Hallowed Be Your Name – What It Means To Hallow God’s Name

Posted on September 16, 2011 by Stephen Nielsen

cropped-copy-of-northern-lights1.jpg This first petition in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is designed to bring us further into the presence of God, but with the aim that God would be glorified.  Hence, when we pray “Hallowed be Your name,” we are in fact praying as such: “Lord, let Your name be hallowed in me so that I will experience who You are and give You praise; and let Your name be hallowed in my friends so that they also can know You and praise You.”  Therefore, though we are asking God to show Himself to us in all His glory, and though we are seeking to ascend further into the heavenlies to experience the awesomeness of God, the aim is not to get our personal needs met, rather it is that God would be lifted up and glorified.  Hence, in this first petition, Jesus is teaching us that we should start our prayers by recognizing God for who He is and by seeking to bring Him glory.

So how do we bring Him glory by praying “Hallowed be Your name?”  Well, here are two ways.  First, we can take this statement not only as a petition but also as adoration.  Hence, when we say “Hallowed be Your name” we can let those words remind us of the name “Father;” and we can think of all that He means to us as our Father.  We can think of how great and good He is; and then we can tell Him so.  Therefore, by this first petition, we worship Him and adore Him.

But let us not stop there.  Let’s remember that “Hallowed be Your name” is primarily a petition.  Therefore, Jesus is teaching us here that we ought to ask Him to hallow His own name.  This is the first priority in praye

What it means to hallow God’s name.  There are two things to consider here: His name and the hallowing of His name.  First of all, let’s take a look at “Your name.”  Andrew Murray has said that the name spoken of here is “Father,” referring back to “Our Father in heaven.”  Lenski suggests, however, that we should think of His name as being God’s word, because, he says, “God’s Word is his onoma, his complete name, made known to us that we may know God and enter into communion with him.”  I like what both of these men have said.  I like what Murray said because the name Father is more in keeping with the context of this prayer.  However, I tend to agree more with Lenski because I think we are to hallow all that He is—His complete name.  Yes, we are to hallow God in all of His character and attributes.

 Now what does hallowed mean?  How do we hallow His name and pray that His name be hallowed?  The most basic meaning of this word is to sanctify or make holy, which means to separate from that which is profane and earthly.  In this verse it means that we are to recognize God as different and holy, then to treat Him as holy, and to pray that He would be treated as holy.  Moreover, we are to pray that His name be esteemed and praised by all men.

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The Ten Commandments: A Different Kind of Slavery – Exodus 20:2

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Stephen Nielsen

The following is God’s introduction to the Ten Commandments, which He gave to the Israelites:

 Ex 20:2

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

 Then in verse three, God immediately begins to give them His Ten Commandments: “You shall have not other gods before me…”

 Some would think: this is strange; God is reminding them that He brought them out of slavery, and now He is introducing them to His own slavery—the Ten Commandments.

 Well yes, this would seem to be the case.  But if you know Romans 6, you know that slavery to God leads to righteousness (v. 16).  And when you are a slave of God it is not at all like being in bondage to a hard task master and to sin.  In fact, when you give yourself as a slave to God you feel a new sense of freedom and joy and peace and security. 

 No, the commandments of God were never meant to punish us or give of pain.  They are meant to protect us, to keep us out of harms way, and to keep us in the love of God.  Yes, keeping the Ten Commandment is a different kind of slavery; a good kind of slavery.

 If you are struggling with sin and are in bondage to sin, choose instead to be a slave to God and you will find a new freedom: a freedom which was paid for by the blood of Christ in His death on the cross. 

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9/11 – A Biblical Perspective for These Days of Terror

Posted on September 10, 2011 by Stephen Nielsen

Here are a few verses that I thought would be helpful as we think about 9/11.

 

Lawlessness and Wickedness Is Prophesied For These Days 

 Matt 24:12-14

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

NIV

 

Put Your Fears into Perspective

 Luke 12:4-6

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

NIV

 

Heb 10:31

It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

NIV

 

What to Do In These Last Days of Terror

 1 Peter 4:7-11

The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore be earnest, thoughtful men of prayer.

8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love makes up for many of your faults.

9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay for the night.

10 God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings.

TLB

 

Comfort and Protection for Those Who Trust God

 Psalms 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling — even the Lord, who is my refuge — 

10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

NIV

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Has God Been Calling You to Stand On A Hill and Intercede For Others? – Exodus 17:6-16

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Stephen Nielsen

When the Amalekites came against Israel in battle God enlisted Moses to stand on a hill nearby and lift up his hands with his rod.  This act was the way God wanted him to intercede for the people.  He could have prayed privately but in this case his standing on the hill was a demonstration to all that he was their God-appointed leader and was used by God to intercede for them.  And as it happened, when intercession was made by Moses by the lifting of the rod, the battle was victorious for them, but when Moses lowered his hands the enemy had the advantage.

