Worship
Scripture
“He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter ). The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”” -John 1:41-43 (ESV)
Jesus’ Transformational Encounter with Simon Peter
One of my favorite ways to speak into people’s lives and share the gospel is through “The Name Book” by Dorothy Astoria. You can download it on your phone so you always have it with you. It gives both the original meaning and the spiritual meaning of a name. You can look at someone, and with the counsel of the Spirit, prophetically call them into their God-given purpose!
This is exactly what Jesus did upon his encounter with Simon. He knew the life that Simon would lead for Him, and in a moment, He called him into his destiny. Simon wasn’t there yet, but this first encounter gave Peter, also known as The Rock, the identity and calling into the man he would become. This was the only moment in all of the Gospels where Jesus actually changed a person’s name. Names are very significant to the Lord.
In the same way that the angel told Mary and Joseph to name their child Jesus because He would be our salvation, your name is significant to God’s heart toward you. God is absolutely committed to seeing you live out your purpose in history. Peter had a destiny written over his life that was significant for the whole world. It was upon the life of Peter that the Church would be born and built. Peter wasn’t a rock when Jesus first met him. He was an impulsive, young, unschooled fisherman, but Jesus knew why he was created and how significant his life would be for the Church.
“And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”” -Matthew 16:17-19 (ESV)
What God speaks of us is significant and what He names us is transformative. The world and people in our lives have done a lot of damage with their mouths, speaking things that weren’t being sent from Heaven to us. Words cut like daggers, and they feel like they inflict destiny as much as God’s words do.
The Power of Words
I had a friend who, for many years, made fun of my college and my degree. She loved to “tease” that I was not smart as a result of both. The more that she spoke this over my life, the more that my subconscious received it. I started manifesting memory issues, poor learning comprehension, and self-doubt in my ability to recall and critically think. The enemy came in like a flood, and my eventual agreement with these words began to affect my mind. Words have power! I recognized what was happening in an inner-healing session. I had to renounce agreement from her word curse spoken over my life and break off its stronghold over my brain and mind. The Lord truly set me free! The renewing of my mind—having the mind of Christ—and being made in the image of the most intellectual God rebuilt the space the enemy took hold of.
Do you wonder what name Jesus speaks to you when He looks at you? What is the new name He will give you? I know that the meaning of my name (although I was amusingly named after a soap opera actress) was very prophetic! I look at my friend Alexandria whose name means “defender of mankind” and know that she is walking in the prophetic destiny of her name as it pertains to both medicine and the gift of healing. My daughter Lizzy’s name means “consecrated to the Lord,” and that is exactly what her life has been from the moment she was born. She is one of the most holy, pure, and godly women I know. When you know the meaning of a name, you can call and pray that person into their destiny and watch them come fully alive.
Speaking Life According to Scripture
God has given us the power to bless or to curse with our tongues! My friend, Brian, gave me this incredible book we all should read called “The Power to Bless: How to Speak Life and Empower the People You Love” by Alan Wright. In the same way that Jesus called Peter into his new life and new destiny, we can do that with one another! Jesus blessed Peter with His words of vision and life.
“Where there is no blessing, there is no notice of God’s grace or His plan. No vision emerges for the future. Without the blessing, life drifts. But when someone affirms your potential, you focus and become twice as fruitful.” -Alan Wright, “The Power to Bless: How to Speak Life and Empower the People You Love”
“How we think about ourselves determines how we live. That’s why names are so important. What others call us, and what we call ourselves, shapes the direction of our lives. We often don’t pay attention to the meaning of names in Western culture, but not so in the ancient Middle East. Everyone knew the meaning of names. … Consider Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel—an identity so important that a whole nation bears the title.” -Alan Wright, “The Power to Bless: How to Speak Life and Empower the People You Love”
It’s important that as we carry God’s heart for the world and for those both in Him and far from Him, we view and speak God’s perfect love and vision over people. We have the power in our tongues to bless and curse, bring forth life, and cause death. We as believers do not judge by what our eyes see but rather by what Christ reveals to us out of His perfect love, truth, and grace. This is the place that we speak from and name others prophetically.
Embracing Our Identity in Christ
Some of you have been wounded and thrashed by the words and names others have declared over you, and I am so very sorry. I would encourage you to get some inner-healing time with Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, and get free of those words! Those were not God’s names for you, so we must come out of agreement with them.
There is coming a day when Jesus will reveal to each one of us a name that He has for us!
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’” -Revelation 2:17 (ESV), emphasis added
“In the ancient world, the use of a white stone had many associations. A white stone could be a ticket to a banquet, a sign of friendship, evidence of having been counted, or as a sign of acquittal in a court of law. Jesus may have any one of these meanings in mind, but at the very least we know that it has the assurance of blessing.” -David Guzik, Revelation 2 commentary
You could ask the Lord for a sneak peak of His name for you and see what He says! Especially for those of you who have been so devastated by harsh words and names, I encourage you to ask the Lord, “By what name do You call me?” Listen for His loving words to you and make note! He will fulfill His destiny over your life according to His name for you!
