|
Library
Glorifying GodBy John O. Reid
|
In John 6:44 it says, "No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him."
This word "drawn" is used six times in the New Testament as "to draw a sword," "to be drawn away captive," or "the drawing of a net." In this case it means as it does in John 12:32 where Jesus said, "And I, if I be [crucified and] lifted up [raised up] from the earth, will draw all men unto me." We had nothing to do with the drawing. It was something special. God wanted us.
With me it was no sudden thing. As I recall, in the past I read a book called, "What Would Jesus Do?" It was a Protestant tract, and the question that the book posed was, "If Jesus Christ were to live in my shoes, how would He live my life?" That was the question. Although there was no immediate change after reading that book, still the perception was running through my mind that there was a God and that I should be starting to do something, that I should be making some changes in my life. With most of us God led us to the "World Tomorrow" broadcast, to pick up a Plain Truth, or to talk to somebody that we knew at work who was in the church and who knew all about God, and that was impressive. With us, one of the people we talked to was a neighbor across the street, Paul Christofferson. He was a ruff and tumble bricklayer, and I think he had every Plain Truth and every Good News that was ever printed, and he loved Herbert W. Armstrong. He said he was a little suspicious of Ted, but he loved Herbert W. Armstrong. Every time we talked about God, he quoted Mr. Armstrong. He would just reassure us and reaffirm with us that Herbert Armstrong knew what he was talking about. He never came into the church, but he certainly helped us to come in. Then we wrote to the church and we requested a church visit. Somebody came out, and then we came into the church. Now God the Father was the One that drew us, but who was the one who chose us? Let us go to John 15, verse 16, one of those old memory scriptures. Jesus Christ is speaking and He says:
John 15:16 ? You have not chosen me.
In other words, we had nothing to do with it.
V16 ? But I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
So here we see that Jesus Christ and God the Father are so close in understanding, that Jesus Christ could look down and select whom He wished. We find this certainly today. He would ask God the Father to draw them. We find this today in corporations. Somebody is put in charge of a really special project, and he has the option many times to select whom he wishes to complete that project, and so this is what has been taking place with us. Jesus Christ Himself looked down and He called you, and He called me, and He said I want these people to complete the project that I have in mind, to bring them into the Kingdom of God, to be the firstfruits. Up to this point we still have relatively little to do. Jesus Christ selected us. God the Father drew us to where we would contact "the work," and then Jesus Christ provided teachers for us.
Let's turn to Ephesians chapter 4 and get a quick review here.
Ephesians 4:11 ? And He gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.
He provided teachers for us.
V12 ? For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
You see, this is why we've been called. This is why we're here, to become like Jesus Christ, to the fulness of His stature.
V14 ? That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.
Jesus Christ provided teachers for us so that we might grow and that we might become just like Jesus Christ. Now Christ, the Son of God and the Head of the Church does all this for us. I'm sure that everyone of us has benefited personally from being in the church and from all the gifts that have been given to us. We've been healed, we've been protected on our jobs, we've been taught how to handle our money, how to conduct ourselves with each other, how to raise our children, how to have a happy marriage, and how to serve our employer. Chances are, as we heard in the sermonette from Mr. Armstrong this morning, that we've been protected many times by the angels that God has placed around us. For all of us who have had children and have had our children blessed, we look back on their being raised. We wonder how they ever survived. We know the blessing of God, that that particular gift protected those children. This is why we have them today.
Brethren, because of this it is easy subconsciously to feel that our responsibility is to continue to look for the blessings of God, which it is in part. We receive these helps that our life may continue to be better, and that we may have a richer and fuller life. But is there more to our calling than just sitting back and doing this? The answer is, "You bet there is!" If we aren't careful our focus can only be on receiving, when in fact it should be on the giving of our effort to overcome in a response to all that has been given to us. Everybody likes to receive something for nothing. I find that in myself. I would love to receive the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. In this last month in Los Angeles we had a $100 million plus jackpot. People went crazy. They lined up around the block, slept on the streets overnight to be sure to buy their ticket, and it was just a regular madhouse. I think three people split that, so they had their wealth.
Today brethren, we don't have the attitude of really wanting to work at our life in many cases. Many that are doing well financially want to retire at age thirty-five or forty, and do what? We are a nation that is referred to as "the ME generation," where a people tend to have a welfare mentality. By this I don't mean that anyone who is on welfare is taking advantage of the country, but we as a people more and more keep on looking to the government that we have to take care of us, and we in the church can have that attitude rub off on us. President Kennedy made a famous quote that everybody quotes today, but not many people follow. He said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Of course we can apply this by asking, "What can we do for God after all He's done for us?" You see, of all the people on the face of the earth we've been honored by God, by the calling that He's given us. We have been glorified by God, not with the glory that we will have, but nevertheless we've been glorified. We're going to see that here. We have a responsibility to stop and consider all we've been given, and we have a responsibility to respond to those gifts.
