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Text: Matthew 6:9-15
Blessings Church!
This week I have received more feedback than ever concerning this new study we have entered into – namely the Disciples Prayer, comely called the Lord’s Prayer (please refer to last week’s blog concerning this name change).
Today we come to the second principle of the Disciples Prayer, which is the phrase found in verse 9b,
“Hallowed be Your name.”
This text was originally written in Koine Greek, also known as the Alexandrian dialect – which was the “common” spoken and written language during the Hellenistic period – the early Roman and the Byzantine Empire. With that being stated, the New Testament was written in the common language of the day, which was Koine Greek.
As we come to verse 9b, our English text reads, “Hallowed be Your name” (ESV) – yours may differ depending on what translation you use, but the Greek text reads concerning this phrase,
“Let your name be kept holy,” or, “Let your name be treated with reverence.”
This statement about our Father’s name tells us much about His character – and who He is. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 9:10,
“Those who know your name put their trust in You.”
In Exodus 34, Moses on Mount Sinai “called upon the name of the Lord,” and God passed by in front of him and proclaimed,
“The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin” (Ex. 34:5-7).
I’m so concerned today about how we, Christ’s Church, view and approach our Father. A few years ago, I was teaching a class on “Who God Is,” which dealt mainly with the attributes of God and His very character – the response was amazing from the students. For two hours, they were spellbound on this topic of who God was. The church today has watered down the topic of God. Easy believism has crept in - God being nothing more than a fountain of blessing and financial security for those who have faith and believe, and of course, send in a donation to the false teacher spewing these lies. For a few minutes, I want to teach you from Scripture who exactly God is, which will help us understand the statement “Hallowed be Your name.”
Let’s start our study with I Chronicles 29:11, which says,
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head overall.”
I challenge all of you to memorize this powerful verse this week – and text me telling me that you have accomplished this challenge.
I want to give you more powerful verses concerning our Father, not much comment needed because the verses speak for themselves.
Psalm 89:7-18
“Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around Him? O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you? You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. The north and the south, you have created them; You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You. Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of Your face, WHO EXULT IN YOUR NAME ALL THE DAY, and in your righteousness are exalted. For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted. For our shield belongs to the Lord, our King to the Holy One of Israel.”
Isaiah 43:10-11
“You are My witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord.”
Isaiah 42:8
“I am the Lord; that is MY NAME; My glory I give to no other.”
God is Holy! Exodus 15:11 says:
“Who is like You, Majestic in Holiness?”
Psalm 99:9
“Worship at His Holy hill, for Holy is the Lord our God.”
Isaiah 46:9-10 speaks of the Sovereignty of God:
“I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, “My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.”
Isaiah 45:23
“I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.”
God is eternal according to Isaiah 44:6:
“I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.”
Isaiah 43:13
“Even from eternity I am He.”
God is Omnipotence, Jeremiah 32:17 says,
“Ah Lord God! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.”
Revelation 19:6
“For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.”
So, God is Holy, Sovereign, Righteous, Just, Eternal, Immutable (never changes), Omniscience (all-knowing), Omnipresent (God is present everywhere), Omnipotence (all-powerful). He’s also a God of love and mercy – all of which is implied in His very name.
Now, let’s go back to our study at hand. Jesus told His Disciples that when they pray, they should call God their “Father, in heaven,” and recognize who He is by stating, “Hallowed be your name.” Yes, God the Father is a loving God who is Merciful. Yes, our Father is compassionate and forgiving – AMEN!!! But Jesus reminded His Disciples that when they enter into prayer with the Father, they need to remember that they just stepped into the presence of the Lord God Almighty, who’s very name should remind us of who He is!
Again, Scripture must speak to all of us when we read and study it. Today I walk away with a few principles of truth that I must incorporate into my prayer life taken from this powerful phrase “Hallowed by your name.”
Slow down Turbo!
I confess, too often I approach the throne of God like a turbo-charged Charger. Yes, because of Christ, I “have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him” (Ephesians 3:12), but we (I) would do good by slowing down and recognize whose very presence I am about to enter into. I will pause and ponder His greatness and power. I will thank Him for all things that He has created and the blessings He has extended to me. I will thank Him for His love and mercy – and for His awesome plan of Salvation, which changed my life.
I will praise Him for His greatness.
Isaiah (my favorite book in the Bible) tells of the greatness of God – many passages that I have already referred to. By the time Isaiah reaches chapter 40, the flavor of the book changes, namely, recognizing the greatness of God. I’m not going to quote the chapter, but I must at least quote some phrases.
Vs. 9 “Behold your God!”
Vs. 12 “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand?”
Vs. 18 “To whom then will you liken God?”
Vs. 21 “Do you not know?”
Vs. 25 “To whom then will you compare Me?”
Isaiah 40:28
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.”
It would be an insult to enter into prayer to such a God, without first acknowledging who He is. I love what A.W. Tozer said about knowing who God is:
“A right conception of God is basic not only to systematic theology but to practical Christian living as well. I believe there is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God.”
Yes, “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised” (Psalm 145:3).
I will strive to be Theologically correct in all that I do or say.
It’s time for the church to get back to the Word of God and search out the truths stated on its pages. I am appalled at what I see being done in the name of the Lord today. Scripture warns of false teachers in the last days, and this we see all around us today. I believe with all my heart that one thing this COVID ordeal has accomplished is separating the sheep from the goats in Christ’s church. The days we are living in require “Truth” from God’s Word, being preached and lived out. We need to be Theological correct in all that we do because Truth matters!
The study of the Disciple’s Prayer is only going to get better and better as we dig into the truth contained in it. Study the topics referred in it. Find your new special “secret place” where you can meet God on a daily basis. Many called me this week and said that they are lacking in their prayer life but have committed to turn this around – because of the study of this prayer.
Blessings on this Lord’s Day! I love you all and can’t wait to be together again!
In His Grip!
Pastor Doc Seuss
760-834-5661
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