Let's stand together. It's one simple verse but it's
still worthy of our reverence and it's worthy of our
attention. Exodus chapter 20 beginning in
verse 7. 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.
Father, we thank you again for this word.
An ending in Revelation. Blessing upon blessing.
And Lord, we just ask that as we continue in the Ten Commandments
you would continue to reveal to us who you are.
And the blessings that come from your commands for by them, we
have life. And we thank you Lord for Jesus,
who fulfilled the law for us because we could not do it.
But Lord. We also thank you that by the
spirit, you have written them written them on our hearts.
So now we long for them. So Lord, as we with your word,
through your word and in your word, discover this command give
us Clarity from confusion and give us willingness to obey in
Jesus name. We pray, amen.
You may be seated. The first two Commandments of
the Ten Commandments. And as we finish these 10
commandments, you're probably going to hear the same
introduction following up from what we learned last week.
And that's okay because it's going to stick in our brains
that much more, the first two Commandments dealt specifically
with the people. And their complete devotion and
adoration towards God that there were to be no other God.
But this God, the true and living God, the only God and
that they were not to even take this God, if they have decided
to worship Him and try to manipulate him or try to carve
him into their own image or try to remove things of him, that
they might not feel too comfortable with or add
something to him that they might.
Need, concerning their carnal flesh to be fulfilled. and we
are motivated here to understand why these two Commandments are
important because he is what Why is he giving these commands?
It's in the second verse and we talked about extensively.
Why did God give these first two Commandments?
Because he's a jealous, God. He is jealous ferociously,
jealous that he himself wants us for himself complete, adoration
complete devotion, complete sacrifice unto him and him
alone. And that is something that we
can agree with concerning on a human level.
If any of us want to be in any Covenant relationship, we want
Total devotion from that spouse from that person and God wants
nothing less. Now, when we come to the third
commandment, we are still dealing with God's righteous
passion. His fiery Zeal for total
obedience to him is found in verse 1 and 2 and that passion
continues and in this third commandment, but the object of
his passion is not us The first two Commandments, the object of
his passion is you and me, I want you.
I'm jealous for you for the spirit that I've made to dwell
in you. You're mine.
We should be stirred by that but the third commandment, he has a,
he has a righteous deal but it's not for us necessarily and we
can Rejoice that God gives us commands.
And God gives us instructions because he loves us, but there's
something else that motivates God.
What is it? Read it right there.
You shall not take the name of the Lord.
What is he zealous for? What is he jealous for?
What is he passionate about his name?
His name and though he is yes again motivated by love to
sacrifice and to show long-suffering and to even
demonstrate his power. Isn't it wonderful that when you
read Jesus performing Miracles? Oftentimes, it's coupled with
the Revelation that he is compassionate that he did his
miracles because he was a compassionate, he is a
compassionate God but we can never imbalance that Truth by
removing the understanding that he's also jealous for his glory.
So you kind of have these two ideas, concerning how God
relates to, man, you have those that say it's all about his
love, he loves us, he died for us because he loves us.
That's true. But they don't, they don't talk
about the fact that he also wants to glorify himself.
Then you have the other side that's all about God's glory.
Jesus died for his glory. Jesus did this for his glory?
Jesus. All these things she saves for
his glory. He heals for his glory and then
they don't really talk about the love.
Can we just marry the two and just be balanced?
he loves us and he is jealous for us, but he also is jealous
for his name and this commandment has to do exactly
with that name, his name and so, he speaking to those who are
familiar with his name, and what is he trying to say here is
trying to say this, I want you to be careful how you handle my
name. Because based on how you handle
my name will determine how I will receive glory honor and
recognition. How we as his people treat this
name will determine to some degree how God through us will
receive glory to his name. And so we have to really take he
to this, but we're going to realize, I believe more than
anything how God really values his name.
It's probably going to shock us. The extent that God goes to to
make sure that his name is protected concerning its
reputation. So what does he do?
He gives us different titles of his name.
He reveals himself early on an exodus as I am.
I am who I am and the beauty about all of his titles.
And all of these things that he relates to himself is ultimately
a reflection of his character. We have to remember that even
names given to certain Saints in the scriptures and certain
people as we know are given because it reveals something
about either that person's character or that person's
Destiny and it's so much more true for God that his name.
Why? Because when we mention his
name, and when we speak of his name, we would be reminded of a
certain attribute. We would be reminded just by the
mention of his name. We would know that he is Holy
that he has powerful, that he is loving that he is gracious and
forgiving now, if that name is associated with anything, other
than who he truly is, it becomes an assault to his character.
None of us in here would like our name associated. to a
certain circumstance or situation, or even a person,
That is not living righteously or that is not acting.
Holy or a situation that is not honorable.
None of us want to be associate and we have the right to be
frustrated. If somebody does bring our name
into something that it should not be brought into how much
more God, how much more God. And so this commandment has
everything to do with that. Let me read this verse you in
Exodus 916, he says this early on But for this purpose, he's
talking about raising up Pharaoh.
But for this purpose, I've raised you up to show you my
power. Why so?
