What Do You Go By?

The name someone goes by is often a wound or a wall, but the Father calls a different name over his children. The label people assign can stick like glue, yet God says, that is not what I want to call you. Vengeance in a man’s mouth can become his whole life, like a gladiator who only goes by father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife; but that is not the voice that names a life. The text lets Jesus step in and rename. In John 1 he looks at Simon, unstable and loud, and says, you shall be called Peter. The rock is not what Simon feels like, but it is what Jesus speaks over him.

Matthew 16 presses the same question home. The crowds guess at Jesus, but Jesus asks, what about you? Until Christ is confessed as the Christ, identity keeps chasing crowds, friends, family, even church. When Simon says, you are the Christ, Jesus answers with, you are Peter. The confession of who he is unlocks who a person is. Jesus sees beyond a person's identity and affirms their destiny. The enemy hammers the past because he fears the future, but heaven hands keys and an assignment.

Jacob shows the same mercy. A deceiver wrestles God till daybreak, holds on, and hears the question, what is your name? Jacob admits what he has been, and God replies with Israel, prince with God. Gideon hides in a winepress, calls himself small and deserted, but the angel calls him mighty warrior. Daniel and his brothers are dragged 600 miles, handed Babylonian names tied to false gods, yet they resolve not to defile themselves. The boys keep the names that carry Yahweh and Elohim because their calling is greater than their current condition.

The gospel speaks even sweeter in Revelation. To the one who overcomes, Jesus gives hidden manna and a white stone with a new name on it. Courts used a black stone for guilty and a white stone for acquitted. Christ puts the white stone in the hand, writes a name only heaven and the heart will know, and invites the victor to the banquet. Church hurt, divorce, addiction, Google diagnoses, all of it tries to stick, but grace says, stop answering to names God has retired. God knows the sin and still calls by name. The rope of unforgiveness drops. The rock in the pocket turns white. The future is already spoken for.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Let God name your destiny. God’s call runs ahead of the labels others slap on a person. When Jesus says Peter, he is not flattering a temperament, he is authoring a future. The Spirit does not deny weakness, but he does rename it for service. Destiny starts where Christ’s word overrules self-talk. [38:09]
• 2. Confessing Jesus reframes identity. The crowds can get Jesus close, but the confession you are the Christ opens the door to you are Peter. Identity is not pulled from polls; it is given in revelation. When Christ is seen rightly, life gets placed on rock instead of sand. [36:48]
• 3. Let go of unforgiveness’ rope. Holding tight only burns the hands and keeps the old name alive. Mercy breaks the tug-of-war by remembering how much has been forgiven. Freedom starts when the grip loosens and the heart agrees with heaven’s verdict. [28:08]
• 4. Stop answering retired names. The enemy keeps calling the old you because he fears what God will do with the new you. Jacob admits Jacob, then hears Israel; Gideon hears mighty warrior in a winepress; disciples hear rock while still rough. Faith answers to what the Lord is calling, not what the past keeps shouting. [43:18]
• 5. The white stone says “acquitted.” Jesus hands a verdict and a VIP invitation, not a nickname from shame. The new name on the white stone marks a forgiven life and a place at the banquet. Identity becomes gift, not grind, because grace writes what guilt cannot erase. [55:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [18:21] - Prayer and fireproof hope
• [19:33] - “What do you go by?”
• [22:45] - Owning hurtful labels
• [24:07] - Gladiator name and vengeance
• [24:55] - From the arena to Matthew 16
• [32:22] - Marvelously made, identity reset
• [33:48] - Jesus renames Simon
• [36:48] - Who do you say I am?
• [38:09] - Jesus sees destiny in you
• [39:03] - Surrendered, not running testimony
• [40:43] - Jacob wrestles into Israel
• [44:32] - Gideon called mighty warrior
• [50:02] - Daniel keeps God’s name
• [55:21] - White stone and a new name

1. In Matthew 16:18, what new name does Jesus give Simon, and what does it mean? How does this contrast with Simon’s natural temperament?
2. What examples from the sermon show people being called names that contradict their current circumstances (e.g., Gideon hiding in a winepress but called “mighty warrior”)? [44:32]
3. How does Revelation 2:17 describe the significance of the “white stone” given to those who overcome? What does this symbolize about God’s verdict on their lives?

1. Why do you think Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” before renaming Simon? How does confessing Jesus’ identity shape how He defines ours?
2. Jacob admitted his name meant “deceiver” before God renamed him Israel (“prince with God”). What does this reveal about the relationship between honesty about our past and receiving God’s future for us? [42:03]
3. The sermon mentions that “the enemy fears your future, so he keeps calling you by your past.” Why might holding onto old labels hinder someone from stepping into God’s purpose?

1. What “old name” (e.g., failure, addict, unworthy) have you or someone you know struggled to stop answering to? How could believing God’s name for you change how you respond to that label? [22:45]
2. The story of the boy called “stupid” shows how labels can shape identity. When have you seen hurtful words stick to someone (or yourself)? What practical step could help replace that lie with God’s truth?
3. Unforgiveness is compared to holding a burning rope. [28:08] Is there a situation where letting go of resentment could help you walk more freely into the future God has for you?
4. Gideon was called “mighty warrior” while hiding in fear. What area of your life feels small or broken where God might be calling you to see yourself differently?
5. The white stone in Revelation signifies being “acquitted.” How would living as someone fully forgiven and invited to God’s banquet change your daily choices or relationships? [56:36]