Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee(Genesis 17:5).
All over the world, people bear names that represent different things. Some names represent personalities, landmarks or events, and they ’rehanded down from one generation to another. Many times, Christians have found themselves bearing names that contradict what they believe. Those names were handed to them by their forbears, and not many ever bothered to find out the meaning of those names to be sure they ’re consistent with who we are today in Christ.
It’s no use answering the name that contradicts what you believe about the Gospel and who you are in Christ, for it can work against you. The name you answer is a major confession in your life.As you answer that name you ’re continually confessing the meaning of that name. If you study the Bible, you’ll notice how God changed the names of several people. Before their names were changed, they lived the life of the name they bore. When God changed their names, their destinies also changed.
Abraham, for example, which means father of many, used to be called Abram, meaning “exalted or assumed father” (Genesis 17:5). He and his wife were without a child until their names changed to Abraham and Sarah. Isaac ’s son, Jacob is another example.
His name meant “one that takes by the heel; deceiver”.
In today’s rendition, that would mean, “swindler, fast guy, or scammer.” Of course, he grew up to answer his name; he deceived hisfather, cheated his brother, and remained a cheat until God met him and changed his name (Genesis 32:27-28).
To answer a name means that you agree to, confess and endorse the meaning and import of that name in your life. That ’s why you ought to answer only names that are consistent with God ’s purpose for you; names that glorify God ’s Word and are consistent with your identity and position as a new creation in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Dear Father, thank you for giving me a new name according to your divine plan for me. I ’m a success, a victor, and more than a conqueror; I ’m not just the effulgence of the glory of God, my name is “the glory of God”! Prosperity, divine health, joy and peace are all mine, in Jesus ’ Name. Amen.
Further Study:
Matthew 16:18
And I say also unto thee,That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Genesis 35:16-18 AMP
Gen 35:16 And they journeyed from Bethel and had but a little way to go to Ephrath [Bethlehem] when Rachel suffered the pangs of childbirth and had hard labor.
Gen 35:17 When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, Do not be afraid; you shall have this son also.Gen 35:18 And as her soul was departing, for she died, she called his name Ben-oni [son of my sorrow]; but his father called him Benjamin [son of the right hand].
Isaiah 62:2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.a
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