We must PRAY for God's Glory

Introduction: Last Sunday the message was entitled: We Must Look for God’s Glory. At the end of the message, I encouraged us to 1. Look to the heavens – Psalm 19:1-4; 2. To keep our eyes on Jesus Christ – Hebrews 12:2 (Author and finisher of our Faith); 3. Share God’s Glory this Christmas by Proclaiming the Gospel – 2 Corinthians 4:4.

How can you and I Experience Christmas Glory, God’s Glory? There is no cloud or pillar of fire today. So, how do we Experience Christmas Glory? I suggest to you that we do what other followers of God have done, and that is, pray for God’s Glory to be revealed. Do we want to witness God’s Glory today? Then pray to see His GLORY!

I believe that we can become so busy that we miss out on the many times God has shown up. His Glory has been evident, but we have missed it. We are just too busy, and our attention is spread thin.

I don’t want us to miss out on Experiencing Christmas Glory this season.

Let’s look at some individuals who prayed for God’s Glory to be revealed. By the way, what is another word for prayer? ASK! Here is what Jesus Christ taught us about asking. We read in Matthew 7:7-11,

7“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

In the Bible who asked to see God’s Glory?

1. Moses asked to see God’s Glory – Exodus 33:18

Moses saw the glory of God because he asked to see it. In Exodus 33:18, we read,

“Please, show me Your glory”

If we desire to see God’s Glory, we must pray! And get this, God answered Moses’ prayer. Moses saw God’s Glory. Let me read Exodus 33:18-23,

18 And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.” 19 Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. 22 So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. 23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

Is it possible that we won’t see God’s Glory because we won’t ask to see God’s Glory?

Scripture tells us, “Yet, you do not have because you do not ask.” (James 4:2).

If we want to see God’s Glory, then we should be praying to see His Glory every day. We should pray for God to show up in our lives. We should pray for God to do His work in us, and all around us. Don’t forget to pray for God’s Glory to show up here at SLBC. It is my desire that we as a Church experience God’s Glory this Christmas.

2. Early believers asked to see God’s Glory – Acts 2:1-4

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Do you know what the early believers were doing as they gathered in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost? They were praying! Look at Acts 1:14,

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

If you and I want to see God’s Glory, we need to pray! These believers were doing what Jesus asked them to do. They were waiting in Jerusalem for God to do something miraculous. And He did! He sent the Holy Spirit. The Glory of God appeared and rested upon the heads of each person present in the upper room (Acts 2:1-4). Power showed up in the room because of prayer.

If we desire to see God’s Glory, we must pray! We must do what the early church did – prayer must not be the last thing we do, but the first thing we do. Prayer is not the least thing we can do, but it is the greatest thing we can do.

How many of you love the prophet, Daniel? We are told that Daniel prayed three times a day – it was his custom (Daniel 6:10). I believe that he probably prayed, morning, noon, and night – that’s three times! This is a good place to begin.

Paul told the Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

And Jesus taught, “men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1).

Over the next 14 days, until you open your eyes on Christmas morning, pray for God’s Glory. Pray that you will see God’s Glory around you, in your family, in your community, your nation, and even around the world.

Can I ask you a very simple question? How BIG is your God? Your answer to that question will determine how much of God’s Glory you will experience this Christmas.

I believe that I serve a very BIG God!

3. Saul asked to see God’s Glory – Romans 9

Paul was religious, so he probably prayed a lot. I believe that he prayed to see God’s glory he just didn’t know how it was going to be revealed to him. Now, we know that Saul wasn’t praying to Jesus, but I have no doubt he was praying to the God of Abraham. Saul believed he was doing God’s service when he was arresting, persecuting, and even killing the people of “The Way.” God saw Saul’s determination (his grit) and had great plans for him. God is in the business of displaying His Glory in the most unlikely people, who then make the greatest impact on their generation. Saul became Paul, and the rest is history – 13 books of the New Testament were written by him. We understand doctrine because of this mans conversion.

Where did Saul experience God’s Glory? Three places:

A. At his salvation – Acts 9

Saul experienced first-hand God’s Glory on the road to Damascus, and Luke recorded it for us. I want us to turn to this passage, and I want to read verses 1-9.

