Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro: In the first two commandments we’ve seen Who God is and How we are to worship Him.

Tonight we’re going to look at the third commandment and it focuses on His name.

In biblical (ancient) times, names were important.

A name was not just a label or used to identify a person.

It suggested that person’s personality.

It is a reflection of who he is; it speaks of his character and reputation.

Therefore God’s name reveals who He is and what He does.

His name is His person.

What we do to God’s name we do to Him.

Text: Exodus 20:7

1. Taking God’s Name in Vain; 7a

Vain- worthless, lack of respect, demean, misuse

[Context] All that God has done for Israel in calling them to Himself in a covenant, delivering them from bondage in Egypt, already forgiving them in there rebellious attitude/spirit, giving them a land to possess forever, and He give them a way to be in a relationship with Him.

There is no reason but to exalt/praise His name, and never to use it in a way that makes Him seem worthless.

That mindset is the same for all mankind and especially the christian!

How does a person take God’s name in vain?

Profanity/Cursing- obscene language that comes from irreligious or irreverent behavior.

A persons name represents the character and personality of that person.

God is holy, perfect, the Righteous Sovereign Lord and Majesty of the universe and everything in it.

To curse the name of God is to make his name common and that He is not.

Adrian Rogers, in his book Ten Secrets for a Successful Family, says this: “When you use … profanity, it shows two things: an empty head and a wicked heart.

You see, profanity reveals a feeble mind trying to express itself.

But it also reveals a wicked heart truly expressing itself.

‘Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh,’ Jesus said in Matthew 12:34.…

A profane mouth reveals a profane heart!”

Or, as the excellent preacher Vance Havner once said, “What’s down in the well comes up in the bucket!”

Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

(1996).

Exodus, Part II (Chapters 19–40): Vol.

II (p.

101).

Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

Swear/Perjury- to swear is to take an oath and perjury is lying under oath.

Calling upon God’s name to be a witness to a lie is taking His name in vain.

False swearing may take place before a neighbor, a business partner, a wife or husband, a judge or jury.

Irreverent Speech- slang speech showing lack of respect and reverence for His name

God is not to be addressed as the Man Upstairs, The Big Guy, nor is His name to be used coarsely in jokes.

Hypocrisy- play actor.

When our walk of faith doesn’t match our profession of faith we dishonor the name of God.

A hypocrite is a person who;

Professes the name of God but lives for self and the world

A person who uses God’s name to manipulate people (to get what he wants)

A person who uses God’s name to secure support for projects that are not necessarily God’s will (for example, politicians or religious leaders)

A person who uses God’s name to secure followers, to deceive people

Matthew 7:21 (NKJV)

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Luke 6:46 (NKJV)

46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

Vain Worship- worship from our lips but not our heart, simply going thru the motions

Rod Mattoon said, “The heart is the incense that perfumes our holy things.

It is the jewel of God’s delight.”

Doubting Prayers- prayers that are offered without believing faith.

“I’ll pray but it won’t do any good.”

You might as well pray to a deaf and dumb idol!

God instructs us to pray to give Him glory

2. The Shame of being Vain; 7b

God will not hold one “guiltless”.

God will not excuse one of the consequences of the sin of dishonoring His name.

Close;

Faith controls the tongue.

And faithful tongue honors God!