Scripture – I Chronicles 16:29, Psalm 29:2 & Psalm 96:8
Statement: Christians ought to honour and defend the name of God as we would the name of a loved one. We honour God’s name by living in obedience to Him.
Introduction: Shakespeare’s Juliet makes the statement, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” insinuating that a name does not matter. But is that entirely true?
1. Do you think the music of Engelbert Humperdinck would be more popular under a different name?
2. Raw Fish – use the more exotic term “sushi” if you like, but it is still raw fish
3. Some would replace Christmas with another name?
Names do matter and the name of God matters most of all!
I. The Awesome Names of God
a.Elohim
i. The Supreme God, above all everyone and thing
ii. Creator
iii. We owe everything to God
b. Jehovah
i. Unchanging Eternal, Self-existent, Covenant keeping God
ii. Hebrews 13:8 – The same yesterday, today & forever
c. El-Shaddai
i. Mighty, Sufficient, Satisfying One
ii. John 4:14 - But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
d. Adonai – Sovereign Lord, Master
i. A kind and fair master
ii. John 21:1-6 – No fish all night, Jesus then commanded
e. Jehovah-Jireh – The Lord will provide
i. Provides for all our spiritual & physical needs
ii. Philippians 4:19 – My God shall provide all your needs
f. Jehovah-rophe – Jehovah Heals
i. Spiritually heals – gives us life – that’s healing!
ii. We come to Christ sinners and He makes us royalty!
g. Jehovah-nissi – Jehovah My Banner
i. Our purpose and Our authority
ii. Exodus 17 – Battle against Amalek
h. Jehovah-M’kaddesh
i. Jehovah Who Sanctifies
ii. II Corinthians 6:17 – Come out from them, be separate
i. Jehovah-Shalom – Jehovah is Peace
i. The promise of peace when only destruction is seen
ii. Do you have peace tonight?
j. Jehovah-Tsidkenu – Jehovah our righteousness
k. Jehovah-rohi – Jehovah my Shepherd – Psalm 23
l. Jehovah-Shammah – Jehovah is there! – A promise of hope
m. I Am
i. I AM THAT I AM
ii. I am Alpha and Omega (Jesus)
iii. I am the bread of life (Jesus)
iv. I am the door (Jesus)
v. I am the God of thy fathers
vi. I am the good shepherd (Jesus)
vii. I am the light of the world (Jesus)
viii. I am the LORD which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness
ix. I am the LORD, your Holy One
x. I am the resurrection, and the life (Jesus)
xi. I am the vine (Jesus)
xii. I am the way, the truth, and the life (Jesus)
xiii. I am thy shield
xiv. I am with you alway (Jesus)
n. Nazarene –
i. This title is used for Christ only once (Matt. 2:23). In all other cases the word is rendered "of Nazareth" (Mark 1:24; 10:47; 14:67, etc.).
ii. When this Greek designation was at first applied to our Lord, it was meant simply to denote the place of his residence. In course of time the word became a term of reproach.
iii. Thus the word "Nazarene" carries with it an allusion to those prophecies which speak of Christ as "despised of men" (Isa. 53:3).
iv. Some, however, think that in this name there is an allusion to the Hebrew netser, which signifies a branch or sprout. It is so applied to the Messiah i.e., he whom the prophets called the Netse, the "Branch." - Isaiah 11:1
o. Revelation 19:16 – KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
p. Isaiah 9:6
i. Wonderful Counsellor
ii. Mighty God
iii. Everlasting Father
iv. Prince of Peace
II. Freedom and Boundaries in the Name of God
a. “Ask in My Name” – Repeated six times in John 14-16
b. Asking in Jesus name constitutes
i. Praying according to Jesus’ character
ii. Praying according to God’s will
iii. Praying under Jesus’ authority
c. Supermarket
i. Several times I had staff use my name to do something I had not authorised
1. “Martin said I could take this holiday…”
2. “Martin said to reduce this product…”
d. Our prayer life is dominated by the name of God
e. Our prayer life, our life, should be lived in the shadow of Jesus
i. Colossians 3:17 - And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
ii. I Timothy 2:7 - Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
f. Using God’s name for identity – Christian
i. If we would use that title our lives should reflect Christ
ii. Christians with poor testimonies blot the name of Christ
III. The Importance of the Name of God
a. Psalm 148:13 - Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
i. Alone – separate, unique
ii. Excellent – lofty, inaccessible, safe, strong
b. Psalm 138:2 - I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
i. Comparison to God’s name was the best example to express the importance of the Word!
ii. We set much importance to the Word of God, what of the name of God?
iii. Truth – Thy word is truth – John 17
c. Philippians 2:9 – A name above every name!
d. The Lord’s Prayer – Our Father which are in Heaven… What comes next?
e. Jewish Tradition
i. Whenever they saw Jehovah they would speak Adonai so as not to speak the name of God
ii. In the earliest Rabbinical writings God’s name is simply referred to as “The Name”
iii. They were afraid any use constituted blasphemy
iv. So they did not speak the name at all
v. Not stepping over a scroll in case God’s name was written on it
vi. When copying the Scriptures they would wash and change before writing God’s name
vii. Many Jewish books and periodicals print it "G-d." Just as the name of God isn’t supposed to be pronounced, some Jews extend this restriction to writing names of God. Also, it ensures that a name of God won’t be defaced or erased if the paper is ripped up, soiled, or thrown away.
viii. In addition, the number 15, which would ordinarily be written in Hebrew as Yod-Heh (10-5), is normally written as Tet-Vav (9-6), because Yod-Heh is a Name
IV. The Injustice to the Name of God
a. Scripture
i. Ecclesiastes 7:1 - A good name is better than precious ointment;
ii.Ecclesiastes 7:1 - Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
iii. Proverbs 22:1 - A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
b. Every day language
c. Examples:
d. Television and Movies
i. Is it okay for others to blaspheme so long as you do not?
ii. How many times can you take God’s name in vain before it is sin?
iii. How many times do you have to sin before you are worthy of death?
iv. How many times did Adam sin to bring about the curse?
e. Illustrations of blasphemy
i. In one year, the average frequency of swear-words has risen from 6.9 per hour to 7.6, and one of the fastest growing is the use of “Christ!” as an expletive. The trend is disturbing.
V. Consequences of Abusing the Name of God
a. Exodus 20:7 & Deuteronomy 5:11
i. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
ii. Using God’s name lightly brings consequences
b. Lev 24:16 - And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to eath.
c. Leviticus 24 – A child stoned for cursing
The Blasphemy Challenge
1. Avoid programmes you know have cursing
2. If a programme curses once, turn it off (radio, TV, movie)
3. Politely ask those around you to not to use God’s name in vain
