Soli Deo Gloria: Glory Thieves and the Unstoppable God
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Introduction
Introduction
On October 16, 1555, having spent 18 months in a cold cell in the Tower of London, English reformers Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, were to be burned at the stake for preaching the recovered Gospel of the Reformation. As the wood beneath them was being lit and the flames began to press in, Ridley, the elder of the two, called out to his friend Latimer with these final words: “Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.” And, Ridley’s prophetic words proved true. Within three years, Bloody Mary would die and be succeeded by a protestant queen who would fan the flame that Latimer and Ridley so courageously lit.
But, the question of why must come into our minds. Why would these men willingly submit to so gruesome a death over doctrine and theology? In our day, doctrine and theology are often curse words that stunt church growth and raise suspicion. Yet, these men died, excruciatingly so, for doctrine. And, the reason that they, and many like them, would die over doctrines so fundamental as justification by faith and sufficiency of the word of God and the fallibility of the popes, is because they recognized that God’s glory was at stake. You see, the core doctrines of the faith are worth dying over because God’s glory is worth dying over. And, that brings us to our final sola: soli deo gloria. That is, God’s glory alone.
God’s Word
God’s Word
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Read
The Unstoppable Church for the Glory of God
The Unstoppable Church for the Glory of God
When we come to , we are really stepping into one of the most remarkable times of history. Jesus has been raised from the dead and sent his Spirit down to his disciples so that they might walk in power, courage, and godliness that is beyond human capability. In , Jesus had told his disciples that He was going to establish his church through them and that his church would be unstoppable by any man or institution. And, this is what the book of Acts is about. Time and again, we see in the lives of these early disciples incredible odds and difficulty, and yet, we see just as often the church of Jesus Christ in triumph over them. Chapter 12 really highlights a particular man’s attempt to stomp out the church. He was the Jewish king named Herod Agrippa. He is the grandson of the Herod the Great, who ordered that all the babies of Bethlehem be murdered in an attempt to kill Jesus as a baby. And so, in , we see Agrippa picking up where grandpa left off. Herod Agrippa was always struggling with his approval ratings, and he saw the Jews hatred of the Christians as a political opportunity to gain favor with his constituents. So, he kills James, the brother of John, by having him beheaded with a sword and imprisons Peter, who is the leader of the church. And so, you’re five verses in, and things don’t look good. But, then the Angel of the Lord visits Peter in the prison, just hours before his execution, and miraculously delivers Peter, so much so that the disciples believe he’s a ghost when they see him again. And, in our text this morning, we see yet another visit by the Angel of the Lord that humbled Herod finally and forever. But, the point of is clear: God’s Church is the unstoppable means by which He will reveal his glory to the earth.
Cheap Glory
Cheap Glory
“On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes” In our text, a contingency from the region of Tyre and Sidon had come to Herod to settle a vicious quarrel that had developed between them. They were from a wealthy trade region, but they depended upon Palestine for food. History remembers Agrippa as being a harsh and barbaric man. When he believed himself to be near death, he had the majority of the men of Israel gathered into a prison to be massacred on the day of his death so that he could be certain the country would be in mourning on the day of his death, as he believed they should be for a king. So, to have him against you, was a dangerous position to be. But, these men had come to give Herod exactly what he wanted: praise and glory and honor. They had come to stroke his ego so that they might be in his good graces. Josephus, the Jewish historian from Herod’s day, gives an incredibly detailed account of this meeting that is exactly in line with . He says that the contingency is in town for a couple of days, Herod has them meet him in the great amphitheater that his grandfather had built, and it was early in the morning. Herod put on a robe that he had made specifically for such events, and it was made from pure silver. So, as Herod ascends up the steps of the great amphitheater to sit upon his judgement seat the morning sun peaking over the walls hit the silver just right so that it appeared as though Herod was glowing. A gifted orator, Herod begins to speak his pronouncements with the authority of the king, and the contingency from Tyre and Sidon are caught up in the emotion of the moment and they begin to cry out “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” They were not saying, necessarily that he was the supreme creator, but they were pronouncing him to be an immortal. And, it’s here, in the zenith of Herod’s glory, that the God of heaven strikes him down. Herod may have clothed in the finest metals of earth, and he may have been seated on a judgement seat that demanded the attention of men. But, his glory was cheap. It was temporary. It was stolen.
