INTRODUCTION: The toddler confidently marches a few feet into the crowd.  But then, he looks around.  Everything is strange and every face is unfamiliar.  He freezes in place, his face contorts, and he cries for the mother he left behind.  But mother has been watching.  She has kept close and has never taken her eyes off of her precious one.  She steps over, picks up the frightened boy, and assures him, Mommy is right here.  To each of you today, God wants to assure you, He is near and has never left you alone.

1. THE NAME OF THE LORD
1. The Importance of a Name (Proverbs 22:1A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
   See All...; Isaiah 42:8I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
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1. The Good Name of the Lord
1. A great name (Psalm 99:3Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
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2. A holy name (Psalm 103:1Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
   See All...; Matthew 6:9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
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3. Reverend is his name (Psalm 111:9He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
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4. An excellent name ((Psalm 8:1O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
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5. A blessed name (Psalm 113:1-3 [1] Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. [2] Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. [3] From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised.
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2. For His Name’s Sake
1. Our sins are forgiven (Psalm 25:11For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
   See All...; 1 John 2:12I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
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2. We are led by the Lord (Psalm 23:3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
   See All...; Psalm 31:3For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
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2. THE NEARNESS OF HIS NAME
1. Not Difficult to Find (Deuteronomy 30:11-14 [11] For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. [12] It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? [13] Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? [14] But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
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2. Not Possible to Escape (Psalm 139:1-12 [1] O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. [2] Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. [3] Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. [4] For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. [5] Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. [6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. [7] Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? [8] If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. [9] If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; [10] Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. [11] If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. [12] Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
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3.  THE DECLARATION OF HIS NEARNESS
1. Declared by Creation (Psalm 19:1-3 [1] The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. [2] Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. [3] There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
   See All...; Romans 1:20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
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2. Declared to Individuals
1. The example of Moses (Exodus 33:12-23 [12] And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. [13] Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. [14] And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. [15] And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. [16] For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. [17] And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. [18] And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. [19] And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. [20] And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. [21] And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: [22] And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: [23] And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
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2. To them that fear God (Psalm 25:12What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
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3. By God’s providential working (Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
   See All...; Ecclesiastes 3:11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
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4. OUR GRATITUDE FOR HIS NEARNESS
1. The Nearness of the Lord (Ephesians 2:13-16 [13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. [14] For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; [15] Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; [16] And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
   See All...; Ephesians 3:12In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
   See All...; Hebrews 4:16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
   See All...; Hebrews 10:19-22 [19] Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, [20] By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; [21] And having an high priest over the house of God; [22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
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2. The Rewards of Drawing Nigh (Psalm 73:28But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
   See All...; James 4:8-10 [8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. [9] Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. [10] Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
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CONCLUSION:  Are you lost in a strange place (like that toddler)?  At each stage of our lives, we can say with Joshua that we “have not passed this way heretofore” (Joshua 3:4Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
See All...).  We tend to lose our bearings and become like frightened children.  We have pulled our hand from the Master’s grip and have darted out into the world on our own.  Suddenly, all is foreboding and we need the Lord.  Yet, He has never lost sight of us, and He looks on with tender care.  Cry out to Him and draw nigh.  He will quickly come.