Sam Crabtree all rights reserved
Session 2 The God-centeredness of Good Biblical Warrant for God-centered Praise of Those Who Are Not God
is the purpose of the universe specifically, affirmation of God.
The chief end of God is not to glorify man, but the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever.
Isaiah 48:11 My glory I will not give to another. Problem: If all glory belongs to God, how can we commend those who are not God?
Two ways to miss the mark: Idolatrous commendation Failing to commend the commendable (James 4:17): When Jesus says, Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar s and unto God that which is God s, he is not forbidding people to pay tribute to Caesar.
No glory is stolen from God when: Daniel praises Nebuchadnezzar Daniel honors Darius Gabriel singles out Mary The writer of Hebrews commends Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses parents, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets, the martyrs.
Daniel 2:37-38 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all-
No glory is stolen from God when: Daniel praises Nebuchadnezzar Daniel honors Darius Gabriel singles out Mary The writer of Hebrews commends Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses parents, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets, the martyrs.
No glory is stolen from God when: He himself affirms Noah (righteous) Pharaoh affirms Joseph (wise) Boaz commends Ruth (worthy, virtuous) Saul commends David (better than he) Achish affirms David (blameless) The woman praises Elijah (godly, truthful) The centurion values his servant Paul commends Phoebe (servant heart)
Jesus commends: His disciples as salt and light His listeners as better than many sparrows The woman of great faith The woman of ill repute The faith of the centurion John with superlatives The generosity of the widow Nathaniel for lack of hypocrisy
John 8:1-11 (the woman caught in adultery) Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.
God is at work everywhere. See it. Affirm it.
The gospel of the God who is at work is not merely something to look at, but a way of looking.
What is affirmation? commends the past. Encouragement pleads for a future.
What is affirmation? Truthfully declaring by complimentary word or action the goodness of something or someone. All good affirmation attests or confirms that which honors God, that which is morally upright.
Therefore, to affirm people well, we must learn to affirm God, the source of every good thing to be affirmed in people.
How can you praise a mere human in a God-centered way? Commend the character of Christ in them.
Salvation is not in a code, but in a person. So it is with character.
To be on the lookout for what is truly commendable in people, we must see what is commendable in God. Everything commendable is rooted in Jesus. What s so good about him?
Truthfulness Boldness Alertness Generosity Availability Self-control Thoroughness Patience Love Gratefulness Obedience Forgiveness Hospitality Flexibility Endurance Diligence Dependability Wisdom Creativity Orderliness
Initiative Humility Determination Justice Gentleness Responsibility Decisiveness Attentiveness Compassion
The chief end of man is to glorify God. The chief end of God is to glorify God.
Jesus is on a mission to receive praise, even if he has to get it from rocks.
Meanwhile, the Father is so passionate for his Son to receive praise, that his Son s praiseworthiness reverberates in, through, and from those who resemble him. The more we resemble him, the more of him is displayed, and the more honor he receives.
The praising of people does not preclude the praising of God, if the people are commended ultimately for his glory.
God is glorified in us when we affirm the work he has done and is doing in others.
Stop and write a note of affirmation to someone difficult to affirm. Stop and pray for your speaker to not be a hypocrite at practicing affirmation. 3. Oppositional