Prayer 2: On Hallowed Names…

Morning!

Raises his cup of coffee

Our next step in looking at prayer is going to be a stop in Luke 11.  No study on prayer would be complete without looking at the Lord’s Prayer.  I have heard the passages preached as a formula to help us understand how to pray.  It gives us a structure that we can follow, an example to emulate.  I think there is a little more that we can pull from it than this though and Lord willing we’ll see what we can find this morning.

Luke 11: 1-4

“Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.’  So He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your Name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us day by day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver from the evil one.”

There is a mirroring passage in Matthew 6.  It reads….

Matthew 6: 5-15

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites.  For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men.  Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.  And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.  For they think that they will be heard for their many words.  therefore do not be like them.  For your father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.  In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.  For Yours is the Kingom and the Power and the Glory forever. Amen.”

Both texts give some pretty clear instructions.  Now at this point we can spend some time looking at the text and breaking down what the words say specifically.  I think it is more important, however to look at what the text is addressing.  Most of the instructions that we are given in both passages are designed to address one thing.  Our hearts.

Are our hearts in the right place when we are communicating with God?

The Lord’s Prayer may give us a structure for prayer, but what good is a structure for prayer if we are neglecting the more weighty issue of our hearts?

Matthew teaches us that we are not to pray like hypocrites.  We are to pray as if we are speaking directly to God, not like others are listening in.  Others don’t have to listen in, God hears us in our secret places and knows our needs before we do.  That makes the issue for us how do we say what we’re trying to say instead of what we say as the point that matters.

The text teaches us that we are to hallow God’s Name.  What does that mean?

Hallow: (verb)

- To make holy or set apart for Holy use.

- To respect greatly: Venerate.

Let’s stop there for a moment.  When was the last time we took stock of our hearts when it comes to the Name of the LORD?  Have we considered how we think of and react to people we respect on the earth?  Do we guard their names for them?  Do we defend them when it is necessary?   When was the last time we invoked the name of someone in authority for ourselves?  It’s not something that we do lightly, so where are we when it comes to understanding the Name of the LORD?

Now let’s take a bit of a step here.  There are many Names the LORD uses for Himself in Scripture.  I’m going to explore here a bit.  There is the Name of our LORD.  The Father of all, Creator of the universe, the long suffering and merciful God of all that was, is and will be.  His Name is Yahweh.  Forgive me, Father, for I am not worthy.  Then there is the Living Word, Savior of the world, the Lamb and Lion of Judah, Jesus.  Then there is the Comforter, the bringer of Truth, the Guide and Friend, The Holy Spirit, which I have not found a reliable source for any formal Name.  Our God is Three in One.

Where does one begin to hallow a Name?  In one’s heart.  There is only One who is worthy of praise and worship, there is only One Good, God is God and is worthy simply for who He is.

So does our heart bow when we hear the Name of God?

Do we cringe when His Name is used in vanity?

Do we reverence the Name of Jesus as our King and our savior?

Have we elevated God higher than yesterday, for He is worthy.

The first step in prayer we are given in our text, the first instruction of communicating to God is to hallow and venerate His Name in our hearts.

Proverbs 1: 7

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

I think that’s a good start for the day.

Happy waiting!

:)