We all face problems, and one of the tremendous gifts from God is that everything works for us. Please turn to Romans the 8th chapter and verse 28.
Romans 8:28 ? And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
We can have peace of mind brethren, even in our trials. That's a wonderful gift as well, because all things work together for our good. All of our affliction, our trials, our confrontations, though they're going to continue long sometimes, still they're set to work for our good. They all work in cooperation because God has called us, and He's teaching us and He's working with us. He's personally developing us for His purpose. He called us, and we responded to that invitation, and we know that God has a specific purpose for us being called. We've not been called by chance. We've been called and given the opportunity by the explicit intent of God. That's got to be encouraging. That's got to be a wonderful thing.
V29 ? For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Again we are to conform to the image of Christ. This is what our calling is about. The word "foreknown" is certainly correct. That's exactly what it means. It does not pertain to the entire world, because the entire world isn't being taught to conform to Jesus Christ. It pertains to us. We're the ones who have been called to conform to Jesus. It implies that those that God called would respond, and indeed you have, and we'll see what that response is shortly. In this calling He has a specific reason for it, and brethren, even though we can't answer all the questions pertaining to our calling, we do know that God has His eyes intently on each of us for our growth and for our development so that we can be in His kingdom. Adam Clarke made an interesting comment here. He said, "We are the subjects of His gracious purpose." That's exactly what we are. That purpose is to imitate Jesus Christ and model ourselves after Him and copy Him completely. Nothing else is His purpose. That is His purpose.
V30 ? Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Brethren, we're special. I don't mean we're better, but we're special because God has called us and has given us this great privilege. It's the highest gift that we can have right now, -- being called by God.
V31 ? What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
I couldn't help but think when you move into a brand new tract, and you have little kids, the little kids will sometimes say, "My dad is bigger than your dad." Well frankly, our Father is bigger than anybody. There's no power, there is nothing that can hurt us, because our Father is in charge. Who can destroy us? What earthly or demonic power can prevail against us? The answer is "none." Absolutely none.
V32 ? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
He said that God didn't refrain or keep His own Son from suffering death. He gave us the highest proof of His love that a Father could give, and the highest demonstration of His willingness to do good for those He called, and for mankind. No matter how many times we slip, no matter how many times we fall, Jesus Christ has given His life, and it was given by His Father, that we might repent, that we might be made clean. So after the price was paid, God will not forsake us. He will truly give us everything we need for growth and to enter finally into the Kingdom of God.
V33 ? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies.
We belong to God. We were chosen by God. Who can separate us from Him? The answer is, "nobody." What a wonderful gift, and what a wonderful period of confidence we can have. Of all the people on the face of the earth we are the most blessed, and of all of mankind we are given understanding in a time of darkness.
Please turn over to Isaiah 60, verses 1 and 2. This one really caught my mind. It just made me stop and think. There is a command here to shine.
Isaiah 60:1 ? Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
Albert Barnes made this comment. "It was written to the church, or to Zion, as the seat of the church. It is represented as having been in a state of affliction and calamity. The church is now called to arise from the dust and impart to others the rich privileges which were conferred upon her."
I just read over that command to "Arise, shine," and I didn't really recognize it, but it was a command for us to "shine." There are quite a few comments by the commentators on this verse. One commentator wrote, "Be enlightened, for your light comes." Boyer said, "Enjoy light." Ferger said, "Be light." Vertringa said, "Pass into a state of light." That is, enjoy light yourself, and impart it freely to others. Gesenius said, "Shine. Be bright." That is, be surrounded and resplendent with light. The sense here is to rise now from a state of obscurity and darkness and enter into times of prosperity. It is not so much of a command to impart it to others as it is to be encompassed with light and with glory. It is more of a call to participate in the light that is shinning, than to impart it to others. In other words, he is saying You've been called. You've been given the truth. Now participate in that truth. Be active in it. He said, "The gospel is come unto you, the utter splendor of God. It is risen upon you." You've been called out of all the world in contrast with all the other people. It is risen upon you as if you had gone from darkness into light, from nighttime into morning. He said, "It is risen upon you in contrast with all the other people and nations on the face of the earth." This is how special the calling is that you have been given.
V2 ? For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you.
The sense of this is the darkness shall cover the earth, and the gross darkness the people. He is showing that all the rest of the world is enveloped in a deep spiritual darkness. That is true. This darkness shall envelope the whole world except where it is illuminated by God, and by the word that God gives. The term "gross darkness" means a thick vapor, a deep obscurity, a thick cloudy darkness of gloom. It's a word that has a meaning much more tense than darkness, and the idea is that nations would be enveloped in a cloud of ignorance and sin so dense and obscure that no light would penetrate it. It's a description that really applies to the world today, and certainly in the days of Noah. But then he said, "The LORD shall arise upon you." This is exactly what has taken place. Like the sun, God will manifest His perfection. He'll make it real to you in a truly glorious manner. And He said it shall be seen upon you. There will be something different about you. This doesn't mean that His glory would be just visible, but conspicuous. It would be so bright there would be such a contrast that it could be seen from afar. People would recognize who you were, that there was something different about you. And then it goes on into verses 3 and 4 and tells the wonderful things that are going to start to happen.
