Honoring The Name of God

Ways that God’s name is misused versus ways God’s name is honored.

What’s in a name? God says a lot when it is His name. That’s what the third Commandment is all about. Why is God so sensitive about His name? Your name represents three things: (1) Reputation – “He’s making a name for himself” or, “He’s got a good name.” When I mention a name, you automatically think of that person’s reputation. (2) Character – It reflects who you are once you establish yourself. Bible names often relate to character. Achan’s name meant trouble. Jacob’s name meant supplanter or trickster until his character was changed, and God changed his name to Israel, meaning God rules. (3) Authority – When you speak about things under your influence, it carries authority. Names carry authority.

When we think about misusing God’s name or using His name in vain, we usually think of swearing. Swearing is a serious misuse of God’s name, but it’s not the only way His name can be misused. Here are some other ways you might use God’s name in vain:

I. Using God’s Name In Vain

A. You Can Use God’s Name to Insult

This is swearing or using profanity when irritated. America is the most foul-mouthed nation in the world and is becoming more so. Hollywood thinks a movie won’t sell if it isn’t loaded with profanity. They don’t believe the public wants to see a “G” rated movie, so they add lots of bad language, violence, or sex to get an “R” rating. The language may have nothing to do with the story. This is true for books, magazines, and records as well.

Profanity also appears in sports. Someone said that if cussing and cheating are crimes, then golf should be illegal. There was a farmer who was late getting home for dinner. His wife asked, “Did the wagon break down?” The farmer replied, “No, on the way home I picked up the preacher, and from that point on, the mule didn’t understand a thing I said.”

Why do people swear? They believe it makes them seem more macho, but actually, it shows a lack of emotional control. Anyone can swear; it takes discipline to avoid it. Maturity in a believer’s life is reflected in the language they choose.

B. You Can Use God’s Name to Indulge

“God doesn’t want me to cut the grass today.” “I didn’t feel led to get out of bed.” “God doesn’t want me to honor that contract.”

Using God as a cover to indulge yourself. We excuse ourselves and blame God for it. “I know I said I would finish that job for you but God has given me more important things to do now.”

C. You Can Use God’s Name to Intimidate

Some people are skilled at this. “God told me what you should do.” “I believe God wants you to lend me money.” Some TV evangelists excel at this too, except they don’t say “lend.” They might say, God has told me that if you don’t send our ministry $1000 today, we will have to go off the air.

Parents will use this against their kids, “If you don’t stop that, God will get you.” Intimidation.

One spouse to another, “I’ve prayed about this and I believe god wants us to have a new car, a Mercedes.”

This amounts to forgery. Forgery occurs when someone uses another person’s name to gain something they want. There are many spiritual forgeries happening, like when people say, “God told me…”

Be careful about speaking for God.

D. You Can Use God’s Name to Impress

“Bless God, that was a great sermon, hallelujah, thank you Jesus.” Insecure believers do this a lot. They try to prove how spiritual they are by their jargon. Talk doesn’t impress me; it’s the walk that impresses.

Titus 1:16 (CSB) — 16 They claim to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

We dishonor God’s name when we say we're committed to Him but don’t show it through our actions. You might talk with people who can quote scripture and sound spiritual but don’t live it.

E. You Can Use God’s Name Impulsively

Many of us are guilty of this. To show surprise or amazement, you might say, “Oh my God!” or “Jesus Christ”

This reduces God to an exclamation point. God wants us to take His name seriously. Don’t use his name flippantly. It’s just as flippant to say, “Heaven, yes!” as it is to say, “Hell, no!”

Using God’s name impulsively means doing it without thinking. We do this all the time in church. Have you ever sung a song about Jesus and your mind was on something else? Preachers are the worst at this. If you ever go to a preacher’s conference or convention, watch them when they sing. They will hold the book and sing every word, but they are looking around to see who they can see or analyze what another brother might be thinking.

God says, “These people worship me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

Also, Jesus said, “When you pray, don’t use meaningless repetition.” (or words). How often do we pray the same prayer, say, for a meal? Or, if we are praying, we keep using God’s name in the prayer while we’re trying to think of other things to pray about. Like, “Dear Jesus, we want to thank you, God, for the nice day, dear Lord. And Father, we thank you, God, for all you do, O Lord.” Instead of saying His name over and over while we’re trying to think of what else to pray, why not just stop? God understands silence.

God’s name is holy and is to be used seriously. He said this is one of my Great Commandments. Don’t use His name in vain.

(We’ve talked about using God’s name in vain, now let’s talk about using God’s name with value.)

II. Using God’s Name With Value

There are promises throughout the Bible for those who use God’s name properly. How do we use God’s name correctly?

A. Reverence God’s Name Continually

Use it carefully, with respect, lovingly. Use it as an act of worship. Don’t be flippant. When you say “God”, mean it in your heart.

Psalm 29:2 (CSB) “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.”

How do you feel when you hear God’s name used in vain? We would all be shocked if people cursed in church. But we are to be in His presence all week. I like the old song, “Take the name of Jesus with you.”

We should avoid places where God’s name is used in vain.

We should defend the name of God when we have the opportunity, but with grace.

B. Represent God’s Name Clearly

2 Timothy 2:19 (CSB) “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.”

2 Timothy 2:19 (NKJV) “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

If you call yourself a believer, act like one. Don’t drag the name of Jesus with you through the gutter. Your walk should match your talk.

The greatest hindrance to lost people being saved is not that they don’t understand the gospel but that they don’t understand the people who claim to be Christians and live like they do.

C. Rely On God’s Name Completely

Psalm 33:21 (CSB) “For our hearts rejoice in him because we trust in his holy name.”

The Bible says, “Whatever you do, do it in the name of the Lord.”

It says, “If you ask anything in My name I will do it.”

Why do we pray in Jesus’ name? Because we don’t have any right to come into God’s presence in our own name. Jesus is the bridge.

Acts 4:12 (CSB) “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

John 20:31 (CSB) — 31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

CLOSING

How many of you, when you were kids, had your mouth washed out with soap? It might help temporarily, but it doesn’t solve the problem of bad talking. Why? The issue is not in the mouth but in the heart. What’s inside you will come out. For example, if you squeeze a tube of toothpaste, what do you expect to come out? Toothpaste, right, unless someone has sabotaged the tube. When the world squeezes you, what comes out?

When I’m filled with love and peace, and the world squeezes, love and peace come out. When I’m filled with bitterness and meanness, and the world squeezes, that’s what comes out.

How do you fix the problem?

First, you need to tell God you’re sorry and apologize for misusing His name. Ask for His forgiveness.

Then, give him your heart and your mouth. Start controlling the input to your head and heart. The language you listen to, the places you go.

Then, practice His presence. You wouldn’t usually use someone’s name in vain if they were standing beside you.

Ask him to help you and He will.