After the Revival 03-22-09

I am so excited to see what God is going to do with the revival. So many have prayed and fasted. Sacrifices have been made in an attempt to hear from God. We have had 21 days of large numbers of us praying for the same thing. I truly believe God is going to bless our efforts.
When the Wednesday night service is over and souls have been saved, lives have been changed and we have drawn closer to God. What is the next step in our walk with God?

What theme is common in the following two verses?
2 Peter 3:18: 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
1 Peter 2:2: 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

We see that we are to grow as believers. We are to become more and more like Christ.

What a perfect example to crave or desire God’s word as a newborn baby needs milk. We all desperately need to get to this point.

I want to challenge us not just to read the bible to find out what it teaches, but I want us to study it so we may better know the one who wrote it. My prayer is that we would intimately know God and how much he loves us.
In Hebrews 12:2 it tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus.

Let’s look at the following verses and see what we see:
1 Timothy 1:17: 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 19:1: 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Isaiah 43:7: 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

Revelation 14:6-7: 6Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."

These verses make it very clear that we are to bring and give God glory.

Even salvation ties in with bringing God glory. Look at Romans 1:5: 5Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.

We see here it is For His Name Sake.

I thought we were saved so we wouldn’t go to hell and that is true.

I thought we were saved so we could be forgiven of our sins and that is true.

I thought we were saved so we could spend eternity with God and that is true.
But the main reason we are saved is because our salvation brings Glory to God.

Why is that true? When we share with others who Christ is and how much he loves us God is being glorified. When we tell them how much we need his forgiveness, God is being glorified. When one is saved they become a new person and they are changed and God is glorified.

Look at 3 John verses 6 and 7: 6They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.

Why did they go out and share with others? For the Sake of the Name! We must never forget that it is all about God!

We started the lesson talking about how we all need to grow spiritually, to become more like Christ and now we have looked at how we are to be bringing God glory. Let’s look at how these two ties together.

2 Corinthians 3:18: 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Do we remember when Moses came down from the mountain from being with God? What did the bible say about his face? That it shined with the glory of God. Earlier in this chapter it said that Moses wore a veil over his face because the people could not directly look at the glory of God.

The verse that we just read said that we do not wear a veil and that we are to reflect God’s glory. God’s glory is to shine from us. We are to live in a manner that brings God glory. But then look what it says will happen: We will be transformed into Christ likeness. We will grow spiritually. We will become more like Christ.

So if we want to grow spiritually or be more like Christ we need to bring glory to God in everything we do.

Some might ask: Bring God glory in everything? Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 10:31: 31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Let’s look at an example Jesus gave us for bringing God glory right before he was to go to the cross.
John 12:27-28: 27"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!"

We see here that at times in order to bring God glory we must put God’s will before ours. Christ was willing to give his life.

I believe if we are to live in God’s will it all starts with having faith and trust in God. Our faith will always Glorify God, especially when we are going through hard times. Our faith can shine bright and lift up God in a mighty way.

I love how Daniel expressed his faith as he stood before the King Nebuchadnezzar who threatens to throw him into the fiery furnace if he did not worship his golden image.

Daniel 3:17-18: 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
I really love David’s response. We must realize this faith is displayed as he stands at the mouth of the fiery furnace. Wow!
One thing that we need to clearly understand is that the more I know about God and his character the more I will trust in him and place my faith in him.
How do we learn more about him? Read our Bible.

As we read the bible we will see God at work. We will see how much he loves us. We will see his compassion and mercy. We will see that he is faithful.

Let’s look at John 15:8 and see what else we see about bringing God glory: 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

As we bear fruit we bring glory to God.

Matthew 5:16 says: 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
In Galatians 5 it tells us the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. These attributes are opposite from the world and as these fruits are displayed God definitely receives the glory.

Let’s see what we learn in Psalm 86:9-12: 9 All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. 10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. 11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. 12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.

Is there any surprise that as we worship and praise God that we bring him glory? When we come to God’s house let’s make our praise genuine. Let’s worship him for who he is.

Let’s look at John 14:13: 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

Have we ever thought that Jesus answers our prayers so that God will receive the glory? God answers prayers every day. Do we do our part to insure that God is seen when our prayers are answered. Remember God is at work all around us.

Let’s look at Romans 15:5-6: 5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The bible stresses the importance of the unity of believers. There is so much that can be accomplished through God when the body is unitied.
What will destroy unity? Pride.

What is the opposite of Pride? Humility.

Humility is a great place to start if one desires unity. I believe humility produces love and I believe love produces unity.

Let’s look at 2 Thessalonians 3:1: 1Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

Finally we see that we bring honor or glory to God by proclaiming his word so others will come to know him.

Today we tried to show if we desire to grow spiritually that we must be focused in bringing God glory in everything we do. Everything we do! We have also tried to look at the specific actions which bring God glory, I want to challenge us to look at our lives and see where we might need to change.

I want to end with a final verse. Let’s look at the instruction Jesus gave Peter. John 21:18-19: 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

Did we hear that? Jesus said “Follow me!”