Look To Glorify God With Your Life

Introduction

Opening Illustration

This week I was talking with a brother in Christ,

and he was sharing a a story from a previous job.

He was working this day,

when an angry customer came in.

The customer was not happy,

and began yelling at my friend;

cussing him out because of his bad experience.

This brother was caught off guard by the situation,

and didn’t know what to say,

but the Holy Spirit gave him the wisdom to ask,

“Sir, can I pray for you?”

The man began to weep!

And shared how he had lost his wife to cancer a 2 days earlier,

and had lost his daughter a 2 weeks prior to that.

This man was hurting!

He was going through incredibly intense pain,

and that emotional pain was coming out on my friend.

After praying with him, he calmed down, and

they were able to resolve the situation peacefully,

My friend was grateful the Spirit had given him the compassion and wisdom to care for this man.

Had he responded in anger, he would have never had the opportunity to minister to him.

Main Point of Sermon

What my brother learned,

is that in every area of our lives,

there are opportunities to glorify God,

which is why you should…

Look To Glorify God With Your Life

Everything that we have is from God,

including the fact that He has saved us from sin and death,

and given us the hope of eternal life with Jesus.

Now we are holy vessels for His glory,

and every area of our lives is an opportunity to point others to Jesus,

and bring glory to God,

Scripture

Announce

John 2:1-12.

Introduce

We are continuing our series through the Gospel According to John,

written by John, one of Jesus’s disciples.

Being a disciple who walked with Jesus during His whole ministry,

he was an eye witness of all that Jesus taught,

and all the miracles He performed.

John recorded this because he was an eye witness to the greatest life in human history…

Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God,

coming into the world…

living a perfect life…

dying as the sacrifice for the sin of all mankind…

rising from the grave… and

ascending back into heaven… SO THAT

everyone who believes in Him can have the hope of eternal life!

Transition

As we begin this morning in John 2,

we are going to see Jesus’ first sign,

proving that He was the Son of God through His power!

Billboard

This morning as we look at Jesus’ example,

we are going to be encouraged to:

Look To Glorify God With Everyday Opportunities

Look To Glorify God With Everyday Resources

Look To Glorify God With Every Day’s Fruit

Prayer for Illumination

Lord…

Read

John 2:1–12 ESV

1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

Transition

What we learn from Jesus’s example is that we should…

1. Look To Glorify God With Everyday Opportunities

Jesus is using an everyday opportunity, a wedding,

to glorify God.

They had been invited to this wedding.

Implies it was somebody close/related.

While the party is going on they run out of wine,

and this wedding is an everyday opportunity for Jesus to bring glory to God!

EXPLAIN

When we have everyday opportunities,

we should look at Mary and Jesus’s examples and…

a. Seek God’s Help

Mary seeks Jesus’ help…

John 2:3 ESV

3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”

Wasn’t uncommon for weddings to last a week, because

you didn’t know when people would arrive.

Needed to have enough food/drink on hand for everyone.

Not having enough wine would not have been a small thing,

it would have been

humiliating…

damaging to their reputation…

or even worse (legal implications)

Mary realizes this is a big problem,

so she goes to Jesus for help.

She believes he can fix the problem.

Some commentators believe she is simply going to Jesus,

because He had proven to be resourceful and a hard worker.

Others believe Mary may have sensed through the power of the Spirit,

that the time for Jesus to reveal His true identity had come.

Jesus’s response to Mary is…

John 2:4 ESV

4 “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

We shouldn’t see Jesus calling His mother as insulting,

rather, Jesus is making it clear that their roles have changed.

F.F. Bruce in his commentary says,

“Jesus indicated that there was a new relationship between Him and Mary. If she sought his help now, she must not seek it on the basis of their mother-and-son relationship.”

Jesus wanted to make it clear that he was seeking the Father’s will.

He’s not going to listen to her just because she’s His mother.

Transition

When we have everyday opportunities we should:

Seek God’s Help.

And then we should…

b. Submit to God’s Instructions

Mary submits to Jesus’s instructions,

and encourages the servants to do the same.

John 2:5 ESV

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Mary understands her role,

and does not presume to give orders,

but submits to her Lord.

She and doesn’t tell him what to do,

but is willing to follow His instructions,

and she encourages the servants to submit to His instructions.

“Do whatever HE tells you.”

