All to the Glory of God

[0:00] Let's turn in our Bibles to the passage of Scripture which we read, 1 Corinthians chapter 10, and as God would help me, I'd like to concentrate on verse 31, or the last part of it anyway.

[0:24] 1 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 31. So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

[0:42] Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. We often find ourselves sane, do we not?

[0:56] Well, what does it really matter as long as people are converted? Isn't that the most important thing, that people are converted?

[1:10] Well, think about it. Actually, it isn't. The most important thing in the world is the glory of God.

[1:25] God began this world. God created this world. God created the universe. And He created everything He created for His glory.

[1:42] Including you and me. Now, make no mistake about it. God is glorified in the conversion of sinners.

[1:55] Make no mistake about that. But God is also glorified in their condemnation. The destruction of the wicked is to the glory of God.

[2:07] Think about it logically. Think about it logically. If we, if our, if my conversion is the most important thing in the world, who is at the center of my religion?

[2:25] Me. Religion isn't actually about us. Oh, we're implicated. Oh, we're involved. But wait a minute.

[2:37] Religion's about God. Religion's about the most supreme being that there is. The most important thing in the world is God.

[2:55] Not us. We're very, very selfish by nature. And we are able to look after what we call number one. But listen, number one is God.

[3:07] He's the first being. I always think of a curate. Who was told by his bishop that he was to preach for the first time in front of him.

[3:21] And of course he got extremely nervous. Extremely worried. And he said to the bishop, What will I preach about? And the bishop stared at him.

[3:32] And said, You will preach about God. God. That's what it's all about. It's all about God. God is the first cause of everything.

[3:50] Everything is dependent upon God. God alone is truly independent.

[4:02] We talk about independence. We don't know what we're talking about. Only God is truly independent. Everything there is, is dependent upon God.

[4:19] God is all powerful. And the sole proprietor of everything that exists. God is never confused.

[4:38] You and I get confused with things. We're living in a very confused society. God is never confused. God is never surprised.

[4:54] You and I get surprised. You and I get surprised at things. Not God. God is never surprised.

[5:05] God is never alarmed at things. Never. Never. God never gets worried.

[5:18] You and I get worried. You and I get alarmed. Not God. Never confused. Never surprised.

[5:29] Never alarmed. Never worried. And here's something else. God is never in a hurry. He's never rushed.

[5:40] He's never running late. Things are not behind schedule. Not with God.

[5:52] For you and me, yes. For the church, definitely. But with God. He's never running late. Never in a hurry. He does things swiftly.

[6:03] Oh, he does things quickly. But he's never rushed in a hurry. God is never inconvenienced.

[6:18] Oh, we do get inconvenienced, don't we? Things happen that upset our agenda. Inconvenience us. Nothing inconveniences God.

[6:32] Nothing ever goes wrong or malfunctions in heaven. Nothing.

[6:48] Do you remember on one occasion, God spoke to Moses. You'll remember it at the bush. And Moses asked God his name.

[7:02] You remember the answer. I am that I am. God said, that's my name.

[7:14] I am that I am. Now, what did he mean when he said that? What did God mean when he said, I am that I am?

[7:25] Well, he meant several things. But essentially, he was saying, look, I am the ultimate. I am the ultimate person.

[7:40] I am the ultimate power. God does. See, God is not simply the most powerful person in the world.

[7:53] God is all power. All power resides in God. But God distributes it wherever he will.

[8:06] God is the ultimate wisdom. God is the ultimate in knowledge.

[8:16] God knows everything there is to know about everything that exists.

[8:28] Because God made it. God made it the way it's made. God knows everything there is to know about everything there is. God is the ultimate truth.

[8:45] What is truth? Truth is what reconciles with God. God is the ultimate in holiness.

[9:04] God's holy. I am holy. I am truth. I am wisdom.

[9:17] I am knowledge. I am power. God made everything for his own glory.

[9:30] Including you and me. God made the galaxies. The number of galaxies.

[9:42] The number of galaxies. It is terrifying. The number of galaxies. And then you look at a galaxy. And then you look at how many universes.

[9:54] It is astonishing. It is frightening. God made the angels. To glorify him. And actually. And actually.

[10:05] To serve. To serve. You and me. If we're Christians. They're ministering spirits. Sent forth to minister.

[10:16] To those of us who are heirs. Of salvation. Heirs of heaven. God made everything on earth. To glorify him.

[10:29] That's why we are made. To glorify God. Now it's time to ask the question.

[10:41] How do we glorify God? How can we fulfill. The purpose of our existence? Euphoric catechism teaches you.

