Building Block 3

“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 NKJ)

• The Hebrew translation of the word vain means to misuse, to profanely use, to blaspheme, to mistreat, to misrepresent, to use in a morally disrespectful way.

“You must not MISUSE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. (Exodus 20:7 NLT)

Why is God so insistent about not misusing His name?

#1 HIS NAME IS TO BE REVERED
• To Revere means to bow down in awe and in honor.
• In Exodus 3 God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush. His presence was there.

“Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5 NKJ)

• The ground was holy because the presence of the Lord was there!
• The act of removing his sandals was an act of reverence.
• Moses asked God this question: What is your name? God responded:

“I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3: 14 NKJ)

• Y-H-V-H
• Hebrew: YOD-HEY-VAV-HEY
• In the 13th Century, Bible scholars translated this into YeHoVaH and YaHVeH
• Jehovah and Yahweh: I AM, I WAS, AND I WILL BE.
Reverence from both his presence and his name.
God’s name was based on who He is. Our relationship with Him is based on that reverence!

Jesus taught us that same reverence of God’s name in the Lord’s prayer?

“Our Father in heaven, HALLOWED be Your name” (Matthew 6: 9 NKJ)

• Hallowed: holy, set apart.
• His name should be set apart from any other names.

#2 HIS NAME AND HIM ARE ONE

• God’s name is who He is. His name defines: His character. His attributes. Himself.
• Misusing His name we are also means misusing His character, His attributes.

THE NAME OF THE LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10 NKJ)

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but WE TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD our God. (Psalm 20:7 NIV)

For “whoever CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD shall be SAVED.” (Romans 10:13 NKJ)

#3: HIS NAME IS TO BE CARRIED

“You shall not TAKE the name of the LORD your God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7 NKJ)

• Take means to lift up and carry.
• What God is saying here: Don’t profanely carry my name wherever you go!
• They profaned the name of the Lord not with their mouths but in their hearts, with the way they lived their lives.

When they came to the nations, WHEREVER THEY WENT, they PROFANED MY HOLY NAME. (Ezekiel 36:20 NKJ)

• The word profane means to treat as common. Same root word for profanity.
• Profanity does not only apply in speech but also in conduct.

Could that be a reflection of our society or even our country today?
• We carry the Name, the label “Christian” but we don’t display the lifestyle.
• It would be misusing His name. It would be using His name in vain.

For “THE NAME OF GOD is blasphemed among the Gentiles (unbelievers) because of you,” (Romans 2:24 NKJ)

• To blaspheme also means to reject.
• Unbelievers would reject the name of the Lord because of the way we carry His name through our actions.

Are we guilty there?
• When we repent and turn from old ways, righteousness is available to you!

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NKJ)

• You are received by Him as righteous!

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who BELIEVE IN HIS NAME. (John 1:12 NKJ)

CONCLUSION:
What is the holy spirit saying to you through this message?