Text: Genesis 17:1-5
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. Abram received something new.
- A NEW REVELATION FROM GOD – vs.1`
El Shaddai – the All Sufficient Almighty God. – Gen. 17:1-5
The Word “Almighty God” means Hebrew “El Shaddai”
EL SHADDAI: God Almighty or "God All Sufficient." 48 times in the OT, 31 times in Job. First used in Genesis 17:1, 2. (Gen. 31:29, 49:24, 25; Prov. 3:27; Micah 2:1; Isa. 60:15, 16, 66:10-13; Ruth 1:20, 21) In Revelation 16:7, "Lord God the Almighty." The Septuagint uses Greek "ikanos" meaning "all-sufficient" or "self-sufficient.
He is the Possessor of heaven and earth. He is El Shaddai—the Almighty, all-sufficient and all-nourishing one! And in Christ, the abundance of God’s wisdom, favor, ability, strength and creativity that you need for a successful family, career and ministry, are yours to experience and enjoy.
2. A NEW WALK BEFORE GOD – vs. 1
In Genesis 5, we find this word about Enoch. It says that: "Enoch walked with God and he was not". He walked WITH God! Like Adam and Eve, he walked with God.
So you still find Enoch walking with God. And then in Genesis 17, you find God talking to Abraham and this is what God said to Abraham: "I am El Shaddai". "When Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abraham and said to him, ‘I am El Shaddai;’" Literally, "El Shaddai" in Hebrew or "Almighty God". "Walk BEFORE Me and be blameless". So notice now. "Walk BEFORE me". Literally in the Hebrew, "Panim". "Panim" means "face". God is saying: "Walk before My face. Be conscious I'm looking at you".
3. A NEW COVENANT WITH GOD vs. 2
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” - Hebrews 8:12
Abram received a covenant with God that his seeds will multiply . Today, because of the cross, you are under the new covenant of grace. Now, what does the new covenant depend on?
The new covenant that God has made is not dependent on anything that you and I must do because He knows that we will always fail. “All have sin and fall short of the glory of God.” Listen carefully. The new covenant works because of one thing only, and it is the last clause of the new covenant—“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
“No more” means that there was a time God remembered our sins, even to punish them to the third and fourth generations (Ex. 20:5). This is found in the Ten Commandments.
However, today, God says emphatically, “No more!" (It is the double negative that is used in the Greek.) "No more" means that God will never again remember our sins against us because He remembered (to punish) all our sins in the body of His Son.
Jesus bore God’s punishment of our sins on the cross. Now, we can walk in the new covenant and hear God say, “Your sins and lawless deeds I remember no more.”
4. A NEW NAME IN GOD vs. 5
Abram added “am” Why God gave Abraham a new name? What is that new name important to him? It’s not just a name only. God breathe upon Abram into Abraham – a new life, a new beginning, a new vision and faith arises in his heart and spirit.
Then He brought him [Abram] outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” - Genesis 15:5
The Bible contains plenty of other examples from when God changed someone's name to match their new destiny. Abram name changed to Abraham. Why does God do it?
Because names carry destiny.
Names convey inheritance.
Names convey relationship.(with God is different now)
And it is our Father's exclusive right to name you, His baby.
Many of you are entering into a new season right now, and Father wants to give you a new name. God is breathing upon you a new destiny, vision, name, relationship and new power, glory and new blessings. You will know who you are in Christ.
May the Lord bless you and your family.
