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Taking God Seriously

Sermon Series

Ten Truths that Show Us How to Love – Part 3

"Taking God Seriously"

Pastor Jerry

Luke 6:45 (NLT); Exodus 20:7a (NLT)

 

------------------------------------- Message Synopsis -------------------------------------

We are in the third week of a new sermon series concerning, “Truth!” That is because I believe that telling the truth is a problem in our society?” So, “What’s the Truth?” God gave ten truths for living; they are called The Ten Commandments. The overall intent of the 10 Commandments is to teach us truth on how to show love. Today we're going to look at the 3rd commandment and how it will build our faith and teach us truth on how to show love. The message today is titled, “Taking God Seriously.” So, here is Truth number three in our series! Exodus 20:7 “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God .” The third commandment can be summarized in one sentence: God says, "Take My name seriously". Paul Dickinson has written an interesting book called Names. He has a hobby of collecting strange and unusually names. What's in a name? God says there's a lot in a name when it's His name. In the third command in Exodus 20:7 He says, "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God." Why is that so important to God? God says that your name represents three things: reputation, character, authority. God says when you misuse My name it's no little deal. It's a big deal because you're defaming My reputation, My character and My authority and you are not taking Me seriously.
  1. HOW CAN I USE GOD'S NAME INCORRECTLY?
When we think about misusing God's name we usually think about swearing. But there are many, many other ways you can misuse God's name besides just swearing.
  1. You can use God's name to express irritation.
  2. You can use God's name to manipulate others.
  3. You can use God's name to be impressive.
  4. You can use God's name impulsively.
These are all different ways we can misuse God's Name.
  1. YOU CAN MISUE GOD'S NAME TO EXPRESS IRRITATION
This is when you use profanity or swearing to express irritation. Books and music and TV are filled with profanity. It takes maturity to discipline your speech, especially when you're angry. It takes discipline and self-control by not doing that. So people misuse God's name to express irritation.
  1. MISUSING GOD'S NAME TO MANIPULATE OTHERS
Some people say "God told me what to do." In today’s world they call that forgery. Forgery is when you use somebody else's name to get what you want. There are a lot of spiritual forgers in the world who misuse God's name.  You can misuse God’s name as a cover for yourself and to manipulate others.
  1. YOU CAN MISUSE GOD’S NAME BY TRYING TO BE IMPRESSIVE
Insecure believers can try to prove how spiritual they are by their jargon, by using continuous religious phrases, spiritual cliches. Some people use the name of Jesus when speaking so they sound more spiritual. Talk doesn't impress me, life style does. Titus 1:16 "They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him." We take God's name in vain when we claim to be committed to Him but we don't back it up with our life style. Isn’t it just words.
  1. MISUSING GOD'S NAME IMPULSIVELY
 This is one many of us fall into as a trap. When you use God's name as a convenient expression of fear or joy or surprise. "Suzy's pregnant! O, my God!" You're reducing God to a level of an expression. Don't do that. God says when you use my name, you need to take it seriously. Of the top 10 commandments, the ten most important things in life, number three is "Don't misuse My name." God says this is serious business.
  1. HOW CAN I USE GOD'S NAME CORRECTLY?
 God promises blessing when you use His name correctly. I challenge you to do a study. There are literally hundreds of verses in the Bible that talk about the name of God. There’s ncredible blessings for the person who honors God's name. God takes this very seriously.
  1. USE GOD’S NAME CORRECTLY-REVERENCE GOD'S NAME CONTINUALLY
Treat it with the utmost respect. Use it carefully. Use it lovingly. Use it as an act of worship. Don't just let it slip out flippantly. When you say "God", mean it in your heart. Ps. 29:2 "Give to the Lord the glory due His name." Honor God's name. It's a great offence the taking of God's name in vain. You need to reverence God name continually. Reverence involves not only protecting God's name but knowing it. Ps. 9:10 "Those who know your name will trust in you..." God has many names, well over 100 names of God in the Bible, each one of them reveal a different aspect of God's character -- love, justice, holiness, the things he's promised to care for. The way you get to know God is to get to know the names of God. If you only know one name you don't know God very well.
  1. USE GOD’S NAME CORRECTLY-REPRESENT GOD'S NAME CLEARLY
II Timothy 2:19 "A person who calls himself a Christian should not be doing things that are wrong." Our lifestyle can misuse the name of God. If you call yourself a believer act like one. Your walk needs to match your talk. The reason why some people never come to Christ is because they met a Christian in name only who claimed to be a Christian but there was no difference in their lifestyle. "I don't need to be a Christian because I'm just like them." The truth is that there are people all around you that are watching and evaluating your speech and your actions and they're checking to see how you're different and how you're different in your life style. So guard your mouth, guard your actions.
  1. USE GOD’S NAME CORRECTLY-RELY ON GOD'S NAME COMPLETELY.
 Ps. 33:21 "No wonder we are happy in the Lord. We trust His holy name." There are 1000s of verses in the Bible that say that God has made a number of promises to honor His name. Whatever you do you should do it in the name of the Lord, trusting and relying on His name. Jesus said, "If you ask anything in My name I will do it." Only a perfect person can come into His presence. I don't have any right on my own just to come to God and say, "God this is what I need and request." Through Christ I can. He's the bridge. One day, the Bible says in Matthew, we will give an account for every idle word. The good news is: You can overcome the judgment. How? By trusting in the name of Jesus Christ. He will forgive you in advance. Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." The name of Jesus Christ is the way you bypass that judgment. Luke 6;45 Jesus said, "The mouth speaks what the heart is full of." Ultimately the only way to clean up your mouth is to have a change of heart. Jesus can do that. God says don't misuse My name. Use it with awe and reverence, be serious. When you mess up and misuse God’s name, what do you do? The first thing you need to do is tell God you're sorry and apologize for misusing His name. And you need to ask his forgiveness. But, if there is a bigger problem going on in your life … you commit that problem and your life to God, and say to Him. "Jesus Christ, come in and give me that new heart and tongue."  Ask Him to help you, ask Him now to come into your life, and He will.  
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