Giving Glory to Him O-83 RR-785 C-316 Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth; to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people; 7 saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." Today we need to look at a this text from a different perspective than we usually do. I want for us to concentrate on the phrase, "Fear God and give glory to Him..." We have said that there are 2 reasons to worship God. Those 2 reasons are: Creator, Redeemer. I believe that those are the same reasons to fear God and give Him glory. How do we do that in the real world? I want to pass quickly over the term fear God. That term primarily means reverence, but when we are confronted with the power and majesty of a perfectly holy God, it will put a certain amount of fear in our hearts. We have perhaps become to familiar with God in our world. By that I mean, we dwell on His characteristics that make us comfortable, and downplay those that make us uncomfortable. It is my purpose today to again make you uncomfortable. Our God is an awesome God, in all the fullness of that word awesome. That is another word that has been cheapened by language inflation. Ice cream is not awesome. Fancy cars are not awesome. God is. Having said that, I want to move on to the concept of giving glory to God. In the passage before the first angel's message we read: Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God. This passage is preparing us for the next, for here we have a picture of beings bringing glory to God, followed by a loud cry for the world to give glory to God. There are three characteristics of giving glory to God mentioned here. First they follow Jesus where ever He goes. Second, they are honest, open, transparent in their speech. Third, they are without fault before the throne. I believe that those characteristics translate into what we would call lifestyle. When Adventists were first forming, there was a great concern about the way that they lived, for they honestly believed that Jesus coming was right around the corner. Rightly so, in their minds, how you lived on earth was a reflection of your readiness for the kingdom. They didn't get the gospel quite straight until 1888, but they were right in seeing the importance of a holy life. Unfortunately, we as humans tend to swing to extremes rather than settling into the truth. One extreme says we are saved by faith in the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. His life was substitutionary, that is, lived perfectly so that we don't have to live perfectly. Since He has done all the work, all we need to do is confess the name of Jesus and have salvation. The other extreme says that Jesus life was an example to show us how to live to prepare for the kingdom. We must overcome in every respect to become good enough to face the judgment. One sin forgotten and unconfessed can keep us out of the kingdom. His death was to pay for our past sins, but from the point of salvation, we must pretty much earn our own way to heaven. Brothers and sisters, the Enemy does not much care which side of that road that you are on. Each is a path to hell. The truth is, Jesus' life was both substitutionary and exemplary. He came to live a life that we cannot live because we will always come up short. But He also demonstrated in His life that through prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit that human beings can overcome the traps of the enemy and live victorious Christian lives. His death atoned for my past sins, and any future sins and shortcomings as long as I make Him my Savior. God calls us to a life of glorious living, giving honor to Him. But He provides that life, He nourishes that life, and He expects that life. And that life brings glory to God. Now I have run into some people that feel like that there is no need to exercise the will in this battle with the enemy. They feel that all that is required of a Christian is that they give verbal assent to the fact of their salvation and wait for the Holy Spirit to somehow take over their will and do what God desires. This is a half truth. Let's look at a few key texts. Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; 1 Corinthians 9:25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. 1 Timothy 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, Luke 13:24 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Psalm 63:1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. Psalm 105:3 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! 4 Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore! Ps 119:2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! Is 26:9 With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Any time that a preacher begins to talk of any type of righteous living, or any type of victory, many begin to have concerns of legalism. Or falling from grace, as some might say. There is an answer to legalism. Paul reminds his readers over and over. "I have determined to know nothing among you but Christ and Him crucified." So how do we give glory to God? Working to be pleasing to God brings glory to Him. Righteous works are not legalism if they are done to praise God for what He has already done or is going to do. God's children live in His favor. Their acts are to make God look good. See what God can do with a person. He can change their lives, their motives, their desires. Luke 17:11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 "Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" 19 And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well." Thanking Him for His goodness brings glory to God. Romans 4:19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." Believing God's promises brings glory to God. Romans 9:31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Living by faith glorifies God Acts 12:21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22 And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" 23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied. The triumph of good brings glory to God. Psalm 50:23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God." Praise brings glory to God. When Harry and Ada Mae Day had their first child, they traveled 225 miles from their ranch to El Paso for the delivery, and Ada Mae brought her baby, Sandra, home to a difficult life. The four-room adobe house had no running water and no electricity. There was no school within driving distance. But the Days did not allow themselves to be limited by their surroundings. Harry had been forced by his father's death to take over the ranch rather than enter Stanford University, but he never gave up hope that his daughter would someday study there. Sandra's mother first taught at her home, and also saw to it that the house was stocked with newspapers, magazines and books. One summer the Days took their children to all the state capitals west of the Mississippi. Sandra did go to Stanford, to law school, and became the first woman justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. On the day of her swearing in, the family was there. "She looked around, saw us and locked her eyes right into ours," said her brother, Alan. "That's when the tears started falling." Sermon Illustrator) By being the best that she could be, Sandra Day O'Connor brought glory and honor to her parents. Being the best that we can be brings glory to our Father in heaven. In the children's fantasy Alice in Wonderland, Alice came to a junction in the road that led in different directions and asked the Cheshire Cat for advice. "Cheshire-Puss -- would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat. "I don't much care where," said Alice. "Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat. That grinning feline had it right, didn't he? If we don't know where we want to go, any fork in the road will do. If we are to give glory to God, there is a definite direction that we need to take. Specific choices that we will have to make. The distinguished German theologian Hans Kung made the following remark: "There is nothing wrong with Jesus Christ himself. It is entirely the fault of Christians if too little is changed in the world. Christians themselves are the strongest argument against Christianity. Christians who are not Christians. Christians themselves are the strongest argument for Christianity; Christians who live a Christian life."4 What does our life say about our family name, Christian. Brothers and sisters, it is time for us to be serious about being God's children. We were put here to bring glory to His name. We do that by living in and for Him. Today I am going to give you a special opportunity. I am going to ask you if you are ready to live your life to glorify God. For some of you that may mean letting some special cherished sin go. To others it might be the need to be more cheerful and pleasant around people. To others it may mean asking forgiveness for some thing that has kept you from a good relationship with someone else. Yet another may need to let Christ really be the Lord of your life. Some may need to give up some cherished idea, and ask what God wants. Or the Spirit may be talking to you about something completely different in some area that you have not made God King. If you feel that God is calling you to give glory to Him, I invite you to come up front with me and offer your life to His service, in what ever way he calls. When you give God your whole life without reservation, He will do great things through you. Let's begin to really give glory to God. Lets begin living as happy citizens of the kingdom we already belong to. Lets' become the strongest arguments for Christianity that this town has seen.