Hallowed Be Your Name
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-7
I. You take God’s name in vain by misrepresenting His character.
A. In the Bible a name carries the sense of a person’s character. The meaning of the name LORD is “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). What does this name say about God’s character? He is eternal. He is self-existent. He doesn’t rely on anyone or anything else to live. He just is. And He always will be. He is completely self-sufficient. And because God was and is and is to come that means that He is completely sovereign over all that He has made. He is the King.
B. God refuses to let us to take His name lightly, to speak carelessly or flippantly about Him. To make God’s name mean nothing to you is to reveal that God means nothing to you. And God forbids it. How do we live as Christians? Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” We live according to the character of Jesus.
II. You take God’s name in vain by using God for your own agenda.
A. In Leviticus 24:10-11 we read about a fight between two Israelites. One Israelite took God’s name in vain during this fight. The man was put to death for his sin as God fulfilled the promised judgment of Exodus 20:7. In Acts 19:13-16 some exorcists use the name of Jesus as a magic word rather than as it truly is: the name of God. The exorcists were beaten as a result.
B. A more modern example of people using God for their own agenda is found when some Christians say to others, “God told me that we should do this.” They play the God card to tell people to do what they want. Even Christians can use God’s name to support their various idolatries and agendas. Don’t use God’s name to support an agenda that is simply yours.
III. You take God’s name in vain by using holy words while living hollow lives.
A. How much of ourselves should we put into our worship on Sundays? Romans 12:1: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” We should sing, pray, and listen to the Scripture with all that we are. God will judge those who use His name in vain. Matthew 7:22-23: “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Application:
Honor God’s name as the name above all names. Kill your idols.
Sources:
The Bible
Books by Tim Keller, Kevin DeYoung, J.I. Packer, Jen Wilkin, and Philip Ryken.
Sermon Discussion Questions
1) How is the second commandment different from the first? Why is it wrong to take a created thing and call that thing God?
2) Why is it a good thing that God is jealous? What are some created things that we might worship which would provoke God to jealousy?
3) What is an image of God that God has made? Who is the one person made in the image of God who reflected God perfectly?