Post on 12-Jun-2020
1
The Lord’s Prayer
Part 3 – Hallowed be Your Name (Our deepest cry in
4 simple words)
Introduction “Who is Aslan?” asked Susan.
“Aslan?” Said Mr Beaver. “Why… Don’t you know? He’s the King. He’s
the Lord of the whole wood…word has reached us that He has come
back. He is in Narnia at this moment. He’ll settle the white Queen all
right. It is He, not you, that will save Mr. Tumnus.”
“Is He a man?” Asked Lucy.
“Aslan a man!” said Mr Beaver. “Certainly not. I tell you He is the King
of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-sea. Don’t you
know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great
Lion.”
“Ooh…Well I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” Said Susan
“That you will dearie, and make no mistake…if there’s anyone who can
appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver
than most or else just [plain] silly.”
“Then He isn’t safe?” said Lucy.
2
“Safe?...Who said anything about safe? Of course He isn’t safe….but
He’s good…He’s the King…”
In this famous and well-known book written by C.S. Lewis, there seems
to be a healthy and well-known fear in the hearts of those who live in the
land of Narnia… for the citizens of this one land, there is One
character…there is One Lion… One name, that causes knees to knock,
and hearts to tremble at the mere mention of it…
There is a healthy mixture of fear, and a strange attraction in the hearts of
these young children in this book, when they learn about the name that is;
Aslan!
But why?
What is it about the name Aslan that has so many people terrified…but at
the same time hopeful?
Well…Is it not because the Name of the Lion, is tied directly to His
character…?
When people hear the name Aslan, they remember the Great Lion, the
long awaited Lion, the King of all beasts… and therefore the simple
mention of His name causes the creatures of Narnia to think ever so
carefully about His character…
The simple mention of His name strikes fear but at the same time
splendour into the hearts of every creature who hears His Name!
3
For you see; the name Aslan is a name that is both feared, but at the same
time longed-for….
Recap We’ve been looking at the topic of Prayer in the morning services the
past couple of weeks here at Grace, and specifically we’ve been looking
at contents of the Lord’s Prayer...
Last time I spoke, we looked at the Structure of the Lord’s Prayer, and we
saw that the structure of the Lord’s prayer is an extremely important
structure (though it does not have to be strictly followed)
It is rather a template (a framework) for our own Christian lives… and
things that we are to pray for when we don’t know how or what to
pray….
And what we saw was that the Lord’s Prayer could be neatly divided up
into 3 sections:
1. Firstly, the prayer has an opening address, which is: Our Father in
Heaven… all Christian prayer begins with a recognition that God is
our Father; a Father who is both, intimately personal, and yet
infinitely powerful… And so when we come to God in prayer, we
come as simple and needy children calling out to their intimately
personal Father…
Their Father who is tender hearted, compassionate and loving toward the
broken hearted… a Father unlike any earthly Father seen in this world
4
because He is the perfect image of what all fathers should be like…and
we said this because He is our Father in heaven…
2. And then after this, there are 3 petitions directed upward toward
God…as Jesus tells us that all Christian prayer should be
concerned for, and have a pre-occupation toward: The Name of
God, The Kingdom of God, and the will of God!
3. And then after this, we have 3 petitions directed toward us; gives
us this day our daily bread, forgive us our debts, and lead us not
into temptation.
The first half of this prayer is concerned with God and His glory, and
then only after this do our needs find their place!
NOT A STRICT METHOD
Now again…this structure is NOT a strict method that we must follow
every time we pray!
But rather this structure is a framework to expand upon when we don’t
know how or what to pray for….
There is rigidness but there’s also freedom… there is spontaneity but
there’s also structure…in our prayers…
The best way I’ve heard it described is to think of the structure of the
Lord’s prayer like Jazz music… there’s tempo, and timing and keys that
are to be followed, but at the same time there’s a lot of freedom to move
up and down the page…
5
There is rigidness but freedom… spontaneity but structure…
And the structure is (as we said) extremely important!