That my name may be proclaimed in all the Earth.
I want my name to be known throughout the entire world and
I want my name to carry such a reputation that when they hear
my name, they would know my axe. That At The Mention Of My Name,
they would know that I am the god that delivered my people out
of Egypt that split the Red Sea that destroyed all the false
gods of pharaoh and all of his Nation.
Psalms 111 verse 9. This is powerful.
He sent Redemption to his people.
He has commanded his Covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name. Holy and awesome is his name.
So if we really want to get to the center reason for this
command, it's for this. He wants to instill in the minds
of his people. And understanding of his name in
such a way, pay attention that we would be careful how to use
it in our verbal activity. and, We would Revere it when it is
mentioned amongst us. Let me say that again, God
through this command wants to instill in his people.
Such an understanding of his name that we would be careful of
how to use it in our verbal activity and we would Revere him
when it is even mentioned by a whisper This is what he's trying
to do. He says, don't don't take my
name in vain which now we open up to one another.
What does it mean to take God's name in vain?
So songs about like you said, associated with anything that
isn't glorifying him. But at the same time, if you, if
you call yourself, for example, question ourselves, Christian,
we should walk a life that honors God, the same for them,
and they associate themselves with God, they should have to
walk the life that God intends for them.
Or else that through actions taking his name is Randy.
Vein it's smearing his name so we're not just strictly talking
about some lip service here are we is God taking God's name in
vain strictly restricted to how we speak of him or how we live
how we live. And we're going to see that more
than anything. Yes.
So we represent his name. So, how I live must be in line
with the person and the God that I represent.
What are the things involve taking God's name in vain?
Associating things that are not glorifying him.
Absolutely. Yeah.
Using lord's name to push an agenda.
That's not a. Oh yeah.
We see that a lot. Unfortunately, today I'm going
to talk about in a moment to taking his name for the purpose
of advancing an agenda. Yeah.
Oh, we'll get into it, we'll see ya.
We're going to discover in a moment.
Yes, this character that kind of things like so dragging his name
in the dirt, to even associate him or to even say something in
the same sentence that does not honor or glorify who he is.
Absolutely. And that's kind of the common
way. We understand taking God's name
in vain, is that we put his name or we replace his name with
something that is Not wholly, sure.
Any other way we can take God's name in vain.
This is important. So we said some surprisingly,
because people have this narrow view of taking God's name.
In vain is saying that three-letter word phrase when
you receive bad news, or when you're surprised or when you get
startled by something, it's deeper than that.
Yeah, swearing. That's as simple as that when we
use his name as a cuss word, that's the common view.
Absolutely. We shouldn't neglect that
though. That is the main way, there are
many ways. Yes, The way we live
associating, his name to what is not wholly.
Not glorifying his name, cussing, and swearing
absolutely. Advancing a genda.
Yes. Well it would help us to look
into what the word vain means. The Hebrew word for vein is shot
of the root word is she've. And in this sense, it has three
main words that are associated with it.
One of them is worthlessness worthlessness, the other is
false sness rockets sness, and valueless So when we're talking
about something being in vain, it's something that is false is
associated with something that is false, It's associated.
Something that is worthless and valueless, and in the root word,
it even has this idea of Destruction destruction.
So when we look at the original language, God is saying and we
can we can look at it, different ways.
Don't use my name in such a way where you destroy it.
Or don't use my name in such a way that I am related to
something that is false. Don't use my name in a way that
makes it worthless. Don't be so casual with my name.
But it's almost lost its value. And so it has to do with all
these things. And so if we were to kind of
rephrase this command, we can make it as simple as this.
You shall not address God's name casually or represent it
falsely. You shall not address God,
casually or represent it falsely.
Remember that? And this is what he's saying.
It's beyond using my name in the same sentence as a cuss word,
though. That is part of it.
And so I want us to talk about the different ways in which we
can take God's name in vain. Number one, in our speech.
And there's subcategories with that in our speech.
The first way that somebody can take God's name in vain is how
we address his name. How one addresses the name that
is above every other name? What did Jesus say when he
taught his people? How to pray?
When you pray, what does he say? Anybody know the Lord's Prayer?
Pray. Then like this, don't pray this
you can pray it, but we have a whole system now that's built
upon repetition and vain ritualistic addressing to God.
No, pray then like this take the elements of this prayer and
apply it to your own prayer. Life, what is it?
What's the first thing that he says, father?
Who art in heaven, Hallowed? Be Your Name.
Hmm. How low would be your name?
What does that mean? Sacred.
Yes. Glory.
Yes. But what's the address being?
What is it? What is it?
What are we saying? When we say Hallowed be your
name? Holiness to your name.
Yes. Glorifying your name, set apart.
Yes, that's the main part being set apart.
So it's addressing God in this way.
Your name is like no other name. You are lovely.
You Are Holy, you are beyond my understanding, you are great,
and greatly to be praised. And so what Jesus is even
telling us as Believers, how to address God is that we should
address him in such a way. That you would not address
somebody else. How you address?
