Week 4: January 27^th, 2019

Topic: You will be called by a new name – Part 4

Bible Reading: Isaiah 62:1-7

We shall continue our discussions with the physical manifestation of been called by a new name. We will discuss the physical signs that will make humans to recognize and admit the fact that you have been called by a new name.

The physical manifestation of a new name

Jesus said “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” John 4:48. Which means, people will not believe that you have been called by a new name, unless they see the physical manifestation of the signs in your life. Humans may find it difficult to believe that you have been called by a new name unless they see the transformation in your journey.

There are many signs that the Lord can use to signify that you have been called by a new name. Though all the signs lead to transformation, but we will only discuss the most common ones. The following are the most common signs which signify that God has called one by a new name:

• New heart      •     New person/creation

• New things    •     New song

New heart: The first thing that will occur in the lives of those people whose names have been changed to a new name is that they will be given a new heart/spirit. However, such people must be cautious, and depart from any lustful desire or terrestrial plan that might hinder the completion of the process to get new heart. They must neither be promiscuous nor devote their gifts to pleasure and wine; as it is written “Harlotry, wine and new wine enslave the heart.” Hosea 4:11. Abstain from whatever that can seduce and entrap your heart. Do not be unfaithful to God, but devote your resources to working for Him, so that you will receive a new heart. It is time, put all your rebellion behind you, and give up all the evil you have been doing. Find yourself a new heart and a new spirit. Abandon all your repeated sins, and start thinking pure thoughts, be faithful to God so that you will not die, instead you will be given a new heart a new spirit Ezekiel 18:31. For this reason, come close to God, and God will come close to you; purify your hearts, and make sure your loyalty is not divided between God and the world James 4:8. For you to be given a new heart/spirit, you must purge your heart of iniquity and clean up your life.

God gave Saul a new heart when he departed from Samuel, and he prophesied, according to the scripture which says “So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, ‘What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul among the prophets?’” 1 Samuel 10:9-11. God who gave Saul a new heart is alive, He will give you a new heart, and signs of transformation will be visible in your life this year. Your transformation will dazzle everyone who knew you, and cause misunderstanding in the realms of the darkness. Then, the promise of God will come to pass in your life. God will give you a new heart and a new mind. He will take away your stubborn heart of stone and give you an obedient heart Ezekiel 36:26. For God to give you a new heart and a new spirit, you must be loyal to Him. For you to be given a faithful, tender and responsive heart, you must abstain from indecency and immorality.

New creation: Whoever that is called by a new name is united with Christ, which means, such person is reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit. Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person/being. The old lifestyle will disappear and the transformation that will renew the lifestyle will begin instantly. As it is written “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” 2 Corinthians 5:17. For you to become a new creation/person, you must be called by a new name.

New song: If God call you by a new name, He will certainly put a new song of celebration and jubilation in your mouth. God will give you a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our Creator in manners that will make many people to be amazed and put their trust in the Lord according to the Bible passage which says, “He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord” Psalm 40:3. Then you will be singing a new song to the Lord on daily basis for the wonderful deeds that are beyond the comprehension of human which He has done for you. How His right hand has won a might victory for you and His holy arm has shown His saving power in your life. The scripture testified to this statement by saying “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory” Psalm 98:1. For this reason, it is your duty to always sing the new song that God has put in your mouth to glorify Him. You must praise Him with any available musical instrument. Also use your dancing and clapping to praise the Lord that preserved your life and called you by a new name Psalm 144:9. Therefore, “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints” Psalm 149:1. It is essential for you to use the new song that God has put in your mouth to praise Him before the congregation of the faithful in the church. Thank Him for your past, present and future, with powerful testimonies that are competent to win souls into His kingdom.

You owe God thanksgiving and praises wherever you may be in this world, for transforming your life and calling you by a new name before your detractors who says, “Can anything good come out of your Nazareth?” It is the command of God that “Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you coastlands and you inhabitants of them!” Isaiah 42:10. Therefore, the time is ripe for you to emulate those that the scripture described as singing a new song to Christ saying “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” Revelation 5:9. For this reason, be prepared so that when you sleep in the Lord, you will be among the people who will sing a new song that God has put in your mouth before His heavenly throne. Make efforts to be in the midst of the choir which the Bible stated that “They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth” Revelation 14:3. To be called by a new name is good, but to be among the large group that will sing before the heavenly throne of God is the ultimate.

New things: As previously mentioned that if you are called by a new name, new things will manifest in your life. Prominent among the new things is that God will subdue your enemies in manners that is beyond human understanding and quickly resolve the difficulties of your spiritual journey. God crushed Korah, Dathan and Abiram who were troubling Moses. When Moses said “But if God creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord” Numbers 16:30. God will do a new thing that will make the memory of your adversaries to be erased from under the sky unless they repent. Therefore, do not worry yourself, because the former promises of God have come to pass in your life. Now you will hear the new things which He has designed for you before they begin to happen. As it is written “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them” Isaiah 42:9. One of the new things that will happen this year in your life is that your physical and spiritual captivities will be restored. Whatever that concerns you will be perfected and your life will be renewed, “Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful’” Revelation 21:5. This year, God will renew and restore whatever that Satan and the darkness have stolen or snatched from you.

Finally, you need to repent and change your old way of thinking; change your mind and purpose; turn around and return to God. Seek His purpose for your life, so that your sins will be wipe away and completely erased, then, times of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord to restore you like a cool wind on a hot day. As it is written “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” Acts 3:19. Then the promise of God which says “‘For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me’, says the Lord, ‘So shall your descendants and your name remain’” Isaiah 66:22. This promise will be fulfilled without delay in your life. Therefore, make every effort to be called by a new name so that your descendants and your name will endure forever.

The Seal: Isaiah 62:2: The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name.