For His Name’s Sake

For His Name’s Sake 

Sermon Series Introduction 

Today we begin a sermon series entitled Names. Beginning today we will look at the names of God. 

We can know God. Isn’t that an incredible statement? 

We can only know God in the ways that he declares himself. We do not have the right (and in fact it is incredibly dangerous spiritually) to invent a god of our own imagination, or ascribe to God attributes and characteristics that He never ascribes to himself. 

1. The name of the Lord represents his nature. 

El- might, strength, power (generic name for God)

Elohim- creator (but can also be generic when plural)

Yahweh- I am who I am 

Jehovah- the self existent one 

Adonai- Lord, master 

El elyon- the God most high. His supremacy 

El Shaddai- God almighty 

Wrapped up in these names and all of the others is the greatness of God. He is from everlasting to everlasting, he had no beginning and he will have no end. He is all knowing, he is all powerful, and he is ever present. He is immutable, he never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is El, Elohim, Yahweh, Jehovah. He is God. 

If we stopped there He would still, obviously be worthy of our praise. 

2. The name of the Lord represents his character (resulting in action toward us) 

Jehovah Jireh- the lord our provider 

Jehovah Nissi- the Lord our banner 

Jehovah Rohi- the Lord our shepherd 

Jehovah Rapha- the Lord our healer 

Jehovah M’Kaddesh- the Lord who sanctifies 

Jehovah Tsuri- the Lord our rock 

Wrapped up in these names and all of the others is the matchless love, grace, and mercy of God. He is not just God almighty, He is the God who loves his creation, who provides for his children, who graciously gives and gives and gives far beyond what we deserve, who shows mercy and withholds from us what we actually deserve. 

3. The name of the Lord represents His glory and honor 

Psalm 115:1-3

Not to us, Lord, not to us,
but to your name give glory
because of your faithful love, because of your truth.

Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?” 

Our God is in heaven
and does whatever he pleases.

Malachi 1

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of me? says the Lord of Armies to you priests, who despise my name.”

4. His name is for His renown

Fame. His reputation. 

Isaiah 26:8 

Yes, Lord, we wait for you
in the path of your judgments.
Our desire is for your name and renown.

Joshua 7:9

When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will you do about your great name?”

Malachi 1

11 “My name will be great among the nations, from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense[e] and pure offerings will be presented in my name in every place because my name will be great among the nations,”[f] says the Lord of Armies.

5. His name drives His purpose 

The Lord chose Israel and made plans to make them great for His name…

1 Samuel 12:22

22 The Lord will not abandon his people, because of his great name and because he has determined to make you his own people.

He has done and will do the same for you. Not for your name or your fame, for His. 

The Psalmist asked God to deliver him from his enemy…

Psalm 109:21 

But you, Lord, my Lord,
deal kindly with me for your name’s sake;
because your faithful love is good, rescue me.

Psalm 143:11

For your name’s sake, Lord,
let me live.
In your righteousness deliver me from trouble,

David asked….

Psalm 23

Lead me in the paths of righteousness for your names sake. 

The Psalmist asked for God to forgive him of his sin for his name sake…

Psalm 25:11

Lord, for the sake of your name,
forgive my iniquity, for it is immense.

David recognized that God’s gave him guidance for the sake of his name…

Psalm 31:3

For you are my rock and my fortress;
you lead and guide me
for your name’s sake.

6. His name drives his mercy 

Ezekiel 20

5 Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath[a] to the descendants of Jacob’s house and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, saying, “I am the Lord your God.” 6 On that day I swore[b] to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. 7 I also said to them, “Throw away, each of you, the abhorrent things that you prize,[c] and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

8 “‘But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. None of them threw away the abhorrent things that they prized,[d] and they did not abandon the idols of Egypt. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them, exhausting my anger against them within the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations they were living among, in whose sight I had made myself known to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt.

12 I also gave them my Sabbaths to serve as a sign between me and them, so that they would know that I am the Lord who consecrates them.

13 “‘But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my statutes and they rejected my ordinances—the person who does them will live by them. They also completely profaned my Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them. 14 But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

21 “‘But the children rebelled against me. They did not follow my statutes or carefully keep my ordinances—the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned my Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them and exhausting my anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I brought them out.

42 When I lead you into the land of Israel, the land I swore to give your ancestors, you will know that I am the Lord. 43 There you will remember your ways and all your deeds by which you have defiled yourself, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil things you have done. 44 You will know that I am the Lord, house of Israel, when I have dealt with you for the sake of my name rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt acts. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”

7. The gospel itself is for His name’s sake 

Psalm 79:9

God of our salvation, help us,
for the glory of your name.
Rescue us and atone for our sins,
for your name’s sake.

Romans 1:5

5 Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about[d] the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles,[e] 6 including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.

Application: 

An understanding of the name of God and all it entails…

-It changes the way we pray. 

In Jesus’ name isn’t just something we tack onto the end of a prayer to make it should good. 

We say that because Jesus said whatever you ask in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified. 

But now we are beginning to know what that really means. Even the things I ask for myself, the things you ask for yourself should be asked in the name of Jesus, for his purpose, for his fame, for his glory. 

-It changes the way we worship. 

Worship can’t be about us. When worship is about us, we become the object of our own worship. 

Worship can’t be about the new stage, or the new lights, or the new audio and video system, or about the talent on stage. Those things are instruments of worship but they cannot be the object of our worship. 

-It changes our motivation from selfish to God centered. 

If everything God does is for His name’s sake, shouldn’t everything we do be for his names sake? 

In that same vein…

-It gives us a singular focus. 

To glorify God. 

To make his name famous. 

If God exists to glorify himself, shouldn’t we exist to glorify Him? 

Invitation: 

Do you know God? Not a god of your own imagination, the God of heaven. 

Do you exist to glorify God? Every action, every thought, every word, every breath. Not for your own glory, for Gods.