Called By a New Name: In Need of a Name Change

Called by a New Name: In Need of a Name-Change

Isaiah 62:2-12

I. Introduction
-Names are fascinating.
-The Variety of names.
1. Especially across cultures.
2. All over the world.
-They help us distinguish among one another.
-Ill. Jared K. Henry
1. Klayton vs. Kyle
2. Psychology together.
3. Receiving his e-mails from his girlfriend.
4. I was worried he would be receiving mine!
-When you first meet another person you exchange names
1. Sometimes before you meet you inquire about one's name.
2. Names hold significance.
-You can sometimes know something about someone by their name.
1. Like their background
2. Gonzalez- Hispanic
3. O'Malley- Irish
4. Rolff- Germany
5. Turcotte- French
6. Use to tell your vocation (carpenters= wood workers; brewers= brewery; etc.)
-Your name may have meaning attached to it.
1. Jr, II, III, etc.
2. Named after a grandparent, aunt/uncle, etc.
-Ill. Sean John Combs
1. Puff Daddy
2. Then- P. Diddy
3. Now just Diddy
4. Going to be a father? Then Diddy Daddy!?
-I've been thinking about names.
-Ill. Pastor's family in IN w/ four boys.
1. Matthew, Mark, Luke, & Roy
2. I don't know.
-Ever ‘google' your name?
1. I did.
2. It's scary what you can find on the Internet!
-If you could change your name what would you change it to?
1. Someone who changed their name... what do you call them?
2. Ladies transition to new last name.

II. Scripture

III. Biblical Names
-Naming a child was significant
1. It was more than sentimental or family meaning.
2. The name described who you were or something you had done.
3. Even places had names that were significant.
-For example...
1. Genesis 28:19 "He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first." (Bethel = house of God)
2. Joshua 5:9 "And the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day."
(Gilgal = to roll)
3. Matthew 27:33 "And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull)."
-The names of people...
1. Genesis 17:5 "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."
a. Abram- exalted Father
b. Abraham- Father of a multitude
2. Genesis 17:15 "And God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name." (Both = princess)
3. Genesis 32:28 "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.""
a. Jacob= deceiver/
heel grasper
b. Israel= he strives w/ God
-Point: There's something about an encounter w/ God that changes names.
1. When God moves or works in a place... the name changes.
2. When God comes into relationship with a human being... their name changes

IV. Has Your Name Been Changed?
-Query: Have you received a new name from the Lord?
-How to...
1. Acknowledge a need for something more that you cannot attain alone.
2. Acknowledge you do not presently have it.
3. Acknowledge you must reject lifestyle & values up to that point and adopt new ones!
4. Believe in your adoption into a new family!
-A new name is not something you claim it is something that you are given.
-v. 2 "and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give."
-Wouldn't you like that kind of name?

V. Your Name
-Your reputation is attached to your name.
1. If you are not well liked your name can bring an unpleasant response.
2. If you are well like it can bring a pleasant response.
-There's something of who you are attached to your name.
-I wonder what people will say about you at your funeral as they remember your name?
1. "What name did you make for yourself?"
2. A great preacher?
3. Made a lot of money?
4. An intelligent person?
5. Wise? Foolish? Religious?
6. Church attender? Church worker? (There is a difference.)
7. Loving? Judgmental? Hateful? Kind?
-Your name is not created by what you wish you were, but what you truly are!
1. Everyone wishes they had a good name in the community.
2. But that doesn't decide how everyone views you.
3. Who are you really?
-Query: What would make you the Christian you wish you were?
-Note: What you desperately need spiritually will not come w/out cost (resources, time, focus, energy, etc).
1. An investment in spiritual things is always well worth it!
2. It's what you really want... are you willing to pay the price for it?

