Study 3 - God s Glory in His Name

Study 3 - God s Glory in His Name Aim: To show that there is glory, honour, power and authority in God s name and in that in God s name we can trust. Worship Mission Praise 579 Restore O Lord the honour of your name, O Ancient of Days, To know your name (Hillsong Savior King) VAK Moment Hand out pen and paper to all members of the group. Ask them in 30 seconds to write down as many brand names as they can think of. Collect the lists when they have finished. Try to find out the meaning of each of the group members names before the meeting starts. Then do what s in a name What s in a name? Who gave you your name? Where does your name come from? Does your name have a certain meaning? (Let the group know at this stage what you found about their names meaning beforehand). Do certain names make you think of certain kinds of individual characteristics? (for example, if someone were to say the name Rebecca, what kind of person would you think of?) Names for God Ask the group for some names of God (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) and then use some, or all of the list (which is by no means exhaustive) below: Try not to spend too much time on this. Isaiah 42 v 8 I am Jehovah, that is my name. Always exists, in the now. Jehovah/Jaweh/YHWH/Yave. I am. (Some background: The Hebrew tetragrammaton, YHWH, is the way the name of God appears in the Hebrew Bible. The Hebrew language is a consonantal language, possessing no vowels. Vowels were pronounced, but not written. They were transmitted orally from generation to generation. By about 200 B.C., after the time of the Exile, and due to superstition, Jews would no longer pronounce God s name for fear that they would take it in vain by not saying it properly. Instead of pronouncing the tetragrammaton, they would say Adonai, which is the Hebrew word meaning Lord.) God s Glory in his Name Page 1 of 6

Exodus 3 v 13-14 Moses said to God Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you and they ask me, What is his name? Then what shall I tell them? God said to Moses I am who I am. This is what you are say to the Israelites: I am has sent me to you. Jesus From the Hebrew name Jeschua or Y hoshua (Y Yah: the Lord; and shun: salvation, aid, deliverance) making the Greek name Joshua. The name means the Lord will save, the Lord of Salvation or the Lord the Saviour. Some names for God (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit) Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End (Rev 21 v 6) the First and the Last, the Beginning and End (Rev 22 v 13) The Ancient of Days (Daniel 7 v 9) Jealous (Exodus 34 v 14) (you might want to spend a little time expanding on this one if you choose to use this or if someone in the group says this as a name of God) The One and Only (John 1 v 14) The Lamb of God (John 1 v 29) The Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev 5 v5) The Blessed and only Ruler (1 Tim 6 v 15b,16) The King of Kings and Lord of lords (1 Tim 6 v 15b,16) The Holy and Righteous One (Acts 3 v 14) The Author of Life (Acts 3 v 15) Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9 v 6) Counsellor, Spirit of Truth (John 14 v 25, John 16 v 12) I am s Rev 22 v 16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star. John 6 v 35 (also John 6 v 48) Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. God s Glory in his Name Page 2 of 6

John 8 v 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 10 v 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. (cross ref Matt 7 v 13,14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. John 10 v 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 11 v 25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? John 14 v 6 Jesus answered I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. John 15 v 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Rev 1 v 17,18 (I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One.) Psalm 79 v 9 Help us, O God our Saviour, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive us our sins for your name s sake. Power in a name? Anyone seen the film The Last King of Scotland? Can anyone remember/know any of the titles of Idi Amin? - His Excellency Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Conqueror of the British Empire and King of Scotland. Given some of what was done earlier, what would the titles of God be? (e.g God, the Ancient of Days, The King of Kings, Lord of Lords, The Good Shepherd etc) However, the title for Idi Amin were totally at odds to the behaviour and character of the man. In the perspective of history he will go down as one who damaged the cause of African nationalism. His rule of Uganda became a synonym for barbarity. For Tanzania's president, Julius Nyerere (obituary, October 15 1999), Amin was "a murderer, a liar and a savage". Idi Amin was of course not alone. History is littered with many others - Hitler, Ghengis Khan, Robert Mugabe had the power to inflict fear just because of their names and what they stood for. These titles for God, however, are totally consistent with his character. God s Glory in his Name Page 3 of 6

Think of the names of some powerful people today. Contrast your associations with those names with your associations with the name of God. In what ways is the power of the name of God shown? For example: o Salvation Acts 4 v 12 Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name in heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Rom 10 v 13 (and Joel 2 v 32) Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. o Forgiveness of Sins Psalm 79 v 9 Help us, O God our Saviour, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive us our sins for your name s sake. Psalm 25 v 11 For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great (See Jesus heals a paralysed man Mark 2 v 1-8) o Physical Healing Acts 3 v 6 Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. Acts 3 v 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. N.B The name of Jesus used by those who don t know him Acts 19 v 13-16 o Through miraculous signs (Elijah on Mount Carmel 1 Kings 18 v 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire he is God. ) o Protection John 17 v 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name the name you gave me so that they may be one as we are one. o Refuge Prov 18 v 10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Read Philipians 2 v 9-11 together Eph 1 v 20,21 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. At Jesus s name every knee should bow. How jealous are we for his name? How upset would we be if someone said something about one of our family or someone we loved? How long would we put up with someone misusing the name of one of our family or someone we loved? God s Glory in his Name Page 4 of 6

How long do we put up with others taking God s name in vain? (Remember the 2 nd commandment Exod 20 v 7 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. ) Do we ever misuse the name of the Lord in word or thought? Has the church of today lost something of the fear (awe/reverence) for the name of the Lord? Something of the holiness of his name? (Deut 28 v 58,59 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name the Lord your God the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. Contrast this with Mal 3 v 20 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall) What prevents us from speaking out when someone uses Jesus s name in vain? Challenge: Challenge the group to say something when those around us misuse the name of the Lord. Hand back the list of brand names the group made earlier What do we think when we see a particular made in label? e.g made in Germany/Korea/China/Italy/UK? What about designer names made by? Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, Jimmy Choo etc. (Implication is quality, a peace of mind, reassurance etc). When we think of God the greatest designer of all and of his name we know that because of his name his promises are fully underwritten, providing a guarantee stronger than any king s seal, any man s word, any written contract and are totally unbreakable, totally trustworthy. Collect the list of brand names back from the group and then allow the group a quiet time of reflection on the name and titles of God before praying. Prayer You might want to encourage those who pray to finish off the prayer using one or two (or more!) names for God (the Father, the Son or the Holy Spirit) that were discussed during the meeting. e.g at the end of a prayer, conclude with something like to our glorious God, the Alpha and Omega, the Blessed and only Ruler be glory for evermore. Amen. Doxology (read together): 1 Tim 6 v 15b,16 God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no-one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might for ever. Amen. God s Glory in his Name Page 5 of 6

Author:- Carl Lee God s Glory in his Name Page 6 of 6