Matthew 6, 9, our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. This is the difference between worship and religion, hallowed. be thy name. This is the difference between life and death. Hallowed be thy name. This is the difference between the fear of God and no fear of God. Hallowed be thy name. Hallowed be thy name is stated in the third commandment. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord by God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Now that's the third commandment.

I want you to think, to even use his name flippantly, or conversationally, or people saying, my God, or oh Lord, to use his name wrongly as the friends of Job did. He said to Job's friends, you've not spoken. He said this through Elihu, you've not spoken to me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. Now what a commandment to even use his name flippantly or irreverently or without understanding. is to commit a sin worthy of hell's heat.

What a glorious person this is to have a commandment like this. And when we pray, this is to be the utterance of our heart, hallowed be thy name. Holy and reverend, thy name. Oh Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Hallowed means holy, is thy name. sanctified is thy name. Other is thy name. Separate is thy name. Now, holy is not so much talking about righteous character, although there's righteous character in holiness. Holiness is how the Lord is not a part of this created universe that He created.

He's other. He's not part of this. He's separate from this. There is none like me, he says. There's no one to compare him to. There's nothing to say God's like this or God's like that. No, he's not. There's none like him. And that's what makes us, by his grace, by his spirit, bow down before him and worship him. There is none like him. He is separate. You know, even making an image in his likeness is trying to humanize him. Let me show you a scripture in Romans chapter one. Would you turn with me there? Verse 18.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all, against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold or hold down the truth in unrighteousness. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen. being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because that when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened, professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, to birds, four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Now do you see what this thing of idolatry is? It's trying to bring God down into a four-footed beast or a creeping thing, putting him in the image of corrupt man. There's none like me.

Hallowed be thy name. Peter says in 1 Peter 3 15, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Now what does that mean? It means regard him as holy, as separate, as other, to be revered, to stand in awe at, to fear. And I'm talking about that fear that's the beginning of wisdom, the fear of the Lord, that respect and reverence for His person. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, regard Him as holy.

I think of what the seraphims in Isaiah 6 said, and I feel almost awkward even trying to repeat what they're saying when they say, holy, holy, holy. is the Lord God of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory. And I love the way these seraphims are described.

They're described having six wings. With two, they cover their face. They're unable to look upon His holiness. With two, they cover their feet. They're ashamed of themselves. Somebody says, what do they have to be ashamed of? They've never sinned. Yeah, but they know they would if he didn't prevent it. They knew they were mutable creatures and they were ashamed of themselves in that sense. And with two, they did fly, ready to fulfill his will.

Holy, holy, holy, holy is the Father. Holy is the Son. Holy is the Spirit. The whole earth is filled with his Glory. I love when we sing that song, holy, holy, holy, and here's my favorite verse. Holy, holy, holy, though the darkness hide thee. Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see, only thou art holy. There is none beside thee perfect in power, in love, and purity. Now, the name of the Lord, Hallowed be thy name represents the person behind the name. Now, God's a person.

He's not a force. Yes, he's spirit. He doesn't have a physical body. The Lord Jesus Christ does. His father doesn't. But he's a person. That means he's got a personality. That means he has a mind. He has a will. He has a heart. He is a person. The three persons of the Godhead, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He's a person with definite attributes and characteristics that he reveals in his word. That's almost mind-boggling, but it's true. The living God is a person. I'm a person. I have a personality. I have certain characteristics and traits. that are unique to me. You have certain characteristics and traits that are unique to you. You are a person.

Now, if somebody said, I know Todd Divert. I know him, friend of mine. He's five foot two, he's got a full head of hair, and he's better looking than Brad Pitt. You'd say, that's not the Todd I know. I know somebody different than that. And if you know the Lord, when you hear that which is contrary to who he is, you know. Because you know Him. And when you hear something that's contrary to Him, you know it because you know Him. Salvation is a knowledge of Him. It's knowing Him. Where He knows my name, I know Him. I know His voice. He said, I know my sheep and am known of mine. We know the person behind the name.

