The Power of God's Names | Dr Tony Evans | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

The Power of God's Names

Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship • Sep 17, 2016 • 28 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

Names carry profound meaning, identity, and relational authority, and nowhere is this truer than with the names of God. In this teaching, Dr. Tony Evans explores God's foundational name, Elohim—the all-powerful, transcendent Creator who exists outside of time and space yet actively interacts with His creation. Believers are encouraged to hallow God's holy name, trust Elohim to bring order out of life's chaos, and rest securely in His completed work.

Themes

The Names of GodGod as Creator (Elohim)Transcendence and ImmanenceOrder Out of ChaosResting in God's Finished Work

Key Points

1.
Names are inherently meaningful and carry deep associations that reflect a person's character, reputation, and identity.
2.
God's biblical names are not arbitrary titles, but divine clues revealing His ultimate nature, power, and character.
3.
To hallow God's name means to hold it as unique, sacred, and set apart, elevated above common worldly things.
4.
The name Elohim reveals God as the transcendent Creator who exists independently outside of time, space, and material existence.
5.
Elohim is a personal God who thinks, speaks, feels, and actively interacts with the universe He built.
6.
God created the universe ex nihilo—out of nothing—demonstrating power that invites human awe and scientific wonder.
7.
The plural nature of the word Elohim hints at the majestic Trinity, where Father, Son, and Spirit exist in plurality while operating in perfect unity.
8.
Elohim specializes in taking disorder, void, and mess, and speaking light and divine order into chaos.
9.
Human independence apart from God eventually crashes, just like an unmanned plane that inevitably runs out of fuel.
10.
God rested on the seventh day not because He was tired, but because His creative work was completely finished, inviting believers to rest in His sufficiency.

Sermon Moments

“The distinction between common everyday dishes in the kitchen cabinet and sacred, set-apart fine china kept in the dining room cabinet.”

“The warning against spiritual forgery—using God's trademarked name while denying His actual authority and personhood.”

“The illustration of a three-holed pretzel showing distinct persons tied together by the same shared divine dough.”

“The story of an unmanned single-engine plane that took off independently, only to run out of gas and crash 90 miles down the road.”

“The defensive football player pumping up the crowd to join him in celebrating a game-changing play.”

This Week

Set aside dedicated daily prayer time specifically to honor, hallow, and exalt the majestic names of God.

Examine your speech and attitudes to ensure you treat God's name as sacred rather than using it carelessly or routinely.

Surrender a chaotic or confusing situation in your life to Elohim, trusting Him to bring divine order out of the mess.

Identify any area where you are attempting to build your own name independent of God, and realign your motives under His authority.

Practice spiritual rest this week by choosing to trust in God's finished work rather than carrying anxious burdens.

Spend time observing nature and creation to reflect on Elohim's power, wisdom, and design.

Gather with other believers to actively praise and celebrate God's power, inviting others to exalt His name together.

Remember This

God introduces Himself as Elohim, the transcendent and personal Creator who brings order out of life's chaos so we can rest securely in His power.

A Challenge for You

Like a football player pumping up the stadium after a great play, let us raise our hands and join together to magnify the Lord and exalt His name Elohim!

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.