Someone reveals a lot of how you respect them.
Isn't that true? How you address an individual
reveals much about how you respect them?
Now, no matter what your opinion is of the president, the
president came here to give a speech.
I don't know why you would but if you came here to give a
speech and there was an open Q&A, I don't think well this day
and age, probably nobody would be bold enough to say hey Donald
Or ADT. if you've ever been in court, You know what you have to
say to the judge when you want to address the judge your honor.
Why? Because there are certain people
who have been given a level of authority and their position
carries power and that alone deserves our respect.
There are certain people who have been given Authority and a
position of power and that alone causes us to address them in a
way knowing that they can exercise that Authority.
Now, how much more for the name that is above every other name?
How much more? Are we to address the Holy One?
The one again, who has been given the name above every other
name. You know, what means that he has
authority over all authorities and all the powers of this world
combined. Cannot even come close to the
power that comes from his breath alone.
And this is the one that you and I have access to pray to Which
is amazing because there's a mingling of two realities.
There's this understanding of him being father, but then I
still in the same breath have to say Halloween, be your name.
How do you reconcile that? That's an important question.
How do you and I reconcile the fact that he is father but he's
also King of the universe. How do you reconcile in your
prayer life? How do you understand that in
your walk with the Lord? That he is father.
But he's also King hope so. Yeah, absolutely.
So the same thing you would honor your father so you honor
the Lord and have beer of your father, as well.
I would be something along those lines.
Sure. And I think that's becoming
increasingly difficult because we have a lot of this generation
that is even how to respect our own parents.
That don't even know how to address their own parents.
And if you can't address people that you can see respectfully.
How are you going to address someone?
You can't see respectfully. Sure.
How do you reconcile father? And that if you were to even
meditate upon his Holiness, you would, you would realize that
the ground is not low enough for you to lay prostrate on.
How would you explain it to somebody who comes up to me,
says, you believe, God is like your father, right?
Sure. But you also believe that he's
the god of the entire universe, right?
Sure. How do you reconcile that And I
believe one way to reconcile that, at least in my own mind,
is that when I do understand him as father, the place for me to
come to into revering, him is understanding how I became a
son. When I realized that he's not
just automatically my father, the world is not God's children.
That is a right given to those who believe on his son.
So, when I come to the place of understanding that God is
father. I must also in that same thought
realize that that's not something that came about
automatically and there is something done for me to become
his son and when I realized that that transaction of identity has
come through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that the same one
that I call, Father is the same one that poured out his wrath
upon the son. And on the cross allow them to
experience a pain that is beyond anything that we can even
comprehend for me to be adopted as a son.
In that same thought you will feel the weight of his holiness.
You will and you will realize that though he is Father for him
as king to bring you to that place of having relationship
with him is an astounding thing. That he is just he is Holy, he's
all these things yet. I can still call him father, and
it brings you into that balance of understanding.
How, yes he is King, but he deserves my reverence.
And so that's the beauty of it. How we address him.
And you've heard me say this before, but it's worth
mentioning again. There is, there is a casualty
Towards God in. Even the way we address him.
I remember when I was first saved and we were doing these
group little things where we would come and just have group
discussions after the church service.
And I would hear this is just freshly saved.
I would hear the way. People would address God.
And just, just a new, as a new believer, I would say that just
doesn't sound right. it just doesn't seem appropriate to say
these words or to be so casual, And as you grow in your
knowledge of God, you will realize that.
And if you really meditate upon who he is, even in your prayers,
you will be careful with how you address him.
Even behind pulpits. One thing to observe is to see
how that individual addresses God.
And oftentimes, you see a very flippant cool, relaxed Jesus.
Yet that person does not even realize that that sermon that
they prepared will be brought up at the Judgment seat of Christ
and they will be judged for what they just preached that day.
And so we have to have this understanding of addressing him
rightly Jesus even said, when you pray, say how holy his name
is sanctify his name even in the way you address him.
We do not take the lord's name in vain.
By dressing him wrongly. Not just by how we address him,
but how we apply his name. The first one is how we address
his name the second way in, which one can take the lord's
name in. Vain is how we apply his name.
Leviticus, 19 12 says this. You shall not swear by my name.
Falsely and so profane, the name of your God.
I'm the Lord. You shall not swear by my name
falsely. Now, what does that mean?
Don't take it, don't take an old by God's name.
Is that all it means that's part big.
Part of it. Absolutely.
If you make a promise in both the Lord is like y'all didn't
answer. I need his name.
I promise you this and you don't keep it.
Don't do that. Could you what is it exactly
what he's saying there in your attempt to validate your
statement to be true. When in fact you yourself know
what's false and you bring in the name of God to that
statement, you just took in his name in vain And so when
somebody says, oh I swear to that, I will do this.
And I promise to that, I will perform this and you and your
mind know that you will not. You are associating, God's name
to something like deception and a lie and he wants no part of it
because he's holy And so, he says, don't swear by my name
falsely. I want nothing to do with
falsehood. I want nothing to do with
deception. I want nothing to do with lies.
