What’s your name?
Who are you?
In Shakespeare’s love story Romeo & Juliet, he asks,
“What’s in a name? A rose by any other name smells just a sweet.”
True, of a rose, an inanimate object. But of a person, a name
has meaning, influence, power.
Most love stories we see today aren’t as deep as Shakespeare’s.
You know how they go. You’ve seen the shows.
Boy meets girl. They don’t like each other. But they spend
time together, and end up liking each other—a lot. Everything’s great… until it
isn’t. Something happens, they break up. But before the hour’s over, they make
up; and seal it with a kiss. And then, rice flies, wedding bells chime. And
they all live happily ever after.
The Bible is the ultimate Love story, not about boy meets
girl, but God meets, pursues, man.
The story of God with Abraham and Sarah is a mini picture of
the big picture.
Genesis 17:1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram
God came back. He actually came back. Amazing.
At the close of chapter 16, we were told that Abram, at 86
years old, fathered his wife’s maid’s baby (is this the seedbed of modern-day soap operas?)
Then, just like that, in a blink, we read Abram is 99; and the
Lord appears.
Abram’s made more than a mistake or two, and yet, here we read,
he isn’t too old to see, to hear, to receive a message from the Lord.
So that means, neither are you and I.
and said to
him, “I am Almighty God;
God introduces Himself with a new Name; Almighty God.
We’re in a chapter of new names. He gives Abram a new name.
Sarai, a new name. And a new name for a new baby, yet to be born; Isaac.
walk before Me
Did you notice? First comes revelation, then, expectation.
God introduced Himself, I AM, Almighty God, then, He
adds the expectation, now walk before Me.
He knows we can’t follow Him until we know Him.
John 17 records the grand finale of Jesus’ longest recorded, all-encompassing,
powerful prayer. He prayed, we’d be with Him, know Him, love
Him. John 17:24-26.
Oh, how He longs for us to know Him. Really, know
Him.
He’s gone to great lengths to introduce Himself to the whole
world.
Psalm
19:1-4
The
heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. 2
Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. 3
They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. 4 Yet
their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.
So, the whole world, is without excuse.
and be blameless.
According to God, Abe’s not too old a dog to learn new tricks.
According to God, Abe isn’t bound to his lifelong weaknesses,
and sin filled past.
According to God, Abe’s able to walk a new path… blameless.
According to God, you’re not too old, not bound by weakness,
or your past.
According to God, you too can walk before Him, blameless.
Not faultless, or sinless, but blameless, spotless,
forgiven.
By Way of Jesus, only Jesus; we can be washed of every
spot, every wrinkle, every chain of the past. For who the Son sets free, is
free indeed. John 8:36.
Galatians 3:29; if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s
seed, and heirs according to the promise.
2 And I will make My covenant
between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”
Whoa. Wow. This is a big deal.
God not only came back, but He brings up the elephant in the
room.
It’s one thing to come back and announce, I AM GOD ALMIGHTY,
NOW TOW THE LINE, WALK BLAMELESS.
But it’s entirely another thing to stoop down to Abe’s level,
and whisper, “Hey, I know it’s been a long time, but I haven’t forgotten you.”
Thirteen years earlier, Abe and Sarai, walked away from God’s
plan and made their own alternate plan.
They did it their way. Even though God had told them repeatedly
over a decade that He’d bless them with a multitude of descendants, that in
you all families of the earth shall be blessed. Genesis 12:3.
But God’s way was too slow. So, Sarai came up with that hairbrained
idea for Abram to sleep with Hagar. Abe was all to quick to say, “Yes, dear.”
Their plan seemed to work.
A child was born—wasn’t that the goal?
Success in
the flesh, does not equal success in the Spirit.
By going their own way, they filled a crib, but emptied their
heart.
Then, all went silent.
We see or hear nothing for thirteen years. (Genesis 16:16-17:1)
But God only seemed to go away.
He kept a close eye on their heart.
And as the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Abe’s fondness toward God was revealed when the Lord appeared—
3 Then Abram fell on his face,
What did Abram say?
