There Is Power in a Name

A name carries weight. Proverbs says a good name is better than great riches, and the heart knows why, because a name gathers a story, a tone, a track record that walks into rooms before a person ever does. Daniel’s name reads wisdom and integrity, Joseph’s reads Spirit-given insight, Cornelius’ reads righteous and God-fearing, while Saul’s, Jezebel’s, Judas’ tell a different tale. Reputation attaches to a name like fruit on a tree, and the fruit shows the root.

A good name is chosen. The phrase is to be chosen in Proverbs 22 points to daily, intentional decisions that stack up into character. Paul’s call is steady and simple, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding, because labor in the Lord is never wasted. The image lands like that old weighted clown that pops right back up, hit after hit, fixed by a hidden anchor. Consistency under pressure stamps a name with substance.

Authority rests on the name of Jesus. Philippians says the Father gave him the name above every name, and the Gospels show how he carried that authority, not by asserting himself, but by yielding himself. “My food is to do the will of him who sent me” becomes the pattern. Gethsemane shows the grip, not my will but yours, and heaven answers with angels. Under the Father’s lordship, the Son walks in authority, and under Christ’s lordship, a disciple’s name gains authority as well.

Intimacy with the Father equals authority with the people. Hidden prayer furnishes public wisdom. Quiet surrender births clear direction. Time in the secret place gives a voice that can actually help, because grace and truth rest on a life aligned to Christ.

Redemption reaches right down to a family name. A surname that once felt like a curse can be re-scripted when someone bows the knee to Jesus and starts choosing differently, day after day. The Spirit can speak a new future over children and grandchildren, and a household can watch that word grow into worship, Scripture on little lips, and joy that will not quit. Jesus still redeems names, restores identities, and rewrites stories, and that invitation stands for any person ready to step out of a legacy of sin and into the authority of the One whose name opens blind eyes and breaks chains.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Reputation outweighs riches every time [47:41] A good name outlives gold because it gathers trust that money cannot buy. Scripture ties a name to character, not to bank accounts or applause. When a name carries truth, people lean in before a word is spoken. When a name rots, opportunities wither even if resources remain. [47:41]
• 2. Daily choices shape a name [56:17] Character is not microwaved, it is stacked. Steadfast and immovable is a decision made when quitting feels easier. The hidden anchor is obedience to God’s will, repeated until it becomes reflex. Over time, consistency under pressure writes a story people can count on. [56:17]
• 3. Submission unlocks spiritual authority [01:01:10] Jesus’ authority flows through surrender, not self-assertion. Yielded hearts receive heaven’s help, just as angels strengthened the Son in his yes to the Father. Under Christ’s lordship, a person speaks and serves with weight that is not their own. Authority borrowed from Jesus carries both power and tenderness. [61:10]
• 4. Intimacy births public authority [01:03:21] Time with the Father clarifies what to do with people. Prayerless hustle multiplies noise, but prayer-filled presence carries discernment. In the secret place, God steadies motives and sharpens counsel. Out of that quiet, a life gains a voice that heals rather than hurries. [63:21]
• 5. Jesus rewrites names and stories [01:16:06] A family line marked by sin can become a line marked by blessing. Repentance and new daily choices under Christ change the trajectory for children and grandchildren. The Spirit loves to declare, “it no longer represents that,” over a name surrendered to Jesus. Legacy becomes testimony when grace gets the last word. [76:06]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [37:58] - Pastor appreciation and joy to return
• [41:48] - Learning to talk, influence of wife
• [44:30] - There is power in a name
• [47:41] - A name represents reputation
• [51:06] - Your name precedes your feet
• [52:28] - Bartimaeus and the authority in Jesus’ name
• [53:42] - A name is shaped by daily choices
• [56:17] - Be steadfast and immovable
• [58:40] - Names carry spiritual authority
• [59:51] - Doing the will of the Father
• [62:54] - Intimacy equals authority
• [65:07] - The Yawn name and family legacy
• [72:28] - Prophetic reversal over the family name
• [75:30] - Bold call to a new identity

1. According to Proverbs 22:1, what is more valuable than wealth, and why might this be true?
2. In the sermon, how does Jesus’ authority differ from worldly power? (See Philippians 2:9-10 and [59:29])
3. What imagery does Paul use in 1 Corinthians 15:58 to describe perseverance, and how does the sermon connect this to daily choices? ([56:17])
4. What examples of biblical names (like Daniel, Joseph, or Judas) were given to illustrate the weight of reputation? ([48:26])

1. Why does Proverbs 22:1 emphasize choosing a good name rather than simply inheriting one? How does this relate to intentional decisions?
2. How does Jesus’ submission to the Father’s will (John 4:34) redefine what true spiritual authority looks like? ([59:51])
3. Paul urges believers to be “steadfast” and “immovable” in 1 Corinthians 15:58. What might this look like in a culture that often values flexibility over consistency?
4. The sermon states, “Intimacy with the Father equals authority with the people” ([01:03:21]). How might hidden prayer or surrender to God’s will strengthen public influence?

1. What daily choices (big or small) are currently shaping your reputation? Are there habits or attitudes you need to adjust to reflect Christ’s character?
2. Where in your life do you struggle to surrender to God’s authority like Jesus did in Gethsemane ([01:00:40])? What practical step could you take to say, “Not my will, but Yours”?
3. The sermon mentions legacy: “A family line marked by sin can become a line marked by blessing” ([01:16:06]). What specific actions could you take to intentionally shape a godly legacy for future generations?
4. How might prioritizing “intimacy with the Father” (e.g., prayer, Scripture) change the way you approach challenges or relationships this week?
5. Are there areas where your name or past choices feel like a “curse”? How can trusting Christ’s redemption help you walk in a new identity today? ([01:15:30])
6. Who in your life needs to see the “steadfast, immovable” character of Christ through your actions? What would consistency look like in that relationship?