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July 13, 2020 1:00 am
When someone sues you for slander, you might be fined for defaming a good name. But what’s the penalty for slandering God? The commandment to not take His name in vain goes to the core of His nature, and to the heart of respecting Him as Creator. Do you know how important His name really is?
Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)The commandment to not take the name of God in vain goes to the core of his nature and heart respecting him as creator today lessons we can take home from another of the 10 Commandments lessons on how important his name really is the Moody Church in Glasgow this morning with Dr. Erwin listserv is clear. Teaching helps us make it across the finish line.
Master loser Jewish people reference God's name so much that they will not even speak even leaving out the following his name in their writings should we do the same date. That's a very good question and I certainly admire the Jews who take God's name that seriously and recognize it is holy. I don't think that we have to do that. But what we do have to do is to capture the idea of the reverence of God's name. And of course what God is talking about is the heart our hearts have to be places where God is continually honored were we safeguard our thoughts and our worship.
I've written a book entitled why holiness matters. The 10 Commandments and Jesus and you. I feel very deeply about this book because holiness is a topic that often times is neglected in our grace filled world. Often times, a concept of permissive grace. So I counter that in the book why holiness matters for gift of any amount. It can be yours. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 and now let us listen carefully as God himself speaks from Sinai what God is saying is he saying David because you lived inconsistently with my name you took my name you are known as a man of God, and now because of your adultery and your murder. You are acting in a way that dishonors me you are causing the enemies of the Lord, to blaspheme. If we had two pianos.
One middle C, there would be another middle C that would resonate and what he saying is, is that your life has impact and when you disobey God under the name of the authority of God, you cause others to drag the name of God into the dirt from the standpoint of humanity, you are causing them to blaspheme. That's what can happen very easily. It's when we ourselves take the name of God and say that we are Christians and then cause others to blaspheme because of the way we live down in Texas.
There's a seminary in Dallas and I happen to have graduated from it many years ago and since that time there've been many other students, and I'd like you to listen to the story of one of those students who wrote these words while working as a salesman for a large company.
I met a girl named Liz who was in charge of phone solicitation. She was an attractive young woman, but use profanity that would embarrass any sailor smoked one cigarette after another and lied to the customers. One day she stopped me and asked you go to Dallas seminary don't you. I was shocked that she really dropped the bomb. She said I guess you're surprised that I would know about the seminary. Well, I'm a Christian to I go to a Bible Church in one of your professors is the pastor by this time he says I was ready to be peeled off the floor. Then she said I guess you wonder why I don't act like a Christian. He said I managed to "well yes, she said the reason I don't act like a Christian is because of the bad witness I would be if these people knew that I was a Christian. It is better that they not know that I am a Christian when you were told in today's society should always try to find some good in everybody. If you look long enough and hard enough you'll find it so we take our magnifying glass here and and let's take a look at Liz there is something good about her. Yes, it's true that her conduct is despicable and she might not even be a Christian. I need to talk that. But there is one good thing about or it is quite true that it would be a very poor testimony of the employees around her, knew that she was a Christian if she is, it is indeed much better that they not know with that we agree.
She does have some insight to see if there somebody here today and you lie and you don't tell the truth and you swear at work.
I don't tell people that you're a Christian, help us don't don't don't say that I'm a Christian and if they ask you where you go to church. You know I mean if you're lying already anyway add one more lie to your sin and say that you know you jobs you just don't remember: temporary amnesia.
Say you know sometime in the distant future. Mably in the next couple of years it'll come to me, but just at this moment I get a handle. I know that many of you are the victims of divorce and you've gone through an awful lot of excruciating pain and guilt, and in no way do I want to add any to you but I do want to quote the words of Charlie tremendous Jones.
Now Charlie tremendous Jones. He is a man who give speeches to Christian businessmen on motivation. One day he was being interviewed on television and he said something that I wouldn't say that I quoted only because he had a point.
He looked into the television camera and he said if any of you out there are trying or planning to get a divorce and you're a Christian. He said you could help the cause of Christ by telling your friends that you're an atheist, again, I wouldn't say that. But I'm co-quoting him but you see the point that he was trying to make is when we lived inconsistently by the name of God. We actually cause the world to blaspheme. Now, it's true, of course, that sometimes we can minister to other people effectively simply by the way in which we respond to circumstances that are just as tragic as those experienced by the world. That's true. But the point is that we can dishonor the name of God. We can take in the name of God in vain by saying I'm a Christian and then live in such a way that it is inconsistent with the name of God we call his reputation into question and let me ask you a question today. How does God respond to taking his name in vain. Is this a little thing that he takes lightly when I do want you to turn to Leviticus chapter 24 and I even think I have the right passage this time. Leviticus chapter 24, where there is a very interesting experience that took place in the life of the children of Israel. Leviticus 24 verse 10 talks about an Israelite woman whose father was an Egyptian and that he went out among the sons of Israel and the Israelite woman's son and a man of Israel struggled with each other in the camp just see the situation they are in a fight there angry with each other. Verse 11 and the son of the Israelite woman blaspheme the name, what name I were there is only one name and that is the name of the Lord, the woman blaspheme that is to say, the son of the Israelite woman blaspheme the name and cursed so they brought him to Moses.
