• Exodus 20:3-17 (NIV)
[3] You shall have no other gods before me.
[4] You shall not make for yourself an idol. . .
[7] You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. . .
[8] Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. . .
[12] Honor your father and your mother. . .
[13] You shall not murder.
[14] You shall not commit adultery.
[15] You shall not steal.
[16] You shall not give false testimony . . .
[17] You shall not covet.
INTRODUCTION:
In Paul Dickinson’s book What’s in a Name, he has taken his hobby of collecting actual names and has shared them with us. Some names are strange and unusual. Other he says are names that seem to be prophetic. For example, here are some real names from his book:
– Joe Bunt became a baseball coach.
– Dan Druff became a barber.
– Jeff Treadwell became a podiatrist.
– Two men by with the last names of Goforth and Ketchum became police officers and actually became partners (can you imagine: who do we send? Send Goforth and Ketchum)
– Two other men became partners in church equipment, Mr. O’Neill and Mr. Pray.
– Will Crumble became a plaster contractor.
– Mr. P.P. Peters became a urologist.
What’s in a name? In Shakespeare’s "Romeo and Juliet," Romeo asks that very question: "What’s in a name? A rose by any other name still smells just as sweet." Romeo seems to think that names are just arbitrary ways of saying who we are. We might as well call the rose bush a thorn bush, but then how many little girls would be named Thorn? Of course then Rosey O’Donnel would be “Thorney”—I don’t know does that fit her better?
We come today to the third of the Ten Commandment, and it’s important for us to remember that these are God’s Ten Commandments not the 10 suggestions. God’s commandments are eternal; they will never become obsolete or outdated. The Ten Commandments are just as valid today as when God first gave them at Mount Sinai nearly four thousand years ago.
• 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.
Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven hallowed by thy name” (Matthew 6:9). We have been brought into an intimate relationship with God whereby we not only have the privilege of calling upon the Name of the Lord, but we can call God our Father. May we not be guilty of treating the Name of the Lord as common and ordinary. His is the Name that is above all others.
I. WHAT’S IN A NAME?
1. We give little or no thought to the meaning of a name today.
a) Our name gives us an identity, but seldom does a name reflect our character. You might share a name with someone, but that may be all that you share in common with that person.
ILLUSTRATION: You may be surprised to learn that there are three Greg Ebies. You all of course know me and my son Greg. You may not know that I also have a cousin by the same name. My son Greg and I share a lot in common, but my cousin and I share very little in common. He is a toe head blond that’s losing his hair and you can see that’s not me although my daughters have accused me of losing some hair. My cousin is the shy and quiet type and I’m more gregarious. He’s a paramedic and I’m a pastor. A list of differences could go on and on. And I’m sure that for those who wanted you could find a long list of differences between my son Greg and me as well.
b) Susie and I gave a great deal of thought to what we would name our five kids. Each of the Ebie-fab-five are unique. Chrysta’s name is the most unique; she’s named after Susie’s mom. The Lord told us that we would soon have a second daughter and her name would be Grace. Our family resisted such an old fashioned name, but wants our Gracie was born everyone knew that the name fit her. Greg was of course named after his dad, but we put a little thought into it too. Gregory means vigilant or watchman and Joel means Jehovah it is God; therefore Greg’s name literally means watchman for Jehovah is God. Our Pearl is named after everybody in the family. Mikey is named after Susie’s two brothers.
2. Names carry a great deal of significance.
a) Did you know that your name has a meaning? Do you know the meaning of your name? I looked up some of your names and thought I’d share its meaning with you. Did you know Frank means free or truthful, and that Bert means bright? George means farmer, and Denise means happy. Christy means follower of Christ, and Dean means from the valley. Sean means God is gracious, and Liz means God is my oath. Bill means strong willed warrior, and Tammy means palm tree. Mark means a war-like, and Pam a means all honey. Rich means braves ruler, and Diana means divine.
b) Names used to be given to describe the person or their character. God changed the name of Abram which means exalted father to the named Abraham meaning father of many. Abraham’s wife Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah meaning princess. Isaac means he laughs. Jacob he grasps the heel or deceiver, but God changed his name to Israel which means struggles with God. Hosea means deliverer; Jezreel means God sows. Sometimes names are given to remember events in history. God told Hosea to name his sons as the prophesied destruction of Israel was at hand; Lo-Ruhaman means not loved and Lo-Ammi means not my people. When the arc of the covenant was captured Ichabod was born means the Glory has departed.
