ALL GLORY BELONGS TO GOD ALONE
Acts 12:20-25
Who gets the glory when we see success in ministry, the church, our beloved Camp, or anything else for that matters. Everything we do in the Christian life, inside the church, or outside the church, is for God to receive the greatest glory.
Even every circumstance everything that is before us every day; in some way is to lead to the glory of God.
Your successes in life
Your struggles and the hard
choices you make
Your victories and losses
Your singleness and purity
Your marriage and faithfulness
Even your cancer or terminal sickness brings glory to God.
Why? God has given it to you, to share with the world to show how glorious God is; despite, your past and present circumstances. How you respond to this life is what determines how much glory you are truly giving to God, or robbing from God.
Whether it be….
Cancer
Diabetes
The birth of your child
The unexpected birth of your
child
The loss of your child
All medical care and treatments
School/ University report card
and achievements.
The work place and its daily environment
Job achievements and goals you
have or haven’t reached
Your ability to battle sin
daily as you guide yourself through this fallen world system.
Doing ministry in the church,
seating on a board, or working at the camp.
Even going to church, getting up every Sunday when you would rather sleep in.
God gets the glory because He
is worthy of all things,
despite the uphill battle, or joys, you endure.
Prime examples of this are found in…. The story of Job, Joseph, David, the nation of Israel, and ultimately in Christ when He bore the sins of this world and died to please the Father. Despite the hardships, God wants us to know who is to receive the glory in your life at all times.
“Glory of God” refers to “the visible or tangible display of God's infinite worth, character, beauty, and presence, the beauty of God's manifold perfections.” It is an attempt to put into words what God is like in His magnificence and purity. It refers to His fullness of all that is good. The term might focus on His different attributes from time to time like: His power, wisdom, mercy and justice because each one is awesome in its magnitude and quality. In general God's glory is the perfect harmony of all His attributes into one infinitely beautiful being. Basically "Glory” means “All That God Is" . God's goal in creation points to His glory, “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:6. This doesn’t mean that God had no glory before creation because we read in the book of Acts that God is permanently glorious. “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” Acts 17:24-25
John Piper
wrote in reference to Acts 17, “God was
not seeking glory which he lacked when he created man. Rather he was moved by a
disposition to display or manifest Himself. Like a full fountain has a tendency
to overflow in streams of water so God has a tendency to extend His glory
beyond Himself. God's goal, therefore, in created man was to display His glory
to and through man.”
THE SCRIPTURES REVEALS HIS GLORY IS EXHIBITED IN:
His
Name (Deut 28:58)
Him
Majesty (Job 37:22)
His
Power (Ex 15:1)
His
Works (Ps 113:3)
His
Holiness (Ex 15:11)
THE SCRIPTURES REVEAL HIS GLORY IS DESCRIBED AS
Great (Ps 138:5)
Eternal (Ps 104:31)
Highly Exalted (Ps 8:1)
God's
glory is seen in nature: all of creation points back to Him as Creator “The heavens declare the glory
of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out
speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” Psalm 19:1-2
God’s glory is seen in humanity; people are made in the image of God to reflect and display His character. “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Gen 1:26-27
God’s glory is seen in His Son, Jesus Christ; Jesus is the ultimate expression of God's glory made visible in human form. “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High,” Heb 1:3
In Christ, the glory of God is meekly veiled, approachable, and knowable. He promises to return some day “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matt 24:30
When we think on, or speak about the glory of God in comparison to man created in His image, we need to understand it in this way…. The glory of God is the beauty of His spirit. It is not an aesthetic beauty or a material beauty, but the beauty that emanates from His character, from all that He is. The glory of man, human dignity, and honor; will and does fade. But the glory of God, which is manifested in all His attributes together, never passes away. It is eternal. As Peter wrote, “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” 1 Peter 1:24-25. Everything will pass away, but God and His Word will last for eternity upon eternities. J. I. Packer wrote in book “Knowing God”.. “God will not give His glory to another. Yet this is the very thing that people try to steal. Scripture charges all idolaters: “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles” Rom 1:22–23. Only God is eternal, and His perfect and eternal attributes of holiness, majesty, goodness, love, etc., are not to be exchanged for the imperfections and corruption of anything in this world.” What is before us in Herod is just that “exchanging the perfections of God to be placed on the imperfections of man instead.” Let’s read the text this morning so that we can understand what I am saying this morning. Acts 12:20-25. What do we see and understand from this text of Scripture about the character and glory of God?
