Reverence for God’s Name | Pr. Oswald Sichula

Pastor Oswald Sichula preached from Exodus 20:7 on “Reverence for God’s Name,” focusing on the third commandment and teaching that the Decalogue does not produce salvation but shapes how redeemed people live before God. He explained that while the first commandment calls believers to worship God alone and the second calls them to pure worship, the third commandment presses deeper into how God’s people speak about Him, bear His name, and live under His redemption, asking whether our lives magnify or trivialise His glory. God’s name is holy and should never be treated casually.First, he explained what it means to take God’s name in vain, showing that the commandment prohibits empty, careless, and thoughtless speech about God. This includes reducing God’s name through sin, using His name while living a double life, swearing falsely by His name, and religious hypocrisy where people profess to belong to God while living like the world. Calling oneself a child of God means carrying the name of God, and therefore our lives should reflect His holiness. Second, he spoke about manipulative and forced devotion, warning against using God or His Word as a spiritual lucky charm or a tool for personal gain instead of worshipping Him rightly. Referencing Exodus 20:7, he emphasised that God will not hold guiltless those who misuse His name, which is why the Israelites treated His name with deep seriousness and reverence. God is not distant or passive but an active participant in our worship, conversations, and daily lives, and this exposes the true condition of the human heart. The sermon challenged believers to examine where they have become casual in their walk with God and reminded them that true reverence comes from looking away from ourselves and towards Christ, the One who perfectly kept every commandment. He concluded by encouraging believers to cultivate lives where their lips and lifestyles match, through the help of the Holy Spirit who produces genuine reverence for God, while also reminding non-believers that this commandment ultimately calls them to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.