Focus: Our Divine Surname

Text: Isa.45:4.

"For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have SURNAMED thee, though thou hast not known me."

The miracle of miracles happened when Christ came into our lives by way of spiritual rebirth. We became partakers of the divine nature, and as a result, God has given us his very name. That is to say, that as those born of God by the Spirit, we now bear his name. Indeed we are surnamed by God.

Let me make it clear to you. Abraham couldn't have the child of promise while he was Abram, but in less than a year after his name was changed, Isaac, the seed of promise was born. Read Hebrews 11:11. Sarah received DUNAMIS - supernatural strength - from God to conceive. What a miracle! Ishmael was born to Abram, but Isaac was born to Abraham. So Ishmael belongs to the old man, and Isaac belongs to the new man. Jesus says, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh..."

Abram's change of name says a lot. See what happened: Abra-Ha-m. Sara-H. God's name is YHVH: Yod-Hey-Vau-Hey. God inserted the masculine Hey to Abram, and the feminine Hey to Sarai. Nine months after, Isaac was born. He brought joy and laughter into the family. The letter 'H' speaks of 'life' and 'breath.'

What a miracle of a surname! What a privilege and a responsibility, bearing God's name! No wonder Paul cautions us, "Let every one that NAMETH the NAME of CHRIST depart from iniquity" - 2Tim.2:19.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter