Rhapsody of Realities TeeVo ; Friday, August 16th 2019.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome PhD;
ANSWER THE RIGHT NAME;
(Your Name Affects Your Destiny) ;
TO THE BIBLE:
Genesis 17:4-5 TLB
“In fact you shall be the father of not only one nation, but a multitude of nations!” Abram fell face downward in the dust as God talked with him. “What’s more,” God told him, “I am changing your name. It is no longer ‘Abram’ (‘Exalted Father’), but ‘Abraham’ (‘Father of Nations’)—for that is what you will be. I have declared it.”
LET’S TALK
After school one day, Donald was on his way home when he overheard someone call out loudly behind him, “Hey you, Dummy!” He turned himself about to see who was speaking, only to see Russell, the school bully, standing aloof with some boys who were laughing. “Yeah, I’m talking to you, Dummy! Don’t you know your name anymore?” Russell joked.
On hearing this, Donald gave Russell a smile he wouldn’t forget in a hurry. He said, *“Do you realise that there’s no such name as Dummy? My name isn’t that; it’s Donald, please remember it!”* And then he walked off.
Donald knew the import of names; he recognised that whatever name one answers determines the destiny of that person. This explains why it was necessary for God to change the names of Abraham (formerly called Abram) in the Bible. ‘Abram’ couldn’t have children because of his name, and so God gave him a new name *“Abraham,”* which meant ‘father of many nations.’ He then could bear children.
Another good example is ‘Jacob,’ whose name meant ‘swindler’ or ‘deceiver.’ True to his name, he got his brother’s birthright from him deceitfully, and had to flee for safety. He asked the Lord for help but He couldn’t help him until his name was changed from ‘Jacob’ to ‘Israel’ which means ‘a prince with God’ (Genesis 32:28). You see, it makes no difference that you’ve answered the name you have all your life; if you find that its meaning isn’t consistent with the revelation of who you are as a new creation in Christ, you must respond to God’s Word and change it as an act of faith. When you do, your new name will be recorded in heaven, and the destiny of the former one will be cancelled.
GO DEEPER
Proverbs 22:1, Ecclesiastes 7:1, Matthew 16:16-18
PRAY
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the revelation of your Word that shows me who I am in Christ. Thank you for teaching me about the power of names today, and leading me in the way that I should go, in Jesus’ Name. Amen._
DAILY BIBLE READING
ONE YEAR
1 Corinthians 1, Psalms 104-106
TWO YEAR
Philippians 3:12-21, Jeremiah 1
*ACT*
What does your name mean? Go ahead and ask your parents/guardians.