There Is Power in a Name

or do I do my own thing? Here's the truth. When Jesus yielded to the will of the father and he was in the greatest agony of his life, there's a little verse that says, and he sent angels to him and they ministered to him. God is never going to leave you alone. He's never going to leave you without strength in your life and hope and encouragement because that's the god who loves you and when he sees it, you humble yourself and you're willing to submit to his authority in your life, your name then is going to carry that spiritual authority. [01:01:10] (38 seconds)  #GodNeverLeaves

Your name is shaped. My name is shaped by the daily choices I make. The writer of Proverbs chapter 22 in verse one said these words, a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. Loving favor rather than silver and gold. Here's the connection. The phrase is to be chosen. It indicates that a good reputation is the result of intentional, ongoing daily decisions. [00:53:51] (28 seconds)  #ReputationByChoice

They could have said no. They could have resisted but they followed the plan of god because that name, the Smith family name that you love and and we honor today, it is shaped. That name was shaped by daily choices and your life is shaped by daily choices. Reputations are not built in a moment but they're built through consistent daily decisions and our choices every day shape our identity. We don't wake up one day with a good name. We build that name. [00:55:21] (35 seconds)  #ReputationTakesTime

I don't know why that just popped in my memory from twenty plus years ago. Lloyd love y'all know he hates clowns. He can't stand clowns. Clowns. There was this toy years ago. Do I have a witness in the house? This toy had a weighted bottom and you could box it. Anybody remember that? Boom. Boom. Right back up. I don't even know what the thing was called and it's not in my notes. It wasn't Bozo the clown. [00:56:51] (26 seconds)  #ClownToyFlashback

And I paused a second. I said, Irvin, I wanna ask you a question. Did you believe what you said? He goes, with all my heart. I go, I got a second question. How do you feel right now? He paused. He said, you know what? I feel pretty good. He goes, I feel really good. I said, that's because you are saved. Jesus has forgiven you of your sins, and you're not going to hell. You're gonna be with Jesus when you die. [01:10:24] (35 seconds)  #SavedAndAssured

I chose that path to serve him And can I tell you that because I chose that path and I made daily choices to live for God, God said, I'm going to change the trajectory and what the yawn name used to represent, it will not represent any longer? And god said, I'm gonna give your name authority and I'm gonna give your name power and I'm gonna give your name respect. [01:11:37] (27 seconds)  #ServeAndBeTransformed

That happened not many years ago. And yet at 16 years of age, I had to come to grips with whether I was going to serve god because I still had a choice. It was my choice. I could follow the path of the yawn name and be what they had been. They were the example I could be or I could trust in god, my savior. [01:11:01] (30 seconds)  #ChooseYourLegacy

One day, I I was leaving his presence and he says, Brian, this is what I know. He always said that. This is what I know. And then I waited for what he knew. This particular day, he said these words to me. Brian, always remember, intimacy with the father equals authority with the people. I tell you that one sat down in my spirit? I didn't forget that one because it's true. Because you in your life every day who are trying to figure it out, who are trying to get answers, And you don't have answers. Can I challenge you? Go sit in the presence of the father. [01:03:03] (49 seconds)  #IntimacyEqualsAuthority