Section (2) (Could You Not Tarry One Hour?)

SECTION TWO

PROMISES : “Our Father wbicb art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. “

 

Ch. 8. (APPROPRIATING GOD’S NAMES)

 

 Discipline is a dirty word to many of us. When most people think about discipline in prayer, they get a grim, determined look on their faces, grit their vow, “I’m gonna’ do it if it kills me!” That’s the look my young son, John Aaron, put on his face when I told him to eat his spinach. “Daddy,” he said in his most man-to-man voice, “I don’t like it, but I can eat it.” How many times have you said that to God： “Father, I don’t like to pray, but I can do it”? Prayer doesn’t have to be a duty； it can be a delight!

 

 Have you ever noticed that the Lord’s Prayer begins and ends with praise? We are to enter into His gates with thanksgiving and come into His courts with praise (Ps. 100:4). Jesus knew that when He instructed, “When you pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name...’’ (Luke 11：2).

 

 Love says ‘‘our’’ and faith says ‘‘Father.’’ The omni¬scient, omnipotent creator God dwelling in eternity invites believers to call Him Father.
 The word "hallow” is not a common word, but it means “to sanctify or set apart； to praise； to adore.” The phrase should be translated, “May Your name be sanctified.” It is the expression of an intense desire that God’s name be recognized, set apart and adored.

 

 We do not stop to realize that the name of the Lord can be either sanctified or profaned by our conduct. But ancient documents record that, because a martyr’s sacrificial death would frequently cause others to glorify God, the Hebrew idiom “to sanctify the name” was often understood to mean to give one’s life for his faith.1 What a powerful truth. We can sanctify God by the example of our righteous lives, as well as by our words of praise and adoration (Matt. 5： 16).
 As we learn to follow Christ’s prayer pattern and to set apart, praise and adore the name of God, prayer will shift out of frustrating desire and determined discipline and move right on into holy delight.

 

 The discipline I am talking about will lead you into God’s holy presence and cause you to walk in kingdom priorities. It will help you learn how to “pray in” what you need and will enable you to get along with everybody all the time. It will help you face the devil and leave him sitting in the dirt. It will cause you to be the head and not the tail, to be above only and not beneath. It will enable you to walk in victory every day of your life!

 

 But in order to hallow our Father’s name, we must understand that God’s character and will for His children are revealed in His names. Our Father’s names reveal what He has promised to be in us and what He has prom¬ised to do for and through us.

 

Blessings Brought by Jesus’ Blood

 

 As God was revealing the prayer outline to me He gave me a clear vision of what God has given us.  I saw Jesus picking up a large basin and walking toward what I perceived to be a huge rock altar behind which shone 
a great light. As I watched, the Lord emptied the contents of the basin upon the altar, and I realized that the living, swirling liquid poured out upon that altar was His own blood.
 The Word of God flooded my mind. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Pet. 1:18-19).
Suddenly it all came together：
 God sent forth his Son...to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father (Gal. 4:4-6).

 

 I looked at that blood and exclaimed, “Father, Father!,” for into my “knower” there came a warm and wonderful witness that, when I received Christ*s forgiveness, I was adopted into the family of God and accepted as His child and heir. God was my Father by virtue of the blood of Jesus. Then it seemed as if the liv¬ing blood upon that altar spoke of the covenant bless¬ings it had bought for me.

 

 First, it testified that all my sins are forgiven, and I remembered, “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities” (Is. 53:5). I looked at that blood and wept both for sorrow and for joy, because I knew He had washed me from my sins in His own blood (Rev. 1：5), and sin no longer had dominion over me (Rom. 6：14).

 

 Then the blood testified that because of the blood of the Lamb, I can boldly enter into the most holy place (Heb. 10:19).   My body has now become the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in me and is God’s gift to me (1 Cor. 6:19). 

 I praised God that the blood of Jesus has opened up a new and living way in order that I might experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
 Next, the blood testified to me that by Christ’s wounds and sufferings I am healed and made whole (Is. 53:5; 1 Pet. 2：24; Matt. 8:16,17) 一healed spiritually and physically, mentally and emotionally. Jesus is the Great Physician, the sympathizing Jesus.