First….. (v21-v23)
Be need to extremely careful that you never be seeking out the praises from one another, or the glory that belongs to God alone. You, and I, exist not to receive the praises from man over an infinite God, who is all deserving of that praise in your life. Jesus said this when He confronted the evil of the pharisees. “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” John 5:44. True spiritual conviction is described as incompatible with a worldly lifestyle built around seeking: reputation, flattery, or status from other people. That s social media summoned up in one statement, God removed Herod from his throne, and what we can learn from this is that God will deal with the sinner who tries to steal the glory for themselves.
One thing is very clear here…. God will not share His glory with no man or woman. For some, it may take a whole earthly life before they stand before Him in His glory. For people like Herod, it took a moment of time; to find himself lacking as he stands before the only King, who will send his soul into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. It’s even here that God wants His church to rest in the assurance of His unchanging, constant power regardless of what happened or happens. Herod would be dealt with for his wicked acts against James, and failed attempt to do the same to Peter. See, God is working behind the scenes in ways that are invisible, and beyond human calculation, or timing. What we can learn as well is that Believers, should not panic, or assume that God is absent just because they cannot see a solution taking shape. God’s thoughts and ways are higher than human thoughts and ways, meaning delays or unexpected turns serve a broader design.
God’s providential plans are not on our time table regardless of the results. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
Scripture is very clear that God is never late and will always fulfill His promises at the precise, ideal moment, His Son is a prime example of that reality. “But when the fullness of time (the exact, sovereign moment chosen by God to send His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world) had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Gal 4:4-5
Here we see in the fullness of time, is a man by most people’s standards is a powerful ruler in Palestine, who seemed some what omnipotent. It’s in this moment he is wearing a special outfit, dressed in royal silver-threaded robe, as he sat on his throne and delivered a public speech in the amphitheater. The amphitheater was a special place where celebrations, and a site for many open-air dramas and other productions. It would be like going to the Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto, or going to Canadian Tire Center to watch the Senators lose to the Leafs. King Herod accepts the flattering shouts of the crowd declaring his voice "the voice of a god, and not a man," and is immediately he is struck down. (v21-v23) Herod was basking in his glory and it’s here he left the platform in excruciating pain. He was seeking the praises from men, and got it; and this is a good reminder that we are never to be seeking the praises from men. It is nice to be noticed for our accomplishments, and hard work; but we must never cross the line that seeks the approval of others, or stealing the glory that is God’s. Any success that you, and I, have whether its in ministry or whether its just life in general…all glory belongs to God alone.
Now, I am not saying…. God is going to snuff you out as He did to King Agrippa, but the warning is here; do not enter dangerous territory seeking the glory over God. As one so-called comedian Kathy Griffin said while receiving an Emmy award. “No one had less to do with this award than Jesus…” I can’t repeat the rest of her blasphemous comments. But, with a comment like that it truly reveals the open depravity of one’s heart when they open their mouth to speak, and its only by God’s grace that she is still breathing. Understand! God will not be mocked, every idle and evil word spoken, from an unregenerate heart, is storing up wrath when God removes their last earthly breath. We read the warning in Pauls’ writing to the church in Rome. “But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” Rom 2:5-8
It’s here the king sought glory for himself by the people; and this is the complete opposite in what a godly person seeks after. What did the Angel say to John when he fell down to worship him? “And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” Rev 19:9-10
Take Peter when the crowd bowed in awe of him when he went to Cornelius. What did he say to them? Peter rebuked them! “When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” Acts 10:25-26. Peter refused the worship instantly, making it clear that worship belongs to God alone and that he was merely a human servant for His glory. True spiritual authority does not elevate itself or accept godlike status from others. Peter modeled radical humility by deflecting honor straight back to God. As a pastor this is where I always need to be aware; especially after preaching; I am fortunate though, that I have a wife who keeps me check in this area constantly. But for this failed king, this narcissistic king was instantly inflicted by God; and he doubled over in pain and five days later he was dead. Josephus, the Jewish historian, gave details