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Today, I'm going to help you understand the God that you are talking to in prayer. I'm going to help you understand why he does what he does...
why he answers.
Why he sometimes doesn't answer.
Why he heals or doesn't heal.
God's primary motivation in all that he does:
That his glory be seen & rejoiced in.
DEFINING GOD’S GLORY
What is God’s “glory”? His infinite greatness, beauty, excellence, perfection, dominance, magnificence and power, the brilliance of his awesomeness.
words like:
Captivating… completely enthralling… jaw-dropping… earth-shattering… breath-taking…
As ones who are made in his image, this is why we have an insatiable appetite for that which is glorious. It’s almost like we are born with a little bit of the taste of God’s glory in our mouth, and we never get used to being without it. Even people who don’t know God… they have an appetite for something glorious enough to be valued, to be WORTH.
1 Corinthians 11:7 A man … is the image and glory of God;
We were made to image, to reflect his glory, to love, rejoice in and reflect a portion of his glory into the world. Even in our fallen state, we do a little of that.
We go to an athletic event and see an athlete perform at a high level. People talk about it for years afterwards. They leap from their seats, screaming – because it is glorious. They watch it on the big screen in slow motion replay because it is glorious. It’s a taste of glory.
If you ever saw Michael Jordan come soaring in and slam dunk, or hit a buzzer beating game winner… if you ever hit one yourself…
It is supremacy, excellence, majesty, something to see, something to enjoy – it is glorious.
We see pictures of Marines on Iwo Jima raising up a piece of cloth that is red, white and blue… and feelings of patriotism and the value of our country swell in our heart… so we stand when “OLD GLORY” passes by. Something about the flag waving in the breeze. It is glorious.
We have a thirst for it – we want to see the great Itzak Perlman play the violin, we want to see Tommy Emmanuel play the guitar… I want to see a fantastic solo, with that incredible run down the guitar, how his fingers flow over the fretboard… and I just GRIN. Because it is glorious. It’s why we love great music, and how it makes us feel. Because it is glorious.
People climb mountains, drive fast cars, leap off bungee platforms, skydive… because it’s glorious… just a taste of glory.
We love air shows, where the powerful jets swoop low overhead, and the fireworks displays explode with power, sound and color.
It is why we go to beautiful places on earth. Something of the glory of God is reflected in that which He has made. The Grand Canyon, the ocean, Hawaii. Why do we want to go to those places? Because they are amazing. They have a taste of glory.
The unveiling of the bride… it’s her in her most glorious moment… on her day of glorious joy… people smile, the groom beams… there’s something glorious in that moment. Something captures the soul that feels compelling, right, joyful… it’s a moment of glory!
It’s why we love amazing cinema, love great musicians, beautiful scenery, paint the walls of our houses with colors, captivating our imaginations and hearts. It’s why we love food with spice and taste, not just bland food with no taste and texture.
It’s the *gasp* factor. God is like that. He’s worth more than anything you ever saw, loved, held, enjoyed. He wants you to *GASP* at his glory, his awesomeness.
Glory is complete and utter excellence.
God’s glory is radiant, fire-like, flame like… When he comes down from the mountain from being in the presence of God for a long time, Moses is radiating, showing forth the glory of God. He is so brilliant, that they put a veil over his face.
If You have a fire that is powerful, billowing forth light and heat, and red-hot… take a stick and put it in the fire, it too begins to burn like the fire. That’s what happened to Moses.
THAT is the glory of God, and for the sake of THAT --- and that it would be recognized, seen, rejoiced in, and praised – is why he does everything that He does!
(adapted from Mark Driscoll, “It’s All About Jesus” series, sermon “Glory” – www.marshillchurch.org/media/sermons)
God's glory is synonymous in Scripture with his "NAME." Because his name is tied in with his reputation of being that which is supremely valuable, worth more, more powerful, more perfect, more holy, more awesome -- than anything else, than any other God.
Now I want to spend a couple minutes proving to you that God's glory, God's NAME, God's reputation is why he does everything he does:
*** ALL SCRIPTURES ON POWERPOINT ****
God created you for His glory:
Isaiah 43:6-7 Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-- everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.
God delivers you for His glory:
Psalm 106:7-8 When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name's sake, to make his mighty power known.
God crushes your enemies for His glory:
Exodus 14:4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD."
God forgives your sins for His glory:
Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
God will not reject you for His glory:
1 Samuel 12:20-22 "Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "...For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people."
God wants you to do everything for His glory:
1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Jesus will return for His glory:
2 Thessalonians 1:8. 10 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus... on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.
God will fill the whole earth with His glory:
Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
ARE YOU CONVINCED YET? I could literally share PAGES more Scripture with you. If you're convinced, touch someone and tell them, "God is motivated by His glory!"
God's motivation in prayer is the same, then.
John 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
He wants you to see and enjoy his all-satisfying glory.
