Keep God's Name Holy | Ex 20:7
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· 10 viewsSeries: The Ten Commandments
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Introduction
Introduction
Since our text is so short today, all our scriptures will be on the screen today.
But, you are welcome to use the bibles and open up to Exodus chapter 20. And, If you don’t have a bible of your own, please take the bible in front of you in the pews home. It’s our gift to you because we want the powerful, life changing word of God in your life.
Today, we continue discovering the ten commandments.
Last week was the first, this week is the second commandment. Let’s take a look at what God says:
Text
Text
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
Did you know that God has a name? He is called many things: God, The Most High God, the God of the mountain, The God of Israel, etc. But these are not His proper name. He revealed it earlier in the Exodus Story:
Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”
God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”
God’s Name is “I am”. In the Hebrew language, God’s name is Yahweh
God makes himself known to us, not in a generic way, but intimately by sharing His name.
And maybe you’ve noticed this if you’ve been a Christian for a while, but God talks about His name a lot. But, why does God talk about His name so much? Because it is Holy.
Holy: Separate from the rest of the world, for God’s purpose.
There is no God like Yahweh, and there is no name like His. His name is different, precious, and not to be treated like any other.
And this is not a foreign or new concept to us. People and companies do this all the time. they want their name to stand out, be protected, and keep it’s value. so they copyright and trademark everything.
There’s parmesan cheese, but only the one from a very certain region in italy can be called Parmigiano Reggiano
Same with Champagne. only wine from the grapes of that region in france can use that name.
God’s name is above all names. And, since Jesus is God, His name is included in all of this. So is the Holy Spirit.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
By no other name we are saved.
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
God’s name is good and powerful, but if there is a possibility to use His name in vain, why does He share his name at all? If He knew we could abuse it , why give it to us?
God reveals His name so that we
God reveals His name so that we may know him
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
God reveals His name so that we may call on Him
and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
God reveals His name so that we may proclaim Him
And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.
Those are great things. they are gifts to us. But the potential to abuse the name still remains. what does it mean to do something in vain?
It means to use something in a useless, wasteful way. It’s all for nothing. It doesn’t have the effect it should have.
How do we use God’s name in vain?
Using God’s name in a way that is casual, worthless, or as a curse.
Oh my God!
Jesus Christ!
Using God’s name to gain or manipulate through witchcraft.
Literally trying to invoke a spell or curse using God’s name.
Using God’s name to deceive people by teaching falsehoods about him.
God told me that you should give me your money.
God told me you what you should do.
God doesn’t mind our affair because he knows we’re happy.
Using His name to give ourselves credibility. Swearing in his name.
I swear to God, I’ll pay you back.
I swear, God strike me down, I will have the shipment ready at 6am.
but when we tie God’s name to ourselves, our credibility doesn’t go up. Instead we drag God’s name down. Take a look at what Jesus says:
“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’
But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Living lives that do not reflect Him.
The way you act towards others, the words you use, as a christian matter. Someone is always watching. It’s not just when you wear a cross necklace or a shirt with a verse. You are made in the image of God. You are marked by His name in baptism. You reflect God always. So make sure you are properly representing His name in the way you live.
as you can see, there are lots of ways to use God’s name in a vain, casual, and useless way. It’s almost too easy.
Did you know that Jewish people do not use God’s name at all in order to make sure they never use it in vain?
It’s a noble thought, but that’s swinging too far in the other direction. There are good uses of God’s name and we are called to use it in those ways. God’s name is not a trap, but a blessing!
How do we keep God’s name holy?
Seek from Him all good things for ourselves and others
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Call upon Him in times of trouble
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
Acknowledge in thanks and praise that all good things have come from Him alone
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Speak and teach truthfully about God in accordance with His Word.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Live like His child.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Application
Application
Whether this is new information to you or not, we are all given an opportunity today. We have been given a gift. We have been invited to know who God is by name, and we are invited into the power and blessing that His name brings for all who believe in Him and call on it.
So as you go out today, remember that God’s name is not casual, or like the rest.
It is the name to call upon for salvation, the name to cry out to, the name to have confidence in, the name to boast in. The name to fear and respect.
And so, as God’s people, we will honor His name with all our lives.
Transition Slowly for the camera
Confession
Confession
