KEY SCRIPTURE: John 1:42 KJV” And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”

 Our topic for today is a question. It asks, what’s in a name? Do names have impact on people? A child was named after me. This boy has never stayed with me or known much about me. The child  would pray for the mother or anyone who is not feeling well. When he started writing at school, he would write the number eight by joining two zeros just as I do. His class teacher tried as hard as he could to let this boy change the way he wrote his number eight but to no avail. Although he has not lived with me before he has picked a lot of traits from me. How does this happen ?It is in the power of names. In the Old Testament the word name, can mean reputation, appellation or character. A name can determine the character of an individual.

When the Lord saw Simon, Andrew’s brother, he said to him you are Simon, which means to hear or listen, but you would be called Cephas, which is interpreted as a stone. The name Peter is Petros in Greek, and it means a stone. Cephas is the same as Peter. Why did the Lord change his name? There is no scriptural reason given for that, yet we could deduce that, by virtue of the role he was to play as the head of his disciples, He needed to be as tough as a stone. Please note that the Hebrew meaning of names also means character.

In Genesis 32:25-28, Jacob met an angel who wrestled with him throughout the night. Jacob asked the angel to bless him, but he asked of his name. Hearing his name, he said you shall no more be called Jacob but Israel. Jacob means a supplanter or, a heel holder’. That name could not be blessed. He had to give him a new name, Israel for as a Prince he had prevailed with God and men.

 Please note, when the angel gave that name to him, he did not pronounce any word of blessing.

The name carried the blessing.

What is your name? What is the meaning of your name? Does the meaning of your name reveal itself in your life experience as an individual? IF your name has a very negative meaning that tells in your life experience, then please change it.

 From Jacob’s experience a name could carry a curse or a blessing.

In Africa we name our children after certain individuals. Please be very sure that, that person has a type of character that you would like to reflect in your son or daughter if it so happens. Please this is not superstition

THOUGHT:  THE SECRET OF THE POWER OF NAMES IS THAT, THE TONGUE OF PEOPLE THAT CALLS THE NAME, HAS POWER TO CREATE WHAT IT SAYS

FURTHER STUDIES

Prov 18:21 KJV “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

Gen 5:29 KJV “And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.”