WHAT’S IN A NAME
The Good Life #3
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
January 28, 2024
(Exodus 20:7, AMP) “You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”
(Matthew 6:9, NLT) “Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.”
1. God doesn’t forbid the use of His name: He forbids the misuse of His name.
(John 15:16, NLT) “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”
(Colossians 3:17, NIV) “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
2. The name of God represents His very essence and presence.
(Psalm 8:1, ESV) “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
(Psalm 68:4, NLT) “Sing praises to God and to his name! …His name is the Lord— rejoice in his presence!”
(Isaiah 50:10, NIV) “Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.”
(Numbers 6:24–27, AMP) “The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually). And they shall put My name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
Growthwork
Whose name am I living to glorify?
(Philippians 2:9–11, NLT) “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
1. Constantly glorify the Lord’s name.
(Psalm 29:2, NKJV) “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”
2. Be like Jesus everywhere.
(2 Timothy 2:19, NLT) “But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”
(Colossians 4:6, NLT) “Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”
3. Trust in the name of the Lord.
(Psalm 20:7, ESV) “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
(Psalm 33:21, NLT) “In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.”
(Acts 4:12, NLT) “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
(John 20:31, NLT) “But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.”
To become a Christian means you completely trust in the name of Christ and what He did for you.