 

 And then the blood testified that Christ has made me free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2). Jesus took the curse of my failure and insufficiency (Gal. 3:13)，and now He always causes me to triumph in Christ (2 Cor. 2：14).
 Last of all, the blood testified that in my covenant rela-tionship with God my Father, I am free from the fear of death and hell. Jesus Christ has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Tim. 1:10).
 As the Spirit of the Lord revealed what the blood has done for us, I suddenly recalled the Old Testament Hebrew names of God compounded with the name Jehovah in the Old Testament.

 

 You see, when God wished to make a special revelation of Himself, He used the name Jehovah. In that name, He revealed Himself as the true and eternal God, the One who is absolutely self-existent, the One who is unchangeable.
 The significance and origin of the name Jebovab are especially brought out in God’s revelation of Himself to Moses at the burning bush (Ex. 3:13-15). Through four centuries of oppression in Egypt, the children of Israel had believed in God’s existence, but they had not ex¬perienced His presence. God proclaimed to Moses that 

 He had personally come down to deliver His people from bondage and to lead them into the promised land. But before His servant Moses could lead God's people, Moses had to learn who God was and is.When the Lord first proclaimed to Moses, “I AM THAT I AM,” the name He used for Himself was considered by Hebrew translators too sacred to be spoken aloud. So they used the consonants YHWH or JHVH, which we can read as Yahweb or Jehvab. Yahweh implies more than just God’s existence' it implies His personal, intimate presence. God’s name Jehovah reveals His readiness to save His people and to act for them. Thus, the name Jehovah, or I AM THAT I AM, can be rendered, “I am with you, ready to save and to act, just as I have always been.”

 

 Now in the Old Testament, there are eight names compounded with the name Jehovah :  Jehovah-tsidkenu, Jehovah-m’kaddesb, Jehovah-shammah， Jehovah-shalom, Jehovah-rophe, Jehovah-nissi and Jehovah-rohi. Each of these names is a revelation of the character and nature of God.

 

 In Exodus 6:3,4, God links His name Jehovah to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But the eight compound names of God in the Old Testament also correspond to the five-fold promise God makes to His peo¬ple in the New Covenant or New Testament. While God’s names reveal different dimensions of His character they also point to their fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
 What are the five promises or benefits in the New Covenant with which the eight compound names of God correspond? Of what five things did the testifying blood on the altar speak?

 

The benefits we enjoy in the New Covenant deal with five vital areas. 

 To make the areas easy to remember, Fll begin each with an s： (1) sin—forgiveness of sin and deliverance from sin’s dominion； (2) Spirit—the fullness of the Holy Spirit； (3) soundness—the promise of health and healing； (4) success—freedom from the law’s curse of failure and insufficiency； (5) security一-freedom from the fear of death and hell.

 

 As the Spirit of the Lord revealed what the blood has done for us, I began to understand what it means to pray, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” Let’s look at the five benefits given to us by virtue of Jesus’ death.

 

Forgiveness of Sins and Deliverance From Sin’s Dominion

 

 The first benefit you enjoy in the New Covenant because you are a child of God by virtue of the blood of Jesus is the forgiveness of sins. How can a sinful person be acquitted of unrighteousness and become righteous before God? In the Old Testament, the penalty of death incurred because of sin had to be borne by an in¬nocent sufferer whose righteousness would be reckoned to the sinner.

 

 But no human being is innocent and righteous, and the blood of animals cannot take away sin. Therefore, there had to be a divine remedy. The provision of righteousness was made in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, who died in our place (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 3：18).
 The compound name of God, Jebovah_tsidkenu (sid- kay’-noo), means “Jehovah Our Righteousness(see Jer. 23：5,6). This name reveals the facet of God’s character that transacts the redemption by which mankind is fully restored to God.

 

 Jesus Christ, our Jehovah-tsidkenu，was substituted for us (Rom. 5:17-19). The name “Jehovah Our 
Righteousness” reveals the method of our acceptance before God (“He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin…’’) and the measure of our acceptance (“that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” [2 Cor. 5:21]).

