GLORIFYING GOD IN HIS WORD

TEXT: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-4 "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also it is with you; 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for all have not faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command."

INTRODUCTION-- In this series on Glorifying God, we have already talked about Glorifying God in the name "Christian," and Glorifying God in our bodies.

We should not be guilty of misplaced glory.
1. God is jealous of His reputation, and does not want His glory to be transferred to Idols. Isaiah 42.8 "I am Jehovah, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise unto graven images."
2. Neither does He want us to glory in men. 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 "Wherefore let no one glory in men. For all things are yours; 22 whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23 and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's."
3. Neither does He want us to receive glory from men.
  1. Paul was careful to avoid this. 1 Thessalonians 2.5-6 "For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness; 6 nor seeking glory of men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ."
  2. We should also follow this rule. Matthew 6:1-2 "Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward." (Compare Matthew 5:16. "Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.")

LESSON-- We should especially glorify God for the effect of His Word.

Christians could glorify God's Word for its effect on Paul. Galatians 1:13-24 "For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it: 14 and I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother's womb, and called me through his grace, 16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 20 Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 21 Then I came unto the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: 23 but they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc; 24 and they glorified God in me."
When the news came to the Jews in Jerusalem that Cornelius and his house had been converted, Acts 11:18 says, "And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life."
1. The Gentiles were often better hearers than the Jews, as at Antioch of Pisidia. Acts 13:45-48 "But when the Jews saw the multitudes (including Gentiles), they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spake out boldly, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. Seeing ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee for a light of the Gentiles, That thou shouldest be for salvation unto the uttermost part of the earth. 48 And as the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."
2. Paul urged peace between Jew and Gentile in Romans 15:7-9a "Wherefore receive ye one another, even as Christ also received you, to the glory of God. 8 For I say that Christ hath been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given unto the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy;"
Later, Jewish Christians had the opportunity to glorify the effect of God's Word, since they were among those who benefitted from the benevolent grace of Gentile Christians. 1 Corinthians 9:12-14 "For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God; 13 seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all; 14 while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you."
We can glorify the Word of God by faithful preaching. 1 Peter 4:10-11 "...as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; 11 if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; is any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

CONCLUSION-- When we respect and obey the Word of God, we are glorifying it, and at the same time glorifying God and Christ.