To God Be the Glory & Podcast

Do All to The Glory of God

10 Ways to Give God Glory

God’s glory got pushed down my list lately. I had one of those weeks when I felt like a ball in a pinball machine. Banging back and forth from one thing to another. A roller coaster of highs and lows. A bit of disorientation as I hopped from life in Idaho to California.

As wife Janet and I drove back home to Fillmore, I remembered all the things left I needed to do. And then I heard about the depressing evangelist Jimmie Swaggart scandal. The next day, Janet headed to the doctor for a five-hour exam before surgery. And they kept telling her all the serious ramifications of what they could find. So, rather than thinking this was rather minor, we considered the horrible options. In consequence, I cancelled a speaking event, which I hated to do. I like to keep my commitments.

Some Good News

We still celebrated Janet’s birthday. Then, we got a couple exciting phone calls. A TV producer wanted an interview for a new book. And a publisher called to say How to be a Good Mom continued to do well and would enter a second printing. That’s mostly due to James Dobson of Focus on the Family purchasing 15,000 copies to use as a radio feature. So, the week bounced up and down, as though someone else controlled things.

Sometimes weeks or months or whole lives seem to go that way. You feel manipulated by outside factors. So, what should you be doing with your spiritual life in the midst of it all? We ought to remember why we’re here on earth. We’re supposed to bring glory to God. Fortunately, glory can come to God whether our times seem good or bad, whether depressed or full of joy. In John 17, Jesus spoke about some things to do to bring glory to God.

Ten Places to Start

• Smart prayer can bring glory to God.

John 14:13 KJV, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Correct praying glorifies God. Such as, pray for the expansion of God’s kingdom. My life verse is “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)” Smart prayers center on God’s kingdom. Smart prayers are spoken in Jesus’ Name. That is, praying for the kinds of things Jesus would ask for. James 5:16, “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

What does smart prayer look like? Here’s an example. John and Peter had been arrested and thrown in prison and called before the courts for preaching the gospel. Finally released but forbidden to speak in Jesus’ Name, they returned to the church. They would do it anyway. The church offered up a magnificent prayer.

“Now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.”

• Bring glory to God through proper good works.

Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Good works are meant to be seen. We sometimes have a phobia about that. We know good works don’t lead to salvation. But those who know Christ should have their lives crammed with good works. That’s His purpose for us.

Janet’s life verse – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 1:10).

What do good works done properly look like?

Acts 9:39, “Then Peter arose and went with them. They brought him to the upper chamber and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the tunics, coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.”

Dorcas died and as Peter stood by her body, they showed all the wonderful things she made for needy people.

• Bring God glory through a fruitful life.

John 15:8, “Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

Bearing fruit means producing spiritual results. Here’s one way a fruitful life looks that you might not have considered. Paul got converted on the road to Damascus. The Lord met him on the way. Why was he headed to Damascus? He heard about a fellowship of Christians there and wanted to arrest them. Bringing them back to Jerusalem for trial, he determined to stop this Christianity movement.

How come Christians even existed in Damascus? The gospel had hardly inched its way up to Samaria. None of the apostles left Jerusalem yet. Peter hadn’t preached to Cornelius, the God fearer Gentile. No one had gone to Damascus. How did a church form there? Where did they first hear about Jesus?

The Witness of Legion

One time Jesus reached the far side of the lake where a man in chains named Legion loomed out of the tombs. Jesus cast demons out of him. Then, the man begged to go with Jesus and not stay in that place. But Jesus told him, “No, go back to your own people. Tell them what God has done (Mark 5).”

So, Legion went back to the Decapolis, Ten City region and he told them all that happened to him. The people in Damascus heard about Jesus by a man named Legion, bringing word of His power. A fruitful life. Ananias, who would deal with Paul regaining his sight in Damascus, owed his heritage, if not direct witness, to this man.

• Give glory to God by completing those jobs God gives us to do.

