SESSION 1 GOD S PASSION FOR HIS GLORY I. THE AIM OF GOD AND THE PURPOSE OF MAN A. God has one all consuming passion: His own glory! Famous revivalist and theologian Jonathan Edwards wrote that the one aim of God in creation is Himself, and therefore all that He does is for His own glory and renown. No text reveals this more clearly than Isaiah 48:9 11. The great end of God s works, which is so variously expressed in Scripture, is indeed by ONE; and this one end is most properly and comprehensively called, THE GLORY OF GOD [The End For Which God Created The World. Jonathan Edwards. Pg. 246]. Isaiah 48:9 11 "For My name's sake I will defer My anger, And for My praise I will restrain it from you, So that I do not cut you off. 10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. 11 For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. a. Notice God s reason for acting in mercy: For My name s sake! For My praise! For My own sake! For My own sake! How should My name be profaned! My glory I will not give to another! b. Synonymous with God s zeal for His glory is His zeal for His name. When God does something for His name s sake, He is doing it for His glory and His fame. His name reveals His nature and all of His divine attributes and His perfections. B. We will not understand why we are here and what God has created us for (our purpose) apart from the truth of God s glory and supremacy in all things. Our purpose in life is not simply found in discovering what makes us happy and fulfilled. It is found in discovering the majesty and glory of God Himself. Isaiah 43:7,21 Everyone who is called by My name I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him 21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise. a. The Westminister Shorter Catechism asks the question: What is the chief end of man? The answer: Man s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever. b. This truth radically confronts our man centered gospel that pervades the Church in America. Christianity as a self help, self enhancing, self promoting religion is the exact opposite of the Biblical vision of Christianity. We follow Christ for who He is, not for what He can give us or how much He can bless us. This changes the way we worship and the type of message we preach. c. A God centered vision keeps us from a man centered gospel. d. Our identity is found in our making much of God, not in Him making much of us. Much of the current Identity Teaching overemphasizes who we are above the glory of God. God did not save us because we were amazing, He saved us because He is so glorious and we have sinned and fallen far short of His glory. The gospel is the glorious news of Jesus, not ourselves. 1 P a g e
C. God Himself is the central aim for which He created everything [Ps. 145:10]. He is the end of all His works; the first cause of creation and the supreme and last end of all things [Is. 48:12]. God is before all things, the sustainer of all things, and the consummation of all things [Rom. 11:36]. Isaiah 44:6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord 11 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last II. GOD S PASSION FOR HIS GLORY THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE A. The truth that God s Glory is the ultimate end of all things fills the pages of Scripture. Apart from this foundational reality neither the Bible, nor life, nor ministry, makes any sense. The glory of God (or His supremacy in all things) is the central vision from which and to which everything flows. Romans 11:36 Of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Colossians 1:16 18 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence [supremacy]. Proverbs 16:4 The LORD has made all for Himself Hebrews 2:10 It was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things 1. God created the universe to DECLARE HIS GLORY Psalm 19:1 4 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge [of His glory]. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world 2. God chose Israel FOR HIMSELF and for HIS GLORY Deuteronomy 7:6 "You are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. Isaiah 49:3 You are My servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 3. God rescued Israel from Egypt for HIS GLORY Psalm 106:7 8 Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider Your wondrous works but rebelled by the Sea, at the Red Sea. Yet He saved them for His name s sake, that He might make known His mighty power. 2 P a g e
4. God raised up and destroyed Pharaoh for HIS GLORY Romans 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth. Exodus 14:4,8 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 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen. 5. God spared Israel in the wilderness for the GLORY OF HIS NAME Ezekiel 20:13,14 "The house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them. 14 "But I acted for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. 6. God will not forsake His people Israel for the GLORY OF HIS NAME 1 Samuel 12:22 "The LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people. 7. God gave Israel victory from their enemies for the GLORY OF HIS NAME 2 Samuel 7:23,24 Who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land.. 24 "For You have made Israel Your very own people forever 8. God protected Jerusalem for the GLORY OF HIS NAME 2 Kings 19:34 I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David's sake.'" 9. God restored Israel from exile for the GLORY OF HIS NAME Daniel 9:19 "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name." Ezekiel 36:22,23 Thus says the Lord GOD: "I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. 23 "And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD 10. God forgives our sin for HIS OWN SAKE Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. Psalm 25:11 For Your name's sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great. 3 P a g e
11. Jesus came to the earth for the GLORY OF THE FATHER John 7:18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. John 17:1,4 Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You 4 "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 12. Jesus prayer for the Church is to behold GOD S GLORY John 17:24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 13. The Holy Spirit came to the earth to bring GLORY TO JESUS John 16:14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 14. God answers prayer for HIS OWN GLORY John 14:13 Whatever you ask in My name I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 15. God calls us to do everything FOR GOD S GLORY 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 16. God calls us to serve so that in all things GOD IS GLORIFIED 1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 17. Jesus is coming back a second time to be GLORIFIED in His saints 2 Thessalonians 1:9,10 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be marveled at among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 18. The Host of Heaven (angels, saints, living creatures) forever declare the GLORY OF GOD Revelation 4:10 The twenty four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." 4 P a g e
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