So we’re going to follow this structure throughout our sermon series…
And so tonight we’re going to focus on the first of these 6 petitions in the
Lord’s Prayer, which is “Hallowed be Your Name…”
Our deepest cry in 4 simple words…
Main Point: The deepest cry of Christian prayer is to see God treasured everywhere
Outline: What does hallowed be your name mean?
Hallowed Let’s be honest… we often say or read the Lord’s prayer in our lives, but
most of us are left wondering “What in the world does the word hallow
even mean?”
Now the reason that is, is because this is one of those old nasty words that
we shy away from because it sounds like it belongs back in the 17th
century… kind of this old, out-dated, yucky, puritanical word!
6
At its most basic meaning the word “hallow” here means to “set apart” it
means to sanctify, it means to treat something as utterly unique!
It is to say “Hey! Don’t go flippantly or light heartedly into the presence
of this One object!”
Do not treat this object as ordinary or common like you do…with other
things…
It is sacred! It is unique! It is holy!
And you must treat it accordingly!
Treasured Cars How many of you have seen those guys driving around in their S class
400,000 dollar Mercedes Benz like they were driving miss daisy; 20Kms
under the speed limit, hitting the brakes way too early, indicating 100
metres before they have to turn… a real danger to themselves and others
on the road because of how careful and cautious they are in their prized
possession!
All because that car is extremely expensive and unique (set apart) as their
treasured object!!! And it would be crazy for them, to take that car off-
road to do some high-speed rally car racing in the woods!
Treasured Memories What about our parents… they have these old photo albums in their
cupboards at home that they pull out from time to time, and they show us
7
their most precious and treasured memories that they consider as utterly
unique and set-apart as valuable!
Treasured Plates When Salli and I got marriage… We received an excessive amount of
cutlery, plates, bowls, and glasses that we’re deemed as “special!” They
were deemed the good plates, the good cups, the good bowls… the
special items in our kitchen…
And every time I went to use one of the good plates (as opposed to) the
not good plates… My beautiful wife Salli would look at me and say:
“What are you doing… why are you using those!??!... Why are you
eating off of the good plates…why don’t you use the not good plates?!?!”
And I would say: “Clearly because I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE
GOOD PLATES! I don’t consider those plates as special or unique like
you do, and even still, my love they’re just plates…”
Now P.S – Don’t do what I do in my marriage; any brothers out there
looking to get married, there is a difference between good plates and
everyday plates… there is a difference! Don’t argue the point!
It is a normal thing to have the special plates and cutlery that you bring
out for your guests…
APPARENTLY!
Now the reason why I used the “good plates” was because I did not see
the difference between them, and the common plates….I did not see the
8
“good plates” for what they were… but I saw them as common, average,
and un-important…
But Salli on the other hand saw them as valued… She appreciated the
good plates and she treated them differently to the common ones…
Infinite Difference And this is kind of like, what it means to hallow something as unique….
It is to treat it with reverence, honour, and respect…
Except the way in which Jesus uses the idea of “hallowing” here in the
Lord’s Prayer is infinitely greater than the best cups and plates you or I
have!
Why?
Because the object to which Jesus tells us is set-apart here in the Lord’s
Prayer…. is infinitely more precious than any other object this world has
to offer…
Greater than the greatest cars, greater than the greatest diamonds, greater
than the greatest memories, than the greatest celebrities or people in this
world…
Because it is… “The name of God…”
9
Today’s Names See when we think of naming something, or we think of names today…
we don’t think of names in the same way the Jewish person considered
names in Scripture…
Most people today name their children because they choose a name that
sounds pleasing to their ears… they choose a name that sounds nice when
it is pronounced… or because it goes along with a specific surname or
middle name…
But for the Jew, a name was anything but a nice and convenient label that
sounded good when you said it…
Now let’s be honest…I am probably the last person in here that should be
talking about names, what they mean… and what they should sound
like… because let’s be straight; my name is Rhoison… and Rhoison is a
really weird Name…
Like I wish that I could say Rhoison means mighty man of God, defender
of the weak, handsome for all eternity; unbelievably wise; lover of
good… but reality is, my parents liked the name, they thought it was
unique and that no one else in the world would ever come up with a name
like that… and let me tell you they were right!