VI. A New Name
-Some of you have had the kind of encounter w/ God I am referring to.
1. A name changing encounter.
2. A Born-Again experience.
-But you've denied your birthright.
-You've shamed your new name.
-Discouragement & defeat and chained you again to your past.
-Point: Remember the new name you are called by!
1. Remember who you are in Christ Jesus.
2. Remember the freedom that Jesus paid for!
3. That's not who you are any more!
-Ill. Israelite Forgetfulness
1. Shame the Name
2. Took the name of forsaken & desolate.
-v. 4 "You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called ‘My Delight Is in Her,' [Hephzibah] and your land Married; [Beulah] for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married."
-O the joy of a life lived that God delights in!
1. Sin = shame!
2. Hephzibah = joy & freedom
-Face temptation w/ new name!
1. That's now who I am!
2. I cannot shame the name of Christ!
3. I'm apart of the family of God now!

VII. Conclusion
-1 Corinthians 9-11 "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, [10]nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] [GOOD NEWS] And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified [made holy], you were justified [made right] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
1. I was a liar, thief, gossip, self-centered, sexually immoral, drunk, hateful, boastful, prideful, arrogant, impatient, adulterer, etc.
2. My name was forsaken & desolate.
-But then I came to Jesus.
1. My name was changed from Jacob [deceiver] to Israel [he strives w/ God].
2. From Forsaken to Hephzibah.
3. From Desolate to Beulah!
4. From sinner to Christian!
5. Lost to Found!
6. From Darkness to Light!
7. From Slave to Son!
-I've received a new name from the mouth of God.
-v. 12 "And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken."

Response

A Piece of Peace

Isaiah 26:1-9a, 12-13

A Piece of Peace: God's Peace

I. Introduction
-Got peace?
-Ppl like to talk about peace!
-But not everyone has it!

II. Scripture

III. What is Peace?
-Peace is another one of those words that we use, but don't really know what it means.
-Excessive use leads to excessive definitions.
-I'm concerned about a Biblical definition this morning.
-Dictionary definitions:
1. The absence of war
2. An agreement or treaty to end hostilities
3. Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmony
4. Serenity
-We use it...
1. Financial Peace = no struggles financially.
2. Peace of mind = no troubles/ worries or stressors.
3. Peace in the Middle East = cease fire that lasts; no more terrorists.
4. Rest in Peace = RIP
5. Peace at home = no fighting
6. Find my inner peace = self actualization.
-Peace seems to be elusive.
-It seems to be fragile.
1. Rare.
2. Easily lost/ damaged.
-Maybe b/c most definitions of peace have to do w/ ‘ego' rather than God.
1. You expected me to say that didn't you?
2. Think about it.
-Maybe more than you need peace of mind, you need peace in your soul.
1. Maybe more than in your soul, you need peace w/ God!
2. A spiritual peace.

IV. What Brings Peace?
-Everyone is always proposing something to bring peace.
1. Commercials make their claim.
2. "Soothing Peace bubble bath."
3. "Soft relaxing music."
4. These things won't do it.
-Jimi Hendrix: "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace."
1. Do I have to say: ‘boo'?
2. I hope Hendrix isn't your spiritual advisor!
-Peace is not found in a treaty that is signed.
1. That's meaningless.
2. They can be broken, lost, or forgotten.
3. Peace is deeper than that.
-Money does not bring peace.
1. If just a little more...
2. Peace of mind!?
-Family doesn't bring peace.
1. Kids can take from peace.
2. Romance does not bring peace.
-Government doesn't bring peace!
1. $700 billion dollar bailout!?
2. Corrupt, wicked, immoral, confused, conflicted, etc.
3. Don't rely on the government!
4. Social security? Welfare? Education?
5. And we want to put them in charge of health care?
6. Hope you're not looking for peace in the government!
-Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."

V. What Takes Away Peace?
-They take away peace:
1. Worry, stress, anxiety...
2. The rush of life.
3. Money problems.
4. Job problems.
5. Family problems.
6. Spiritual laziness.
7. Disobedience and sin
-Peace thieves:
1. Conflict with others (family, church, neighbors)
2. Failing to forgive
3. Bitterness.
4. Worry.
5. Sin.