Keep me out of it. And Jesus Takes it up a notch.
He takes it up a notch. This he not.
Where does he do that? Does anybody know Matthew 5.
Matthew 5 34 to 35. What does he say?
But I say to you, do not take an oath at all.
Why would tells us what we're not supposed to associate with
an oath by heaven for it is the Throne of God.
Or in other words, it's where God dwells Or on Earth for it.
Is his footstool Or by Jerusalem for is the city of the great
king. And then he goes on to say just
let your yes, be yes. And your no be no.
We have to understand this because what Jesus is saying,
here to Believers is absolutely brilliant.
So he's saying here, hey, don't even taken off at all.
Don't try to swear by this or swear by that or swear even on
your own head. Don't But just let your yes.
Be yes. And your no be no.
What is he trying to say? Because it's challenging.
Yes, your bingo. The Lord wants to develop
Believers. That are so honest in their
character and are so consistent in their commitment that when
you just say yes, it's a done deal, it's gonna happen.
And when you say, no, it's no. And what he's trying to say is I
don't want you to try to enhance the truthfulness of your
statement by trying to bring my name into it or you swearing by
something. I want you to be such an honest
person, I want you to be such a woman of your word.
Such a man of your word that when you say you're gonna do
something the person that you said, yes to will not even
question it. Oh, how convicting is that?
Are you a person that if you say yes to something that person can
guarantee he'll do it? Or if that person says no, can
you trust that person? And maybe, you know, somebody
that said yes, to something so many times that if you were to
ask him again, you know, there's a question mark even when you
ask them, hey, are you going to do this?
Yeah. And in your mind, you like,
you're not going to do it. You said, what's a modern way of
looking at it? Well, here's a modern way of
looking at it. Hey, can you do this?
I'll pray about it. And, you know, the person who
just said that, you know that the answer is no.
Yeah, I'll pray about it. And maybe you are going to pray
about it. If that's the case, I'm pray
about it. But if you know in your answer
as that person is saying something to you, you're like
I'll pray about it when the answer is no just say no just be
a man of your word and say I can't I can't.
I love the story about Nathaniel.
That short little story because when he when he encounters,
Jesus, Jesus says something about him, what does he say?
A man in whom there is no deceit.
He was so truthful in his statements, he's at what good
can come out of Nazareth. and so, what you hear is, what you
get Now, don't confuse that with rudeness.
Don't confuse boldness with rudeness.
There's a difference. But there's something about a
heart in which when they say something you know that they're
honest in their statement that there's no fogginess, there's no
Hayes. You're like I don't know, it's
just plain truth and Jesus wants to produce that in his
disciples. He said don't try to be somebody
that says okay I'm going to make this statement more weighty by
associating God's name with it. I'm just going to be a person
that so consistent when I say something people will believe
me. And so how we apply his name.
Now, there are certain circumstances, especially you're
going to hear this and you're going to read through the
Epistles and you're going to see moments or even Paul takes an
oath. There are certain circumstances
and that's beyond the, the teaching.
Now, even in this life, you might have to take an oath in
some circumstances. That's different.
There's a sense here where Jesus saying, don't be flippant and
loose and voluntary would just making Oaths as a habit or
because you want to try to prove your statement to be more true
just being This person build such a reputation that people
will take you for what you say. Just feel the weight of
conviction. Just how powerful our words are
and how jesus takes him. So seriously, Not only how we
apply his name to our statements, to our promises.
But how we speak on behalf of his name.
So we talked about how we address his name, we talked
about how we apply his name. Now it's how we speak on behalf
of his name. Let me read this text from
Jeremiah, you don't return. There was just read it.
He's talking about the false prophets and he says, this and
Jeremiah 20:7 15. I have not sent them declares
the Lord, I have not sent them. But they are prophesying falsely
in my name. The famous.
Three-letter phrase that you here.
I hope not too often, especially if it's not true.
God told me fill in the blank. and there are some people that
say that so frequently, For whatever reason, there are some
people who say certain things and they just want to say, God
told them so that they can just sound more spiritual.
It's like this in. That's not that deep of a
revelation, it's pretty plain but it just because I want to be
more spiritual you know. The Lord told me this really And
to a more serious level, their people.
Who because they want to advance an agenda.
We'll bring in the name of the Lord.
To affect the naive. you know what it says in Romans about
false teachers and says that they affect the naive, it's the
naive that buy into false teaching And you might be
thinking really this stuff happens.
I remember when somebody came up to me, I don't know why they did
this. Maybe they were just trying to
test it who subscribe to a certain person's Ministry.
And they would get newsletters and different things, but this
was like a text message thing and this person showed me a text
message of this man of God. Who said the angel of the Lord,
and the text message, I read it for myself.
The angel of the Lord appeared to me and gave me instructions
for you. Send via text or through PayPal
$50 for me to reveal what the angel of the Lord revealed to
you, you believe that? You and I are sighing and we're
laughing. But here's the thing, people
actually buy into it or else those things wouldn't last and
those people wouldn't be living in those kind of mansions and
driving those kind of cars because people don't read their
Bibles. And don't have it under stairs.