What about God's light being conspicuous on us? Conspicuous how? By you being different from the world around us, that you're living rightly. I hope that doesn't sound too simple, because we're going to be getting into that.
Why were we called? Were we called just to receive? Let's take a look at part of the answer in Exodus 19, verses 3 through 6.
Exodus 19:3 ? And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4 You have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
Adam Clarke has sort of an interesting comment on that. He said that there was a brand of eagles or a bird something like an eagle called a recomma over in the Arab countries. They would actually transport their young on their back. I couldn't help but smile in thinking of our golden eagles which live high up in the cliff. When their offspring first take off out of the nest, they sometimes go straight to the ground and never fly, and die, and so the parent eagles will sometimes fly under them and support them. Adam Clarke also said that the meaning the commentators drew from this was that God was teaching Israel to fly, and would support them until they could fly. I couldn't help but just smile at that.
V5 ? Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak unto the children of Israel.
The children of Israel were being called by God, and they were going to be a special people He purchased for Himself. Now what were the requirements of Israel to be a special people to God? They were to obey His voice. They were to receive revelation or instruction from Him, and they were to act according to that instruction, and not according to their own reason, understanding, and desires. They were to be obedient to God. They must keep His covenant and be faithful, not just to the Ten Commandments, but to all the statutes and ordinances, as much as possible, even to the intent behind those. They were to be a peculiar treasure, or an inheritance, or heritage. They would be a people over whom God would have total control. We in America don't like anyone to have total control over us. He would have exclusive right to order their lives, and though all the peoples on the earth were His, it was this people that He chose to hold as special because of Him giving them His laws which they were to obey and live by.
I'm sure that we can draw analogies to this for ourselves. Because of this, they would live under a theocracy and become a nation of kings and priests, and they would be a nation of one people, with one set of laws ? God's laws. They would have power and strength because of being united and acting under the directions and blessings of God. This in turn would make them a holy nation. Not only were they to be a special treasure to God by being obedient, but they were to be a representative of God to other nations. Other nations would come into Israel and they would see the prosperity that the country enjoyed. They would see the joy in the face of the citizens. They would see the happiness among the people. They would see the happy families. They would see the crops that grew, and the clean clear water, and the prosperity of the nation, that it was protected by God. They would see the fruits that were produced by God's people, and they would want those fruits for themselves. This is what was expected of Israel with the calling of God. Psalm 135:4 says that God chose Israel for His special treasure. He said that God selected Jacob unto himself, and Israel for His peculiar treasure, which means its acquired wealth as far as God is concerned, or property. God places tremendous value on those that He calls. So many times I don't think we think we're valuable, but to God we are exceedingly valuable. That applies to you and me. He redeemed them and made them His own.
Turn to Deuteronomy chapter 14 and we'll get one more little aspect of this.
Deuteronomy 14:1-2 ? You are the children of the LORD your God: you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. 2 For you are a holy people unto the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
What has this got to do with us? It says, "You are the children of God." This is an extremely high honor to have been called and made the children of God. It's the highest honor that can be placed on a nation or on an individual. Therefore He says, "Don't cut yourself." Actually what He is saying is, Don't act as the world around you does. Act as the children of God, because you're a special treasure.
Brethren, God redeemed them, and He fought for them. He saved them. He taught them. He wanted to give them every blessing possible. He wanted them for His own special treasure, but they wouldn't have it, and they went their own way.
What response did God want from His people, and what response does God want from His people now? He wanted their love. He wanted their willing obedience to His instruction. He wanted their faithfulness and deep respect toward Him, and the gratitude for all He had done, and for all that He is doing for them currently. In other words, God wanted them to glorify Him.
