Genesis 17:

5 Neither shalt the name anymore be called Abram, but thy name shalt be Abraham, for a father of many nations I have made thee

25 And God said unto Abraham, as for Sarai thy wife, and thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shalt be her name.

Many parts of the the books of the bible are condensed history of God’s dealings with man and his evolving culture of living. In Hebrew as well as African cultures, name is not just sound but does spell character and destiny and future. Name gives meaning and purpose to existence. A child is given a name at its christening which is well thought out after looking and evaluating its circumstances and time of birth. The child finds himself supernaturally heading towards a destiny spelled out by the given name. In Yoruba world view, a child lives out a life predicted by its name. Ask a man his name, you may not be surprised that his destiny is hidden in it. In Hebrew as in Yoruba, there’s much in a name. Name is an unfolding history or future; it’s a life of prophecy being unveiled!

In this meditation, Abram’s name, meaning exalted father, is changed at his old age to Abraham, the father of great multitudes, by God. This change of name follows after his being born again or being born from above. …no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again (John 3:3). The kingdom of God in its early mention by the Lord Jesus Christ was closely connected to Abraham. …. many…will come and take their places at the feast with Abraham…in the kingdom of God (Mathew 8:11). His transition from the natural man, whose conception and birth is decided by his father Terah to one whose conception and birth is decided by heaven is swift, though the distance between spans the expanse of the observable galaxies. Abram has become Abraham, born from above by God. A new journey of life has just began. The seed of this new life is hidden in the new name; it’s the beginning of a prophetic life. That worthy one has become an arrested parsonage for forging the redemption of man.

Unfortunately, the believers in Christ always find it difficult to grasp this eternal truth. Coming to Christ, being born again or from above means trading the earthly connection to that of heaven; coming away from the carnal or the natural into the spiritual. It’s more than mouthing the confession of becoming a follower of Christ, it’s a change of entire destiny. It involves a new way of life, a new world view, a new culture, a new life in complete identification with God.

Spiritually then, I love to appreciate the fact that I have been translated from the kingdom of Satan, of this world to the kingdom of the Son of God’s love. I’m not from below but from above. I’ve ceased from existing as a man of natural descent. I’m in the light of God, seated together with Christ in the heavenlies far above principalities, powers, dominion, authority and every name that is mentioned in this age and the age to come. I’m no more, as far as heaven is concerned, under the influence of any power but God’s. I’m one with Christ! Christ is one with me – at-one-ment with God (Ephesians 1:20 and 2:6).

Every believer in Christ has been given a new name spelling out a prophetic life in Christ. It means a walk with the Christ guided by the agency of God’s Spirit. This life is not for self. … because we are convinced that one died for us all, and therefore all died…. that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again (2 Corinthians: 15-16). Yes, the believer is baptized into a new life and new reality; he has a new name given. Everyone in this mould is a type of Abram who has become Abraham, walking with Lord to prophetic life of His victory. To him who overcomes… I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it (Revelation 2:17). The covenant of God with Abraham brings about a name, God vociferating, this is my own property, my secret name is on him. Jesus says that He will write on the believer that leads the prophetic life to the victorious end the name of God, the new heaven and the name of the city of God.

Solomon built the temple of God which contained pillars. Pillars are the structure upon which the house rests. He created the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillars to the south he named Jakin (he establishes -margin) and the one to the north Boaz (in his strength – margin) (1 kings:7:21-22). There’s the prophetic life of being pillars in the house of God. Him, promises Christ, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. This is the prophetic life experience to which the believer has been called. It’s about coming into the absolute spiritual and moral excellency of God, NOW, and not hereafter. The prophetic life is to be a covenant of the overcomer.

The four gospel writers always spice their narratives with “as it was prophesied by”. The Lord Jesus Christ carefully walked to the specifications of his prophetic life from “….he shall be called Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins” to himself confirming this life in Mathew 26:52, “But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled that says it must happen in this way?” The Lord Jesus was ever watchful to see the life didn’t miss its prophetic specifications. His life had the mandate to initiate and perfect redemption. Although, pens the writer of Hebrews, he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered (Hebrews 5:8). You see, everyone on the highway of living the prophetic life to specifications has attracted to himself the ire of the prince of this world just as Christ did.

One hanging thought many believers have is that the believers are to enjoy divine interventions throughout life. They view the prophetic life as the acquisition of the beautiful things of life – from wealth to possession of technological artifact – as God’s endorsement and is described as living a fulfilled life. Perhaps, they are right, but the fulfilled life is to live to the truth of one’s name; fulfilment of life is the prophetic life. Yes, the prayer answering God will fly to intervene for His children, but if He seems far away, it may be for a purpose of perfecting the prophetic walk of the individual; it may be deliberate on His side for the purpose of learning one thing or the other. No matter how unpleasant the experience of life may be, it’s not without the knowledge of the Lord. Are not two sparrows not sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father (Mathew 10:29). A sparrow shouldn’t fall to the ground, but it does fall. Even then the fall has been configured into the divine plan; the plan to perfect the prophetic life.

Christ’s prophetic life is unique and in a class of its own. Unlike all men, he knew the details of this life, which was full of sufferings, separation from the person of His Father and an ignominious death of the Cross, he never shrank back; all other men don’t know the details of their own for if they do, they will likely fail the life. Through the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ was able to do a perfect walk even though His path was strewn with terrible experiences. Christ is the perfection of a prophetic life hidden in His name. In His case there’s nothing to add; there’s nothing to subtract. He is the absolute standard. He lived and existed within the heavenly perfect script.

 

Thank You Lord for the name, the prophetic life bestowed

Thank You Lord for the name written on white stone given and known only to the recipient

Thank You Lord for writing the name of Your God, that of the city of Your God and the new Jerusalem on your own followers

We will live this life, this name you have given us

 

Thank You Lord for this