“How do I glorify God?”
Series: Glory [on screen]
Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD
First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida
June 19, 2022
Introductory Comments:
Welcome back to part two of our two-part series called, “Glory.”
Last time, we answered the question, “What is God’s glory?”
You may remember that the definition of the glory of God was,
God’s glory is the display of all of His God-ness.[on screen]
Well, today the question that we will answer is,
“How do I glorify God?” [on screen]
So, let’s look at the Bible and seek to answer that question. Before we do, let’s go to God in prayer and ask Him to speak to us.
(prayer)
Well, what is a definition or explanation of bringing glory to God? After some careful consideration, here’s what I came up with:
Definition: To glorify God means to highlight and delight in the God-ness of God.[on screen]
When we highlight the God-ness of God, we are bringing attention to who God is and all the wonderful things He has done. Like in a book, when you highlight something, you do so to draw attention to it. [show picture on screen] So also, in glorifying God we bring attention to the God-ness of God.
Not only do we highlight God’s God-ness, we delight in it. When we glorify God, we love God’s God-ness and we want to see it displayed.
There are many different ways that we can glorify God in our lives and we’re going to talk about that in a moment. Before we do, let me give you an example that came from John Piper on this idea of glorifying God.
Piper gives an example of how we can glorify God through orange juice: [show picture on screen] Piper says,
1. I will affirm, joyfully, from the word of God, that the color yellow is a gift of God. The sweet taste is a gift of God. The nourishment and the way my body uses it is a gift of God. The sun and the rain that grew the oranges is a gift of God. The trucking and the grocery chain that brought it to me is a gift of God. And the list could go on and on. I will gladly, joyfully, say that out loud. I will feel that.
2. I will lift my heart and voice in prayer, thanking God. And I will do this often so that others can know where all this came from, and how wise and strong and good God is.
3. I will remind myself that I do not deserve this juice. I deserve to be in hell today. And so, I will give thanks that my sins are forgiven and that this pleasure is, in fact, bought for me. This orange-juice pleasure is a blood-bought gift for this child of God on the way to heaven.
4. I will remind myself that this particular pleasure, this taste, this coolness on my tongue, this nourishment, reveals something of God to my senses and my soul that could not be known any other way. That’s why the world was created, because all of it is like a prism, giving us some new sight of the glory of God.
5. Then, I will share this juice, in love, with others at the table; I won’t horde it all.
6. And finally, I will use the strength that it gives me to live for the glory of God.
Isn’t that amazing? There are so many ways to reflect the glory of God, even through sipping orange juice.
So, join me as we talk more about how we can glorify God in several different ways.
First, . . .
I. We glorify God by existing. [on screen]
Think about this, church: the very fact that we exist as humans gives glory to God.
Remember, God created mankind as a reflection of His image. By existing, we reflect God in some way.
The Bible says in Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.” [on screen]
So, we glorify God in that we reflect Him in some way.
Listen, also, to what God says in Isaiah 43:7, “ . . . everyone who bears my name and is created for my glory. I have formed them; indeed, I have made them.” [on screen]
We not only glorify God in that we reflect Him because we are made in His image, we also glorify Him in the very act of Him creating us.
God says in Isaiah that we are, created for His glory.
David says in Psalm 8:3-5, “When I observe your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you set in place, what is a human being that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him? You made him little less than God and crowned him with glory and honor.” [on screen]
Not only are we made in God’s image, not only is God glorified by creating us, but we see also that we are made special by God.
David says that we are made by God and we are crowned with glory and honor. Because God is full of glory and honor, He made us with a level of glory and honor. The fact that we exist the way that we do (with glory and honor) points back to the awesomeness of God; it highlights the God-ness of God!
God is glorified simply by the fact that we exist the way that we do. We exist the way that we do because God made us this way. God made us this way because He is full of glory and honor!
Church, we glorify God by existing.
Second, . . .
II. We glorify God by recognizing. [on screen]
When I was at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting this past week, I went to the Southwestern Seminary alumni and friends lunch. At that lunch, they honored Rear Admiral Phillip “Endel” Lee Jr, a former chaplain with the United States Navy. They honored him because they recognized all the good work that he had done for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, while serving as a chaplain.
In recognizing Rear Admiral Lee, Southwestern honored him.
So also, when we recognize God and His God-ness, it brings Him glory and honor.
First of all, we recognize God simply because of who He is.
Listen to what Psalm 29:2 says: “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” [on screen]
God deserves glory and honor simply because of the fact that He is God. He is Creator of all things! He is king of the universe! He is the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end!
Let us recognize God for who He is!
Also, we recognize God because of what He has done.