10
God’s Name But for the Jew, a name was anything but a nice and convenient label that
sounded good when you said it…for the Jew, a Name described the
Person!
A name according to Scripture indicated what you were like, how you
acted; and what you were all about!
A Name was tied directly to your character!
And this is perhaps most evident when the Jew thought about the Name
of God!
When they thought about His Name, they thought about His character
and what He is like!
Psalm 20 Verse 7:
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the
Name [that is the character] of the Lord our God…”
Psalm 115 Verse 1:
“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your Name [Who you are] be
the glory…”
11
Exodus 34:14:
“Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is
Jealous, is a jealous God…”
The Name of God is said to be jealous, but not because that is His Name,
but because this Name, is directly tied to this attribute (this
characteristic)… What He is like!
You cannot think of God’s Name in isolation from His essence, Who He
is, and what He is like!
And so…when we pray this prayer; “Father hallowed be Your Name….
We are not talking about a particular set of letters, or a particular set of
vowels, or a title that God has taken on… but we are referring to the very
essence, the very being, the very Person of God Himself!
We are referring to His reputation; His excellency, His glory; and His
character!
Is this your deepest cry? You see, when you understand that you are in the presence of God who is
your heavenly Father... Jesus says; your first desire will be for the fame
of your Father’s Name!
That you if you are child of God; trusting in Christ to save you from your
sin, then God will give you a new set of affections that love Him and
desire nothing else but His fame, His glory, His Name, to be seen, and
heard, and known throughout the world!
12
Is this truly the deepest cry of your heart here tonight?!?!
Is this the number one thing you desire above all else?!?!
Is this the first thing on your mind as you approach God in prayer?
An Old Presbyterian minister Robert Murray Mc’cheyne once said this:
“What a man is on his knees before God, that he is, and nothing more.”
It is not what you do in the public sphere of life that determines what kind
of a person you are… but it is what you say planted on your knees before
God that determines the kind of person you truly are…
Scripture would say it like this:
“For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks…”
Every word we utter, every idea we have… every emotion we feel, flows
out of a heart, that is either for God or against Him… that either seeks to
honour God or dishonour Him!
That seeks to glorify God or glorify ourselves…
Our prayer life reveals the deepest and the greatest convictions of our
heart… Our prayers reflect what we believe about God, the Gospel, and
life itself…
13
“What a man (or woman) is on their knees before God, that they are,
and nothing more.”
Not an observation but a request Now with that being said, let me make one last observation before we
move on to our second point…
This petition is NOT a prayer of praise or recognition!
It is not praising God for His holiness!
I want you to notice, that the prayer is NOT “Father; hallowed is your
name….”
But “Father; hallowed be your name.”
This prayer is not a recognition of praise and honour to God; it is a
petition of prayer for God to act!
For Him to do something!
In other words, when we pray “Father; Hallowed be Your Name” we are
asking God to make His beauty, His splendour, His glory, known in the
hearts and minds of all men and women everywhere!
It is to say:
14
“Father! May that same glory that you have in heaven be
recognized here on this earth!”
We are asking that the Name of God would be set apart as special; as
unique; as glorious; as exalted; as precious; as lovely; as holy; as
treasured; as different; as honoured… here on earth!
We are asking for God to make every thought and emotion that we have
worthy of Him and His glory!
I heard this great quote recently that said: God loves supremely what is
supremely lovely!
God loves to glorify that which is most glorious!
