Why Glorify God? – Part 2

“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” –  Philippians 1:10-11

God is sovereign over all things. Our greatest realization in life is when we come to accept, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You” (Job 42:2). Those words are true in good times as well as bad times. They are true in the calm as well as in the calamity. They are true in healthy and prosperous times as well as in times of Corona-like pandemics and economic stress. And in every situation, everywhere, all the time, God is in control. We with our finite minds cannot always understand all the purposes and plans of the infinite all-knowing Creator and Sustainer of the universe. All we can ever really do is trust God and stand in awe of Him. All we can ever do, and all that is ever appropriate for us to do, is to glorify God. That’s the truth.

We have seen, in Part 1 of this teaching, what glory and giving it is. We have also seen the reasons we should give glory to God. But what remains is how we can give glory to God. What are ways we can give glory to God? The Bible has the answers to that question.

How do we give glory to God?

I’m sure greater minds have thought of such a question. I’m sure these ten ways to glorify God do not exhaust our options. But here are ten ways to glorify God according to the scripture. If we start with these, we will be well on our way to a God-glorifying life.

First, we glorify God when we respond to the gospel and receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord. In the Old Testament salvation is equated with bringing glory to God. “Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all the peoples” (1 Chronicles 16:23-24; Psalm 96:2-3). Really, exhortations to glorify God for His redemptive saving works fills the Bible from cover to cover. The psalms are a song book of glorifying God. The Bible instructs us to call on the LORD in trouble. His deliverance in times of trouble leads to us glorifying Him. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” (Psalm 50:15). Many other verses could be cited.

In the New Testament, the Bible says, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 1:10-11). When we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are bending our knee in surrender to Him. When we come to Jesus, we are admitting our sinfulness and that God was right all along. And we are admitting that we need God’s salvation. This brings glory to God. Salvation is God redeeming sinners, paying His justly imposed debt of sin through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross (2 Corinthians 6:19-20). This is why the angels of heaven rejoice when a sinner repents and puts their faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord (Luke 15: 7 and 10). Our salvation brings glory to God. (If you have not yet received the gift of salvation God offers you through faith in Jesus, at the end of this study are scriptural instructions about how to go about doing that.)

 Second, we give glory to God by praising Him. The Bible says, “Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright   I will show the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:23). When was the last time you praised the Lord or entered into true worship in the Spirit? This verse tells us that praising God is our right conduct. We ought to worship and praise Him more for when we do, we glorify the One who deserves all the glory I the world. 

Third, we give glory to God by our spiritual fruitfulness. The way we live can bring glory to God (Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12). Jesus said, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (John 15:8). When we are spiritually fruitful, we bring glory to God. We can be spiritually fruitful be inwardly growing in the fruit of the Spirit which is love (Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22-25) and when we outwardly bear fruit in ministry such as harvesting lost souls (Matthew 9:37-38).

 Fourth, we give glory to God by our manner of death and dying to self. Jesus glorified the Father by His sacrificial death (John 17). We should glorify God in death too. When Jesus was bringing Peter back into the fold, He prophesied of Peter’s death and how it would bring glory to God (John 21:18-19). When Peter died, he was sentenced by the Romans to be crucified. Upon going to the cross, he requested he be crucified upside down because he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner His Lord was. Before Peter could literally die in a way that brought glory to God, he had to die to self. Peter got to a point where even his very life was less valuable to him than bringing glory to God. When we die to self and live for God, we bring glory to Him (Galatians 2:20).

 Fifth, we give glory to God by trusting in His promises. Abraham was an example of this (Romans 4:19-21). By trusting God even when things looked bleak and hopeless, Abraham was giving glory to God. Abraham’s faith and trust in God was a way of giving God the respect and honor due Him. We glorify God when we trust in His promises, no matter what.

Sixth, we give glory to God by living in unity with other believers. When we live in loving unity with other believers it is a testimony to the world of how God’s love is able to overcome differences and prejudices and this glorifies God (Psalm 34:3). Paul was inspired to write of this saying, “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷ Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” (Romans 15:5-7). Loving unity brings glory to God. This is what we have been studying in 1 Corinthians 8-10.

 Seventh, we give glory to God by doing all things to bring glory to Him. Our verse in 1 Corinthians 10 says, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31). Rather than do things merely for selfish or self-glorifying reasons, we ought to do things in a way that gives glory to God (cf. also 1 Peter 4:11). Whatever we do we ought to do it asking ourselves, “How can I do this so that God will receive glory for it?” if we do that, God will get more glory.

Eighth, we give glory to God by having a generous giving heart. Paul wrote to the Corinthians stating that they glorified God with their generous giving (1 Cor. 8:18-19). Since all that we have comes from God (Matthew 10:8; John 3:27) and He promises to supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19), we are freed to give to others. When we have a generous giving heart it brings glory to God because it shows our trust in God to provide for us.