Exactly… Silence.
God’s silence, left Abe with the humble integrity to do the
same.
King David says it like this:
Psalm
51:16-17
For You
do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do
not delight in burnt offering.
17 The
sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken
and contrite heart—(humble & repentant)
These, O
God, You will not despise (turn away).
and God talked with him, saying:
In those silent years, Abe was growing, and God was watching;
and when the student was ready the Teacher appeared.
Now, pause for a moment and notice that twice already the Lord
has said, “I will.” (Genesis 17:2).
In the following verses listen to the wonderful, wills and
shalls of God; as His Words flow like wedding vows.
4 “As for Me, behold, My
covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5
No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be
Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will
make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings
shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant
between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting
covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8
Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you
are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession;
and I will be their God.”
This is kind of like the make up after the break up.
Abe and Sarai went their own way. There was a thirteen year
gap; and then, God comes back with these beautiful words.
Oh, the wonderful wills and shalls
of Almighty God.
Like the I dos of wedding vows. Only better, because God
never breaks a promise, never breaks a vow.
I love you, I’m committed to you, everything I said
then, I still say now; My vow to you stands, forever, it is an everlasting
covenant.
Yes, I know what you did. I heard what you said. I even
understand how you felt.
Yet, I AM still here.
I never left you to forsake you; I drew back, so you’d draw near.
My heart hasn’t changed toward you. I AM still for you.
I knew you before I chose you, and I never make a mistake.
Notice: father of many nations.
At first it was only one nation. “I will make you a great
nation” (Gen. 12:2).
Now, He says, “many nations.”
What happened?
Ishmael.
The plan incorporates Abe’s mistakes.
God never condones sin, but He works with what He’s got—and so,
it gets messy. Pregnant maids and step-kids.
God is
good enough and smart enough to work our mess ups, back into his Message; if we’ll
surrender them, and us, to Him.
God’s Word is always True.
He said “many nations” and today we see the proof in the
pudding.
Notice: An everlasting covenant.
Our wedding vows say, “until death do us part.”
God’s covenant is established as an everlasting covenant.
Death doesn’t end God’s covenant; in many ways, it’s the beginning.
If, you walk with Him, you will
receive. God is faithful.
If you walk away, He won’t force
you to stay. God is Love.
Notice: An everlasting possession.
I give you and your descendants, the land of Canaan, as
an everlasting possession.
He gave. It’s a done deal.
Everlasting. It’s unending.
Alas, they never received it.
It was there’s for the taking—they just never took it. Never
received it.
God’s Promise Land to Israel is 300,000 square miles.
At the peak, in Solomon’s day, they only took 30,000 square
miles.
Today, they live on only about 8,000 square miles.
The wonderful wills and shalls of God are exceedingly
great and precious promises.
Yet, we only receive, only partake, in a fraction of them.
Lord, help us receive all You have for us, so You
can do all You want through us. Help us to see, who we are in You.
Your name shall be…
After a marriage, something happens.
A name changes.
The possessions and the power of the parties, become one.
God gives Abram and Saria, new names.
Instead of, exalted father, you’ll be, father of a
multitude, father of nations.
There’s no need to prop up, exalt, over compensate with a
name.
Today, simply, be, who I’ve made you to be; Abraham,
a father of many nations.
Instead of Sarai, (my princess), she is, Sarah, (the
princess).
The new name transitions from possession to position.
Dear ladies, mothers and daughters, know this for sure and
certain: you are not the possession of any person; you are a priceless princess with
a powerful position, filled with potential, you are named and owned, only by Almighty
God.
When we go by God’s name—things happen.
Nothing is
impossible.
After the name change, within a year, laughter fills the house.
Sarah gives birth to Isaac.
There’s power in a name.
