GIVING GLORY TO GOD

By: Richard Kirkland

Revelation 4:6-11

Introduction:

                        A.        John the beloved was on the isle Patmos, banished for the cause of Christ.  When he was privileged to view one of the most awesome scenes that mortal man has ever seen.  He saw the throne of God in heaven and he heard the heavenly host ascribe glory and honor and power to God.

                        B.         What will eternity be like?  According to the scripture it will be one continuous service of praise to God.  There, everyone will continually ascribe glory and honor and power to God.  Praise will continually flow from our lips as we stand in amazement of His great power and love.  What a wonderful privilege will be ours to be a part of it all.

                        C.        But, if we are to be a part of that service, we must begin here and now to glorify to God.  If we do not glorify Him on earth, we will not be there to glorify Him in heaven.

                                                1.         In heaven there will be no distractions; nothing to interfere, hinder, or prevent our glorifying God.

                                                2.         On earth there are constant distractions, hindrances, and interferences.  How can we, in spite of it all, keep our lives focused on God and continue to glorify Him everyday?

I.          BY ABSTAINING FROM SIN.

                        A.        We can glorify God with our bodies as well as with our words.  To glorify God is to promote the glory of God, to extol or laud and magnify His name.  (Hebrews 13:15) It is not only the fruit of our lips but also the deeds of our bodies which glorify God.

                        1.         It is not enough simply to shout “Glory” or “Hallelujah”, stomp our feet, clap our hands, or wave our arms.  How do such things magnify God in the eyes of the world?  Does He receive glory from these things?

                        2.         We glorify God with our lips when we speak of His power and majesty.  We glorify God with our bodies by living our lives in such as way as to magnify his name among the world.

B.         Christians need to be reminded to “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” and to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.”

C.        Flee sexual immorality.  Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.  Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).

D.        The line of demarcation has become blurred.  What is the difference in the behavior of a Christian and a non-Christian?  Is it just that a Christian does not commit the grosser sins?  Or does a Christian just not sin as often as others?

                        1.         A Christian will not be a murderer, bank robber, prostitute, or drug dealer.  Neither will many non-Christians.

                        2.         A Christian will not murder; but will he approve and condone abortion?

                        3.         A Christian will not rob a bank; but is he greedy and covetous?

                        4.         A Christian will not be a prostitute; but will he commit adultery if he intended to leave his spouse anyway?

                        5.         A Christian will not be a prostitute; but will he commit fornication if he thinks he really loves the person?

                        6.         A Christian will not become a drunkard; but will he drink socially with his friends or business associates?

                        7.         A Christian will not lie, steal, cheat, or deceive.  But what if it involves making a good business deal?

                        8.         “If then you were raised... Therefore put to death your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”  (Col.3:1,5).

E.         Do we obey the gospel, but remain largely unchanged?  Do we suppose that we can pull the wool over the eyes of God with an occasion appearance at worship or a once-in-a-while good deed done in the name of Christ?  Do you really believe that we can live in sin and yet bring glory to God?

F.         For too long we have winked at sin.  We have justified the unjust, excused the inexcusable, ignored the obvious, and condoned wickedness.  Brethren, we must repent!  Christians have a responsibility to glorify God by living up to a moral standard that is higher than others.

II.        BY DOING GOOD WORKS.  “You are the light of the world....” (Matthew 5:14-16)

                        A.        It is the practice of pure religion.  (James 1:27).

                        B.         Can you really be a Christian follower of Christ without doing good?  Christ “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”  (Acts 10:38).  We are to do good as the opportunity presents itself (Galatians 6:10).  To fail to be good is sin (James 4:17).

                        C.        We may do good by feeding the hungry, showing hospitality to strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and ministering to those in prison.  (Matthew 25:35-36).

                        D.        Jesus said, “and whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”  (Matthew 10:42).

                        E.         It is not necessary that we be able to do great, public, or seemingly important works; but we must do the little things which daily present themselves if we are to bring glory to God.

                        F.         One good work that every Christian must find time to do is to share the unsearchable riches of Christ.

III.       BY OUR WORSHIP WHEN WE WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH.  “To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.  Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21)

                        A.        Our worship must be in spirit and truth.  (John 4:23-24).

                        B.         Our worship must be regular and constant.  (Hebrews 10:25).

                                                1.         Can we bring glory to God without making a consistent and sincere effort to assemble with the saints whenever and wherever they meet for worship or praise?

                                                2.         Some think three or four times a year is enough.

                                                3.         Some think Sunday mornings only.

                                                                        a.         If you want to lose your family, then go ahead, Oncers lose their families and wonder “why?” or blame the church.

                                                                        b.         Besides the question of whether God is glorified we may ask, “Are the brethren edified?” There is nothing more discouraging than on the way to worship to see one brother at the grocery store, another mowing his lawn, another at the ballpark, and yet another washing his car.

                        C.        By regularly meeting together for worship and sincerely worshiping God through the divinely appointed acts we bring glory to God.

CONCLUSION:

                        A.        God is calling you today to glorify Him by your life.

                        B.         Glorify Him first by obeying the gospel.