“You
are Simon . . . . You shall be called Cephas” (John 1:42).
God writes our new name only on those
places in our lives where He has erased our pride, self-sufficiency, and
self-interest. Some of us have our new name written only in certain spots,
like spiritual measles. And in those areas of our lives we look all right. When
we are in our best spiritual mood, you would think we were the highest quality
saints. But don’t dare look at us when we are not in that mood. A true disciple
is one who has his new name written all over him— self-interest, pride, and
self-sufficiency have been completely erased. CHAMBERS
I am sure you have read about how God gave people new
names … It is as if they had a new start …
Genesis
17:4-5 "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.’
Genesis 32:27-28 So He said to him,
"What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." (28)
And He said, "Your name
shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with
God and with men, and have prevailed."
Mark 3:16 Simon, to whom He
gave the name Peter [Cephas];
Although some think that Paul’s name was changed
from Saul at his conversion … there is no Biblical evidence of that. But with these men, God intervened on their
lives … called them out for His purpose … They had a special relationship with
God …. And so do you …
Romans 8:28 And we know that
all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Ephesians 2:10-13 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (11)
Therefore remember that you, once
Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Un-circumcision by what is called the
Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- (12)
that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no
hope and without God in the world.
(13) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought
near by the blood of Christ.
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.
John 3:5-6 Jesus answered [to
Nicodemus], "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and
the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
(6) That which is born of the
flesh is flesh, and that which is born
of the Spirit is spirit.
I don’t know that God has given each
of us a new name .. but I do know that He has given us a new life … and He has
given each of us a new direction to travel …
Acts 1:8 But you shall
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Do you ever think of yourself as
being new .. or do you think of yourself as being the same old you .. with a different
attitude – sometimes – The Good News is that if you have confessed with your
mouth that Jesus is Lord and believed in your heat that God raised him from the
dead … you have received salvation from God … you have received the Spirit of
God … and your feet have been set on a path prepared by God. And what is that new way you ask? Let’s take a look …
Ephesians
4:17-32 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the
futility of their mind, (18) having their understanding darkened, being
alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them,
because of the blindness of their heart;
(19) who, being past feeling,
have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (20)
But you have not so learned Christ,
(21) if indeed you have heard Him
and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
1. Put off, concerning your former
conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
2. Be renewed in the spirit of your
mind,
3. Put on the new man which was created
according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
4. Putting away lying, "LET EACH
ONE OF YOU SPEAK TRUTH WITH HIS NEIGHBOR," for we are members of one
another.
5. Do not let the sun go down on your
wrath, nor give place to the devil.
6. Let him who stole steal no longer,
but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have
something to give him who has need.
7. Let no corrupt word proceed out of
your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart
grace to the hearers.
8. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
9. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor,
and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
10.And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
What?
You say that there is no way you can do those things? You have tried and failed so many times. The thing is, you need the power of God to
accomplish the purpose of God. There is
no way you can do these things apart from the Spirit of God and the Word of God
… You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength … Philippians 4:13
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You
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