A BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE WAS WRITTEN
Let us examine, if any of us qualifies, in this issue of being part of the book of remembrance. The scripture in this message is Malachi 3:16, which states, “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” As you examine this verse of the Holy Scripture, you will see that the mercy and truth of God were not hidden from holy seekers and loving inquirers. The word of God makes these clear statements that include:
1.) They that feared the Lord: b. They that spake often one to another.
2.) The Lord hearkened and heard it: d. And that thought upon his name.
Two of these factors are seriously personal. To fear God and to think upon his name. It is like meditation, it is within you. It is a commitment. The third factor is to speak one to another, and this is interaction. Whatever they were talking about, God was listening in; it must be about the Lord and what is of great interest to the Lord. {One of the times the Lord listened and hearkened and heard was in Luke 24:13-35, these two disciples one of whose name was Cleopas were walking to a city away from Jerusalem; speaking one to another and thought about Jesus Christ(his name) and really feared the Lord with the story of his resurrection. Jesus joined them as a traveler in the same direction. He joined them in the discussion, he heard them, and hearkened by helping them resolve their confusion. He opened a book of remembrance for them in a way, because today whenever we talk about Jesus after his resurrection the two disciples are mentioned. He was with them veiled and they knew him not until later that night, at meal, when he took bread and break it (And how he was known of them in bread breaking, verse 35). Today God is still doing more than ever in opening a book of remembrance to those who meet these three factors.
Those who fear the Lord belong to a long list of people who see and relate to God in the same way. Fear as it relates to God and true believers is nothing negative but positive. Fear here is actually love towards God. You are encouraged to read these scriptures Psalms 19:9, “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.” Psalms 34:9, “O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.” 6:24, “And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always.” Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Those who fear the Lord are those that love the Lord.
Those that thought upon his name. This is a crucial factor in opening a book of remembrance. To think about the Lord you have to know his name in your dispensation, because his name means something great to people of the era. If you are in the world today you may not grasp why God was known by different names during the different dispensations of the past. But today the same promise applies for, fearing the Lord, thinking about his name and talking to one another about the Lord. The question for our dispensation is what name of God do we know today and are our thoughts on his name? In Matt.1:18-23 and in particular verse21, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name “JESUS”: for he shall save his people from their sins.” In John 5:43 Jesus Christ himself said, “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” To make a long story short the name of God to this dispensation is Jesus Christ. Remember Father, Son and Holy Ghost are not proper names but titles or offices in which God manifested himself. If you think in terms of trinity as God’s name then you really do not know his name. You are using, thinking and believing on his offices or titles but not on his name. Names have meaning. Titles are like qualifiers or adjectives but names have signification. Jesus is the name for “He shall save His people from their sins.” John 1:1-14 will tell you the meaning of the name Jesus. Revelation 1:8 and 18, tells you more who Jesus identified himself as.
Now that you know the name of the Lord God, then the question is what kinds of thoughts do you have about his name? Acts 4:12 reads, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Also a look at Mark 16: 15-18 will give you more information, particularly verse 17, “In my name (not title or offices) shall they cast out devils—–.” I challenge you, try casting out a demon using Father, and or Son and or Holy Ghost and see what happens. Only the name of Jesus Christ can deliver one from all of Satan and his demons: Try using the blood of the trinity or Father, Son and Holy Ghost and see what happens. Jesus Christ shed his blood and that is what we use. What is baptism? For the Christian it is been buried with Christ Jesus into his death and coming out of the water as been risen with him. Trinity believers baptize in the name of the Father, the name of the Son and the name of the Holy Ghost. Father, Son and the Holy Ghost has to do with the Godhead, and Colossians 2:9, “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Him here is Jesus Christ. So the name for baptism, is the name of the one who died for you and his name is Jesus Christ. If you were not baptized in the name of Jesus Christ but in trinity style you are in danger and not know it. Remember that those people thought on his name. Study the book of Acts and you will find that they all baptized in the name of Jesus not trinity style and by emersion. Furthermore, it is important to give heed to these scriptures, Philippians 2:9-11, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in the earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Now you know the name to think and talk and fear (love), Jesus Christ.
After you are saved and growing in the Lord the only and commonest talk about God is in relation to the salvation of the lost souls, the promise of the translation and all that surrounds our preparation to meet the Lord any moment now. When believers talk to one another about these two crucial and eminent interests of the Lord, a book of remembrance is written before him for them. Luke 24:46-48, “—–And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name (JESUS CHRIST) among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.” This is what we should be speaking about, the salvation of the lost. The next is crucial because He made the promise, John 14: 1-3, “—–In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” On this promise stands 1st Corinthians 15:51-58 and 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18, and many promises of new heaven and new earth and New Jerusalem. And how we shall see other believers of other dispensations; the holy angels, the four beasts and twenty four elders. Above all we shall see Jesus Christ our Lord and God as He is. What a sight that will be.
A book of remembrance of how we feared, loved our God and thought on his name not names; and spake one to another, about his unfailing word and promises: his goodness and faithfulness to man. He left heaven, took the form of man, looking for us and gave his life for us. Are you thinking on the name of the Lord, speaking one to another about meeting the Lord in the air.
Malachi 3:17, “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels. And I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” God will spare his sons, judgment that is coming, the great tribulation. God will gather his jewels in the translation.