Overview of Eternal Rewards - Part 1 (3 of 12)

Mike Connell

If God gave a person a new name, you ask the question: a new name means a different name. Did Jesus or God give new names or names to anyone? Yes, He did. What did that mean, when He gave them a new name? A new name means a change in relationship, or a change in status, or a change in role in the kingdom. If God gave a person a new name, it meant there was a change in relationship, a change in status, or a change in their role in the kingdom. Think about the stories we know - you'll know them straight away...

* Abram was renamed Abraham, meaning father of a multitude.

* Sarai was renamed Sarah, meaning princess.

* Jacob was renamed Israel, meaning prevailing with God.

* Simon was renamed Peter, meaning the rock.

Notice that each time we saw someone in the Bible that got a new name, there was a changed status; or there was something to do with the destiny that they were called into - so quite amazing really. Now here's a thing: Jesus Himself was given a new name! Wow! So again, you look up 'new name', and every time you find 'new name', you'll see some insight on it.

Philippians 2:9-10 - "Therefore God has highly exalted Jesus, and given Him a name which is above every other name - that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those in heaven, of those in earth, of those under the earth"

Notice that Jesus humbled Himself, and became obedient to death. He's humbled Himself, and served the purpose of His Father; and now, there's an exalting! What is the exalting? The exalting is being given a new name. He's lifted up, and given a new name; and it says: we'll still know Him as 'Jesus', but the new name then refers to His status. Notice what it says: He's given a name above every other name. In other words, the name of Jesus, or His name, has been given a high new ranking or status - that at the name of 'Jesus', every knee will bow - in heaven, and in earth, and things under the earth - everyone will bow and acknowledge who He is. In other words, God has taken Jesus, who has humbled Himself, become obedient to death - and now elevated him up to the highest possible place that could ever be had, in authority and ranking. The 'new name' that He receives then... His name is still known as 'Jesus', but His 'new name' then refers to His new exalted status.

He is the King of Kings! He is the Lord of Lords! He is Emperor over all of creation; and He has won that, because of His death. He's the Eternal Emperor! For God to give you a 'new name', it will reveal to people - giving you a new name means a change in your status or character, or God's destiny to you. Interestingly, it says a 'new name' that only He knows. That means that God has a secret with you. Secrets are a part of friendship. The giving of a new name is an altering of status and friendship.

Here is #5: Jesus made this promise…

Revelations 3:12 - "I will write on him My new name."

What does it mean: 'write' on him? My new name? To 'write' means you take a pen, you write something down.

2 Corinthians 3:3 - "you are an epistle, or you are the letter ministered to by us, not written with ink but written by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is the heart." Notice he's saying that: you've become the letter, because God wrote on your heart his life, or his character. To 'write on your heart' means: the Holy Spirit gives revelation to you. Things you didn't know, God writes in your heart.

Jesus' new name and identity and rank is: He's now the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, He's the Emperor. He had a name that no man knew except Himself. In other words, He was also awarded a prize for the victory, the white stone. We are following Him. What it says, when He says, "I'll write on you My new name when you overcome", He's saying I will share with you a deeper level of intimacy. I will lift you to a greater status, and I will share some of My authority with you. So again, a lot of these pictures or images overlap with one another, but it primarily speaks of a much greater intimacy. "I will write on him My new name" - so He will impart revelation to us, of who He is; and not only who He is, but also a deeper revelation of Father God. One of the prizes to be won is a much deeper revelation and intimacy - both with Jesus, and with the Father.

Here's another promise - and again, all of these are to do with intimacy.

Revelations 2:25-28 - "I will give him the morning star".

It's the promise of the Morning Star. What does it mean, the morning star? Again, just ask the question, what could that possibly mean? Firstly, in nature, what does it mean; and secondly, is there a reference to it in the Bible? So firstly, in nature, the morning star is the brightest star in the sky. You see it just before the dawning of a new day. It's usually the one lowest on the horizon, and it's the beginning of the new day. But the morning star in the Bible is a reference to Jesus Christ Himself.