Feeling alone? Are you in a difficult situation or feeling stuck in a “desert”? You are not alone. God knows where you are, and he will answer you when you cry out for him.

Understanding His names is a means to understand who God is—and, in turn, how important you are to Him.

His names Elohim and Jehovah mean the strong creator and the self-existent one; God who loves you. The names of God convey the truth of His power, love, sovereignty and authority.

The Lord is a place of safety and refuge. Our deliverer and our stronghold in times of need.

Feeling alone, stuck, or hurt? You are not alone; call out to God who loves you.

What’s In a Name?

We should have a correct and positive view of God’s name, and at all times no matter the situation know the greatness of God. There is authority and power in God’s name. We should always remember the majesty, love, presence, power and authority that is associated with God’s name.

There are many names attributed to God that are found in scripture:

• Elohim

• Jehovah

• Adonai

• El Elyon

• El Shaddai

• Jehovah–Jireh

• Jehovah-Rapha

• Jehovah-Shalom

• Jehovah-Nissi

• Jehovah-Sabaoth

• Jehovah-Raah

• Jehovah-Tsidkenu

• Jehovah-Shammah

And these are not even all of the them! The names help describe God and they can give us a more complete picture of God. God’s names will speak to the power and character of God. The Lord is a place of safety and refuge for the believer. The Lord is our deliverer and our stronghold in times of need.

Do you see the Lord in that way? Is the Lord your strong tower? Do you understand the power, authority and influence that is within God’s name?

Elohim

Today we’re concentrating on two particular names:

The first name of God that I want to look at is the name Elohim.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1. NIV).

In Genesis 1:1, we find God introduces Himself to us as Elohim. No other name for God is used in this part of the creation story.

The name ELOHIM means strong one.

• God is the strong creator.

• It is ELOHIM who holds all things together.

• It is ELOHIM who speaks everything into existence.

• ELOHIM is before creation and is everywhere present, in creation and all eternity.

Knowing this is true, is anything too hard for God? Certainly not!

God—ELOHIM—is eternal and before creation. He sees the past, present and future all together. ELOHIM set time and seasons in motion. God is omnipresent, meaning he is everywhere present at all times. Nothing can ever surprise God.

Before we move on to consider the second name of God, I want you to consider the fact that Elohim—God—knew you before you were conceived and born. Like the Prophet Jeremiah, Elohim knew you in your mother’s womb. He has plans to prosper and not harm you (see Jeremiah 29:11-12).

Jehovah

The second name of God that I want to look at is the name Yahweh in Hebrew, but in English we say Jehovah.

“This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD GOD made the earth and the heavens — 5 and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD GOD had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground — 7 the LORD GOD formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:4-7).

In scripture when you find LORD or GOD in all caps it is indicating Gods name Jehovah. The name Jehovah reveals the person and character of God.

Jehovah is the self-existent One.

Where Elohim is the strong creator, Jehovah is the self-existent One. Both names of God help reaffirm the truth, that God was before creation and that He needs nothing or no one to exist. God, Jehovah, exists because he is.

How do God’s Names Impact Us?

We get ourselves into all kinds of trouble when we get our eyes off of the LORD.

Consider these two names of God:

• Elohim and Jehovah: The strong creator and the self-existent one

Know the power and presence of God that is in those names. They are both one in the same: God who loves you. You may find yourself on the back side of a desert like Moses. Or being no fault of your own, mistreated somehow by friends or family and like Joseph you feel alone in a faraway place.

You are not alone…God knows where you are, and he will answer you when you cry out for him.

The one who created and formed you in your mother’s womb, knows your name and loves you. Look to Him in faith, and allow Jesus, the son of God, the promised messiah, the resurrected savior and redeemer to fill your heart and soul with His presence. Do not let your heart or spiritual eyes wander from faith in the Lord Jesus.

There is power and authority in the names of God, as seen in Elohim and Jehovah and is also seen in Jesus and His love for you.

This and other sermons brought to you by Faith Chapel, an Assemblies of God church in Pleasanton, CA.