to that day, that Herod had to be carried out of the amphitheater and he remained in intense pain for five days before he succumbed to the fatal illness. Though Luke is a physician, he gives no detail to his death, but the most common assumption is that his appendix bursted and peritonitis (a severe inflammation set in). Some others say it was impact of arsenic poisoning which was not uncommon in the courts of the ancient world. Regardless of how he died, he is truly dead (earthly speaking); the angel inflicted him with a death blow that remove him from his throne and from this earth for good. Why? He was unrepentant, and evil man, who wanted all the glory for himself. Herod was a glory thief, the worst kind of thief. There are severe consequences to stealing God’s glory. “For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.” Isaiah 48:11
Secondly….. (v24)
The Word of God will last forever, as kings, princes, prime ministers, presidents, magistrates will fall, and even die. This verse reminds me of Marin Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress” which he writes, “The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.” God will forever stand along with His Words, and it’s here where the glory of God shines all the more into every generation. See, we could be living in the worst of times, and you might even think we are; but I don’t think we are yet! But even if are, and everything is getting worse; one thing is for certain for every generation…... God is unchanging, and so His is infallible Word. Yours, mine, our personal ambitions, cannot overthrow God's kingdom; human pride will certainly faces divine judgment. The king died and was eaten by worms, but the Word of God did not die. In fact, we read that the Word of God prospered, the Word of God continued to grow and multiply the people. This is how powerful the Living Word is in the hands of sinners, who see, realize that they need a Great Saviour. This is how powerful the Word of God, because this is the providential plan of the sovereign God of the universe for the world to truly know Him through redemption. The Word of God, emphasizes the immense value, guidance, and life-changing power of the Scriptures.
Do you honestly think…..
Bill C9 will prevent the Word
of God from transforming sinners today?
Powerful dictators and tyrants,
will prevent the Word of God from multiplying?
Covid or any other man-made
virus will prevent the Word of God from reaching sinners hearts?
Bad and apostate churches will
prevent: healthy and biblically grounded churches from growing in God’s Word.
Worldly distractions and
devises will prevent the Word of God from transforming a sinner’s life.
Elevating human traditions or
rigid religious doctrines above the actual teachings of Scripture will
neutralize its power in the church.
All the skepticism toward
Scripture or a lack of compassion for the spiritual state of others, dulls the
impact of God’s Word.
Persecution, suffering, active
legal, physical, or social restrictions against public worship and Christian
speech will ever suppress the gospel or stop the preaching of God’s Word.
(v24) the Word of God was increasing because it has been given to us freely, open for the world to read, to glean the pages of wisdom/Scriptures, that flows from heavens grace. The word of God is our supreme value, blessings, and life-giving power of wisdom, contrasting it with earthly riches and worldly pursuits. The Bible says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Heb 4:12-13
Kevin DeYoung wrote in relation to this passage about stealing the glory from God, “The wish to be God is the sin shot through every human heart." We are to give God the greatest glory in our lives, and never to seek it for ourselves. This involves recognizing the visible manifestation of His divine character, His beauty, and power; not just aesthetic beauty, but the weight and splendor of His essence.
How do keep our minds and
hearts from
seeking the glory for ourselves?
Immerse yourself in HIs Word: Reading and meditating on Scripture reveals the glory of God and His character, it elevates Him, and brings you low.
Be pro-active in your prayer & worship: Pray for spiritual insight to see His glory and engage in passionate, sincere worship that creates a dwelling place for His presence.
Persevere in obedience and holiness: Aligning one's life with God's will and pursuing holiness positions individuals to experience His glory.
Constantly observe creation: Recognize God's power, beauty, and wisdom displayed in the natural world.
Live a life of surrender and humility: Approaching God with humility is essential for recognizing His presence.
It’s beholding the supremacy of Christ. Ultimately, it is a pursuit that brings joy, transforms lives, and is found by seeking Him above personal glory.
“The chief end of man is to
glorify God
and to enjoy Him forever.”
God must change our hearts to make us like Christ, not like Herod. Herod thought to himself to be deity, and tried to use his power and caused his enemies to suffer; as he dressed like a king and then eaten by worms. Our glorious Christ was fully, truly, God incarnate, and never once used His power to serve Himself. He suffered at the hands of enemies, was born a poor man and died for our sins and then ascended to glory.
Whose glory will you live for?
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