Pastor Rich's sermon, Sunday, March 7, 2004

hat do you live for?

I have heard mother’s say, ‘I live for my kids.’ Father’s who said, ‘I live for my family.’ Prideful people who proclaimed, ‘It’s every person for him/herself.” How often do you hear someone say, “I live for the glory of God.”

There is not a single person who is not absolutely dependent on God. He is the giver and sustainer of life. He is deserving of all our praise. That is why we sang this morning,

We will glorify the King of Kings. We will glorify the Lamb.

We will glorify the Lord of Lords, who is the great I am.

There is no question that God should be glorified. The questions are do you glory God and how do you glorify God? How did you glorify God last week?

If you and I are going to glorify God we need to become more aware of the glory of God. So let’s take an inventory of last week’s activities. Where did you see or experience God’s glory?

If you and I were standing looking over the Grand Canyon it would be easy to see the glory of God. If you and I were in Alaska watching a glacier it would be easy to see the glory of God. If you were up early this morning and saw the brilliant light of the full moon in the dark clear sky, it would be easy to see the glory of God, even to wonder as the Psalmist did,

“What is man that you are mindful of us?”

What about on the commuter bus to work? How about on the check out line in the grocery store? How about at the parent teacher conference?

One of this morning’s prayer concerns was for our mailman and his family. On the same day that his daughter-in-law gave birth to his first grandchild, he is diagnosed with a brain tumor. With regards to the birth of the grandchild we can say “To God be the glory forever! Amen.” What about with regards to the brain tumor?

How much easier it is to glorify God when we are looking at the spectacular or when life is good than when you are looking at the mundane or when life is filled with the harsh realities of pain and suffering.

How can you glorify God when life has taken a turn for the worse or when Murphy’s Law rules?

Unfortunately glorifying God is too often determined by our present reality.

We need to begin with Paul’s statement to the Church of Rome, “Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory.” (Romans 11:36)

How can you glorify God?

The most obvious way to glorify God is through worship. Our motivation for worship should be love and thanksgiving, not duty. Nor should worship be limited to a one-hour activity done once each week or limited to praising, to singing, to praying or to listening to a sermon. Worship should be a lifestyle. Rick Warren states, “Worship is a lifestyle of enjoying God, loving Him, and giving ourselves to be used for His purpose.” To enjoy, love and serve God opens the door for you and me to experience the glory of God as well as to glorify God

We glorify God by loving each other.

“Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you;
then God will be glorified.”
(Romans 15:7)

We glorify God by becoming like Christ.

“As the Spirit of the Lord works within us,
we become more and more like Him
and reflect His glory even more.”
(2 Cor. 3:18)

Like Jesus, who was born to reveal the glory of God, as John states,

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
We saw His glory…a glory full of grace and truth.”

You and I are to declare, reflect, praise and live for God’s glory.

“You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory, honor and praise.
For you created everything.”
(Revelation 4:11)

We glorify God by serving others.

“God has given gifts to each of you…
Manage them well
so that God’s generosity can flow through you…
Are you called to help others?
Do it with all the strength and energy
that God supplies.
Then God will be given glory.”
1 Peter 4:10,11)

We glorify God by telling others about Him.

“As God’s grace
brings more and more people to Christ…
God will receive more and more glory.”
(2 Cor. 4:15)

Living for the glory of God requires a change in priorities, schedule and relationship. Many times Jesus stood at a fork in the road but especially in the garden of Gethsemane. He had a choice. He could fulfill His purpose and bring glory to God OR he could live a comfortable self-centered life.

We are faced with the same challenge every day. Everyday we come to crossroads, maybe none as great as Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, but non-the-less we are challenged to choose to live for self or to live for God. One brings temporary pleasure, the other brings eternal blessing.

As we look ahead to this week’s schedule, how can you bring God's glory? Remembering that everything that will happen this is

“From Him and through Him and to Him.
To Him be the glory forever!”

Amen