To God Be The Glory

”To God Be the Glory” (Phi1ippians 4:201

Introduction: We are now just about to the end of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, and we have seen and learned many valuable lessons from it. And yet, Paul wants to teach us a couple of more lessons before the book is done. Last week, we saw Paul thanking the Philippians for their generous support of his ministry, both financially and through the service which Epaphroditus gave him. Paul reminded them that when they gave to help him further the preaching of the Gospel, they were not in fact giving to man, but to God. God receives the gifts that we give to further the work of His gospel as sacrifices to Him, when we offer them to Him in obedience. And God also promises that He will richly reward those who give by supplying all of their needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. As Paul thinks about the tremendous blessings that his God bestows, he cannot help but break out in doxology to God. This is something which is very common in Paul’s writings. A doxology is the speaking of a word of praise to God. Sometimes he is so overcome with the glory of God, and with His goodness, mercy, grace and love, that he breaks out in worship. For instance, in 1 Timothy 1:17, after writing about the grace which Christ had given to him, calling him into the ministry of His Word, even though he was formerly a blasphemer and violent aggressor against Christ, he pauses to express his heartfelt praise, ”NOW TO THE KING ETERNAL, IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, THE ONLY GOD, BE HONOR AND GLORY FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.” And now, at the end of this letter, having just contemplated the wonderful provision which God made for him through the Philippians, as well as the tremendous blessing which he knows that God will give to them for their generous gift, he writes, ”NOW TO OUR GOD AND FATHER BE THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.” He wishes to draw no attention to himself, for he is merely a servant of this great God. Rather, he desires that all glory be directed to the One who made Him, saved him, provided for him, and who will keep him unto the day of Christ. There is a valuable lesson for us to learn here, one that we should pay close attention to if we have not already learned it, and it is that

God alone is worthy of all the glory and praise and honor that we could possibly give Him for the rest of eternity. First, I want you to see what Paul means by the word glory and how we can give glory to God; secondly, that God alone is worthy to receive all glory; thirdly, that if God is to receive any glory from us, it must be through His Son; and lastly, that we who are in Christ will have the privilege of giving glory to God forever.

I.

First, I Want You to See What Glory Is and How It Is Given. A. Glory Is the Ascribing to God the Praise and Adoration Which Is Rightfully His. 1 . The Word in the Greek originally meant ”opinion.” 2. From there it was but a small step to the meaning of a ”good opinion” concerning someone. Hence it means praise, honor and homage (Hendriksen 62x1). 3. It is true that glory can also refer to the shining effulgence of God, the brightness of His appearing in glory. But here it means to adore Him or to ascribe to Him honor. B. We Give Glory to God When We Attribute to Him Whatever Is Worthy of

