Using God's name in vain

1. GOD’S LAST NAME IS NOT
Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the
name of the LORD thy God in vain; for
the LORD will not hold him guiltless
that taketh his name in vain.”

2. •In the Taurus mountains of southern Turkey, lives a
certain variety of crane. These birds tend to cackle a
lot, especially while flying.
•All that noise gets the attention of eagles, who
swoop down and seize them for a meal.
•The cranes have learned to avoid this threat by
picking up stones large enough to fill their mouths,
preventing them from cackling--and from becoming
lunch for the eagles.
•People have a problem with their mouths too

3. You see, on the front of every face there is an opening
called a mouth.
In each mouth is a little organ called a tongue.
The tongue, though relatively small when compared to
the whole body, is one of the most powerful forces in
the universe. It must be! After all, man can split atoms,
walk on the moon, construct enough weapons to
destroy his world thousands of times over, yet he
cannot seem to control his little tongue, James 3:8.

4. Alex Dunlap; “Ten Reasons Why I Swear”
• 1. It pleases my mother so much
• 2. It is a fine mark of manliness.
• 3. It proves I have self-control.
• 4. It indicates how clearly my mind operates.
• 5. It makes my conversation so pleasing to everyone.
• 6. It leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind as to my good breeding.
• 7. It impresses people that I have more than an ordinary education.
• 8. It is an unmistakable sign of culture and refinement.
• 9. It makes me a very desirable personality among women and children of culture
and refinement.
• 10. It is my way of honoring God, who said, "Thou shalt not take the name of the
Lord in vain.“ (Exodus 20:7)

5. Something far more serious than just a
filthy mouth
•This Commandment discusses the misuse, or profane
use of God’s Holy Name. God’s Name is a Holy Name!
•It isn’t to be used unless it is used in connection with
His praise or His proclamation.
• For most however, God’s name is no more than a
curse word.
•A by-word they can throw around at will.

6. We are literally surrounded by profanity.
• Did you know: In one year prime-time television airs 8,333
acts of violence, 14,313 incidents of sex, and 23,566 uses of
profanity.
• From 1990-1994,Profanity on television increased by an
alarming 45%
• A survey conducted on NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox, found
words which were once banned are now heard about once
every five minutes on prime-time sitcoms.

7. GOD’S NAME IS A VENERABLE
NAME
•Venerable = Sacred, Holy, Worthy of Respect
and Reverence
•God’s Name is often misused and misspoken
because it is not appreciated as it should be.
•We must come to fully appreciate this Sacred
Name.

8. The Announcement Of God’s
Holy Name
•Names in the Bible usually revealed
something about the person,
•ancestry or his background.
•This is especially true in regard to the Name
of God.
•In truth, God has chosen to reveal Himself
to man through His Names.

9. LORD
• When you see this word in the bible, it is the English
rendering of the Hebrew word "Jehovah.“
• It describes God as the self-existent, eternal One.
• It is the Name, "I AM." This is the name God used when He
revealed Himself to Moses, Ex. 3:14.
• This Name is used to declare God’s nature, that is
unchanging and eternal – Mal. 3:6; James 1:17.
• Jehovah is coupled with other words to form compound
names for God which reveal more about His nature and His
attributes.

10. •Jehovah-Jireh – "The LORD will provide" – Gen. 22:14.
•Jehovah-Nissi – "The LORD is my banner." – Ex. 17:15.
•Jehovah-Shalom – "The LORD is peace" – Judges 6:24.
•Jehovah-Shammah – "The LORD is there" – Eze. 48:35.
•Jehovah-Tsebaoth – "The LORD of Hosts" – 1 Sam. 1:3
•Jehovah-Rohi – "The LORD is my Shepherd" – Psa. 23:1.

11. God – Elohim
• Refers to the One Supreme, faithful, triune God.
• Literally, "The Strong and Faithful One!"
•This is the common word for God in the bible (4447 times)
• When God stepped out of eternity to reveal Himself to man,
this is the Name He chose
• A Name depicting Himself as the Strong and Faithful One.
The God who can be depended on!
• There are many Names given to God in the Old Testament.
Some are:

12. •El – God
•El-Shadday – God Almighty
•Adonai – Lord

13. The Adoration Of God’s Name
•God’s Name is to be held in extreme reverence and
adoration
•Only occurrence of "reverend" in the Bible – Psa. 111:9.
•I am afraid that we have lost much of that holy respect for
God’s glorious Name.
•When we use God’s Name, it is to be in a manner consistent
with His character. (Psa. 66:2; Psa. 34:3; Psa. 29:2; Matt. 6:9)

14. GOD’S NAME IS A VIOLATED NAME
•This verse tells us that it is wrong to use God’s Name in vain
•“VAIN” ---empty, idle, insincerely, phony, frivolous, lacking
in reality and truth.“
•When we treat the Name of God as another by-word, it is
nothing short of blasphemy!
•There are 2 primary ways in which we violate the Blessed
Name of God.

15. When We Use It As A Curse
• How many times have we heard, or said, "Oh God!"; "Oh my
God!"; "Jesus!"; Oh Jesus!"; "Oh Christ!"; "Jesus Christ!";
"God Almighty!"; or any of a thousand others just like those?
Even Christians are guilty of saying things like, "Oh Lord!";
"My God!"; "Good God!" it is degrading to the Lord’s Name
to throw it around so casually
• Too many are guilty of using slang expressions that we feel to
be harmless, but which are actually derivatives from some
form of God’s Name.

16. When We Use It Casually
• Sunday after Sunday, Christians utter the Name of God in songs and in
prayers and in testimonies, but often there is no sincerity and no
genuine reverence for that Name
• In other words, it just isn’t from the heart. It makes us sound spiritual,
so we use it. But, when we invoke the wonderful Name of God, we are
to do so with meaning and significance. Whenever that Name is used,
it must be used reverently, respectfully and from a heart of adoration
and worship. Otherwise, it is being used improperly and in vain

17. When We Use It As Camouflage
•When we vow to God to do one thing and in turn do
another, then we are guilty before Him. If His Name
reveals His character, and we are going in His Name,
then our hypocrisy sends a false image of God and
therefore violates His Name.
•Luke 6:46 “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not
the things which I say?”

18. GOD IS NOT MOCKED
• Gal 6:7 “for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
• Matthew 12:36-37
• Eph 4:29 “no corrupt communication”
• God’s plan for His people is that we guard our tongues and that
when we use His Name, we do so with reverence and respect
• Christians have no need to swear, or to attach an oath to their
speech
• God’s plan is this: Matt. 5:37; James 5:12
• Let us Honor God as He so richly deserves.