The Name That Will Pass Away and the New Name (Isa 65:13-16)
Rev. Myung-Sin Choi
13 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, But you shall be thirsty; Behold, My servants shall rejoice, But you shall be ashamed; 14 Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, But you shall cry for sorrow of heart, And wail for grief of spirit. 15 You shall leave your name as a curse to My chosen; For the Lord God will slay you, And call His servants by another name; 16 So that he who blesses himself in the earth Shall bless himself in the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth Shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My eyes.
Introduction
In Korea, there was a prayer meeting that took place on October 27th where 1 million Christians gathered. So many people were shocked that this could take place in the 21st Century in the year of 2024. Many Christians gathered together and started praying, and they were crying as they were praying to God. One woman pastor was crying and pleading to God to save Korea. When I saw their prayers, I truly believed that God listens to our prayers and gives us answers. The first answer that God gave to them was that the South Korean declared Martial Law. I don’t think the South Korean president was the one who made the martial law take place but I believe that God allowed this to happen. This didn’t shock just one individual but it shocked the entire nation. The National Assembly of Korea got together and decided that they will impeach the current president of South Korea. This case will go before the Supreme Court. I believe that it will be God who will decide the future of this case. This is because God heard the prayers of the 1 million Christians who gathered and prayed before Him. God will listen to our prayers and accomplish our desires. God is the one who is in full control of not only the history of Korea but the entire history of this world. This is because God is the true King and He is the narrator of this world. God will fulfill the plan of world evangelism. This is all part of the process for world evangelism. We read today’s main Biblical passage and it is a very important scripture. Last week we spoke about the servant of God. What does it mean to be a servant of God?
1. A Servant of God and a Servant of the World
1) A servant of God
Verse 13 - The scripture speaks about servants many times. Last week, they said that God’s servant is the one who remains, has the holy seed, and is obedient to God. In other words, to be a servant means to be God’s servant. What does it mean to be God’s servant? As God’s servant, we need to serve God as the True King and Lord. God promised that He will give us food, drinks, and gladness in our hearts. If we make God as the master of our hearts, then God will take full responsibility over your life and there is nothing for us to worry about.
Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” - I think this Biblical passage is so moving. When we confess that God is our true King, God is so pleased and happy. When we confess that God is our King, not only will God answer our prayers but He will rejoice over you with singing. When we make God our true master and King, then God will be over rejoiced with happiness and joy. God will be so joyful that He will be singing with rejoice. Confess that God is your true King and master. With your whole heart, confess that God is your true King. When we confess this, then God will give great blessings. This happened for Daniel.
Daniel 6:22 “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” - Daniel made this confession before King Darius. When we confess that God is our true King then the power of transcending time and space will come upon us. God will guide us in the most perfect way. May you truly enjoy this.
2) A servant of the world
Verse 14 - This is talking about the servants of the world. The servants of the world will cry, have a sorrowful heart, and wail for grief. You are denying God as the true King. Those who deny God as the true King, then people of this world have no choice but to face spiritual, mental, and physical problems. You will wail for grief.
Proverbs 14:12-13 “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. 13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth may be grief.” - Those who reject God as the true king, no matter how intelligent you are, your path will always lead to destruction. Why is that? Because God is not their king and Satan is their king over their hearts.
Ephesians 2:2 “In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.” - Their lords and kings that they are serving are different. Who are you serving if you are not serving God?
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” - They have choice but to chase after the world and when they do this, their hearts will be only full of pain, regret, and sorrow. You think that you have to sacrifice so much when you live as children of God and you feel like you are not receiving answers from God. But this is not it at all. God is trying to bless you. God is trying to set everything into the correct process and steps for you to receive answers.
2. The Name that Will Pass Away and the New Name
1) The worldly name
Verse 15 - All people of this world want to make a name for themselves. They want to be famous. They want to be more famous than God.
Genesis 11:4 “And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’ ” - This is talking about the Tower of Babel. What was their goal? They wanted to reach the top of the tower and become renowned. They wanted their name to be known all over the world. But in the end, the tower collapsed. Their names did not remain and disappeared. This means that they had no life.