John 17:4, “I have glorified you on the earth: I have accomplished and finished the work which you gave me to do.”

You and I have been given work to do. When it’s completed, we bring glory to God. Paul knew that very well. He saw his life and that of his followers as designed with a purpose and plan. He was confident that “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.”

And Paul wouldn’t get distracted. He would say, “This one thing I do. I press on to the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” And at the end of his life, he felt he had accomplished that goal. He told Timothy, “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course and kept the faith.” In Acts 20, he met with the Ephesian elders for the last time. “And when he had spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept much, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words he said that they should see his face no more.” Paul finished the job.

• Rejoice over salvation.

Acts 11:18, “When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.’”

Peter preached to Cornelius and the other Gentiles. The Jews with him didn’t know whether God wanted to save Gentiles as they were or they needed to become Jews first, then be saved. So, they stood nearby to watch. In the midst of the sermon, Cornelius, the Roman Centurion, and others with him accepted Christ. The witnesses rejoiced.

When the church rejoices over salvation, this brings glory to God. The angels in heaven rejoice, too, over one sinner who repents. And we also can rejoice when we see our names written in heaven. It’s an exciting, miraculous, often unexpected event when God saves even one person.

• Correct use of spiritual gifts.

1 Peter 4:11, “Whoever speaks, let him speak as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

When Peter preached, he brought glory to God. Dorcus serving and Paul out there planting new churches glorified God. The same when Barnabas used his gift of encouragement. Also, Priscilla and Aquila’s hospitality, opening up their home to form a new church, and taking Apollos aside to exhort him and send him back out to ministry.

• Abstaining from immorality.

1 Corinthians 6:20, “You were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.” How do we do that? “Flee immorality. Every other sin is outside the body but the immoral man sins against his own body (verse 18).

Refuse to give into pre-marital sex, adultery, homosexuality, perversion, lust, pornography, or hiring prostitutes. In our sin dominated world, every act of right living choices and faithfulness brings glory to God. Like the example of Joseph in Genesis at Potiphar’s house. As a chief servant, the boss’s wife tried to seduce him. When she caught him by his garment, he turned and fled (Genesis 39).

• Generous monetary offerings.

11 Corinthians 9:13, “Men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.”

We can’t buy glory. Giving more money won’t bribe God into pleasing Him. Some give for that reason or for tax purposes. Or to impress other people. But when we give out of a correct heart, it brings glory to God. He knows how hard it is for us to give up money. But when we give out of a loving and sincere heart, it brings Him glory. Here’s an example.

Acts 4:36, “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”

• Abounding in thanks.

11 Corinthians 4:15, “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”

Paul wrote a thank you letter to the Philippians. He greatly appreciated their generosity in supporting his ministry. At the conclusion, he wrote, “I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Philippians 4:18-20).

Finally, bring glory to God through sincere repentance.

A sad little phrase in Revelation 16:9, “They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.”

Those who refuse to repent hold back glory to God. Repentance shows the heart of mankind, broken and sorry. It also reveals the heart of God, loving, forgiving, and merciful.

Like David expresses in Psalm 51 after his sin with Bathsheba.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right, steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you … and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.”

Living For Jesus First

The public image of Christians tarnishes by exposure of incredibly dumb sins by nationally known personalities. But the reputation of believers isn’t half as important as the image of Christ. Rather than condemning others, we need to personally push on. We must aim to order our personal lives to give maximum glory to our Father in heaven. That’s what life here on earth is all about.

Stephen Bly

February 1988, Fillmore Bible Church, Fillmore, California

Hot Air Balloon Image by Wayne Cooper from Pixabay
Working Men & Women Image by Devanath from Pixabay
Grateful Image by John Hain from Pixabay

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“To God Be the Glory” audio podcast by award-winning western author Stephen Bly. 10 ways to bring God glory. Sponsored by BlyBooks.com Legacy Series.  

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