Sermon Central
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Holy Is His Name (Part 2) Series
Contributed by Mark Lewis on Sep 20, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: Part 4 in a series on the Lord’s Prayer
HOLY IS HIS NAME (Part 2)
INTRO. – God’s name signifies more than titles. It represents all that He is—His character, plan, and will. It is not because we simply know God’s titles that we love and trust Him, but because we know His character. Invoking His name reminds us of His character.
A name is powerful. Say a name and you automatically think of something about the character of the person associated with that name.
On page 51 in our hymnal is a song titled "Holy, Holy, Holy." I have sung that song many times not fully understanding the meaning of the word holy.
Last week we considered three truths about the holiness of God:
I. THE MEANING OF THE HOLINESS OF GOD
For many of us the holiness of God relates to the sinlessness of God. The holiness of God is that which makes God different than, anything or anyone else.
II. THE HOLINESS OF GOD
The foundation to understanding the holiness of God is to know the difference between the holy and the profane. I gave an example of the difference.
Ezekiel 22:26 says, "Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them."
The priest had taken the things that God intended to be different and distinct and had made them common or ordinary.
III. THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD’S HOLINESS (2 Kings 19:10-37)
I want to pick up where we left off and consider:
IV. THE HOLINESS OF PLACES WHERE GOD IS
A. Every place that God has been is holy because God has been there.
B. Allow me to give you several examples:
1. Heaven is holy because that is God’s special dwelling place.
a. 2 Chronicles 30:27 says, "Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven."
2. The ground around the burning bush where God met Moses was holy because God was uniquely present with Moses.
a. Exodus 3:4-5 says, "And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."
3. The tabernacle in the wilderness was holy because this was God’s unique dwelling place.
a. Exodus 25:8 says, "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them."
4. The city of Jerusalem was holy because that was the one city where God dwelt or lived in a special sense and that made it unique and different.
a. Isaiah 52:1 says, "Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean."
5. Mt. Zion, the mountain on which Jerusalem is located is holy because that is the unique mountain where God dwelt for many years of history.
a. Isaiah 27:13 says, "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem."
6. The land of Israel is holy because it is the one place that God has chosen to dwell on planet earth.
a. Zechariah 2:12 says, "And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again."
7. God’s throne is holy because he is uniquely present on his throne.
a. Psalms 11:4 says, "The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men."
V. THE HOLINESS OF THINGS OWNED BY GOD
A. Everything God owns is distinct and different because God owns it.
B. Allow me to give you several examples:
1. God’s covenant with Abraham is holy because God made it and established it with Abraham.
a. Genesis 15; Genesis 17:1-22; Galatians 4:22-31
2. The people of Israel were holy because God owned them. God repeatedly called them his people.
a. Exodus 10:3 says, "And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me."