 

 Therefore as you pray, “Hallowed be Thy name, Jehovab-tsidkenu,”thank God that He has already made a decision about your sins. In His mind He already says, ‘‘I forgive you.” All you have to do is come and ap¬propriate that forgiveness, for the Bible says, “If we con¬fess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). 

 

 Do you get it? Righteousness equals Jesus Christ plus nothing. “Ye are complete in him” (Col. 2:10). Remember the words of the old hymn ‘‘Rock of Ages’’: “In my hands no price I bring； simply to Thy cross I cling”? That’s it! Let me share a story to illustrate this profound truth.

 

 Some years ago I was away from home preaching in a black church. (I do not believe in reincarnation, but I sometimes jokingly say that if I did, I’d ask to come back as a black preacher. Talk about liberty!) My dad, who was saved about two-and-a-half years before this time after having been an alcoholic for 15 years, came to the motel where I was staying to drive me to the church.

 

 I was eager to see him, but as I answered his knock at the door, my heart sank.
 It wasn’t raining, yet there he stood dripping wet. His dark hair was plastered to his scalp and his expensive blue suit and leather shoes oozed water that made puddles on the concrete balcony outside my door. My first thought was, Qh，no! Daddy got drunk and fell in the pool! But I didn’t want to confront him without hearing 
some kind of explanation. I invited him in, handed him a towel and asked very calmly, “Daddy, are you all right?”

 

 As he mopped the water off his face, he explained what had happened.
 He had been on his way to my room when he glanced down from the second story balcony and saw the body of a small child lying motionless at the bottom of the pool. Without a second thought, he jumped off the balcony, hurdled the chain link fence that enclosed the pool and dived into the water. He hauled the boy’s limp form out of the pool, gave him artificial respiration, got him breathing and carried the frightened child to his grateful mother.

 

 I was so proud of my daddy that day. And I’ll never forget that incident because that’s what Jebovab-tsidkenu，“the Lord Our Righteousness,didfor me- afittyou. We were dead in the water, dead in trespasses and sins, but He jumped into the pool and saved us. He who knew no sin was made to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21).

 If you can swim your way out or buy your way out or confess your way out, you don’t need a Savior. But if you’re dead in the water, you’ve got to have Jesus. You must exchange your sin and guilt for His righteousness and grace if you hope to obtain eternal life.

 

 I don’t know about you, but when I remember how Jesus carried my sin and died for me on the cross, I don’t have any trouble hallowing His name，Jehovab-tsidkenu, the Lord My Righteousness.”
 But Jesus is more than our righteousness. He offers not only forgiveness for our sins； He offers deliverance from sin’s dominion, because Jesus is our sanctifier. Now what does that mean?

 The primary meaning of the Hebrew word sanctify is “to set apart for God’s service.

” Believers are to be different from, set apart from, the world by obeying God’s commands.

 

 God is holy, separate from His people, yet He sanc¬tifies us and makes us holy in order that we might have fellowship with Him. In Leviticus 20：8, He is called Jehovah-m’kaddesh (ma-kah’-desh), “the Lord Who Sanctifies.” 
But because this name has not been transliterated in our English Bibles as have His other names, it has often escaped notice as one of the compound names of Jehovah.

 

 God’s Holy Spirit indwells believers and empowers them to live holy lives and to be spiritually and morally pure. (See 1 Cor. 6：11； 1 Thess. 4:3,4； 1 Thess. 5:23.) Therefore, as you meditate upon God’s name, “Jehovah Who Sanctifies,’’ praise Him because the blood of Jesus not only takes away your sin； it breaks the power of sin in you. Thank Him that the blood of Christ does not overlook sin； it overcomes. (See Rom. 6:17,18； Heb. 13：12； 1 Cor. 6：9-11.) Hallowed be Thy name, Jehovah-m’kaddesb，”the Lord Who Sanctifies.”

