You Shall Not Misuse The Name Of The Lord Your God

The Ten Commandments

You Shall Not Misuse the Name of the Lord Your God – Third Commandment

June 17, 2018

Exodus 20

Exodus 34 – similar list

Deuteronomy 5

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.

The 2nd commandment – Visual

The 3rd commandment - Verbal

In the ancient world, a person’s name was synonymous with their character or reputation.

The people of God should not lift up or carry the name—the character and reputation of the LORD—in a manner that falsely represents him. Another scholar put it this way: “Using Yahweh’s name in vain involves associating God with purposes and powers that are inconsistent with God’s identity and will.

The God Stick – God told me, so you cannot argue with me. We invoke God’s name for purposes that has nothing to do with the nature or character of God.

Acts 19:13-16 NIV

“Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 [One day] the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

• Itinerant Jewish exorcists were common during the time. They especially liked to prey on the superstitious Ephesians. Unfortunately for them, evil cannot cast out evil.

Acts 19:17-20 NIV

“When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.”

We must be faithful with our promises

Matthew 5:33, 37 NIV

"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

False advertising, fake news, Ponzi schemes, endless spin

Our lives are the only Gospel most will ever see.

God trusts us with his reputation.

We must know Jesus personally

Name dropping vs. really knowing someone. There is nothing worse than a name dropper ?

If we want the power from the name of Jesus, we must know Jesus personally.

We cannot borrow someone else’s relationship with God.

Conclusion:

Luke 11:2 NIV

"'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.”