3. What significance does the name of our Lord hold? God is so great that no single name can fully describe him.
a) In the Old Testament God reveals Himself by the names:
— Yahweh means I am that I am.
— El-Elyon means God most high.
— El-Shaddi means God Almighty.
— El-Hai means the Living God.
— Emannuel means God is with us.
— Jehovah means Lord.
— Jehovah-Jireh means the Lord my Provider.
— Jehovah-Tiskenu means the Lord my Righteousness.
— Jehovah-Shalom means the Lord my peace.
— Jehovah-Shammah means the Lord is there.
— Jehovah-Rapha means the Lord who heals.
b) In the New Testament we know the Name of God as Jesus Christ. Jesus mean Savior; Christ means anointed one, Messiah.
• Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)
[9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
4. If the Name of the Lord is significant, then what do we receive when we call upon the Name of the Lord?
a) In the name of Jesus there is SALVATION.
• Acts 4:12 (NIV)
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
• Romans 10:13 (NIV)
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
b) In the name of Jesus there is HEALING.
• Malachi 4:2 (NIV)
But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.
• Acts 4:30 (NIV)
Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
c) In the name of Jesus there is DELIVERANCE and POWER.
• Mark 16:17-18 (NIV)
[17] And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; [18] they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
d) In the name of Jesus there is AUTHORITY.
• John 14:13-14 (NIV)
[13] And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. [14] You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
• John 15:16 (NIV)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
II. How should the Name of the Lord be used?
1. The Name of the Lord should be revered and honored. The Name of the Lord is holy; it is set apart from all others.
• Psalm 111:9 (NIV)
He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name.
• Isaiah 47:4 (NIV)
Our Redeemer--the Lord Almighty is his name—is the Holy One of Israel.
• Revelation 15:4 (NIV)
Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.
2. The Name of the Lord should be praised and exalted.
• Psalm 66:2 (NIV)
Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!
• Psalm 99:3 (NIV)
Let them praise your great and awesome name—he is holy.
• Psalm 113:3 (NIV)
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.
• Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.
3. The Name of the Lord should be lived out in our daily lives. We bear His Name and His identity should be seen in us.
• 1 Peter 4:14, 16 (NIV)
[14] If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you . . . [16] However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
• 1 John 2:5-6 (NIV)
[5] But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: [6] Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
III. How do we misuse the name of the Lord?
1. Perhaps the most obvious is through PROFANITY or BLASPHEMY.
• Leviticus 22:32-33 (NIV)
[32] Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the Lord, who makes you holy [33] and who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord."
2. The Lord’s name it is also misused through VAIN REPETITION and MEANINGLESS PRAYER
• Matthew 6:7 (NIV)
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
3. The lord’s name is misused when we DON’T WORSHIP PROPERLY or teach our children how to worship properly.
• Leviticus 18:21 (NIV)
" ’Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.
• Leviticus 20:3 (NIV)
I will set my face against that man and I will cut him off from his people; for by giving his children to Molech, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name.
4. The Lord’s name is misused by art DISOBEDIENCE and HYPOCRISY.
• Deuteronomy 28:58-61 (NIV)
[58] If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name--the Lord your God—[59] the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. [60] He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you. [61] The Lord will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.
• Proverbs 30:7-9 (NIV)
[7] "Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: [8] Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. [9] Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ’Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
5. The Lord’s name is misused WHEN WE ARE LAZY AT WORK.
• 1 Timothy 6:1 (NIV)
All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.
IV. What should we do now?
1. Have you made a beginning with the Lord have you found salvation thru his Name?
• Psalm 33:20-21 (NIV)
[20] We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. [21] In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
2. Have you misused the name of the Lord?
a) through profanity or blasphemy?
b) through meaningless prayer?
c) through improper worship or neglecting the instruction of your children?
d) through disobedience and hypocrisy?
e) at work?
May we give honor to the name of the lord in everything we do and say!
