WAYS TO GLORIFY GOD
“The more God is glorified the more man is passionate and enthusiastic and the more Satan is weakened”
The more I live a God glorifying life, the more the enemy is defeated.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (LB) – 19Haven’t you yet learned that your body is the home of the Holy Spirit God gave you, and that he lives within you? Your own body does not belong to you. 20For God has bought you with a great price. So, use every part of your body to give glory back to God because he owns it.
We all have the same calling: to glorify God in everything we do.
This is why we are here.
Scripture says, God created us for His glory
Isaiah 43:7 (NIV)
and instructs us to “do everything for the glory of God”
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
But how? How can we give glory to “the King of glory”
Psalm 24:8a (Not only a King but the King of glory!)
Glory belongs to God – Acts 7:55 (NIV) – But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
God reveals His glory Psalm 19:1 (NIV) – The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. (It’s easy to live a God glorifying life – just look around you)
We can observe His glory John 1:14 (NIV) – The word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth
But how do we give Him glory?
NB – We will be without excuse after hearing this word.
To glorify God is not to bestow glory on God or add to His glory, but to recognize and acknowledge His glory.
The basic meaning of the word glory is “heavy in weight.” It is the “weighty importance and shining majesty that accompany God’s presence.”
The verb glorify means “to give weight to” or “to honour.” Thus, to glorify God is to recognize God for who He really is and to respond appropriately.
Here are scriptural ways we can glorify God:
It’s not a switch; it’s about a lifestyle behaviour
Praise Him with your lips.
Psalm 63:3 (NIV) – Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.
The noblest use of our tongues is to give praise to God. (What is coming out of my mouth?)
Obey His Word.
“Conduct yourselves honourably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits” – 1 Peter 2:12 (NIV)
Our obedience to the word is the same as our obedience to God and it’s a true sign of our love for Him,
Pray in Jesus’ name.
“Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son” – John 14:13 (NIV)
To pray in Jesus’ name is to align our prayers and desires with God’s purposes.
Produce spiritual fruit.
“My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples” – John 15:8 (NIV)
The fruit that we bear out of obedience to Christ brings God glory.
Seek the good of others.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God”
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
The context is Paul’s discussion of whether it was right for believers to eat meat offered to idols.
He stated the guiding principle in verse 24, “No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person.”
When we make lifestyle choices for the good of others, we glorify God.
Give generously.
The result of the Corinthians’ giving to the poor believers in Jerusalem would be that
2 Corinthians 9:13 (NIV) – Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
Live honourably among unbelievers.
Colossians 4:5 (NIV) – Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
Be faithful when persecuted.
“But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name”
1 Peter 4:16 (NIV)
If we want to glorify God, then we’ll not be ashamed of the name of Jesus.
James 2:19 – Demons tremble at the name of Jesus.
Face death with faith.
Jesus predicted Peter would die as a martyr and “would glorify God”
Let our lives glorify God even in our death
Make up your mind to be a God glorifying person
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (LB) – 19Haven’t you yet learned that your body is the home of the Holy Spirit God gave you, and that he lives within you? Your own body does not belong to you. 20For God has bought you with a great price. So, use every part of your body to give glory back to God because he owns it.
From what you have heard today, is your life a God Glorifying life?
Are you living out your purpose: Does your life bring glory to God?
