The Respect of God's Name

• “Jehovah” was the most respected name of God in the Old Testament. When scribes were copying the Scriptures and came to this name, they would change their clothes and find a new pen and fresh ink to write the name. The Names of Jesus, Elmer Towns
• Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:9-11)
• No one is like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. (Jer 10:6)
• The Name of God is Who God is – He is “I AM THAT I AM” Exodus 3:14

The 3rd Commandment

• You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name (Exo 20:7)
• "We must fear and love God, so that we will not use His name to curse, to swear, cast a spell, lie or deceive, but will use it to call upon Him, pray to Him, praise Him and thank Him in all times of trouble." – Luther’s Smaller Catechism
• Shouldn’t God be treated with the Highest Respect?
• The Love of God and Fear of the Lord are the key – by the Filling of the Holy Spirit

The Heart: the source of our words

• The 3rd commandment guides us in how we speak about God
• We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. (James 3:2)
• For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt 12:31-37)
• Our tongue reveals our heart, and our heart contains our attitude toward God
• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Pro 1:7)
• Our words reveal our casual attitude toward the Great God of the Universe
• God holds us accountable for everything we say
• Our heart (sin) is the source of the misuse of God’s name

A Proper Heart Guards Against Improper Use

• How often we misuse God’s name without thinking or realizing we have sinned!
• Swearing, Profanity
• Oaths (lying or breaking promises made to God)
• Carelessly or lightly using His name
• Hypocrisy (making profession of God’s name, but not living up to that profession) Wesley’s Commentary
• "Every prayer, mention, etc. that is not accompanied with deep reverence and the genuine spirit of piety, is here condemned also." - Adam Clarke’s Commentary
• Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, who sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and whose spirit is no deceit. (Psalm 32:1,2)

A Proper Heart to use His Name

• Change your HEART!!!
• To be saved
• Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
• To find safety – The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. (Pro 18:10)
• To pray – Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. (Matt 6:9)
• To ask – Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. (John 16:24)

A Proper Heart

• Celebrates – I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. (Ps 145:1-3)
• Speaks in the Spirit – Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:18-20)
• Is truthful (mean what you say, say what you mean) – Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matt 5:33-37)

Proper Use Brings Blessing

• One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer – at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
• Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
• Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. (Acts 3:1-10)

Over 700 names of God can be found in Scripture - examples

Jesus, Lamb of God, The Rose of Sharon, The Lord God of my Salvation, Savior, Wonderful, The Messiah, The Bright and Morning Star, A Faithful God, The Word of God, Counselor, The Living God, Emmanuel, The Desire of All Nations, The Branch, The Alpha and Omega, A Priest Forever, The Bread of Life, The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, The Beginning, The Lord My Strength, The Lord of our Battles, The Lord our Provider, The Lord our Righteousness, The Most High God

Use them to know God better and deepen your relationship with Him…

Study Notes

Not only was the name of God respected by the scribes, but also speaking the name of God, YAHWEH. They refused to even pronounce the name, and when they read the scriptures they substituted for it the title Adonai (the Lord).

Read Exodus3v1-15

• Why did Moses ask God for his name?
• What did God tell him?
• How many titles of God can you find in this passage?
• What names of God do you know? How do you use them? (In devotion, prayer, adoration, confession, thanksgiving, etc.)

The 3rd Commandment

• When and where do people misuse God's name?
• During moments of frustration, anger, passion…
• To appeal to a higher authority for truth…
• Circumstances don't go our way
• The heart is the source of these thoughts. Read Jeremiah 17v9-10… all of us are guilty at some point or other.

The law is intended to reveal our sin and show we cannot 100% keep the law to be righteous. Romans 3v20. We need to be saved by faith.

Thanks be to God for his Son Jesus to cleanse us when we fall!!
1 John 1v5-10; 1 John 4v7-21

Power in the name of God – read Luke 10v17-24

• The disciples report that even demons are subject unto believers through Jesus' name.
• Jesus tells them what they should really rejoice about. What is ti and why?

Application – Words, Worship & Walk

• Use your tongue to speak good things: Ephesians 4v29-32
• Draw nigh to God in worship, prayer, praise: Psalm 145
• Ask the Holy Spirit to
  1. sensitize you to pleasing him
  2. make you aware of anything in your heart that offends God
  3. give you grace to grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