So moved by emotion there. So moved by the supernatural.
That anything that comes they're willing to buy into it because
they do not have the filter of the scriptures before them.
You've heard me say this before and I will say it again.
You can come to such a place in your understanding and the
handling of the sword of the spirit that even if you were to
hear a sermon and you hear some statement being made, you can
recognize when it's true or false because your your mind is
saturated. With the truth.
Where an alarm goes off because you know, the scripture when
somebody declare something contrary to the scripture or
somebody delivers the scriptures, even in an unworthy
manner, you can detect it because you have the wisdom of
God. I fear terribly for those who
casually used God's name to advance a message, or their
Ministry, or the reputation. And I would love to unpack this
more concerning. What do we do with somebody?
Who says, you know, I feel like the Lord is prompted something
on my heart but listen, even if if you if you have that where
the Lord puts something on your heart and you sense that and you
pray about and you seek wisdom on it, we always have to once
again, approach it with caution. Always with caution.
Because what can happen is and what has happened is there a lot
of people who are experiencing this even now that because
somebody has been so flippant with this, God told me and
whatever they told them happens not to be true or happens to be
something that's false effects that person.
To a level that you. And I can't even imagine.
And there are people who have been haunted by years by
statement, being made by somebody who was so arrogant
enough to not even say something in a way where they approach it
with humility. And say, you know, I've been
praying for you and I don't know if this is, this is the Lord or
what, just take this and just bring it before the Lord, but
come with such arrogance because they want to seem bold and they
want to seem profit like and they damaged people.
And they walk with the sense of being haunted by something that
they don't even know if it's true or not.
And so there has to be. Caution around his name and
ultimately more than anything though.
People might be damaged by it and people can be greatly
edified by. Like I said, I want to unpack
this too much. I'm trying to restrain myself.
But ultimately God's name. God's name is involved with
that. The last thing anybody should
want is somebody to be turned off by God because of how
Loosely we use his name. how we address his name, how we apply
his name and how we speak on behalf of his name is crucial to
understanding this third commandment Is there any other
way we can do this? There's an example of this in
scripture being played out and it's tucked in a book that you
wouldn't think is in there and automatically, everybody knows
what book were talking about. It's in First Kings First Kings.
Okay maybe there's something. I don't know about go ahead.
What is it? Where the prophet of God went
and condemned jeroboam and God told him to stay it like don't
eat or drink in Israel and another Prophet came and said
I'm also a prophet of God but you know what?
Listen to me and lie here and rest and when he came out, got
sent a lion too. Devour that profit.
Yeah, that's it. That's First Kings 13, I
believe. And that's a tricky tricky tax
concerning this Prophet that was sent by God and he was told to
not, go back the way he was, he came in and to not stop.
He was supposed to just give his message and go back and then
somebody comes in and tells him otherwise and he believed that
man's word rather than his understanding what God spoke to
me, and it's a whole mess. And that is that is an example.
We can explore the one I had in mind is actually found in the
Book of Leviticus. 24:10 let's turned it together.
Leviticus chapter 24. Verse 10.
Now, an Israelite woman's son, whose father was an Egyptian
Went Out Among the people of Israel.
And the Israelite woman son and a man of Israel fought in the
camp verse 11 and the Israelite woman son, blasphemed the name
and cursed, then they brought him to Moses.
His mother's name was Sheila met.
The daughter of debris of the tribe of Dan and they put him in
custody to the will of the Lord should be.
Your to them, then the Lord spoke to Moses saying, bring out
of the camp, the one who cursed and let all who heard him lay
their hands on his head and let all the congregation Stone him.
Wow. And speak to the people of
Israel saying, whoever curses his God shall bear his sin.
Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to
death. All the congregation shall Stone
him. The Sojourner, as well as the
native. When he blasphemes the name.
He should be put to death. Don't lift up your hand.
Don't respond. How many of us in here,
honestly? Feel Comfort uncomfortable with
that story. How many of us just read that
right now and your thoughts went automatically automatically to
this question. That's a little bit extreme,
isn't it? That's a little bit.
Over-the-top wouldn't you think? But I want to challenge you with
this thought. That we are so saturated in a
culture of Dishonor. We are so surrounded by people
who speak with such vulgarity. And blasphemy in our music in
our movies and our conversations, you can do, you
can be, you can be sitting, I was just in the barbershop just
sitting beside somebody just hearing it was on the phone,
just hearing the vulgarity coming.
Just it just everywhere to the point where we become so
normalized, and it becomes, so, Part of our day that when God
brings the seriousness of taking his name in vain to this story.
All of us are shocked. You know, you understand what
I'm trying to say, God has a different perspective on his
name than most people do today. And because even the people of
God can be subconsciously trained to understand the
normality of cursing and taking his name.
So lightly, when we come to the scriptures and see what God
demands of us, it's almost offensive to us.
It's almost offensive to us. That's not just true for the
third commandment. That's true of any sin here.
Here's evidence for it right now.
Homosexuality is a sin. The Bible declares that
homosexuality is an unnatural desire.
