Glorify God

The Reason for Living Series

Glorify God

I Cor. 6:19-20

Theme: God reveals three ways we can glorify Him.

Welcome to Mountain View Baptist Church! Thank you for being here today in church. If you are a first-time guest, please be sure to connect with us. We would love the opportunity to be a help to you.

In just a few weeks, we are excited about our Open House coming up on Sunday October 27 at 11:00 AM. Whatever you do, please don’t miss this exciting day. We are planning a wonderful day in the Lord and of course the Wimberelys will join us. A special lunch will be provided also.

Be sure to bring a neighbor or friend for this special day starting at 11:00 AM.

This morning, I want to begin a new fall series entitled: The reason for Living.

In 1646 the churches of England and Scotland created a document that was in conformity with the church of Scotland in November 25, 1647. This document has been called the Westminster Shorter Catechism. The first entry is: What is the chief and highest end of man? Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully enjoy Him forever.

This very biblical because the Psalmist said it best in Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

This is the right way of thinking what is the purpose of life; yet, there are many popular that are counter to biblical thinking.

Voltaire said that a person’s purpose is to work, create, excel, and be concerned with the world.

Atheists believe that life is all there is and that mankind will continue to evolve.

Agnostic believes there is no real purpose although humans sometime give it purpose.

Karl Marx believes human beings are naturally productive, social beings who find fulfillment and meaning in their lives through the free exercise of their natural powers. They fulfill themselves through their creations, so that what they make is an expression of what they are.

The Epicureans believe the goal in life is to pursue pleasure and happiness.

Some believe there is no purpose at all: we live and we die.

King David wrote “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.” (Psalm 86:12) He was saying, Lord, my purpose and my reason for being here was to bring glory to you. David wants his life to glorify God.

The word glorify means to attribute high status to someone by honoring them or causing them to appear in our actions.

“To glorify God means to think and act in such a way that the goodness, greatness, and beauty of God are constantly obvious to ourselves and all those around us. It means to live in such a way that when people see us they think, Thank God for God, if God would create such a life.” Dallas Williard

God Word says that man’s ultimate purpose in life is to glorify God. When we are told to glorify God, this means we are to make sure God is seen in our lives. This means our lives are to mirror who God is to the world so they can see Him in and through our lives.

When someone looks at your life, what they see? Do they see Jesus Christ? Do they see Him by our honor and respect given to Him. In these verses the Bible gives us ways we should glorify God.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)

First way . . .

By receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior

Bought with a price refers to the payment Jesus paid for us to be His child. When someone pays for something, it means the purchaser owns what he or she purchased. Jesus purchased us from the punishment of hell by paying for our sins on the cross. The blood He shed on the cross was payment for our penalty of sin.

Jesus is the only one qualified to pay the price for our sin

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (1 Peter 1:18–19)

When we accept Jesus Christ, we are pointing to the fact that we are sinners and we cannot save ourselves from the penalty of sin, we must have a Savior and Jesus is our Savior.

When we accept Him, our lives will be changed, we are given new life and our life is past away. We turn from our sin and turn unto the Savior. There should be an evident change in our life.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“Things I used to do I don’t do anymore because God has made a change in me.” The old bluegrass songwriter wrote. “The places I used to go, I don’t go anymore.”

There is a change in me when Jesus comes into my life and we now are living for Him rather than for ourselves.

Man knows he needs a change but religion won’t change him. He may try to turn a new leaf over in life but that won’t change him. He may try a religious ritual but that won’t change him. Nothing can change a man but the Lord Jesus Christ.

A changed life brings glory to God. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Second way . . .

In your body

As a believer, we are to glorify our Lord by our body. Our body is the temple of God and we are to glorify Him in our body. This means our body is to be kept pure and holy unto the Lord. In verse 15, we are forbidden to use our bodies immorally. Our bodies are to be used to glorify God. This rules out adultery, fornication, homosexuality, and pornography.

Adultery and fornication has permeated society as normal. Recently, a well-known pastor and leader was relinquished of all his responsibilities as a pastor, seminary professor, and a huge internet ministry. He is a married man with children and yet; became involved with a lady 40 years younger than him. We grieve for his family, his ministry, and the effect it has on the body of Christ. There are dangers lurking out there and this is a mere warning of being careful to live to glorify Christ.

Barna research group recently sent out a report that was most disturbing. Today, 61 percent of U.S. adults view pornography, and 84 percent of this group say they don’t have anyone helping them avoid pornography.

This rampant use of pornography is destroying families, communities, and churches. There is never right to use it for any reason and believers need to make sure we maintain a purity in our lives.

Paul is saying your body is to bring glory to God-- “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” (Romans 6:12–13)

Our eyes should honor God as we read His Word and use them for His glory. We should our ears to hear that which brings glory to God. I know in the world today, filthy words and cursing is everywhere, but we must not invite it into our homes or lives anything that does not bring glory to God. Our hands and our feet should bring glory to God. And our mouth should bring glory to God as we speak pleasing to God

“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6)

We should use our mouth to encourage and edify which will edify the Lord. Our mouths should not tear down or destroy other believers.

What is God’s purpose for Rick Stonestreet? What is God’s purpose for You? What is God’s purpose for the bus ministry? What is God’s purpose for soul winning? It is that He will get all the glory through us and through the ministry we serve. God says I will not share my glory with another. God did not buy you with the blood of His Son and fill you with the Holy Spirit to serve your own carnal ambition.

Third way

In your spirit

A Spirit-filled person-a spiritual person-is one who is seeking to glory God. People think there are different ways to be filled with the Holy Spirit but one simple way is clearly in Scripture. The Holy Spirit is singular-minded. When we pray to God, we don’t ask Him to make us a great preacher, or make us a great soul winner, or a great Christian. The emphasis in glorifying God is on Him not on me.

“He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:14)

This means we will align our purpose into God’s purpose. Paul says it this way

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Does taking that new job glorify Christ? Does moving to a new place glorify God? Do the words I say or use glorify Christ? Does the way you speak to your children or to your boss or to your neighbors glorify Christ? Does what you watch on the internet or TV glorify Christ? Do the things you eat or put into your body glorify Christ?

Our purpose here is to always and only glorify Christ.

If you are here today and have never received Jesus as your Savior, you can accept Him today. This means we realize our sin has dishonored the glory of God and dishonored His name, and we turn to Him as our only hope for heaven. We ask Him to be our personal Savior because of what He has done for you on the cross. Will you accept Him as your personal Savior?

Christian, where has your focus been on your life? Are you more interested in what social media followers say think of you than what they think of Christ? Do your friends and family see Christ in you? Remember when you glorify Christ, he is seen in who you are and what you do. Perhaps today would be a fresh start for you.