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Praise in Our Lives, as Well as in the Lives of Others. 1 . Whatever good thing comes into our lives or is produced in our lives comes from God. a. Paul said, "FOR I KNOW THAT NOTHING GOOD DWELLS IN ME, THAT IS, IN MY FLESH; FOR THE WISHING IS PRESENT IN ME, BUT THE DOING OF THE GOOD IS NOT" (Rom. 7:18). Considering himself apart from Christ, he found nothing good. b. Jesus said, "I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES; HE WHO ABIDES IN ME, AND I IN HIM, HE BEARS MUCH FRUIT; FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN no NOTHING" (JOW i5:5). c. We, as well, may also not pat ourselves on the back for any good that comes into our lives, for it all comes from God. "EVERY GOOD THING BESTOWED AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, COMING DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, WITH WHOM THERE IS NO VARIATION, OR SHIFTING SHADOW" (James 1 : 1 7 ) . d. It comes from God, it does not come from us. 2. Also, whatever is done by our brethren in the world, or whatever praiseworthy thing is done by anyone, comes from God. a. That every good thing comes from God is not only true for us, but for all others as well. b. As a matter of fact, the world, and everything in it, was created only for the purpose of giving glory to God. John writes in Revelation 4:11, "THOU ART WORTHY, 0 LORD, TO RECEIVE GLORY AND HONOR AND POWER: FOR THOU HAST CREATED ALL THINGS, AND FOR THY PLEASURE THEY ARE AND WERE CREATED." c. We are even told that some of the sicknesses which men suffered at the time of Christ, was for the glory of God. When word came to Jesus of Lazarus' sickness, He responded, "THIS SICKNESS IS NOT UNTO DEATH, BUT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, THAT THE SON OF GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED BY IT" (John 11:4). 3. Therefore, to give God glory means to ascribe to Him the credit for His wonderful blessings. a. This is one of the main purposes for praise, namely to give glory to God. b. I think that perhaps we really don't understand what the Bible means when it says, "ASCRIBE TO THE LORD, 0 SONS OF THE MIGHT, ASCRIBE TO THE LORD GLORY AND STRENGTH. ASCRIBE TO THE LORD THE GLORY DUE TO HIS NAME; WORSHIP THE LORD IN HOLY ARRAY" (Ps. 29: 1-2). C. Perhaps you think that when you cry out, "Praise the Lord!" you are in fact praising the Lord. But this expression is really a call or command to give praise to Him, not the praise itself. d. So then, what does it mean to glorify God? What does it mean to praise Him? (i) We see examples throughout the Scriptures, but let me give you a couple. (ii) After the ark was brought into the Temple, the priests began to praise the Lord, saying, "HE INDEED IS GOOD FOR HIS LOVINGKINDNESS IS EVERLASTING" (2 Chr. 5:13). (iii) In 1 Chronicles 29:lO-13, we read, "SO DAVID BLESSED THE LORD IN THE SIGHT OF ALL THE ASSEMBLY; AND DAVID SAID, 'BLESSED ART THOU, 0 LORD GOD OF ISRAEL OUR FATHER, FOREVER AND EVER. THINE, o LORD, IS THE

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GREATNESS AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY AND THE VICTORY AND THE MAJESTY, INDEED EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH; THINE IS THE DOMINION, 0 LORD, AND THOU DOST EXALT THYSELF AS HEAD OVER ALL. BOTH RICHES AND HONOR COME FROM THEE, AND THOU nosT RULE OVER ALL, AND IN THY HAND IS POWER AND MIGHT; AND IT LIES IN THY HAND TO MAKE GREAT, AND TO STRENGTHEN EVERYONE. NOW THEREFORE, OUR an, WE THANK THEE, AND PRAISE THY GLORIOUS NAME.” Giving glory to God, praising Him, means to ascribe to Him the honor and renown and fame for His mighty works. It is the recognition of them, that they come from Him, and it is the rehearsing of those great deeds. Even as the kings of old would have heralds going before them to proclaim their mighty acts, so the Lord would have His people proclaim His. This is something that God wants from you as well. He wants you to acknowledge what He has done; He wants you to give Him the credit for these things; He wants you to rehearse then not only in His hearing, but also in the hearing of the world, telling what great things He has accomplished for His people. God wants you to give Him glory. And so when you pray, rehearse the wonderful works of God; ascribe to Him the credit for making all things, and of making you; ascribe to Him the glory for sending Christ to redeem fallen humanity and for changing your heart to make you willing to come to Him; give Him the credit for every blessing that you have in life, from your material blessings, to each and every one of your spiritual ones, to say as Jacob did when he was returning from Haran, ”I AM UNWORTHY OF ALL THE LOVINGKINDNESS AND OF ALL THE FAITHFULNESS WHICH THOU HAST SHOWN TO THY SERVANT; FOR WITH MY STAFF ONLY I CROSSED THIS JORDAN, AND NOW I HAVE BECOME TWO COMPANIES” (Gen. 32:1 0 ) . So first, this text teaches you that you must give all glory to God! 11. Secondly, I Want You to See That God Alone Is Worthy of Glory. A. God Said that He Would Not Share His Glory With Another. 1 . He says through the prophet Isaiah, ”I AM THE LORD, THAT IS MY NAME; I WILL NOT GIVE MY GLORY TO ANOTHER, NOR MY PRAISE TO GRAVEN IMAGES” (42:8), and again, ”FOR MY OWN SAKE, FOR MY OWN SAKE, I WILL ACT; FOR HOW CAN MY NAME BE PROFANED? AND MY GLORY I WILL NOT GIVE TO ANOTHER” (48:11 ). 2. Seeing that God is the source of all blessing and blessedness, He alone must be the One to receive the adoration and praise for it. B.

