So, Just Where Are You Taking the Lord's Name?

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.

So, Just Where Are You Taking the Lord's Name?

We use the Baptist Sunday School Quarterly at Fellowship Church. If you use it as well, then you know the lesson yesterday was about the diety of God as expressed through the first part of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20: 1-18, Deuteronomy 5:4-22). We were talking about what it means to take the Lord's name in vain.

Of course, we focused on the careless habit we can get into of throwing around the name of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the same way we use the words 'shoot', 'darn', and 'oh my gosh'. This habit is irreverent. We would never use our parents names in a careless explitive (Oh my Shirley! Tom Messiah!) because these are real people and it's silly to throw their names around like that (I apologize to any one out there who may be named Jimmey Cricket). Yet, we have to think about giving this same deference to the name and character of our Savior, our God.

But, the Holy Spirit dropped something in me that I couldn't get away from. The practice is falling out of fashion now, but there was a time that whenever a woman married, she automatically took her husband's name as her own. It wasn't unusual and at one time the highest form of respect, for her to be known almost entirely by his name (Mrs. John Wilson).

Dear ones, the Church of Jesus Christ is the very Bride of Christ. Other people call the followers of Christ "Christians" or Christ-like or little-Christ. We are literally known by His name. We take His name when we accept salvation.

And oh, the places we take that name.

We take the name of Christ to our jobs, to our family gatherings. We take the name of Christ everywhere we go. We take His name into every activity we practice; the ones we're proud of and boast about...and we take the Name to those actions we don't want anyone else to know about.

We have to ask ourselves when we look at where we go and what we do, have we taken His Name in vain?

Have we taken His Name and then insisted on behaving the same way we did before we were known as Christ's? Have we taken His Name and then walked in disbelief, faithlessness, broken-heartedness and sickness? Have we taken His Name and then see church as only a social obligation that is actually in place to benefit our business careers or dating opportunities?

Matthew 7:22-23
22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Or, have we taken His Name and chosen to follow after the Holy Spirit? Have we taken His Name and looked to be not only grafted in, but disciples eager to learn of Him? Have we taken His Name, His yoke, His cross and His Way?

Isaiah 62:1-5
1For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
2And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.
3Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
4Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
5For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

(By the way, the verse defines Hephzibah and Beulah)

If you've taken the name, do not take it in vain. Take it in fullness, life and truth.

If you've not taken the name or if you haven't open yourself up to the fullness of His Name, then you are welcome at Fellowship. We will introduce you, encourage you and work with you in your growth. We look forward to having you do the same for us.

Revelation 21:9
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

Revelation 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.


Peace.

Evg. Stephanie Robinson

Lifeline is the evangelistic ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA.

The church website is www.fcchosengeneration.com. Feel free to share this message. For questions or to subscribe, send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. You can reach the church at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church
Where Passions Become Reality
Because you are a CHOSEN GENERATION!

455 Hwy 138, Ste C
Jonesboro, GA 30238

Alton Watkins, Pastor