Do you remember the shepherds who were visited by angels at the birth of Jesus? You may or may not remember what they did after they were visited by the angels and told about the birth of Jesus. Listen to what Luke tells us in Luke 2:20: “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.” [on screen]
Similarly, when Jesus was doing miraculous works on the earth, the people couldn’t help but praise God for what He was doing. Matthew 15:31 says, “So the crowd was amazed when they saw those unable to speak talking, the crippled restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they gave glory to the God of Israel.” [on screen]
So, we recognize God for who He is, what He has done, and, third, we recognize God through our praise and worship of Him.
Did you know when we sing, we are singing in worship to God? We are not just here to kill time, we are not just here to be entertained, we are certainly not here to sing songs the songs that we want to hear. We are here in worship to glorify God! Psalm 63:3 says, “My lips will glorify you because your faithful love is better than life.” [on screen]
We sing to God in our worship service because we are recognizing the God-ness of God and we want to highlight and delight in the God-ness of God!
So, we glorify God by recognizing.
Third, . . .
III. We glorify God by submitting. [on screen]
When you properly submit to someone it shows that you honor them, right?
When a wife lovingly submits to her husband’s leadership, it shows honor to her husband. When you go to lunch with a friend and you submit to their choice for a restaurant, it shows that you honor them. When you submit to the preference of your spouse and kids for vacation, it shows that you love and honor them. When a church submits to the godly leadership of their pastors, it shows that they honor their pastors and the Word of God.
So also, when we submit to God we honor Him and we glorify Him. We demonstrate that He is God and He is worthy of our submission. We are highlighting the God-ness of God!
We can submit to God in a number of ways. First, we submit to the reality that everything we have is from God; He owes us nothing.
Job said in Job 1:21, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” [on screen]
All that we have and all that we have been given is a gift from God. We submit to God by acknowledging this reality.
Also, we submit to God by using all of our gifts and talents for Him.
Since all that we have is from Him, we should willingly submit all that we have to God. Peter says in 1 Peter 4:10-11, “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” [on screen]
Finally, we submit to God in the church.
Listen to this beautiful word from Paul in Ephesians 3:21: “ . . . to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” [on screen]
The church is all about God and bringing Him glory. The church is not merely about fellowship. The church is not merely about the Bible. The church is not merely about love. The church is certainly not about us and our preferences. The church is not about the pastor. The church is all about God and bringing Him glory. “ . . . to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Church, we glorify God by submitting.
Finally, . . .
IV. We glorify God by living. [on screen]
The way that we live as God followers should highlight the God-ness of God.
Jesus said in John 15:8, “My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.” [on screen]
Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” [on screen]
When we live as faithful followers of the Father, it brings glory to God!
Paul spoke about this when he talked about the way we used our bodies in our daily living. Even what we do with our bodies should highlight the God-ness of God.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “ . . . for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.” [on screen]
We don’t just honor God in theory, we honor Him in how we actually live, including what we do with our bodies. Where we go, what we eat and drink, what we wear, what we listen to, what we watch, what we put in our bodies, what we think, and what we do matters to God and it reflects upon the God-ness of God in our lives.
So, let us glorify God with our bodies.
Church, did you know that even in our suffering, we can highlight the God-ness of God?
Peter says in 1 Peter 4:16, “But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name.” [on screen]
Even when we suffer in our living, we can glorify God because Jesus our Lord suffered as well.
So, glorify God in your living.
Concluding Thoughts:
Some of you may think, “Man, Pastor Matt, it seems like you’re telling us that we have to glorify God in everything.” Well, you’re finally starting to catch on.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” [on screen]
Everything we do, church, should be for the glory of God! Whether you are drinking orange juice, holding a baby, talking to a restaurant worker, reading your Bible, digging a ditch, or sharing the Gospel with someone who has never heard of Jesus, you should do it all for the glory of God and you should delight in the fact that it is for God’s glory.
That brings us nicely to our bottom line:
Bottom Line: Our lives should point to the God-ness of God. [on screen]
(repeat)
Is that a reality for you? Does your life point to the God-ness of God?
One author said, “ . . . it all goes back to God in the end.”
In your life, is God the end of all things? In your speech . . . does it all go back to God? In your thoughts . . . does it all go back to God? In your actions . . . does it all go back to God?
Start today, church, to live your entire life, in all arenas, for the glory of God.
Challenge yourself this week to live out this sermon in this one way:
Weekly Challenge: [on screen]
1. Identify five ways you can glorify God this week. [on screen]
Be intentional. What are five ways that you can glorify God?”
To be clear, we have more than five things that occupy our lives. However, take some time and just choose five to be intentional about this week. How will you glorify God in your life?
Closing:
Is your life all about you? Is your life all about your family? Is your life all about success? Is your life all about acceptance? Or, is your life all about God and His glory?
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
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