So it is with us.  When those who intercede are strong in prayer we have victory.  When they get tired and stop praying we fail. Hence we need our intercessors to stay strong in the Lord, to keep praying for us all.  Has God called you to stand on a hill and intercede? Or perhaps He has called you to be like Aaron and Hur who helped Moses by holding his hands up?

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4 Things that the Lord’s Prayer Address, Our Father in Heaven, Tells Us about Prayer

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Stephen Nielsen

An excerpt from my book Purpose of Prayer.

The proper way to start any prayer is with an address.  I suppose there are several ways to address God when we pray, but the address in the Lord’s Prayer is the best way—since Jesus gives it to us.  Here are…

Four Things that the Lord’s Prayer Address, Our Father in Heaven, Tells Us about Prayer — Matthew 6:9-13

 

1.  That prayer is only for Christians.  The words “Our Father” indicate that this prayer and all true prayer is only for those who can truly call God Father. In a general or physical sense, all people can call Him father, because all people were created by Him (Mal. 2:10).  But here, “Father” is used in a spiritual sense (Gal. 4:5-6).  Hence, Jesus teaches us here that only Christians, those adopted into the spiritual family of God, can truly communicate with God in prayer.

 2.  That when you pray you are always praying in unity with other believers.  The words “our Father,” with emphasis on “our,” reminds us that when we pray we do not pray alone.  For the Spirit dwells in all believers; and He moves in all believers to pray the same prayers in unity.  Therefore, when you request anything of God be reminded as you pray “our Father” that the whole body of Christ is praying in the Spirit with you and for you.  And you also are praying for them.  For all who dwell in the Spirit have a deep, loving concern for each other; and so, whenever we bow our head in prayer to the Father, we, even without knowing it, are praying for each other in the Spirit with groaning too deep for words.

 3.  That pray has everything to do with seeing God as our Father.  Whenever you go to prayer let those first words you utter, “Our Father,” bring you to the realization that God is truly your Father and that you are His son or daughter.  This knowledge will help you in all your praying.  E. M. Bounds said, “God’s Fatherhood gives shape, value and confidence to all our praying.”  Andrew Murray has said, “In the knowledge of God’s Fatherliness revealed by the Holy Spirit, the power of prayer will root and grow.”

So what do we see in God’s fatherliness that helps us in prayer?  First of all, when we ponder that He is our Father, we begin to see that we are His adopted children, that He loves us and cares for us, and that we are dependent on Him for everything.

This knowledge (of our adoption) is not natural or earthly.  It is a heavenly or spiritual knowledge.  The apostle Paul has put it this way: as we are led by the Spirit of God, He puts the Spirit of His Son (which is also called the Spirit of Adoption) into our heart; hence, by that Spirit we are moved to cry out “Abba Father” (Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:6).    

What is so significant about this is that those same words, “Abba Father,” were uttered by Jesus when He prayed.  We see this clearly as He prayed in the garden (Mk. 14:36).  Therefore, we can be confident that when we cry out to God, saying, “Abba Father,” or “Daddy,” it is none other than the Spirit of Jesus crying out in us!

 4.  That Prayer has much to do with seeing God as our Father in heaven.  First of all, I think it would help to understand where heaven is.  Some say that heaven is way out there beyond the stars.  I think that is true, but it is only partly right.  The word translated as heaven here (v. 9) is plural.   I think it should read “Our Father in the heavens.”  G. Campbell Morgan has reminded us in his commentary that the New Testament speaks of three heavens.  First there is the atmosphere encircling the earth.  Then there is the area of the stellar space; that is the second heaven.  The third heaven is beyond the stellar spaces, where Paul said that he was caught up to, a place he expressed as Paradise, where he heard “inexpressible words” (2 Cor. 12:4).  So I would say that God dwells in all three heavens.  He is not only far away beyond the stars, He is also very near.  Morgan put it this way: “He is in the very air we breathe, as well as far away, infinitely out beyond the possibility of the mind’s comprehension; in all infinite spaces, and in all near details, everywhere.”

I believe that since God is spirit that heaven is a spiritual place.  I think also that since God is pure and holy that heaven is a place of perfect purity.

Now, with these things in mind, what can we conclude about God and about what our attitude toward God should be as we pray?  Here are four things:

(1) God is omnipresent—He is far and near all at once.  Hence, we should remind ourselves of that, and that He has a clear view of our wants and needs.