Praying for God's glory is more than just saying the words "for your glory" but it definitely includes that. It's a mindset change in WHY GOD SHOULD ANSWER, it's a mindset change in WHY YOU SHOULD BELIEVE.
Anyone here ever find it hard to believe that God really wants to take time for your little needs?
Tough to believe that you've done enough to make God happy with you, so He will answer?
Hopefully this is helping you make the shift -- God doesn't answer based on * how sorry he feels for you, or
* how hard your life has been
* how good you've been
* your family background
He answers on the basis of His Own Glory!
So here then is how to pray for God's glory:
1. Ask Him to help you rejoice in His glory.
Psalm 29:2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD.
If God is all that I described in the beginning of this message... then He is worthy to be rejoiced in more than all the other things we talked about.
Most people ask God to do things, SO THAT THEY CAN REJOICE. They don't rejoice in Him, they rejoice in what He gives them.
God doesn't say "Let me give you something, that you may rejoice in me."
He says "Rejoice in me, so I can give without endangering your soul."
To rejoice in God's gifts alone but not their giver, is idolatry. It is making an idol out of something that was supposed to be a blessing.
He wants you to be glad in Him, above all other things, so that he can, without risking YOUR falling into idolatry & sin, give you what you need. So you see, this is a matter of surrender -- desiring the greater glory of God more than you desire riches or comfort, or respect, or fame, or love...
That's a matter of surrendering your desire for YOUR GLORY, in favor of rejoicing in GOD'S GLORY.
I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked God for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for--but everything I had hoped for...
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men most richly blessed.- Unknown Civil War Soldier
2. Ask him to display his glory in salvation.
Save my sons & daughters for your own glory.
Save my city for your glory, so that more and more people might rejoice in your glory!
Save the nations for your glory.
3. Ask Him to display his glory by providing for your needs.
2 Kings 19:34 I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.
Hezekiah prayed...
Spread the letter before the Lord...
God's reputation was being run down...
4. Ask Him to do great things to show His glory.
Don't ask God just for small things... ask him for GREAT THINGS! He's a great God!
S D (Samuel Dickery) Gordon:
“If there be any regrets in heaven — heaven is not supposed to have any regrets, we think of heaven as having all the regrets turned out and kept out, — and yet, if there could creep in regrets, I think there would be at least two, as we look back to the earth-life from the hills of God. One regret would be this: that we did not do more quiet praying, more claiming. I do not mean more simple repetition of religious language on our knees, but more insistent claiming, that the power of the Lord Jesus Christ shall apply here, and there, over the earth. That will be one regret, if there be regrets: that we did not ask enough, and did not ask big enough. We will say to ourselves, "What beggarly askers we were down on the earth!"
The second regret, I think, if there be regrets, will be this: that we did not trust enough, that we did not trust God enough. We did not step out, when we could not see where to put the foot down, when He said, "Step out." And if we might rule our lives here by what we shall think of them when we get yonder, then, I believe, we shall surely wear down the doorsills into our prayer-rooms.”
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Today, I'm going to help you understand the God that you are talking to in prayer. I'm going to help you understand why he does ALL he does...
God's primary motivation in all that he does:
That his ___________________ be seen & rejoiced in.
DEFINING GOD’S GLORY
What is God’s “glory”? His infinite greatness, beauty, excellence, perfection, dominance, magnificence and power, the brilliance of his awesomeness.
God's glory is synonymous in Scripture with his "___________________." Because his name is tied in with his reputation of being supremely valuable, worth more, more powerful, more perfect, more holy, more awesome, more satisfying -- than anything else, than any other god or experience or idol.
Is God's glory, God's NAME, God's reputation why he does everything?
God created for His glory: Isaiah 43:6-7
God delivers for His glory: Psalm 106:7-8
God crushes enemies for His glory: Exodus 14:4
God forgives sins for His glory: Isaiah 43:25
God will not reject for His glory: 1 Samuel 12:20-22
God wants you to do everything for His glory:1 Corinthians 10:31
Jesus will return for His glory: 2 Thessalonians 1:8. 10
God will fill the whole earth with His glory: Habakkuk 2:14
God's motivation in prayer is the same:
John 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
How to pray for God's glory:
1. Ask Him to help you _____________________________.
Psalm 29:2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD.
To rejoice in God's ____________________ alone but not their giver, is _________________________. It is making an idol out of something that was supposed to be a blessing.
2. Ask him to _________________________ in salvation.
Save my _______________________________ for your own glory!
Save my ___________________for your glory, so that more and more people might rejoice in your glory!
Save the ___________________ for your glory.
3. Ask Him to display his glory by ____________________ _________________.
2 Kings 19:34 I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.
4. Ask Him to ____________________________ to show His glory.
God is not offended or afraid when we ask great things, he is _________________________!