And because God loves His own Name, His own reputation, His own
glory (because He is the most beautiful; precious and lovely object in all
of creation) then when we pray this petition we are actually asking God to
place those same affections that He has of Himself, into the hearts and
minds of us and others around us…
How spectacular is this prayer!!!
We are asking:
God would you please act so powerfully, that people would no
longer blaspheme Your Holy Name!
15
God would you please move in the hearts of men and women
everywhere so that people would no longer advocate for the
murder of innocent children in the womb!
God would you please act so wonderfully, that creation would no
longer supress Your beauty and splendour!
NOT MORE GLORIOUS It is NOT a prayer for God to be more glorious! He cannot be any more
glorious than what He already is!
But rather we are asking God to make that same glory that He already
has… to be recognised here on this earth!
Standing between the living and the dead August 8th, 1756…The famous open-air preacher & evangelist George
Whitfield was at Saint Michaels Anglican Church in the Village of
Haworth (“Howeth”) in Northern England…
Whitfield had been invited by the local pastor of the church William
Grimshaw to come and to speak to a large crowd of people about God…
Now…If you know anything about George Whitfield, then you would
know this man could preach and preach loudly!!! Rumour has it that
Whitfield had the ability to be heard open-air preaching from over 3
Kilometers away (most of you struggle to even walk that) and sometimes
he would preach to crowds that ranged from 8,000 - 20,000 people… all
without amplification!
16
This man had a gift!
And so on this day in the fall of 1756 there were several hundred people
gathered inside of this church, and several thousand standing outside of
the church and within the courtyard and beyond...
Whitfield stood on a small platform erected just outside of an open
church window… and looking unto the people, he paused for a moment,
silently prayed to God and then in a loud and commanding voice he
announced his text…Hebrews 9:27:
“It is appointed unto men once to die, and after death the
judgment.”
But all of a sudden, before he could even speak another word there was
this terrifying loud shriek from someone in the crowd… after a moment
of confusion the pastor William Grimshaw rushed over to the
commotion… and when he had returned to the preacher he called out to
him over the heads of the people and said:
“Brother Whitfield, you stand amongst the dead and the dying, an
immortal soul has been called into eternity. Someone has just
dropped dead on the spot!
And so, after the person was carried away… Whitfield composed
himself… he paused for a moment, and then with a loud and booming
voice he once again announced:
17
“It is appointed unto men once to die, and after death the
judgment.”
But again! Another terrifying and loud shriek came from a different
section of the crowd…
And Pastor Grimshaw rushed over to the spot, came back and yelled:
“Brother Whitfield! You are standing between the living and the
dead, God has called another immortal soul into eternity!”
What Kind of a God are we dealing with? Now can you imagine being in that crowd at this point?!?! Can you
imagine the fear and the awe that would have fell upon the people that
day?!?!
If I were in that crowd, I would be thinking one of 2 things… firstly I
would want to yell out to the preacher:
“Hey! George…Stop quoting the Scripture! People are dying
brother we get it! We get the Scripture please move on!”
But now my second reaction would probably be this:
“What kind of a God are we dealing with here?!?!”
How serious! How holy! How set apart must this God be?!?!
One thing would be absolutely certain!
18
We would all be taking the weight and the Name of God much more
seriously than we do now!
And that same kind of hallowing! That same kind of weight! That same
kind of reverential fear is what Jesus is telling us to pray for here in this
first petition!
Father may Your Name be honored, and feared, and respected (and set-
apart) as Holy…among those who hate You!
Is this the deepest cry of your heart here tonight brothers and sisters?!?!
2. What does hallowed be your Name look like? But we need to stop and ask ourselves the question now: How is God’s
Name going to be hallowed, treasured, and set-apart as holy?!?!
Does this petition simply leave us detached from the world and facing
upwards looking into heaven like the disciples in Acts 1? Are we merely
to sit there in our rooms watching the world burn and asking God to make
His name precious among the nations?
I believe not…
And this moves us into our second point here tonight; “What does
hallowed be your name look like?”
