Exodus 19:5-6 (ESV)
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
Wouldn’t you like to be part of a holy nation, to live among people who serve God with all their hearts? It all starts with obeying God’s voice.
Psalm 89:5 (NIV)
The heavens praise your wonders, Lord,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
The heavenly host praising God–I want to be part of that hallowed choir! 
We’re coming up on Hallowe’en, Hallows’ Evening. What does the word “hallow” bring to your mind?
Indeed, you’ll find “hallowed” in the Bible.
In Old Testament Hebrew: qadosh, translated sacred, holy, separate, exalted (think people, the priests; places, the tabernacle, the nation, the throne; beings, angels; time, the Sabbath; and, of course, God).
In New Testament Greek: from the word hagios, meaning dedicated to God, purified, free from sin and guilt, sacred, set apart (things, an offering; people, those who believe; God).
It’s a good week for hallowed thinking.
Reuters reports Nigerian police have rescued 300+ men and boys from abusive treatment facilities. Their families thought these schools would straighten out their wayward sons and teach them Islamic beliefs. Instead, the victims were chained, beaten and sometimes sexually assaulted.
One of the captives, 33-year old Lawal Ahmad described his two years in one of these supposed treatment centers.
“They were just beating, abusing and punishing us every day with the name of teaching us,” he said through tears, adding “they are not teaching us for the sake of God.”
There are multitudes of troubled young men in every country, and plenty of places “not teaching them for the sake of God.”
Lord, raise up godly men around the world to shelter troubled youngsters, teaching them to be righteous adults, committed husbands, involved fathers and compassionate, loving leaders in their homes and communities–for Your sake. Amen.
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born . . . And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Counselor – Holy Spirit. Everlasting Father – Father God. Prince of Peace – Jesus.
Mighty God – all of the above.
Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
The name – singular. Father, Son and Spirit – one God.
“In that name Jesus, slumbers omnipotence. The same power that made all worlds lies hidden in that name. The power that will raise the dead, and make new heavens and a new earth, is in that name.”
Charles H. Spurgeon “The Power of Christ’s Name”
Delivered June 7, 1883
May the name of Jesus empower your prayers.
Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)
Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means “God is with us”).
God is with us. Right here. Right now. Simply said, His name is Here.
“Name” (in Greek, onoma) means authority, revelation, related to someone’s character.
In Jesus’ name isn’t a magic phrase we tack on the end of our prayers to make God do what we ask. It says we are praying in agreement with the nature and holiness of Christ.
Can you picture the words you’re praying coming straight from the mouth of Jesus? You can’t pray in Jesus’ name if your words and attitude are out of character with Christ.
Exodus 20:7 (ESV)
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
When did you last hear God’s name taken in vain (in Hebrew, shav: in emptiness or deceit, falsely, in a worthless manner)?
Whisper a quick prayer for the person misusing God’s name. Your words will not be in vain.
According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, faith in Christ is growing faster than the population:
“Globally, Christianity is growing at a 1.27% rate. Currently, there are 2.5 billion Christians in the world. The world’s population, 7.7 billion, is growing at a 1.20% rate.”
from LifeWay’s Facts and Trends
June 11, 2019
Growth is good, but we could do better:
Lord, we pray for an explosion of Christian faith, a global great awakening to the gospel. Fill our hearts with an intense desire to share Your love with others. Move us out of our safe spaces, out of our sheltered comfort zones. Empower us to go out in faith and make disciples in Jesus’ name.