(2) God is all-powerful and mighty, and He rules over all.  The prayer of Jehoshaphat expresses this well: “O Lord of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You” (2 Chron. 20:6)?  Also in Psalms 115:3 it says, “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him” (NIV).  Therefore, when we pray we should think of how powerful and mighty He is and how much He can and is willing to bless us.

(3)  God who dwells in a high and holy place (Is. 57:15) is pure.  Therefore, when we pray, we ought to be pure.  Before you pray confess every sin and make every wrong right.

(4)  God is spirit.  When you pray be aware of that fact; and make every effort to pray in the Spirit.

Last, let me remind you of our wonderful position in Christ with God.  As you pray “Our Father in heaven,” don’t ever think that God is so far away from you.  He is not.  He is always near you; and you are with Him in the heavens.  For since Christ has ascended to heaven, since you are in Christ, you have ascended there too in spirit with all other believers.  Yes, He has blessed us all together and made us sit together with Him in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3; 2:6).

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Trusting God for Daily Provisions and Not Worrying About Tomorrow – Exodus 16

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Stephen Nielsen

 

The Collecting of Manna In the Wilderness

The Lord provided daily food for Israel in the wilderness: meat (quail) in the evening and sweet manna in the morning.  They were not to gather extra and save the bread or quail, they were to gather it just for that day and not worry about the next day.  But on the sixth day (our Saturday) God provided double the food and they were to gather also for the next day so they wouldn’t have to gather on their day of rest (our Sunday).  So the Lord provided for them every day in the wilderness. 

This is what actually happened for Israel, but I believe it also an illustration for us of how God provides.  If we will trust Him He will provide for us each day and we should not worry about tomorrow.  In Matthew 6 we have this teaching from the Lord Jesus.  In verse 11 we are instructed to pray to the Father for our daily bread.  This means that we are to trust God in prayer that He will provide for us enough for each day and that we are not to worry about the next day, because on the next day God will give us food for that day too.  And so it will go on and on every day.  And the hard part is not for God to provide for us for each day; it is rather for us to pray and believe Him for each day.  But as Christians that is what we are to do; and along with believing we are to be busy doing His will.  And here is God’s wonderful promise to us: 

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [all the things we need for this life] shall be added to you (Matt. 6:33). 

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4 Things the Lord’s Prayer Teaches Us About Prayer

Posted on September 3, 2011 by Stephen Nielsen

What the Lord’s Prayer Teaches Us About Prayer — Matthew 6:9-13

1.  It brings to us the way we ought to regard God when we pray.  Hence, when we pray “Our Father” we understand that we ought to regard Him as our father.  Likewise, when we pray “Hallowed be Thy name” we see Him as holy.  When we pray “Your kingdom come” we see Him as a king, our king.  When we pray “Thy will be done” we see Him as our master and teacher.  Then as we pray for daily bread we see Him as our provider.  When we pray for forgiveness we see Him as our savior.  And when we pray for leading and guidance we see Him as our shepherd and protector, the one who goes before us.

2.  It shows us the spirit of true prayer.  At each junction in the prayer Jesus conveys to us what the spirit of true prayer is.  First of all, the word “our” in “Our Father” gives us the spirit of fellowship, and unity, and intercession, because we see that we are not praying alone but we pray with all believers who are one in Christ and in the Spirit.  The two words together, “Our Father,” brings to us the spirit of fatherhood and sonship; it takes us, in our spirit, into the family of God.  “Hallowed be Your name” shows us the Holy Spirit, and also the spirit of reverence and holiness.  “Your kingdom come” brings to our spirit the sense that we are to be ready for His kingdom and His rule; it also reveals to us a spirit of home and happiness, of love and peace and contentment, because where He dwells in His kingdom we will always be happy. The words “Thy will be done” conveys to us a spirit of submission and obedience.  For these words, we remember, are the often-prayed words of Jesus to His Father.  He is our best example of one who was obedient.

When we pray for daily bread, this brings us a spirit of dependent; and also a grateful and thankful spirit, because we know that He always gives us all we need.  Prayer for forgiveness, likewise, brings with it the spirit peace, because we know that this prayer will bring us back into His fellowship.  Last, our prayers for leading and guidance, gives us the spirit of humility.  For we know that without Him we are weak and powerless, and we so easily fall into sin.

3.  It shows us the rightful place of God.   It shows us that He is our Father and king who rules in heaven and on earth.  It also shows us that we are dependent on Him for everything.

4.  It shows us the purpose of prayer: to hallow His name, to bring in His kingdom, and to do His will.

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God Has Planned Out Your Life and Is In Control of Your Life – Exodus 14:1-31

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Stephen Nielsen

 

I get really aggravated at people that insist that God allows things to happen to us, but that He doesn’t control things.  If God just allows things to happen, who did it?  Who was in control?  The devil? Mother Nature? I don’t think so.  God controls everything, even the devil, even nature.  He plans all things in our life and He controls all things.  Everything happens the way He decides.  Now I am not saying that we don’t have a will and can’t plan things.  But in the end God will determine what happens.  We will make our plans, but God determines the outcome (Prov. 16:9).  