Turn over one chapter earlier in your bibles to Mathew chapter 5…
19
Matthew 5 and we’ll begin reading from verse 14 (Jesus speaking):
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but
on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way,
let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good
works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven…”
How is it that God’s Name (God’s character, God’s reputation) is going
to be honored, glorified, and adored here in this world?
Jesus tells us that it is through us living, loving, and honoring God as
supremely precious and lovely in our own lives…
That we do not sit back and watch our Father’s world burn while we
pray to Him: Father, Hallowed be your name….That’s just crazy!
God has given us this petition to pray, and within that, we likewise live
this petition out in our own lives…
4 areas to Hallow God’s Name
And so I just have 4 ways in which we as the people of God hallow His
name in our daily walk of life…
20
Thought The first area is in our thoughts…The Christian loves to Hallow God’s
Name in their thought life – this means thinking of God rightly and in a
way that gives the honour and respect to His Name!!!
If we believe any doctrine that elevates man and belittles God!!! Then
that doctrine, that belief (that system of thought) is one in which Christ
tells us to abandon because it is not hallowing the Name of God rightly!
We cannot hallow God’s Name when our beliefs concerning Him are
false!!!
Our thoughts of God must not be too low, or too careless, or too little
when we think of the Person, the Work, The name, and the character of
God!
Christians are ever so careful to not think blasphemous, light-hearted, or
flippant thoughts concerning God and His glory!
We must tune our hearts and minds to be in line with what the bible says
about God, NOT what we imagine or desire God to be like!
The Christian loves to Hallow God’s Name in their thoughts…
21
Speech The second area is in our speech…The Christian loves to Hallow God’s
Name in their speech – and of course this includes saying God’s Name as
a cuss word or saying OMG when you are shocked at something… but it
is so much more than this!!!
It is speaking about God in a light-hearted, empty, flippant, dishonouring
way!
It is those times when you make God out to be something other than the
glorious King of this universe!
When you talk about the bible as being burdensome, and out-dated!
When you badmouth God, or God’s church or the people in His Church
to non-Christians in the world!
THE OPPOSITE
But this prayer also includes the opposite… that when others speak
lightly, or flippantly about God, we are jealous to defend, honour, and
hallow His name among them!
Christians are compelled to speak out against anyone who would
tarnishes the Excellency and the beauty of God and His Name…
We are not okay when someone blasphemes the Name of God or treats
His Word in a crude and empty manner!
22
When a person speaks out against our heavenly Father in a way that is
dishonouring to Him, we as His children are duty-bound to defend, and
honour, and speak up against such a person who dares to defy the
beautiful Name of our God!
How could you NOT speak out against someone who chooses to
disrespect and dishonour the One whom your heart loves?!?!
I stand in fear brothers and sisters for what I would do to someone if I
knew that they were speaking about my wife in a crude, sexual, or
dishonouring way!
And it is NOT because I’m macho, or manly, or tough, but because I love
her, and cherish her and I am in a covenant relationship with her!
I care about her reputation!
And in the same way; we as Christians are in a covenant relationship with
God!
And so we must speak up when someone speaks light, flippant, or
disrespectful words toward Him!
That doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk about it! Right! Be gracious, be
loving, be gentile when you speak to them… but the point is, say
something… even if it is “Hey, please don’t talk like that, it actually
really upsets me!”
23
A Christian will gladly speak up and defend their Father against anyone
who chooses to dishonour, or disregard the reputation of God!
Actions
The Third area is in our actions…The Christian loves to Hallow God’s
Name in their actions– this means that we seek to live in such a way that
shows we value God as more precious than any other object in our lives!
Whenever you or I fail to imitate Christ in our lives, we fail to hallow
God’s Name…
When we claim to be a disciple of Christ, but fail to love those made in
God’s image, then we are not hallowing God’s Name…
When we have hateful or hurtful thoughts and actions toward those made
in God’s image we are not hallowing God’s Name…
1 John 2:4 says:
“Whoever says ‘I know Him’ (referring to Christ) but does not
keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him…”
Paul says in the book of Titus that there are people in this world who
profess to know God but they deny Him by their works!!!
