All right, if you wish to follow
along, turn to Paul's epistle to the churches of Galatia again,
chapter one. Galatians chapter one, I want
to read the same verses I read last, or Sunday before last,
actually, the last time we were here. Galatians one, verse 21
through 24, where Paul, as he is continuing, of course, says,
afterwards, I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and was
unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ.
But they had heard only that he which persecuteth us in time
past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And, and here's my text, this
is my title. They glorified God in me. Now, This morning, what I want to
do is I want us to consider this subject of glorifying God. Of course, our brother Paul wrote,
they glorified God in me. Now, consider Paul's words here. In other words, what Paul's saying
is not, not just one specific thing, I don't think. He's saying
at least a couple things in particular. And let me give you a paraphrase. In other words, they gave God
the glory for his gospel conversion of my soul. I believe that's
what he's talking about. They glorified God in me. And we could also say that Paul
was saying this. They gave God the glory. They
gave God the glory for the saving work which he wrought in me. For let us remember that it is
Christ being revealed in us. I dare say that Christ has been
revealed to countless thousands of men and women the past 2,000
years. But very few, it seems, have
had Christ revealed in them. And Paul is quite clear in another
letter that he wrote to our brothers and sisters. He said that it
is Christ in us, the hope of glory. So in other words, they
rejoiced in God's saving power. So then, this subject, glorifying
God. And I have four things I wanna
try to go through this morning, but I will spend the bulk of
my time on number four. The first thing about this thing
of glorifying God, we know that God said, and I'm not gonna turn
to it, I've read it before, Joe, Paul, others who've stood in
this podium, Earl, have no doubt mentioned it, but in Isaiah 42,
verse eight, our brother Isaiah was moved of God to say that
God says this, I will not share my glory. And I asked this question
to myself when I thought about that. When God spoke to Isaiah
and basically was saying, write this down. My glory, I will not
give to another. And I thought, why? It's quite
simple. No one nor no thing deserves
glory. Anything that would deserve glory,
a just God would do what, Jack? Give it glory. But God's glory,
God's glory, he says, he will not share with another. But remember
what the book says about us and our glory. We turn the glory
of the incorruptible God into what? Corruptible beasts and
creeping things. We worshiped and served the creature
more than the creator. So that's the first thing. God
will not share his glory. But then turn to 1 Corinthians
1, if you're following along. 1 Corinthians 1. Now this is
all familiar, I understand that. But here's a second thought.
God saves as he saves. God saves, we can say like he
saves, to actually put a stop to human glory. And of course we read of that
in 1 Corinthians 1, verse 26. For ye see your calling, brethren,
how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not
many noble are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things
of the world to confound the wise. And God hath chosen the
weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty,
and the base things of the world, and the things which are despised
hath God chosen, yea, and the things which are not to bring
to naught the things that are. Now look, that no flesh should
glory in his presence. So this is two things about glory,
specifically glorifying God. God will not share his glory.
And God saves in the manner in which he saves to stop all human
glory. We read of that same thing that
God told Moses in Exodus chapter 33, if you wish to look at that.
Exodus 33, this is the first time this is ever mentioned Exodus
chapter 33 and just a few verses there Exodus 33 Beginning when
we get began in verse 17 And the Lord said unto Moses, I will
do this thing also that thou hast spoken, for thou hast found
grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, that
is, Moses said, I beseech thee, I think this is a valid thing,
show me thy glory. Now, in our human flesh, I think
in my human flesh, I can think of something like Ezekiel saw
in the first part of the book of Ezekiel, remember that? The
wheel, within the wheels turned and this beam around the throne
of God and all the thunderings and the lightnings of Isaiah
chapter six. And yet look what God does when
he shows Moses his glory. And he said, verse 18 again,
I beseech thee, show me thy glory. And he said, I will make all
my goodness pass before thee. And I will proclaim the name
of the Lord, the name of the Lord before thee. And I will
be gracious to whom I will be gracious. And I will show mercy
on whom I will show mercy. And what is this? Or was this,
probably is this glory that God calls to pass before Moses? And he said, thou canst not see
my face, for there shall no man see me and live. And the Lord
said, behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon
a rock, and it shall come to pass while my glory passeth by. So here's the glory of God, you
see it? God's saying, here is my glory.
