C.A. Phillips – NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper – The Power of His Name

C.A. Phillips on June 12, 2026

The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Proverbs 18:10 (ESV)

THE POWER OF HIS NAME

The term “God” is used by many religions and denominations, but when God Himself was asked what His name was, He responded, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14).

In the original Hebrew Bible, however, God’s name appears more than 7,000 times as YHWH (Hebrew was originally written without vowels). Some scholars suggest the name YHWH may have origins in Midian and may be derived from an Arabic root associated with love, desire, or passion. Later, out of reverence for God, the Jewish people substituted Adonai (translated “Lord”) because they felt YHWH was too sacred to pronounce aloud. In most English translations, whenever you see the word LORD in all capital letters, it is referring to God’s covenant name, YHWH.

As we wrap up our week-long examination of the Third Commandment—”Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (KJV)—we need to revisit the notion that this all boils down to one thing: relationship.

If we are in a right relationship with the Lord, His name carries weight. If we don’t know God, or if our relationship with Him is broken, His name will lose significance to us (though never to Him!).

Modern Bible scholar Dr. Bob Utley once exclaimed, “There’s no power in God’s name until you know Him!” But let’s not stop there. You could also say, “There’s no power in Jesus’ name until you know Him!”

The Apostle Paul was convinced of this—especially after his life-changing encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Consider what he wrote in his letter to the Philippians:

“Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor
and gave Him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9–11 NLT)

As we conclude this week, I’d encourage you to reflect on your personal relationship with Jesus. If you know Him and walk with Him, you have access to the power of His name through the Holy Spirit. If you know Him but have drifted far from Him, you can still call on His name and restore that relationship through confession and repentance.

And if you don’t yet know Him, He is actively pursuing you and desires nothing more than to show you the power—and peace—that are available through a relationship with Him.

C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy.

Digging Deeper – More Than Words

C.A. Phillips on June 11, 2026

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

Exodus 20:7 (ESV)

MORE THAN WORDS

Several years ago, I read an article that discussed the topic of biblical knowledge among today’s Christians. In essence, the majority of believers interviewed by the author candidly shared that they didn’t feel they knew enough of the Bible. That’s actually quite common. Shoot, I’ve been a Christian for more than 45 years, and I still don’t come anywhere close to knowing enough!

But the article didn’t stop there. Interestingly, through more in-depth conversations with these men and women, the author discovered that the largest gap didn’t exist between what they knew and didn’t know about the Bible. The widest chasm was between what they knew and how they lived. Let that sink in for a moment.

For instance, let’s say I know only a couple of Bible verses and can perhaps paraphrase one or two of Jesus’ parables. My biblical knowledge may be limited, but it’s still enough to point my moral and spiritual compass toward Christ. The problem is that I don’t apply the little knowledge I have. My feet don’t move in the direction my knowledge is trying to guide me.

Likewise, when we read the Third Commandment—where the Lord tells us not to take His name in vain—we discover that it’s more of a lifestyle issue than a knowledge issue. We can get caught up in legalism and think to ourselves, “Well, I didn’t curse using God’s name, and I didn’t say His name in a flippant way,” and assume we’re doing fine. Meanwhile, we flipped someone off on the way to work, spoke harshly to an umpire at our child’s game, and left a $3 tip on a $50 dinner bill.

Some have said, “You’re the only ‘Jesus’ some people may ever see.” That’s true, and it should sober us to realize that a lost world is watching Christians closely.

Dr. Bob Utley, one of the most respected Bible teachers of our time, shared some valuable insight regarding the Third Commandment. Utley says that taking the Lord’s name in vain is akin to “cheapening His name by godless living.” In his commentary on the subject, he goes on to ask, “Have you impugned the name of God by your life?”

The truth is, we all have at one time or another. This is where repentance (turning away from sin and turning toward God) and a contrite (soft, humble, and remorseful) heart become critical to keeping us in step with the Lord.

