOU)

(yeh-ho-vaw' M-qadash)
The Lord Who Sanctifies You, The Lord Who Makes Holy

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Jehovah Mekoddishkem occurs 2 times.Jehovah Mekoddishkem is first used in Exd 31:13.

Variant spellings: Jehovah M'kaddesh

TWOT Reference: 1990

Strong's Reference: H6942

Jehovah Mekoddishkem in the Septuagint: kurios ho hagiazôn humas - the Lord that sanctifies you

Meaning and Derivation: Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havahmeaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly.Mekoddishkem derives from the Hebrew word qâdash meaning "sanctify," "holy," or "dedicate." Sanctification is the separation of an object or person to the dedication of the Holy. When the two words are combined - Jehovah Mekoddishkem - it can be translated as "The Lord who sets you apart."

Further references of the name Jehovah Mekoddishkem in the Old Testament: Exd 31:13; Lev 20:8

EL OLAM (THE EVERLASTING GOD)

(el o-lawm')
The Everlasting God, The God of Eternity, The God of the Universe, The God of Ancient Days

Use in the Bible: El Olam is first used in Gen 21:33.

Variant spellings: None

TWOT Reference: 1631a

Strong's Reference: H5769

El Olamin the Septuagint: [ho] theos [ho] aiônios - the everlasting God

Meaning and Derivation: El is another name that is translated as "God" and can be used in conjunction with other words to designate various aspects of God's character. Olam derives from the root word 'lm (which means "eternity").Olam literally means "forever," "eternity," or "everlasting". When the two words are combined - El Olam - it can be translated as "The Eternal God."

Further references of the name El Olam in the Old Testament: Gen 21:33;Jer 10:10; Isa 26:4

ELOHIM (GOD)

(el-o-heem')
God, Judge, Creator

Use in the Bible: : In the Old Testament Elohim occurs over 2000 times. Elohimis first used in Gen 1:1.

Variant spellings: None

TWOT Reference: 93c

Strong's Reference: H430

Elohim in the Septuagint: theos - the standard Greek word for god, "a transcendent being who exercises extraordinary control in human affairs or is responsible for bestowal of unusual benefits" (BDAG). It specifically refers to the monotheistic God of Israel.

Meaning and Derivation: Elohim is translated as "God." The derivation of the name Elohim is debatable to most scholars. Some believe it derived from 'êlwhich, in turn, originates from the root word, 'wl (which means "strong"). Others think that Elohim is derived from another two roots: 'lh (which means "god") in conjunction with 'elôah (which means "fear"). And still others presume that both'êl and Elohim come from 'eloah.

Further references of the name Elohim in the Old Testament: Complete list available here.

QANNA (JEALOUS)

(kan-naw')
Jealous, Zealous

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Qanna occurs 6 times. Qanna is first used in Exd 20:5.

Variant spellings: Kanna

TWOT Reference: 2038b

Strong's Reference: H7067

Qanna in the Septuagint: zêlôtês - jealous

Meaning and Derivation: Qanna is translated as "jealous," "zealous," or "envy." The fundamental meaning relates to a marriage relationship. God is depicted as Israel's husband; He is a jealous God, wanting all our praise for Himself and no one else. (cf. Exd 34:14)

Further references of the name Qanna in the Old Testament: Exd 20:5;Exd 34:14; Deu 4:24; Deu 5:9; Deu 6:15

JEHOVAH JIREH (THE LORD WILL PROVIDE)

(yeh-ho-vaw' yir-eh')
The Lord Will Provide

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Jehovah-Jireh occurs only once inGen 22:14.

Variant spellings: None

TWOT Reference: None

Strong's Reference: H3070

Jehovah Jireh in the Septuagint: kurios eiden - the Lord has seen

Meaning and Derivation: Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havahmeaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Jehovah-Jireh is a symbolic name given to Mount Moriah by Abraham to memorialize the intercession of God in the sacrifice of Isaac by providing a substitute for the imminent sacrifice of his son.

Further references of the name Jehovah Jireh in the Old Testament:Gen 22:14

JEHOVAH SHALOM (THE LORD IS PEACE)

(yeh-ho-vaw' shaw-lome')
The Lord Is Peace

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament Jehovah-Shalom occurs only once inJdg 6:24.

Variant spellings: None

TWOT Reference: None

Strong's Reference: H3073

Jehovah-Shalom in the Septuagint: eirênê kuriou - peace of the Lord

Meaning and Derivation: Meaning and Derivation: Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Shalom is a derivative of shâlêm (which means "be complete" or "sound") Shalom is translated as "peace" or "absence from strife." Jehovah-Shalom is the name of an altar built by Gideon in Ophrah.

Further references of the name Jehovah-Shalom in the Old Testament:Jdg 6:24

JEHOVAH SABAOTH (THE LORD OF HOSTS)

(yeh-ho-vaw' se ba'ôt)
The Lord of Hosts, The Lord of Powers

Use in the Bible: Jehovah and Elohim occur with Sabaoth over 285 times. It is most frequently used in Jeremiah and Isaiah. Jehovah Sabaoth is first used in1Sa 1:3.

Variant spellings: None

TWOT Reference: 1865a, 1865b

Strong's Reference: H6635

Jehovah Sabaoth in the Septuagint: kurios sabaôth - the Lord of hosts (sabaôth: Gr. transliteration of Heb. "hosts")

Meaning and Derivation: Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havahmeaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Sabaoth(se bâ'ôt) means "armies" or "hosts." Jehovah Sabaoth can be translated as "The Lord of Armies" (1Sa 1:3). This name denotes His universal sovereignty over every army, both spiritual and earthly. The Lord of Hosts is the king of all heaven and earth. (Psa 24:9-10; Psa 84:3; Isa 6:5).

