In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name… (Matthew 6:9-10)
Jesus taught us to call God our Heavenly Father and hallow His name when we pray. Calling God Father is is not an exclusive Old Testament privilege. On the contrary, it is foundational in Christianity. We read in John 1:12 concerning believers in Jesus that “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name”. If we are children or offspring of God, then God is certainly our Father. Romans 8:15 also adds that “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” Thus, when we call God our Father in the new covenant, we simply acknowledge the relationship Jesus has brought us into by His death and resurrection. We have been made children and members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19; Romans 8:29).
God declares of Himself that “Heaven is my throne”(Isaiah 66:1)”. This has not changed with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (e.g. see Revelation chapters 4-5, 15-22). The Hebrew word translated throne is “kicce”, which also refers to a seat of honour, royal dignity, authority, and power. Even so when we call God our Heavenly Father, we acknowledge Him as our Father who is King, and has all power and authority, and is honored above all. None of these has changed with the coming of the New Testament. Jesus also invoked the name “your Heavenly Father” when He showed us God’s great care for us and His power to give us His Holy Spirit, every good gift, and supply all our needs (see Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13, Matthew 6:8, Matthew 6:24-33). So we can see that when Paul wrote “God shall supply all your needs”(Philippians 4:19), he, by the Holy Spirit, iterated what Jesus showed us about God when He revealed Him to us as our Heavenly Father (cf. Matthew 11:27).
Jesus also taught us to declare to our Heavenly Father that “hallowed be Your name”. When we hallow (Greek: hagiazo) the name of God, we acknowledge and honor His name as holy and venerable. This is also to glorify the name of God. Hallowing or glorifying God’s name did not end with the old covenant. In the book of Revelation, written years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we read that Christians who will be victorious in the end times and will not receive the mark of the beast will glorify the name of God in heaven: Then I saw another sign in heaven…And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty;….Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy….(Revelation 15:1-4). There is nothing more New Testament than being part of the overcomers in the last days who will hallow the name of God in heaven. The names of God are not just His titles. They are expressions or attributes of His character and Himself. Therefore when we hallow the names of God we simply worship Him; calling Him holy, honoring Him, and venerating Him. This is what goes on before the throne of God in heaven (Rev 4:8-10) and this is what New Testament Christians do (Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:9; Revelation 15:1-4).
Again the Bible says in Philemon 6: “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus”. Even so, as believers in Jesus Christ, when we hallow the name of our Heavenly Father and call Him Jehovah Rophe, we honour and acknowledge Him as our Healer, and also acknowledge the covenant and blessing of healing He has given us in the New Testament (1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:4-5). When we do so, our faith becomes effective and we are able to walk in healing and health (cf. Philemon 6-8). And we are blessed in the same manner when we hallow His name and acknowledge Him as Jehovah Shalom – the God of Peace (Romans 15:33; Romans 16:20), Jehovah Tsidkenu – God our Righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53:10-12), Jehovah M’Kadesh – God our Sanctifier (Ephesians 4:24; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Cor 6 14:-7:1), and Jehovah Jireh – God our provider (Philippians 4:19).
Kwadwo Omari, PhD
January 15, 2019.
IMPORTANT: If you do not know the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour, this is the time to surrender your life to God, and accept Jesus as your Saviour. This is the way to eternal life and salvation from hell and eternal torments when this life is over. You can pray this prayer sincerely from your heart to receive Jesus as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask that You forgive me of all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.