When we honor Him—with both our words and our lifestyle—He blesses us.

“I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts,
who tremble at my word.” Isaiah 66:2 (NLT)

Digging Deeper – What’s On Your Mind?

C.A. Phillips on June 10, 2026

“These people praise me with their words,
but they never really think about me.
They worship me by repeating
rules made up by humans.”

Isaiah 29:13 (CEV)

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

We wrapped up yesterday’s devotional with the realization that our hearts typically determine our lifestyle—how we act, how we spend our time, and with whom we spend it. And all of that certainly bleeds over into how we speak.

I remember a time very early in my tenure on staff at NorthStar Church. I was talking with a volunteer one Sunday morning when, out of the blue, I was lambasted. This man—who was a well-liked, highly esteemed volunteer and church leader—suddenly went on a tirade and made me feel small. I was so taken aback and discouraged that I sought counsel from one of our staff leaders that very day. I remember his advice well.

“This isn’t about that,” he said.

In other words, whatever this man was getting on me about wasn’t really the issue. There was something deeper going on beneath the surface that erupted in that moment, and I had the misfortune of being the recipient of his angst.

Jesus spoke openly about this issue:

“Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts, but bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts. Your words show what is in your heart.” Luke 6:45 (CEV)

So, if my heart determines my words and actions, how do I align it with Jesus? Great question. It begins with rewiring another part of our anatomy: our minds.

How we think, what we think about, and whom we think about all work in concert to propel us forward—or backward. As you’ve heard before, “Junk in, junk out.” So if we replace the junk with good things—truly good things—nearly every area of our lives will be enriched. Paul says as much in his letter to the Romans:

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)

The Apostle Paul emphasizes the power of our thoughts:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

This doesn’t happen naturally. It takes effort, discipline, and a deep desire to honor the Lord with our lives – which includes the words we use. Transform your thought life, then your heart, hands & feet, and mouth will follow!

Digging Deeper – What Does ‘In Vain’ Mean, Anyway?

C.A. Phillips on June 9, 2026

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

Exodus 20:7 (ESV)

WHAT DOES ‘IN VAIN’ MEAN, ANYWAY?

For those of us who grew up reading and hearing the King James Version of the Bible, we are familiar with the commandment not to “take the Lord’s name in vain.” For the longest time, I thought this referred only to the misuse of His name through expressions such as:

• “Oh my God” (I still say, “Oh my goodness” or “Oh my gosh.”)

• “Jesus Christ” (or any variation thereof)

• “G.D.” (not “gosh darn”)

Even today, when I hear someone use one of these phrases, it bothers me. However, the Third Commandment is far more far-reaching than simply avoiding certain words or expressions of exasperation.

Let’s look at some wisdom from the writer of Ecclesiastes to gain a clearer understanding of what “in vain” encompasses:

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2 ESV)

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 12:8 ESV)

“So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:9–11 ESV)

There are many more examples throughout Ecclesiastes, as the writer wrestles with the purpose and meaning of life. “All is vanity,” he concludes, even after pursuing pleasure, comfort, success, and riches.

When we look at the New Living Translation, the word “vanity” is often translated as “meaningless.” This brings the Third Commandment into sharper focus. Not only should we avoid misusing the Lord’s name; we should also avoid using it in a meaningless, careless, trivial, or insignificant way.

Again, the Lord is speaking to believers here. He expects more from His children. He calls us to be different from the world.

Go back and read Exodus 20:7, and don’t miss this: “The Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

If you are a Christian and you use God’s name in a flippant manner, that is serious business.

Consider Isaiah 29:13:

“And so the Lord says,

‘These people say they are Mine.
They honor Me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from Me.
And their worship of Me
is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.'” (NLT)

Ultimately, this is a heart issue. Tomorrow, we’ll dive a little deeper into how we can align our hearts with His.

Digging Deeper – Treasure His Name

C.A. Phillips on June 8, 2026

“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.”

