Sermon Central
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Glory To God
Contributed by Don Jones on Apr 25, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: Believers are to live their life by 1. bringing praise and glory to God, 2. seeking the good of others, 3. and spreading the gospel.
Glory to God
Believers are to live their life bringing praise and glory to God, seeking the good of others, and spreading the gospel.
Introduction
We are free from sin and death. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ have insured these freedoms for those who have put their trust and faith in Him. We are free to live life the way God intended. Believers have been freed from the "law" to live a grace based life. 1 Corinthians 10:23 says,
“Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive.
We live in a nation of liberty. The Statue of Liberty in New York is a symbol of that freedom. However, we have become a nation filled with irresponsible people. It’s always someone else’s fault. Just look at some of the lawsuits lately.
It is often forgotten that with great liberty comes great responsibility. The freedom we receive in Jesus never gives us an excuse to be irresponsible and sin. Paul states, "God forbid!" Believers are "free indeed" in Christ but their freedom must always be balanced by their responsibility to God and others.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
1. Praise and Glory to God
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God
Believer’s Life Purpose #1: bring praise, honor, and glory to God.
What is the motivation, the reason, we live like we do? The over-riding purpose for everything we do is to bring praise, honor, and glory to God. Remember, sin does not glorify God in any way. Our decision-making process is not a matter of emotion, whim, or want. Our decision making process starts with bringing glory to God.
How can we bring honor and glory to God? We bring glory to God by worshipping Him. We gather for worship to give Him the praise for who He is. We give all of who we are and what we have to Him. We give ourselves to Him because we love and trust Him. The first part of the Great Commandment in Matthew 22:37-38 says,
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”
We bring glory to God when we praise and thank Him throughout the day. All good comes from God. He is the source of every blessing in the believer’s life. We thank him for our food, drink, shelter, clothing, family, community, and yes, even the job we have early Monday morning.
We also bring glory to God by giving and doing our very best in everything. When we went to seminary my wife supported us. She found a job in the insurance industry one summer. The word around the area was that seminary students and their wives did great work. Employers hired them if there was an opening. Why, they worked as if working for the Lord.
We bring glory and honor to God ultimately by obeying His commands. Believer’s walk and talk the Bible. We have been freed to live for Him. We demonstrate our love by simply doing what He says.
2. Seek the Good of Others
Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everybody in every way.
Believer’s Purpose #2: Seek the good of others.
Paul was speaking to believers in the church. He was revealing the motivation behind his every decision in life. How you live, what you eat and drink, what you say and do, all of your action ought to bring glory to God and good to others.
Do not be a stumbling block to anyone. Our actions and words have an effect on those around us. How we behave can help or hurt others. Paul understood this simple truth.
We need to be on guard constantly. Our character must be kept intact. What we say, we do. Steer away from the smallest of sin. Be of good report and standing not only in public but privately as well. Be a person of integrity.
We don’t want to give someone offense, trip them up, cause them to stumble or turn away from the Lord or His gospel. We are to be the reason people come to the Lord not turn away from Him. We are to be an example of love, not hostility, to others so that they might receive the gospel openly.