Verse 12 and they put him in custody so that the command of the Lord might be made clear to them. Then the Lord spake to Moses, saying, bring the one who is cursed outside the camp and let all who hear him lay their hands all who heard him lay their hands on his head and then let all the congregation stone him and you shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, if anyone curses his God, then he shall bear his sin. Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death all the congregation shall certainly stone him.
The alien as well as the native when he blasphemes the name shall be put to death disable surely going to change his mind about this.
I mean this was Old Testament. We live in the New Testament here. May I remind you that God has not changed his mind about this one. I voted not one iota. The only reason that we don't do that today.
As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, is because in today's world. God has allowed it. Torah designed it that the civil authorities are not responsible for inflicting the panel. So today we do not stone people for all of these things, but I want you to know that it is absolutely unthinkable and blasphemous to think that God has mellowed throughout the centuries he has not changed his mind about this and today, whether it's in the city of Chicago or wherever you may be from in office buildings and in cars and in various relationships in factories and wherever wherever the name of God comes out of people's mouths thoughtlessly cursing either in anger or flippantly. God is monitoring those situations and the Bible says he will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
No way does God change his mind. He is just as insulted by today's he was back so what is the answer then we can curse God, we can take his name in vain by careless vowels, careless speech, a careless life.
What is the answer I like about the Bible as it has the ability to go right to the heart of the matter because if you want to clean up your mouth and you were to go to some kind of a self-help seminar.
They say well you know what you do is try not to say attend. Whenever you do you tell yourself that you're going to give five dollars to charity and if you do that long enough. Soon you'll find out that your giving too much money and that'll help you to what is out of your mouth, etc. etc. know Jesus has a totally different explanation for the whole problem and what Jesus taught. He said that if you want to clean up your mouth. There is a way to do it and that is to clean up your heart. That's what he said. Turn to Matthew chapter 12 for Christ speaks specifically to this issue of good speech and what comes out of the human heart notice he says the 12th chapter of Matthew stalking in verse 33 about making the tree good and its fruit good, because he said that it is the tree that produces the fruit and you can't solve the problem of the wrong tree bearing wrong fruit unless you deal with the tree specifically verse 35 the good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth what is good and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil, and I say to you that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be vindicated and by your words you shall be condemned. Jesus said the real problem with that with wrong speech. The real problem with evil speech is the pollution of the human heart, an evil man out of his evil heart brings forth like that, may I say that the evil heart is in league. I actually was Satan and Satan wants to curse and blaspheme God. That's why one of the symptoms, sometimes of demon possession is a tremendous desire to curse person blaspheme, and that explains incidentally why there are children that are born who at the age of one or two years curse with words they have never heard nor learned. They've never heard them and are coming out of their mouth under the influence of spirits that are given over to cursing God and sometimes their people disciple you know I just bought. But I swear, but I just get it all out of my system. My friend that is so wrong.
Even recent studies. Not that we look to the recent studies to find the truth, but recent studies of two or three years ago prove that that is completely false theories that were taught years ago about it getting it out of your system are just are just wrong when you swear and blaspheme God. You don't get anything out of your system.
It actually inflames your temper, it actually magnifies the problem. It never solves it. Because you're dealing here with a force that is really beyond the immediate so the text is that the evil person out of the evilness of his heart brings forth evil. But a good man brings forth that which is good, disable, how can I have a good heart.
That's what Christ's death was all about.
The reason that Jesus Christ died on the cross is not only that we might be forgiven, though that certainly is a great part of the story, but it isn't the whole story.
The other part is the Jesus died on the cross, that we might also be changed and new heart. I will give you he predicted even in the Old Testament that I will take aside that heart of stone that heart that wants to stand against God. That heart that wants to speak against God.
That heart that wants to blaspheme God.
I will take out that heart of stone and he says I will give you a heart of flesh heart that is sensitive towards God heart that will be so sensitive that the minute an evil word comes out of your mouth you will be aware of it and you'll confess it right on the spot because you will know that you said it in the presence of a holy God. What Jesus is all about is in the business of cleaning out hearts and changing.