Now what does it mean to glorify somebody? The definition from the Reader's Digest Encyclopedic Dictionary means "to make glorious; to honor or exalt or worship; to give great praise, or to laud." Concerning glory, when you give it to others, you distinguish, honor, and praise. You make somebody distinguished, or you honor him, or you give him a great reputation, or you give to them worshipful praise and adoration, or you attribute to them magnificence and splendor. This is what you do. You want to be like them. Now listen to all the synonyms to the word "glory" or "glorify." You laud; you magnify; you glamorize; you boast; you exalt; you bless; you praise; you pay tribute to; you extol; you adore; you honor; you celebrate; you hail; you acclaim; you eulogize; you venerate; you elevate; you dignify; you aggrandize; you apotheosize in that you give supreme exaltation. You indicate that someone is the perfect example of what something should be. You ennoble, and you uplift. I think we have to ask the question, "Do we glorify others in our nation today?" You bet we do! We truly do. We give glory every day to rock stars, to movie stars, to sports heroes, and to other successful beautiful people. How do we do it? How is glorification shown? We pay to go to their movies. If they are a sports figure, we buy their jerseys, we buy their hats, and we root for their team. With any really popular celebrity, especially with the younger people, we adopt their walk. We adopt their mannerisms, their slouch, their vocabulary, their approach toward life. We buy their lipsticks, their perfumes. We smoke their brand of cigarettes, and we try and buy the style of clothes that they advertise. In essence, we do all we can to be like them, because we think that they are the right example to follow. Well you see brethren, this is exactly why God wanted Israel to glorify Him. God wants His people to adopt His very nature and to become just like Him. He is our right example to follow. We aggrandize temporal human beings every day for some remarkable thing that they've done, and mostly it's just for foolishness. We should be taking note of someone who maybe once in a while has saved a life or has returned money and has done something that is honest that pictures the right type of character. Though we should imitate the right character that we see shown by our fellowman, no one begins to have the glorious character of God. No one has the goodness, the love, the mercy and the righteousness that God does. When we hear the name of some personality, for example President Clinton, you'd all have an image of what President Clinton does. If I mentioned Elton John or the Beatles, you'd identify immediately who they were and what they are known for. But when the world hears God's name, they quickly conjure up the wrong image, and go on about their life. We, as God's people, had better have the right image of who God is and what He does, because you see, this is the One we are to glorify. If we don't have that image, we won't do it.
God is referred to as our Creator, and this indicates His relationship to mankind that He has created us. This is the same God, but He has made the covenant with us. God's name is also "He will see," and "He will provide for His people." He is referred to as "the God that heals you." He is referred to the God as "being our banner." He is the God that sanctifies us. He is the God that sends peace. He is the Lord of hosts of all the armies of heaven. He is the God of our righteousness. He is the God that is there when we need Him. He is the Most High God, and He is the God that is our Shepherd, and watches over us. He's the God of our salvation. He is the God that knows all and sees all, and performs all things for His people. He is the God that possesses heaven and earth, and He is the God that is a dispenser of blessings upon the earth. He is the God that is the Giver of all good things, and He supplies all the needs of His people. He is the Ruler of the earth. He is a God that blesses the earth. He is also known to us as Father, which indicates a deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and that relationship is extended to those that God calls, which is us, so that we can share in that intimate relationship. He is the God that exercises power. He is referred to as "the Almighty," and it discusses His exercising of power over all that He has created. He is referred to as "the Mighty Prince," or "the Owner." He is referred to as "the Master," and "the Teacher." He is referred to as "God with us." That's what Emanuel means. He is referred to as "Jesus." This name is associated with shame, because He humbled Himself on the cross, and He took all the sins of mankind with Him, and that's the God we worship as well. He is also the Master, the Owner, the Despot, the Master of the house, the Commander, the Teacher, the Guide or the Leader. These are all names that apply to God. He is referred to as "the Son of God," showing a relationship to God the Father as the Christ, who is Heir of all things, and Who is invested with all power, and is "the resurrection" and "the life" and He has the power to raise the dead. And as the Son of God, all judgment is committed to Him. This is the One we have to answer to. He's also referred to as "the Son of man," showing His connection to the earth, how He gave up His Godhead, and came down to mankind, and suffered, that we might live.
God uses all these names to reveal Himself to us today, and He's used many of these names to reveal Himself to our forefathers. He also revealed Himself to them by opening the Red Sea. He brought water from the rocks. He sent manna from heaven. He performed the miracle of the walls of Jericho to fall, and performed the miracle of "the long day." He performed many many more miracles.
Over a period of years the Israelites let go of their calling. They let go of the fact that they were special people. They didn't glorify God. Isn't it amazing that we will exalt human beings as being very important, and we will exalt things as being more important than God. We will completely ignore the tremendous loving God that gave us every single thing that we have, and we will go after something else.
Now brethren, though the calling we've been given isn't as it was for ancient Israel, that we haven't been slaves in the same sense, yet we were slaves. We didn't come out of the cities enmasse, borrowing from our captives, and yet we came out and we were victors. God has revealed Himself to us in a more subtle way. He gave us the impression that He was there, and all of a sudden He started to work with our minds. Then we began to discover that we were living in the wrong way, and that the way we were living was going to cause our death and our destruction. Then He slowly began to teach us the right way to live. We began to see the error of our way, and turned it around. Now as God selected Israel to be His special treasure, God today has called each of you and me to be His special people, His special treasure.
Let's turn over to 1st Peter chapter 2 and start in verse 1 through verse 10.
I Peter 2:1 ? Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.
We are to grow. This is part of the purpose why we are here. We are to grow, and I think you'll see the reason I stressed that shortly.
V3 ? If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.
He is generally rejected by men
V5 ? You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Again, this is part of what we are to be doing. We're to be offering up spiritual sacrifices. We'll see what those are shortly, that are acceptable to God.
V6 ? Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he that believes on him shall not be confounded [put to shame].
In other words, no matter what happens to us, no matter what the situation is in the world, if we believe and we're sticking by God and His laws, we will not be put to shame.
