Today was a start of a new series at Crosswalk. One I really felt afterwards everyone should have heard. Pastor Shante's words today touched many lives. I could feel it all around me that people were really listening. Why? Because she was talking right to the heart of alot of peoples problems- the past, and the labels we put on others as well as ourselves. Bear with me as I write out my notes to you, many direct quotes, from Pastor Shaunte's message as it spoke to my heart today.
First let's talk about the past. Everyone has a past. Some would prefer to forget theirs, or at least alot of things in it. Pastor Shante' brought up about how others used to describe us in our past, and even, how we thought of ourselves back then. As we look in the Bible, so many people in that day were not always what they wanted to be. They were not always walking God's path perfectly. In fact some led very ungodly lives before they found the God of Israel, or before they met Jesus. They were much like we are today. We're born, we grow, we learn, we grow, we make some good, some bad choices, we learn, we grow, we try to control our own lives, we learn, we grow.... and then one day, some of us, like them, realized that we couldn't do it on our own. That we needed God to guide us and direct us. Therefore, what our past has done is not "define" us, but it has brought us to this moment, this "time" that God will use to change our lives and our future forever.
We all label each other and label ourselves. Pastor Shante' gave us many examples of labeling and the negative impact that it has on our society. Think about the negative labels in your life. How some of them have followed you from your past until now. The passage Pastor Shante' stressed on this thought is II Corinthians 5:17. She read it in the NLT version that says:
"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"
One of the things this verse is saying is the past is broken..... the sin is broken. God's power is bigger than your past! God's truth about you is bigger than any current or past truth about you!
SO, now we have a new life! But what about all those past negative labels?? What if we still feel our past haunting us?? What if we are feeling as if we have no direction in our life??
Pastor Shante' then gave us three things that God will give us once we turn our life over to Him... our old life for a new one.
1. God will give you a new name.
The passage we read concerning this was Isaiah 62:2:
"The nations will see your righteousness. World leaders will be blinded by your glory. And you will be given a new name by the Lord's own mouth."
There were many examples given of people in the Old and New testament that received new names from God or Jesus after their conversion of giving their life and believing God's truth. Jacob was named Israel after wrestling with the Lord, Simon became Peter after proclaiming to Jesus that He was the Messiah. Both of these men's names were changed as their lives changed in their encounter with God. The change in the name does not change us 100%, but God helps us "grow" into our new name. We just have to believe what God says that we are!
2. God will give you a new purpose.
Jesus didn't just change Simon's name, He gave him a new purpose. As Simon, he was a fisherman. He too had some negative labels that followed him from his past. But Jesus saw through that. He told Simon (who he renamed Peter) he would begin catching men instead of fish. And then later told him that He would build his church on Him- and called him the Rock. Even when Peter denied knowing Jesus 3 times the night they arrested Jesus, Jesus forgave Peter after the resurrection. This is an example of how we can still get off track, like Peter. Lose sight of the path that God has us on. But Peter was used by God in many ways, just as we can be used.
The power of Christ is greater than any label....
3. God will give you a new future.
I love this statement. Because I know that it's true. God has given me a new future. One that glorifies Him, and that is what I was created for. The person that Pastor Shante' wanted us to read about concerning this was Rahab. Most of the time she was known as Rahab the prostitiute.This was quoted many times in the bible. However, Rahab eventually found God and gave her life over to Him. Her past was broken! God gave her a husband and a new future! Her future? Well, if you look at the generations of her grandchildren, the fifth generation was a baby named Jesus.
"Do not insult God with your "faithlessness" of what God can do for you"- Pastor Shante' Buckley
Are you letting your past control your present and future? Are you caught up in labeling people or labeling yourself? Do you want a new purpose and a new future? God can give you both.... and He is the only one who can.
Lord, speak to the hearts that are reading this today. Thank you for giving Pastor Shaunte' such a powerful message that all need to hear, right here, right now. May your Spirit move in a way to cause someone to take action towards you. To lay down whatever it is that is in between You and them. May their past become only their past, and may their present and future be what You provide for them. Change our names Lord. Change them to be conquerors over evil, selfishness, and hate. Change them to be Warriors of Love and kindness. Seekers of truth and wisdom. Give us purpose, and change our future to serve and care for each other as You care for us... thank you for this word, and thank you for your Son.
Amen
