When God Give Us a New Name What’s in a Name
- Through Abram, God founded a new _____________ through which He would once again reach out to the world, culminating in the Person of Jesus.
Genesis 12:2-3, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 17:3-6, ”Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, ‘As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.”
Matthew 16:13-18, “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ He asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.’”
- If Simon could just wrap his mind and heart around who Jesus was, what Jesus was about, what Jesus meant, and tell others about it, he could ____________________________________.
See Acts 7:54 — 8:3
Acts 9:1-5, “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners…
Acts 9:1-5 (cont.) “…to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.”
See Acts 9:15-17; Acts 13:4-12
- 3. The name Saul means “__________________________.” The name Paul means “___________________________.”
- The more Paul lived out that name, the more God used him, empowered him, equipped him, enabled him, to ___________ ____________________________.
- The first of God’s call is to your ________________ to respond to Christ for forgiveness (Savior) and leadership (Lord).
- Your new name is _____________________________. Your new calling is to ______________________________.
- Stop waiting on ________________ because you are surrounded by one.