Do Not Take the Lord's Name in Vain
Mercy Culture Church | Pastor Les Cody
0 Likes
0 Views
68 Cards
34 min read
Pinned
If you would like to learn more about our culture, how you connect with God, get plugged into community and begin your journey to encountering God daily, MC Connect is your next step!
Text CONNECT to 59090 or visit mercyculture.com/connect
Text CONNECT to 59090 or visit mercyculture.com/connect
We run because every step has a purpose. Sex trafficking is a billion-dollar industry that preys on the vulnerable, but together we can push back against it. When we lace up our shoes and hit the pavement, we’re not just running for ourselves—we’re running for women who deserve freedom, safety, and a future filled with hope. Every mile we cover helps raise awareness and funds to support women breaking free from trafficking.
Join us, and let’s run with purpose, run with passion, and run for freedom!
Text RUN to 59090 or visit justicerun.com for more information.
Join us, and let’s run with purpose, run with passion, and run for freedom!
Text RUN to 59090 or visit justicerun.com for more information.
Welcome to Mercy Culture Church! We are so excited you're here.
Text NEW to 59090 so we can connect with you.
For everyone that texts NEW, we will donate $10 to The Justice Reform, an organization that is answering the cry for justice by bringing reformation from city to city.
Text NEW to 59090 so we can connect with you.
For everyone that texts NEW, we will donate $10 to The Justice Reform, an organization that is answering the cry for justice by bringing reformation from city to city.
Cards
Acts 19:11-20
BSB
11 God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,
12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.
13 Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I bind you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.”
14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15 Eventually, one of the evil spirits answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
16 Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house naked and wounded.
17 This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.
18 Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds.
19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
20 So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.
12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.
13 Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I bind you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.”
14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15 Eventually, one of the evil spirits answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
16 Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house naked and wounded.
17 This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.
18 Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds.
19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
20 So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.
BSB
You radically love God by not carrying His Name in vain.
Matthew 22:37
BSB
37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
BSB
The Greatest Commandment is the key to keeping all Ten—and that’s Radical Love!
God revealed who He is before He gave the commandments.
“I am the God Who brought you out of Egypt.”
“I am the God Who brought you out of Egypt.”
The first commandment for the Jews reveals His name and His power—because you can’t separate the two!
The pagan gods demanded ritual.
Jehovah demanded righteousness.
Jehovah demanded righteousness.
Exodus 20:7
BSB
7 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.
BSB
III. Don’t Misuse God’s Name
Simple Definition = Don’t damage God’s name by using it for your agenda.
Blasphemy:
A) The act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.
B) The act of claiming the attributes of a deity.
A) The act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.
B) The act of claiming the attributes of a deity.
Leviticus 24:10-16 describes the punishment for blasphemy as death.
Leviticus 24:10-16
BSB
10 Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite.
11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse. So they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)
12 They placed him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them.
13 Then the LORD said to Moses,
14 “Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and have all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then have the whole assembly stone him.
15 And you are to tell the Israelites, ‘If anyone curses his God, he shall bear the consequences of his sin.
16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death; the whole assembly must surely stone him, whether he is a foreign resident or native; if he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.
11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse. So they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)
12 They placed him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them.
13 Then the LORD said to Moses,
14 “Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and have all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then have the whole assembly stone him.
15 And you are to tell the Israelites, ‘If anyone curses his God, he shall bear the consequences of his sin.
16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death; the whole assembly must surely stone him, whether he is a foreign resident or native; if he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.
BSB
Blasphemy in the New Testament:
God the Son — Matt 7:21–23
Workers of Iniquity denied entry into heaven because they used Jesus’ name in vain, meaning there was no relationship.
God the Holy Spirit — Matt 12:31–32
Blasphemy is committed when evil is assigned to Holy Spirit. It's the ultimate form of disrespect to continually reject the Holy Spirit’s offer of salvation.
Acts 5:1–11
Ananias and Sapphira commit blasphemy when, for the sake of appearances, they lie to the Holy Spirit.
Acts 12:20–24
Herod commits blasphemy and the angel of the Lord smites him; he gets eaten by worms and dies.
God the Son — Matt 7:21–23
Workers of Iniquity denied entry into heaven because they used Jesus’ name in vain, meaning there was no relationship.
God the Holy Spirit — Matt 12:31–32
Blasphemy is committed when evil is assigned to Holy Spirit. It's the ultimate form of disrespect to continually reject the Holy Spirit’s offer of salvation.
Acts 5:1–11
Ananias and Sapphira commit blasphemy when, for the sake of appearances, they lie to the Holy Spirit.