R.V.G. Tasker says…

“He will indeed take action, as she was so very sure He would when she told the servants to do whatever He told them, but He will act in His own way, for His own reasons, and at His own time.” (Tasker)

Summary

In this everyday opportunity,

Jesus wants to be faithful to the Father’s will,

so that He can bring Him glory!

Everyday opportunities are chances for us to bring glory to God!

ILLUSTRATE

Last year I went on a golf trip with some friends.

We found a great deal at a golf resort that included:

hotel stay…

golf and cart…

breakfast and dinner…

Everything was taken care of,

all we had to do was plan when we would eat and when we would golf.

As the trip got closer,

I thought a lot about

how fun the golf would be…

how good the food would be… and

how fun it would be to spend time with friends…

But do you know what I didn’t spend a lot of time on?

How I could glorify God with that opportunity!

I had the privilege of having that opportunity,

and by God’s grace I was going to be

in that place,

at that time,

for those few days,

and I didn’t really consider how God might use me there to glorify Him.

All I was thinking about was:

ME! and

HOW I COULD HAVE FUN!

APPLY

How many times is that true in our lives?

Where we are so concerned about ourselves, and

wrapped up in the details,

that we don’t consider how we can glorify God with our everyday opportunities!

Jesus had been invited to a wedding,

a normal, everyday type of event,

but He saw it as the timing and plan of God,

an opportunity to bring Him glory.

God has given you all unique opportunities:

You are connected to specific people in your life

that others aren’t…

You are in a specific place because of your job/where you live

that others are not…

You are going to be invited to specific places because of who you know

that others are not…

These are all everyday opportunities for you to bring glory to God!

God’s placement in your life is your platform for His glory.

Maybe that’s your job,

and the places and people that puts you…

Maybe it is an event,

like a wedding/funeral/baby shower/birthday party/homeschool group

Seek God’s help in discerning whether or not these are things God wants you to do,

and if they are… you should seek ways to glorify Him.

There may be a person there who is hurting and in need of hope…

There may be a person there searching for meaning and doesn’t know where to look…

There may be a believer there who needs hope and encouragement...

There are people all around us who need to find hope and peace in Jesus,

and the everyday opportunities God gives us,

are opportunities to bring Him glory by pointing people to Him!

As you think about where God has placed you,

pray for wisdom in using those opportunities to glorify God.

Transition

The next thing we learn from Jesus’s example is that we should…

2. Look To Glorify God With Everyday Resources

As Jesus looks to glorify God with the everyday opportunity he has been given,

He uses the everyday resources He has around Him.

Maybe you’ve had the thought, like I have,

that if I had

more money,

better stuff,

more time,

THEN I would serve God better!

This is a cop-out and a lie!

We don’t need more/better stuff to glorify God,

we just need to be faithful with what we have.

EXPLAIN

Jesus shows us that we simply need to…

a. Use what you have

As Jesus begins assessing the situation,

and how He’s going to solve the wine problem,

He simply uses what He has around Him.

Look at verses 6 and 7…

John 2:6–7 ESV

6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.

Stone water jars were used for purification,

because jars made of earthenware (clay or pottery),

needed to be broken if defiled.

Filling these jars would have been no small task…

The jar itself might have been 2-3 ft tall,

and weighed around 100 lbs empty,

and around 300 lbs when full of water.

These are the jars that were there on hand,

so those were the jars that Jesus used…

He used what He had.

Transition

Jesus also shows us that we simply need to…

b. Use who you have

Jesus could have done this miracle all on His own,

but He involves the servants who are there...

John 2:7–8 ESV

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.

Servants would not have been

well-known,

well-educated,

well-respected people,

but they were there and ready to serve.

There was nothing special about these servants,

but they are available,

so Jesus uses who He has available,

and invites them to be a part of this incredible miracle.

Summary

Jesus is at this everyday opportunity (a wedding),

and all He has are everyday resources,

yet He is still looking to glorify God with what and who He has.

ILLUSTRATE

The Bible is filled with stories of people who bring glory to God using everyday resources.

Elisha and the ax head

2 Kings 6 records the story of a man who accidentally dropped his ax head in the water,

So Elisha the prophet broke a piece off a stick, threw where the ax head fell,

and it floated to the top of the water so the man could grab it.

