Run To The Name
Pastor Erickson preaches from Proverbs 18:10, showing that the strong tower in the verse is the name of the Lord, revealed in the New Testament as Jesus, the name above every name. He calls people to run to that name the way David ran at Goliath, for salvation, healing, protection and restoration.
The message in 6 points
The name of the Lord is a strong tower
He reads Proverbs 18:10 and its neighboring verses and notes that the proverb has no context. In ancient times towers protected fields, roads and cities, and Psalm 20:1 speaks of the name of God setting us safely on high.
1:02:10It was who I was with
He tells of an eighth grade run in with a school bully and staying right beside the teacher afterward. The point, he says, is that safety was not where he was but who he was with, so run to what can protect you.
1:11:40The verse is about the name
Diagramming the sentence shows the subject is the name, not the tower. Israel knew God by many descriptive titles, but Philippians 2:9, Acts 4:12 and Colossians 2:9 show that in Jesus we get all of them, the fullness of the Godhead.
1:16:50Only the righteous run in
The promise is to the righteous. Saul, not right with God, turned to the witch of Endor, but David ran toward Goliath in the name of the Lord of hosts and won.
1:25:03Power in the name
He reads John 14, Mark 16 and Acts 2:38 to show that prayer, signs and baptism are all in the name. He tells of a visiting pastor who came to see the name of Jesus and was baptized, and says God is not interested in your past but your future.
1:31:15Healing and restoration in the name
From James 5:14 and the lame man in Acts 3, he says the God who formed man from dust can heal any disease. He opens the altar for healing, deliverance and restoration, calling people to run to the name.
1:40:18
In his words
“It wasn't where I was, it was who I was with, it was my protection, the only person in the room that could protect me, and I stayed by his side.”
“Let me tell you something, God is not interested in your past, He's interested in your future.”
“They would take their possessions up as high as they could go, because they understood the last thing that gets taken in this city is the tower.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Proverbs 18:8-11
8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 9He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. 10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. 11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
King James Version.
Psalms 20:1
1The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
King James Version.
Psalms 7:17
17I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
King James Version.
Psalms 116:17
17I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
King James Version.
Psalms 8:1
1O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
King James Version.
Philippians 2:9
9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
King James Version.
Acts 4:12
12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
King James Version.
Colossians 2:9-10
9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
King James Version.
1 Samuel 17:45-51
45Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands. 48And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
King James Version.
John 14:12-14
12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
King James Version.
Mark 16:17-18
17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
King James Version.
Acts 2:38
38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
King James Version.
James 5:14
14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
King James Version.
Acts 3:1
1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
King James Version.
Acts 3:4-6
4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
King James Version.
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