Exodus 20:7 (NLT)

TREASURE HIS NAME

Have you ever given much thought to the significance of your name? Your parents likely spent a great deal of time, prayer, and debate coming up with the two or three words that precede your surname.

While you know me as C.A., my full name is Charles Alfred Phillips III. I was named after my dad, who was named after his dad—a man he never met because his father passed away in a chemical explosion two months before he was born. It was my grandmother who suggested to my parents that I be called “C.A.” And what do you know? It stuck!

Names tend to carry emotional weight for us—but only if we have a relationship with the person who bears that name. When you hear the name David, you likely know a David, and images and feelings enter your mind. If you have a close friend or relative named David, the name means even more to you. Names aren’t just words—they create deep connections.

Now think about how you would feel if someone cursed the name of your child or a loved one. Perhaps they spoke with contempt or falsely accused them. That’s not something we can quickly move past. It lingers. It stings. Our defenses rise. Not because of the name itself, but because of our love and affection for that person.

In the Third Commandment, God is not talking about a loved one. He’s talking about Himself. It’s important to understand that God isn’t addressing these commandments to all people. He’s directing them to His children—the ones with whom He has the most intimate relationship.

Thousands of years later, Jesus echoed this sentiment when He taught His disciples how to pray. In Matthew 6:9, He said:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.”

This is how Jesus began the prayer—by emphasizing the holiness of His Father’s name.

We only treasure a name when we have a close bond with the person. If there’s a lesson for us today, it’s that we need to cultivate our relationship with our Heavenly Father by spending time with Him, reading His Word, and listening as He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit.

When we do this consistently, we develop a deep and meaningful relationship, one that cannot be broken and one that we will honor through our words and actions.

Digging Deeper – Just Accept It

C.A. Phillips on March 20, 2026

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

John 8:36 (NLT)

JUST ACCEPT IT

At some point in your life, you have been mistreated. Someone has lied to you, stolen from you, physically hurt you, taken advantage of you – or worse – done one or more of those things to someone you dearly love. As painful as it is, forgiveness is the only way to move beyond it.

Sometimes we resist forgiveness because we do not want to let someone off the hook. We would rather harbor resentment and quietly long for them to get what is coming to them.

As difficult as it can be to forgive the pain inflicted by others, there is one offender we often have an even harder time releasing: ourselves.

We think, “Jesus can forgive what they have done, but I cannot accept His forgiveness for what I have done.” And the devil will continue whispering that lie in your ear.

You might say, “I have destroyed relationships. I have caused irreparable harm to others. I have disappointed so many people. I just cannot forgive myself.”

Here is the good news: you are right, you cannot forgive yourself, but Jesus forgives. You simply need to accept it.

Instead, our tendency is to hold ourselves captive, replaying our failures and reminding ourselves how badly we have messed up. Jesus does not want that for us, and He was not crucified so we could live under the weight of self-condemnation. He took on our sins and bore the ultimate penalty so we would not have to.

Are there consequences for our actions? Yes, and they can be crippling. However, Jesus calls us to do three things:
• Confess our sin
• Repent, which means turning completely around
• Lock eyes with Him daily

When and where possible, we should do our best to reconcile with those we have hurt, but there is no guarantee that reconciliation will always happen.

It is important to remember that it is Jesus’ death and resurrection that forgive us and give us hope. Punishing ourselves for past sins accomplishes nothing for the kingdom, but it does give the enemy an advantage.

If you find that you are unable to move past the hurt you have caused others and unable to accept Jesus’ forgiveness, please tell someone. You can certainly speak with any of our staff at NorthStar Church, and we will help you discover the freedom found in Christ.

Pray: Lord, I have a tendency to be hard on myself when I mess up. Help me turn to You, confess my sin, abide in You, and find the freedom only You can offer. Amen.

