The Name of the Lord
God is serious about His name. How and when we use is name is very important. Today in our discipleship series we are using the model prayer our Lord taught us to pray to teach our lesson on prayer. It begins with these words: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). The third commandment is: “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” (Exodus 20:7). God does not want insincerity ever associated with His name. Whatever we do in His name is to be honest, upright and wholesome. The very mention of His name should bring these qualities out in our lives as Colossians 3:17 points out: “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.”
Today I want us to follow the good advice of the Psalmist, who said, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:2). Since we are never to use His name in vain, how, then, should we use His holy name?
I. We use His name to enter Christianity.
The day we got saved we used His name. “I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD” (Psalm 116:13). “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
If someone belongs to a monarchy, they refer to their king or queen as “His or Her Majesty.” They arrest the attention of their regent by calling upon them with respect. As a rule, the first prayer God hears and answers is the “sinner’s prayer” (Luke 18:13).
II. We receive answers to prayer in His name.
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13,14). “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16). As we align our will with God’s will, our desires sync with His and we are asking for things according to His will and heart (Psalm 37:4, 5).
Once Alexander the Great discovered a young man not acting with valor. The conqueror asked him for his name. He replied, “Alexander, Sir.” His ruler grabbed him by his breastplate, lifted him off the ground and demanded, “Young man, either change your name or change your ways!” This serves as a good reminder to us, who call ourselves Christians, to always honor His name by praying according to the holy name.
III. We use God’s name to individually adore Him.
“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15). “Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name” (Psalm 63:4). Praising the name of the Lord brings us into the manifested presence of God. By His mercy we have captured His Divine attention when we evoke His name with honor!
IV. We use God’s name to corporately worship Him.
“I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee” (Psalm 22:22). The author of Hebrews reminds us again what Jesus had said during His earthly ministry: “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee” (Hebrews 2:12).
One gifted composer and professor of music in the latter part of the twentieth century (Dr. Frank Garlock) remarked, “Much of the music (in our churches) of our past sang of the faithfulness of God, whereas much of the music of today sings of the faithfulness of man.” This, I must agree, is all too often true. How desperately important it is to lift up God’s name with His glory in mind when we come together to worship Him. Revival thrives in the presence of God’s people who appropriately give praise to His name. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
V. We render service in His name.
“And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me” (Matthew 18:5). “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward” (Mark 9:41). “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Colossians 3:17). Oh, that we would always do what we do for and unto Jesus! Our service will move beyond the point of mediocrity to productivity when this is done.
VI. To use God’s name is to summon His authority.
A good example of an ancient king who used his name to evoke power was King David: “And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name” (I Samuel 25:5). Keeping that in mind, observe these words: “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:8). “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10).
When we go to the New Testament, we see these powerful verses: “But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me” (Mark 9:39). “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17). By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus (Acts 4:30). In God’s name miracles are performed! “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6).
VII. We are recipients of joy through His name.
“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24). Show me a joyful person and I will show you a person who operates in the authority of Christ’s name. Therefore, “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3). “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).
One day all will give homage to His name, for the Scriptures say: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” (Philippians 2:10). Let us now begin to glorify, laud and bring honor to Him whose name is above every name. There are many different names than ones I am listing, but to help get you started in praising the name of Christ you will discover He is Advocate (I John 2:1). He is The Bright and Morning Star (Rev. 22:16). He is Christ (Matt. 16:16). He is The Door (John 10:9). He is The Everlasting Father (Is. 9:6). He is The Firstfruits (I Cor. 15:20). He is God (Heb. 1:8). He is Head of the Church (Eph. 5:23). He is Immortal (I Tim. 1:17). He is Jesus (Matt. 1:21). He is King of Kings (Rev. 19:16). He is Lamb of God (John 1:29). He is The Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5). He is The Life (John 14:6). He is Master (John 13:13). He is Mediator (I Tim. 2:5). He is Nazarene (Matt. 2:23). He is The Passover (I Cor. 5:7). He is Priest (Heb. 4:15). He is The Propitiation (I John. 2:2). He is Rabboni (John. 20:16). He is Shield (Ps. 3:3). He is The Truth (John 14:6). He is The Testator (Heb. 9:16). He is The Witness (Rev. 1:5). He is The Word (John 1:1). He is The Way (John 14:6). He is Wonderful (Is. 9:6).
“Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 150:6).
- Pastor Pope -