I will Give You A New Name

I Will Give You a New Name

Genesis 17:1-8  When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am [a]Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of [b]many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called [c]Abram, but your name shall be [d]Abraham; for I have made you a father of [e]many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in[f] which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

God is establishing His covenant with Abraham and his future generations. He begins by changing Abram’s name.

As a woman, I understand wanting a name change. When I got married, I took on my husband’s name. I didn’t hate my old name, but putting on Matt’s name meant I was under new authority and protection.

Years ago at our first women’s retreat, our theme was “A New Name”. As I prayed over what the Lord wanted to do in the women, I was led to a scripture in Revelation, about God giving those who overcome this world a new name, engraved on a white stone. Throughout the weekend, the Spirit was speaking a new name to the ladies that spoke to their new identity in Him. It was a powerful weekend, we got white stone necklaces. A white stone in antiquity rep. being vindicated of all charges in a court of law

Here are a few I remember-

Jenn- Blessed

Sherehan- Chosen

Me- Purity

Amber- Rescued 

Shelly- tell the story about Shelly not wanting to accept her new name

WHats in a name? Actually a lot. There is a lot of evidence to support that people will live up to the name they have been given, whether for the good or the bad.

How we named Gabriel- loose translation, “God’s hero”, God named the angels

Yes, research suggests people often do live up to their names. A thing called- 

Nominative Determinism: is the hypothesis that people subconsciously gravitate toward areas of work or environments that reflect their names. For example, studies have shown that people named Dennis are disproportionately likely to become dentists, and Lawrences often become lawyers. Man from Harlem had 2 sons- Winner and Loser

But, God giving man a new name signifies a fundamental shift in identity, purpose, and future plans, marking a transformation from their past to a new, divine mission. It represents a seal of a new relationship with Him, a transformation of character, and a public declaration of a person’s role in God’s plan.

When God establishes a covenant, He gives you not just a new name, but a new identity. 

Abram to Abraham: God changed his name from “exalted father” to “father of many nations” when establishing a covenant to make him the ancestor of a great multitude.

Sarai to Sarah: Her name was changed from “argumentative/my princess” to “princess/mother of nations,” reflecting her elevated role in God’s promise.

Jacob to Israel: After a night of wrestling with God, his name was changed from “supplanter” (or trickster) to “one who struggles with God and prevails”.

Simon to Peter: Jesus gave Simon the new name Peter, which means “rock,” signaling the foundational role he would play in the early church.

Saul to Paul: History records that Paul changed his own name. The Apostle to the Gentiles transitioned from his Hebrew birth name to his Roman name, Paul, as he took the Gospel to the broader Greco-Roman world

Scripture prophesies to a new people in Christ and a new name

Isaiah 62:2,12 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the Lord will name.  

v.12 And they shall call them The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord; And you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.

The prophet Isaiah is looking a head into the future of a people who would be called by a new name, the name of Christ. They would bear His name and put on His attributes. They would be His holy people, under a new authority and new protection.  The passage serves as a comforting assurance that God is actively restoring His people and setting us apart for a higher purpose.

What does it mean to get a new name?

A new name signifies a new mission/identity and a change of nature.

Names were changed to reflect a new purpose and change of nature. Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of many nations). Isaiah says,

“WE shall be called a holy people.” The people of God are no longer defined by their past sins, failures or old identities, but identified by Christ alone. We bear His name.

Most Christians today want to maintain their own identity and be in Christ at the same time. We are not called to self expression- we are called to Christ-expression 

I do not want anyone to recognize me by who I was- I want to be recognized as a new person in Christ. Others cannot see the inside change, so we have to show them outwardly the change that has transpired on the inside

They need to see our new garments- 

Revelation 19:8  And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

There is a double nature of the process is here set forth. “It was given her,” the power comes from God and yet “she arrays herself;” the action is still voluntary. 

The fine linen represents Christ’s own righteousness that is imputed and imparted to the believer. Our “righteous acts” are essentially Christ living and working through the saints. These are spirit-led deeds that represents moral conduct, godly character, and the visible outworking of our faith. Our fine linens are in direct contrast to the harlot’s attire, (representing the false religion)

Revelation 17:4  The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of [a]her fornication.

The harlot attracts by ostentatious colors and jewels, she appeals to the lust and desire of the flesh, our basic carnal appetites, she is loud and stubborn; but the Lamb’s wife is robed in pure and stainless white robes of righteous living, and she is identified by her loyalty and faithfulness to Christ.

Garments represent the man. It is twofold, both spiritual and physical. If the Lord has changed our nature, then should not we look, act and be changed? Why do you want to maintain your old identity anyway? What is so good about who you used to be before Christ changed you? Why do you want to even look like your old self? 

You are free to look and dress how you want, but does your appearance reflect a new man in Christ or self? Why do you want to look sexy or edgy or any of those other adjectives instead of looking holy and set apart for the Lord?

When Christ gives us a new identity, garments change. I shed off my old garments stained with my sin and failures and put on His robe of righteousness. It signifies the shedding of the old man and all his ways and putting on the new man created in His image.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

ALL things have become new. ALL MEANS ALL. If I was a Hell’s Angel and got saved, I would do everything to separate myself from identifying as a hell’s angel. I would cut my hair into a new look, I would throw away my old rags of clothing and but new pants and shirt, I would get rid of my bike, stop hanging around the gang, perhaps remove some tattoos. I would not want anyone to recognize me as the old man I used to be.

