God Who Does What He Pleases

God who does what He pleases.

psalm 115:1-3

1. God alone is to be glorified (115:1-3).

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth [or, faithfulness]. Why should the nations say, ‘Where, now, is their God?’ But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. ” Four lessons:

A. BE CAREFUL NOT TO TAKE ANY OF GOD’S GLORY FOR YOURSELF.

The repetition, “Not to us, not to us” shows the probability that we all have for taking some of God’s glory for ourselves. In Isaiah 42:8, the Lord says, “I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give my glory to another, nor My praise to graven images.” In Isaiah 48:11, He repeats, “For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; for how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.” But in spite of these clear declarations, we’re all prone to take at least some of God’s glory for ourselves.

The most common error with regard to salvation is that it is on the basis of our good works.

Go up to anyone on the street and ask, “If you were to die and stand before God and He asked, ‘Why should I let you into heaven?’ what would you say?”

You will most likely hear, “I’m a basically good person,” or some similar answer.

Even among those that profess to know Christ as Savior, there is a strong tendency to take at least some of the credit for salvation

When we try to take credit for our salvation, when we think any good deed that we do will help earn our way to heaven, we just the same as spit in Jesus' face. He alone, is responsible for our salvation. Nothing we do, or have done makes us worthy of salvation, only the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

Even after God has saved us, we’re still prone to take credit for things that are due completely to His grace.

The Corinthians were boasting in their spiritual gifts. Paul asks them (1 Cor. 4:7), “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” All that we have spiritually is because God was gracious to us. We were dead in our sins, children of wrath, when He graciously raised us up to new life (Eph. 2:1-5). All the glory should go to Him.

If you come accross a religion which magnifies man, flee from it as far as you can….

Here is a test for you to compare it, and by it you may tell whether a thing is true or not. Does it glorify God?

Then, accept it. If it does not, if it glorifies man—puts human will, human ability, human merit, into the place of the mercy and the grace of God—

The bible tells us that all things come from God, they exist by His power, and are intended for His glory.

B. WHEN WE PROFESS TO BE CHRISTIANS, WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL NOT TO TARNISH THE IMAGE OF GOD.

The application is, we should never do anything that would give unbelievers a basis for taunting, “Where, now, is their God?”

It is especially tragic when Christians fall into sin and are exposed in the news media.

The world mocks us and our God. It is tragic when Christian 's are not ethical. Again, the world mocks our God. If we claim the name of Christ, we must not do anything that would tarnish His glory among unbelievers

C. GOD ALONE IS TO BE GLORIFIED BECAUSE OF HIS LOVINGKINDNESS AND HIS MERCY AND GRACE.

The psalmist prays that God will give glory to His name, “because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth” [or, “faithfulness”]

. Lovingkindness is another word for God’s grace

. Our salvation, rooted in God’s choosing us before the foundation of the world

(Eph. 1:4-6 .4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The shortest psalm in the Bible calls us to do so (Ps. 117:1-2), “Praise the Lord, all nations; laud Him, all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!”

If it were not for His grace, we’d all be lost, with no hope. If it were not for His faithfulness, none of us would endure. Meditating on these two qualities will cause you to glorify Him.