 

Spirit： The Fullness of the Holy Spirit

 

 Because God is your Father, the second benefit you enjoy in the New Covenant is the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The compound name of God, Jehovah-shalom (sha-lom’) means “Jehovah Is Peace” (see Judg. 6：24). The Hebrew word shalom is most often and most appropriately translated “peace” and represents wholeness and harmony with God and contentment and satisfaction in life.

 

 Christ’s atonement is the basis for peace with God. Before mankind could be reconciled to God, someone had to pay the price of sin, which was death. Jesus Christ paid that price, and the fellowship between God and man 
which sin broke was atoned for by His blood (see Col. 1:20-22). “The chastisement needful to obtain peace and well-being for us was upon Him” (Is. 53:5, Amplified). 

 

  As Jesus died and His blood broke down the barrier of sin separating us from God, something supernatural occurred in the Jerusalem temple. The inner veil separating the holy place from the holy of holies (the presence chamber of God which contained the ark and the mercy seat stained by the sacrificial animal blood which was brought in by the high priest once each year) was torn from top to bottom, opening the way for us to enter in¬to the holy of holies一into the very presence of God Himself (see Heb. 10:19-22).
 

 Josephus, a first century Pharisee and historian, reported that this four-inch-thick veil, which was re¬newed every year, could not be pulled apart by horses tied to each side. It barred all but the high priest from the presence of God, but when it suddenly ripped apart from top to bottom at the death of Jesus (Mark 15:37,38), access to God was made available to all who come to Him through Jesus.

 

 Hallowed be Thy name, Jehovah-shalom, “the Lord Is Peace.” Thank You for restoring mankind to that peace with God which was lost through the fall.
 Another compound name of God, Jehovah-shammab (sham’-mah)，means ‘‘Jehovah Is There” (see Ezek. 48：35). Shammah is the Hebrew word meaning “the overflowing, ever-present One.” This name is the promise of a holy God dwelling in the midst of His people. It is the promise of His presence.
 

 The presence of God Himself is in believers, who are the living, growing, holy temple of God, through the Spirit (see Eph. 2:20-22). The word used for “temple” in verse 21 does not refer to the temple in general, but the “sanctuary.”

  In the sanctuary stood the altar of incense, and in the holiest place of all was the mercy seat above which the divine presence or the shekinah glory hovered. Now, through Jesus, we are temples of clay, filled with the glorious presence of God.

 

 Thank God that because your sins are forgiven you can be filled and flooded with God Himself： You can be fill¬ed with His Holy Spirit. And that’s not all. Jesus promised, ‘‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee’’ (Heb. 13:5). He has sent the comforting, strengthening, interceding, communing Holy Spirit to your side. Hallow¬ed be Thy name, Jehovah-shammah, “the Lord Is There.”

 

 Remember, you are hallowing God’s name because of who He is and because of what He has done for you. As you meditate upon the various names of God your Father, affirm your faith by turning your thoughts into declarations of faith and praise.
 “Father, You are Jehovah-tsidkenu. You are my righteousness. I stand before You righteous and forgiven because of the blood of Your dear Son. You are Jehovah- m’kaddesh，“the Lord Who Sanctifies.” You conform me into the image of Your Son and break sin’s power over me. You are Jehovah-shalom, my peace. Jesus made peace by the blood of His cross and reconciled me to You. Now Your peace which passes all understanding keeps my heart and my mind. You are Jehovah- shammah. You have filled me with Your overflowing presence, and You will never leave me nor forsake me. Thank You for living in me, Lord.”
 That is an example of what it means to hallow God’s name and to make faith declarations based upon who He is and what He has done for you. But there is much, much more for which you should hallow your Father’s name. 

 

 

 

Ch.9. (APPROPRIATING GOD’S PROMISES)

 

 Now don’t get me wrong. Prayer is not magic, nor is it easy. But prayer works. As we acknowledge Him in all our ways, God really does give us the desires of our hearts.
 Some time after I became a Christian, my mother con-fided to me that she planned to leave my dad. “Larry，” she sighed, “your dad and I have lived together all these years, and it’s been a terrible life. I just can’t take his drinking anymore. I can’t keep living this way.” Crushed, I pleaded, “Mama, please don’t leave him.’’ But Mother countered, “You’re gone now, and your sister has grown up and left home. Why shouldn’t I leave?’’
“Because, Mama,” I answered, “I’ve been readin’ the red part of my Bible.”
“Well, what’s that supposed to mean?’’ Mother asked wearily, a note of exasperation in her voice.