my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in the cleft of the
rock, and I will cover thee with my hand while I pass by, and
I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see," what? My, I'm
gonna paraphrase, you'll see my body. You know what he says? You will see my body. I will
take away mine hand and thou shalt see my back parts, but
my face shall not be seen. Ellen, I have every reason to
believe that Moses was given a pre-incarnate glimpse of the
incarnate Christ himself as he passed by him in front. He wasn't
allowed to see his face, but he could see his hinder parts.
Now think of the revelation of what God's saying. All of God's
glory is housed where? in that body. So two things,
God will not share his glory. God saves as he saves, like he
saves. He saves in the manner in which
he saves to stop all human glory. Here's a third thought, to glorify
God. This is what it means to glorify
God. To glorify God is to give weighty and copious honors to
God's splendors and his majesty. That's what it would mean in
the Hebrew. Turn to the 111th Psalm. Let's read that. Psalm
111. Psalm 111. Remember, To glorify God is to give weighty
and copious, that means overflowing, weighty and copious honors to
God's splendors and his majesty. And in Psalm we read these words,
praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my
whole heart in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great,
sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is
honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endureth forever. He hath made His wonderful works
to be remembered. The Lord is gracious and full
of compassion. He hath given meat unto them
that fear Him. He will ever be mindful of his
covenant. He has showed his people the
power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the
heathen. The works of his hands are verity,
that is truth and judgment. All his commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever.
Now I want you to look at that. Remember, all his commandments
are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth
and uprightness. He sent redemption unto his people. He hath commanded his covenant
forever. Holy and reverend is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom. A good understanding have all
they that do his commandments. His praise endureth forever. So having read that, I would
say this. Therefore, to glorify God in no way ever adds anything
to God, but it is a praise of him for his eternal perfections. That is, God is not in need of
our glorifying Him, but God is praised and honored when we glorify
Him. And we glorify Him for who He
is. Now think of this, I don't mean
to throw you a curve ball, but we never thank God for who He
will be. because he will never be anything
other than what he is right now and what he has always been.
Number four, this is where I'll spend the most of my time. Now
let's note some particulars where God's people glorify God for
his work in his people. Turn to 2 Corinthians chapter
nine. These are just gonna be a few passages. 2 Corinthians
chapter nine. And I know once we begin to go
through these, you'll say, oh, I knew that already. And I understand
that. Think of this, 2 Corinthians
9, just a few verses, let me make the statement and I'll read
the verses. 2 Corinthians 9 and verse 11 is where I'll start
reading, but first, God's people glorify God for one another's
generosity. You know that? Generosity. 2
Corinthians chapter nine. Did I say 1 Corinthians? 2 Corinthians
chapter nine. I'm sorry if I did. 2 Corinthians
chapter nine and verse 11. Being enriched in everything
to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. for the administration of this
service, not only supply the want of the saints, and go back
and look at the context, he's talking about these people giving.
in their liberality and in their sacrificial giving, in their
glorifying God of the saints, but is abundant also by many
thanksgivings unto God. Whilst by the experiment of this
ministration, they glorify God for your professed subjection
unto the gospel of Christ. Now let me put this in here. What a person loves, they spend
their time and their efforts and their goods upon. And Jack,
it don't have to be a dollar bill. It can simply be praying
for other believers. It can simply be serving other
believers. It can simply be going to take
care of the needs of other believers. Let's go on. and of your liberal
distribution unto them and unto all men, and by their prayer
for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God,
how or where? In you. Thanks be unto God for
his unspeakable gift. So God's people glorify God for
one another's generosity. Here's another thought. Turn
to 2 Corinthians chapter seven. Just turn back a page or so.
