MY FRIENDS, WE MUST SEEK WITH A PASSION A NAME CHANGE!!

Feb. 21, 2017

MY FRIENDS, WE MUST SEEK WITH A PASSION A NAME CHANGE!!

“We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed……..When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 1 Cor 15:51-54 (NIV) We shall all be changed how sweet the sound. But, my friends, “our traits of character [we] cherish in life will not be changed by death or by the resurrection [or if we are alive when He enters those clouds].

[We] will come up from the grave with the same disposition [we] manifested in our home and in society. Jesus does not change the character at His coming. The work of transformation must be done now. Our daily lives are determining our destiny. Defects of character must be repented of and overcome through the grace of Christ, and a symmetrical character must be formed while in this probationary state [from birth to death], that we may be fitted for the mansions above.” (E.G. White, Character Development)

My friends, it is a process that starts at birth. Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:5-7 to “make every effort to add to our faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”

Sanctification, A process starting with our faith that God is able to do all things through His Spirit and that Conflict from within that is waged on our character by the forces of evil against our “hereditary tendencies” to sin, the Spirit if we believe begins to convict, instruct, restore, and empower us daily into the image of the one who “will ascend from heaven, with a loud command” for the redeemed.

And our reward will be with Him and “He will give to each person according to what they have done,” or not done. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).

And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter which means Rock). John. 1:40-42 (NIV) Only our Creator Christ through His word and Spirit can change self  which represents the things of this world to a name fit for His pure and holy kingdom.

And each day the process of a name change allows the “passion of Christ” to take us beyond where we were the day before spiritually. Now my friends, in the Silence of your war room where you encounter a peace of mind in the presence of God each day. Seek a silence that is not just the absence of sound but a stillness that takes us right into the presence of God in the throne room where our Savior abides.

And then pause! Now let’s ask ourselves, how far are we away from a complete Character Change where Christ tells us “not guilty,” your name is now chosen by Me. You are now a royal priesthood, holy, God’s special possession, you may now declare the praises of My Name who called My faithful out of darkness into My wonderful light,” [throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity]” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)