Category: Genesis

  • A New Name From God: The White Stone of Revelation 

    Have you ever wanted to change your name? I always thought it would be fun to have a cool nickname, but I’ve never had one, and it’s apparently not appropriate to name yourself. I thought “Colonel” might be appropriate since my initials are KFC.

    Some people have nicknames for a season. Others for their entire lives. I knew a man named “Case” for the better part of ten years before learning His real name was Cornelius.

    Scripture records several places where God changes someone’s name.

    No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. Genesis 17:5 ESV

    Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Genesis 32:28 ESV

    He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). John 1:42 ESV

    God doesn’t name them based on who they are, but rather on who they will become in Him. He speaks the new name over them, and they are changed.

    I don’t know if you are aware, but God has given all believers a new name in glory.

    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’ Revelation 2:17 ESV

    We might not know what it is yet, just as we don’t fully know who we are or will become in Christ. God knows. It’s a done deal in His world. It will be better than any name or nickname anyone else could ever give us.

    Our new name isn’t based on who we were before coming to Jesus. It’s based on who God says we are in Him.

    I understand why C. Austin Miles wrote his classic hymn “A New Name in Glory.” The chorus proclaims:

    There’s a new name written down in glory,

    And it’s mine, (And it’s mine,)

    Oh yes, it’s mine! (yes, it’s mine!)

    And the white-robed Angels sing the story,

    “A sinner has come home.” (home, has come home.”

    For there’s a new name written down in glory,

    And it’s mine, (And it’s mine,)

    Oh yes, it’s mine! (yes, it’s mine!)

    With my sins forgiven, I am bound for heaven,

    Nevermore to roam.

    What a blessing a new name in glory ordained by God alone! It will be revealed to us in due course, and we will rejoice and give Him the glory.

    Our names will be new to us, but God had them written for us before we were ever born. What a precious, loving gift!

    Praise His name.

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    God gives every believer a new name, not based on who we were, but on who He says we are in Him. We may not know it yet, but He had it written for us before we were ever born.

    TAKEAWAY

    God doesn’t name you based on who you were. He names you for who you will become in Him, just as He did with Abram, Jacob, and Simon.

    If you’re a believer, God has already given you a new name. It’s a done deal in His world.

    Your new name was written for you before you were ever born, and it will be revealed in due course. When it comes, you’ll rejoice and give Him the glory.

    CHECK THESE POSTS OUT

    Celebrate your identity

    Good news of the gospel

    God has prepared a new name

    Hard Words – the truth isn’t always easy to hear

  • Ruach: Wind, Breath, and the Holy Spirit Who Gives Life

    I watched the wind blow across the countryside through the wheat fields. The waves of wheat reminded me of the ocean. The view changed moment by moment at the wind’s whim.

    The train of thought is too long to explain, but I ended up thinking of wind in the bible. The Hebrew word is ruach, but it means much more than wind.  It also means breath and spirit. One word, three meanings.

    I think the word leaves a fabulous trail through the Scriptures

    We see the spirit, the wind, the breath of God from the very beginning. 

    The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2 ESV

    A few verses later, God breaths life into Adam. A different word is used, but it’s still God’s Spirit.

    Fast forward to Ezekiel standing in the valley of dry bones. The Spirit breathes life into the dead bones, and they rise.

    The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. Ezekiel 37:1-10 ESV

    Now let’s skip ahead to the New Testament; the wording is Greek now, not Hebrew, but it’s the same Spirit.

    Jesus is speaking… 

    And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22 ESV

    God’s Holy Spirit is the giver of life and rebirth. 

    When you feel as dry and empty as dead bones, remember where life comes from. It’s God who gives life; turn to Him. Breathe Him in again.

    May you be filled with the Spirit today.

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    Watching wind move through a wheat field sent me tracing ruach, the Hebrew word for wind, breath, and spirit. From Genesis to Ezekiel’s dry bones to John, it shows that God’s Holy Spirit is the giver of life and rebirth.

    TAKEAWAY

    Ruach means wind, breath, and spirit, so the Spirit of God hovering over the waters in Genesis 1:2 is the same breath of God you can trace through all of Scripture.

    In Ezekiel’s valley, the bones had sinews, flesh, and skin, yet no breath was in them until God sent it. The life you need is His to give.

    When you feel as dry and empty as dead bones, remember where life comes from. Turn to God and breathe Him in again, the same Holy Spirit Jesus gave with a breath in John 20:22.

    CONSIDER THESE POSTS

    The gospel – the best news ever.

    Celebrate your identity in Christ

    Sailing – tossed about on the waves

    The Sentinel