 

“It means that Jesus said in Matthew 18:19, ‘If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.’ I’m one, Mother, and you make two. We 
can agree and it can be done.”

 

 But Mother didn’t share my excitement. She just took a deep breath and admitted, “I don’t even have enough faith to believe, Larry.” “That’s okay,” I said. “It doesn’t say, ‘If two agree and believe/ It just says, ‘If two agree/ If it takes believing, then I’ll believe for both of us.” I put my arm around her, and we prayed a prayer of agreement.

 

 Do you know what happened after that conversation? Things got worse! Has that ever happened to you? Did you ever pray for something real hard, but things just got worse?
 One night after Daddy got drunk and wrecked his car, I knelt down beside him and tried to talk to him about God, but he leveled me with the back of his hand and snarled, “Don’t tell me about that Jesus stuff!”

 

 That night I prayed a puddle of hot tears on my bedroom floor. Jesus had kindled a burning desire in my heart for my dad’s salvation, and I refused to give up. You see, I had His promise： “Delight thyself also in the Lord； and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart’’ (Ps. 37:4).

 

 Now that doesn’t mean I could have a Cadillac this week, a Mercedes next month and a new house next year. I’m not talking about carnal craziness. I’m talking about losing your life in Jesus and letting Him plant His desires in your heart.
 The next week I walked into the kitchen and found my mother sitting at the kitchen table crying. My first thought was that something terrible must have happened. “Mother!”  I exclaimed in alarm. “What has happened?” 

 She dabbed at her tears and replied, ‘‘I don’t know ex¬actly. All I know is that your daddy pulled over by the side of the road today, got out of the car and prayed, 
'Jesus, if You can do anything with an old drunk like me, ril give my life to You.’ ”
 

 Within the next few days, I received a call from a hospital in Dallas where my dad had been admitted because his body was totally devastated by alcohol. My father’s familiar voice ordered, “Son, bring me a Bible.”

 Astonished by his request, I said, “Daddy, what’s happened to you?”
 Embarrassed, yet proud of his new commitment, he replied sternly, “You know whats happened to me.” But his tone softened as he repeated, “Bring me a Bible.”

 With a Bible under my arm I rushed down to the convalescent center. As I walked into his room, Dad embraced me. The first words out of his mouth were “Would you pray for me?”

 

 Together we fell on our faces and cried and prayed. That was over fifteen years ago. My dad has remained sober ever since, and he’s the best friend I’ve ever had. He and my mother are members of my church, driving seventy miles one way every Sunday to attend services. It all happened because my faithful Lord planted a holy desire in my heart to see my daddy healed and made whole in spirit, soul and body. That’s the third benefit we enjoy in the New Covenant： health and healing.

 

Soundness： Health and Healing

 

 The compound name of God, Jebovab-ropbe (ro’- phay), means ‘‘Jehovah Heals.” The word rophe means “to restore, cure or heal not only in the physical sense but also in the spiritual and moral sense.” that’s what God did for my daddy.

 

 In my systematic theology class at seminary, professors tried to tell me that Jesus doesn't heal in our day； then they attempted to convince me that this New Covenant was better than the old. I didn’t buy it, and neither should 
you! He is still “the healer God.,,
 Do you or does someone you know need healing? Then begin to thank the Lord that by His stripes you are healed (see Is. 53:5; Matt. 8:16,17). Healing is already a finished work in the mind of God (1 Pet 2:24). Make that faith declaration. Concentrate on the blood, not on yourself or how you feel. Concentrate upon who He is and upon what His blood has purchased for you. As you praise Him, He will be what you need Him to be一He will be Jehovah-rophe, “the Lord Who Heals.”

