Based on The Word

Phi 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.
NLT

A name is that which is given to us to identify ourselves with. We have other forms of identity such as your I.D. cards, drivers license etc. A name is the very first form of identification we humans get, given to us by our parents in most cases. You will see that before a name is given to a child, careful considerations are made before a name is chosen for that child, a parent might look for characteristics perculiar to that child and name the child after that, a parent might give the child the name of a loved one or a favourite food etc.
In essence what I’m trying to say is that for every name given, there is a reason and also a meaning behind that name.

Same thing happens when we become born again, we have a new identity, we become a new creation so we have a new name. Now we aren’t going to literally change our human names of course, but spiritually we are just like new born babies who has just been given a new identity.
I’ll take a verse from the book of Romans which says;

Romans 6:6 NLT
And we know that our old being has been put to death with Christ on his cross, in order that the power of the sinful self might be destroyed, so that we should no longer be the slaves of sin.

Now this verse tells us that our old self, our old being, our old identification has died with Christ on the cross.

So now we rise with Christ as a new creation, with a new mindset, with a new identity.
I believe one of the first indication of one who has given himself to Christ, is the transformation one sees in oneself, does doing drugs still excites you? is cheating your business partner really worth the extra profit? does lying to your partner bring a smile to your face?

You cannot remain the same. You will begin to see that the things of this world no longer gives you pleasure or entice you because you are no longer of this world. That old identity has died, and as Christ died and rose again you rise with him, and you rise abandoning your old selves, the worldly pleasures, you will begin to see with your eyes how blinded you were and you will feel as though this dark cloud has been removed from your head and everything becomes crystal clear.
It’s like stepping out from a dark cave into the light.

You wouldn’t even need to struggle to abandon old behaviours as though you were being forced but you will see yourself willingly letting go of the things of the flesh because you are no longer of this world . You now have a new identity in Christ and no longer answer that name this world gave you. That’s the beautiful thing about Christ he accepts us as we are and changes us for the better.

Looking back at the old testament way before Christ came we can see that the men of that generation were given new identities and were set apart, because they worshipped the one true God and had faith in Him.
I’m going to take the case of Abraham and Sarah.

Gen 17: 5. NLT
Your name will no longer be Abram, but Abraham, because I am making you the ancestor of many nations.

Gen 17: 15-16. NLT
God said to Abraham, “You will no longer call your wife Sarai, from now on her name is Sarah. I will bless her, and I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will become the mother of nations, and there will be Kings among her descendants.”

Can you see how God gave Abraham and Sarah a new identification, remember that Abraham was the only one out of the three sons his father had that worshipped the living God. His old name which was given to him by his father who worshipped idols was most probably hindering the blessings God had for Abraham, 99 years, 99 years!!! Abraham waited without a child with Sarah.
Adonai Himself had to come and change their names, see you cannot be serving God and still be holding onto and be having a worldly mark or a worldly identification.

Let’s look at the case of Jacob.

Gen 32: 27-28. NLT
“What is your name?” the man asked. “Jacob,” he answered.
The man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob. You have struggled with God and with men, and you have won; so your name will be Israel.”

Jacob fought with an angel, and told him that he wouldn’t let him go until he blesses him and his name was changed from Jacob to Israel, today Israel is now a nation, God called the Israelites his own people and he so much loved them and blessed them. A nation was born because of a change of identity, because one man held on to God and even wrestled so that his life would change and God gave him a new name a new identification and a new life.

And so now my dear friends that is why Christ came, to give us new identities, new names that we may be called sons and daughters of God. I will say it again and again you cannot have an encounter with Adonai and remain the same!
You may not literally change your name from John to Joseph but the point here is that you will have a new identity, you will be called a new name, you will have a new life. As long as you have let that old person die and you have risen with Christ you will become a new creation.

So I urge you to let go of that old identity and embrace a new one in Christ for as you can see time and time again it has been shown to us that when you accept this new identity in Christ that He is offering to us you will never remain the same again. Nations has been made, kingdoms created and countless other blessings all because one person choose to let go of his old identity and embrace a new one.

Remember that it was after Saul who persecuted the people of God and killed scores of them, after he had an encounter with Christ on his way to Damascus did he start answering Paul.
He abandoned everything that had to do with his former life, the name people knew him by, his riches, his status, everything. And Paul became a revered apostle of the lord, and wrote a great deal of the new testament.

Now how do I get that new identity? You may ask,
Well it happens when you make that personal solid decision to abandon the ways of this world and receive a new life from Christ.
You literally don’t have to do much just ask Him with all your heart and receive Him with faith and begin to walk in a new light.

Eph 1: 5-8. NLT
God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his sons and daughters; this was his pleasure and purpose. Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son! For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God, which he gave to us in such large measure!

Embrace a new identity in Christ today. He loves you. Way more than you can fathom.