Name Change - Part 3 - Sealed

2 Timothy 2:19

Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: 

“The Lord knows those who are His,” and, 

“Everyone who calls on The Name of The Lord

 must turn away from iniquity.”

Revelation 22:4

They will see His face, and His Name will be on their foreheads. 

Revelation 3:12

The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write The Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My New Name.

    In 2 Timothy 2:19 we are sealed with a great seal, a seal bearing two inscriptions: The Lord Knows Who Belongs To Him and Everyone Who Calls On The Name of The Lord Must Turn Away From Iniquity. Two very important statements in being called a Christian. [Matthew 7:22, 23; John 10:14, 27]

    The first part of the great seal states that The Lord Knows Who Belongs To Him. Just because someone says they're a Christian doesn't mean they're a Christian. Their actions belie their words. Even actions done 'in Christ's Name' does not make a person a Christian. It is the second part of the seal that defines Christianity. 

    How does The Lord know who belongs to Him? God knows our hearts and our thoughts. Therefore, He can see our intents and our motives before ever we take action on them. [1 Samuel 16:7; Jeremiah 17:10]. Since we know this to be true, we must guard our hearts and fill our thoughts with those things that honor God. [Proverbs 4:23; Philippians 4:8]. 

THE LORD KNOWS WHO BELONGS TO HIM

    Many are the passages of Scripture that define workers of iniquity. The Book of Proverbs is filled with the wisdom and knowledge of who these workers are and how to avoid being one of them. Workers of iniquity are unrepentant sinners. They are comfortable in their sin and see no reason for changing their ways. [Psalm 5:5; 1 John 3:4; 1 John 2:4; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Matthew 25]. 

    Too many will have attended one church or another, becoming a member of the church denomination, giving their tithes and offerings, serving on the board or teaching in the classrooms. But never giving their hearts and lives to Christ Jesus. Never surrendering fully to God, nor giving Him the honor and glory due Him because He is God. Church attendance does not make us known to God. 

    The Lord is sifting the church, bringing judgment upon the sleepers, who will be chaff in the wind, kindle in the fire. Their 'faith' will dissolve and they will complain to God that they did this or did that in His Name, but He will inform them that He never knew them. Be wheat, not chaff. Be watchful, not sleeping. Know the times in which we live and be ever ready to give a testimony of the gospel and why you believe on The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation. [Matthew 3:12; Matthew 25:1-13; Romans 13:11; 2 Timothy 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15].

TURN AWAY FROM INIQUITY

    We guard our hearts when we disallow vain philosophies to enter in. We have set a watch over our hearts when we listen to God's Holy Spirit, Who leads us away from temptations and brings us closer to God, when we maintain a full study life in Christ. We read our Holy Bibles, praying over The Word that God would reveal to us in the passage(s) we are reading, not only Himself, but what He would have us to know. 

    Think: consider, regard, take into account. Now, if we are taking something or someone into account, we are putting some serious thought into what we will do with that something or someone. It is applying deliberate attention to every detail, even the most minute, or what appears to be an irrelevant or obscure detail, and fully laying it out before we make a decision regarding that something or someone. This is how we think on God's Word. 

    What is iniquity? Iniquity is sin. It is disobedience to God's Word and God's Will for us. It is lawlessness. It is evil and wickedness. Iniquity is immorality. It is wrongdoing, misconduct, dishonesty. Iniquity is trespassing. It is corruption. 

    Iniquity takes up residence in both the heart and the mind from birth, through the nature of sin that we are born with. When we reach the age of accountability--knowing what is right and what is wrong and why these things are right and wrong, recognizing truth as truth and lying as lying--then we become accountable to God for how we think and what we believe. 

    When we turn from iniquity, we must turn our hearts and our minds elsewhere. And just where is this 'elsewhere'? In Jesus Christ. He is the embodiment of God's Love to us. He is Truth. He is Righteousness. He is The Right Hand of God. He is Love. He is Light. He is Savior. He is Redeemer. He is The Glory of God and so much more. He is The Good Shepherd Who Knows His Sheep. 

    That's how we are known. That's how we are recognized. When Jesus Christ is our Savior, He becomes our Shepherd and we become His fellow workers of righteousness and His sheep. We are His own. We belong to Him now, for we have turned our backs on iniquity. No more are we workers of iniquity, no more are we living lives of sin and immoralities: we are His sheep: we are Christians because we are following our Shepherd now in this new Life He has given us in Himself, instead of following the main worker of iniquity, of lawlessness, Satan. 

    We are sealed with this great seal, a dual seal of Being Known By God and Belonging To Jesus Christ. We are Christians, Light-Bearers in an ever darkening world, and we are here to tell you about the saving grace of God through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. "For there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." [Acts 4:12]. 

    Where the blood of God's Lamb Who Takes Away The Sins of The World has been applied, and where the fire of God's Holy Spirit is evident, the seal has been branded on that person. Are you sealed? 

     

    

Prayer Cards - Houses of Prayer

 Luke 19:46
Saying to them, "It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but you have made it a den of thieves."

Where It Is Written
Isaiah 56:7
"I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”

A Den of Robbers
Jeremiah 7:11
"Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Yes, I, too, have seen it," declares The LORD.

