Pastor: Olu Brown

Sermon Title: Name: _____________

{Scripture}

Genesis 17: 1-7 CEB

1 When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk with me and be trustworthy. 2 I will make a covenant between us and I will give you many, many descendants.” 3 Abram fell on his face, and God said to him, 4 “But me, my covenant is with you; you will be the ancestor of many nations. 5 And because I have made you the ancestor of many nations, your name will no longer be Abram but Abraham. 6 I will make you very fertile. I will produce nations from you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will set up my covenant with you and your descendants after you in every generation as an enduring covenant. I will be your God and your descendants’ God after you.

The significance of Abraham’s Name Change

I. Spiritual

Vs. 1 “The Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk with me and be trustworthy.”

· Personal relationship with God

· El Shaddai – Lord God Almighty

II. Emotional

Vs. 2 “I will give you many, many descendants…”

99 and No Children

· Why now?

· Why should I believe You?

· Why me?

III. Personal

Vs. 5 “And because I have made you the ancestor of many nations, your name will no longer be Abram but Abraham.”

· He lived as Abram for 99 years…

o A lot of experiences, relationships, conversations, and journeys…

· For the rest of his life, he had to introduce himself as Abraham

o Who is Abraham?

o Who are you now?

IV. Promise

Vs. 6-7 6 I will make you very fertile. I will produce nations from you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will set up my covenant with you and your descendants after you in every generation as an enduring covenant. I will be your God and your descendants’ God after you.

· I will make you fertile

· I will produce nations from you

· I will set up my covenant with you

· I will be your God

Closing Story:

· Richard Allen – Founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church