Samson and the jawbone

Judges 15 tells of the Philistines coming to take Samson who was tied up,

but the Spirit of the Lord rushed on him, he broke the ropes free.

He needed a weapon, and found… a jawbone!

He used it to kill 1,000 Philistines!

Boy and 5 loaves & 2 fish

John 6 tells of Jesus wanting to feed 5,000 people after teaching them.

A small boy shows up with 5 barley loaves and 2 fish…

and Jesus used it to feed everyone… and had leftovers!

Summary

You see, it’s not about the resources:

what’s being used; or

who’s being used…

It’s about God’s power!

It’s not about what you have, but God who can take any act of faith and multiply it for His glory!

APPLY

So many times we’re not willing to step out in faith because:

I’m not smart enough…

I don’t have enough experience…

Someone else would do a better job…

But what are all of these reasons dependant on???

YOU!

When we put our faith in God who can take any act of faith and multiply it for His glory,

we should step out in faith,

using what we have and who we have,

because the Lord has given us an opportunity!

Use What You Have

If God has given you an opportunity,

and you’re sensing He’s asking you to take a step of faith,

be faithful to use what you have!

He wouldn’t have given you the opportunity if he didn’t want to use you.

Believe that God can work through you!

Use Who You Have

There are also times when you can use who you have.

Many times we try and do things on our own,

when we could involve others,

and grow together in our faith as we trust God!

Summary

God is not going to ask you to do things you can’t do because you don’t have the proper resources.

He knows who you are…

He knows what you have…

He knows who you have…

and He just wants you to be faithful,

and trust Him!

ILLUSTRATION

As we’ve begun Good News Church,

there are many ministries that WE WANT to run.

We want to be able to serve you and your families,

and have opportunities for us to grow together in Christ.

As much as we’re grateful to be able to rent this school,

we would love to have our own building!

It would open so many doors for us.

EDMOND CONVERSATION

This week Jonah and I met with Edmond,

who is a pastor of a church here in Leamington from our convention.

We were talking about starting a youth ministry.

Edmond was mentioning how he has youth, but no youth leader…

We mentioned how we have youth, and a youth leader, but no building…

So Edmond said, you guys can use our building!

This is still not an ideal situation,

but we now have an opportunity to work together to glorify God through teaching youth,

and we’re simply using what we have, and who we have.

APPLY CONT.

This was a reminder to us that we don’t need to worry about what we don’t have…

We simply need to be faithful to look to glorify God with the opportunities and the resources He gives us,

and He is going to provide what we need.

What opportunities is God giving you?

Maybe you work with someone who doesn’t believe in Jesus,

but you feel like you don’t know enough to start a conversation…

Maybe you don’t read the Bible or memorize the Bible,

because you don’t feel like you read well…

Maybe you haven’t served in the church,

because you don’t feel gifted enough,

or you don’t feel like you’re good enough…

All of these are lies from the enemy who wants you to doubt yourself.

Guess what???

NONE OF US ARE GOOD ENOUGH!

AND THAT INCLUDES ME!

But we believe and trust in a BIG GOD,

who only asks us to have a mustard size faith,

and He is willing to do great things through us!

Summary

If God is giving you an opportunity,

and the Holy Spirit is nudging you to take a step of faith… DO IT!

Step out in faith, using what and who you have,

and God will multiply it for His glory!

Transition

Next, we should…

3. Look To Glorify God With Every Day’s Fruit

If our desire is to glorify God with:

everyday opportunities; and

everyday resources…

He will bless our efforts and bring fruit!

It may not always be immediate,

and it may not be the fruit that we were expecting,

but God will bring fruit in His way, and His time.

And when He does, we give Him ALL THE GLORY!

EXPLAIN

We should glorify God because…

a. God gives the growth

Jesus had used the stone water jars that were there,

as well as involving the servants who were there,

but HE is the One who turned the water into wine…

John 2:9–10 ESV

9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”

We aren’t told HOW Jesus turned the water into wine:

Did He speak, or

did He just think?

Was it turned into wine while the jars were being filled, or

when it was on it’s way to the master of the feast?

We don’t know!

But what we do know,

is that Jesus supernaturally turned water into wine!

It didn’t have anything to do with the jars…

It didn’t have anything to do with the servants…

It was an act of All-Mighty God,

where He transformed ordinary water into wine,

bypassing the laws of nature that HE put into place.