A New Name
    While the reference here is to the temple with hands, we also know that we are the temple built without hands. Therefore, this verse in Luke refers to the believer, as well.
        2 Chronicles 7:16 "For I have now chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will be there for all time."
        1 Corinthians 6:19 (NLT) Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of The Holy Spirit, Who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
        Isaiah 62:2
Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name that the mouth of The LORD will bestow.
        Revelation 3:12
The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write The Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.
    Honor to God was not being given in either instance. We are houses of prayer, lively stones praising God and praying to God. Our voices reach His ears. Our actions are seen by His eyes. Our thoughts are known by His mind. There is no need for God to look down from heaven, because God lives in His people; He lives in our praises to Him.
    In our church buildings we are to come together to give our worship to Him with our praises and testimonies. We are come into together to receive from Him The Word which He has prepared for us on that day.
    In our hearts, and our lives, we are to do the same. We give Him praise and worship. We testify of God's amazing mercies and grace in our lives to anyone who will listen. We read our Bibles and study out, searching for the Truth, knowing God will reveal Himself to us in it. We pray that God manifests Himself in us through all of it, as His glory filled the temples of old, may He fill these temples, these vessels of mercy, even now.
    May we, indeed, be God's houses of prayer, bearing His Name.

HOUSE OF PRAYER - Eddie James

WHEN I KNEEL TO PRAY - ElenAmor

A Crucified Life - - Prepares The Way

 

    Mark 1:3

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight'."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No.

Prepare: make ready

From the Greek word 'hetoimazó' (pronounced het-oy-mad'-zo): I make ready.

    Yes, Christ Jesus came to die for all of us. His once-and-for-all decision impacts each and everyone who hears of such wonderful news. Yet, it is the each that disturbs people. 

    For each one of us must prepare our hearts and our minds to receive Jesus Christ into it. Believing on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is paramount to entering into God's kingdom. It is the most important decision any of us will ever have to make. 

    Though this verse in Mark refers to the prophetic conclusion referred to in Isaiah 40:3, the many of us who have believed in the Name of Jesus Christ for our salvation have been proclaiming to the not yet believing that Christ is returning soon. 'Soon' is just a not-yet-determined time that lies in the near future. Don't be discouraged if it hasn't happened yet. Everything happens in God's timing, for God is over all, even time. 

    Matthew 24:36-51 tells us to be ready for His return. Isaiah 40:3 tells us to prepare His way. As roads were made passable for visiting kings, so, too must we prepare ourselves to receive our King. 

    We prepare our hearts to receive Christ when we acknowledge we are sinners and repent of our sins against God. 

    We prepare His way when we believe that He is The Way, The Truth and The Life. The Way of salvation and righteousness. The Truth in every aspect of God's Word. The Life Eternal, having resurrected from the dead and walking into newness of life.

    We prepare the Way of the Lord by living holy, blameless lives under the direction of and in the empowerment of The Holy Spirit. Seek His direction now. I seek His direction at every step of my life, especially when preparing these studies. For I have no desire to lead you astray: I don't want to make any mistakes when sharing, proclaiming, God's Word with you.

    We call you now, all around the globe, in every corner of this earth, to prepare your hearts to believe on the Name of The LORD Jesus Christ, that you may receive His salvation through repentance of sins and be baptized. Baptized in water as a public confession of your faith in Christ. Be baptized in God's Holy Spirit that you may receive power to live your newly birthed faith and spread the Good News of God's saving grace with all of God's people. 

    Isaiah 43:1

But now thus says the LORD, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine."

    Revelation 2:17

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it. 

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Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - He Is Called Jesus

Luke 2:21

And at the end of eight days, when He was circumcised, He was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4059

Circumcise: to cut around, I cut around

From the Greek word 'peritemnó' (pronounced per-ee-tem'-no). 

Figuratively speaking, this means "Cutting off the "old life," in favor of the new which is in Christ (the Seed). This starts with being born again into God's family (personally entering His covenant)."

THE CIRCUMCISED FLESH

Genesis 17:12

Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner--even those who are not your offspring.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4135

Circumcise: to cut off (the foreskin)

From the Hebrew word 'mul' (pronounced mool)

Being born of  woman, Christ is born under the Law. The Law requires all males to be circumcised on the eighth day. This is both a mandatory requirement to fulfill The Law of Circumcision and a shadow of things to come under The Grace of Christ. 

At the time of Abraham, when circumcision is first introduced, it is covenant between God and Abraham, Abraham's household, Abraham's seed. 

THE CIRCUMCISED HEART

However, there is another circumcision which takes place in our hearts, a circumcision which can only be done by God. A clean, pure heart from God leads to an eternity spent in His presence.

Deuteronomy 30:6

The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.

Jeremiah 24:7

I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD. They will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with all their heart.

Ezekiel 36:26, 27

36. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

37. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

THE NEW HEART

John 3:3, 5

3. Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

5. Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Psalm 24:3-5

3. Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? 

4. He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.

5. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from the God of his salvation. 

NEW HEART, NEW NAME

With a new heart comes a new name. Though the male infants were given their new names on the day of circumcision, the born again believer receives their new name from God. While we do not yet know our new name, God has one prepared for us. In addition to that name, His Name will be written on us.

Revelation 2:17

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.

Revelation 3:12

The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.

 

As the psalmist has written, millenia before us, let this be our prayer today, as well, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

HE IS CALLED JESUS by Todd Agnew (Do You See What I See? album)

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART by Keith Green

REFINER'S FIRE by Jeremy Riddle

HE LIVES classic hymn