PRAYING, BELIEVING AND TRUSTING

First we must believe we have been heard, then we must trust God wholeheartedly in the answer, which includes the timing of the remedy. In this process, the Holy Spirit is calling us to pray, believe and trust corporately and privately too. 

Jesus had approached Lazarus' tomb four days after Lazarus had died. After counseling and comforting Mary and Martha, Jesus had the stone from in front of Lazarus' tomb rolled away. Then Jesus prayed out-loud because Scripture says "Jesus...said".

• So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11:41-42)

I believe this is the perfect example for us. Jesus gave gratitude for not only Father God's omni-presence, but personal attention to His request/petition - Father, I thank you that you have heard me. Then Jesus gave acknowledgement to Father God's perfect track record of perfect hearing and perfect listening skills - I knew that you always hear me,. However, Jesus gets to the heart of His prayer when He states - paraphrased - the words I have shared here and the actions I have done and will do are "for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

Jesus prayed verbally, believed publicly and trusted Father God wholeheartedly. The result - Lazarus was resurrected. When we as believers gather in church and pray for each other, this is the way I believe our words, mindset and faith should be also. However, this also should bleed over into our personal or non-corporate times with The Holy Spirit. When you are spending personal, quality time with Him - remember God has heard you, He has always heard you and will answer you. His answer for you may even be a miracle that encourages others and points to God's power and compassion. 

Even before our everyday needs like the consideration of our food, drink and clothing - Jesus said to pray, believe and trust in Him and His Kingdom of Provision first. 

• "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

Some of us don't even consult God and when we do, we have the wrong motives at heart. 

• "You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:2-3)

So, I encourage you to pray and believe with Godly motives at heart and know you have been heard, then trust God wholeheartedly with the answer.

OWNERSHIP, CITIZENSHIP AND RELATIONSHIP

Names - usually parents are the ones responsible for identifying us with the combination of names - first, middle and last - we will be known by for the rest of our lives.

Then there are those like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah who had their names changed by a king. You might remember the last three as - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Daniel's name was changed by the king to Belteshazzar, to reflect belief in the king's god. (Daniel 1:7)

For those who believe in Jesus Christ - The King of Kings - there will come a day when The King will be delivering and inscribing new names. Allow your imagination to be structured by Christ's words as He promises to those "who overcome" -

"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. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it." - Revelation 2:17

What an extremely intimate gift the Lord has for each of us! God only knows what the criteria is for this new name. But I am not to concerned about the criteria because I know - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17)

The new name given to each of us is in written-form and can only be known or read by you - "I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it." To me this suggests a personal, Holy language that is shared only between you and God. That would be amazing!

Next, God takes His writing utensil and applies it to the "overcomer's" body.

"Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name." - Revelation 3:12

A lot of identification going on here. 

1. First, we have written on our bodies the name of Father God. 
2. Second, we have written on our bodies God's city - New Jerusalem. 
3. Lastly, Jesus has a New Name that He tattoos on every believer. I guess this should come as no surprise because Christ returns to earth with us and has a tattoo of His own - "On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords." (Revelation 19:16)

Although I have never had a tattoo, I envision these names as beautifully written tattoo names that claim ownership, declare citizenship and reveal relationship. Three stamps of new names, bought at the highest price, each shouting - "You are mine! You are mine! You are mine!"

In addition, Luke 10:20 records Jesus telling His disciples after they had returned from being sent out - 

• "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (NIV). 

When many people and Pastors read this verse they tend to end it with "but rejoice that your names are written [in the Lamb's Book of Life]." Although the Lamb's Book of Life is located in Heaven and your name is there if you believe in Christ Jesus - that is not what the text portrays here.

I also like The Living Bible version - "However, the important thing is not that demons obey you, but that your names are registered as citizens of heaven." I love how Jesus does not dismiss the subjection of demons altogether, He just focuses our attention on the "important thing" - the location of your true citizenship, Heaven.

Christ encourages us to "rejoice that your names are written in heaven." So, allow me to elaborate on this a little more. The words "written" and/or "registered" in the above texts come from the original word Graph0. This word means to write, engrave or to describe. I believe this is where we get the word graffiti.

Next is the word "heaven". The original word used here is Ouranos. This word means air, sky and God's abode. This word derives from another word, Oros, meaning a mountain. You place a mountain in heaven and you get Mount Zion, the Holy Mountain of God.

So, when we apply the meanings of these words back into the text we could read Luke 10:20 LIKE....It is good that demons are subject to you in my name, but that should not be your focus. The important thing is that you know your names are graffitied all over the Holy Mountain of God in Heaven!

What an image! What a love statement - your name graffitied on His Holy Mountain in Heaven, your new name written in a special language on your own white stone and three tattoos claiming ownership - all because of Christ! And we ask - "What's in a name?" Ownership, Citizenship and Relationship.