Glorifying God: The Essence of Worship
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Opening Prayer:
Children who are 4 yrs of age - 2nd grade may now make their way to Children’s Church please follow Mrs. Jane
For the rest of us take your copy of God’s Holy Word and turn to Is.43.10 as we continue in our series The Heart of Worship. Today's sermon title is Glorifying God - The Essence of Worship.
We have defined worship by saying: Worship is honor and adoration directed to God. Through out this series of messages on the heart of worship, the concept has expanded, so that perhaps a fuller definition is appropriate:
Worship is our innermost being responding with praise for all that God is, through our attitudes, actions, thoughts, and words, based on the truth of God as He has revealed Himself.
Worship is our innermost being responding with praise for all that God is, through our attitudes, actions, thoughts, and words, based on the truth of God as He has revealed Himself.
Another way to say it is that worship is glorifying God. To be completely obsessed with the glory of God is the consuming passion of the true worshiper, who lives for the soul purpose to exalt God. The message today and the one for next week will be devoted to exploring this truth.
Lets begin by asking this question because by answering this question we can see the true essence of worship.
What is God’s Glory or the Glory of God?
What is God’s Glory or the Glory of God?
Let me give you the theological definition: The glory of God is the manifestation of His infinite and majestic attributes, radiating His divine essence and nature. It encompasses His holiness, righteousness, power, wisdom, love, and all other perfections.
God's glory is His inherent brilliance and beauty that sets Him apart as the Creator and sustainer of all things.
7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”
This verse says that God created us for His glory.
In the context of other verses, it can be said that humans "glorify" God because through us, God's glory shines in things like love, music, and heroism—things that belong to God and are carried by us like jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7).
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
We are containers for His glory, and everything we can do or be comes from Him.
God interacts with nature in the same way, as nature displays His glory. His magnificence is shown to us through the material world in various ways, captivating all people everywhere in different ways.
For example, one person may be awed by mountains while another may find beauty in the sea and another wowed by the heavenly bodies over us. Yet, all reveal God's glory and connect us to Him. This way, God reveals Himself to everyone.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
As Psalm 19:1–4 expresses, the heavens declare God's glory, and their message reaches every corner of the earth.
24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.
Psalm 73:24 describes heaven as "glory."
In the past, it was common for Christians to talk about death as being "received unto glory," a phrase taken from this Psalm. When a Christian passes away, they will enter God's presence, surrounded naturally by His glory. It's a place where the very beauty of God's Spirit resides because He is there. This beauty, which is the essence of who God is, is His "glory." In that realm, His glory won't need to shine through humans or nature; it will be clear for all to see, just as 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known."
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
In the worldly sense, glory is like a brightness or attractiveness that rests on earthly things (Psalm 37:20, Psalm 49:17), and in this way, it fades over time. The reason it fades is because material things are temporary. They eventually decay and vanish, but the glory within them belongs to God and returns to Him when they perish.
Consider the rich person mentioned James 1:10 The verse says, "The rich is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away."
9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.
What does this mean? It's reminding the rich that their wealth, power, and beauty come from God. They should be humble, knowing that it's God who shapes them and gives them everything they have. Realizing that they will fade away like the grass helps them understand that God is the source of true glory.
God's glory is the origin, the fountain from which all other glories flow. Are you seeing why God deserves all the worship and praise.
Because God is the source of all glory, He won't allow the belief that glory comes from humans, idols, or nature to continue.
In Isaiah 42:8, we see God's jealousy for His own glory. He will not give it to another.
8 I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.
This jealousy is what Paul refers to in Romans 1:21–25 when he talks about people worshiping created things rather than the Creator. In simpler terms, instead of recognizing that God's glory shines through the object, like an animal, tree, or person, they worship the object itself as if its beauty came from within. This is at the core of idolatry.
Throughout history, everyone has at some point traded the glory of God for the glory of humans.
Many people keep making the same mistake: relying on worldly things, human connections, their own abilities or appearance, or the goodness they see in others. But when these things eventually fade and fail, leading to despair, it's important to remember that God's glory remains constant.
