How to Glorify God
John 12:1-21
Sermon Outline from the Evening Service - 14 May 2000
Determining the best way to glorify God is about like deciding what
is the best means of
transportation -- it all depends......
I. Martha -- serving to the glory of God
A. Martha loved to serve; it was her way of showing love.
Jesus was the guest of honor and she showed her position and His position by serving.
B. Lk. 10:38-42 tells an earlier story; but now she has no complaint
C. The first deacons (Acts 6) were called to wait on tables!
II. Lazarus -- sitting to the glory of God
A. He was the guest of honour with Jesus -- the recipient of the
miracle of life in John 11.
B. The effect of most other miracles passed quickly, but this one grew with time (see
12:10-11).
C. If we are in full spiritual health, we don't have to "do" anything and God
will be glorified. 1 Pet.
3:1-4
III. Mary -- anointing feet to the glory of God
A. She understood Jesus' words that told of His impending death.
B. Her act was not a sudden impulse, nor was it a "cheap" sacrifice.
C. We should be able to find some way to make a public statement about our love for the
Lord
Jesus.
1. Understand that you are a unique creation of God prepared to do a work, a specific
work.
2. Use what you are and have to cause others to see the object of your faith and love.
3. Some expressions will be the same, some different. If someone is
not doing exactly as you are,
that doesn't mean he's not glorifying God.
4. When time and opportunity avail themselves, we must use them. James 4:17.
5. Is everything you do to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31)?
1. When we confess sin -- Josh 7:19; Rev. 16:9
2. When we thank and praise God -- Ps. 50:23; Rom. 1:21
3. When He changes people's situation -- Is. 61:1-3
4. When He brings judgment -- Ezek. 28:21-23
5. From believers' good works -- Mt. 5:16; 1 Pet. 2:12
6. From Jesus answering our prayers -- John 14:13
7. From believers bearing fruit -- John 15:8
8. From believers using their spiritual gifts -- 1 Pet. 4:11
9. In sickness and weakness and even death -- John 11:4; 2 Cor. 12:7-9; Ps. 116:15;
John 21:19
10. In everything (if done with proper motives) -- 1 Cor 6:19-20; 10:31