Now turn with me for a moment to Exodus 33. And he, Moses said, verse 18, I beseech thee, show me thy glory. Now Moses had already seen a lot and you know that. He'd seen the parting of the Red Sea, he'd seen the 10 plagues, he'd seen manna come down from heaven, he'd seen water come out of that rock, he'd even seen the giving of the law. He had the tables of stone in his hands. He had seen many things, but yet he says, show me your glory.

Is that your desire? To know what God says his glory is. Not what man says, but what God says. Now look at his answer. Verse 19, he said, I'll make all my goodness. Pass before thee. God's glory is His goodness. God is good. All of His attributes are good. His sovereignty is good. His justice is good. His independence is good. His immutability is good. His omnipotence is good. His wrath is good. God is good.

Now, the question that ought to come into our minds, if God is good, you know, people say, if God is good, how can he let this happen? How can he let that happen? How could there be disasters and disease and terrible things take place if God is good? We ought to be asking this question. If God is good, how can he keep from sending me to hell? That ought to be the response of our hearts. He tells us how this is so when he talks about his goodness. He said, I'll make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee.

That's that name that we say, hallowed be thy name. That's the name we proclaim, hallowed be thy name. His name is his attributes. His name is the person behind the name. We're going to look at what he says when he proclaims his name, but then he says after that, this is his glory. His goodness, who he is, his attributes, And His mercy and grace, He says, I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious. And I'll show mercy on whom I will show mercy. That's His glory. Do you love His glory? His goodness? His name? His glorious saving grace?

Now look in chapter 34, verse 5. And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there. proclaim the name of the Lord. Now don't miss this when we pray. This is the name we're saying, hallowed be thy name. Verse 6, and the Lord Jehovah passed by before him and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah God Almighty. merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the children's children and to the third and to the fourth generation.

What was Moses' response? He made haste. and bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. You'll only worship an absolute sovereign God. One, you're in his hands, he's not in yours. That was Moses' response. Now the only people who have this reverent attitude, and can say from their hearts to the God of glory through his son, our father, which art in heaven hallowed, holy, reverend is thy name, are those people who look to Christ only. That's the fear of God. When you look to Christ only, you can say, our father, he is your father. which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. The God of the Bible, hallowed be thy name, has many names in scripture, all of which say, hallowed be thy name. Now, what is the Lord's personal name? Jehovah. That's the name he gives himself, Jehovah. Some people pronounce it Yahweh.

I doubt that anybody really knows how to pronounce it, and I love the way the translators of the King James Bible put the word capital L, capital O, capital R, capital D, Lord, because they believed it to be a name too holy to pronounce. Now, I like the idea. I don't know if that's the way it should have been done or not, but that's the way the translators did it. His name is too holy to even say. Capital L, capital O, capital R, capital And that name is derived from the name he gave to Moses when Moses said, when I go back to the children of Israel and tell them who sent me to bring them out of the land of Egypt, and they say, well, what's his name? What am I going to say to it? I love the Lord's answer.

I am that I am. Not I was. Not a used to be, not a wanna be, not a could be, not a will be. I am that I am. You tell them, I am hath sent thee. Jehovah is derived from I am that I am. It means the self existent one. Now whenever you see capital L, capital O, capital R, capital D, Think.

This is speaking of the self-existent one. God is self-existent, independent, and self-sufficient, deriving his life and being from himself rather than some other external source. He is self-sufficient. The only self-sufficient, independent being. That's why it's necessary. The only self-sufficient, independent, He has no needs. He has no needs outside of himself.

Utterly independent. I love that verse where it says, if I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you. The cattle on a thousand hills are mine. He's not worshipped with men's hands as though he needed anything. We're utterly and completely dependent on an utterly and completely independent God. Amen?

You know that. Now, creation speaks of His independence. He needed nothing to work with to create. I love to think about this. There was a time when all there was was God. There was no time, there was no space, there was nothing but God and God simply willed this creation into existence and there it was. Light be! Light was. He created the heavens and the earth from nothing. He had no needs outside of himself to do this. He created the universe ex nihilo, something from nothing. His self-existent independence is seen in providence.

