ALL GLORY BELONGS TO OUR LORD (Outline)
February 22, 2009 --
TRANSFIGURATION --
Exodus 34:29-35
INTRO: We know that all glory and honor belong to our Lord. Our sinful nature often tries to grab all glory and honor for ourselves. Or we may give glory and honor to others instead of our loving Lord. Our society today gives glory and honor to everyone and everything rather than God. Today we remember that the Lord is serious about his glory. "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to an-other or my praise to idols"(ISAIAH 42:8). The Lord tells us that he will not give his glory to anyone else. The Lord will not give his praise to idols even though man does. Our text reminds us:
ALL GLORY BELONGS TO OUR LORD.
I. Know (wear) the Lord’s glory.
II. Show (share) our Lord’s glory.
I. KNOW (WEAR) THE LORD’S GLORY
A. Moses is bringing back the two tablets of testimony from God to Israel for a second time.
1. The first time Moses broke the tablets in anger and disgust. God’s people turned from God.
2. They worshiped the golden calf. They acted as if they did not know God’s glory.
3. Moses returns again to Mt. Sinai to plead for God’s people. God listens. God spares Israel.
B. Verse 29. Moses returns with his face glowing from seeing the glory of the Lord.
1. Moses had only seen the trailing parts of the Lord’s glory. Moses also spoke with the Lord.
2. Verse 30. This was not a natural glowing. The leaders were afraid of what they saw.
C. Moses encourages them. Moses knows the Lord’s glory. It is not to be frightening.
1. Verse 34a. Moses speaks directly to God, his face unveiled. God’s glory is recharged.
2. Verse 34b, 35a. The people saw Moses’ face. They began to (re-)know God’s glory.
D. When Israel sinned Moses sought the Lord’s favor. We are no different. When we sin we seek the favor of the Lord. In our sorrow over our sin we turn to our gracious God and find forgiveness. Today each one of us can go directly to God on our own. We seek the Lord’s glory directly. Our loving Lord graciously answers us and strengthens us. "I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame"(PSALM 34:4,5). Our Lord delivers us. Our Lord forgives our sins. Our faces glow with God’s forgiveness.
E. It is only by grace that any of us are saved. Multitudes in this world still sit in the darkness of sin and unbelief. All too many seek the wisdom of the world for answers. Worldly wisdom does not offer any divine answers. The wise are only trapped in their own craftiness. To the world the message of the cross is foolishness. But to us who are being saved, the message of the cross is powerful. The message of the cross is the wisdom and glory of God that every sinner truly needs. "Who is like the wise man? Who knows the explanation of things? Wisdom brightens a man’s face and changes its hard appear-ance"(ECCLESIASTES 8:1). We know, wear God’s glory with the “brightness” of sins forgiven.
F. Peter, James, and John climbed the mount with Jesus. There they saw the glory of Jesus as he was speaking with Moses and Elijah (Mark 9:2-9). You and I have it much easier today. We come to church and see God’s glory in his word. We do not have to climb any mountains to be with Jesus. We have access to and see God’s glory whenever we read the Bible. When we study God’s word his glory brightly shines into our hearts that we may know him better. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth"(JOHN 1:14). Dear friends we have seen God’s glory in his Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior! It is only by God’s grace that we know and wear God’s glory. It starts in our hearts to shine in our lives.
ALL GLORY BELONGS TO OUR LORD.
We know and wear the Lord’s glory by Christian lives.
II. SHOW (SHARE) OUR LORD’S GLORY
A. Moses returned to Mt. Sinai after the idol worship of Israel. The Lord was angry at their disobedience.
1. The Lord was ready to destroy Israel and make Moses great. Moses refused the offer.
2. Instead he returns with the Ten Commandments to share the Lord’s glory with Israel, verse 31.
B. Moses reminded the leaders of Israel about the Lord’s glory. Then the rest of Israel comes, verse 32.
1. Remember Moses brought to them the Ten Commandments written by God on stone.
2. Moses also told them of all the other laws and commands the Lord also had given him.
C. Moses showed Israel the Lord’s glory. Verse 33. Moses’ face would fade over time.
1. Moses used a veil so the people would not think God’s glory faded. Verse 35.
2. Moses’ face reflected the Lord’s glory. It was renewed when he spoke with the Lord.
D. The glory here was the glory of the Lord’s commandments. The glory of the Lord you and I enjoy today is the glory of God’s gospel. There is a difference. Our second lesson (2 Cor. 3:12ff) explains the difference of the glory of the Law and the glory of the Gospel. God’s gospel never fades away. God’s gospel gives freedom. "For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!"(2 CORINTHIANS 3:10,11). The glory of God that we know and wear today far surpasses the glory of Moses. This is all the more reason to show and share God’s glory today. Our world desperately needs it.
E. We will need to remember that our minds are to be like the mind of Christ. Too many look at everything in this life to provide for their needs. What mankind truly needs are those things that are eternal and soul filling. You and I and every believer are the ones who will share the Lord’s glory with those only looking at man’s glory. "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever"(DANIEL 12:3). Glow with God’s glory.
F. The key in showing God’s glory is to remember that it is not our glory. All glory belongs to our Lord. Moses refused the Lord’s offer to make him great. John the Baptist refused to be called the Christ. Such humility reflects the humble heart of Jesus. Jesus taught that believers are the lights in this world. The lights in the city on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp so that the light might be hidden. Jesus concludes these examples: "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven"(MATTHEW 5:16). Others are to see in us the glory of our heavenly father. How does this happen? We live our lives with joy, peace, and confidence in the midst of this world of unhappiness, war, and fear. God is our God who controls all things. People around us will see this attitude. We share with them the glory of the Lord with radiant lives of faithful living.
CONC.: ALL GLORY BELONGS TO OUR LORD. In our lives we do not always give all glory to our Lord. At times we often fail miserably. All around us are those who desperately try to grab all the glory for themselves. We come to the mount of Transfiguration time and again to see the glory of the Lord. We return from that mount to share that glory of our Lord. David brought back the Ark of the Covenant to Israel. In that ark were the two tablets of stone inscribed by God with the Ten Commandments. All rejoiced. "Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods"(1 CHRONICLES 16:23-25). ALL GLORY BELONGS TO OUR LORD! May we always know and show God’s glory. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min.(Sat) / 12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun) / 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun) / 7:00pm @ Living Savior, Hays, KS (Sun)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM
TRANSFIGURATION rdgs.:
2 KINGS 2:1-12a;
2 CORIN. 3:12-4:2;
MARK 9:2-9;
(PSALM 148)