V7 ? Unto you therefore which believe he is precious [of great value]: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed [have rejected], the same is being made the head of the corner.
There is a differentiation here. I don't know if you caught it, -- the words "disobedient" and "obey." This is what God is after. Those are the two parameters.
V8 ? And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
We read this in Isaiah chapter 60. You were called to show forth the praises of God.
V10 ? Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
You're special because God called you.
Please turn now to Titus chapter 1 and verse 16. I think you'll begin to get the drift here.
Titus 1:16 ? They profess that they know God; but in works [in the way they live] they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate [disqualified].
That's what reprobate means. Everything they do is disqualified because of the way they live. In talking to us he says:
Titus 2:1 ? But speak you the things which become sound doctrine [proper doctrine]: 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things showing yourself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity. 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you [because you've been righteous, because you've done what's right]. 9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again.
You're not to talk back to them, not to be smart-mouthing.
V10 ? Not purloining [stealing], but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
In other words, your actions, by what you do, is going to glorify and adorn God.
V11 ? For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world: 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people . . . [and here is the key . . .] zealous of good works.
This is part of our response to God.
Now brethren, where did ancient Israel fall short in the relationship with God? It is simply that they didn't glorify Him. Again, when we glorify someone we see them as an example to follow or imitate. I can remember when I was a boy I tried to imitate Tarzan, and it was disastrous! One time I swung, and my feet went out from under me and I went right down on my back, and I couldn't breathe for twenty minutes. I really thought Tarzan was wonderful. I wasn't big on Cheetah, but Tarzan was pretty special. So when we're younger we try to imitate our heroes. How many young children have two cap pistols on their hips and a big cowboy hat like Hop-a-long Cassidy's? Of course no one knows today who Hop-a-long Cassidy was, or Tom Mix either. Most people don't even know who the Lone Ranger was. But we have our heroes and we try imitating them. Young people want to fly. They want to be like Superman, to be like things like this. Well, it's the same thing here. When glorifying God, we want to imitate God. We should see God as a loving Father who truly knows what is best for us, and we should recognize that we don't know what is best for us, because we don't. We should want to be approved of God in every way, and we should really desire for God to show us how we should live. We should want God to show us, in mercy, every flaw we have, that we might turn around and correct them. We should honestly want God to carefully lead us every step of the way so that we will be a member of His family, and that we will overcome so that we will be in the Kingdom of God, and give Him honor.
Brethren, the glorifying of God must come from the heart. Words can be spoken that sound good. We can sound religious, but if we aren't sincere, then disastrous results will be produced. What is the result of not glorifying God? Well I tell you, it's pretty scary. Turn over to Romans 1. Just hear what happens to these people when they decide not to glorify God.
Romans 1:21 ? Because that, when they knew God, . . .
They knew about Him. They knew He was the Creator. They knew He provided everything, but . . .
V21 - . . . they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations.
That means they felt that they knew more than God.
V21 ? And their foolish heart was darkened.
They no longer could see God or hear His instruction.
V22 ? Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind [a mind that wouldn't understand], to do those things which are not convenient [proper]. 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity: whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, . . .
They knew it, they understood it.
V32 - . . . that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Here they have the instruction of God, but they felt that they were better than God, and in the vanity of their minds they pushed God out of the picture, and they lost the opportunity they had.
Brethren, when we choose not to glorify God, we choose to place ourselves in danger of losing our opportunity for eternal life in the Kingdom of God. That's how serious this is. Now how then do we individually glorify God? Do we glorify God by attending church services each week? Yes, we can, but we can also attend church each week and not glorify God. Do we glorify God by stating that we understand the sermons? Perhaps we do. We can glorify God by understanding the sermons, but yet we can also not glorify God. Are we glorifying God by being a faithful member of the Church of the Great God, or any of God's churches? Well, we can glorify God that way, but we also cannot glorify God that way. We can attend each sabbath, we can understand the sermons, we can be a faithful member of the church, but if we aren't physically putting into practice what we are taught, we are not glorifying God. This is where the rubber meets the road. You put your money where your mouth is. God uses one criteria to judge, and we best not be lulled to sleep by thinking there is another way.
Turn over to Luke 6:46 please. Remember, if we don't obey God, we are not glorifying God.
Luke 6:46 ? And why call you me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
In other words, Why do you give Me lipservice, and not perform?
V47 ? Whosoever comes to me and hears my sayings, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that hears, and does not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell: and the ruin of that house was great.
In other words, if you're founded on any other foundation than God, you don't have a foundation. The point being here that the ruin of it was great and so sad, for you see, this was a person that had an opportunity to be god. Again, God uses one criteria to judge, and we'd better not be lulled to sleep. So many in the church focus on technicalities as being vital, or being able to quote scripture, or having a specific posture on government. Others can look at their position in life and feel secure that all is well, and still others can just "know" that God's love will make them acceptable in God's eyes. But there is that one criteria that God judges with, and we'd better not be lulled to sleep in thinking we can do it some other way.