Brothers and sisters hallowing God’s Name in our actions means that it is
no longer about you, and your honour, your glory, your name, but
about God, and His honour, His glory, His Name!
24
And this means that there are going to be times in your life when you’re
going to feel embarrassed, awkward, or separated…because you
choose to live for God!
It may mean that you have to feel awkward and look like a fool in going
up to someone and telling them you’re a Christian, that you love Jesus
and here is why they should love Him too!
Preaching the Gospel is never comfortable, but it always brings glory and
honour to His Name!
Hallowing God’s Name in your actions means that it is now His desires,
His Name, His character that will be honoured and glorified!
Church Community The fourth area is in our Church Community…The Christian loves to
Hallow God’s Name in their worship service at church – this is why the
elders here at Grace are so meticulous when it comes to every aspect of
the worship service…
It is not a matter of the leadership being fearmongerers; power hungry, or
control freaks, but they actually care about God’s Name being set-apart
as unique, as holy, and rightly adored!
Hallowing God’s Name in our Church community means that everything
we do in our church service ought to be aimed at glorifying and exalting
God!
25
This includes: the singing; the reading, the praying; the listening (in the
congregation); the preaching; the worship leading; the baptisms; the
Lord’s Supper; the greeting at the door; the sound; the data projector; the
instruments; the words we sing; the bible’s we use; the bulletins we read;
the announcements; the fellowship; the cooking; the cleaning; set-up;
lock up and anything else that includes the church community here at
Grace Bible…
The Christian loves to Hallow God’s Name in their worship service here
at church…
And really this prayer is a prayer for the hallowing of God’s Name in any
and every corner of the world!
This is a prayer for God’s reputation to be recognised as it truly is!
Conclusion Brothers and sisters,
Why is this such an important prayer for us today?
Why should we care about God’s Name being set apart and worshipped
as holy in our world?!?!
Well quite simply, it is because wicked and murderous abortion is being
legalized in this state; it is because injustice and oppression are being
overlooked in every corner of the world; it is because there are ministers
and churches neglecting to preach the supremacy of Christ and the
depravity of man; because children are growing up today believing that
they can choose their gender (like are you kidding me! Have we lost our
26
minds?!?!); this petition is probably the most important, foundational,
Christian prayer that we could ever pray!
O how I yearn for this petition…to be my heart’s deepest cry!
And I desperately desire for God to make this truth known NOT ONLY
in my heart and life, but in the hearts and lives of all men and women
everywhere…
Brothers and sisters, is our God a safe God?!?! – Absolutely NOT!
Who said anything about Him being safe?!?!
He is NOT SAFE, but He’s good, He’s…the King!
And as we shall see next time, this King is building a Kingdom here on
earth, and He is ushering in people from every tribe, and every tongue,
and every nation here on earth…
And this God will always accomplish whatever He so desires here on
earth!
And He will look out for all of His unique and adopted children here on
earth!
And how does He accomplish the building of His glorious Kingdom here
on earth?
Well that’s for next time…
27
But let me finish here tonight with a prayer… I want to give you a
tangible way for you to know what I mean when I say praying the Lord’s
prayer as a framework for our prayer life…
Now I’m not an expert at praying… I’m NOT saying this is how you
must pray…
Believe me…I always need God’s help when praying… but I just don’t
want you to walk away without hearing an example (that’s all this is; an
example) of what I mean…
So please take it as such and let’s pray:
“Our dearest Father… God what a joy it is to be in Your
presence... You are the everlasting Father to the fatherless, Heaven
is Your throne and the earth is Your footstool. God the heavens
declare Your glory, and the sky above proclaims Your handiwork.
From the rising of the sun to it’s setting, Father may Your Name be
the One that is praised and adored in this world!
