Hallowed Be Your Name: The Desire to See the Supremacy and Glory of God in Everything, Part 1

Prayer Hallowed Be Your Name: The Desire to See the Supremacy and Glory of God in Everything, Part 1

September 11, 2022 | Buster Brown

"Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'" Matthew 6:9-13, The Lord’s Prayer

Westminster Larger Catechism
Q: What is prayer?
A: Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God in the name of Christ, by the help of his Spirit, with confession of sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.

Prayer is vitally important because the supernatural help of the living God and His empowering grace is given to us as we cry out for fresh mercy from the throne of God.

Hallowing is the exaltation/honoring/treasuring/valuing of the name of the triune God. This hallowing of God means that we are radically centered upon His character.

The first petition is the wellspring of the other five petitions in the Lord’s Prayer.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES:

1. Hallowing/treasuring/valuing is the reference point for the believer.

Westminster Larger Catechism
Q 1: What is man’s chief and highest end of man?
A: To glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

The exaltation and valuing of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit leads to humility, worship, and joy.

"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." Matthew 5:16

2. The holiness/hallowing of the name of God was satisfied/vindicated by the death of Jesus on the cross. Therefore we glory in the gospel of grace.

"But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins… But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." Hebrews 10:3-4, 12-14

“Without this divine knowledge [the gospel], how could we help feeling either exalted or dejected? The Christian faith alone has been able to cure these twin vices, not by using the one to expel the other according to worldly wisdom, but by expelling both through the simplicity of the gospel.” Pascale Pensees, 208

3. The hallowing/treasuring of the name of God and His purposes will lead to energy/resolution to live for the Lord and a sorrowing over sin.

"And the Lord said to him, 'Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.'” Ezekiel 9:4

“Each of us must be so stunned by the consciousness of his own happiness as to attain at least some knowledge of God… [understanding] we recognize that the true light of wisdom, sound virtue, full abundance of every good, and purity of righteousness rests in the Lord alone. To this extent we are prompted by our own ills to contemplate the good things of God; and we cannot seriously aspire to [know] Him before we begin to become displeased with ourselves… the knowledge of ourselves not only arouses us to seek God, but also, as it were, leads us by the hand to find Him” John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1-1-1

QUESTIONS:

1. Empowering grace flows to us through LISTENING PRAYER [time, place, pattern/plan].

2. How is the concept of “listening prayer” carried out in the reading and application of Psalm 11?

3. The hallowing/treasuring/acknowledging the supremacy and centrality of God is the chief and highest end for man.

4. This hallowing/treasuring leads to purpose, passion, joy, dignity, and brokenness.

5. How does the first petition [hallowed be your name] mold and inform the other five petitions in the Lord’s Prayer?

6. Do you believe we live in a “look at me” culture? How do we combat that myopic attitude?

Westminster Larger Catechism
Q: What does hallowing the name of God mean?
A: To worship, exalt, honor, and adore the name of God on earth as it is in heaven. It is to ask God to so move and act in the world, that people will worship and treasure Him above all else.