Matthew 6:9

Notes for a short group Bible study.  They were going through the Lord’s Prayer, one line per week, and I was asked to take this line with them.

Names

Share something about your name

Names in Scripture

Deborah (Bee); Jonah (Dove); Esau (hairy); Benoni (Son of my sorrow); Ichabod (The glory has departed)

Change of name – Abram/Abraham; Jacob/Israel; Simon/Peter; Saul/Paul

Names of God

Ex 3:13-15 (“What is his name?” … ” ’… The Lord, the God of your fathers…has sent me to you.’”  This is my name for ever.”

El – El-Shaddai (Almighty God); El-Elyon (Most High God);

Yahweh – ‘The Lord will provide’; ‘The Lord is my banner’; ‘The Lord is peace’; ‘The Lord of Hosts’.

Jesus – ‘Saviour’ (Mt 1:21)

‘Hallowed’

To treat as holy, to honour or reverence.

The Lord’s Prayer begins, not with us and our needs, but with God and his honour.

Who?  Both God (Jn 12:28, “Father, glorify your name!”), and ourselves.  We need to not only pray the prayer, but also live the life.

So, what it would mean for us to honour God’s name today?

To serve him joyfully, Psa 100:4, ‘Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.’

To trust him completely, Psa 33:21, ‘In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.’

To recommend him faithfully, Psa 96:2f ‘Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.  Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples.’