Now, as I'm saying that right now, what's going on in your
heart? Because even among the people of
God, if you were to address a sin, what the scriptures
revealed to be sin. An alarm goes off.
There's a set where you perk up and you go, did he just say
that? Did he just say that?
So bluntly, did he just say that?
Just like that, he should have came in a lot softer than when
he just said? Do you understand what I'm
saying? When the Bible is so clear about
it. And I know there needs to be a
wisdom and there needs to be an understanding of how to address
these things in love. But what I'm trying to say is,
we are trying to remove even the sting of sin because we are
being affected by our culture. So we pillow, even the preaching
of God's word to make sure that nobody's stirred and at nobody's
uncomfortable. When the very poor Commission of
the gospel and of sin is supposed to make you feel
uncomfortable. To bring you to a place of
realizing that God has a different standard and here's a
disservice that we do when we try to remove what God wants to
say. So clearly we bring people to a
place where they think, well, it's not that big of a deal.
It's not that big of a deal. So if the preacher who
represents God doesn't make it a big deal, then maybe it's not
that big of a deal my life. I remember, Sitting in a room
with leaders in a Q&A. And they were interviewing
younger pastors. That were just ordained to be
pastors. And they were giving these
younger people questions, concerning our culture and
everything else. On one of the questions is, how
do we address this problem of homosexuality and the moderator?
As we were discussing, as people were, they were going back and
forth, he wouldn't even call it a sin.
That when it came to addressing it was, there was so much
hesitation, so it was replaced with an unhealthy way of living.
And not the way God designed it. And guess what?
That's because we've allowed our minds to be saturated with what
the culture says, rather than what the word of God says.
I am not an advocate for bashing people, even in their sin
because Jesus didn't do that. Nevertheless, we are not to take
on the perspective of the world concerning sin.
We are to take on what God says about Sin.
So we come to something like this and we go, that's a little
bit extreme. And you know what?
That's okay. I'm not saying it's a sin to
think that But let's understand why this is happening.
Notice with me here, that this is in the Book of Leviticus.
This is something concerning the instructions given to the
people. At the birthing stage of a
Nation. This is not something down the
road. This is in the developmental
stage of them growing as a people.
And God does it in more than one way where he makes it abundantly
clear of what he's expecting from his people.
And we see here that this person blasphemes God, like directly.
So in this fight, with this other Israelite there seems to
be an altercation and this man apparently wants to get at this
person by cursing, his God And there seems to be that in that
truth because his father was an Egyptian, he was part of that
mixed multitude that came up. So maybe his father was in a
Believer and and Yahweh or maybe his father had that practice and
that just affected him as a child.
No matter what angle you look at it.
He tries to curse the name of God and when he does curse, the
name of God, God puts his foot down.
Why? Isn't phraseology.
So easy to mimic. That terms and slangs and words
can so be contagious within a short.
You know, somebody comes in here and they say statement and it
can just spread like wildfire no.
Right? And some of us can give examples
of that or maybe you hang around with somebody so long and you
appreciate that person, subconsciously, you just begin
to develop their phraseology, you began talking like them and
maneuvering like them. Okay, this is what God's doing.
I'm not going to let this person infect the rest.
I'm not gonna let this individual curse my name and so
make that a common thing amongst the others and it become a
habitual normal thing, like it is today and so I'm going to
make a statement. My name is Holy, My name is
Holy. And I'm not going to develop a
people and raise a people that will when they're frustrated
curse. My name like it's nothing.
And so, he makes this bold example, out of this man.
Which I find so fascinating, because you don't even know his
name. look at it with dresses and is interested in how The
Israelite woman's son. The Israelite woman, son, the
Israelite woman's son. Why?
Because if you're not going to honor God's name, God won't even
recognize yours. That's what I believe is
happening, right there. Does he want to give him the
name and wants to just show? My name must be revered.
Because when you assault my name you assault my character, you
assault my reputation. For there is no other name.
Given among men under Heaven given among men by which we must
be saved. It is the access through the
name of Jesus that we can come to God In Prayer.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower, right?
Is it? No wonder that.
Satan the prince of the power of the air has made the name of
Jesus. Presented with such blasphemy
filth and Venom. So that when that name is
presented and when that name is heard, it would be defiled
because it's associated with so much junk in this world.
Do you see that Satan is is literally attempting to assault
his name so that when you hear his name you wouldn't think
about the power that he has. You want to think about his
salvation, you want to think about his goodness, it would
just be something that you expressed some frustration.
It would be something that you say, because you Just express
yourself that way, becomes something.
Casual The devil knows what can happen when people understand
the name of Jesus rightly. So he wants to try to Mar it,
drag it in the dirt defile, it and God is fighting for the
glory of his name. and we, as people have to honor that He
says, here through this. It's not a light thing, but we
talked up to this point and we're almost done here.
We talked up to this point about how the lord's name in vain is
something that's done through speech.
But we have to understand. That you and I could be a people
that are squeaky clean and not taking the lord's name in vain
that we don't address it falsely that we address it with
Holiness, all those things. And all of those things can be
absolutely pointless and Effectiveness based on another
thing. And what's that?