With God, there are no possibilities. There are no probabilities. There's no chance. There is no luck, there is no likelihood. He has no need for contingencies, just in case something doesn't work, he'll have to go another direction. He worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. He doeth according to his will in the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and there's none that can stay his hand or say unto him, what doest thou? No possibilities, only certainties.

The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Aren't you thankful it's that way? He is in control of everything and everybody. Everything that happens in Providence is His will being done. And you cannot take that too far.

His independence is seen in creation, it's seen in providence, and his independence is seen in salvation, he doesn't need for us to do something before he can act on our behalf. He doesn't have to wait and see what we do. He is utterly independent in his actions in salvation. Free will is a lie. Salvation by works is a lie. Salvation is of the Lord. His independence is seen in our salvation. He didn't get any help from us. We made no contribution. When he had by himself purged our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. Jehovah. Salvation is of Jehovah. the self-existent one.

I love the first verse of the Bible. Genesis 1-1, in the beginning God. And the word in Hebrew is Elohim. And all it is, is the plural of the singular God. In the beginning God, in the plural. I have no doubt that that's what's being spoken of when God said, let us make man in our own image.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Elohim. Hallowed be thy name, one God in three distinct persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, hallowed be thy name. Adonai, Lord and Master, hallowed be thy name. El Elyon, the Most High God, hallowed be thy name. El Olam, the eternal God, hallowed be thy name. El Shaddai, God Almighty, hallowed be thy name. Emmanuel, God with us.

David said, yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I'll fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Isaiah 9, 6, His name shall be called Wonderful. Let's be careful how we use that word. How you doing? Wonderful. Well, wait a minute. His name shall be called Wonderful.

Counselor. And there The word is a verb. It doesn't mean he's somebody that gives counsel, although he does, but it means his counsel is always done. He's the one who counsels and it's done. The mighty God, the everlasting Father, Christ has called that, says he is here, doesn't he? I've heard people explain, try to explain that. Well, it doesn't mean this. I don't, it says it.

That's all I know what to do with it. Bow before it. The Prince of Peace. Hallowed be thy name. He said in Exodus 34, 14, the Lord's name is jealous. His name is jealous. Do you know he is intolerant of rivals? His name is jealous. He's jealous of his own glory.

And I love his nine different Jehovah names. Listen to these. Jehovah-Rah, the Lord is my shepherd. Hallowed be thy name. Jehovah Mekesh Dishkam. I don't know if I'm pronouncing that right. I'll give a shot at it, but it means I'm the Lord that sanctified thee. Lord sanctified you. He set you apart. You're not of this world. He made you one of his. I want you to think about just the powerful thought that the Lord sanctified me. He set me apart. I am the Lord that sanctified thee.

Jehovah Nisi, the Lord our banner, the Lord our inside, the Lord our message. Hallowed be thy name. Jehovah Tzikinu, the Lord our righteousness. I love saying that. He's my righteousness. Hallowed, holy, reverend is his name. Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our peace. Hallowed be thy name. Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of hosts, hallowed be thy name. Jehovah Shammah, the Lord's there, means He's right here, He's with me. Hallowed be thy name. Jehovah Jireh, the Lord will provide everything He requires of me, He provides for me. Hallowed be thy name. Jehovah Rapha, I am the Lord that healeth thee.

He healed them that had need of healing, hallowed thee thy name. Matthew 121, Daphna called his name Jesus. For he shall say, his people from their sins. Thou hast given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. Things in heaven, things on earth, and things under the earth. I think that's talking about the demons, people in hell. Everybody is going to bow the knee and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

The keeping of His commandments is said to be believing on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. Let's keep it simple. You believe on the name of His Son. If you're relying on His name, bring you into glory, salvation for His name's sake. That's called the keeping of His commandments. Romans 10 13 and this is throughout New Testament and Old Testament alike.

