1. We have a common need -- Ecclesiastes 3.11
2. We try to fill the God-shaped hole in our hears as seen in our pursuits:
a. High Risk Adventure -- "BASE Jumping" = Buildings, Antennas, Spans, Earth -- Fall and pull parachute at last possible minute to escape death -- Google lists nearly 300 BASE fatalities since 1981; "At least they were doing what they loved." No, they died looking for the thing they were made to love.
b. Wealth -- Jack Whitaker won $314.9 Million in a lottery -- lost it all and his life; "I wish I had torn that ticket up."
c. Personal Accomplishment -- Tom Brady -- Great QB; in a 2005 60 Minute Interview -- "Why do I have 3 Super Bowl rings and still feel like there is something greater for me out there?"
d. Safety and Security -- Charlie Sheen -- "I had a hole in my me that only got bigger and bigger as I tried to fill it with people, experience, things, and drugs. It was all stripped away and I learned you cannot fill the hole inside you that way."
e. It seems that God has created us to be miserable until we are fulfilled in him.
"Our hearts are restless until we rest in Him." Augustine
3. Exodus 33.12-23
a. Moses knew God gave him a job he could not handle on his own (me, too, btw)
b. His response -- "Give us your presence"
4. Our longing for the transcendence of God comes only with his presence and glory
a. We can't see God, only the results of God, his glory
b. The evidence of his presence -- Sunset and beauty; ocean; mountain; newborn baby; worship service
c. "As heat is to fire; wet is to water; and light to a lightbulb glory is to God -- shouts his presence"
5. Glory Is God's Alone
I. The Illusion of Our Glory
A. We Seek Glory/Acclaim in Many Arenas
1. Summer Olympics -- all about glorying in medals -- Michael Phelps -- 20th Gold Medal
2. Our pursuit of glory is for our sense of self-importance; ego
3. [Frog and Ducks -- The story is told of two ducks and a frog who lived happily together in a farm pond. The best of friends, the three would amuse themselves and play together in their water hole. When the hot summer days came, however, the pond began to dry up, and soon it was evident they would have to move. This was no problem for the ducks, who could easily fly to another pond. But the frog was stuck. So it was decided that they would put a stick in the bill of each duck that the frog could hang onto with his mouth as they flew to another pond. The plan worked well--so well, in fact, that as they were flying along a farmer looked up in admiration and mused, "Well, isn't that a clever idea! I wonder who thought of it?" The frog said, "I did..."
B. That Kind of Glory is Fleeting and False [Tom Brady's feeling for something greater
1. Who will remember this year's Olympics in 100 years?
2. What is the real origin of our accomplishments? -- 1 Corinthians 4.7
What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
* Business Skills
* Family Skills
* Ministry Skills
* Educational Skills
C. Our Glory is Nothing
1. The Emperor's New Clothes is a short tale by Hans Christian Andersen about two weavers who promise an emperor a new suit of clothes that is invisible to those who are unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent. When the Emperor parades before his subjects in his new clothes, no one dares to say that they don't see any suit of clothes until a child cries out, "But he isn't wearing anything at all!"
2. Our glory is like a thimble -- 1/8 tsp; his is like the ocean
D. God's Glory Remains -- Psalm 115.1
Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
1. He Does not share His Glory -- Isaiah 48.11 -- My glory I will not give to another.
2. The Creator gets glory, not the created
II. The Cure for Our Illusion -- God's Glory
A. Numerous Expressions of God's Glory
1. At Mount Sinai
Exodus 24.17 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.
2. In the Tabernacle -- Exodus 40.34-35 34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
3. In the Temple -- 2 Chronicles 7.1-3 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."
4. Yet, these places cannot contain his glory -- Jeremiah 23.23-24 -- 23 "Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? 24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.
5. Moses requested to see the glory of God -- Exodus 33.18-23
a. Moses spoke with God -- face to face but wanted more
b. An impossibility -- Only saw the back of God (Past glory?)
c. We see God in Jesus -- John 14.9
6. Even resides in our hearts with the presence of the HS and Jesus -- Ephesians 3.14-19
7. God does not share his glory -- Isaiah 42.8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.
Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio returned to NYC after serving in WWII. He was not yet ready to resume his baseball career but decided to take his young son to Yankee Stadium to watch a game. The fans recognized him and began to chant, "Joe, Joe DiMaggio!" His son heard the chant and said to his dad, "See, Dad, everyone knows me." Too often that is the way we behave. We take what belongs to God and try to declare our own greatness. Our fulfillment is in joining the host of heaven as well as the created universe in declaring the glory of God.
B. God's Glory is expressed in our Dependence
1. Moses knew he had a big job and needed His presence for their distinction -- Exodus 33.15-16
2. Same with US -- big job; the distinction is in the presence of God, not in our skills; -- Matthew 28.18-20
1. [Obedient Japanese Soldier
Hiroo Onoda was a Japanese Army intelligence officer sent to the island, Lubang the Philippines to resist the allies. He was told that it may take years but Japan would send people back for him; that he was forbidden to take his own life or voluntarily give it up; that he was to lead his troops, even if he had only one soldier following. He was on that island, doing his duty until 1974.
The US dropped leaflets in 1945, telling him that the war was over; search teams called to him but he thought it was a trick to get him to surrender. One of his soldiers surrendered to authorities in 1950. In 1952 letters and pictures from family members were dropped by aircraft, urging him to surrender. Eventually his unit was killed by police, and by 1972 and he was alone until 1974. He was found by Norio Suzuki and told the news of the end of the war, but he refused to believe that he should return home b/c of the orders of his CO. Suzuki took pictures of Onoda and returned to Japan. The government found Onoda's CO and had sent him to Lubang where he fulfilled his promise to return to Onoda. He gave him a new set of orders to cease his operation and cooperate with American or Filipino forces. Even though he had engaged in shootouts with police and guerilla activity, b/c of his circumstances thinking that the war was still on, he was granted a pardon by Ferdinand Marcos.
Our battle for glory is over. God is the one to receive it. Every time we pick up weapons to maintain our honor; demand to be heard; have our way; we fight a losing battle. We are the temple of the HS with the goal of bringing glory to God. It is what we were made to do. Our lives are to bear the fingerprint of God and declare his glory.
2. The Purpose of the Universe is the glory of God -- Psalm 19.1
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
a. Reason for its size
b. Speed of light -- 185,000 miles/second
c. 1 Light year -- 6 trillion miles
d. Universe is 13 trillion light years across -- 13 trillion x 6 trillion miles
e. Declares our Maker
3. The purpose of the minute -- glory of God -- Romans 11.36
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
4. We get in touch with the glory of God b/c we were made for it