The way we live The way we live. I'm going to read something to
you in Romans, Chapter 2. You can turn there if you want.
Romans chapter 2 verse 21, While You Preach against stealing,
the, you steal is talking to the Jews.
You, who say that? One, must not commit adultery.
Do you commit adultery? YooHoo abour.
Hide Idols do you rub temples you who boast in the law
dishonor, God by breaking the law for, as it is written, the
name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles, because of you.
Right there. He's addressing the Jews for
living as hypocrites. And they're hypocritical living
is bringing blasphemy to God's name to the onlookers of
supposedly. The people of God, he's saying
you Jews are saying how your righteous and you have a law and
you're not living according to law and the Gentiles around are
looking in and they're saying, wait a minute but you're living
contrary to what you're preaching.
And look at this, we think that This only affects us know, God's
name is violated in that. Do you see the depths of the
dangers of hypocrisy? No wonder.
Jesus came on the scene and the harshest Tony had was concerning
hypocrites. Not towards the prostitute.
Not towards the adulterer, not towards the tax collector.
The ones that had this portrayal of righteousness and Jesus says,
listen, you're Hypocrites, you have greed in.
You you're filled with dead men's bones, you clean the
outside of the cup. But inside the cup, it's filthy,
you take God's word and you were Masters at twisting it for your
own gain. You don't honor your parents.
You say that you're taking this money for the temple when you
have to honor your parents and providing for them in there.
Old age and he addresses these things through and through and
it's no different for us. The any inconsistency in our
lives, because we represent the name of Jesus Christ, anything
in our lives. That's inconsistent with his
character or his lordship over. Our lives is an extension and a
very weighty way of taking the lord's name in vain And so, it's
beyond the tongue. It's in our character.
It's in our responses is in the way we just live.
If you have the King James version, this is a great
Advantage. But even in different
translations, that has the same understanding, Proverbs Chapter
30 verse 8, Paul, can you read verse 8, 2 verse 9?
Please give me neither poverty, nor riches feed me with food,
convenient? For me lest I be full of denied.
Me and say, who is the Lord, unless I've imported steel and
take the name of my God. Dang.
So we know this wonderful prayer.
We're agar says, what he goes. Lord, I'm going to pray this
way. I'm not going to pray that I
would be Filthy Rich, so that I would just abandon you and my
walk with you because I'm just becoming so materialistic and
driven by the things of this world.
But Lord, I'm praying that I would not even be poor as well.
Why less? I in my poverty begin to steal
and when I steal bring your name in vain And he is fee is says,
or profane your name? It's not based on what he's
saying, is based on how he's living Based on his dishonesty
based on the secret, the secrecy of his life of taking something
that does not belong to him. And all that is an assault to
the person that we represent. so he says here that it goes beyond
speech, it goes into the way, we deal with one another, the way,
the deal with finances, the way we deal with situations and
circumstances that in it all, take this to your heart in it,
all God's reputation is being demonstrated through your life
and so it's this constant awareness by the power of the
Holy Spirit. And through the meditation of
his word day and night that I would realize that I'm not
representing myself, but I've been bought with a price.
I've been bought with a price and so in all my dealings,
ultimately the name of God, the name of my savior.
It's written on my forehead. and when people see in me,
ultimately Testify the one I serve, now, It's understandable.
Yes, we make mistakes and all those things, but this is for
the ones that feel like they can live in hypocrisy and I God will
not hold him Guiltless. He will And this is why God is
once again hammering in the New Testament against this idea of
living one way professing to know God Titus 1:16 by denying
them by their works, it can't it can't work.
Does anybody know the root word for hypocrite?
That's good acting, right? Yes.
Well, it's it has to do with acting.
Yes. So, in ancient times when it
came to acting, resources were not like what we have today.
And so what would people do an actor would come up?
And he would take a mask and we place it on his face and he
would act as a certain character.
But once again, because of resources or even just because
of the genre, the play that person would take off the mask
put on a another mask. And play as another character.
That's where that word comes from.
That's exactly what hypocrisy is.
It's displaying you yourself one way but in a moment you can
switch and become something else.
All it takes is you stepping into work.
Your somebody else all. It takes you stepping into
church or someone else. All it takes is you stepping
into home and who you were in church?
Hallelujah. Praise God.
Arms High. Preying on your knees weeping
and prayer. You step into home.
You're a different person that's hypocrisy.
That's hypocrisy and that is greatly connected to God's name
being represented. So here we sit with this
commandment. Knowing that, yes, Jesus
fulfilled it for us and there was no deceit found in his
mouth, it was no deceit. Found in the mouth of Jesus and
his even his speech was transferred to our account in
righteousness. So that when we stand before,
God, you have never taken the lord's name in vain.
But because, as Believers, we are called to be holy as he is
Holy in. This law is written on our
hearts. Can you imagine I hope you feel
the weight of this. That not only in my speech.