Ninth, we give glory to God by exalting and glorifying Jesus. One day every knee will bow when Jesus’ name is uttered and every tongue will confess that He is Lord to the glory of God (Phil. 2:9-11). Awesome! One day everyone will give glory to God in Christ but we can give glory to God now by exalting and giving glory to Jesus now. One way we do this is by confessing Christ or witnessing to others about Him (Acts 1:8). When we confess Jesus outwardly, we bring glory to God. (See also Acts 19:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:12)

 Tenth, we give glory to God by persevering in Christ. When we endure suffering for the Lord (Psalm 86:12) or hardship for the sake of Jesus and when we lean on Him to get through our suffering we bring glory to Him as people see the sufficiency of His grace in us (2 Corinthians 12:9-10; 1 Peter 4:14-16). When we suffer because we are Christians, we bring glory to God (See Matthew 5:10-12). Paul wrote of his sufferings which were many and explained all the pain and sorrow and suffering was worth bringing glory to God (2 Cor. 4:7-15). When people see how we are sustained in hardship by God’s grace, it brings glory to Him. When we go through a trial and rely on God’s grace, we see its sufficiency and reliability and that strengthens our faith. But others see this and are brought to saving faith. And all of this brings glory to God.

Angels give glory to God (Luke 2:14). Kings in the Old Testament gave glory to God (Psalm 57:15). Shepherds gave glory to God (Luke 2:20). Those used by God gave Him glory (Luke 1:46; Romans 11:36). Those healed gave glory to God (Luke 5:25; 13:13; 17:15; 18:43). Those whose loved ones were healed gave glory to God (Luke 23:47). Multitudes gave glory to God (Matthew 9:8; 15:31). The church of the New Testament gave glory to God (Acts 11:18). Even Gentiles gave glory to God (Acts 13:48). A time is coming when those who refuse to glorify God will be punished (Daniel 5:23, 30; Malachi 2:2; Acts 12:23; Romans 1:21; 3:23). It’s time for us now to live to give glory to God. Those who are not living to give glory to God need to know there remains the opportunity to turn to God and bring Him the glory due His name. Won’t it be awesome to join the host of heaven in bringing glory to His name? (Revelation 4:11). I can’t wait! God give us all a heart willing and eager to praise Him and give Him glory.

The greatest way to bring glory to God, is to receive His gift of eternal life. So, in closing, I ask you, are you going to heaven? Do you know that for sure? Here are some verses that address that question. I pray in Jesus name that you will glorify God in salvation. God bless and guide you. I know if you call out to Him, He will hear, and He will receive, He will forgive and He will give you eternal life and adopt you into His family. Are you going to heaven? Do you know that for sure? I’ll let God through His word speak for Himself.

 Are You Going to Heaven?

 The Bible states you can know for sure whether or not you are going to heaven?

• 1 John 5:13 – “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

How can you know for sure?

Realize eternal life involves personally knowing God –

• John 17:3 – “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Realize sin separates people from Holy God –

1. • Psalm 66:18 – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear”
   • Isaiah 59:2 – “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you”
   • Habakkuk 1:13 – “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness”

 Realize you are a sinner –

• Exodus 20:1-17 – Examine and assess yourself by the Ten Commandments
• 2 Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?”
• Romans 3:10 – “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one”
• Romans 3:23 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
• Galatians 3:10 – “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
• James 2:10 – “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Realize there is a penalty for sin –

• Romans 6:23a – “For the wages of sin is death,”

Realize you need to be saved from your sins –

• Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• Ephesians 2:8–9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.
• Titus 3:5 – ⁵ not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

Realize Jesus paid the penalty for you –

• Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Realize your salvation is a free gift from God that requires only a repentant heart faith decision from you to receive it – To “repent” means to confess to God and forsake your sin. To “believe” or have “faith” unto salvation means Forsaking All (others or other means of salvation) I Trust Him.

• Acts 3:19-20 – “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you”
• Acts 16:31 – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”
• John 1:12 – “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name”

Realize salvation is a matter of the heart –

1. • Acts 8:36–38 – Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” ³⁷ Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” ³⁸ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

• Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Realize now is the time to call on God to be saved from your sins –

• Romans 10:13 – For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
• 2 Corinthians 6:2 – “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

A SALVATION PRAYER:

If you believe the above Gospel and are willing to trust in Jesus with all your heart as Savior, if you want the forgiveness of sins and eternal life God in this Gospel freely offers to you, with all your heart, pray this prayer:

“Dear God, I have sinned and disobeyed Your Laws. I admit I deserve eternal punishment. But I repent; I confess my sins to You and forsake them. I ask that You please forgive me, not because of any good works I have done, but because I believe Jesus paid the just penalty for my sins by dying for me on the cross. I believe He rose from the dead. I believe that with all my heart. I receive it by faith, as a gift of Your grace. Help me to live for You. Please Holy Spirit fill me, give me spiritual life, eternal life. Please help me to know you Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. Help me grow in a relationship with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Now, begin praying and reading your Bible daily, regularly. Find a church that believes in and teaches the Bible as the word of God. Find a church where the Gospel is preached and people believe in being born again. Find such a church and become a part of your new eternal family. And tell someone else about what God has done for you. Don’t go by feelings, live by faith in Jesus. He is faithful. He will help you. Remember this:

2 Corinthians 5:17 – ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

2 Timothy 2:15 – ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 – ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.