[10:56] By glorifying God. So what does it mean to glorify God? Basically. To live for God.

[11:08] To honor God. You see. We cannot make God glorious. He is already glorious.

[11:20] In the ultimate. God is transcendent. And supreme. In the superlative. We cannot add to it.

[11:32] We cannot make him glorious. But we must. Acknowledge. That he is glorious. To glorify God.

[11:43] Is to give God his place. As the supreme being. It is to. Acknowledge. His transcendence. Over everything.

[11:53] His vast superiority. Over everything else. God is holy. God is good.

[12:06] God is unchangeable. God is unchangeable. Everything about God. Is great.

[12:17] And good. In the ultimate. And we have to lay hold of this. God is worthy.

[12:29] Of our. Our total. Worship. Worship. And adoration. Simply. For who he is. God is worthy.

[12:43] Of our total. Worship. And adoration. For who he is. In himself. How are we to add to that.

[12:55] When we consider. What he has done. For us. If he. If God. Never. Forgave.

[13:05] A sin. If God. Never. Saved. A soul. God's. Vast. Superlative. Supremacy.

[13:16] Is worthy. Of our worship. However.

[13:28] There is something else. To consider. Very seriously. There is bad news. Connected with this. And the bad news. Is that we have.

[13:40] Angered. God. That God. Who is so holy. That God. Who is so good. We have.

[13:51] Angered him. And do you know how. We have angered him. By not. Worshipping him. If you are.

[14:04] Not. Worshipping. God. God has a controversy. With you. And he is angry. With the wicked. Every day.

[14:14] Ah. But you say. I am not wicked. I am a good husband. I am a good employee. I am not wicked. Now listen.

[14:25] Who defines wickedness? The church? No. The minister? No. Who defines wickedness? God.

[14:36] Defines wickedness. Wisdom. Psalm 10 verse 4 gives us God's definition of the wicked.

[14:54] In the pride of his face, the wicked does not seek God. All his thoughts are there's no God.

[15:07] Or, as other versions have it, God's not in all his thoughts. How often do you think about God? Are you seeking God?

[15:18] If you're not seeking God, God defines you as wicked. I'm sure you've all heard of Paul's sermon on the Areopagus on Mars Hill.

[15:37] Acts chapter 17. Remember he preached there on Mars Hill, the Apiareopagus.

[15:48] He preached that wonderful sermon and then he ends it all up by saying, But now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

[16:02] Acts chapter 17 verse 30, if you want to check up. Acts 17 verse 30. God commands all people everywhere to repent.

[16:18] That's at the conclusion of his sermon on Mars Hill. Read the sermon. Read the sermon. It doesn't mention sin.

[16:32] In fact, it doesn't even mention the law of God. And yet he says, repent. Repent. So you're quite right asking the question.

[16:44] Paul, repent of what? He hasn't mentioned a sin. He hasn't mentioned the law of God. So what are they to repent of?

[16:57] Think about it. They are to repent of not worshipping God. The ultimate sin.

[17:10] Failing to fulfill the very purpose of your existence. Sin is defined as not glorifying God.

[17:26] We are familiar, I'm sure, with Romans 3.23. For all have sinned. And then we get the definition.

[17:37] And fall short of the glory of God. If you're not living for God.

[17:48] You're sinning. And you've failed completely to fulfill the purpose of your existence on earth. God placed human beings on planet earth.

[18:01] To glorify him on planet earth. Don't worry. He's getting plenty glory in heaven. He'll get all the glory due to him in heaven. Our responsibility is he being glorified on earth.

[18:14] Do you remember King Herod? I think I've mentioned it here before.

[18:26] King Herod in Acts chapter 12. Eaten of worms. Why? You know it. Those of you who know your Bible.

[18:38] Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down. That's Herod on his throne. Because he committed rape.

[18:53] Mass murder. Why was he eaten of worms? Because he did not give God the glory. That same chapter.

[19:05] Acts chapter 12. Begins. By a record. Of how King Herod. The same king. Killed. James. And went on to kill.

[19:18] To capture Peter. To kill him also in the morning. So he's allowed to murder. The apostle James. And carry on living.

[19:28] But he's not allowed. To continue living. When he takes the glory. That's due to God. That's worth thinking about.

[19:42] Seriously. Why was Moses. The greatest leader of Israel. Why was he not permitted. To enter the promised land.

[19:54] God. It's in Deuteronomy. 32. Verse 51. God said to him. You have to go up that mountain. And die.

[20:06] Because. Because. You did not treat God as holy. Deuteronomy. 32.