2 Corinthians chapter seven. And we'll look at a couple passages
here. God's people are grateful to
God. They glorify God. They give glory to God for fellow
believers' companionship. You see what I'm saying? You
remember, was it Elijah out there? I'm all left alone. I'm by myself. And I've never been that way.
Rid, I've never been that way. And yet I felt that way. Yet
I felt that way. Let's just look at what the book
says. 2 Corinthians 7 and verse five. For when we were come into
Macedonia, our flesh had no rest. Now, don't think of this as Paul
saying the old man, the old nature. He talked about in our bodies,
in my very body. Our flesh had no rest. but we
were troubled on every side. Without were fightings, within
were fears. Nevertheless, God that comforteth
those that are cast down comforted us by what means? Did God show
some great miracle? Did God call some great mass
conversion? No, what was it? By the coming
of Titus, just one man showing up in livin' Paul's day. Do you get it? The coming of
Titus, and not by his coming only, but by the consolation
wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us of your
earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me,
so that I rejoiced the bore. Turn to Philippians chapter two.
Philippians chapter two, we read a couple verses there. Philippians
two, verse 25. Yet I supposed it necessary to
send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and companion in labor
and fellow soldier. but your messenger and he that
ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all and
was full of heaviness because that ye had heard that he had
been sick. The news had got back to these Philippian believers
that Epaphroditus had been in a bad way. And it says, for indeed
he was sick, nigh unto death, but God had mercy on him. But
look, and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have
sorrow upon sorrow. You see that? I give us all of that to say
this. God has ordained, brothers and
sisters, that we need one another. And I don't mean just passing
one another in the store and talking a little. going and fishing
or playing some sport. Nothing's wrong with those things,
but I'm talking about gathering together to hear the word preached
and to hear Christ exalted and extolled. That is what joins
our hearts and minds together. Let me say this and I'll move
on to the third though. I am grateful to God for all
the electronic advances we've had in our day. But I'm here
to say that I'm afraid that many people use them as an excuse
not to gather together. And it's a poor way to live because
one day God will cause those kinds of people to feel that
loneliness. We need one another. What was it Earl used to say
to us all the time? And I think he was quoting from
someone else. No man is an island. and you're not your own pastor,
you're not your own brother, you're not your own sister, you're
not your own comforter. Ever tried to comfort yourself?
How good does that work? You feel like you're a little
double-minded when you're sitting there trying to comfort yourself.
You know what comforts us? when we gather together, whether
it's in this place or in a home together, and we can sit and
talk about our redeemer. Let me move on. Here's a third
thought in this. We're noting some specific particulars
where God's people glorify God for his work in his people. One,
that God works in them to give. And I want to stop and go back.
I thank God for this small group of people. Do you just sit and
think about what God's allowed us to have? And Katie, we're
just a little handful. And yet we're preaching more
gospel to people out there than most people even care about preaching
to other folk. And we're grateful for this companionship. Let me give you an example. When
Joe and Paul are not here, it's tough for me to stand in this
place and preach, because when they've, I've already heard two
gospel messages, it enlivens my soul to stand behind this
podium. And I tell you what, I do feel
for other pastors when they have no one else but themselves, and
they have to stand there every Sunday, every Sunday. every Sunday. It just enlivens my soul. Would
Joe get up here and preach? Then Paul get up here and preach?
Jack, I'm like, I'm ready to go now. I'm ready to go now. But also, not only that, one
area, though, stands out where God is praised and honored and
rejoiced in and glorified, and that's when God saves a soul.
Isn't it? When God actually saves a soul. Consider this. What did Paul
say? They glorified God in me, in
me. This old rebel, what a notorious
rebel God saved that day, right? And I could just imagine those
people. Paul and I imagine them thinking,
Saul of Tarsus is being converted? No, and then somebody else comes,
yes, I seen it firsthand. I heard him preaching in a synagogue.
