We Will Glorify Series

Sermon for 11/7/2010

Psalm 73- Glorify

HoHum:

C.S. Lewis said, “I have an elderly acquaintance of about 80, who has lived a life of unbroken selfishness and self admiration from his earliest years, and is, more or less, I regret to say, one of the happiest men I know. As you perhaps know, I haven’t always been a Christian. I didn’t come to Christ to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of liquor would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.”

WBTU:

The writer of Psalm 73, Asaph, has similar thoughts. He notices that those who have little regard for God seem to be doing better than those who revere God.

Vs. 12- The righteous man goes broke, while the fellow who cheats gets rich and it doesn’t seem to bother him, he doesn’t loose any sleep over it. The wicked in Israel enticed others to follow them and their evil example, and yet their lives were seemingly blessed with financial prosperity and physical well-being, a fact which seemed contradictory to the covenant God had made with Israel.

Doesn’t it bother us? How good happens to bad people and bad happens to good people?

Where is the pay off? Why bother with the Christian faith if all we get is a raw deal?

There are times that I struggle with my sins but there are others whose sins don’t seem to bother them. Maybe I should adopt their attitude and not let my sins bother me and just give in and live it up. Let us eat, drink and be merry. As long as it feels good do it.

Vs. 16- 17: When Asaph went to church, it changed his perspective. This is more than just going to church. Some people come to church and this does not change their perspective because they do not engage their minds. They go through the motions without much thought and leave the church unchanged.

When it says I entered the sanctuary of God, this is talking about glorifying God. G’s of the godly, we have talked about grace, good news, group, growth, gifts, giving and now glorify.

Glory is all of the good attributes of a subject. Concerning a person, it is the manifestation of one’s good qualities, such as appearance, abilities, virtues, or personality. “At the kitchen, she was in her glory.” Concerning God, it is the display of his perfect characteristics, attributes and acts. When we glorify someone we worship, we admire, that persons good qualities. When we glorify God, we admire and praise Him for his perfection in all areas. Holy!

One of the ways we glorify is by participating in a church service that gives God praise. We can and should glorify God alone but it is more moving to do it in a group.

Thesis: How does going to church (glorifying the Lord) change one’s perspective on life?

For instances:

II. Reminded of eternity (Heaven and hell)

Hell

Vs. 17- Their final destiny is death, the second death. The first death is separation of the soul from the body. The second death is separation of the soul from God forever.

Vs. 18- Slippery ground- It’s like trying to go up or down a mountain when it is icy. Their position is so dangerous. No sure footing, no confidence.

Vs. 18- Cast them down to ruin- The Lord has allowed them enjoy the pleasures of this world and great will be their fall from the heights.

Vs. 19- How suddenly are they destroyed- 1 Samuel 20:3- (David) There is only a step between me and death.

Vs. 19- Terrors- Death beds- 23 minutes in hell- "Even if you don't believe my story, you should believe these Bible verses and avoid hell just the same. To me, it doesn't matter what causes you to understand the truth as long as it sinks in.”

Vs. 27- Those who are far from you will perish- No matter how comfortable they now seem to be, destruction is their final destiny.

Vs. 27- You destroy all who are unfaithful to you. Just saying that we are Christians is not enough. Matthew 7:21- Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

There will be a day of reckoning for the arrogant. Vs. 11- How can God know? Hebrews 4:13- Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

knowledge? Psalm 44:21 says that God knows the secrets of the heart.

Heaven

Vs. 23- I am always with you- Jesus Christ will never leave us nor forsake us. Lead us through the valley of the shadow of death to the other side.