Sermon Central
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Hallowed Be Thy Name Series
Contributed by John Hamby on Feb 8, 2001 (message contributor)
Summary: An examination of the second petition in the Lord’s Prayer.
A Study of the Lord’s Prayer
Lesson # 2
“Hallowed Be Thy Name”
In our opening study we noted that the Lord’s Prayer is a pattern for all true prayer. We began our examination of the Lord’s Prayer by looking at the first six English words, “Our Father who art in Heaven.” That is not that we would merely say the words, but that we believe that he is our Father and we would relate to Him as a Father. One can not really pray the Lord’s Prayer without first establishing a relationship through faith in Jesus Christ and being born into the family of God.
When we begin our prayer, “Our Father,” we begin to pray in based on an intimate relationship with God – that of a father and child. God is not an angry judge looking for an opportunity to condemn us, nor is aloof and distant, too busy to hear you. He is our Father and can be approached on an intimate basis.
Having the foundational awareness of God as our Father we move on to the first of the petitions, “hallowed be thy name.” When you pray “hallowed be thy name,” you climb to a new level of respect for God and reverence for his person. You are ascending to the very heart of God to recognize who His and what He has done for us.
What does it mean to “hallow” His name? The word “hallow” is the Greek word hagios which is the word for holy, “Hallow” means “to set apart as holy, to consider holy , to treat as holy.” The best modern word perhaps is reverence. When you pray “hallowed be your name” you are saying, “let your name be holy and reverence on earth as it already is in heaven. May your name be given the unique reverence that is due your character and nature as the Heavenly Father.”
When you begin your prayers “Hallowed be thy name,” you are not rushing into the presence of God to demand something, you come into his presence recognizing who God is and what He can do for you.
The name of God is always an expression of His character. The Psalmist said (20:7) “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember (boast ) the name (character) of the LORD our God”. (NKJV)
I. WE HALLOW HIS NAME IN OUR REVERENCE
When we understand that God’s names reveal who God desires to be in relation to us, then we realize that His names invite us to know Him.
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead,….” (NKJV)
“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork”. (NKJV)
We can reverence God and worship him by Praying Through the Names of God. Each of the names of God reveals some aspect of his character.
Elohim – the mighty Creator (Gen 1:1)
Adonai – master or Lord ( Gen 15 – Abraham)
El Shaddai – Almighty (Gen 17 – Abraham)
El-Elyon- Most High (Gen 14 – Abraham)
El Roi - The Strong one that Sees (Gen 16 – Hagar)
El Olam - Everlasting God (Gen 21:22-33)
Jehovah – self-existent one (Exodus 3: 14-15 – Moses)
Jehovah Jireh – the Lord our Provider (Gen 22)
Jehovah M’kaddesh – the God who Sanctifies(Lev 20:1-8)
Jehovah Nissi – the Lord our Banner (Exodus 17:8-16)
Jehovah Rohi – the Lord my Shepherd (Psalm 23)
Jehovah Rophe –the God who Heals (Exodus 15:22-26)
Jehovah Shalom – the Lord of our Peace (Jud. 6:11-24)
Jehovah Shammah – the Lord is Here (Ezekiel 48:30-35)
Jehovah Tsidkenu – the Lord our Righteousness (Jer. 23:5-6)
When we pray we should acknowledge God’s names in reference to our needs. The name of God is supremely and fully revealed in Jesus Christ. Jesus said in his intercessory prayer for his disciples said, “I have manifested thy name.” (John 17:6). In other words, Jesus said, “ I have revealed your character and hallowed your name in the life that I have lived.”
II. WE HALLOW GOD’S NAME IN OUR RELATIONSHIP
When Jesus taught us to pray “hallowed be thy name,” He was telling us to make the presence of God real in our hearts. When you pray “hallowed be thy name,” you are placing God on the throne of your heart. It is about putting God on the throne of our lives on earth, as He sits upon His throne in heaven.
His name is hallowed in our relationship when in praying “hallowed be thy name” we mean that first and foremost we desire our life to reveal to others to the name of Jesus and the character or God. When we are supremely concerned that every detail of our lives should be for His glory.