 

 Put yourself in a faith position before God. Remember, the greatest faith words ever spoken are “thank you.,, Therefore, stir yourself up to give thanks for the stripes He took on His back for your healing. Hallow His name，Jehovah-rophe，and thank Him for the health and healing that are yours through Jesus Christ.

 

Success： Freedom From the Curse of the Law 

 

 The fourth benefit you enjoy because of the covenant relationship with God your Father is freedom from the curse of the law. When I was growing up, my home environment wasn’t too positive. My dad used to shake his head at me in disgust and mutter, “I’ll probably have to support you the rest of my life.” I halfway believed him. I felt doomed to failure； I really didn’t expect to succeed in life. The real Larry Lea never seemed to measure up to anybody’s expectation.

 

 I thought it was just I. I didn’t know Paul plainly declared in Romans 3:23: ‘For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Our sins condemn us to failure. All men and women fall short continually in every area of life： morally, emotionally, financially, socially, spiritually and physically. No mortal has ever fulfilled all the requirements of the law. 

 

 I was preaching on this subject one time when I ut¬tered the worst preacher “blooper” of my entire ministry. Waxing eloquent, I exclaimed, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God!” Then pointing toward the congregation, I asked, “How many of you are tired of always falling short? Well, fve got good news for you. Christ has redeemed us from all our falling shorts.”

 

 Christ had redeemed us, but there was no way for me to redeem that situation! My wife laughed so hard she almost fell out of her chair. But the fact of the matter is, Christ truly has redeemed us from all our “falling shorts.”
 

 In Galatians 3：10 we read, “Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” However, Romans 8：2 states： “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” And in Galatians 3:13, Paul declares： “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us： for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” What is this curse of the law from which Christ has redeemed us? To answer that question, we must return to the book of Genesis and its account of the fall of mankind.

 

 Adam and Eve’s decision to disobey God, a decision resulting in the fall of our first parents, had far-reaching effects. By their act of disobedience, sin and all its dreadful consequences entered into the world. God’s image in mankind became distorted and marred, human beings became alienated from their Creator, and all mankind came under a sentence of death. Through Moses God gave mankind His law that set forth the only standard of righteousness acceptable to God. The Mosaic Law, a covenant of works, established 
a model for mankind’s everyday conduct； however, lacking power to conform to that perfect standard, mankind always fell short. The curse of the broken law meant humanity was doomed to a frustrating, hopeless life-style of failure.

 

 But when mankind fell into sin, we also fell into God’s arms of redeeming mercy. Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, and the only perfect human, voluntarily offered Himself up on the cross, bore the death penalty of the curse for us, satisfied every demand of the law, and gave us a new and better covenant. New Covenant believers are free from the law’s condemnation because Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to them. In addition, as a result of Christ’s atonement, the commandments of the law become, not impossible standards, but gracious duties and privileges willingly and effectively carried out by a redeemed people possessing the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

 But that is not all that Jesus Christ accomplished for us when He took away our curse. Through Jesus, God’s riches belong to His covenant people, riches that cover every conceivable need on this earth. According to Galatians 3:14, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law in order that the blessing of Abraham might come on us. What was the blessing of Abraham? Genesis 24： 1 tells us the Lord blessed Abraham in all things. Paul reasons, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32).

 

 Deuteronomy 28 details the blessings God has ordained to overtake obedient believers, blessings which are ours through Jesus Christ. Let me list some of them. God’s blessings will be upon you, your family and your material possessions (v. 4). God will cause your enemies to be defeated (v. 7). The Lord will command His blessing upon 
your storehouse (your treasury) and upon all you undertake (v. 8). He will open His treasury to you in order that you might lend and not have to borrow from others (v. 12). You will be successful, for God will make you the head and not the tail. You will be above and not beneath (v. 13).

 

 However, if God’s covenant people do not obey Him and walk in His ways, God promises to rebuke every enterprise to which they set their hands and to allow them to be overtaken by curses, confusion, poverty, failure and devastating diseases (Deut. 28:15-45).
 Thus Jesus, as we have seen, took the curse of our failure and insufficiency and became our source of suc¬cess and blessing, our Jehovah-jireb (pronounced “yeer’a” in Hebrew, but commonly pronounced “ji’_ rah”). The name Jehovah-jireb means “the Lord Who Sees” or “Jehovah’s Provision Shall Be Seen” (see Gen. 22, especially v. 14).