To Give to Ourselves, or to Any Other Created Being, the Glory for Anything, Is to Rob God of What Is Rightfully His and to Incur His Wrath. 1 . In this life, the penalty for giving God’s glory to another is very severe. a. In Romans I, there is a very sad commentary on the

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b.

2.

sinfulness of men due to their refusal to give God the glory. Paul writes, "FOR THE WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN AGAINST ALL UNGODLINESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN, WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, . . . FOR EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW an, THEY DID NOT GLORIFY HIM AS an, OR GIVE THANKS; BUT THEY BECAME FUTILE IN THEIR SPECULATIONS, AND THEIR FOOLISH HEART WAS DARKENED. PROFESSING TO BE WISE, THEY BECAME FOOLS, AND EXCHANGED THE GLORY OF THE INCORRUPTIBLE GOD FOR AN IMAGE IN THE FORM OF CORRUPTIBLE MAN AND OF BIRDS AND FOUR-FOOTED ANIMALS AND CRAWLING CREATURES. THEREFORE GOD GAVE THEM OVER . . . TO IMPURITY. FOR THIS REASON GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO DEGRADING PASSIONS . . . AND JUST AS THEY DID NOT SEE FIT TO ACKNOWLEDGE GOD ANY LONGER, GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO A DEPRAVED MIND, TO DO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT PROPER" (Rom. 1:18, 21-24, 26, 28). There is another example from the book of Acts, where Herod, on an appointed day, delivered an address to the people which was so blessed of the Lord that the people cried out, "THE VOICE OF A GOD AND NOT OF A MAN! AND IMMEDIATELY AN ANGEL OF THE LORD STRUCK HIM BECAUSE HE DID NOT GIVE GOD THE GLORY, AND HE WAS EATEN BY WORMS AND DIED" (Acts i2:22-23).

And even though God severely judges those who refuse to give Him glory, yet they still will not repent. a. In Revelation 16:8-9, we read, "AND THE FOURTH ANGEL POURED OUT HIS BOWL UPON THE SUN; AND IT WAS GIVEN TO IT TO SCORCH MEN WITH FIRE. AND MEN WERE SCORCHED WITH FIERCE HEAT; AND THEY BLASPHEMED THE NAME OF GOD WHO HAS THE POWER OVER THESE PLAGUES; AND THEY DID NOT REPENT, so AS TO GIVE HIM GLORY." b. The pride and arrogance in the heart of man is so great, that he would rather endure anything than bow the knee to the only Sovereign Lord from whom he received any good in life.

3. Are you willing to acknowledge that all of your good in life comes only from God and are you giving Him all the glory? a. Do you arrogantly assert that everything you have comes from your own labors and your own hands? b. Are you like king Nebuchadnezzar who so pridefully said, "IS THIS NOT BABYLON THE GREAT, WHICH I MYSELF HAVE BUILT AS A ROYAL RESIDENCE BY THE MIGHT OF MY POWER AND FOR THE GLORY OF MY MAJESTY?" (Dan. 4:30). Remember that the Lord judged him by removing his reason for seven seasons so that he was humbled by becoming like the wild beasts of the earth. C. Do you give yourself the credit, or glory, for what you have, or do you give it to someone or something other than God? d. Don't you know that if God had not given you your gifts, or your physical strength, or your opportunities, or your life, that you could do nothing? e. And don't you realize that anything you might have accomplished in the spiritual realm, as well, is all because of God's goodness to you? f. Peter said, "AS EACH ONE HAS RECEIVED A SPECIAL GIFT, EMPLOY IT IN SERVING ONE ANOTHER, AS GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD. WHOEVER SPEAKS, LET HIM SPEAK, AS IT WERE,

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THE UTTERANCES OF an; WHOEVER SERVES. LET HIM no SO AS BY THE STRENGTH WHICH a n SUPPLIES; SO THAT IN ALL THINGS a n MAY BE GLORIFIED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, TO WHOM BELONGS THE GLORY AND DOMINION FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN” ( 1 Peter 4:10-11). g. Therefore, you must give all glory, praise and adoration to God for every good thing that you have done, are doing, or will ever do, and for that good which you have received from Him.