I wany my outside to mirror the change inside me.  People cannot see my inside, only my outside- yesterday day talking about coming out of a life marked by sin, drugs, alcohol- it is hard but not impossible. People do not want to do what it takes 

I remember when I was born again and going back to my house and having a revelation that there were clothes I could no longer wear, there was music and movies I could no longer watch and listen to, places I could not go, and people I could no longer associate with. I was so desperate for everyone to see Christ in me. I wanted the world to know I belonged to Christ and I had a new identity.

What’s the first thing a prisoner does when he gets released? HE changes his garments.

With a new identity comes a new mission- My mission is not longer to live for myself, but for Him who saved me. Abraham was called to a new land, and to be the father of a new nation who would serve the Lord. You and I have a new purpose- it is to be conformed into the image of Jesus- in word, deed and character. I can no longer say, “This is who I am”. (people use this as an excuse to be introverts, or loud, or angry, or stubborn, or rebellious)

Romans 8:29  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

This phrase highlights the ultimate goal of the people of God– transformation into the likeness of Christ. The idea of being conformed to Christ’s image is a recurring theme 

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as [a]by the Spirit of the Lord.

We are transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory. This transformation is both a present process and a future hope. Your life is no longer your own. You were bought with a price.

Be prepared for Him to turn your life upside down! As we identify with Him and His mission, He will lead us into new paths. He will shut doors and open new ones.

A new name represents an intimate relationship-

A new name represents a deeply personal, intimate relationship between God and the individual. His people are defined by their standing as sanctified and rescued by the Lord.

We shall be called the redeemed of the Lord and our garments reflect our loyalty to the One who purchased us.

In the Bible, redeemed means to be bought back from slavery, debt, or captivity through the payment of a ransom. It signifies being rescued from the bondage of sin and death by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, restoring you to a right relationship with God. 

WE were all slaves of sin and our final destination was hell and eternal separation from God. Satan’s lie and our fallen state made us his slaves. Christ bought us back from the enemy at a cost-

The New Testament states believers are “bought at a price”,

1 Peter 1:18-19  knowing that you were not redeemed with [a]corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

His blood purchased yours and my freedom!

We are delivered from the control and penalty of sin. Just as God delivered the Israelites from physical slavery in Egypt, Christ delivers believers from spiritual slavery and bondage to our sin and flesh. Our flesh does not have to control us anymore- this is TRUE FREEDOM

Romans 8:2-5 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

We have a new Lord and Father. Because you have been purchased, your identity and allegiance change. You are no longer a slave to sin, but a servant of God empowered to live a righteous life

To redeem means to repossess something that was lost and return it to its rightful owner. 

Tell the story of my wedding ring. Not only was it lost and returned to me, it was made brand new. HE repossesses us from the hand of the enemy, and returns us to our heavenly Father; but not the old me, a brand new creation, given a new identity. 

In Christ, we are adopted into God’s family and reconciled to Him. Not all men are God’s children. In a creative sense, we are all made in His image; but in a restorative sense; only those in Christ are His sons and daughters.

You and I are no longer orphans, but children of God. You do not have to live with that orphan mindset-

An “orphan mentality” (sometimes called an orphan spirit) is a deeply ingrained psychological and spiritual mindset centered on fear, scarcity, and hyper-independence. Individuals with this mindset operate under the belief that they must fend for themselves and earn their own worth.

For years I lived with this mindset. I lived in “survival mode” and if I didn’t do for myself, it was not going to get done. I lived in a perpetual state of fear and “where will my next meal come from”. SO when I came to Christ, I had a lot of work to do. I had to learn how to trust the Lord and His Word. I had to learn how to discipline my mind and take thoughts captive. Your feelings will not always line up with your faith! You have to take God’s Word by Faith. I trust you LORD! I had to learn how to allow the Lord to Father me, love me, instruct me, and discipline me. It was a bloody battle against my flesh to accept that I was His beloved daughter.

You were bought with a price! You are HIS OWN and He has drawn you near. He will take care of you, provide for you, feed you, love you as His own. You need not fear!

Psalm 107:2  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,

Are you telling everyone, “IT IS SO!” I’ve been redeemed!!

Have you forgotten what you have been redeemed from?

It is an invitation to share your story of deliverance, celebrate God’s steadfast love, and proclaim the victories He has brought into your life; vocalize your gratitude, share your testimony, and give God the glory for His faithfulness

A new name signifies a Future Promise-

We shall be sought out, and not forsaken. 

1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

God illustrates His grace toward us, in turning the alienated, unloved, and rejected into the beloved children of God.

You went from no hope, to being sought out of God in this life and a future hope in the one to come. 

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.” ’

Receiving a new name on a white stone represents an intimate, future promise known only to God and the believer.

You have a future and a hope! You were an orphan and now He calls you His own. He calls you holy, redeemed and sought out.

Isaiah 62:12 And they shall call them The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord; And you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.

You shall be called, “Sought Out”- Instead of being an ignored people, now in Christ, the church is a people to be desired and visited, representing a return of glory, care, and divine presence. We are His bride and we have a new authority and a new protection.

WE are a City Not Forsaken- we have the hope of an eternal security and His permanent divine presence. 

Revelation 21:23  The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine [a]in it, for the [b]glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

Praise the Lord! This world is not my home. I have an eternal home where I get to be always in His Presence and experiencing no more tears, no more pain; just His love, joy and peace.