VI. What is Peace?
-Someone said: "I don't feel at peace about that."
1. What's that mean?
2. Your decision isn't making a connection with what you know is right.
3. Sometimes you can't put your finger on it.
4. You are never at peace about a decision you know is wrong or sinful.
-Peace is a deep abiding "rightness" inside.
1. It's not about external circumstances.
2. It's about being right with God... righteousness.
C. You cannot have peace outside of a relationship with God!
-He is the...
1. ...Prince of Peace.
2. ...giver/orchestrator of peace.
3. ...creator/author of peace.
4. ...one who brings peace.
-Point: Peace is found in right relationship with God/ righteousness!

VII. Where Are You Looking?
-Ill. Danny Simpson, 24 year old Canadian, in jail for robbing a bank, in Ottawa.
1. The gun he used is in a museum.
2. He robbed a bank and got $6,000.
3. When caught, he went to jail for six years.
4. In the robbery he used a .45 caliber Colt semi-automatic.
5. It turned out to be an antique made by the Ross Rifle Company, Quebec City, in 1918.
6. Value of the pistol= $100,000
7. If Danny had known what he already had in his possession he wouldn't have felt the need to rob a bank.
-There are some Christians searching for peace, not realizing it is already available to them!
1. It's not elusive, concealed,...
2. ...secret, obscure, or hidden.
-Jesus told His disciples in John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
-Jesus is talking to them about trials & temptations that they will have (he promised those too).
1. But the peace of God is not dependant upon everything else!
2. It's not dependant upon whether or not the Devil wants to harass you this week.
3. Not dependant upon whether or not you'll have a good week!
4. God's peace is dependant upon Him!
-Do we need to understand it to have it? No.
1. Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which surpasses [transcends/ passeth] all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
2. If you have this peace, you probably couldn't explain it.
3. If you have never had this peace you may not realize what you're missing.

VIII. Peace In Christ Jesus!
-The Hebrew word for peace is shalom.
1. Jews use it as a greeting.
2. Some churches will use it as a greeting too.
3. It's not trivial or superficial, but a deep peace.
-The Greek word for peace literally means to bind together or to weave together.
1. Peace w/ God is a weaving together of you w/ Him!
2. A binding that is inseparable.
-Point: Disjunction, separation, & conflict in your life steals peace.
1. That's why conflict can steal it.
2. Hypocrisy wipes it out.
-KEY: Though some have been born-again [forgiven of their sins], they have never allowed their affections to be changed.
1. Their desires/priorities/ dreams are still their former ones.
2. Same as sinners.
-1 John 2:16-17 "For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. [17] And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
-James 1:14-15 "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."
-Ill. "Don't you think God wants me to be happy?"
1. Making a sinful decision.
2. Leaving a spouse that they "just don't love anymore."
3. How would you answer their question? No? Yes?
-Query: Is God more concerned about you being holy than He is you being happy?
-Query: Does your holiness and your happiness have to be mutually exclusive/ in competition?

IX. Surrender!
-We have limited God to forgiveness of sins and various assigned tasks we give Him.
-Query: What if the work of salvation God wanted to do in your life can make your desires holy?
1. So that you would desire to be holy.
2. So that God's will for you wasn't burdensome or unwanted... but desired by you.
-What if your peace could be perfect?
-Isaiah 26:3 "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
-What if peace was found in absolute surrender to Him?

X. Conclusion
-Helen Steiner Rice wrote:
"Whenever I am troubled and lost in deep despair,
I bundle all my troubles up and go to God in prayer;
I tell Him I am heartsick and lost and lonely too,
That I am deeply burdened & don't know what to do.
But I know He stilled the tempest & calmed the angry sea,
And I humbly ask if in His love He'll do the same for me.
Then I just keep quiet and think on thoughts of peace,
And as I abide in stillness my restless murmurings cease."
-Ill. Submarine deep under water is not aware of the storm blowing on the surface.
-If you allow Him, He'll give you His peace!
-Maybe today you desire a deep inner peace.
1. Not asking all your problems to go away.
2. Not asking for a signed treaty.
-Just God to stand up in your inner most being and say: "Peace, Be still!"
-Where can we find peace?

In Him, only in Him!

G. Response: Haven of Rest

Closing Blessing:

God gave this blessing to Moses and Aaron for the priests to bless the people who assembled together...
Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; [25] the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; [26] the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."