Digging Deeper – Put Up a Fight

C.A. Phillips on March 19, 2026

So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

Luke 5:19 (NLT)

PUT UP A FIGHT

Consider the lobster: a red, strange-looking crustacean with pinchers and antennae. It is an expensive menu option, but sure is yummy with some drawn butter. Okay, my stomach might be growling as I write this.

Here is an interesting fact about lobsters: if placed in a cage with the lid removed, one lobster can escape. But if two or more lobsters are in the cage, escape becomes nearly impossible. Instinctively, lobsters will often grab and pull down the one trying to climb upward.

Spiritually lost humans can be a lot like lobsters. They do not want someone else to escape the darkness and find the light. As the saying goes, misery loves company. This is just one of many reasons you may feel resistance when you are trying to climb your way out of sin. The enemy, and sometimes even your “close friends,” may want to keep you right where you are.

With this in mind, the story unfolding in Luke becomes even more remarkable. We find a group of men determined to get their friend, who is paralyzed, in front of Jesus. They first try the front door, but the crowd is so massive they cannot get inside. Undeterred, they climb to the roof, remove the tiles, and lower their friend down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus (Luke 5:19).

While the paralyzed man is a major part of the scene, he is really a supporting character. The friends are the heroes. In fact, Jesus tells the man, before he is ever healed, that his sins are forgiven because of his friends’ faith. Wow.

My good friend Steve Roach once talked about the importance of living in Christian community, having people who love you enough to keep you close to Jesus. Steve said, “To know whether or not you are in community with believers, ask yourself, ‘Who would I have to fight through to walk away from the Lord?’”

We all need those people in our lives, people like the paralytic’s friends who will bring us to Jesus and who will fight to help keep us there.

If you are fighting to get in front of Jesus, perhaps you are surrounded by lobsters. Do not let them pull you back into the cage. Instead, look for someone you can trust, someone who will help you find an audience with the King.

Pray: Jesus, help me become the kind of person who points others to You and, when necessary, fights to help them get in front of You. Amen.

Digging Deeper – Rest Stop

C.A. Phillips on March 18, 2026

²⁸Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:29-29 (NLT)

REST STOP

I just returned from a great getaway with my wife. We went on a cruise, which was fantastic, but we had to drive a long distance to and from the cruise port. If you’re like me, you want to get to your destination as quickly as possible. That means eliminating unnecessary pit stops and consolidating the important ones to minimize time off the interstate.

One of the greatest things about interstate travel is the rest area. You do not have to exit and drive to a sketchy convenience store. You simply ease off the ramp, take care of business, and get back on the road. Glorious! But who are we kidding? For most of us, these are not really “rest” areas. They are quick and convenient bathroom stops and grassy patches where the dog can go potty.

The truth is, we are in desperate need of rest.

One of the best things about my vacation was that I was truly forced to rest, and I had no idea how much my mind and body needed it. When I am home, I do not make much time for rest. I have far too much to do and even more to think about getting done. No doubt you are the same.

In today’s passage in Matthew, Jesus is exasperated. He has denounced the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, saying they have not repented of their sins despite seeing many of His miracles. He then prays aloud, thanking the Father for “hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever.”

It is after this admonishment that Jesus extends an invitation for the ages: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Could it be that the façade these people had built created an unbearable weight? Is it possible that those who thought so highly of themselves were actually overwhelmed on the inside and exhausted from pretending?

Jesus offers you that same invitation right now. But to experience His rest, you must stop pretending you have it all together.

Get real with Him, and let Him begin filling the empty places in your life with goodness, peace, and joy.

Pray: Lord, I am tired, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Help me stop pretending I have it all together, and teach me to lay my anxiety, stress, and burdens at Your feet. Amen.

Digging Deeper – Voices in My Head

C.A. Phillips on March 17, 2026

⁸And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)

VOICES IN MY HEAD

You’ve likely heard the phrase, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” As a parent, I worked tirelessly to put guardrails around my kids and the influences they were exposed to. Of course, I couldn’t control all the people they spent time with; however, my wife and I made sure to ask plenty of questions. Over time, both of our boys learned that fewer questions were asked about the friends and families who aligned with our beliefs and way of living. As a result, they generally chose to spend more time with those groups.