Can I take his name in vain? But in my actions, I can take
his name in vain. What is that supposed to produce
in you and me especially in light of James 3.
What is James 3 talk about? Yeah, who can control this
tongue? Nobody's able to control this
tongue. Except one person.
Jesus. So it brings us to this place.
God Almighty, I need your help. I need you.
Lord help me be aware that in every moment of my day.
I'm representing you. People know that I'm a Christian
people know that I've committed myself to the local church.
People know that I've given my life to the lordship of Jesus
Christ and they're watching me help me.
Be consistent, help me know that in all my dealings with her
privately or secretly your name. You reputation who you are.
Displayed through me. Is that hand?
And we go back to Exodus 20. verse 7 and he says something
concerning Those who do not take this command.
Seriously, he says what? For the Lord will not hold him
Guiltless. Who takes his name in vain.
there are two ways that looking at that, we have to understand
that God is able to bring about retribution, to those who take
his name in vain, in this life, There's that famous story of the
Titanic that you probably heard that you not.
People are debating whether it was the captain or one of the
workers of the ship who said this statement.
But before this, this ship was launched.
The Titanic somebody made this bold, Proclamation, not even God
himself can sink this ship. And we know what happened there.
And you can even hear different stories concerning even
biblically. We see.
Leviticus 20 forward. God, can't step in for the sake
of the honor of his name. In his wisdom knowing that this
would bring glory to him. He will bring that person to
guilt and condemnation because of taking his name lately.
But there is one thing for certain concerning, those who
take his name in vain, That there is a time in which he will
judge every man. What did Jesus say in Matthew
12, verse 36, I tell you on the day of judgment, people will
give account for every careless word, they speak.
Every careless word that has been spoken, has been recorded
in heaven. And secret one-on-one alone and
public behind the pulpit. Every word will be taken into
account. Even the ones that were just
loose with. And that to me, brings much
comfort. You probably looking me like,
are you serious? I don't even remember what I
said. 10 minutes ago. Now, I'll tell you why.
It brings me much joy. because when I'm in a room and people
use the name of Jesus, so carelessly Or perhaps you're
watching something. And innocently.
Not knowing somebody goes on and just trashes the name of Jesus.
Or the celebrities that come and speak of their success in bold
leave. And say, I remember when I heard
one person said this will boldly and one of the awards show said
I'm not thanking Jesus for this. Because so many people are in
the habit of doing so. Every politician.
Every false teacher, every great leader throughout the ages.
All of those who have taken that precious, holy righteous name
and if attempted to squander it and to defile it and to pull it
out of the hearts of people as something to be treasured, every
single, one of them will declare with their mouths that he is
Lord and they will give an account and they will realize
how foolish they were for declaring his name to be solo.
And To squash it and try to put it in the dirt, they will
realize they made a great mistake when they stand before
him. And they will realize that he is
the name above every other name. So, that brings us to this place
to say Lord, while people want to ruin that name.
When people want to take that name and Associate it with so
much filth and garbage and wickedness may, I represent it.
Well, May I speak to you about you in the fear of you help me,
understand the wonderful balance that you Lord.
Our Father by your also King. And Lord.
More importantly though it is important made my life
demonstrate the consistency of the fact that you are the Lord
of all. And let the world do what it
wants to do. One day, they will pay for it.
One day, Jesus is name, will be exalted in the Earth, right?
Be still and know that I am God I will be exalted in Nations.
He says that and we can take joy in that the third commandment
deals with God's desire and passion for his name.
May we have that same passion Let's pray.
Lord, we say tonight. How beautiful is your name?
That Lord, At The Mention Of The Name of Jesus.
Even a whisper can bring so much peace.
Can offer so much hope. And is the name by which we are
saved. Teachers that a whole bad name.
Teach us how to meditate on that name.
Teach us how to Faithfully Proclaim your name.
Lord, may we be, we be brought to a place where even the
mention of your name Stills are spheres.
Sanctifies our thoughts. And brings us to a place of holy
reverence to you. And father, we address you and
say how do it be your name. There is none like you.
You are set apart. You are transcended.
There is none like you and God, we recognize your name as such.
And father we ask by the power of your spirit.
That you would teach us how to speak and live in a way that
brings honor to the name that we represent.
And Lord, if there is any inconsistencies in our life.
That would make others that are looking at us.
To question the god that we serve, forgive us and Lord, by
your spirit, from head to toe, bring us to a place.
Where people would want to know the name that we live for God.
We need your help in all these things.
We thank you that in Jesus. They are fulfilled and they've
been transferred to our account. But Lord, in living this life
representing you. We not only say that you are the
only god of Our Lives. We not only say that we will not
make you into something that fits our idea of who you should
be a wee in the third. Commandment say help us help us
treasure and value and uphold the name of Jesus help us And
more soft in our hearts to such a degree again.
We ask that the name of Jesus would never lose its charm.
That it would do something to our faith.
And that would bring us to a place of wanting to even rejoice
and worship you. And so, Lord even tonight.
We sanctify your name. We bless your name.
And what we sing to you. In response to the Glorious
name. In your name, we pray.