{"id":1058,"date":"2024-07-01T18:59:07","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T18:59:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/?page_id=1058"},"modified":"2025-12-15T20:44:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T20:44:09","slug":"honor-exalting-the-almighty","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/honor-exalting-the-almighty\/","title":{"rendered":"HONOR – EXALTING THE ALMIGHTY!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

HONOR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Momentum – Message #1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew 6:9-13<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INTRODUCTION:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good morning! How\u2019s everyone doing today? It\u2019s so good to be with you this morning. I am convinced that GOD HAS GREAT THINGS in store for our you, your family, and for our CHURCH! And, so — I’m glad you’re here! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, if you have your Bible, turn with me to the first book of the New Testament book of Matthew.\u00a0This morning we are beginning a BRAND NEW SERIES<\/strong> of messages we\u2019re calling MOMENTUM<\/strong>. In this series we\u2019ll spend the next 5 weeks<\/strong> walking through one of the most significant<\/em> passages in all of the Bible. It\u2019s found in Matthew 6<\/strong> — in Jesus<\/strong>\u2019 famous SERMON ON THE MOUNT<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here — in the midst of teaching His followers about how to live their lives for God\u2019s Glory,<\/strong> He took time to instruct them on how to pray. But more than just a framework for praying…He offered them (and us) key principles<\/strong> for aligning our hearts and lives with the heart of God. If we can learn to embrace these very important principles in our own lives — then we will quickly discover an increased MOMENTUM<\/strong> for building our faith and living for Jesus!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0Now, I have to admit, Momentum<\/strong> is a somewhat strange sounding word — but it has a fascinating definition. It has been defined as:\u00a0The tendency of something in motion to stay in motion…and move forward.<\/em><\/strong> And. as your pastor<\/strong>…I can tell you — it\u2019s my hope that you will experience a growing momentum in your own life — and that as you serve Christ…that you will move forward (beyond where you are today) in your own pursuit of Godliness!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MESSAGE:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that in mind, look with me at Matthew 6 and verse 9<\/strong>. These words that we\u2019ll read today have often been referred to as \u201cTHE LORD\u2019S PRAYER\u201d. But I submit to you that today that its probably better to think of it as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTHE BELIEVER\u2019S PRAYER!\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This morning — out of respect for God\u2019s Word…would you stand with me again and let\u2019s read (and pray this prayer) together. It\u2019s found in Matthew 6 and verse 9<\/strong>…but I\u2019d like for us all to use the same version — so you can read it along with me from the PowerPoint<\/em> today. And Jesus said… Pray then like this:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9 <\/em><\/strong>…\u201cOur 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AMEN!<\/strong> You may be seated.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we begin this series, I want you to recognize the content of this prayer with me.\u00a0Hidden within the lines of this POWERFUL PRAYER are five distinct principles for life<\/strong> — principles that we\u2019ve boiled down to five memorable words.\u00a0And, when applied to our everyday lives, they really serve as catalysts for change to help move us toward an abundant life as Jesus promised in John 10:10 <\/strong>(when He said, \u201cI have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.\u201d<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was not Jesus<\/strong>\u2019 plan to come and give us just enough of His power<\/strong> and His provision<\/strong> and His presence<\/strong> to get by and squeak<\/strong> out<\/strong> some meager<\/strong> existence<\/strong> in life. But rather, He came to GIVE US LIFE TO THE FULL!\u00a0(John 10:10)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life to the max! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what does a life that is lived to the fullest<\/strong> look like? What does a life that is empowered by God\u2019s Spirit and resourced by God\u2019s generosity really look like. Well, that\u2019s the big question that we will seek to answer over the next 5 weeks.\u00a0According to this prayer we just prayed — as Jesus declared — it begins with…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. HONOR <\/strong>(living our lives in Honor of God — and we\u2019ll be looking at this more this morning.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…”<\/em> Matt. 6:9 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then it moves on to…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Renewal <\/strong>(Allowing God to Change us From the Inside Out…putting away selfishness — and embracing God\u2019s ways over our own).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”<\/em> Matt. 6:10 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then it moves on to — what we\u2019re calling…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Release <\/strong>(This has to do with the issue of trust — trusting God to be our provider.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGive us today our daily bread.”