As we journey through life, we'll encounter glimpses of His glory in different places and moments—in people, nature, stories of love or bravery, whether real or fictional, and in our own lives.
Ultimately, everything leads back to God. The only path to Him is through His Son, Jesus Christ. In Him, we'll discover the ultimate source of all beauty, in heaven.
Nothing of value will be lost to us because all that faded in life will be restored in Him.
Now that we know what the glory of God is lets ask one other question...
Why Should We Give God Glory?
Why Should We Give God Glory?
Firstly, because He created us.
Glorify God because He created you
Glorify God because He created you
Psalm 100 reminds us, "It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves." Often, we forget this truth and mistakenly believe that our own achievements make us deserving of praise.
Romans 11:36 makes it clear: "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever, Amen."
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
As our Creator, He alone deserves our honor.
The book of Revelation reveals a scene in heaven where the twenty-four elders cast their crowns before God's throne, declaring,
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.”
God granted us our existence, our life, and everything we possess. How could we ascribe glory to anyone else or claim it for ourselves? We are who we are because of God's creation.
Secondly, we should glorify God because He created everything to bring glory to Himself.
Glorify God because He created everything to bring glory to Himself
Glorify God because He created everything to bring glory to Himself
The entire purpose of creation is to magnify God.
Proverbs 16:4 tells us, "The Lord hath made all things for Himself."
4 The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
Every aspect of creation is designed to reflect His attributes—His power, love, mercy, wisdom, and grace. This is not arrogance on God's part; He is truly deserving of our praise. As God, He rightfully demands worship and adoration from His creatures.
Ultimately, every individual will honor God, whether willingly or unwillingly, in life or in death. The honor God receives from the righteous is especially pleasing to Him, as they offer it willingly.
In fact, praising Him is the special calling of God's people. Isaiah 43:21 states, "The people whom I formed for Myself, will declare My praise."
21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.
First Peter 2:9 describes the church as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you."
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Though unbelievers may resist giving God glory, they will ultimately do so. Even Pharaoh, who resisted glorifying God, ended up fulfilling God's purposes through his destruction (Exodus 14:17).
17 And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.
And God speaking to Pharaoh, says this to him...
16 But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.
Even those who are unwilling to give glory to God, God still gets the glory and His power is seen through their rebellion.
Paul puts it this way,
22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,
Those who give God glory willingly are true worshipers, and worship is nothing more, nothing less than glorifying God with a joyful, willing, heart.
In other words, whatever can be truthfully said about how to glorify God is simply further insight into the subject of genuine worship.
Glorifying God begins, as we have clearly seen, with salvation, when we submit to Jesus Christ as Lord, thereby becoming true worshipers. Philippians 2:9–11 says of the Lord Jesus,
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And just as worship is a way of life, so glorifying God must be the worshiper’s conscious, continual, purposeful, and perpetual aim.
First Corinthians 10:31, a well-known but too-little practiced verse, gives the strategy of a true worshiper’s life:
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Whatever we do, beginning with activities as mundane as eating and drinking, ought to be done to His glory.
That my friends is the essence of worship.
Conclusion
We have delved into the meaning of God's glory, understanding it as the manifestation of His infinite and majestic attributes, radiating His divine essence and nature. It is His inherent brilliance and beauty that sets Him apart as the Creator and sustainer of all things.
We've seen that God's glory is eternal and unchanging, unlike the fleeting glory of earthly things. God is the source from which all glories flow, and as such, the God of Glory deserves our utmost reverence and adoration.
But why should we give God glory?
Firstly, because He created us.
Secondly, because everything He created exists to bring glory to Him.
Let us be like the twenty-four elders in heaven, casting our crowns before God's throne and declaring His worthiness to receive glory, honor, and power. Let us willingly proclaim His glory and magnify His name in all that we do.
Let us pray:
Closing Statement
As we go forth from this place, may we live our lives as true worshippers, constantly seeking to glorify God in every aspect of our being. Let our hearts overflow with praise for His infinite majesty and may our lives be a testament to His glory.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all as you go forth to worship and glorify God in spirit and in truth. Amen.