Glory by Pastor Abidan Shah

GLORY by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson

Introduction: How many of ya’ll remember growing up when you were walking out the door, your parents telling you “Better behave out there because you represent us?” There were times I did a very poor job representing/displaying my parents. Then there were times that I did make them proud. I distinctly remember the time in first grade when I came home with the “first in class” badge/pin. My dad was so proud! He bragged on me to everybody in church. I didn’t understand the big deal until later on. By getting the rank of first in class, I was telling the world that my parents were doing a great job. In other words, I was displaying them well. Today’s message is titled “GLORY.” Here’s the message in a nutshell: God’s glory is who he is and all that he is. I glorify God when I display who he is and all that he is.

Philippians 2 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient tothe point ofdeath, even the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.

Question: Are you glorifying God in your life? How are you displaying God in your home, marriage, neighborhood, workplace, grocery store, restaurant, and church? You cannot display him until you belong to him. Do you belong to him? Are you saved?

1. What is the meaning of the word “glory?”

The word “glory” comes from the Greek word “doxa” from which we get our other English word “doxology.” Depends on which church tradition you come from, there is the “Gloria patri” or the “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” To understand the true meaning of the word “doxa,” we need to first turn to the Greek translation of the Old Testament. The word “doxa” is found over 400 times in the LXX and mostly to translate the Hebrew noun “Kabod.” That word kabod has the meaning of “abundance” and “wealth.” Other times it means “importance,” “influence,” “reputation,” and “honor.” Most importantly, it is used for the honor/splendor of God. A good example is Exodus 33:18“And he (Moses) said, ‘Please, show me Your glory(kabod).’” God told Moses that he will allow his goodness to pass before him but he cannot see his face because no man can see his face and live. Then he promised him that while his glory(kabod) passes by, he will put him in the cleft/split of the rock and cover him with his hand and Moses will see his back. Still he cannot see his face. Talk about a deep passage! You can also find the same word at the end of Ezekiel 1. After he had visions of God, it says in verse 28“…This wasthe appearance of the likeness of the glory(kabod) of the LORD…” David sings in Psalm 26:8“Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glorydwells.” InNehemiah 9:5, the Levites cried to the people “…Stand up and bless the Lord your God forever and ever! ‘Blessed be Your glorious name…’” I can go on and on. “Kabod” means the splendor, the radiance, and all the godness of God.” The Greek translators used the word “doxa” to translate “kabod.” The word “doxa” in Classical Greek simply meant “reputation” and “honor.” Now “doxa” became “God’s good, splendorous, and glorious reputation.”

In the New Testament, the word doxa appears over 160 times and many times to declare God’s good, splendorous, and glorious reputation.

John 11:4 When Jesus heardthat (Lazarus was sick),He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory (doxa) of God, that the Son of God may be glorified (doxa)through it.”

John 17:5“And now, O Father, glorify(doxa) Me together with Yourself, with the glorywhich I had with You before the world was.”

I can give many more but for time’s sake, Revelation 19:1After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory (doxa)and honor and powerbelongto the Lord our God!”

2. How did Jesus bring glory to God the Father?

Even though Jesus was equal in form/nature with the Father, he did not try to grasp or snatch at equality with God. Instead, he left his throne, came down on earth, and took the form of a slave. Sometimes people say that he left his glory behind. Not true. John 1:14“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory (doxa), the glory (doxa)as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Then, Jesus died the ultimate death of a slave, the crucifixion.

Through this act of humility and obedience, Jesus displayed God the father’s good, splendorous, and glorious reputation.

He displayed God the Father’s utmost HOLINESS by drinking the bitter cup in the garden of Gethsemane.
He displayed God the Father’s utmost LOVE by allowing his father to suffer the pain of pouring his wrath upon him.
He displayed God the Father’s utmost FAITHFULNESS by submitting to the suffering on the cross.
He displayed God the Father’s utmost TRUSTWORTHINESS by surrendering his spirit into his hands.
He displayed God the Father’s utmost TRIUMPH by subduing the demonic hordes.
He displayed God the Father’s utmost GRACE by becoming the name by which all can be saved.

Jesus glorified God the Father through his life and death.

3. How do we bring glory to God?

People have a lot of misunderstandings about the glory of God.

They look at the beauty in nature and call that the glory of God.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.”

True but it’s fallen and waiting for redemption.

Romans 8 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthyto be comparedwith the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjecteditin hope;21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

They look at the good in human beings and call that the glory of God.

Psalm 8 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.

True but unfortunately man is dead in trespasses and sins.

John 5:41 “I do not receive honor from men.”

They look at some quiet, ornate, and vast church building and call that the glory of God.

When people claim that contemporary worship takes them away from holiness and hence from the glory, here’s my answer: “Hiding behind liturgies to peddle unbiblical theologies is anything but holy. It is deceptive and God knows the true intent. We cannot use God’s ‘glory’ as a fog to hide our sin.”

God’s glory is who he is and all that he is. I glorify God when I display who he is and all that he is. Let me say it another way: When I follow the example of Jesus in my life, I bring glory to God the Father. When I live the life of the cross, I bring glory to God.