Acts 12:20–24
Herod commits blasphemy and the angel of the Lord smites him; he gets eaten by worms and dies.
Exodus 20:7
kjv
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.
kjv
“Take”—Hebrew: נָשָׂא (Nasa) = A verb; meaning to lift, to carry, to take away.
“Vain”—Hebrew: שָׁוְא (Shav) = emptiness, vanity, evil, ruin, uselessness, deception, worthless, without result, fraud, deceit.
“Will not hold him guiltless”— Hebrew: חִלּוּלהַשֵׁם (Chillul HaShem) = Literally, “desecration of the [Divine] Name.”
“Vain”—Hebrew: שָׁוְא (Shav) = emptiness, vanity, evil, ruin, uselessness, deception, worthless, without result, fraud, deceit.
“Will not hold him guiltless”— Hebrew: חִלּוּלהַשֵׁם (Chillul HaShem) = Literally, “desecration of the [Divine] Name.”
“Unhappy, let alone angry, religious people provide more persuasive arguments for atheism and secularism than do all the arguments of atheists.” — Dennis Prager
I like to put it like this…
“There is no greater evangelist for atheism than a powerless, weak, unhappy Christian.”
“There is no greater evangelist for atheism than a powerless, weak, unhappy Christian.”
Scammers borrow the strength of someone else’s name because their own name carries no weight. They use another’s character to get what their own character cannot produce.
Caution:
Using God’s Name without living God’s character is spiritual identity theft.
Using God’s Name without living God’s character is spiritual identity theft.
Simply put: Don’t Damage God’s Name!
Don’t speak God’s Name without reverence, or use God’s Name for your own agenda.
Don’t speak God’s Name without reverence, or use God’s Name for your own agenda.
Carrying God’s Name in vain means to use His Name without acknowledging His holiness.
Caution:
You can’t honor the name of the Lord without the fear of the Lord.
You can’t honor the name of the Lord without the fear of the Lord.
Yahweh = “Himself revealed.”
Hebrews 12:28-29
BSB
28 Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
29 “For our God is a consuming fire.”
29 “For our God is a consuming fire.”
BSB
Psalm 25:14 (ISV)
“The intimate counsel of the LORD is for those who fear Him so they may know His covenant.”
“The intimate counsel of the LORD is for those who fear Him so they may know His covenant.”
We are called to carry the name of the Lord.
Exodus 19:5-6
kjv
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
kjv
“Peculiar” — Hebrew: סְגֻלָּה (Segullah) = Personal possession; a special possession; property.
1 Peter 2:9 quotes Exodus 19:5, applying it to the church.
1 Peter 2:9
kjv
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
kjv
Christians are set apart from everything and everyone that God has created. Human beings bear God’s image, Imago Dei, but only those in covenant with Him in Christ bear (carry) His Name.
God doesn’t want to be represented by a carved image; He wants to be represented by you!
How do we carry His Name in vain?
We carry His Name in Vain by:
1. Complacency (Inaction)
1. Complacency (Inaction)
It’s a sin to carry God’s Name for nothing!
“All that it takes for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing.”
-Edmund Burke
-Edmund Burke
Sometimes the enemy’s greatest victory isn’t convincing you to sin—it’s convincing you to do nothing at all.
We carry His name in vain when…
1.We don’t speak out against injustice.
2.We don’t speak up or defend the weak. (abortion, sex trafficking, transgenderism being forced on children, etc.)
3.We don’t love what God loves, or hate what He hates, we carry His Name in vain.
1.We don’t speak out against injustice.
2.We don’t speak up or defend the weak. (abortion, sex trafficking, transgenderism being forced on children, etc.)
3.We don’t love what God loves, or hate what He hates, we carry His Name in vain.
We carry His Name in Vain by:
1. Complacency (Inaction)
2. Compromise (Inaccuracy)
1. Complacency (Inaction)
2. Compromise (Inaccuracy)
Matthew 15:8-9
BSB
8 ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ ”
9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ ”
BSB
"God invites us to partner with His commands, but demonic forces just make demands!"
The 10 Demands of Culture
1. Thou Shall Coexist — All beliefs are equally true, except the one that claims exclusive truth.
2. Thou Shall Worship Your Feelings — Feelings are the highest authority; reality must submit.
3. Thou Shall Use My Pronouns — To misgender me is to commit blasphemy.
4. Thou Shall Protect My “Peace” — Silence anyone who disturbs my self-care.
5. Thou Shall Go No-Contact with “Toxic” Parents — Translation: parents who disagree with me politically, morally, or biblically.