He's preaching Jesus of Nazareth, and I'm sure their hearts simply
melted with honor and glory toward God. This notorious rebel, God
saved. But let me tell you this, when
God saved me, he saved a notorious rebel. And when God saved you,
he saved notorious rebels. We don't see this much anymore,
do we? And just like, and I'm not talking
about just here, folks. It's all over the place. It's
like all of a sudden it's just slowed down to a cross. But I can say with absolute assurance
that the Lord is adding to the church daily such as should be
saved. You ever heard the old phrase,
absence makes the heart grow fonder? Well, there's another
saying too. Since this conversion, these
conversions, Jack, are so rare, when they do happen, it will
bring joy and happiness to our soul. Let me tell you something,
folks. Our God's able. These rebels that's been in our
group, that we pray for, that our hearts burn for, that sometimes
we shed tears for, our God is able, even if we never see it. We still glorify God in the fact
that he's saving everyone he determined to save. God saved
that old notorious rebel. Think about it. We do not glorify
God when he saves a good person. Because he never does. Have you
ever thought about it? You've never had to glorify God
because he saved a good person. Because he never has. Our Lord
himself said, I come not to call the righteous. He didn't say,
I come and not very many righteous. I come not to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance. You know those loved ones you
care about? You see them giving themselves into sin and unrighteousness? I'm going to say something that
may be a good thing. because just maybe in their giving
themselves wholeheartedly to themselves and the flesh, when
God opens their eyes to it, guess to whom they will run? Jesus
Christ, the Lord. God did not save Onesimus in
Philemon's house, but he could have, Jack. But he didn't. But what did God suffer him to
do? To do some kind of wrong to five even. And know that the
cat's out of the bag and he flees to Rome thinking I'll hide out
in Rome for a while. And guess who he runs to in Rome?
Paul the apostle himself. Our God is able. And my brothers and sisters,
if God kills all of us off before it happens, he still will save
all his own. Again, I said, think of that.
This world thinks that the church is a bunch of good people. We're
not a bunch of good people. We're a bunch of sinners saved
by the grace of God. And God lifted me up out of a
horrid pit. And my pit had all kinds of arms
and everything. I delved in just about everything
that a human being could delve into, both on the right-hand
side and on the left-hand side. I don't even want to go into
details because Ellen is too embarrassing for me. And God
even brought me out of false religion. I left all of those
other things and went into false religion. And what did God do?
He just wrenched down and picked me up and said, that's enough.
You will go no further. Here's the last part of this.
This rejoicing, better turn first, turn to Luke chapter 15. Now
this here is astounding to me, and this is one of those times
when I stand, one of many, but this is one of those times when
I stand here and I think, man, I wish I had the language, the
ability to express this as I know it probably could be expressed,
and I'm just not able. But I want you to think about
this fourth thought. This rejoicing, this glorifying God when he reveals
his son in someone. This rejoicing spans beyond believers
alone here on this earth. Listen to Luke chapter 15. It's
kind of lengthy, but look at it. I wanna read it all. These
are words from Luke, but we're gonna hear the words of our Lord.
Luke 15. Let me make sure, yes, Luke 15.
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to
hear him. Now here's, let me stop just
a moment. Just kind of let you know how much the Spirit of God
is not moving amongst men because how many sinners and publicans
wanting to come hear us today, Jack? Very few, do they? Very few. Then drew near unto
him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees
and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and
eateth with them. And he spake," that is, this
is the Lord's words himself, and he spake this parable unto
them, saying, What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he
lose one of them, does not leave the 99 in the wilderness and
go after that which is lost until he find it. Now, I'm not here
to try to even define the parable. And there's more, we'll see,
we'll read from all three of these parables. Here, our Lord
said, if a man loses, he's got a hundred sheep, he loses just
one. What does he do if he loves that
sheep, if he counts that sheep dear? He'll leave the 99 behind
and go find that one. But look, until he find it, and
when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing,
and when he cometh home, he calls together his neighbor, together
his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, rejoice with me, for
I have found my sheep which is lost, And if he just stopped
there, we could say, well, what did he really mean by all that?
But Mary Linda, he explains what he means by that. I say unto
you that likewise, joy shall be in heaven over one sinner
that repenteth, more than over 90 and nine just persons which
need no repentance. That there is rejoicing where?