Now please turn to Matthew 7, verses 21 through 23.
Matthew 7:21 ? Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils?
No man can cast out devils. God chose to cast out those devils through those individuals.
V22 ? And in your name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
Adam Clarke had a comment on this verse. He said, "The sense of this verse seems to be this: 'No person, by merely acknowledging by authority, believing in the divinity of My nature, professing faith in the perfection of My righteousness and infinite merit of My atonement, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, shall have any part with God in glory; but he who will enter does the will of My Father.'"
"He gets the bad tree rooted up, and the good tree planted, and he continues to bring forth fruit to the glory and the praise of God."
Adam Clarke quoted a saying that the rabbis had: "A man should be as vigorous as a panther, as swift as an eagle, as free as a stag, as strong as a lion, to do the will of his Creator."
This is how important it is.
Brethren, to whom does God give His Holy Spirit? Please turn to Acts 5, verses 28 through 32. The apostles had been taken before the priests, as the priests had been complaining. They had told the apostles not to use Jesus Christ's name.
Acts 5:28 ? Did not we straitly command you that you should not teach in this name? And, behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
That is for us as well.
V30 ? The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew, and hanged on a tree. 31 Him has God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to them that obey him.
Again, obedience. Now turn to James, chapter 1 and verses 17 through 25.
James 1:17 ? Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Hebrews 13:8 says God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. There is no turning. God is God, and He does not change. He is like the sun at high noon, where there is no shadow and the light is bright.
V18 ? Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Albert Barnes had a comment here that I would like to read, because it pertains to not just this verse, but to the entire chapter and the next chapter. He said: "The connection is this. Since God is the only source of good, since He tempts no man, and since by His mere sovereign goodness, without any claim on our part, we have had the high honor conferred on us of being made the firstfruits of His creatures. We ought to be ready to hear His voice, to subdue all evil passions, our set ways, our stubbornness, our laziness, and every other trait that is against God, and bring our souls into entire practical obedience. The necessity of obedience, or the doctrine, that the gospel is not only to be learned, but to be practiced, is pursued in this and the next chapter."
This is a principle. The doctrine is to be practiced. This is what our calling is about, to practice what God says.
V19 ? Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
He said, Put yourself in the posture of a student, to learn. Don't be ready to teach. Don't be ready to judge, or to run out and tell everybody how it is to be done. Put yourself in the posture of a student so that you might learn. That's what you're here for.
V20 ? For the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God.
You can't learn when you're angry or when you're puffed up.
V21 ? Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
What he is saying is that because God has called us to be a special people we should work to rid ourselves of everything that is disgusting and that is an abomination to God, and that we should engraft, as you would graft a fruit tree, God's instruction into you that you might make the changes you need to make. In verse 22 is a remarkable statement. He said:
V22 ? But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Brethren, how do we deceive ourselves in this? The sense of the deception is that we could imagine that just hearing what God has to say is enough. That is a deception if we just hear what God has to say, and say that that is enough, when in reality what God is after is our obedience and our follow-through. Don't lull yourself into that trick.
V23 ? For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
The sense of this is that the particular word "looks" means "to stoop down and examine more closely; to get near." The idea is of giving close attentive observation. The object is to show that if man would attentively look into and continue in the law of liberty and not do as one who went away and forgot how he looked, he'd be blessed. The emphasis is not so much on the manner of looking, but it is on the duty of continuing or persevering in the observance of God's laws. This is what James is after.
Brethren, being a doer of the word is one who perseveres in his or her overcoming, and one who persists in not letting down. What is that persevering in the observance of God's law called? It is called "faith." It is called faith, that God knows what He is talking about, that He knows what's best for us. What end does faith produce? It produces a humbling of ourselves in obedience to God's instruction, and that obedience is called "works."
Please turn over to James chapter 2 and verse 14. James has been referred to as an epistle of straw, because he said we have to have works and everybody else says that we're saved by faith. But you see, faith without works is just useless.
James 2:14 ? What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled; notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.
In other words he is saying that just holding a religious feeling isn't good enough. You have to put your money where your mouth is. He said that good wishes and kind words don't get it without appropriate actions. You see, faith is designed to lead us to good works. Faith in God is designed to make us imitate Him with kindness and thoughtfulness.
V18 ? Yes, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
He says, You that just maintain knowing about God is enough, show me how that is going to benefit you. What is that going to do for you? Your faith won't lead you anywhere, as the works that come from my faith will lead me to imitate God, and into a holy life, and my works will be a response to the instruction of God, the things that I physically do.
V19 ? You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
He said that the devils believe that there is a God, but it didn't do them any good. They believed that God had certain laws, and it didn't do them a bit of good because there was no action to follow their belief, and they're in fear and trembling to this day.
V20 ? But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 See you how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect [complete]? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which said, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Why was he called the Friend of God? Because he acted on what God said. He did what God wanted.