6. Thou Shall Honor the Sacrament of Abortion — “My body, my choice” is holy writ.
7. Thou Shall Celebrate My Sexuality — Affirm me or be canceled.
8. Thou Shall Dismantle Authority — Police, pastors, parents, patriarchy; tear it all down.
9. Thou Shall Reject the Truth and Embrace “My Truth” — Truth that contradicts "my truth" is oppression.
10. Thou Shall Seek Equity, Not Equality — Fairness isn’t enough; outcomes must be controlled “for the greater good.”
1. Thou Shall Coexist — All beliefs are equally true, except the one that claims exclusive truth.
2. Thou Shall Worship Your Feelings — Feelings are the highest authority; reality must submit.
3. Thou Shall Use My Pronouns — To misgender me is to commit blasphemy.
4. Thou Shall Protect My “Peace” — Silence anyone who disturbs my self-care.
5. Thou Shall Go No-Contact with “Toxic” Parents — Translation: parents who disagree with me politically, morally, or biblically.
6. Thou Shall Honor the Sacrament of Abortion — “My body, my choice” is holy writ.
7. Thou Shall Celebrate My Sexuality — Affirm me or be canceled.
8. Thou Shall Dismantle Authority — Police, pastors, parents, patriarchy; tear it all down.
9. Thou Shall Reject the Truth and Embrace “My Truth” — Truth that contradicts "my truth" is oppression.
10. Thou Shall Seek Equity, Not Equality — Fairness isn’t enough; outcomes must be controlled “for the greater good.”
When you have religion instead of relationship, you will carry God’s Name in vain without carrying God’s heart, and exchange God’s commands for demonic demands.
We carry His Name in Vain by:
1. Complacency (Inaction)
2. Compromise (Inaccuracy)
3. Mixture (Holy + Profane)
1. Complacency (Inaction)
2. Compromise (Inaccuracy)
3. Mixture (Holy + Profane)
We carry His Name in Vain by:
1. Complacency (Inaction)
2. Compromise (Inaccuracy)
3. Mixture (Holy + Profane)
4. Hypocrisy (Contradiction)
1. Complacency (Inaction)
2. Compromise (Inaccuracy)
3. Mixture (Holy + Profane)
4. Hypocrisy (Contradiction)
Your hypocrisy can damage someone for an eternity.
We carry His Name in Vain by:
1. Complacency (Inaction)
2. Compromise (Inaccuracy)
3. Mixture (Holy + Profane)
4. Hypocrisy (Contradiction)
5. Powerlessness (Authority Abandoned)
1. Complacency (Inaction)
2. Compromise (Inaccuracy)
3. Mixture (Holy + Profane)
4. Hypocrisy (Contradiction)
5. Powerlessness (Authority Abandoned)
Jesus died to give us the right to steward His name!
Mark 15:37-38
BSB
37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.
38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
BSB
Hebrews 10:19-20
BSB
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
20 by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,
20 by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,
BSB
In His Name we are SAVED!
Acts 4:12
BSB
12 Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
BSB
In His Name we have AUTHORITY over the enemy!
Luke 10:17
BSB
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”
BSB
Mark 16:17
BSB
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
BSB
In His Name we can see the sick HEALED!
Acts 3:6
BSB
6 But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk! ”
BSB
In His Name He has given us VICTORY!
John 14:13-14
BSB
13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.
14 If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.
BSB
Question:
Are you carrying the Lord’s Name in vain?
Are you carrying the Lord’s Name in vain?
The Names of God
1. Yahweh (I Am Who I Am)
2. Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
3. Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
4. Jehovah-Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
5. El Qanna (The Jealous God)
6. Jehovah-Rohi (The Lord My Shepherd)
7. Jehovah-Nissi (The Lord Our Banner)
8. Abba (Father)
9. Yeshua, Jesus (Name Above All Names)
1. Yahweh (I Am Who I Am)
2. Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
3. Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
4. Jehovah-Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
5. El Qanna (The Jealous God)
6. Jehovah-Rohi (The Lord My Shepherd)
7. Jehovah-Nissi (The Lord Our Banner)
8. Abba (Father)
9. Yeshua, Jesus (Name Above All Names)
Stop using the name of Jesus and begin stewarding the name of Jesus!
Acts 19:11-20
BSB
11 God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,
12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.
13 Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I bind you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.”
14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15 Eventually, one of the evil spirits answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
16 Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house naked and wounded.
17 This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.
18 Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds.
19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
20 So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.
12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.
13 Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I bind you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.”
14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15 Eventually, one of the evil spirits answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
16 Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house naked and wounded.
17 This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.
18 Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds.
19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
20 So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.
BSB