[20:17] 51. Time to ask another question. How. Do we. Therefore. Glorify God.

[20:29] If that's the most. Important. Thing. In the universe. Hadn't we better. Find out. What it means. How. Do we. Human beings.

[20:40] Fallen. Responsible. For bringing death. Suffering. And the curse. Into the whole universe. Angus Spurgeon. Who says. No wonder the lion roars.

[20:52] When he sees a human being. We give him pain. We bring suffering. To the animals. Because of our sin. No wonder the lion roars.

[21:02] At us. Then he said. Yeah. No wonder the dog. Barks. When he sees you. We're responsible. For the very animals.

[21:12] Having pain. And suffering. We brought the curse. Into the universe. How do we. Then.

[21:24] Glorify. God. How can we do it. How is it possible. What's involved. I'll just mention.

[21:35] Three things. We glorify God. Only. Through. Christ. Christ. You cannot.

[21:47] Glorify. God. Except. Through. Christ. Jesus. Is the. Well. John 5.

[21:57] 23. That all. May glorify. The son. Just. As they honor. The father. Whoever. Does not. Honor. The son.

[22:09] Does not. Honor. The father. Who sent him. We. Glorify. God. Through. Christ.

[22:20] Through. Jesus. If you're not. Interested. In Jesus. You can't. Glorify. God. And you cannot. Fulfill. The purpose. Of your existence.

[22:31] On earth. Jesus. Is the way. To the father. As he said. Clearly. No one. Comes. To the father.

[22:42] Except. Through. Me. In chapter. Eight. Of John. He says. If you do not.

[22:52] Believe. That I am. He. By that. Meaning. If you do not. Believe. That I. Am the way. To the father. You will.

[23:03] Die. In your. Sins. If you. Do not. Believe. I am. He. God. So. The only way.

[23:14] To glory. The father. Is. Through Christ. Secondly. The only way. To glorify. God. Is.

[23:25] Through. Faith. Faith. In. Christ. It's not. By being. Good enough. You can't. Be. Good enough.

[23:35] It's too late. To be. Good enough. You've already. Done something. Wrong. Haven't you. I don't need it. I don't need it. I don't need it. Concentrate on that. Do I?

[23:46] You know you. You know you're not perfect. God. Is a perfect. Being. And requires. Absolute. Perfection.

[23:57] From his creatures. His moral creatures. That's what he requires. It's too late. It's too late. For you and me. Now. To be absolutely.

[24:08] Perfect. In our behavior. Our thoughts. Our minds. Our demeanors. Too late. But there is a way.

[24:20] Through faith. In Jesus. Yes. You see. The Bible. Says. In Hebrews. Eleven. Six. Without faith. It is. Impossible.

[24:32] To please God. Do you want to get ahead? I go back to my children's story. You cannot. Go to heaven.

[24:44] You have to be taken. To heaven. You have to be taken. To heaven. By Christ. By. Depending on him.

[24:56] By being. Able. To say to him. To confess to him. Your sins. Your inability. Your filthiness.

[25:07] By confessing to him. Your sinnership. Your sinfulness. By confessing to him. And asking him. To forgive you. And take you to heaven. And that's the only way you'll get.

[25:20] It's the only way I'm going. It's the only way your elders are getting to heaven. It's the only way your ministers are going to heaven. It's the only way anyone.

[25:32] Can get to heaven. By depending on Jesus. Depending that he will take you. That when he died upon that cross.

[25:44] He was paying God. For the sins. Of everyone. Who will depend on him. And trust on him. To take them. Christ. Is our only hope.

[25:55] And it's by faith in Christ. And the third thing is. You might say. Well aye. You see. There is all the difference. Between believing about Jesus.

[26:08] And believing in Jesus. It's faith in Jesus. That saves. I don't know if I've used illustration before.

[26:19] But you say. Look. I want clarification. The difference between believing in someone. And believing about someone. Well I don't think we can give a better illustration. At this point.

[26:30] In our history. Than to speak of Boris Johnson. You all believe about him. I don't know how many of us believe in him.

[26:43] How many of us trust him. Believe he's doing what's right. That's the way we treat Christ. Not just believe about him.

[26:55] But actually trust him. And follow him. And obey him. And obey him. How do we glorify God?

[27:05] Christians glorify God. By obeying Christ. When it seems crazy. Obeying.

[27:19] When no one else is obeying. Obeying Christ. When it comes to filling in your tax form. Applying for grants.

[27:30] Filling in your expense accounts. Not sleeping with your boyfriend. Or your girlfriend. Before you marry. See everybody does it. What pleases God?

