I Will Change Your Name

Back in the 60's ... a man named Laurence J. Peter ... visited several corporations ... and studied some of their management styles ... and characteristics.

As a result, ... he came up with a maxim ... which was later named after him ... called ... "The Peter Principle." (Pause)

I was an Executive Vice President in the banking field for 32 years.

So, ... it's nice to know ... that some of my financial experience ... can transfer ... to the pulpit.

Well ... The Peter Principle ... roughly states:

When A person is hired by a company ... and they are doing very well in their position;

Someone will notice his or her competence ... and they are promoted to a higher level of responsibility.

They again perform well ... and they are elevated another notch ... within the organization.

This occurs again and again.

Eventually ... the individual is promoted to a position ... that they do poorly at ... or cannot handle.

That is ... They are promoted to a point ... where they are less competent ... or in many cases ... incompetent.

And They remain in that position ... for their remaining tenure ... with the company.

And sadly, ... they lose their value ... or in many cases ... have no value ... or even worse ... a negative value ... to the company. (Long Pause)

The World too ... evaluates people ... based on a kind of ... Peter Principle:

People are often regarded as valuable ... based upon ... good looks, ... intelligence, ... personality, ... wealth, ... or on things that they do ... or accomplish.

Yet sooner or later ... we will all reach a point in our lives ... when we are no longer useful ... or no longer have value ... at least ... by those standards.

By contrast, ... when it comes to the value of individuals ... God has a different posture ... than that ... of the world.

God looks less ... at what the world considers valuable.

Why? .... for He knows what lies within them ... he knows ... each person's inner worth.

God told the prophet Samuel ...this spiritual truth: Hear God's Word: BIBLE "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man, looks at the outward appearance, ... but the LORD ... looks ... (Slow) At the heart." END (1 Samuel 16:7)

The world focuses on the ... outward.

God focuses on ... what? ... The heart: ... the potential ... which lies within.

In our Gospel text ... we are introduced ... to a man named ... Simon.

Now, ... I want you to see Simon ... the way the world saw Simon.

This man was useful to the community:

He was a skilled fisherman

He knew boats ... He knew nets.

He knew fish ... He knew the sea'

He was a man's ... man.

Confident ... Likable ... Outspoken ... Highly Opinionated.

Among his circle of companions ... he would have been ... a leader.

Now in our text .... we are told that Andrew ... previously a disciple of John the Baptist ... brings his brother Simon ... to this Nazarene ... named Jesus.

Andrew does not even have time to introduce his brother.

When... Jesus immediately states: ... "You are Simon ... son of John" (John 1:42)

It is as if Jesus were saying: ... (Slow) I know ...you ... I know ... (Slow) who you are.

I know ... you are a skilled fisherman, ... a man's man, ... a leader among your peers.

Then Jesus tells this man ... "You shall now be called Cephas" (John 1:42)

Jesus not only knew who Simon was, ... Jesus also knew ... who Simon ... could be.

Jesus knew ... the potential within... and Jesus gave Simon ... a new name.

A name ... that reflected .... what Jesus saw in this man ... now to be known as ... Cephas ... Peter. (Pause)

It is ... noteworthy.

That routinely ... when God ... wants to do something special in person's life, .... he gives them ... a new name.

1. Abram became Abraham (Genesis 17:5)

2. Jacob was renamed Israel (Genesis 32:28)

3. In the New Testament, Simon becomes Peter. (John 1:42)

4. Saul ... becomes Paul (Acts 13:9)

There is a song) 4t is often used at baptisms ...that seems so appropriate ... for this new birth ... in Christ.

I will change your name

You shall no longer be called

Wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid

I will change your name

Your new name shall be

Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one

Faithfulness, friend of God

One who seeks My face

Beloved ... The Scriptures promise ... that we shall have a new value ... a new identity... in essence ... a new name.