CHANGE: REVELATION OF IDENTITY

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 
Romans 12:1-2 NIV

TRANSFORM

Transform to change the outward form or appearance of something.

It is impossible for us to change if we have not fully submitted or given ourselves as sacrifices, our lives, our thoughts and our hearts to Christ. Not allowing the things in this world to distract us and learning God's will for our lives. Our relationship with Christ comes with a few changes; the way we carry ourselves, the way we speak, how we think and sometimes what we are called.

He knows my name Yes, he knows my name He knows my name Yes, he knows my name

And oh, how he walks with me Yes oh, how he talks with me And oh how he tells me That I am his own

You know my name You know my name You know my name You know my name

You already know how much Jesus loves you, don't you? I am not talking about the value you have placed on Jesus through the actions of humans like your parents, siblings, friends or even a minister. I am asking based on the relationship that you personally have with Jesus. I would like to refer to God's love through conversion.

CHANGE

Change is to make someone or something different; alter or modify.

CONVERSION

Conversion is to change from one form to another or transform into something.

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

Ya'll know I love stories it helps to paint the picture of what I'd like to share.

There was a guy who persecuted and murdered Christians based on his own relationship with the Lord (he had none at that time). I would like to say Saul was passionate about what he was doing. He asked to be sent from one town to another to continue his persecution but on his way, he was stopped and he got revelation and was sent to a child of God who would mentor him. It took him three days to catch the vision and be converted to become a disciple of Christ. These encounters drastically changed Saul's understanding of the Lord and he gained great depth in his relationship with Christ. In Acts 13:9 Saul was now known as Paul.

A name change is a form of conversion but primarily for Saul this was also a display of his calling; to be all things to all men. Using this name allowed him to be received by the Gentiles.

Do you know what God has is calling you?

Matthew 1:21-22 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins and they shall call His name Immanuel, translated God with us.

Luke 1:13 Do not be afraid, Zacharias for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John and you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him (Jesus) in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Judges 13:3 "Indeed now, you are barren and borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Now, therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drinks, and do not eat anything unclean. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines."

Genesis 17:5-19 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 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. As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her. Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac.

Genesis 35:10 Your name is Jacob; your name shall no longer be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name."

On the other hand, there were a few names that were not given by God nor did the name carry a good meaning like Jabez that was given in the midst of pain, the birth was difficult and its meaning is "he makes sorrowful" (1 Chronicle 4:9).

Genesis 35:18 And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni (which means son of my sorrow); but his father called him Benjamin (son of the right hand).

Ruth 1:20 Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara "bitter", for the Almighty, has dealt very bitterly with me but later in Ruth 4:13-17 "Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day, and they called his name Obed "servant of God".

Do you remember the story of Samuel? Samuel served the Lord before Eli but he did not know the voice of the Lord nor was the word of the Lord revealed to him. So Samuel ran to Eli when he heard the Lord calling out to him thinking it was Eli, he followed Eli's instructions to respond 'Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears'. Now the Lord came and stood and called to Samuel when Samuel responded the Lord spoke. Samuel did not have a name change but his story shows how we many times hear the voice of the Lord calling to us and maybe we think it's a voice in our head, hearing things, confusing the voice with that of someone else or we may not hear the Lord at all because we are so busy. Or like Eli who no longer heard from the Lord because of disobedience and because he allowed sin in the house of God.

What is God saying to you? Is He calling you by a new name?

These servants of God served faithfully, and diligently and knew God's voice before they got the instruction to no longer be called by the old name. With the name change came restoration, promises and so many blessings. Jacob was known to steal his brother's birthright, trick his father and his name meant trickster or heel as he held onto his brother's heel during birth.

Our names matter. What we are called matters.

There are testimonies of so many people from my church and others that have changed their names as a result of an encounter with the Lord. Imagine like Samuel the Lord calling you but because you do not recognize the name you miss His call, the word or instruction. I think God is faithful and understanding and connects with us where we are in our relationship with Him but we can miss out on many blessings if we cannot hear or know the name he is referring to us.

The story of Abraham began with him being removed from a place he once knew as home, separated, set apart and blessed. Abraham remained obedient in serving the Lord and following instructions but God not only changed his name but that of his wife. That takes a level of submission for your husband to say bae 'God said your name will no longer be Sarai but it will now be Sarah' even Samson's father prayed and asked the Lord to speak again so he can get the revelation after his wife had an encounter with the angel of the Lord.

God initiates conversation with us but in Revelation 3:20 he stands at the door and knocks (like a gentleman). He waits to hear our response. Jacob had an encounter with an angel of the Lord and fought all night (stubborn). When I first gave my life to Christ I didn't really give it to Him because I was convinced it was MY life and I could live and do as I pleased. At that time I never realized that because God is so loving and patient He waited for me to be ready to receive instructions. Even when my mom, mentor or pastor would give me words of advise I would do my own thing before I finally gave in, having an internal battle of who was the BOSS. As a new believer, these occurrences can seem so extensive and even frustrating. Why would God make this walk so difficult? I am understanding how loving He is though he knows we declare with our mouths, our names are daily declarations of who we are and what their meaning is significant to who we are and what we will become.

Just recently I found out a name meant dog, pet or boy and every day I used that name, another named from Mars and another had a good meaning but because of the matriarch this name carried a generation of sickness and disease. Unknown to the family for many many years the women of this family died at the same age with the same disease and carried the same name. As this person saw the imperfection of health she sought God for guidance and the revelation of her new name. The work of the enemy is to kill, steal and destroy; what shall the righteous do if the foundation is destroyed. What can be done if we as children of God there is lack knowledge?

We must first surrender our lives to Christ, no longer considering the things in this world. Our lives should be an example to others of the transformation that has taken place. This is something that would be evident in our actions, thoughts, speech and even our names.

#newlife #newname #transformation #newcreature