Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

The Strong Tower of God's Name
by Tom Goodman
September 26, 2012

Could you use some relief from life's pressures right now? Proverbs 18:10 says:

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe."

We'll find what we need to endure life's tough patches when we get in the habit of running to God's name.

And that's why we're told in the 10 Commandments that we had better not run over God's name.

You know, if we had the job of listing ten essential things that would serve as the basis of moral living, some of us probably wouldn't have used up prime real estate to warn against misusing God's name. But not only did God include such a warning in the 10 Commandments, he put it "top of the fold," as newspaper editors like to refer to their most important stories. After telling us what gods should not capture our heart (Commands 1 and 2), he tells us who should capture our heart. In the Third Commandment he tells us to cherish our relationship with him. "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God," God says in the Third Commandment (Deuteronomy 6:11).

That's what it means to honor his name. The name of God is a sort of short-hand for God's promises, God's nature, even God's very being.

It doesn't take a seminary degree to know this: If I were to say a certain person's name to you right now, it would immediately bring either joy or resentment. That name represents someone who loves you or someone who has hurt you. That name is a kind of shorthand for someone's character and behavior.

So, to cherish God's name is to delight in his character, his promises, his worth -- to delight in him. The Bible writers saw no difference between God's name and God's very presence. So in Psalm 20:1, we read:

"May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you."

God himself "answering" and the name of God "protecting" -- the same thing.

This Sunday we're going to learn how to run to God's name instead of running over God's name. In doing so, you'll find a strong tower of protection and rest and restoration.

It's part of our series called "God's Perfect 10." You can catch up with the series on our Sermons web page. This Sunday, join us at 10 for God's Perfect 10!

--Tom

Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them here.

Check out my weblog here.

Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them!

Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail.

FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org

LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here.

MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.

Winning Ways - from Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin, Texas	Contact Tom Goodman, Pastor
Manage Your Subscription -- Subscribe/Unsubscribe	Contact Us About Your Subscription
The Strong Tower of God's Name by Tom Goodman September 26, 2012 Could you use some relief from life's pressures right now? Proverbs 18:10 says: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." We'll find what we need to endure life's tough patches when we get in the habit of running to God's name. And that's why we're told in the 10 Commandments that we had better not run over God's name. You know, if we had the job of listing ten essential things that would serve as the basis of moral living, some of us probably wouldn't have used up prime real estate to warn against misusing God's name. But not only did God include such a warning in the 10 Commandments, he put it "top of the fold," as newspaper editors like to refer to their most important stories. After telling us what gods should not capture our heart (Commands 1 and 2), he tells us who should capture our heart. In the Third Commandment he tells us to cherish our relationship with him. "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God," God says in the Third Commandment (Deuteronomy 6:11). That's what it means to honor his name. The name of God is a sort of short-hand for God's promises, God's nature, even God's very being. It doesn't take a seminary degree to know this: If I were to say a certain person's name to you right now, it would immediately bring either joy or resentment. That name represents someone who loves you or someone who has hurt you. That name is a kind of shorthand for someone's character and behavior. So, to cherish God's name is to delight in his character, his promises, his worth -- to delight in him. The Bible writers saw no difference between God's name and God's very presence. So in Psalm 20:1, we read: "May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you." God himself "answering" and the name of God "protecting" -- the same thing. This Sunday we're going to learn how to run to God's name instead of running over God's name. In doing so, you'll find a strong tower of protection and rest and restoration. It's part of our series called "God's Perfect 10." You can catch up with the series on our Sermons web page. This Sunday, join us at 10 for God's Perfect 10! --Tom Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them here. Check out my weblog here. Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail. FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here. MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.