Hunger Mountain Christian Assembly
The Ten Commandments - Commandment No. 3
Exodus 20:7 (NKJV)
"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 (NIV)
"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
Introduction: I have been speaking to you about the “Ten Commandments.” I spoke to you about “Commandment 1” “you shall have no other gods before Me.” Commandment 2 speaks to us “not to make any false idols and worship them.” Today, I am continuing my series on the “Ten Commandments,” with Commandment 3, that we are not “to misuse the Name of the Lord our God.”
To take the Lord’s Name in vain is to do more than use it as a swear word.
1. The Hebrew means to use His Name falsely or to lie.
What does misuse mean?
1. Dictionary: Unlawful, improper, or incorrect use; misapplication, mistreatment.
2. To use incorrectly or wrongly; debase, defile, demean, desecrate, exploit, misapply, mishandle, profane.
3. To mistreat or abuse.
4. To alter fraudulently; falsify, misrepresent, pervert, forge.
How do we misuse the Name of the Lord?
1. It makes no difference what Name we misuse: Lord, Father, God, Yahweh, Jesus, Jesus
Christ, Holy Spirit, or Spirit.
2. Thus sayeth the Lord.
3. God told me.
4. The Spirit led me.
5. We use His Name to control and manipulate.
6. Using God’s Name ends any judgment on what’s being said.
7. Using God’s Name holds you guiltless.
“For the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His Name.”
1. Guiltless means we will not go unpunished.
2. God warns us against using His Name as if it were disconnected from His person,
presence, and power.
How are we to use the Name of the Lord?
1. Psalm 113:1-3 (KJV)
Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
2Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. 3From the rising
of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.
Conclusion: God’s Name is more than a swear word and we need to be careful in how we use and misuse it. We will not go unpunished for misusing His Name. We think it makes us sound more holy if we use God’s Name to endorse what we say and do. It’s fine to use His Name if it is truly God speaking to us and leading and guiding us in what we do but beware of forging His Name to anything. Misusing God’s Name has broad applications for us. Let’s use His Name in ways that honor Him.
Close: Proverbs 18:10 (NIV)
The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.