Thieves of Glory
Thieves of Glory
“Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory” You see, it was in the very moment that Herod was receiving the praise and glory of being an immortal that God chose to prove his mortality. In the final moments of his life, Josephus records this quote from Herod as he is literally devoured by worms in his intestines: “I whom you call a god, am commanded presently to depart this life; while Providence thus reproves the lying words you just now said to me; and I, who was by you called immortal, am immediately to be hurried away by death.” You see, God is unwilling to share his glory. He’s unwilling to share it with Herod, and he’s unwilling to share it with you. It is the responsibility of every human being alive to live for God’s glory alone, and it is to that end that we will give an ultimate account for our lives.
“I whom you call a god, am commanded presently to depart this life; while Providence thus reproves the lying words you just now said to me; and I, who was by you called immortal, am immediately to be hurried away by death.
Human beings are thieves of glory. Why did Adam and Eve eat of the tree in the Garden? They wanted to be equal with God and as glorious as God. Why was the Tower of Babel built in ? Man wanted to prove his brilliance and ingenuity by getting to heaven by their own strength, and so rob God of the glory of redemption. Why did Ananias and Saphira sell their land, give part of the money, while saying they gave it all? They wanted the approval of men to enhance their personal glory. Why did Herod so willingly receive the praises of these men? He is what all humans are: a thief of the glory due to God alone!
Do you know what the most offensive part of Reformation theology is? It’s that it isn’t about you. It doesn’t matter what you think, and it doesn’t matter what feel, and it doesn’t matter what you want. It only matters what God says because it’s God’s glory that is at stake. Reformation theology doesn’t ask how we want to worship, but rather how does God demand to be worshipped? It’s not how do we want to structure our church or what will make our church more culturally acceptable, but how does God want our church to be? It’s not what do I think about how I should live or what I should, rather it’s who does God call me to be?
It’s Not Your Reputation
It’s Not Your Reputation
APPLICATION: Most of us live our lives concerned about our reputations. We have to make sure that our kids get to have all of the finer things and all of the same activities as those whom we perceive are the best parents. Why? What if I’m not seen as a good parent? We pursue our careers, not for the purpose of bringing about the most good and bringing God the most glory, but so that our reputation will match or exceed that of our friends. Why don’t we share the gospel with our family and friends? What if it causes them to thing lesser of me? What if things get awkward between us? But, brothers and sisters, if we learn nothing else from Herod may we learn that this life is not about your reputation! It’s about God’s glory! You do not live for the purpose of building the best reputation possible; you live for the purpose bringing God the most glory possible!
Martin Luther was excommunicated. John Calvin was exiled from Geneva. Lady Jane Grey was beheaded in London. William Tyndale was burned at the stake. Brothers and sisters, may we join with the reformers in laying down our reputations for the sake of God’s glory.
Herod’s Missed Opportunity
Herod’s Missed Opportunity
“But the word of God increased and multiplied” You see, Herod missed an opportunity of a lifetime. And, the opportunity that Herod missed is the same opportunity that God has laid out our feet today. Herod had been given a particular position and particular influence by God, and it was Herod’s to decide what to do with. He had the opportunity to use it to be a part of what God was doing through his unstoppable church. When these men began to worship him as an idol, he had every opportunity to deflect their glory to one, true God. But, he missed it, and it cost him.
APPLICATION: Today, God is revealing his glory to the world by the means of his church. Christians around the world are laying down their lives so that God’s glory might be built instead of their reputations. And, God has given you a specific place of influence and specific opportunity to share his glory. What will you do? Will you use your position in the world to build your own reputation, or will you use your position to deflect all glory to God alone?