This Sunday will be a part 2 in our study of the theme of the Bible, which is the “glory of God.” Here is a quick review of what we covered last week.

Everything that God does, He does for the glory of His name. Yesterday in class we started into some of the foundational pieces in this principle #5 on our tour of the Bible. This particular truth is very important to pray about, meditate on and to take some time for study. I think you will find that from predestination (eternity past) all the way to consummation (eternity future) God is doing all that He is doing for His glory. In preparation for this coming Sunday I am going to take us through many verses of Scripture that I believe will support this statement as to the purpose of the Bible. Below I have listed the verses I am planning to cover on Sunday. Please don’t get frustrated if we don’t spend much time on these verses, as we will be coming back to many of them later for in depth study.

* Predestination (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14)
* Creation (Isaiah 43:6)
* The rescuing of the Israelites from Egypt (Psalm 106:7-8)
* The power and influence of Pharaoh (Exodus 9:16)
* The continuous rebelling of Israel in the wilderness (Ezk.20:6-9)
* The promise of God to bring Israel back into the land (Is. 48:9-11)
* Incarnation (John 1:14, Romans 15:8-9)
* Propitiation (Romans 3:23-26)
* Sanctification (Philippians 1:9-11)
* Consumation (2 Thessalonians 1:9-10)


As always when you read sections of Scripture read them in context. Read what is in the previous paragraph that leads to this and also what come after it. I am hoping and praying this will be one of the most significant illuminations you receive from the Spirit as you read the Bible this year. This particular subject has been on my study plate for a number of years. Now think with me in terms of application. If the purpose of the Bible and God Himself is His glory then what should be the purpose of our lives? Well the correct answer according to Scripture would be for us to reflect, display and magnify the glory of God in our own lives. Again remember we want to magnify like a telescope and not a microscope. A microscope takes things that are very little and makes them very large and we can't do that with God because we can't make Him more glorious than He already is. But a telescope takes that which is far away. And trust me on this leadership team, in Charlotte, for many people, the Jesus Christ of the Bible is very, very far away. Therefore when you look through a telescope at a star that is far away you start to be able to see that star as it really is. And in that regard we need to be a telescope so that when people look through the lens of our life they can see Jesus up close and personal.

This morning we took time to lay the foundation for the theme of the Bible which is “the glory of God.” It is critical that we have a view of God that is consistent with the Bible and not one that we conjure up in our mind. Today the main point was to help build this all important category about God. The chief aim of God is to enjoy Himself and glorify Himself forever. In other words God is the most God-centered person in the universe. Sometimes I have noticed this can rub American Christians the wrong way. The discomfort with this teaching comes from an over zealous emphasis on ourselves. However when one comes to the Bible here is what you start to learn and understand:

1. God does everything that He does for His own glory. And in the Bible there is much support for this statement but for now just think it over. God is constantly in the business of displaying and magnifying Himself.

2. Since God does it this way, He in fact preserves for mankind the best thing that we could ever have or want which is Himself. Because God is the one thing and the only thing in the universe that can genuinely scratch the itch in the soul of man.

3. God does not just offer but rather demands that we rejoice, delight and be satisfied in Him!

The overarching strategy in life is to have a clear understanding of God's "why" or His purpose as we come to the Bible. It only make sense that we should align ourselves and our lives under the plumb line of His purpose, which is HIs glory. Therefore our objective is to live daily, in such a way, that when people in our sphere of influence here us speak and watch us act, they see a demonstration of the greatness and exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ!



Here is the audio LINK for today’s class. Look for November 9 download that is located at the top of the class download page.

This Sunday we will look at the overall theme of the Bible which I will argue from the verses below is the “glory of God.” We will start with a definition for the glory of God. For those who want to prepare ahead of time, I like the following definition given by Dr. John Piper regarding God’s glory;
“The glory of God is the beauty and excellence of his manifold perfections. It is an attempt to put into words what God is like in his magnificence and purity. It refers to his infinite and overflowing fullness of all that is good. The term might focus on his different attributes from time to time—like his power and wisdom and mercy and justice—because each one is indeed awesome and beautiful in its magnitude and quality. But in general God's glory is the perfect harmony of all his attributes into one infinitely beautiful and personal being.”

May I encourage each of us to prepare our hearts for this particular subject on Sunday which is truly one of the key essentials to understand in our Bible reading, devotion and study.

THE GLORY OF GOD

THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT
Ezek. 20:6 on that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
Ezek. 20:7 “I said to them, ‘Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.’
Ezek. 20:8 “But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.
Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
Ezek. 20:9 “But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

Psalm 106:6-8 - We have sinned like our fathers,We have committed iniquity, we have behaved wickedly.
Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders;They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make His power known.

GIVING OF THE LAW
Ex. 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
Ex. 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
Ex. 20:5 “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,

THE WILDNERNESS WANDERING
Ezek. 20:21 “But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness.
Ezek. 20:22 “But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN
Josh. 24:12 “Then I sent the hornet before you and it drove out the two kings of the Amorites from before you, but not by your sword or your bow.”
Josh. 24:13 “I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities which you had not built, and you have lived in them; you are eating of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.”
Josh. 24:14 ¶ “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. By giving Israel the land of Canaan, God aimed to create a people that would recognize His glory and delight in Him above all things.”

