God Restores The Connection

Text: Deuteronomy 5:11 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Passages: Deuteronomy 5:11

Deuteronomy 5:11

The Power of God’s Name: Restoring Connection and Transforming Lives

Near the beginning of the school year, we experienced issues with the fingerprint reader. It turned out the problem was a poor network connection. The computer, placed beneath the desk to save space, showed it was connected to Wi-Fi. However, the interference from the desk itself weakened the connection. Once we placed the computer on top of the desk, the problems disappeared.

In the same way, reestablishing a strong connection with God often resolves many of the challenges we face in life. Though we cannot do this on our own, God faithfully restores that connection for us through His holy name.

God’s Name: The Basis of Our Connection

God has given us His name so that we might have a close and meaningful relationship with Him. His name is the foundation of that connection. Through His name, He blesses us, strengthens us, encourages us, and empowers us to call upon Him in times of trouble and prayer.

In Numbers 6, after instructing Aaron to bless the people, the Lord says:

Numbers 6:27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”

What might be interfering with that divine connection in your life?

The Source of Disconnection

The problem isn’t on God’s end. Paul reminds us in Ephesians that God has poured out every spiritual blessing upon us. Yet, these blessings come through His name which is given to us in Word, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. When we misuse or neglect that sacred name, we compromise our relationship with Him. The good news is, God restores that connection through the name of Jesus.

The New Testament also highlights how seriously God takes His commandments. The 4th commandment promises blessings, while the 2nd commandment contains specific warnings about misusing His name.

Why is this so important?

In our text God gives a specific warning to the second commandment. He does not do this with any other commandment. Why does he do it here? Probablybecause even believers can underestimate the significance of God’s name. It’s easy to forget how important it is to honor His name. We might casually use God or Jesus as exclamations, saying:

• “God, I’m so hungry!”
• “Jesus, it’s hot out here!”

When we do this, we treat His holy name as nothing more than a used wrapper—like the wrapper of a fast-food burger, discarded without thought.

What about false teachings? Is it truly that serious if a church slightly misrepresents Scripture? Yes. God declares:

Jeremiah 23:32 “Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams… and cause My people to err by their lies and reckless deeds. But I did not send them or command them.”

God expects us to take His name and His commandments seriously, not just for His sake, but for our sake. He desires to change our lives by giving us His name and He does not want us to throw away that precious blessing.

The Name of Jesus: Changing Lives Through Prayer

In Acts 3, Peter and John encounter a man lame from birth. Though they have no coins to give, Peter says:

“In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

That man rose up, walked, leaped for joy and gave thanks to God. The name of Jesus changed his life.

That name changes everything. It restores hope, alters destinies, and manifests divine power.

God doesn’t promise that the name of Jesus will heal ever lame man. He does promise that he will hear all our prayers.

John 16:23 “Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.”

God promises to hear our prayers, just as Peter and John heard the prayers of this lame man. You’ll notice that although they didn’t give him what he asked for, they gave him something better. God hears our prayers and gives us better.

It’s a frustrating thing to sit there with your fishing pole in the water and wonder why there are no bites. Are there no fish? Did they already eat the bait? Is the bait too low or too high in the water? It’s hard to be patient when you’re not even sure there are any fish in the water.

We don’t have to wonder when it comes to prayer. Jesus reminded us in our gospel reading that we can continue persistently in prayer, through his name we are confident that he is listening to every prayer. He hears us.

Recall Hagar in Genesis 16. When she felt unseen and alone, God revealed Himself to her. She called the place “The One Who Sees”—Beer Lahai Roi. The name of God changed her life.

This is what Jesus’ name accomplishes for us: It assures us that God sees, hears, and cares. It transforms us from weary souls with nowhere to turn into people empowered by divine reassurance. This isn’t because of our own holiness, but because of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins. His name reassures us that God hears our every prayer.

The Name of Jesus: Changing Lives Through Forgiveness

In Matthew 9, another lame man is brought to Jesus. Although Jesus doesn’t heal him immediately, He offers a profound transformation:

“Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

Here, Jesus emphasizes that His primary mission is to forgive sins—offering salvation through His name. This forgiveness changes lives just as powerfully as physical healing. Jesus doesn’t promise to heal every lame man but He does promise to forgive every sin.

Think back to the computer problem. All we had to do was bring it our from under the desk. Often, the biggest issues in our lives stem from our own sins: the lies we tell, the guilt we carry, anger, hatred, and other burdens weighing us down. These weights lead to depression, loneliness, and despair. All we need to do is bring them out where we can be forgiven.

The name of Jesus can forgive all our sins and remove these burdens. Jesus promises, “Come to Me, all you who are weary, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

We must bring our sins into the open—the secret struggles, the feelings we hide—so that through Jesus’ name, our connection to God can be restored.

James 5:16 encourages us: “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” In confession and prayer, through His name, Jesus grants us healing and renewal.

His name is a precious gift, more than just a word. It’s a divine power that forgives, heals, and restores us. We should cherish it, honor it, and use it reverently, calling upon Him in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

God’s name is the key to our connection with Him. It blesses us, strengthens us, hears our prayers, and forgives our sins. Just as the network connection must be clear for us to communicate effectively with technology, so our lives must be anchored in the sacred name of Jesus for us to experience His blessings.

Let us be mindful always to respect and honor that name using it earnestly and sincerely, knowing that through Jesus, our connection to God is unbreakable.

May His name be on our lips, in our hearts, and in our lives now and forever.

Amen.