In heaven. But it's more than that. Look
at, let me get my spot here for the sake of time, look at verse
10. Let me just read it, let me just read it, I'm sorry. Verse
eight, either what woman having 10 pieces of silver, if she lose
one piece, doth not light a candle and sweep the house and seek
diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she
calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, rejoice with
me, for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, now
look at this, he goes even further. Likewise, I say unto you that
there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one
sinner that repenteth. What does religion do today?
Well, God saved one, but we want him to save a bunch, right? It's all about how many and not
about the quality of the salvation that's taken place. But our Lord
himself says, when one sinner repents, there's rejoicing in
the presence. It doesn't say the angels are
rejoicing, though they may, Jack. I'm sure they're praising their
God for what he's done for these creatures, these fallen, sinful
creatures. But there is rejoicing in the
presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Now let's go on. And he said, a certain man had
two sons. And the younger of them said
to his father, Father, give me my portion of goods that falleth
to me. And he divided unto them his
living. Not many days after, the younger son gathered all
together and took his journey into a far country, and there
wasted his substance with riotous living. When he had spent all,
there arose a mighty famine in the land, and he began to be
unwont. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that
country, and he sent him into the fields to feed the swine.
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that
the swine did eat, and no man gave unto him. And when he came
to himself, he said, how many hired servants of my father hath
bread enough to spare, and I perish with hunger, I will arise and
go to my father, and I will say to him, father, I have sinned
against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called
thy son. Make me one of thy hired servants. And he arose and came to his
father, But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him,
and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed
him. And the son said unto him, Father,
I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more
worthy to be called thy son. And then I'm just gonna read
this next word, but. Do you see that? But. What did the father say? No,
no going, no going. bring all the best row, the fatty
calf. Do you see it all? Huh? You see
it all? Now look, verse 32. It is meat. Do you see that? It is proper. that we should make merry and
be glad for this thy brother was dead and is alive again and
was lost and is found. Think of this. God saved that
old rebellious Jew called Saul of Tarsus and there was rejoicing
amongst the people of God. But God saved a bunch of other
Saul of Tarsuses right here too. He saved a bunch of other Saul
of Tarsus' too. Look at Acts 11. I want to end
up here just about done. Acts chapter 11. And I can see
that God saved that old rebellious Jew. Can you see it? God saved
that old rebellious Jew. But what about us old rebellious
Gentile sinners? What about us? Listen to what
some Jews said about that. Acts chapter 11 verse 15. Let's
begin there for the sake of time. This is Peter speaking. As I
began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the
beginning. Then remembered I the word of
the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water, but
ye shall be baptized, excuse me, with the Holy Ghost. For
as much then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto
us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I? that I could withstand God. Now look at it. When they heard
these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying,
then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Now I'm gonna close with this
song. I have a prayer and we'll be
closed for this morning. This is a Song, or not a song,
well it may be a song as well, but it's some words wrote by
John Kent. Now he was not a pastor as far as I can tell, but he
lived in the late 17, early 1800s. Lived about 60 some, maybe 70
years old. And one thing, they don't say
much about John Kent, but you know one thing they say about
him? He was a staunch Calvinist. Well, let me read these words,
you'll see why. Twixt Jesus and the chosen race,
subsists a bond of sovereign grace, that hell with its infernal
train shall ne'er dissolve, nor rend in vain. Hail sacred union,
firm and strong, how great the grace, how sweet the song, that
worms of earth should ever be one with incarnate deity. One in the tomb when he arose,
one when he triumphed over his foes, one when in heaven he took
his seat, while seraphs sang all hell's defeat. This sacred
tie forbids our fears, for all he is or has is ours. With him our head, we stand or
fall, our life, our surety, and our all. Heavenly Father, God
may these words Encourage us. Lord, may it be again just to
remind us, Lord, that we're totally shut up unto your power and your
work when it comes to salvation. Lord, you use means, but it's
not the means that has the power. It's you and your mighty, almighty
grace. We praise you in Christ's name,
amen.