In Exodus 14 we have a good example of God being in control.  In this well known story of the Red Sea crossing God had a plan and He put that plan into action.

Here was God’s Plan.  He planned for the Children of Israel to cross the Red Sea and go into the desert; and He planned that the Egyptians would chase them and drowned in the Sea.

Here Was The Purpose Of His Plan.  He wanted Egypt to know that He was the Lord; and He wanted Israel to put their trust in Him.

Well the plan worked perfectly.  Here are the details of His plan:

1.  God wanted Israel to march toward the sea and camp along the sea shore.  And so they did (vv. 1-2).

2.  God’s idea was to make Pharaoh think that Israel was confused and trapped between the sea and the wilderness.

3.  Next God put it in Pharaoh’s mind to chase after them and bring them back to Egypt.  But God was planning to drowned them all and save Israel.  He wanted Egypt to know that he was the Lord (the Sovereign God).

4.  Verse 8 tells us that God continued to strengthen Pharaoh’s resolve to chase after them.  And so he did and all Egypt did.

Well you know the rest of the story.  It happened just as God planned it.  God used Moses’ hand to part the sea.  And He caused a strong east wind to blow all night to dry out the sea bed so that the Israelites could walk across.  Then God caused the Egyptians to chase after them, but He through them into confusion and made their chariot wheels fall off. Then God used Moses again to close up the sea so that all the Egyptians drown.  And so it happened exactly as God planned it.  But why did God plan this to happen as it did?

The answer is clearly written in scripture.  For the Egyptians it is, “[so] the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”  For the Israelites, it is so that they would fear God and put their trust in Him and in Moses (Ex. 14:31).

So, you see how God manipulated things in order to make His plans work.  Does He not do that still now in this age in our life?  I don’t see why He wouldn’t.  And he does it for the same reason: for His glory; so people will know He is the Lord; and so people will fear Him and trust Him.  I hope that you will choose to trust Him. 

Final note:  God told Moses all His plans.  I think He will share His plans with us too if we would be close to Him as Moses was.

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The Long Way Is Often the Best Way – Exodus 13:17-18

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Stephen Nielsen

 

When God led the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land He didn’t lead them by the shortest road through the Philistine territory.  He instead led them through the wilderness.  Why? Because He knew that if they went that way, though it was the shortest and most direct way, they would have to battle with the Philistines and they would end up retreating back to Egypt—because at that point in their life they didn’t know warfare.

Most often we want to go the short, most direct way; the easy way.     It’s the way we see as the fastest way to prosperity.  But often that way is deadly and is a trap—and God sees it.  God’s way is often longer—a lot longer—and full of trails; but they are trials  that are not deadly, but will serve to strengthen us (for life and warfare) and make us ready for where He wants to take us. 

I seem to be often complaining about how long it takes for God to do His work in me and through me (I suppose just like the Israelites did in the wilderness).  But I should know that complaining won’t help. And I should realize also that it takes time for God to do His good work in me, and time to build me up in the faith and make me strong and ready for warfare. It took forty years for God to make Israel ready.  I wonder how long it will take for me. 

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Purity: A Celebration of Our Deliverance – Exodus 12:14-42

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Stephen Nielsen

 This post is the first of, I pray, many of my thoughts from my personal quiet times as I read through the Bible.  I’m now in Exodus, so I have a long way to go.  I will not write on every thought I have, just the hightlights. 

Purity: A Celebration of Our Deliverance – Exodus 12:14-42

On the night before the Israelites were to be headed out of Egypt, they were instructed by the Lord to make bread and eat it without yeast.  They were also told that every year they were to celebrate their deliverance with a seven day celebration and eat bread without yeast.  It would be called a Festival of Unleavened Bread. 

What does this mean to us?  Well, to me it means that I ought to remember and celebrate the fact that the Lord delivered me from bondage to sin.  And the best way to do that is by being pure in my body and mind.  You see, unleavened bread (without yeast) represents purity because yeast is symbolic of sin and corruption. 

Maybe to give thanks to the Lord for your salvation you can go on a fast for 7 days every year.  Just a thought.  Or maybe you will consciously try to avoid lust (or some other sin that plagues you) every day.  And you will tell God that you are doing it as a thank offering to Him for delivering you out of Egypt—that is, out of your past life of sin.

I think our personal acts of holiness are a great praise to God and a great celebration.  And in that time of purity He will bless us with joy and a freedom of spirit, a freedom to worship Him in love. 

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