That's the good news of the gospel my friend today. I don't care how bad your languages. You do not have to go on that way. Of course, after you receive Christ as Savior and he cleanses your heart. There may still be times when these words these bad habits come out of your mouth, but the blessed Holy Spirit who is given to you will build into use that sensitivity that soon you will not be able to speak lightly of God or for that matter other kinds of profane language without being aware of it and without it defiling you within then to bringing about the validity to say no to the thoughts and the intents of the heart that are distasteful to the Almighty. That's what Christ is in the business of doing my challenge to you today is that we name the name of God. I want you to know that I don't think there's a greater honor in all the world than to be identified with the Almighty and to be identified with Christ. I mean to me what else, what other honor could whenever suggest I would rather be known as a man of God that known as anything else in this life world and I know that you feel the same way you would rather be known as a woman of God or a man of God than any other designation that people could ever latch onto you. But let's remember that along with the honor comes a tremendous responsibility because we can blaspheme and we can take the name of the Lord in vain in this age but we can also do it in life. God wants our lives to be brought up to date with the character and the name that he's been willing to share with us. Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers and I hope that we will act as if we are his brothers.
Remember that story of Alexander the great who was very upset with the soldier who was a coward who ran away in battle, and Alexander went up to him and chewed him out and told him whole bunch of things that probably would not be good if we could know what they were. And finally, Alexander was shouting at this coward and said damn what is your name and he said I my name is Alexanders Sir and Alexander even became more enraged and he took that man and he just shook him and he said either change your character or change your name, that's it. Who are you, you're a Christian that's great. I hope everybody in your office knows it. You belong to God, you walk with a cane. I'm glad that that's true but let us remember that along with it comes the awesome responsibility of representing the God that we claim to love and to serve by speech and by our life because the text says God does not hold them guiltless who takes his name don't easily simply flippantly be associated with the name because then you have the responsibility of living up to the name. The name Texas leader. We should ask God to change your character or maybe we should change our name and not tell people that we belong to the king last week because the world to blaspheme. Let's pray our father today. We think of the awesome responsibility that we have, to bring out from the good treasure of our hearts, that which speaks good and not evil. We think today father the cleansing that must take place in many hearts undoubtedly bitter about in your presence, and we pray father that you will enable all of us to see that we can clean up our mouths by cleaning up our hearts and that specifically you're the one that doesn't owe open us up to your presence.
We think particularly of those today whose hearts are close to you. They listen to the sermon and they said that's about all old father would you crush them gently but firmly, and we think father today. Of those who have named the name of Christ, and if the truth were known they'd lived in such a way that they've taken his name in vain father we've all done that on occasion cleanses forgiveness, give us father enable us to live up to the name. The name now I say to you whoever you might be, would you just pray to God for a moment there Christian you may need cleansing. If you are clean before the Lord then pray for others who perhaps needed some of you may not know Christ as your Savior want you to know that you can believe on him today can give you a clean heart and new heart. There is no reason for you to have to live with guilt and defilement.
None whatever Jesus paid it all.
Would you receive them.
Father, do whatever you have to do in everyone's life that is about in your presence. Each need is different, but we thank you that your great enough to meet it. In Jesus name what my friend if you are blessed as a result of the ministry of running to win. And if these messages have penetrated your heart you might like to have them you might like to listen to them again and again if you'd like to receive these messages on the 10 Commandments. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 for a gift of any amount.
These messages can be yours were living at a time when the 10 Commandments are oftentimes ignored because after all we are under grace and we think to ourselves in our era. It is safer to sin, but we must remember that God is a God who does not change his standard remains. He deals with us differently but in the end we will see his glory and his holiness.
So if you'd like to have these 10 Commandments, that is to say these messages on the 10 Commandments as I've already mentioned, for a gift of any amount. Go to RTW offer.com RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 thanks in advance for standing with us and I'll give you that number again 1-888-218-9337 time now for another chance for you to ask Master lucerne question about the Bible or the Christian life, end of life issues people have many questions including this one from a running to win listener Pastor Luther give me your biblical perspective on cremation versus burial. I've always said that if you as a Christian, have an option.
I encourage you to be buried rather than cremated. I say that because the early church believed in burial.
Jesus was buried and the imagery in first Corinthians chapter 15 is this that the body is sewn into the ground. It is sown a corruptible body, it is raised an incorruptible body. It is sown in weakness is raised in strength. The imagery is that of a Col. Now I'm not saying that cremation is a sin, so nobody need right to me about it because oftentimes I have been asked about it and the argument can be made that our bodies are going to disintegrate anyway. And I understand that. And sometimes there are economic reasons for cremation and you go to some countries of the world and they have run out of burial plots and I understand that to but my bottom line is if you have a choice be buried like Jesus was be sown in the ground and then at their day of resurrection be raised to new life course that will also happen to you if you been cremated at the imagery of burial is biblical. Some wise counsel from Dr. Erwin lutes or thank you once again Dr. Luther if you'd like to hear your question answered.
Go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask pastor Luther or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 a century ago, British Olympian Eric little refused to run on Sunday, made famous in the movie.
Chariots of fire he held to a conviction that the Lord's day was sacred. These days people look forward to Sunday football game. Have we gone off track, long ago, the Lord's day was sacred stores and taverns close family and church, with a focus nowadays anything goes.
On our next running to win why God set apart one day a week for us to rest.
Don't miss Sunday should mean to you this is Dave McAllister running to win is sponsored by the Moody church