SUNDAY SERVICES
LIVING SUPERNATURALLY II
East Location
March 17, 2013
The Son of Abraham, the Son of David, and the Son of God II
(The Significance of Names)
REVIEW
- Three stages of sonship depicted in the life of Jesus
- Infancy (teknion) – symbolized by Jesus’ manger birth; and circumcision on the 8th day.
- Puberty (teknon) – symbolized by Jesus appearing in the temple at age 12. (St. Luke 2:40, 42, 49).
- Maturity (huios) – meaning son placement lived out at Jesus’ water immersion in St. Matthew 3:16-17.
FOUNDATIONAL TEXT
- Hebrews 12:1-9
- Bastards are still in the family of God but have not embraced God’s way of thinking.
- Maturity is important because God as the Father of spirits cannot lead and direct immature spirits (sons).
OBSERVATIONS
- Names give rise to our destiny.
- Names are titles in which inheritance are passed on.
- Names present identity.
- The family of God name gives the believer a certain identity.
- Through our spiritual family comes our divine inheritance.
- In our natural family are limitations and restrictions.
- I. The significance of names
- Genesis 17:5-7
- Abram later becomes something he was not born into.
- This means a believer may have been naturally born poor but born again to become rich; born sick but born again into healing. In other words, God is powerful enough to reverse any curse we were born under.
- The right name connects us to the right destiny.
- Abram meant exalted father as a term of respect.
- Abram’s name is changed to Abraham meaning respected; exalted father of nations or multitudes.
- The name of Abraham includes all the promises (inheritances) of God that God intended to get to him.
- Genesis 17:15-19
- Sarai means chief governor or leader in a masculine form which limits her ability to reproduce.
- Sarai’s name is changed to Sarah meaning princess of many nations.
- Genesis 32:24-30
- Jacob wrestles with “an angel” because he knew he was entitled to the blessing of Abraham.
- Jacob’s name means trickster, supplanter, liar, and deceiver.
- Jacob’s name is changed to Israel meaning divine master.
- When our name is changed, what we used to wrestle with, we now conquer in God.
- When God speaks of Israel, He speaks of His children. God has given us an anointing through His spirit to divinely master all human imperfections.
- God is calling us Israel – those who have through His power divinely mastered all of life’s difficulties.
- St. Luke 1:57-64
- The family of Zacharius and Elisabeth wanted to follow custom and name the child after his father.
- The mother knew God was using this child to do something different from the father, consequently naming the child John.
- Zacharius’ mouth was opened immediately when he agreed with God’s name for the child. This implies that God can trust what comes out of the mouth of mature sons.
- John would not follow in his father’s step. This was not his destiny.
- Only God can define our destiny which may not be the destiny of our natural family or something our natural family can understand.
- Genesis 17:5-7
© 2013 George Matthews Ministries