 

 God our Father sees our needs beforehand and makes provision for them. His name, Jehovah-jireb is a revelation of God’s willingness and ability to make provision for our sin and need. Because Jesus has taken the curse away, we are free from moral, financial, emotional, social or spiritual failure, for God has ordained our success. We can do all things through Christ (see Phil. 4:13).
 Therefore, as you hallow His name, Jehovah-jireb, thank God that you are free from the curse. Make the praise declaration that Jesus, who was made a curse for you, has freed you, and you do not have to live under the curse of the law. The writer of an old hymn made such a declaration： ‘‘Though earth hinders and hell rages, all must work for good to thee!” Sing it! Say it! Believe it! 

 

Security： Freedom From the Fear of Death and Hell

 

 The fifth benefit you enjoy in your covenant relationship with God your Father is freedom from the fear of death and bell. The compound name of God, Jehovah-nissi (nis’-see)， means “Jehovah My Banner” (see Ex. 17:15 ) The word for banner might also be translated “pole, ensign or standard.” Among the Jews, it is also a word denoting “miracle.” As an ensign or standard, it was a rallying point to kindle hope and efforts, a signal raised on an elevated place on a special occasion. The banner represented God’s cause, His battle, and was a sign of deliverance and salvation.

 

 Isaiah predicted that a rod would come forth out of the stem of Jesse which would be an ensign (flag or ban¬ner) of the people (11:10). That stem of Jesse is Jesus Christ (Rom. 1：3). Jesus, our banner of redemption and warfare, was lifted up on a rugged cross on Mount Calvary. He has gone before us and conquered the world and its power to harm us (John 16：33, Amplified). God has exalted Christ far above all other rulers, authorities and powers, has put all things under His feet and appointed Him the head of the church (Eph. 1:19-22). Now Jesus goes in battle before believers, gives us the victory and makes us conquerors (1 Cor. 15:57).

 

 When Jesus Christ, our banner, was resurrected from the dead, He abolished death and brought life and im¬mortality to light through the gospel (see 2 Tim. l：10). Now we no longer have to fear death, for Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection rendered powerless him who had the power of death, Satan (Heb. 2:14,15). Christ’s ban¬ner over us is love, and love never fails.

 

 Another compound name of God, Jehovah-，rohi (ro’-ee)，means ‘‘Jehovah My Shepherd’’ (see Ps. 23). 

 The primary meaning of rohi or ro’eh is “to feed or lead to pasture, as a shepherd does his flock.” It can also be translated “companion” or “friend.”

 

 Jesus is the shepherd of His people (John 10:11； Heb. 13:20)，and He feeds, leads, protects and cares for His sheep. Because He is our shepherd, we do not have to fear death (see Ps. 23:1,4,6； 1 Cor. 15:55-57).
 As you meditate upon the cross, praise the Lord that you are free from death and hell because your sin was taken away at Calvary. Praise Him because you will never perish, but have eternal life. Focus on Jesus who was crucified and declare： “I am crucified with Christ： nevertheless I live； yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20).

 

 Consider this. If you are a believer, and someone took a gun and shot you right now, your earthly body would slump in death, but your living spirit would go immediately into the presence of the Lord (see 2 Cor. 5：8). Once your spirit grasps the truth that you are an eternal creature who will never die, you will live differently, talk differently, walk differently. You are an eternal being, already experiencing eternal life.
 Thank God that He is your banner who has conquered death, hell and the grave. Praise the Lord because He is your shepherd who will lead you through the valley of the shadow of death and into the house of the Lord where you will dwell forever. Hallowed be Thy name, Jehovah-nissi, “the Lord My Banner.” Hallowed be Thy name, Jehovah-rohi the Lord My Shepherd.”

 

 Philippians 2:9-11 says： “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name： That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” The knees of every foe must bow and acknowledge
 Christ’s supreme authority, power and dominion. The full character and nature of God the Father are found in the name of Jesus. The Jebovah names of God apply to Jesus who said, “I am come in my Father’s name” (John 5:43). “In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,” states Colossians 2:9.

