How to Glorify God

Glorifying God should be active and dynamic.

In modern worship, we have degenerated our concept of worship to where all we do is come in, sit down in a pew, sing a few songs we feel are more for us than they are for God, listen to a sermon we are hoping someone else is listening to so they get the point, and take up an offering with a few prayers interspersed throughout the service.

Worship should be deliberate, purposeful, and active.

The life of a true worshiper is someone who seeks to glorify God in practical ways.

Tonight, we are going to look at ways the Bible says we can glorify God.

Unwavering Faith in God

Faith is the most basic form of worship.

Our faith in God should be unquestionable. It doesn’t mean we turn our brains off when God reveals something new to us. We need to see how it will apply and affect our lives as well as others.

We don’t need to allow doubt to get into our brains though and allow fear to take root.

Romans 4:20 ESV

20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,

This scripture speaks of Abraham who didn’t let his faith waver, but grew stronger in it.

When we express doubt in a world who knows we are Christians, we are placing doubt in their minds about who God is. We are questioning if we believe His Word is true.

1 John 5:10 ESV

10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

This scripture says whatever temptation we are experiencing, God will give us the strength to stand up against it or He will provide a way out for us.

For some reason we think of doubt and worry as small sins.

When we show fear, anxiety, or the inability to cope with life, we are saying to the world,

“My God cannot really be trusted.”

When we commit this sin, we are dishonoring God. This is a huge sin.

A great example of unwavering faith is shown in Daniel 3 when Nebuchadnezzar was going to throw the three young men in the furnace unless they bowed to the gods of his people and the golden image of the king.

Daniel 3:17 ESV

17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

But they weren’t finished with their statement. They also added,

Daniel 3:18 ESV

18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

They didn’t have any Bible or devotion booklet to go to. They didn’t have the internet to see how the latest, greatest preacher would handle the situation. What they did was stand on their faith that God would deliver them. Not only did He deliver them, but He was glorified through the faith these three young men had in Him and demonstrated it in front of an entire nation.

Verbal Praise

Psalm 50:23 ESV

23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”

We praise God with our mouths by recognizing His attributes, His works, and thanking Him for who He is and what He continues to do. The psalms are filled with praises like this.

The best way to learn to trust God in the present is to study His works from the past.

He has already established his pattern of faithfulness by the way He worked through people in the Bible and the way He responded to their needs. These acts should be continual reminders to us of who He is and what He can do. If we are ever in doubt, all we need to do is open the Bible and begin to read.

Acts 2:11 ESV

11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

All who were present at Pentecost when the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit was the mighty works of God in their own languages.

Luke 17 tells the story of a group of lepers who were separated from society due to the horrible disease which was so contagious, the people did everything they could do to prevent from getting it.

Luke 17:11–19 ESV

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Out of the ten, only one thought enough to turn around and glorify Jesus for what He had done for him.

Confession of Sin

We worship and glorify God when we confess our sin.

1 John 1:9 ESV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If you go back to the word in the Greek used for confess, it means

“to say the same thing as” or “to express complete agreement”

When we confess our sins we are agreeing with God about our responsibility for the sin we committed and how horrible sin is.

We don’t think of confessing sin as an act of worship, but it is.

“When we confess our sins, we are humbling ourselves before God, acknowledging His holiness, experiencing His faithfulness and righteousness, accepting any chastisement He may give, and thereby glorifying Him.”

There are two things which happen when we confess our sins.

The act of confessing our sin is an act of worship in itself.

It also prepares the repentant sinner for worship.

Hebrews 9:14 ESV

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Achan

In the Old Testament, the story of Achan is one where we can see God being glorified through the confession of sin. Achan stole gold from the city of Jericho. In order to hide his sin, he buried the gold in the dirt in his tent. Of course, God knew it was there and when the Israelites went into battle at Ai, they were beaten.

When Joshua realized what was going on, he went to Achan and said,

Joshua 7:19 ESV

19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

You can see in this verse that Joshua made the connection between confessing sin and glorifying God.