A little shepherd boy named David, knew that, and said to a
giant named Goliath. You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; and
sickness, and disease, and cancer, and diabetes, and grief, and loneliness, and
anxiety, and worry, and fear, and financial problems and and family trouble… But
I come to you in the name of the Lord, and this day, I’ll
take off your head and feed it to the buzzards, you uncircumcised philistine. You’re
no match for my LORD! 1 Sam. 17:45.
In John 17, Jesus prays, Father I have manifested Your name…
kept Your name… declared Your name… now keep them by Your name.
We pray in the name of Jesus.
At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, every
tongue confess; Philippians 2:10-11.
A person’s identity often stems from the name they’re
called.
Good or bad.
That’s why the world tries so hard to confuse, and pervert names,
identities.
The world tries to rename you: Useless. Stupid. Ugly. Bad. Old.
Sick… The world is a liar.
God says you are:
Precious. Priceless. Loved. Exceptional. Beautiful.
Intelligent. Worthy. Wonderful. Unique.
ACCORDING TO GOD, YOU ARE:
CREATED
IN GOD’S IMAGE
Genesis
1:27
God
created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and
female He created them.
FEARFULLY
& WONDERFULLY MADE
Psalm
139:13-14
For You
formed my inward parts;
You
covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will
praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
WITH GOD
& ON HIS MIND
Psalm
139:17-18
How
precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great
is the sum of them!
If I
should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I
awake, I am still with You.
SALT
& LIGHT IN THIS WORLD
Matt.
5:13-14
You are
the salt of the earth
You are
the light of the world
MORE THAN
A CONQUEROR IN CHRIST
Romans
8:37
Yet in
all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved
us.
NEW
CREATION
2
Corinthians 5:17
Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed
away; behold, all things have become new.
DEAD TO
SELF. ALIVE IN CHRIST
Galatians
2:20
I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me:
and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who
loved me, and gave Himself for me.
GOD’S
HEIR
Galatians
3:29
If you
belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs
according to the promise
CHOSEN.
HOLY. BLAMELESS. IN HIS PRESENCE & LOVE.
Ephesians
1:4
For He chose
us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless
in His presence. In love
STRONG
Philippians
4:13
I can do
all things through Christ who gives me strength.
ROYAL.
SPECIAL. CALLED.
1 Peter
2:9
But you
are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim
the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light;
BORN OF
GOD
1 John
5:4
For
everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the
victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
OF GOD.
OVERCOMER.
1 John
4:4
Ye are of
God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he
that is in you, than he that is in the world.
NAMED BY
GOD
Revelation
2:17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of
the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the
stone a new name written which no one knows except him who
receives it.
BLESSED
BRIDE OF CHRIST CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
Revelation
19:7-9
Let us be
glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of
the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8
And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for
the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Then he
said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the
marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings
of God.”
THIS IS YOUR NAME. WHAT GOD CALLS YOU. WHO HE SAYS
YOU ARE:
Say it and believe it:
I am…
CREATED
IN GOD’S IMAGE
FEARFULLY
& WONDERFULLY MADE
WITH GOD
& ON HIS MIND
SALT
& LIGHT IN THIS WORLD
MORE THAN
A CONQUEROR IN CHRIST
NEW
CREATION
DEAD TO
SELF. ALIVE IN CHRIST
GOD’S
HEIR
CHOSEN.
HOLY. BLAMELESS. IN HIS PRESENCE & LOVE.
STRONG
ROYAL.
SPECIAL. CALLED.
OF GOD.
OVERCOMER.
BORN OF
GOD
NAMED BY
GOD
BLESSED
BRIDE OF CHRIST CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
Let’s pray.
Thank You Father for Your exceedingly great and precious
promises.
We believe You, and receive You, every Word, every jot, every
tittle.
If this is who You say we are, then this is who we are.
We no longer listen to the world, or ourselves, we choose You.
Help us to stay the course, to fall in love more and more with
You, Your Word, and be, who You’ve called us to be.
Your blessed, overcoming, more than conquering, called, created
in Your image, child.
We love You, forever.
Amen.
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This was feed for you to read.
Now it’s Seed for you to sow.
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