[27:44] What glorifies God? Is the question. Not what does everyone else do? But what does God want? What is Christ?

[27:56] What is Christ worth? He died for me. He's worth pleasing. He's worth obeying. Our time is up.

[28:09] Two things in conclusion. As we've said already. Glorifying God. God is what we were born for. And none of us.

[28:21] Will ever be fulfilled. None of us will ever be happy. Truly happy. Joyful. None of us will find the meaning of life.

[28:36] And be satisfied. Until we do what we were born to do. You see the birds. The birds.

[28:48] You know. I'll be honest. I hate thunder and lightning. I get kind of nervous. And it always amazes me. When the storm is over.

[28:59] You hear the birds chirping in the trees. Flying about. It's just for saying. I'm not frightened of our maker. We're doing what he asked us to do.

[29:11] Fly around. The fish swims in the sea. That's what he was made for. But you and I. Made to serve God.

[29:23] And we do our own thing instead. We listen to others. Last thing I'll say is this. And it's very important.

[29:35] In fact. It's a summary of the whole thing I hope. You and I. With all our sins. With all our shame. With all our guilt.

[29:46] With all our unworthiness. We can glorify God more. By repenting. And turning.

[29:58] To Christ. Than if we kept. The whole law of God. Perfectly. All our lives. Oh you see. I don't believe that.

[30:09] That's precisely the problem friend. That's precisely the problem. You don't believe. You don't think much of Christ. And God thinks a lot of him.

[30:22] He said. This is my beloved son. In whom I. God the father. Am well pleased. If you do not repent.

[30:36] And believe in Christ. You will perish. And God will be glorified. In your condemnation. But.

[30:48] But. If you do repent. And if you do trust Christ. With your salvation. God. Gets. More.

[30:59] Glory. Than if you lived. Perfectly. All. Your life. That's the gospel. Isn't that amazing? In all our sinfulness.

[31:12] We can give God more glory. Than if we lived. Perfectly. All our lives. If we repent. Of our past lives. And depend on Christ.

[31:24] To take us. To heaven. May God. The Holy Spirit. Make his word. His truth. Effectual.

[31:35] To every one of us. Let's. Bow our head in prayer. Father. Our Father. In heaven. We pray. That you would take.

[31:46] The things of Christ. And make them ours. So that we would glorify you. By repenting. Of our past lives. And turning.

[31:57] In faith. And confidence. And dependence. Upon your son. That when he died. Upon that cross. He bore our sin.

[32:10] Away. And we humans. Can now. Glorify. You. Hear us in mercy. Answer us in peace.

[32:20] As we pray only. In Christ's name. And for Christ's sake. Amen. Now we'll.

[32:32] Conclude. Our service of worship. By singing. From Psalm 96. In the sing. Psalms version. Of your blue book. Now that is page.

[32:42] One hundred. And twenty. Two. Page. One hundred. Twenty. Two. That's. Psalm.

[32:53] Sorry. One hundred. Twenty. Seven. Psalm. Sorry. Page. One hundred. Twenty. Seven. It's Psalm. Ninety. Six. A. It's a common meter version.

[33:04] You'll know the tune. Psalm. Ninety. Six. A. It's at verse. Seven. All nations. To the Lord. Ascribe.

[33:14] The glory. That is due. Glory. And strength. Ascribe. To God. And praise. His name. And you. And we'll sing.

[33:25] Down to the last verse. They all will sing. Before the Lord. Who comes. To judge the earth. He'll judge the world. And righteousness. The peoples. In his truth.

[33:37] Psalm. Ninety. Six. A. At verse. Seven. On page. One. Two. Seven. All nations. To the Lord. Ascribe. The glory. That is due. All nations.

[33:53] To the Lord. Ascribe. The glory. That is due.

[34:05] The glory. Amen. Glory. Ascribe., God. Edgewage. Death. Scribe. The glory. Tuoh.i.

[34:15] ha. Ascribe. Anger. Peeless. In theaccount. Andlivr. Emmes. In his most.

[34:26] In the day. In the day. joy and bring an offering with you.

[34:40] Worship the Lord in holy field on earth before him I.

[34:56] Tell every land that Lord is king is selfish is the earth and cannot prove that Lord will judge the evil sin is true.

[35:32] Let heaven's rejoice and earth be glad. With joy let oceans ring.

[35:47] sing the fears and all in them will shout and fall and peace will sing.

[36:04] They all will sing before the Lord who comes to judge the earth.

[36:21] He'll judge the world in righteousness and the people in truth.

[36:36] the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and forever more.

[36:53] Amen.