Proverbs 1:25-26 “Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes.” - You don’t give glory to God but you are only chasing after your own fame and glory. You ignore God’s word and you don’t accept God’s counsel at all. You have no fear towards God and you do whatever you want. This is the life of those who live in sin and when their sin problem has not been solved. What happens when your sins are not forgiven is that problems will keep coming to you, terror will come to you, and you will face calamities.
Luke 16:25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.’ ” - This was the story of the beggar, Lazarus, and the rich man. God gave this message to the rich man. When you read this passage, you may think it is strange. You don’t see the name of the rich man written in the Bible. It only spoke about how the rich man lived his life and he received many compliments in his life. But God did not remember the name of the rich man. But we only see the name of the beggar, Lazarus, being mentioned in the Bible. Lazarus’ name means comfort. Lazarus was poor but he always received encouragement and comfort from God. He always looked up to God even in the midst of his difficulties and sufferings. Only those who are saved and goes to heaven, only their names are written in the book of life. No matter how great you live your life on earth, if your name is not written in the book of life then it doesn’t matter how you live your life on this earth.
2) The new name
God’s servants will be called a different name, a new name. Those who hold onto the covenant, they will receive the new name. We saw this in the Old Testament. Abraham’s name was changed from Abram to Abraham. From Jacob to Israel and from Simon to Peter. Why did God give them new names? This means that they have a new life. This means that their old life has gone and they are now living a new life. You can receive a new name when you believe and accept Jesus Christ into your heart. You become a new creation and you will receive a new name. This means that your life and destiny has completely changed. Your identity and status has completely changed.
Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” - When I read this passage, I was so moved. When I read this Biblical passage, it speaks about the hidden manna. This manna was food that was given from heaven. This hidden manna means that no one knows about it. This is talking about the spiritual food, it is Jesus Christ. The life of Christ will come inside of us. Eternal life has come inside of us. On the stone a new name will be written. The stone represents Jesus Christ. On the stone, a new name will be written. It is not our old name but it is the new name that God has given to us. This is a new life. God is calling us as His children and we are only body with God. We have new life and eternal life. We have a new name. May we receive the blessing to receive the new name.
3. The Mystery of All Treasures
1) Glory to God
Verse 16 - In the old times, you would go to the temple to give worship but now, we are worshiping the God of the truth. This is talking about the church.
John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” - We will worship God in spirit and truth.
Proverbs 4:8, 18:10 “Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” - Understand this. We are giving all glory to God. We are acknowledging only God is the true King and He is the only way to salvation. He is the Lord and master of our lives. When we give worship with this heart and confession, then great blessings will come to us. God will bring us honor. When we give honor to God, then that is it. Why is that? This is because God is our bartizan and only Christ is our bartizan.
Proverbs 18:10 - God’s name is the strong tower. Hold onto His name. Look up to God. Only look up to God. If we run towards God, then God will keep us safe. This is God’s promise to us. No matter what happens to us, God will take full responsibility over us. This is because God is the true treasure.
2) True treasures
Colossians 2:2-3, 5 “That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.” - Christ is the greatest mystery of God. The mystery represents salvation. God’s entire answer is here. Eternal life is within Christ. All of God’s mysteries are found within Christ. Hold onto this.
Colossians 2:3 - What we need the most and all of our answers are found within Christ. Hold onto Christ and have victory. How is this possible? This is possible when you hold onto Christ. Make this confession.
Colossians 2:5 - Hold onto Christ firmly. Hold onto the covenant firmly. Hold onto the gospel firmly. This will please God. Great works will arise.
Conclusion
I think this conclusion is very important. The most important message within our life is Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.” - This is the greatest wisdom and counsel. Fear the Lord. Fear the Lord with a trembling heart. All of your thoughts and words that you have, everything that you do, do it before God. If you do this, then your life will abide in satisfaction and you will not be visited with evil. When you attend church, there are so many people who come and don’t fear God. You think that God is your friend and treat God as your friend. This is Satan’s strategy. Don’t be deceived. We need to fear God. We need to give all glory to God. We need to confess of God’s glory. We need to confess God as our King. Then God will be so pleased that He will be dancing with joy.
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