Hallowed Be Your Name
Hallowed Be Your Name
Last Updated on Friday, 30 October 2009 18:52 Written by John Schaenzer Saturday, 14 March 2009 22:09
After the triumphal entry, Jesus Christ went to the temple. He entered the temple and drove out the moneychangers and those who were buying and selling. Mark 11:17 records: And He began to teach and say to them, "Is it not written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS'? But you have made it a ROBBERS' DEN."
He was referring back to what was written in Isaiah. Isaiah 56:7, "Even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples." The chapter speaks of the rewards for obedience to God. The LORD commands to "Preserve justice and do righteousness."
Being a house of prayer should not be something we need to strive for. Being a house of prayer should be the natural result of the occupation by God's people. As followers of Christ, our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. God indwells those who are followers of Jesus Christ. Prayer should be a normal occurrence for each Christian individually as well as gathering together in corporate prayer.
To be a praying Christian, the Christian needs to know how to pray. The disciples wanted to be able to pray effectively, and having observed Jesus Christ praying, they inquired of Him. Luke 11:1-4 tells us: It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples." And He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.'"
At the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ also instructed those around Him on how they should pray. Matthew 6:9-13 states: "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]'
The first thing we need to know is to whom we are praying. "'Our Father who is in heaven," is a personal greeting denoting a close relationship. As believers in Christ, we are adopted into the family of God as children of God. We are joint heirs with Jesus Christ. By virtue of being in Christ, we are in position to pray to God the Father just as He did. Acknowledging God's place in heaven is to say that we know Him as Creator and Supreme Being. It is in faith that we approach God, trusting that He hears our prayers.
The second thing is to enter into prayer with praise and adoration. "Hallowed be Your name," or one could say, "May your name be sanctified." The idea is to set apart the name of God to be praised and adored, being worthy of absolute devotion. To hallow the name of God is to regard Him with complete devotion and loving admiration.
There are many names of God in the Bible. The names we see in Scripture highlight attributes of God and imply promises of His interaction with us. Today we will take a look at some of these names that are worth recalling as we enter into prayer. These names give us a framework for praising God with adoration and thanksgiving. The following eight names begin with Jehovah. Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. We should never take His name lightly, but always rejoice in it and think deeply upon its true meaning.
Prayer is a relational communication with the Living God. Psalm 148:13 says, "Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven." His names reveal how He relates to us and facets of His character. We will look at these names in the context of the New Covenant and the benefits we receive through it.
God covers our sin.
Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
Jesus Christ was made sin for us, paying the penalty we deserved. The Father sees us in the righteousness of Christ.
Jeremiah 23: "In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD our righteousness.'"
Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You) or Jehovah M'kaddesh
God sets us apart as His own, sealed in the Holy Spirit. The blood of Christ purchases us and takes away our sin so we can have fellowship with God.
Exodus 31:13, "But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.'"
God comforts our spirit.
Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
Peace, or absence of strife, is a gift from God, as we trust in Him. He can provide this peace to us because we have been reconciled to Him.
Judges 6:24, "Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites."
Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)
God has promised that He will not leave us nor forsake us. He is with us always by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Ezekiel 48:35, "The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, 'The LORD is there.'"
God is concerned for our welfare.
Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals) or Jehovah Rophe
God restores us into fellowship with Him. He also heals physically as well as in emotional and relational areas of our lives. Nothing is impossible for our Creator.
Exodus 15:26, And He said, "If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer."
God is concerned for our needs.
Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
This can also be said, "the Lord who sees" or "Jehovah's provision shall be seen." He knows our needs even before we ask of Him. He is the giver of all good things.
Genesis 22:14, Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided."
God is concerned for our security.
Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)
Jesus Christ has delivered us from the penalty of death and we are secure in Him. He is our security. He is our salvation. He is our banner, encouraging us onward with hope in the time of battle. He is our focal point, the One to whom we should look for strength.
Exodus 17:15, "Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner;"
Jehovah Raah (The Lord My Shepherd) or Jehovah Rohi
God feeds us and cares for us. He leads us into green pastures and beside still waters. He protects us from danger. God desires an intimate relationship with us.
Psalm 23:1 "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want."
For any of this to matter, we must know God and trust Him.
John 1:11-13, He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
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