9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name if Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in the earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Confessing Jesus as Lord and glorify God
(Source: Back to Basic: ABC's of Christian Living by John Macarthur)
Spiritual growth is becoming more and more like Christ.
As we focus on giving God glory, it pulls us to maturity.
Since glorifying God is the masterkey, what are the other keys that makes up this master key?
1)Confessing Jesus is Lord
In Philippians, every tongue should confess.... to the glory of God the Father..
We confess, because if glorifies God.
Why do we share the gospel?
- "To let people avoid hell" is a valid reason but not the main reason
- "To tell of Jesus' love" is a valid reason but not the main one.
- "We are commanded to do so" is also a valid reason but not the main reason either.
The major reason why we share Jesus, is for the glory of God.
To live without salvation is to deny Christ.
Greatest sin a man can commit is the failure to believe. Because that is to say that Jesus is not
- Saviour
- Lord
- to be worshipped
Therefore dishonouring God.
We cannot glorify God if we dont glorify Jesus.
Salvation means confessing Lordship of Jesus (Romans 10: 9,10)
No on e can glorify God unless they confess Jesus. So, we preached and shared the gospel so that Jesus can rule others' lives. 3 John 7, we preached the gospel for Jesus' sake.
2) By aiming our lives to obey His Lordship
1 Cor 10:31
Whatever we do, do it all for the glory of God.
In the verse, it stated the most minimal, mundane level of life, which is eating and drinking.
So therefore, EVERYTHING we do, do it for the glory of God.
John 8:49,50. Jesus was here for God's glory. Men seek to steal glory from God.
Matt 6:1 giving alms, give in private. Those giving in public gain glory from the public.
What stands in giving glory to God is us, men, seeking glory. Be aware of self worship.
a) You will glorify God no matter what the cost
Like Jesus before the cross.
John 21 talks about Peter waiting for the Lord.
Before this, Peter had failed at a lot of tests, even though he has been with Jesus at very important events of His life, but God still see him as important.
In verse 3, he gone back fishing with some others. And of course, there was no fish, until someone called them to fish and they caught many. And Peter recognises Jesus.
In verse 18-19, Jesus told Peter, how he is going to glorify God by his death. At that point when it happens, He will pay any price to obey God's will.
As Paul says in Philippians, live or die, I'm the Lord.
Many missionaries has died for the Lord's sake.
If you are not willing to pay any price, you will not grow spiritually because not focus on giving God glory.
I have to be content.
b) Consumed with how things affected God
I hurt when God is dishonoured.
Psalm 69:9, David's heart broke when Israelites dishonoured God.
When you identify with God, things that break His heart, breaks ours.
Like in Revelation, the Church of Ephesus, cannot stand evil.
c) When you are content to be outdone by others
When you can rejoice when somebody can do better whatever you can do, you are glorifying God.
In Philippians 1
Background info: Paul's well loved. Now Paul's in prison, and there are new preachers who are doing better than Paul.
In verse 14, some preached bolder.
In verse 15, some preached out of envy, and created strive.
In verse 16, some preached contentiously.
But in verse 18, Paul dont care how they preached, or what they say about him, as long as Christ is preached. Paul rejoices at this fact that Christ is preached is a level of maturity.
Begin with a life of obedient and submission.
1 Peter 4:14 When got insulted for being a Christian, its a blessing.
It means that Christ is visible enough in your life, to be reproached. Because you are obviously living to the glory of God.
Not suffering as evildoers, but as Christians.
If you live a Christ-like life, you'll suffer reproach.
Others wants cheap grace, but the bible makes it hard.
So... Who says being a Christian is easy again?
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