SEEKING GLORY

SCRIPTURE – Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

INTRODUCTION

A. Do we seek glory from God or from men? In many of today’s religions it not very clear.

1. Religious titles

2. Bowing to men

3. "I know more about Charles Wesley than anyone here

4. "I know more about Alexander Campbell than anyone!

B. We must keep God as our focus and ourselves in the background.

1. The pharisees had a problem with this. John 12:42-43 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; f43} for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

2. Why are we religious? To be praised by God or by men?

3. "God knows you deserve a raise," --- "If God knows, that’s good enough for me."

C. What is the glory or praise of God?

1. Subjective - God is giving the glory - do we love the praise man gives more than the praise God gives?

2. Objective - God is being given the glory - do we love to have praise given to us more than we love for God to get the praise

I. WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF THE GLORY WE SEEK? (SUBJECTIVE)

A. Man produced glory

1. The pharisees wanted man's glory. Matthew 23:5-7 "But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. {6} "They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, {7} greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'

2. They loved the reward from men. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. {2} "Therefore , when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. {3} "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, {4} "that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. {5} "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. {6} "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly ..... "Moreover , when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. {17} "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, {18} "so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

3. They justified themselves in the eyes of men – Luke 16:15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

4. They worked for human praise not God’s praise

a. John 5:41-44 "I do not receive honor from men. {42} "But, I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. {43} "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. {44} "How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

b. John 12:42-43 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; {43} for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

5. There is a lure for the praise of men

a. It comes immediately - God’s comes at judgement

b. Is it gratifying - it feels real good

c. There's no doubt - the response is proof

B. God produced glory was Jesus’ aim

1. Jesus did not want praise from men

a. John 5:41 "I do not receive honor from men.

b. Luke 11:27-28 And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!" {28} But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

2. He was interested in the praise which came from God.

a. Give - secretly - God sees & rewards

b. Pray - secretly - God sees & rewards

c. Fast - secretly - God sees & rewards

II. WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF THIS GLORY? (OBJECTIVE)

A. Man centered glory

1. The pharisees worked for human praise because they were interested in their own glory.

a. Wouldn't it have been great if the pharisees had worked as hard to give God glory.

b. There's nothing wrong with encouraging the praise from men if it is directed to God.

2. But the pharisees were the focus of attention and honor.

a. They were not concerned with where the praise came from as long as they got it.

b. They wanted to be in the spotlight even if they had to upstage God to be there.

B. God centered glory

1. Jesus always gave God the glory. Real religion, to Jesus, had to focus praise, glory & adoration on God alone.

2. He constantly turned attention away from Himself and back to God.

a. John 5:19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

b. John 5:30 "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but, the will of the Father who sent Me.

c. John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

d. John 7:16-18 Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. {17} "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. {18} "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

e. John 8:50 "And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.

3. He did all for the glory of God

a. Nine times in the gospels, after Jesus heals someone, they go away praising God.

b. He went to the cross for God’s glory

c. He promised to work through those who believe in Him so He could bring glory to the Father. (Joh 14:13)

d. John 17:1-4 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, {2} "as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. {3} "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. {4} "I" have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

III. WHOSE GLORY OR PRAISE ARE WE REALLY AFTER

A. Do we seek the glory of men?

1. Do we do things to be seen of men?

2. Do we love the public and the highly visible?

3. Is appearing right in the eyes of those around us more important than being right in the eyes of God?

B. Or do we seek the glory of God?

1. Do we love that praise that comes from God?

a. Are we content with deeds done in secret, for God alone to see?

b. Can we give up the applause of men and be satisfied with the solitary clapping of our heavenly father?

2. Do we love the praise that goes to God?

a. Putting God in center stage, keeping him the focus of attention.

b. Turning flattery away from self and back to God.

c. Remembering why we do what we do - to glorify God.

CONCLUSION

A. This is a problem facing the church today

1. Leaders are ruined more by vanity and pride than any other fault.

a. They develop a taste for the praise of men

b. They teach and preach to tickle ears rather than change lives.

2. Members become discouraged because they haven't learned to work for God’s praise rather than man's praise.

a. If they are not complimented or recognized or get special attention for their efforts they feel ignored and overlooked.

b. But God should be our audience not men.

B. Matthew 23:12 "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

C. Our glory will come in heaven - Romans 2:5-10 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds": 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.