When we confess our sin, it acknowledges that God is holy. Because He is holy, when He brings judgement on those who have sinned, it keeps Him from being accused of being evil.

Excusing sin and refusing to take responsibility for it is blaming God.

Adam

This is what he did.

Genesis 3:12 ESV

12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

A lot of people think He was blaming Eve, but when you look closely you can see he is telling God He created her and gave her to him. Therefore, God is responsible for Adam’s act. He was impugning God.

Revelation 16:8–9 ESV

8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

In these verses we see a group of people in Revelation who will suffer this affliction. It says they did not repent and give Him glory. They will be judged for their acts.

Abundance of Fruit

Fruitful believers glorify God.

John 15:8 ESV

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Bearing spiritual fruit is an essential part of true worship.

Psalm 92:13–15 ESV

13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, 15 to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Philippians 1:10–11 ESV

10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

These verses confirm producing spiritual fruit glorifies God.

Colossians 1:10 ESV

10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

This verse explains what fruitfulness is.

Ephesians 5:9 ESV

9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

Fruit is anything that reflects the character of God in our lives.

Just as we look at an apple tree and expect apples. We look at a pear tree and expect pears. We should expect spiritual fruit from the ones who claim to be Christians.

Confident Prayer

Worship and prayer cannot be separated.

John 14:13 ESV

13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

This verse doesn’t mean we get a blanket ticket to pray for whatever we want. When we pray in Jesus name, we are saying we will pray for things which are in His will. We cannot pray in Jesus name for something He doesn’t want.

This eliminates the “me” in prayers.

Before we pray, we must understand the mind of God.

Most people look at prayer as a way of getting things or getting out of things.

We’ve lost the concept of

prayer as communion

living in the conscience of God and communing with Him there.

The purpose of prayer is not telling God something He doesn’t know, it is allowing Him to be glorified through the answer of the prayer.

Ultimately, His glory is even more important than the answer to the prayer.

A Willingness to Suffer

We also worship Him by loving Him enough to suffer for Him.

Peter was called to glorify God by dying for him. If you look at Peter’s writings, they are a study of the relationship between suffering and glory.

1 Peter 4:14–16 ESV

14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

You can see many of God’s servants throughout scripture were called to suffer for Him. When we suffer for God, we aren’t only doing it for His glory, but we are also showing how we hold Him as our highest prize and portion.

A Contented Heart

The true worshiper will live a life of contentment regardless of where they find themselves.

The discontented person is really blaming God for their circumstances.

Contentment testifies to the wisdom and sovereignty of God and thereby glorifies Him.

Philippians 4:4 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Verses 10-13 in the same chapter shows Paul’s attitude of complete contentment.

Philippians 4:10–13 ESV

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Very few people find this level of contentment. Paul was also letting the Philipians know he was happier with the fruit they were producing than the money they gave him.

Philippians 4:19–20 ESV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

It would be easy for us to see Paul being content here when he received this money, but Paul was also content when he was suffering.

2 Corinthians 11:23–28 ESV

23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

This shows all the things Paul had suffered.

He also assumed the burdens of other believers.

2 Corinthians 11:29 ESV

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

But Paul also wrote:

2 Corinthians 11:30 ESV

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

If we want to interpret this in a more contemporary vein, Paul didn’t write, “I’ll give God glory in spite of my pain. He wrote, “I’ll give God glory because of it.”

This marks true spiritual worship.

A Clear Witness

We worship God by declaring His Word with clarity.

2 Thessalonians 3:1 ESV

1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,

When God’s Word is preached and people hear, are saved and/or changed, God is glorified.

Acts 13:48–49 ESV

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.

God’s glory is part of His Word. Whenever His Word is preached, He is glorified. When a new believer comes to Christ this is the supreme way of glorifying God. When this happens, God is not only glorified through the decision, but it also brings a new worshiper who will bring glory to God and so the cycle continues.

There are many other ways to worship and bring glory to God. Scripture is full of them. As we have looked at these specific verses, we can see that true worship is an active, all-consuming, never-ending pursuit.

The life that honors God is the only life God honors.