Brethren, we can see that persevering in God's laws shows faith, and that faith causes one to produce righteous works, and then what do righteous works produce? They produce the glorification of God. This is why you're called to glorify God by being obedient to Him. Many think that pleasing God is so complicated. The world around us does penance. Every year at Easter time some men allow themselves to be crucified. Nails are driven through their wrists and their feet, and they're hung up on crosses. Others crawl a mile or two on their knees till the knees are bloody. Men and women do this to prove that they love God. Others cut themselves. Others are beaten as was Jesus Christ. Is this what God wants? The answer is "No." This is not what God wants.
Now what does God want from the corporate church? God expects those in charge to feed and to truly take care of the flock. God expects the ministry and those in the office to do the best they can to serve every member, and not to be serving themselves. He expects honesty with the money that is given to the church. He expects love and concern to be shown for everyone being served. He expects right effort to be put into every Bible study, sermon, sermonette, and article. He expects those in the office to be working to equip the saints to prepare the bride for His Son. Any organization that does this to the best of its ability will glorify God.
What does God want from us individually? What does God want in this church, from John Ritenbaugh on down to the newest member? God wants us to take time to really be aware of all He's done, and to be thankful and appreciative for a starter. He wants praise from us. He wants us to be really thankful and appreciate all He's done.
Psalm 69:30 ? I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. 31 This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that has horns and hoofs.
Praise and thanksgiving pleases God
V32 ? The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God. 33 For the LORD hears the poor, and despises not his prisoners. 34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moves there. 35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession. 36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it; and they that love his name shall dwell therein.
Turn with me to Psalm 34. This is from David who loved God with every fiber of his being.
Psalm 34:1 ? I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
This is what God wants from us, as part of it. In Revelation 4:9-11 it shows when God's creatures bow down to Him, the twenty-four elders throw down their crowns to the ground and bow before Him, telling Him that He is worthy to receive glory, for He has created all things, and that He is worthy to receive glory.
Brethren, upon considering what has been done for us individually, God wants us to respond to all we've been given by doing our part and taking the next step, and the next step is to change. John covered part of this last week, but I will do this rather rapidly. Please turn to Ephesians 4, and we'll start in verse 21.
Ephesians 4:21 ? If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus.
This is an interesting phrase. There's a slight little jibe to it. Paul is saying that if you've been in the church all these years and you've listened to the sermons, and you've listened to God inspire the ministry and teach you, then put away the former things that are wrong in your life, -- your short temper, your laziness, your selfishness, your wrong lusts, your bad habits, and all the things that brought unhappiness to you and unhappiness to God.
V22 ? Put off concerning the former conversation [conduct] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Have a new vision. Make the changes in your thinking that are needed to become new. Do the works of God. Become a new person in your mind and in your habits and in your nature.
V24 ? And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
We are to become completely new. That is, changing from what we were, to what we should be, and the change is to be so great that it can only be described as telling that you are a totally new person. Because of our calling, because of God's spirit, because of the instruction that we receive, the new set of standards and principles to operate from is that we are to emulate God, to be like Him. We are to become holy, as we heard in the sermonette today. The contrast is to be so great, so that someone who knew you before, would say that there's something different, that you're a new person. This is how we're to be when we glorify God.
V25 ? Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
We're to speak the honest unvarnished truth; the unexaggerated truth, and for you fisherman that may be difficult. We can have anger without sinning, but we best not hold it past sunset, because when we hold our anger, it turns into a desire for revenge, and also as it indicates in the next verse, when we hold our anger, it opens the door for Satan to enter into our minds.
V26 ? Be you angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. 27 Neither give place to the devil.
V28 ? Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs.
He said, Don't steal, but go to work. Learn the lessons that will come from work. Learn to support yourself, and with the fruits of your labors help others.
V29 ? Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Work to see that only positive uplifting things are spoken from your mouth, that you might encourage and uplift others.
V30 ? And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Brethren, how do we grieve the Holy Spirit? We do this by resisting it, by refusing to change, by bringing pain and suffering on others by not forgiving, by ingratitude, by holding anger, by harboring wrong thoughts and lusts.
V31 ? Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
Brethren, when we work to make changes like this, this is what pleases God, and it glorifies Him. God has placed many practical examples in the Bible, and I'm the kind of person that needs a practical example. I need someone to say, "Do this." This is how my mind is built.
We'll cover a few more of these as I wrap it up here. Turn to Deuteronomy 25, verses 13 through 16.
Deuteronomy 25:13 ? You shall not have in your bag divers weights, a great and a small. 14 You shall not have in your house different measures, a great and a small. 15 But you shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shall you have: that your days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD your God gives you. 16 For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD your God.
So what He is saying here is that He wants honesty in all business and in everything that we do of this type, not just in weights and measures. The man who owns the auto repair business wants honest quotes and good parts. For the employees he wants them to receive all of their wages on time, and he wants a good day's work for an honest dollar. When we sell that old lemon, he wants full disclosure, because you see, you represent God when you sell that car. He wants honesty. You see brethren, God is acutely aware of every single thing that we do.