Henry Alford, in his commentary on this passage said…

“In order for wine to be produced, we have the growth and ripening of the grape; the crushing of it in proper vessels; the fermentation;

but here all these are in a moment brought about by their results, by the same Power which made the laws of nature, and created and unfolded the capacities of man.”

Transition

And since God is the one who gives the growth…

b. God deserves the glory

The master of the feast gave all the credit to the bridegroom,

thinking he purchased the good wine and saved it for last.

The text makes it clear to us that he didn’t know what had happened.

He didn’t know that it was Jesus, the Son of God who deserved the glory!

This was the very reason He performed this sign…

John 2:11 ESV

11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

It could have taken an hour or more to fill up all those jars.

The disciples must have been wondering what Jesus was going to do with the water.

And then when He asked the servants to take the wine to the master of the feast,

they must have been on the edge of their sandals…

“How’s he going to respond to water when he will be expecting wine?”

Not only had Jesus miraculously turned the water into wine,

but the best wine!

Through this miracle, Jesus confirms His identity to His disciples,

manifesting His glory through His divine power.

The disciples worship and give glory to God for the growth He had given.

The disciples believe in Jesus!

(They had already believed in Him, but now their belief is strengthened.)

Summary

God alone is the one who gives the growth,

and therefore the one who deserves the glory!

ILLUSTRATE

After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years,

God brought His people to the edge of the Promised Land.

Before they went in, God reminded them of His Word through Moses,

and commanded them to obey Him.

God promises that He is going to bring them into a good land with:

abundant water…

abundant grain…

abundant fruit… and

abundant resources…

But He warns them not to become prideful in their hearts and forget God.

Deuteronomy 8:17–20 ESV

17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Deuteronomy 8:17–20 ESV

19 And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. 20 Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.

Summary

But the Israelites did become prideful,

and turned away from the Lord.

Judges 2:12 ESV

12 And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger.

Rather than giving God the glory He deserved by following Him wholeheartedly,

they abandoned His ways, and followed their own wisdom,

turning to the false gods of the nations around them.

APPLY

Brothers and sisters,

we have the same temptation as well…

the temptation to see...

everything we have… and

everything we’ve accomplished…

and think that WE deserve the credit!

We need to understand as John the Baptist said…

John 3:27 ESV

27 “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

Or what James said…

James 1:17 ESV

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Or what Paul said to the Corinthians…

1 Corinthians 4:7 ESV

7 What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Or what Paul said to the Galatians…

Romans 11:36 ESV

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Everything comes from God…

Everything is sustained by God… THEREFORE…

Everything brings glory to God… FOREVER!

So, rather than taking the credit for all that we have,

we should seek to be faithful with the gifts of God,

using them for His glory as Peter says in...

1 Peter 4:10–11 ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—

1 Peter 4:10–11 ESV

in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Summary

When we step out in faith with the everyday opportunities God gives us,

using the everyday resources He gives us,

He will bring growth, and

we should give Him all the glory!

Closing

Closing Illustration

Point to Christ (How does the Gospel speak to this?)

But there is more that John the disciple is wanting us to see here.

You may remember in the introduction to John that I said,

John wasn’t simply writing a chronology of events,

but was strategically organizing Jesus’ teaching with his signs,

to point to deeper truths about Jesus,

and what He came to do.

What John is wanting us to see is that Jesus is ushering in a new and better covenant.

The fact that the wine had run out,

and the six stone water jars for purification were empty,

reveals to us the bankruptcy of the Jewish system…

it had run it’s course, and was empty!

The Old Covenant

Much of the Jewish system was based on legalism…

outward obedience but no heartfelt love for God.

God had given His Law,

but it did not change the sinful human heart!

Because of sin, priests had to continually offer sacrifices,

to atone for the sins of the people,

but it never made anyone perfect before God.

The New Covenant

But Jesus ushers in a new covenant through His blood,

and anyone who trusts in Him, is made perfectly righteous!

R.C. Sproul said…

“The good news of the gospel is that God Himself supplies the goodness that you and I do not have. He gives to us the very righteousness of Christ if we trust in Him.”

The water that Jesus turns into wine symbolizes this new covenant Jesus is ushering in.

The wine represents this new covenant!

