10 Commandments 3

Exodus 20:7 CSB

Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.

Not taking the Lord’s name in vain is about more than just cussing. It is about revering God.

(CSB)

7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.

The way you use someone’s name shows what you think of them.

(CSB) 7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.

7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.

Illus:Think about how we address people today.

Here in the south, we were taught manners. When you see a woman or man who is your senior, you refer to them as Ms. or Mr. The only way you refer to them by their first name if they tell you to.

As a pastor as much as I would love for y’all to call me Wes, you revere the office to much calling me brother, Rev, or even on person calls me Rabi.

The way you address people shows what you think of them.

Think about the way we talk about the president of the United States. When one is a supporter, they will give them the honor of the office. For example, they will call our current president, President Trump, and our former President Obama.

On the opposite hand, when a person does not respect the person in office, they will often remove the title, simply referring to the president as Trump or Obama.

Follow me here, God wants us to approach him, with the familiarity of a father, but also with the respect due as God.

Our issue is that we often fault in either familiarity or fear, but not the balance of both.

Matthew 6:9 (CSB)

9 “Therefore, you should pray like this:

9 “Therefore, you should pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,

your name be honored as holy.

When we use God’s name flippantly it shows how little we fear or revere Him.

(CSB) 7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.

7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.

Illus: There are some very obvious ways, that even non christians know what they are saying is wrong.

Using Jesus Christ, in a way to curse is clearly wrong, as well as GD, and many other of the common ways we twist the Lord’s name.

One of the newer ways we have begun using God’s name in vain is the term OMG. Not using the Lord’s name in vain is about more than not using it as a cussing term, it is not giving God the reverence He deserves. When you say, Oh my God, or even just the initials OMG, you are tossing God’s name around as if it is meaningless.

Let’s take it a bit further, how often do we use religious language to justify what we want. We say, God told me, or God led me.

Any time you use the name of God, or attribute to God in a way that does not revere God, you are taking his name in vain.

(CSB)

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God.”

7 So I will make my holy name known among my people Israel and will no longer allow it to be profaned. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.

What comes out of your mouth shows what is in your your heart.

(CSB) 7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.

Do you fear God? Or is He just a good luck charm to you.

(CSB) 7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.

Illus: For many of us, we show what we think of God when we talk about prayer.

When we have a need in our lives we ask others for thoughts, prayers and good vibes.

Seriously we have place a petition to the God of the universe along side asking friends to send us their good vibes.

Doesn’t this show that we view God as no more than a mere rabbits foot in our lives.

When tragedy hits, we are quick to go online and say praying, but I want to call foul. I don’t think we are really praying when we post it. I think praying is a new word to express sympathy or regret. We want to look religious, but deep down saying “praying” is little more than good luck or I’m sorry.

Even this devalue of prayer communicates to the world how little we think of God. If prayer is only good luck, it shows that believers deep down don’t truly believe that God is to be feared.

(CSB)

11 It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth—this defiles a person.”

What do your words reveal about you? Do you words show you live in the fear of the Lord?

(CSB) 7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.

Illus: Take a moment and think about how you talk about church. The church is the bride of Christ. It is his body on the earth to display His glory.

When you talk poorly about the body to others, what does that do to the reputation of Christ? When you gossip about other people, what are you accomplishing?

For me, if you flattered me to my face and then talked badly about my wide behind my back, it would be no different than insulting me.

Your words reveal what is on your heart, and when you badmouth God’s bride, his body, it is no different than insulting God.

Belittling the bride of Christ is taking the Lord’s name in vain.

(CSB)

9 With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. 10 Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.

Do your words bring honor to God, or do they dishonor Him?

(CSB)

7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.

Words matter. What do your words say about you?

Illus: Do your words honor God, or do they take him for granted.

In your use of God’s name, do you communicate that he is the God of the universe or just a lucky charm.

When you are talking about the church, do your words build up the body, or do they tear it down?

When talking to other believers, do you offer words of encouragement, or words of criticism?

(CSB)

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;

his praise will always be on my lips.

2 I will boast in the Lord;

the humble will hear and be glad.

3 Proclaim the Lord’s greatness with me;

let us exalt his name together.