What's in His Name

Intro

Have you ever felt used? The phone rings and you see the caller ID and your first thought is, “what...”

You see some one coming and you know it isn’t a social call.

How does it feel?

Have we seen it on TV ...

Don’t we do it?

We shouldn’t just pray when we want stuff. God isn’t a genie.

How often do we pray for God to move yet we don’t stop to listen to the answer?

When we pray do we know we are spiritually healthy?

Today being communion Sunday do we know we are taking communion in a worthy manner?

How do we know? How do we pray? That’s what this series is about.

Over the next 4 weeks we will be looking into the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus says at the beginning, “This, then, is how you should pray.”

This morning, week one, we will be focusing on “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name.”

The Name of God is Holy.

We were told by God to keep his name sacred.

Exodus 20:7 NIV

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

I used to think this meant only to swear. Don’t say, “oh my God.”

I have come to understand this to also mean invoking God’s name to do something you want.

Those groups who say “God told me to. God wants me to. God is telling us to do this.”

That is using the Lord’s name in vain. God’s name is sacred and not to be taken lightly.

God’s Name has Power. God’s Name carries authority.

Main Point

God revealed different names to us for a Reason. We can use them when we pray.

Why Do It Matter

Our prayer life will grow deeper which will in turn will help our relationships with God to deepen.

Scripture

YHWH/Yahweh

(yah-way)

It is the name God gave Himself when Moses asked for His name in Exodus 3:14. It is translated in English Bibles as “LORD” all caps, not to be confused with Adonai which means Lord.

Yahweh means “I Am who I Am,” or “He Will Be,” and it’s the only proper name of the God of Israel. It indicates God’s transcendent and self-existent nature. He was, is and will be. Almost all the names of God this morning is a part of Yahweh.

Fun fact

Ancient Israelites had a high reverence for God’s name and never said it aloud. When reading scriptures, they would use Adonai instead of Yahweh. Later, Jewish scribes created a hybrid name by combining the consonants of Yahweh with the vowels of Adonai to create Yahovah. It served as a reminder to say Adonai and to prevent an accidental pronunciation of Yahweh.

However, many years later, Christians scribes who didn’t know Hebrew thought Yahovah was God’s divine name. They began to pronounce it and translate it. As a result, it entered Christianity and became Jehovah. Many people still use it today and believe it’s God’s name.

God has revealed to us many names. The names of God reveal His character and nature. When we pray His different names, we meditate on Who He is and see Him in a more personal way. It deepens our relationship with Him and enhances our prayer life.

This morning I am going to give you a list of some of the names of God that you can pray through depending on the purpose of your prayers.

The first being one of the most common use of God’s name in the Bible.

El/Elohim

(el-oh-heem)

Elohim means God, Creator, and Mighty Strong.

Genesis 1:1. Elohim indicates God’s strength, sovereignty, and creative power.

Genesis 1:1 NIV

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Elohim is often shortened to El and used as part of other names such as El Shaddai (el-shah-dahy) which means God Almighty;

To use this name in our prayer life is to worship. It is used to recongnize His soverignty.

Elohim is the mighty God from whom we expect great things.

Yahweh Yireh

(yah-way-ji-reh)

It means “The LORD Will Provide” and occurs only once in Genesis 22:14,

Genesis 22:14 NIV

So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

when Abram was about to sacrifice his son Isaac, but God provided a ram for the sacrifice instead. Yahweh Yireh indicates God’s provision and care for His people.

Pray this name to call upon God’s supernatural provision. Praise Him for caring for you and supplying for all your needs. Ask Him for anything you may lack and trust that He will provide.

Yahweh Rapha

(yah-way-raw-faw)

From Exodus 15:26,

Exodus 15:26 NIV

He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

It means the “LORD Who Heals”. God calls Himself Yahweh Rapha after He healed the bitter waters of Marah so the Israelites could drink from it. This name mean God is the source of all healing: body, mind, and soul.

Use this name of God when you are praying for healing and restoration. This name represents total wellness.

Yahweh Shammah

(yah-way-sham-mahw)

Omnipresence - Explain...

God will never abandon us. In Ezekiel Jerusalem was given this name to remind them that God had not abandoned them.

When we feel alone, lost, needing answers. Pray to Yahweh Shammah to fill us with His spirit and remind us of His presence. We are NEVER alone. We are teh Church of Yahweh Shammah.

Yahweh Rohi

(yah-way-roh-hee)

A familiar one for a lot of people.

It means “The LORD Our Shepherd” and was penned by David in Psalm 23:1.

Psalm 23:1 NIV

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

This name shows that God cares for us as a shepherd cares for his sheep. A shepherd guide feeds and protects his sheep. God is the good shepherd that lay down His life for His sheep.

Pray this name to ask God for His guidance, leadership, and protection. Praise Him for caring for you and giving up His life for you. Ask Him to prepare the way ahead of you while walking beside you. Yahweh M’Kaddesh

(yah-way-meh-kad-esh)

Exodus 31:13 NIV

“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

Ezekiel 37:28 NIV

Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.’ ”

This name is for “The Lord Who Makes Holy.” To be holy means to be set apart and God is the only one who can do this. Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 NIV

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Yahweh M’Kaddesh – yah-way-meh-kad-esh is the name by which this is possible.

This is one of the names we can use when asking for forgivness. When we are challenged to be better or to lean more on God for growth. Yahweh Sabaoth

(yah-way-sah-bah-ohth) This name means the “The LORD of Armies.” It first occurs in 1 Samuel 1:3. Armies or hosts refers to both angels and men; This name speaks of God’s sovereignty, power, and authority over His creation.

Use this name to engage in spiritual warfare. Through this name we have authority over the spiritual realm. When we feel opressed or things feel off this name of God can help us to meditate on the Lord of Hosts and armies.

Next, “The Lord Is There”

Ezekiel 48:35 NIV

“The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits. “And the name of the city from that time on will be: the Lord is there.”

Finally,

Yahweh Shalom

(yah-way-shah-lohm)

This name of God only appears in Judges 6:24 whic means, “The LORD Our Peace” This name indicates God’s gentle nature.

Judges 6:24 NIV

So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Use this name to invite God’s peace into your life. God walks beside us. We are told his Yoke is easy my burden is light. The peace of God overcomes and wins out.

Anxiety, stress, anger, resentment, feeligns of unforgiveness, Fear. Yahweh Shalom hears our prayers and acts.

Application

Whatever our situation our attitude should be one of prayer. But sometimes we can be more specific than Yahweh.

If it is for worship Elohim.

If it is for our fanancial situation or survival Yahweh Yireh

Forgivness of Sin; Yahweh M’Kaddesh – yah-way-meh-kad-esh.

Conclusion

Bring this list home and please use it to deepen your prayer life and hopefully your relationship with God.