We have begun a new series entitled: “Israel: God’s Timepiece” …. that is, when you look at the prophecies that have been and are being fulfilled, Israel is God's stop-watch that is counting down…. You can look at what's going on in the nation of Israel and understand that the coming of Jesus is very soon.
This Sunday we are talking about how the Lord, the pre-incarnate Christ, comes to Abram and confirms His covenant and changes his name to Abraham. When the Lord changes a person’s name, and gives a new name, it’s usually to establish a new identity. God changed Abram’s name, meaning "exalted father," to “Abraham,” meaning "father of many nations". God changed Abraham’s wife’s name from “Sarai,” meaning “my princess,” to “Sarah,” meaning “mother of nations”.
Genesis 17:5 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.”
The Lord wants to reiterate His covenant that he made with Abraham, that he would become: Nations of people: from Abraham would come - the Jewish nation and the Arab Nations Kings: 42 Israel/Judah kings – Arabian kings, kings of Midian, kings of Edom
Everlasting Covenant: no expiry date; unconditional
Land - an everlasting possession.
Abraham’s son Issac would have twin boys: Esau the elder and Jacob - who grabbed the heel. God changed Jacob’s name, which meant “supplanter,” to “Israel,” meaning “God prevails”.
Jacob wrestled with a man, who later identified Himself as the Lord, and Jacob held on to the Lord until he obtained a blessing. It was at this point that God changed his name. No longer would Jacob be a supplanter and trickster.
Rather, he would be identified as having "struggled with God and with man and . . . overcame" .
And to all those who “overcome” like Jacob (or Israel) did; the Lord Jesus promises us a new name, as He promised the church of Philadelphia in the book of Revelation.
Revelation 3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “A New Name.”
Blessings,
Kevin
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