It is overflowing…

6 stone jars filled to the brim!

It is better than the old covenant…

the best has been kept until now!

This isn’t to say God’s Law to His people was bad.

We see time and time again throughout the OT

how God’s people praise Him for His Word,

and are thankful for it!

But when it is compared to the new covenant,

it doesn’t even compare!

The master of the feast thought the first wine was good,

until he tasted the better wine!

This is what John meant in John 1:16-17

John 1:16–17 ESV

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The Law was given by God, and was an act of grace,

atoning for their sins,

so God could dwell AMONG them…

But even God in their presence couldn’t change their sinful hearts!

Now God has shown us His grace,

atoning for our sins,

so God can dwell IN US, by the power of the Holy Spirit,

who changes our hearts and gives us an inward desire to obey.

A song written by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa summarizes it beautifully…

Run And Run (Matt Boswell & Matt Papa)

Run and run the law demands But gives me neither feet nor hands Better news, the gospel brings It bids me fly, it gives me wings

Bearing shame and all my sin There in my place He stood condemned Here I stand now justified My guilt is His, His grace is mine

Praise the Lord Oh, my soul, praise the Lord Now and forevermore my heart confess Christ is all my righteousness Christ is all my righteousness

My accuser, he may roar Of countlеss sins that I have done Thesе I know and thousands more Behold, my God, He knows not one

Praise the Lord Oh, my soul, praise the Lord Now and forevermore my heart confess Christ is all my righteousness Christ is all my righteousness

When I stand before the throne There dressed in beauty not my own Then, Lord, shall I fully know Not til that day how much I owe

Praise the Lord Oh, my soul, praise the Lord Now and forevermore my heart confess Christ is all my righteousness

Land the Plane (Last call to action)

Christian…

In light of God’s great love for you,

in usher in this new and better covenant of grace,

through Jesus Christ…

Look To Glorify God With Your Life!

Use the everyday opportunities and

the everyday resources He gives you to bring glory to His name!

And when He brings fruit,

give Him all the glory!

Non-Christian…

If you believe in Jesus today,

and confess your sin,

YOU WILL BE SAVED!

ESCHATALOGICAL ENDING!!!

This is all possible through the new covenant Jesus has ushered in through His sacrifice.

And in this life we enjoy the blessings and benefits of being God’s children.

But this is just a glimpse of the joy and hope we have in Christ.

Brothers and sisters…

The best is yet to come!

Charles Spurgeon said…

“I can conceive you, brethren, in the very last moment of your life, or rather, in the first moment of your life, saying, ‘He has kept the best wine until now.’

When you begin to see him face to face, when you enter into the closest fellowship, with nothing to disturb or to distract you, then shall you say ‘The best wine is kept until now.’” 

The hope we have as we look to glorify God with our lives,

is that one day we will see Jesus face to face,

and live in fellowship with His all-sufficient goodness through all eternity!

Lord’s Supper

This morning we joyfully celebrate the Lord’s Supper,

which is a reminder of Jesus’s body and blood given for us.

If you have been baptized on the confession of your sin,

and faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour,

we invite you to join us.

You should have received a cup/wafer on the way in.

If not, please raise your hand and an usher will serve you.

If you have not been baptized,

or are not in good standing with the Lord,

we ask that you do not participate.

Partake Lord’s Supper

Wafer

Join me in opening the top portion of the cup and taking the wafer out.

Matthew 26:26 ESV

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

As we take and eat the wafer,

as you crunch it between your teeth,

remember Jesus’ body broken, bruised, and crushed for you,

as He gave Himself and died in your place.

Let’s Pray:

Father, we come to You in Jesus’ name,

and we thank You for His willing sacrifice of His body for us.

As we partake of this bread, help us to remember His body given for us.

Amen!

Let’s take the wafer and eat.

Juice

Join me in opening the cup of juice.

Matthew 26:27–28 ESV

27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

As we take and drink the juice,

remember Jesus’ blood that was spilled,

paying the price your sin demanded,

so that we could be forgiven through His sacrifice.

Let’s pray:

Father, we come to You in Jesus’ name,

and we thank You for Jesus perfect life,

and willingly shedding His blood to pay for our sin.

As we drink the juice, help us to remember His blood spilled for us!

Amen!

Let’s take the juice and drink.