<\/em> Matt. 6:11 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And from here, Jesus leads us to the principle of…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Forgiveness <\/strong>(Accepting God\u2019s Grace and forgiveness in our own lives and then extending it to others.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”<\/em> Matt. 6:12 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And finally, he teaches us the principle of…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Pursuit<\/strong> (Which is aligning ourselves with God\u2019s Plan — and rejecting the evil temptations of this world.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”<\/em> Matt. 6:13 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only way to truly flee temptation and to turn away from the evil one — is to PURSUE Godliness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if we can build our lives on these principles <\/strong>that Jesus teaches us — in this prayer, then I guarantee you that your life will change for the better. And you will experience a growing momentum in your own life — and that as you serve Christ…that you will move forward (beyond where you are today) in your own pursuit of Godliness!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of whether you view yourself as YOUNG or OLD or somewhere in between…God wants to take you further in your spiritual journey with Him. (Can you say AMEN!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TRANSITION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, with that — look with me again at verse 9<\/strong>. The starting place for growing in God always begins with HONOR!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Say that with me: HONOR<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honor<\/strong> is somewhat a forgotten principle within our world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I was growing up…children were taught to honor their parents. Adolescents were taught to honor adults…we were taught to honor our leaders and those in authority…we were taught to honor our service men and women…and everyone honored the elderly. But those days seem to have past — and been replaced by SELF-CENTEREDNESS…and ARROGANCE!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as Jesus<\/strong> was teaching His disciples about living a GODWARD life…He said, when you pray…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9 <\/em><\/strong>Pray then like this: \u201cOur Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hallowed Be Your Name<\/em><\/strong> — It\u2019s a powerful and challenging prayer. It\u2019s a prayer that says, when it comes to your name, O God…\u201cMake it holy and cause us to keep it holy.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meaning of \u201challowed be your name\u201d<\/em> rests on two words\u2014\u201challowed<\/strong>\u201d and \u201cname<\/strong>.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me take just a moment and explain the importance of these two words to you. And I think I\u2019ll begin with the latter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today names<\/strong> don\u2019t mean much more to us than convenient<\/strong> labels<\/strong> to identify<\/strong> people<\/strong> by. We commonly say, \u201cA rose is a rose by any other name\u201d or \u201ca thorn is a thorn by any other name.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We rarely even think about what a name means when we name our children. Our biggest concern is that the name sound good to the ear — or roll off the tongue well. Or maybe our highest priority is that the name point back to another relative or loved one.\u00a0I know I\u2019ve told this story more times than I should…but when Lori and I were blessed by our first son…we really struggled to name him.\u00a0 In fact, for three days he laid in the infant crib next to our bed identified simply as \u201cBABY BOY HILL\u201d. (True Story)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the reason for that is because we understood that this whole naming thing was a very big deal. He would be stuck with whatever name we chose — for LIFE. We ultimately settled on Jonathan (Precious gift from God). And even so…our understanding of NAMES today pales in comparison to the perspective of Israel in ancient days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the Jewish person, a name was anything but a convenient label — because names were considered an indicator of character. This especially applied to the name of God.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the way — do know where we get our English<\/em> word for GOD from<\/strong>?\u00a0 It is derived from the Anglo<\/strong>–Saxon<\/strong> word for good<\/strong>. It too points to God\u2019s<\/strong> nature<\/strong>. For He is GOD<\/strong> — the Good<\/strong> One<\/strong>, the essence of goodness, the cause of goodness in others and throughout our world<\/span>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Somebody once explained God<\/strong> this way: \u201cAll conceptions of God which are incompatible with a movement of pure charity are false. All other conceptions of Him, in varying degrees, are true.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that the name of the LORD<\/strong> is a major recurring theme in scripture. There are more than 90 <\/strong>references to it in the Psalms<\/strong> alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To this point, the psalmist declared in Psalm 20:7<\/strong>, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name [the character] of the Lord our God\u201d<\/em> (20:7). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You see, God\u2019s names reveal certain aspects of his being. In the Old<\/strong> Testament<\/strong> we often find God (or others) referring to God by His character. For instance<\/p>\n\n\n\n