God we don’t want to be flippant, or light-hearted, or disrespectful
toward You and Your beauty…. So Father we ask that You would
make Yourself the treasure of our hearts! God make Your Name
the greatest, most glorious Name in our lives, and the lives of all
our unsaved friends and family…
God we have so many requests that are weighing on our hearts
here tonight…we have so many things going on in our lives that
cause us to be anxious, nervous, upset, and worried… So many
things to pray for that we often forget to simply sit in Your glory!
28
So Father help us to trust in You! God help our unbelief! Help us
to look unto Christ and know that you are for us and Not against
us! Help us to know that You will hold us fast until the end!
Father remind us through Your Word that you are sovereign, and
in control, and Good, and gracious, and lovely, and honourable,
and holy and worthy!
God remind us of Your Kingdom being built here on this earth!
Father remind us that Your will is always accomplished; never
prevailed against, always complete!
We thankyou Father that you will supply our every need according
to the riches of Your grace! According to Your mercy in Christ!
Feed us with the food we need, not the food we desire!
Father forgive us for our wicked behaviour! Forgive us for living
like the world when we bear the Name of Christ!
Lord help us to be different from the world! Help us to say no to
our sin and Yes to Christ!
Father we love and we cherish Your Holy and precious Name!
Thankyou God, and we pray all these things in the Name of Christ,
Amen.
29
Home Group Discussion Questions
The Lord’s Prayer Part 3
Q1. What is the significance of the Lord’s Prayer & its structure in
relation to our prayers/petitions toward God?
Q2. The word “Hallow” is seen to be a word that is somewhat outdated
today. What does this word mean? (Look up Matthew 6:9 in the CSB
Version – Is this a good translation of what the original word means?)
What significance/application does the meaning of the word “hallow”
have when we approach God in prayer?
Q3. What is Jesus getting at when He talks about the Name of God? (See
Exodus 3:13-15; 34:14; 1 Samuel 12:22; Psalm 20:5,7; 23:3; 79:9; 106:8;
115:1; 1 Chronicles 16:10, 29, 35).
Q4. Given that “hallowed be your name” is an imperative (a
command/request/petition), what exactly are we requesting/petitioning
God to do in this prayer?
Q5. What does prayer reveal about us? (See Proverbs 4:23; Matthew
12:34; Luke 6:45)
Q6. There is a theological axiom/foundation, which many theologians
have alluded to in the past when reading Scripture, that axiom/foundation
goes along the lines of: “God loves supremely what is supremely lovely”;
“God loves to glorify His own glory”; “God is supremely glorious when
30
we are most satisfied in Him”; “God’s loves His own glory more than
any other object in the world” etc.
How does this axiom/foundation help us to understand this line of the
Lord’s Prayer?
Q7. Read Matthew 5:14-16. What relation does this text have to God’s
Name being hallowed?
Q8. Rhoi alluded to God’s Name being treated with reverence and honour
in 4 areas of our life. What are those 4 areas?
Q9. What are some other areas where we see God and His
reputation/fame being displayed? (See Genesis 1:31; Psalm 19:1; 148:1-
10; Luke 19:37-40).
Q10. What relation does “hallowed be Your Name” have to the next 2
petitions directed toward God?
Application Questions
Q1. On a scale of 1-10 how satisfied are you currently in your prayer life?
Q2. What are some ways to cultivate affections for God in prayer?
Q3. Has the framework/structure of the Lord’s Prayer helped you in
praying? If so, in what ways has it helped you?
31
Q4. What area of your life (thought, speech, actions, church-community
etc.) seems to be the most difficult in hallowing God’s Name? Why is
that?
Q5. How could you use this petition of the Lord’s Prayer in a
conversation with a non-believer?
Q6. Do you feel righteously jealous and angry when someone tarnishes
the Name of God in your presence?
Q7. Is the cry for God’s glory to be displayed in this world deep in your
own heart?