III.

Thirdly, I Want You to See That Any Glory We Give to God Must Be Given Through the Only Mediator Between God and Man. A. The Separation which Occurred Between God and M a n in the Garden Was a Complete One. 1 . When Adam sinned, he fell entirely away from the Lord and lost any access to Him whatsoever. 2. Adam could no longer do anything pleasing to God; he could not even approach Him and expect to be heard. He was severed from his relationship with God. B.

Now the Only Way that Anyone May Come to God for Any Reason Whatsoever Is Through the Only Mediator that He Has Provided for Us. 1 . Though we could not approach God, God in His mercy provided a door of access to Him through His Son. 2. Now we can approach God, but only in the name of His Son. a. Our prayers are only acceptable through Christ. b. Our works are only received through the Mediator. c. And even any praise, honor, or glory that we would offer to Him must come through the Son as well. 3. People of God, we must never forget that outside of Christ we are poor and helpless sinners who deserve nothing but wrath at

the hands of a righteous God! a. Have you ever-held the opinion that God gives to you what is good because you are deserving of it? b. Do you confuse what God makes of you through His grace with what you are in reality apart from His grace? C. When we begin to look at ourselves in this way, we may begin to think that we can approach God apart from the only One who can give us that access. And to come any other way is to be turned away. d. No one can approach God except through Christ! e. No one of you can have any blessedness or participation in the work of Christ except you come to God through faith in His Son. f. He is the only way to God; He is the only way to truth; He is the only way to life. And unless you or anyone comes in the way of faith in g. Christ, you cannot come at all. h. To try and come to Him apart from faith in Christ also robs God of His glory, for thinking that you can come to Him by your own good works, you cast aside the glory of God in Christ, and do spite to His glorious work of redemption. i. Therefore, when you offer to God your praise, your adoration, your prayers, or whatever you may offer Him, make sure that you are always aware of your absolute dependence

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on Christ, and not on yourself, to be accepted by Him.

IV.

Lastly, I Want You to See That This Text Calls Us to Give God All the Glory Throughout the Rest of Time. A. The Work of God in Redemption From Which Flows All of His Blessings Is that Which Will Require an Eternity of Praise from Those Who Receive It. 1 . Our obligation to glorify God will not be exhausted in this life. 2. Even if we had a thousand lifetimes, we could never give Him enough praise. ”WHO CAN SPEAK OF THE MIGHTY DEEDS OF THE LORD, OR CAN SHOW FORTH ALL HIS PRAISE?” (Ps. 106:2). The implied answer is no one! 3. The rest of eternity therefore must be filled up with glory and honor to God for the vast riches of His blessings of redemption. B. And God Promises That He Will Sustain His Saints Throughout All Time So That They May Give Him the Praise that He So Richly Deserves. 1 . He will never allow us to perish because of His unchanging plan to bring us to the everlasting dwellings. Paul said that when the Lord returns for us and causes us to be caught up together in the clouds with Him, ”THUS WE SHALL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD” ( 1 Thes. 4:17). 2. And when we are with the Lord forever in glory, then we will have the great privilege of giving to God our whole heart and soul in everlasting thanksgiving and praise for what He has done for us. C. And as We Consider the Blessings Which God Has Given Us in Christ this Morning, It Should Stir Us Up to Thankfulness, Especially as We Come to the Lord’s Table. 1 . The Lord’s Supper represents to us what Christ had to endure in order to give this life to His people. 2. It reminds us that we were lost and on our way to everlasting perdition, until the Lord interceded to save us. 3. It was through His shed blood and His broken body that we were snatched from the jaws of hell and given an everlasting inheritance in the heavens. 4. Therefore, prepare now to come to the table with a heart purified by faith, and to partake of the Lord’s goodness with joy. 5. And give God the glory and honor which is His due, by recognizing that it is only because of His unfathomable mercy and love that you are allowed to come to His table this morning. Amen. Let us pray.