I remind us again that salvation is God’s Amazing Grace! It is also an event where His Glory is revealed.

B. In his suffering – Romans 8:18

Saul, who became Paul knew something about suffering. He faced what he called a thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12). He prayed three times for God to deliver him (2 Corinthians 12:8). But God choose not to remove it, but Paul he was okay with that. He knew the grace of God was sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Paul faced physical health issues (many believe he had bad eyesight) and spiritual attacks from his enemies, and he carried many burdens for the churches (2 Corinthians 11). I think that Paul had a lot of things to pray about, and he also had a lot of areas where he could have experienced God’s Glory.

How many times have we all prayed for God’s Glory to be revealed when we were suffering?

· I prayed for God’s Glory when I was diagnosed with cancer.

· I do not doubt that Terry Robinson prayed to see God’s Glory when he was diagnosed with ASL.

· I do not doubt that Shannon Smith has been praying to see God’s Glory as she has gone through her radiation treatments in Arizona.

C. At his death – 2 Timothy 4:6-8

I am not going to spend a lot of time here, but I would ask you to read Paul’s words just prior to his execution and ask yourself if they sound like a man afraid of death.

Paul knew that once his earthly life was over, he would see God’s Glory in all its fullness!

If we desire to see God’s Glory, we must pray!

And as you pray don’t lack FAITH!

4. Martha prayed to see God’s Glory – John 11:40-44

Do you think that Lazarus’ sisters were women of prayer? I do! I believe that they were praying for a miracle for their brother who was sick. Most of us know this story. We know that Lazarus’ sisters called for Jesus to come and heal their brother, but he tarried, and their brother died. Jesus waited for a purpose, and when he arrived, he spoke to Martha and this is this is what He said in John 11:40-44,

40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

I want to draw our attention to verse 40,

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

Did Martha witness God’s Glory at that moment in time? Yes! Jesus prayed to His Father, and he called Lazarus out from the grave ALIVE! Here we have God’s Glory on display. Power over death!

If we desire to see God’s Glory, we must pray!

5. Shepherds prayed to see God’s Glory – Luke 2:8-20

I have no doubt that the shepherds were religious, and that they prayed. Scripture tells us that they experienced God’s Glory. Most of us are familiar with the shepherd’s story. They were living out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. This was their responsibility!

As they carried out their duty of caring for their sheep they were interrupted by an angelic visitor. We are told that the shepherds were greatly afraid. Do you think if an angel appeared to you that you would be afraid? I would!

Let’s pick up this story in our Bible beginning here in Luke 2:10. We read,

10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

The shepherds experienced God’s Glory in four ways:

1. They were caring for His Creation – sheep.

2. They were visited by an angel – A divine visitor.

3. They heard an angelic choir singing – Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

4. They saw Mary, Joseph, and the Babe. Glory Incarnate!

What happens to people who Experience God’s Glory? The same thing we see in the shepherds. Look at what they did in verse 17,

17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

They proclaimed Jesus, and all the people who heard them marveled at the things which were told them by the Shepherds.

Finally, I would say that like the shepherds when someone Experiences God’s Glory that they too will in return glorify God, which speaks of praise and worship. Look at verse 20,

20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Conclusion: Who sees God’s Glory? People see God’s Glory! Moses, early believers, Saul (Paul), Martha, and the shepherds. All these saw God’s Glory. Do you and I have any desire to see God’s Glory? If we are going to see God’s Glory we must PRAY and ask to see it.

· Moses asked, “Please, show me Your glory.” (Exodus 33:18).

· Early Believers prayed, and the Holy Spirit rested upon them (Acts 2:1-4).

· Saul (later Paul) experienced God’s Glory in his salvation, suffering, and death (Acts 9, 2 Corinthians 11,12; 2 Timothy 4:6-8).

· Martha prayed for God to show up at her brother’s death, and He did, and so did God’s Glory (Power to raise the dead).

· The shepherds experienced God’s Glory. Get this, they were just ordinary common everyday people, and yet they saw God’s Glory – in nature, in angels, in song, and in the face of the baby Jesus!

Won’t you PRAY for God’s Glory this Christmas? I will.