KING DAVID’S PRAYER
2 Samuel 7:23 “And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods?”

THE BEGINNINGS OF THE MONARCHY
1 Sam. 12:19 “Then all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil by asking for ourselves a king.”
1Sam. 12:20 Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
1Sam. 12:21 “You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile.
1Sam. 12:22 “For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.
1Sam. 12:23 “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way

THE TEMPLE OF GOD
1 Kings 8:41 “Also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your name’s sake
1Kings 8:42 (for they will hear of Your great name and Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house,
1Kings 8:43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.
1Kings 8:44 ¶ “When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way You shall send them, and they pray to the LORD toward the city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name,


DELIVERANCE IN THE TIME OF KINGS
2 Kings 19:34 - For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake
2 Kings 20:6 - “… I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”

EXILE AND PROMISED RESTORATION
Is. 48:9 “For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, And for My praise I restrain it for you, In order not to cut you off.
Is. 48:10 “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Is. 48:11 “For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another

Ezek. 36:22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.
Ezek. 36:23 “I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.
Zechariah 2:5 - For I,’ declares the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst
Haggai 1:8 - Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the LORD.

THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF THE LORD JESUS
Jesus prayed at the end of His life:
John 17:4 - I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.
 
The death of Jesus
John 12:27-28 - Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
John 12:28 “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 4:6 - For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

1 Peter 4:11 - Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

Matthew 5:16 - Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

THE SECOND COMING AND CONSUMATION
2 Th. 1:9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power
2Th. 1:10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

Questions to ask relating to God’s glory

Why did God create us?
Isaiah 43:6-7 - Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, every one who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory.

Why did God call Israel?
Jeremiah 13:11 - You are my servant Israel in whom I will be glorified
Isaiah 49:3 - I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory.

Why did God raise up Pharaoh to be the king of Egypt?
Romans 9:17 - For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "I have raised you up for this very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth."

Why did God defeat Pharaoh at the Red Sea?
Exodus 14:4; cf. vv. 17, 18 - And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord . . . And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.

Why did God spare the Israelites in the wilderness?
Ezekiel 20:14 - I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

Why did God give the Israelites victory in Canaan?
2 Samuel 7:23 - What other nation on earth is like Thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be His people, making Himself a name, and doing for them great and terrible things, by driving out before His people a nation and its gods?

Why did Jesus tell us to do good works?
Matthew 5:16; cf. 1 Peter 2:12 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

What reason did Jesus give for prayers that He answers?
John 14:13 - Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Why does God forgive sin?
Isaiah 43:25 - I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
Psalm 25:11 - For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.

Why does God save us?
Ephesians 1:4-6, cf. vv. 12, 14 - He chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will unto the praise of the glory of his grace.

Why Jesus receives us into His fellowship?
Romans 15:7 - Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

What is a primary ministry of the Holy Spirit?
John 16:14 - He will glorify me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.
 
How has God instructed us to live our lives?
1 Corinthinans 10:31 - So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

How are we to serve God?
1 Peter 4:11 - Whoever renders service [let him do it] as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Why Jesus fills us with the fruits of righteousness?
Philippians 1:11 - It is my prayer . . . that you be filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Here are the review slides that we discussed on Sunday. We took a pause in our tour of the Bible to heed the warning of legalism that can so easily slip into our lives. Whenever you tell an American Christian they need to read the Bible in many cases it can become part of a to do list or a duty to be accomplished. But we see that the Lord Jesus was very specific in His words to the Pharisees in Matthew 15:8 when He said “you honor Me with your lips but your heart is far from Me.” Class how dangerous when we turn the gospel-centered life which is based on grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone into a works based religion. Do you remember my illustration of the roses for Nancy on our anniversary? The only way to Biblically battle and be victorious against the disease of legalism is with the gospel. Therefore the verses listed in these slides should be studied, meditated on and eventually memorized. On Sunday night there was a group of us that met to discuss further the gospel-centered life. We will come back to this in section 4 of “learning and living the God-centered life.” But I did want to introduce this all important teaching now in order that we start to build this healthy Biblical category into our Christian lives.

Here is the audio LINK for this past weeks class. As soon as you arrive at the class download page then look for November 2.

This coming week we will overview the purpose of the Bible or we could say it another way the purpose of God. Again we are on a tour of the Bible as we have come from the “preparation of the heart” now we are moving to the “explanation to the head.”

I look forward to seeing each of you this Sunday until then blessings on you!

This is the day after election day. It seems that every 4 years we become encapsulated with our political affiliations and sometimes to the detriment of the kingdom. Folks, we Christians in the good old USA must remember that this is not our home. We have one foot on earth yet another foot planted squarely in heaven. Our future is not determined by a presidential race, but is determined by the casting of ourselves on the cross of Christ, and receiving Him as LORD and Savior in such a way that He becomes the delight of our heart. May this truth be reflected during these days not only in what we say but how we live.

Here are several sections that stood out in my devotion time this morning;
Psalm 27:4
The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.

Psalm 27:14
Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Psalm 28:6-7
Praise the Lord!
For he has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Psalm 29:10-11
The Lord rules over the floodwaters.
The Lord reigns as king forever.
The Lord gives his people strength.
The Lord blesses them with peace.