There is power in a name!
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (New International Version 198, Philippians 2:5-11).
Last Sunday was the Oklahoma Memorial Marathon. Seeing all the news coverage brought back a lot of memories from the nine marathons (including three Boston’s) that I have run.
At my first Boston Marathon I was amazed at the number of people along most of the 26.2 mile route. The crowd was calling out names; it was exciting. Needing all the energy I could summon, I wished they would call out my name. Suddenly I heard “Go Tim!” People were calling out my name; it was startling. However, they were not yelling at me, but to another runner named Tim. He had his name written on the front of his singlet.
At my second Boston Marathon I decided to put my name on the front of my singlet so that people would yell for me. Hundreds of people called out my name and encouraged me to run. It was amazing how much energy that gave me.
There is great power, encouragement, excitement, connection, emotion in a name. And in the most beautiful name in the world it is even more so. There is power in the name of Jesus!
What does your name mean? You might find a definition in a book, but who are you?
Your parents might have told you why they chose your name, they might have told you that you were named after someone, or that they hoped it would describe your character, or that they just thought it sounded nice.
In seventeenth-century Europe people made anagrams from names and believed these words formed from rearranging the letters would give a clue to a person’s characteristics. Teresa is a teaser, Pat is apt, Greta is great and Dora travels on the road.
Who does God want you to be? You have been created for a purpose, but you have rebelled and become selfish. God changed the name of several people because of His purpose for their lives.
One example is in Genesis 17:5 where God said, “No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.”
Your name can be changed by recognizing the authority of God in the name of Jesus. But remember the power is not in saying the name but in submitting to the Name.
Jesus clearly stated this in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Take Christ’s name. Find your identity.
Unleashing the captives,
Tim Gentry
Executive Chaplain