Further references of the name Jehovah Sabaoth in the Old Testament:1Sa 1:11; 1Sa 17:45; 2Sa 6:18; 2Sa 7:27; 1Ki 19:14; 2Ki 3:14; 1Ch 11:9;Psa 24:10; Psa 48:8; Psa 80:4; Psa 80:19; Psa 84:3; Isa 1:24; Isa 3:15; Isa 5:16;Isa 6:5; Isa 9:19; Isa 10:26; Isa 14:22; Jer 9:15; Jer 48:1; Hsa 12:5; Amo 3:13;Mic 4:4; Nah 3:5; Hag 2:6; Zec 1:3; Mal 1:6; Hab 2:13; Zep 2:9

EL, ELOAH: God "mighty, strong, prominent" (Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 139:19) – etymologically, El appears to mean “power,” as in “I have the power to harm you” (Genesis 31:29). El is associated with other qualities, such as integrity (Numbers 23:19), jealousy (Deuteronomy 5:9), and compassion (Nehemiah 9:31), but the root idea of “might” remains.

ELOHIM: God “Creator, Mighty and Strong” (Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33) – the plural form of Eloah, which accommodates the doctrine of the Trinity. From the Bible’s first sentence, the superlative nature of God’s power is evident as God (Elohim) speaks the world into existence (Genesis 1:1).

EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty,” “The Mighty One of Jacob” (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2,5) – speaks to God’s ultimate power over all.

ADONAI: “Lord” (Genesis 15:2; Judges 6:15) – used in place of YHWH, which was thought by the Jews to be too sacred to be uttered by sinful men. In the Old Testament, YHWH is more often used in God’s dealings with His people, while Adonai is used more when He deals with the Gentiles.

YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH: “LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:4; Daniel 9:14) – strictly speaking, the only proper name for God. Translated in English Bibles “LORD” (all capitals) to distinguish it from Adonai, “Lord.” The revelation of the name is first given to Moses “I Am who I Am” (Exodus 3:14). This name specifies an immediacy, a presence. Yahweh is present, accessible, near to those who call on Him for deliverance (Psalm 107:13), forgiveness (Psalm 25:11) and guidance (Psalm 31:3).

YAHWEH-JIREH: "The Lord Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14) – the name memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac.

YAHWEH-RAPHA: "The Lord Who Heals" (Exodus 15:26) – “I am Jehovah who heals you” both in body and soul. In body, by preserving from and curing diseases, and in soul, by pardoning iniquities.

YAHWEH-NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner" (Exodus 17:15), where banner is understood to be a rallying place. This name commemorates the desert victory over the Amalekites in Exodus 17.

YAHWEH-M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy" (Leviticus 20:8; Ezekiel 37:28) – God makes it clear that He alone, not the law, can cleanse His people and make them holy.

YAHWEH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" (Judges 6:24) – the name given by Gideon to the altar he built after the Angel of the Lord assured him he would not die as he thought he would after seeing Him.

YAHWEH-ELOHIM: "LORD God" (Genesis 2:4; Psalm 59:5) – a combination of God’s unique name YHWH and the generic “Lord,” signifying that He is the Lord of Lords.

YAHWEH-TSIDKENU: "The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 33:16) – As with YHWH-M’Kaddesh, it is God alone who provides righteousness to man, ultimately in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, who became sin for us “that we might become the Righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

YAHWEH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd" (Psalm 23:1) – After David pondered his relationship as a shepherd to his sheep, he realized that was exactly the relationship God had with him, and so he declares, “Yahweh-Rohi is my Shepherd. I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).

YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord Is There” (Ezekiel 48:35) – the name ascribed to Jerusalem and the Temple there, indicating that the once-departed glory of the Lord (Ezekiel 8—11) had returned (Ezekiel 44:1-4).

YAHWEH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts" (Isaiah 1:24; Psalm 46:7) – Hosts means “hordes,” both of angels and of men. He is Lord of the host of heaven and of the inhabitants of the earth, of Jews and Gentiles, of rich and poor, master and slave. The name is expressive of the majesty, power, and authority of God and shows that He is able to accomplish what He determines to do.

EL ELYON: “Most High" (Deuteronomy 26:19) – derived from the Hebrew root for “go up” or “ascend,” so the implication is of that which is the very highest. El Elyon denotes exaltation and speaks of absolute right to lordship.

EL ROI: "God of Seeing" (Genesis 16:13) – the name ascribed to God by Hagar, alone and desperate in the wilderness after being driven out by Sarah (Genesis 16:1-14). When Hagar met the Angel of the Lord, she realized she had seen God Himself in a theophany. She also realized that El Roi saw her in her distress and testified that He is a God who lives and sees all.

EL-OLAM: "Everlasting God" (Psalm 90:1-3) – God’s nature is without beginning or end, free from all constraints of time, and He contains within Himself the very cause of time itself. “From everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

EL-GIBHOR: “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6) – the name describing the Messiah, Christ Jesus, in this prophetic portion of Isaiah. As a powerful and mighty warrior, the Messiah, the Mighty God, will accomplish the destruction of God’s enemies and rule with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15).