WHAT IS IN A NAME?

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Today’s Reading:

Mathew 1: 22-23

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The name you bear is very important to fulfilling your divine destiny. The African Man has an idolatrous background which has led to them doing things that you can describe as unimaginable. Things that defy all odds. Things that one would have thought only exists in fiction and people’s imagination.

Not until GOD changed Jacob’s name to Israel things were not straightforward for him because the word Jacob means supplanter. For God to form a covenant with Abraham he had to change his name from Abram because of his idolatrous background as an Assyrian. The same thing for his wife Sarah who was formerly Sarai.

The birth of Jesus Christ was foretold in Isaiah 9 v.6, ‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a child is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ These names of Jesus exhibited the fact that he is the absolutely fundamental to the Christian faith. Micah 5v.4 is a prophecy about Christ. There are many of these all throughout the Old Testament. This one says that Jesus would be the peace. Jesus clearly is the peace. He is the bridge between God and Man. There could not be peace between us and God without Jesus Christ. He is the mediator. The prince of Peace (. Philippians 2 v. 9-10). Jesus emphasized this point in every turn of his sojourn on earth. He said My Peace I give unto you but not as the world gives. The book of Hebrews shows Jesus as God’s great high priest (3; 1; 4:14) who both make sacrifice (10:10-14). Hebrews also presents Jesus as the creator of all things (1:2), the perfect representation of God (1:3), and the apostle of our confession (3:1). The metaphors used of Jesus, particularly in John’s Gospel, speak poignantly to the indispensable need for a person to know Jesus. He is the water of life (John 4:14), the bread of life (6:41), the light (8:12), the door (10:7), the way, the truth, and the life (14:6).

God told Jeremiah that before he formed him from the belly, he ordained him a prophet. Jabez was named so by her mother as a child of sorrow but he was a very wise man he looked at his background and knew something had to give way. He prayed his way fervently into breakthrough and broke the chain of bad luck and poverty that has been troubling his forefathers. (1 Chronicles 4 v. 9.)

Beloved, our name reflects our attitude and behaviour in life. Nobody names his child Judas. I have only witnessed one before where a family named their son Judas. The behaviour of that boy was out of this world. It was one trouble per day. Eventually, the family was banished from the neighbourhood in broad daylight. God has given us the vision to be his children as soon as we give our life to Christ. (2 Corinthians 5 v. 17.) Our description as children of God was perfectly described in 1 Peter 2 v.9 as follows:’ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.’ We need to claim our rightful place in the kingdom as clearly stated in Mathew 16 v.19 where the Lord promised us that he would give unto us the key to the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever we bind on earth shall be bind in heaven: and whatsoever we loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Clearly, God cannot give us the key if we don’t bear his name and identify with him.

The core question that we should reflect on today is whether we have a name that glorifies God. If we don’t have, then it is time for us to ask God to give us a new name that will glorify him. After all, we are a chosen generation. But if we already have the divine name, then we must start living up to that billing as to justify the confidence that God has in us. We must run away from sin and anything that does not glorify his holy name. May the good Lord in his infinite mercy give us a name that will make him to be proud of us in the name of JESUS.

OLUKAYODE OLATUNJI

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Prayer:

1. Lord Jesus use me to advertise Your Glory, in the name of Jesus.

2. Oh Lord my Father give me a new name that will make me fulfill my divine destiny, in the name of Jesus.

3. Oh Lord my Father in Your mercy give me and my family the anointing to serve you and do your will till the end, in the name of Jesus.

4. Lord Jesus empower Your Church and Your ministers to preach the Gospel of truth at all times, in the name of Jesus.

5. Father Lord let your power of peace and justice overshadow our Nation in the name of Jesus.