Please turn now to Mark 9 and verse 41. A simple thing. A simple, simple thing.
Mark 9:41 ? For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
Now a quote from Albert Barnes: "How easy it is to be a Christian. What is easier than to give a cup of cold water to a thirsty disciple of Jesus; but it must be in His name. That is because he is a Christian, and therefore from the love of God. This is very different from giving it from a mere motive of common kindness. If it's done from the love of Christ, it will be rewarded, and hence we learn that the humblest acts of a Christian, from the lowest service that is rendered, will be graciously noticed by Jesus, and rewarded. None are so humble in His kingdom as to not be able to do good, and none so poor that he may not show attachment to Him. The feeblest service will be accepted, and the acts of love that may be forgotten by mankind will not be forgotten by God, but rewarded.
Turn now to chapter 1 of James, verses 26 and 27. This is a scripture that we always have quoted here.
James 1:26 ? If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
James does not say that this is the whole of religion, because there is much more, but it's this attitude and concern for others that will be the product produced as we work to glorify God. There will be a change of heart. The Kingdom of God is going to have this type of thing all the time ? concern for others and love. Glorifying God by obedience will lead us to have a kind and tender and concerned heart for the needs of others. We'll have concern for the fatherless and the widows, and we'll develop a heart of service in whatever the situation might be. It doesn't mean that we have to just visit the fatherless and the widows, it can be unleavening an old couple's house during the Days of Unleavened Bread. You bring a couple to service, and anything like this to serve. Brethren, the more effort that we will put forth into glorifying God, we'll be much more inclined to be unspotted by the world, because the less effect the world is going to have on us. The more you put yourself into the calling you've been given, the less effect and pull the world will have.
What is the standard God uses to measure us? Certainly obedience, and here's an example of that obedience. Turn to Matthew 25 and verses 31 through 46. This always sort of amazes me because so many people want to do so much more, and I'm not saying that more shouldn't be done, but they want to cut themselves, they want to beat themselves, they want to do something like this, but look what God looks at.
Matthew 25:31 ? When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto the one his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: 36 Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came unto me [to comfort me, to console me, to give me hope]. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you an hungred, and fed you? Or thirsty, and gave you drink? 38 When saw we you a stranger, and took you in? or naked, and clothed you? 39 Or when saw we you sick, or in prison, and came unto you?
They didn't even know they were doing this, because they took on the nature of God, and it seemed normal to them.
V40 ? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.
And by doing it, you have glorified Me. A companion verse for that would be Hebrews 6:10.
Hebrews 6:10 ? For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which you have showed toward his name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Matthew 25:41 ? Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
That's pretty tough for not glorifying God.
V42 ? For I was an hungred, and you gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto you? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous [the ones that glorify God] into life eternal.
Now brethren, in the beginning of this sermon I brought out that physical Israel was saved from slavery and became a special people and a treasure to God. They were to receive physical blessings, and they were to be an example to other people, showing that the laws of God produce wonderful blessings in their lives. Over a period of time they let down and ceased to glorify God. We too have been saved from slavery. We have been called to be a special treasure, a peculiar people to God, We have been called to be ambassadors, as Mr. Armstrong used to say, of God's way of life and of the future kingdom on this earth. Our response to God's calling should be to put forth great effort to please God by making the changes in our life. As it says in 1st Corinthians 6, verse 20, "For you are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." See, that's what you're to do. That's what you're called for. We do this individually in our daily prayer and study, and by insisting that we get it. We do this by meditating on God and His word, because that just gives us encouragement and hope. We fast to draw close to God and to help ourselves overcome the sins that plague us. We do this by our diligent obedience to God's laws, and we do this by overcoming. We do this by having a deep outgoing concern for our husbands and wives and families, and for the greater family of the church in which God has placed us. You see, for God's peculiar people to please Him, they must respond to what they've been given. If we do respond in the right way, we will share a marvelous future with Jesus Christ.
Now please turn to Romans chapter 8 and to verses 14 through 17.
Romans 8:14 ? For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
What a wonderful title that is!
V15 ? For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption [or sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
We could turn to a lot more scriptures to show how wonderful that will be.
Brethren, we of all the people on the face of the earth have been called to the most wonderful future imaginable. At least from my point of view it would appear that time to respond to that calling might be very short, so it's in our best interest not to let down, but to put our back into the calling we've been given, and to overcome and to change and to glorify God, and to do it individually. This isn't a collective thing. We do things in the church collectively, but this is an individual thing. We individually have to glorify God.
I'd like to close with 1st Peter 5. It says in Isaiah 66:2 that God looks to him that is humble and is of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at His word, so we're going to start out with verse 6 in 1st Peter chapter 5 for that admonition.
I Peter 5:6 ? Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him: for he cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour; 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
JOR/smp/
 |
 Printer-Friendly  E-mail this page |
|
| Articles | Bible Q&A | Bible Studies | Booklets | Sermons |