 

 By believing on Jesus’ name we are born again (John 1:12,13), and by believing on His name we live in vic¬tory. We must submit to the lordship of Jesus and to the dominion of that name in every area of our lives, for Paul said, “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Tim. 2： 19).
 If we allow anything in our lives that is not His nature and will, we are taking His name in vain. We are not sanc-tifying His name； we are profaning it. Therefore, we must submit to the lordship of Jesus and to the dominion of His name in every area of our lives, for God has commanded, ‘‘Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (Ex. 20:7).

 

 In the great Azusa Street revival of the early 1900s, this altar invitation was given： "Everyone interested in par-don, sanctification, healing and the baptism in the Holy Spirit, rise and come.” The speaker was right on! Jesus is our righteousness, sanctifier, peace, healer, provider, banner and shepherd, and He is the overflowing One present within us.
Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Help us, Lord, not to take Your name in vain. 

 

REVIEW QUESTIONS

 

1. Why can we call the God of the universe “Father”? 
2. Draw a line connecting each Old Testament Hebrew name for God with its correct English translation： 

   

    Hebrew                                                           translation

    Jehovah-tsidkenu                                           Jehovah My Shepherd

    Jehovah-shalom                                            Jehovah Is There

    Jehovah-shammah                                        Jehovah Who Sanctifies
    Jehovah-m'kaddesh                                       Jehovah Is Peace
    Jehovah-jireh                                                 God’s Provision Shall Be Seen

    Jehovah-rohi                                                  Jehovah My Banner

    Jehovah-nissi                                                Jehovah Heals

    Jehovah-rophe                                              Jehovah My Righteousness

 

3. Match the letter of each word on the left with the benefit in the New Covenant with which it corresponds.

 

   Wore                                                               Benefit
   a. Spirit                                                           The promise of forgiveness of sin and   
                                                                          deliverance from sin’s dominion
   b. Soundness                                                 The fullness of the Holy Spirit
   c. Sin                                                              The promise of health and healing
   d. Success                                                      The promise of freedom from the curse 
                                                                          of the law
   e. Security                                                      Freedom from the fear of death and hell

 

4. Cursing and using God’s name in profanity is one way that peo¬ple take His name in vain. Explain another way we can take His name in vain. 

 

 

PRAYER OUTLINE

 

I. Our Father which art in heaven
   A. Form a mental picture of the blood shed by Jesus on the cross. 
   B. Thank God you can call Him “Father” by virtue of that blood.

 

II. Hallowed be thy name
   A. Benefit 1： Sin—forgiveness of sin and deliverance from sin’s dominion
            1. Hallow His name.
                  a. Jebovah-tsidkenu: Jehovah Our Righteousness
                  b. Jehovah-m 'kaddesh: Jehovah Who Sanctifies
            2 . Make your faith declarations.
  B. Benefit 2： Spirit—fullness of the Holy Spirit
           1. Hallow His name.
                  a. Jehovah-shalom： Jehovah Is Peace.
                  b. Jebovah-shammab: Jehovah Is There.
           2. Make your faith declarations.
  C. Benefit 3： Soundness—health and healing
           1. Hallow His name.
                  a. Jehovah-rophe： Jehovah Heals.
           2. Make your faith declarations.
  D. Benefit 4： Success—freedom from the curse
           1. Hallow His Name.
                  a. Jebovah-jireh : God's Provision Shall Be Seen.
           2. Make your faith declarations.
  E. Benefit 5： Security——freedom from the fear of death and hell
           1. Hallow His name.
                 a. Jehovah-rohi： Jehovah My Shepherd.
                 b. Jehovah-nissi: Jehovah My Banner.
           2. Make your faith declarations.

 

III. Am I taking the Lord’s name in vain?
   A. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in which you may be tak¬ing the Lord’s name in vain.
   B. Submit yourself to the lordship of Christ.

 

IV. Pray in the Spirit, worshipping and making melody in your heart to the Lord.