As adults, the exact same thing is true. The influences we allow into our lives, minds, and hearts will have a profound effect on the way we live and, perhaps more importantly, the way we think. Here are just a few examples of “voices” that can creep in and begin shaping us from the outside-in:

• Who we spend time with: friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances in everyday settings
• What and who we listen to: radio stations, podcasts, YouTube videos, and reels
• Social media: who we follow, the rabbit holes we go down, and the debates we engage in, passively or actively
• TV channels, programs, and series
• What we read: books, blogs, Scripture, and devotionals

As we approach the subject of “How to Surrender My Past,” it is critical to evaluate the voices you are giving an audience to. When you survey the list above, take inventory of which influences are drawing you closer to Jesus and which are pulling you away. Be honest.

• If you find yourself thinking negatively after doom scrolling, take a step to clear your mind and fast from social media for a day, or maybe longer.
• If you notice that your language does not honor the Lord when you spend time with a certain group of people, it may be time to boldly create some distance between yourself and those influences.
• If you find your heart beginning to chase unhealthy things after binge watching several series, pray about other ways you can spend your evenings.

It won’t be easy. And the enemy will hand you every excuse to rationalize your way out of making positive changes. Remember, Satan, along with friends or acquaintances who do not have God at the center of their lives, does not want you to live a spiritually healthy life. He would rather neutralize you and lull you into complacency.

Don’t fall for it. Instead, get in the Word to heal your heart, seek the Lord in prayer as food for your soul, and find ways to look beyond yourself to help and serve others as a way to strengthen your faith.

Then take one more giant leap: invite a trusted friend to help you with accountability. Your future self will be so glad you did.

Pray: Jesus, I want You to be the greatest influence in my life. Help me tune out the harmful voices I allow into my mind and tune in to the voices that lead to true joy. Amen.

Digging Deeper – Who ‘He’ Is

C.A. Phillips on March 16, 2026

17 One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, 19 but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” 21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 23 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

Luke 5:17-26 (NLT)

WHO ‘HE’ IS

We’ll spend some time this week examining Luke 5:17-26 and exploring how we can surrender our past to Jesus. But before we go there, I’d like to put first things first. In order to surrender our “stuff,” we need to understand to whom we are surrendering it.

Luke writes in verse 21 that the religious leaders asked themselves, “Who does he think he is?”

And that is the question you and I must answer before we ever reach a point of surrender. From a purely biblical perspective, Jesus is God’s one and only Son. See Bible. He came in the form of a baby (Christmas, right?), grew up with parents Joseph and Mary, and was a skilled carpenter. As an adult, He was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist, and recruited 12 men to serve as His disciples. His earthly ministry lasted approximately three years, during which He performed miracles, loved the unlovely, thinned out the ranks of His own followers, and thoroughly frustrated, even angered, the Pharisees.

These religious leaders simply refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. They had formed their own image and ideal of what the Savior would look like and how He would act. Instead, they plotted to kill Jesus in order to preserve their foothold on religious power and to stop His movement, which ultimately backfired on them.

While the Pharisees were blinded to Jesus’ divinity, you and I have been given the opportunity to seek and see Jesus for who He really is. When we acknowledge that we have fallen short because of our sin and recognize our need for a loving Redeemer and Savior, Jesus becomes everything to us.

HEART: Read Isaiah 61:1-7 and Gospel of Luke 4:14-21, reading them one after the other. What encouragement do these scriptures offer you?

SOUL: Pray: Jesus, I acknowledge You as God’s one and only Son. Thank You for dying for my sins and for being my Lord and Savior. Help me to live daily with confidence in Your plan for my life, to obey when it is difficult, and to love unconditionally as You love me.

STRENGTH: How can I give and serve today in a way that reflects Christ to others?