Series: Glorifying God
Message – Glorifying God II.mp3
Last week we began talking about glorifying God, so I have kept the definition up this week as well for those who need a reminder.
Following the definition are the ways we can glorify God in our lives which I taught about tonight.
Glory, glory, glory…what does it mean?
The word glory is Doxazo in the Greek and is a derivative of the word doxology whose meaning is very similar. A doxology is a liturgy or a short song focused on praising God for His wonderful and transcendent qualities.
So, “glory” means to recognize, honor, praise and invest with dignity. To give anyone esteem or honor by putting him into an honorable position – either literally or in ones heart.
So, you can see that glorifying God is something that would come naturally to anyone who love Him and reverse Him.
How do we glorify God…
Live Godly lives – our witness
1Peter 2:11-16 “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, (12) having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
WOW really insightful!
Nothing in the verse indicates these people change their minds – no repentance is even hinted at. So how will they glorify God when He returns?
It isn’t their condemnation that will glorify God so much as the reason for it. You see they will stand condemned due to the testimony of trusting God desplayed in your life.
Consider Heb. 11-12….chapter 11 is often called the Bible’s “Hall of Faith”, but I would content that it is the Bible’s Hall of Testimony or Hall of Testifiers. Now, what gave these great men and women a good testimony was their unconditional faith in God. These people trusted God intimately and unwavering in the face of much opposition and fear.
Heb 11:1-2,
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.”
The words “good testimony” are the one word marturéō in the Greek and mean…
To be a witness, bear witness.
- To be a witness, to be able or ready to testify. used in an absolute sense IN 8:3;
- To be in favor of the one who bears or has a good testimony – examples Jn. 5:33.
- To bear witness, to testify to the truth of what one has seen, heard, or knows.
- Emphatically, to testify strongly, bear honorable testimony to be well-testified about, to have good witness, Heb 11:4-5.
This word is used…
- Of mankind as they bear witness to the truth – Jn. 18:37
- Of God testifying to the truth by His Spirit – 1 John 5:6
- Our works – John 5:36
So God is glorified in and through His people as they place their trust entirely upon Him. This ‘testimony’ is stored up for use on the day of judgement…but what many people do not know is that God too will be judged on that day.
Romans 3:1-19,
“What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? (2) Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. (3) For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? (4) Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when You are judged.” (5) But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) (6) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? (7) For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? (8) And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just. (9) What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. (10) As it is written: “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE; (11) THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS; THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS AFTER GOD. (12) THEY HAVE ALL TURNED ASIDE; THEY HAVE TOGETHER BECOME UNPROFITABLE; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NO, NOT ONE.” (13) “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN TOMB; WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY HAVE PRACTICED DECEIT”; “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”; (14) “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS.” (15) “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD; (16) DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR WAYS; (17) AND THE WAY OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.” (18) “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” (19) Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
With this thought in mind here are a few ways in which we are to be a good witness…
(13) Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, (14) or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. (15) For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— (16) as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and learn to abide in Him by the help of the Holy Spirit.
You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. If you do not know Him, please use our ‘Contact Us‘ page and reach out so we may have the privilege to introduce you to the Lord. Attendance at our church will NOT even be mentioned nor will money.
If you have been spiritually fed by this ministry and wish to give to its ministry, we appreciate that and you may do so here, but all outreaches of this ministry are FREE for you and anyone to enjoy at no cost.
Blessings!