1. Importance of a Name
Shakespeare asked “What’s in a name” a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Many people, like Shakespeare, would say that a name is not important; however, the importance of a name is paramount. In the Bible the name of a person described their character and literally set the tone for their life. In Genesis35:18 Rachel, the wife of Jacob, travailed and had hard labor giving birth to the youngest son of Jacob. Rachel was in so much pain and her labor was so bad that she died giving birth, but with her last breath she called the name of this child “Benoni”, which means the son of my sorrow or son of my pain. Can you imagine going through life with the name sorrow or pain, being teased by the kids as the son that caused the death of his mother. Jacob said no his name will not be Benoni, but he will be called “Benjamin”, which means the son of my right hand.
2. Names are important. They tell us where you came from and they represent where and who you are. It is said that a person is only as good as their name. A good name is more desirable than great riches. Proverbs 22.1
3. Best sound to our ear is our name – frustrations when names are mispronounced or misspelled
• “Terry” – “Barry”
• Green
• Linda Greene and Linda Perry
4. Hallowing God’s Name – Matthew 6.9b
a. Hallow/Sanctify = to make holy/set apart for God’s purposes
b. As Implements in the Tabernacle/Temple
c. Fire – Nadab and Abihu used the wrong, common fire instead of the “holy” fire and were consumed by the fire of God
d. Priests’ Clothes (High Priest, especially)
e. People of God -- 5 Now therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” Exodus 19.5-6
I. Proclaim the Name of God
Apparently more than 10 million people a day check out eBay, that online auction website where you can buy anything from a broken laser pointer (the first eBay item ever offered for sale) to a jet (the most costly item purchased on eBay). If you’re not among the 10 million shoppers on eBay, is it because you’re worried about getting ripped off? How can you really be certain that you’re going to receive the item you paid for? When you buy something at a store you can handle the merchandise before purchasing it and immediately take it home with you after you’ve handed over your hard-earned cash. Veteran shoppers will tell you that before purchasing something off of eBay you’ll want to check out the seller’s feedback profile. If the merchant in question has ripped off others, there should be a record of it causing you to pause before you hit the “buy now” button.
Putting your faith in the God of the Bible is a little like purchasing something on eBay. You don’t get to “handle” eternal life before buying into it. We simply have God’s word that putting our faith in Jesus will one day lead to an eternal life of happiness.
We say, “Show me and I will believe.” God says, “Believe and I will show you.” He lives up to his name.
This is all an exercise of FAITH and Faithfulness!!
A. Fear of Profaning (Making Common) the Name – 22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. 23 And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them; and the nations will know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. Ezekiel 36.22-23
1. Israel stopped using the name of God for fear of misusing it – substituted “LORD” etc. for it
2. Only High Priest used the name on the Day of Atonement
3. Reality meant in connection with false vow – “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. Exodus 20.7
4. Prior to the ban, the name was used in blessings, prayers, praises and greetings (And behold, Bo′az came from Bethlehem; and he said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered, “The LORD bless you.” Ruth 2.4)
B. Proper Declaration of the Name
1. Indication of His Authority
2. His name is for Israel and the world – 43 hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name. 1 Kings 8.43
3. Brings a promise to the nations – And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ even as they taught my people to swear by Ba′al, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people. Jeremiah 12.16
a. Proper use of the Name
b. Rewarded with in-grafting –
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the richness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 You will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even the others, if they do not persist in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree. Romans 11.17-24
4. Brings Promises Salvation – And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Acts 2.21 (Joel 2.32)/Acts 22.16
C. Proclamation in Names
1. YHWH is contained in over 200 Hebrew names
• Jehoshaphat – YHWH Judges
• Jehoram – YHWH is Exalted
• Jonathan – YHWH Gives
• Jehoida – YHWH Knows
2. A Key Name Change
• Hoshea (He Saves) to Yehoshua (Joshua) – YHWH Saves
• And Moses called Hoshe′a the son of Nun Joshua. Numbers 13.16b
3. A Key Name – Yeshua (adapted from Joshua) – She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, [which means ‘ADONAI saves,’] because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1.21 (CJB)
a. Yeshua’s (Jesus’) brother – Joseph – May YHWH Add
b. Yeshua’s (Jesus’) disciple John – YHWH Favors (Disciple whom Jesus loved)
II. Praise the Name of God
A. His Name Is Worthy of Praise
1. Worthy of Praise Forever (Angels in Isaiah 6)
2. Worthy of Praise Daily
3. Worthy of Praise by All (every knee)
B. Psalms An Example of Praise (Tehillim – Praises)
I will praise you to the heights, my God, the king;
I will bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you;
I will praise your name forever and ever.
My mouth will proclaim the praise of ADONAI;
all people will bless his holy name forever and ever. Psalm 145.1-2, 21 (CJB)
1. Observation on Hallelujah – Praise Yah (Praise the LORD!)
2. Eternally – After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder peals, crying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Revelation 19.1, 4, 6
[When the Apollo 11 crew went to the moon on 7.21.69, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin went to the surface while Michael Collins stayed in the command module in a low orbit. When the two returned to the ship, Houston ground control acknowledged their safe return. Collins said, “Hallelujah.” He praised YHWH from on high.
III. Practice in the Name of God
A. When we Pray, “Hallowed be thy name”
1. There is an element of worship
2. There is a request to aid our actions
B. Our Actions Hallow or Tarnish the Name of God
31 “So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the LORD. 32 And you shall not profane my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel. I am the LORD who sanctifies you, Leviticus 22.31-32
[Crusades Tarnished Yeshua to the Jewish people – judge a rabbi by his disciples
C. Our Actions are to be Pure
“As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord GOD: Go serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols. Ezekiel 20.39
1. Not to be Mechanical or legalistic
2. Can’t seek blood atonement and live unrepentant, sinful lifestyle
3. Faith + Actions (not either/or) – James 2.17; Matthew 5.16
1. MY NAME IS “I AM”
I was regretting the past and fearing the future. Suddenly my Lord was speaking: “My name is “I AM.” He paused. I waited.
He continued, “When you live in the past with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not ‘I WAS.’
When you live in the future with its problems and fears, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not ‘I WILL BE.’
When you live in this moment it is not hard; I am there! My name is ‘I AM!’
2. God is present with us and empowers us to live in ways that will honor/hallow/sanctify/ his name