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Now you can't call on the name of the Lord if you don't know the name of the Lord. And I'm not talking about just knowing how to articulate it. I mean, when I call on the Lord to save me, I'm asking the Lord to save me as an act of His sovereign will.

Will my salvation. Give commandment to save me. Save me in a way that honors your justice and my sin is put away. Save me in a way that honors your grace and love. Save me in a way that honors your sovereignty and your independence and your power. Save me by who you are. That's what we're doing when we're asking Him to save. Save me by who you are. I can't save myself. Save me by who you are. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

We're told to ask in His name. When we pray in His name, we are literally saying, let this prayer be presented by Him so it's acceptable to you. I realize that in and of myself, my prayers are just so filled with vanity. I know that. Hear this prayer for His sake because He presents it to you. Oh, that's the way we pray.

We pray in His name, asking in His name, coming to the Father in His name, hallowed be thy name. We are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. David said in Psalm 91 10, they that know thy name will put their trust in me. Do you know His name? You will put your trust in Him. Knowing His name is knowing the person behind the name, and you put your trust in Him and all His name means. Turn with me to Psalm 106. We looked at this real recently, but it's worth looking at again. Psalm 106. Let's start in verse one.

Praise ye the Lord. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord for his good, for his mercy forever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? And who can show forth all his praise? Blessed are they that keep judgment and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

That describes every believer. Describes me, describes you, if you're a believer. You keep judgment, looking to Christ only. You do righteousness at all times, because you're in Him. He did righteousness all the time, so do you. Only those people are blessed.

Remember me, O Lord, with the favor that Thou barest unto Thy people. Oh, visit me with Thy salvation, that I may see the good of Thy chosen. that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance. Oh, he wants to exalt in the Lord, praise His name. What enjoyment there is in that. Now look at this confession of sin. You know, when you're thinking about the Lord's greatness and His infinite holiness, as long as you're still in this flesh, you're going to feel your sin.

He says, we've sinned with our fathers. He doesn't whitewash it. He says, we've committed iniquity. We have done wickedly. He talks about our fathers. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt. They didn't know what was going on. They were un-understanding. They were seriously stupid. They remembered not the multitude of thy mercies. They were ungrateful people. But they provoked him at the sea, even at the Red Sea. They were upset when they were at the Red Sea. You remember they said, let's go back to Egypt. Let's get rid of this Moses and go back to Egypt.

Verse 8, nevertheless. You know all salvation is in that word, nevertheless. He saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power known. Turn to the 25th Psalm. Verse 11. For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity, For it is great. People have been divided over what he's talking about that's great. Your name is great. My iniquity is great. I believe he's referring to both. For that great namesake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. Turn to the book of Proverbs, chapter 18. Verse 10. The name of the Lord is a strong tower. Salvation by His name. Salvation for His name's sake. The name of the Lord is a strong tower.

The righteous, the righteous runneth into it. He doesn't loiter. He's like that fellow running into the city of refuge. The righteous runneth into it. I just want to be found in His name. Not lollygagging. I want to be in him. The righteous runneth into it. I hope it's what I'm doing right now. You know what they are? They're safe, secure, saved. Don't you love that verse of scripture? The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are safe.

Now, Billions and billions of times, I'm not exaggerating that, over the centuries, have people uttered this phrase, our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, without even thinking about what it means, taking it in vain. May this be the utterance of our renewed hearts. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed Holy, sanctified, other, separate is thy name, that name upon which we call. Let's pray. Lord, how we thank you for your name. How we thank you that salvation is for your namesake. How we thank you for the glory and excellency of your name.

How we thank you for who you are. How we thank you for all your wonderful, glorious attributes. How we thank you for the revelation of yourself to us. How we thank you that you sent your son. How we thank you for his sacrifice. How we thank you for the accomplishments of his blood. How we thank you for his righteousness. How we thank you for his intercession.

How we thank you for your spirit who's given us life from the dead. How we thank you for your gospel. Lord, enable us by your grace in the new hearts you've given us to pray our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. We ask these things in the name of thy son. Amen.