When In Doubt
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Personal Glory
Personal Glory
When attempting to find our purpose in life people often wander around trying different activities that fit their desires.
Parents can push their wandering children in directions that fit their talents.
Through all of the searching for personal satisfaction in my life, there is peace knowing that my glory rests in glorifying God.
There are two illustrations which display the nature of those who are searching for their own glory; one who recognizes their talents are given to them by God. Another who has achieved personal glory for themselves without realizing where their talent derive from.
For those around the Pittsburgh area, Tom Brady is a name well known. Not for helping the Steelers of course but often knocking them out of the playoffs. One cannot deny Brady’s talent on the field, especially when his team once again recently won the Super Bowl.
However when he only had three rings Brady said,
“Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what is.’ I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, ‘God, it’s got to be more than this.’ I mean this isn’t, this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be.”
What’s the answer?
“I wish I knew. I wish I knew,” says Brady.
Glorifying Yourself
Glorifying Yourself
Those in the world who do not know God are searching for purpose just as Brady says he wishes he knew what the answer to life is. If you have been searching for the purpose in life and have searched continually for the answers by building up your life by your own hands, you glorify yourself.
One does not have to look far to see there are those who have planted their foundations upon their own ability to continually succeed in life.
God’s Not Dead Illustration
Being successful in our own eyes is easy until it fails to fulfill our every need. Thankfully, failure helps some of us see that we are incapable of providing all the answers in life. At that time, hopefully we recognize the chains that prevented us from seeing God.
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;
that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.
By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.
To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,
and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;
so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
God’s Glory
God’s Glory
Paul’s excitement in giving the glory to God through all things is evident in Chapter 3.
Sydney McLaughlin 'giving the glory to God' after earning Olympic gold, another world record
Sydney McLaughlin 'giving the glory to God' after earning Olympic gold, another world record
Five weeks after setting a world record and becoming the first woman to finish under 52 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles (51.90), Sydney McLaughlin went even faster in the Tokyo Olympic final. She crossed in 51.46 seconds to lower the world’s best time, and become an Olympic champion in the process.
“Just trusting the process. Giving the glory to God,” McLaughlin said about her victory. “It’s all, this season, hard work and dedication. And [I’m] just really grateful to be able to represent my country and to have this opportunity.”
“All the glory to God,” McLaughlin told NBC following that victory. “Honestly, this season just working with my new coach and my new support system, it’s truly just faith and trusting the process. I couldn’t ask for anything more and truly it is all a gift from God.”
On Instagram, her bio says simply, “Jesus saved me.” She also talked about her world record in June, saying, “I no longer run for self recognition, but to reflect His perfect will that is already set in stone. I don’t deserve anything. But by grace, through faith, Jesus has given me everything. Records come and go. The glory of God is eternal. Thank you Father.”
https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/olympics/2021/08/03/sydney-mclaughlin-glory-god-olympic-gold/
God Desires Faithful Stewardship
God Desires Faithful Stewardship
Paul’s proclamation that he is in chains for the message of Christ is evident throughout many of his letters. To the Ephesians, he waits until the middle of his letter to acknowledge his imprisonment.
Where are you in your recognition of being in the world but given a mission by God?
Paul went full in with giving all the recognition for his mission back to God. In every aspect of his life, he placed the glory of his work in glorifying God.
From Paul’s story we recognize that he was chosen to preach to the Gentiles. Even in chains, he reaches out to those he knew.
Your lives in all aspects should be driving toward glorifying God.
Searching every facet of our lives will see whether we reflect God’s glory or are in need of having Him clean ourselves to be able to glorify Him.
Ultimate Glory is Being With God
Ultimate Glory is Being With God
While you are still here, your mission is to share the mystery of Christ with others. That is the glory of the Son who was the perfect reflection of God the Father (John 14:9).
Jesus’ glory was to fulfill all things that God had given for Him to fulfill. In your life, are you reflecting God’s glory to the world?
In your work, do you grumble at your tribulations? Paul asks that you do not lose heart at the sufferings that come in the world. You will witness ultimate glory one day in a new glorified body.
Christ’s depth is unknowable, but we do know that the servant is not greater than the master (John 13:16).
While it may be difficult to understand that there will be suffering along with the sharing of the mystery of God’s glory, we have hope in a future eternal glory with God.
Glory of the Church is Sharing God’s Wisdom
Glory of the Church is Sharing God’s Wisdom
We the church must share the wisdom, mystery, and grace of God. Since the depth of the gospel is bottomless and Christ is eternal, we have a continuing ministry to share the mystery.
For those who are searching for what is unknown, we have the wisdom of God in His Son, Jesus Christ. His words are written for us to be revealed of His character. His love is written eternally in His Son, Jesus Christ, the living Word of God.
Eternal Glory of God
Eternal Glory of God
If you have been wandering through life and desire to have that emptiness filled in yourself then the mystery of Christ is that His Glory is for you as well.
Paul’s climax in the letter to the Ephesians is that all people are capable of grasping the Glory of God.
You only have to believe that God’s Glory is eternal in His Son Jesus Christ. Once this body decays, you will have a new glorified eternal body living by God’s Grace! (1 Cor. 15:43).