Sermon of The Month

To be vain is to be worthless, having no real value or empty.

We read in Exodus 20:7, Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy God in Vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh HIS Name in vain.

In this writers’ opinion, a person takes the LORDS’ Name in Vain when they say they are a Born-again Believer, a Child of GOD, a Saint; when in fact, they are not. 

For instance, if I were to say my dad is Bill Gates the Inventor of Microsoft who is a very wealthy man and that I am his only heir, it would not profit me anything because I am not his son. Therefore, I would be taking his name in vain. 

In St. Matthew 15:8-9 we have the report that Jesus said, “This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. *But in Vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Many people today have a form of Godly Worship but because they follow after and teach the doctrines and commandments of men and not the True Word of GOD as it is written in the Bible, their worship will not profit them when Jesus returns to gather His Own to Himself.

The Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 1:13-14 wrote, Bring no more Vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto ME; the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. *Your new moons and your appointed feasts MY Soul hateth: they are a trouble unto ME; I am weary to bear them.

Isaiah did not say that GODS’ Holy Sabbath was an abomination. He was referring to the Sabbaths of man as being an abomination to GOD. Mankind has been doing whatever pleased them ever since Adam and Eve believed the lie of satan and ate of the forbidden fruit.

In Ephesians 5:1-6 the Apostle Paul wrote, Be ye therefore followers of GOD, as dear children; *And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to GOD for a sweet-smelling savour. *But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh Saints; *Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. *For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of GOD. *Let no man deceive you with Vain words: for because of these things cometh the Wrath of GOD upon the children of disobedience.

The Apostle Paul was perhaps the greatest Minister to the gentiles that has ever been and he said, “be ye also Followers of GOD.” In other words, imitate Jesus because He is the Word made flesh, the Only Begotten Son of GOD.

Then Paul goes on to mention some of the things that mankind should not do, things that GOD considers as sin. The things that he mentions are not all inclusive but are examples of sin that GOD does not like.

In the Scriptures related to Jesus, He said that He only did those things that He heard from His FATHER, St. John 8:28. 

If we allow someone to deceive us into thinking we are to say or do anything other than what the Written Word of GOD stipulates we should do, we will be forever lost. Therefore, the Saints need to imitate Jesus.

The Apostle Paul in Galatians 4:10-11 wrote, Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. *I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

If GOD does not specifically tell us in HIS Holy Word to do / say or not do / say a thing then, we should disregard it. The Written Word of GOD warns us that we are NOT to add or take away from GODS’ Word, Revelation 22:18-19.

In Colossians 2:8 the Apostle Paul wrote, Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and Vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Most so-called-christians base their doctrines on the writings of the Apostle Paul and throughout his writings he cautions and warns us to be careful and follow the Word of GOD. He said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” 1st Corinthians 11:1.

The Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 15:58 wrote, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in Vain in the Lord.

We are to buy the Truth and sell it not, Proverbs 23:23. 

In Psalms 111:7-8 King David wrote, The works of HIS Hands Are verity and judgment; all HIS Commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in Truth and

Uprightness.

In James 2:20 the Apostle James wrote, Wilt thou know, O Vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Question: Are you willing to know? Many people today are willingly ignorant, 2nd Peter 3:5. 

The Apostle Peter in 1st Peter 1:16-18 wrote, It is written, Be ye holy; for I am HOLY. *And if ye call on the FATHER, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: *Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your Vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

The Apostle Peter plainly said that GOD Judges mankind according to their works. Therefore, we need to make sure that or works are according to the Written Word of GOD; otherwise, our works could be in Vain.

In St. Luke 13:24-26 we read about some so called saints that thought they should be allowed to enter into the Kingdom of GOD but Jesus told them that He never knew them and called them workers of iniquity.

King David in Psalms 119:113 wrote, I hate Vain thoughts: but THY Law do I love.

Thoughts that do not profit are not good; but to observe the Law of GOD will be accounted as Righteousness.

In Proverbs 30:7-9 King Solomon wrote, Two things have I required of THEE; deny me them not before I die: *Remove far from me Vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: *Lest I be full, and deny THEE, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the Name of my GOD in Vain.

You can see here that King Solomon said that to steal would be accounted as taking the LORDS’ Name in Vain. Let us therefore be careful that we do not appear to GOD as one that has taken HIS Holy and Righteous Name in Vain.

Minister Stewart