WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.759 It was nearly 10 years ago since I met the most famous person that I've ever met. 00:00:08.660 --> 00:00:14.820 And when I say met them, they waved at me. 00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:20.600 And when I say me, it was potentially the guy beside me, but most likely me. 00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:25.900 I was in Sacramento, California, for the National Youth Work Convention. 00:00:25.899 --> 00:00:33.780 And at the end of a small group, I decided to go and grab some lunch before catching a flight home. 00:00:34.179 --> 00:00:42.060 As we walked out of the convention center and down into the mall, I noticed just to my left, 00:00:42.060 --> 00:00:49.960 a couple of black cars parked in the mall, SUVs with blacked out windows and all that. 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:58.359 And it was at that point that I noticed that one had a submachine gun and the other one had a shotgun poking up just above the dash. 00:00:59.160 --> 00:01:06.319 Each car had a couple of guys in them wearing black suits, wearing white shirts with black ties and black sunglasses. 00:01:06.579 --> 00:01:14.460 And so it was either a remake of Men in Black or potentially, my hope was that it was the Secret Service. 00:01:14.459 --> 00:01:27.439 Given that the shotgun was a Remington 870 12 gauge and the machine gun was a Heckler-Kosh MP5 9mm, chosen weapons of the Secret Service, 00:01:27.979 --> 00:01:30.500 I figured it was in fact the Secret Service. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:36.199 And the fact that they also had an earpiece and were talking into their hands kind of gave it away as well. 00:01:37.259 --> 00:01:42.899 I noticed in that moment, quickly looking around, that there were various Secret Service guys in the mall. 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:50.180 So, it's either they're on protection duty or something pretty crazy is about to go down. 00:01:50.320 --> 00:01:53.380 So, either way, I figured I'm going to get a front row seat to see what happens. 00:01:54.460 --> 00:02:01.400 And so, grabbed a spot right near this barricade and started chomping on a burger. 00:02:02.580 --> 00:02:10.520 And what I'd been hoping for the whole time that I was in Sacramento was to run into the governor of California, 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:16.939 one of the greatest actors and philosophical thinkers of all time, Arnold Schwarzenegger. 00:02:18.860 --> 00:02:20.640 And I wasn't disappointed. 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:32.760 I was chomping on my burger when all of a sudden, he appeared from a restaurant about 50 metres from where I was seated. 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:39.019 And a friend and I, in that moment, who were both chomping and almost choking at this point, 00:02:39.799 --> 00:02:47.099 we both jumped up onto our chairs and over the tops of the screams of the adoring fans, 00:02:47.560 --> 00:02:51.919 we called out like a couple of teenagers at a Bieber concert, 00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:54.359 Hey, Arnie! 00:02:54.359 --> 00:02:54.959 Arnie! 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:55.080 Arnie! 00:02:57.159 --> 00:03:04.260 And he turned and he waved at me. 00:03:06.420 --> 00:03:12.280 As did the Secret Service, turn and not wave but look at us. 00:03:12.780 --> 00:03:15.580 And in that moment, you've got his attention. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:22.000 Arnold Schwarzenegger, you know, have you watched Kindergarten Cop? 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:25.000 I mean, come on! 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:27.699 The guy's a comedy actor as well. 00:03:28.419 --> 00:03:29.879 And there he is. 00:03:30.180 --> 00:03:32.639 And he's looking at me and we're waving. 00:03:32.979 --> 00:03:36.819 And the only thing that I could think of in that moment was, 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:39.099 We'll be back! 00:03:42.699 --> 00:03:44.759 He looked as if he'd heard it before. 00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:51.699 Now, to mark this personal milestone, I quickly took a couple of shots, 00:03:51.739 --> 00:03:53.560 which I'm hoping to pass on to my children. 00:03:54.139 --> 00:03:56.840 So up here, that's him right there. 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:01.919 The next one's a bit clearer. 00:04:02.079 --> 00:04:02.759 Next one, Tim. 00:04:03.539 --> 00:04:04.840 That's his nose! 00:04:05.939 --> 00:04:10.519 That's him just appearing from behind there, the pole. 00:04:10.520 --> 00:04:15.040 Well, they are treasured memories of mine, those two photos, 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:20.480 of the moment that I met Arnold Schwarzenegger, kind of. 00:04:22.019 --> 00:04:25.980 Now, if you could be famous for one thing, what would it be? 00:04:27.420 --> 00:04:32.319 You see, there's a weird fascination in our world with celebrity. 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:40.060 A recent study in the United States revealed that 54% of teenagers want to be famous. 00:04:41.019 --> 00:04:46.560 Of those that crave fame, 68% said they weren't sure how on earth it was ever going to happen. 00:04:47.060 --> 00:04:55.500 But 21% of them said that they would audition for reality TV shows in hope to become famous. 00:04:55.500 --> 00:04:59.420 Things like Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor in order to reach the masses. 00:04:59.420 --> 00:05:04.640 You see, reality TV has become enormously popular. 00:05:05.160 --> 00:05:07.199 It drives me nuts. 00:05:07.699 --> 00:05:11.120 I hate any form of reality TV. 00:05:13.200 --> 00:05:17.620 Except for maybe Escape to the Country, if that's reality TV. 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:18.280 I'm not really sure. 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:22.300 You see, what it does, what reality TV does, 00:05:22.300 --> 00:05:28.379 it holds out the promise that any average smuck might be able to become famous for some ridiculous talent. 00:05:29.420 --> 00:05:33.460 They might have that one shot at fame. 00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:37.199 Now, fame is a major goal in life. 00:05:37.379 --> 00:05:47.060 Apparently, Alexander the Great was the first person to have a celebrity culture in the modern sense of the word. 00:05:47.060 --> 00:05:56.280 That's according to an English professor who authored a book called The Frenzy of Renown. 00:05:57.339 --> 00:06:04.060 And he wrote, not only did he want to be unique, but he wanted to tell everyone about it. 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:07.980 And he had an apparatus for telling everyone about it. 00:06:08.139 --> 00:06:11.699 He had techniques for doing famous things. 00:06:11.699 --> 00:06:22.279 He had historians, painters, sculptors, and gem carvers, bringing him along as entourage for every one of his battles. 00:06:24.699 --> 00:06:30.879 He wanted them to record that Alexander was famous. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:36.319 Now, we don't need historians and painters and sculptors and gem carvers. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:42.040 We've got Instagram and Facebook and selfie sticks, 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:51.560 recording every meal that we eat, every place that we visit. 00:06:51.560 --> 00:06:55.560 Self-obsession. 00:06:57.280 --> 00:06:58.819 We want to leave our mark. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:04.740 We want to be known for something significant or to be regarded highly as an expert in a field. 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:08.079 We want to be, may not necessarily to be worldwide fame. 00:07:08.100 --> 00:07:09.639 If we could get that, that would be awesome. 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:19.719 It may be just famous in Australia or even in a country or in a city or have a street named after you. 00:07:22.719 --> 00:07:28.159 Someone in Nat's family has had a park named after them. 00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:39.399 They've got an album this thick of all the photos, of all the articles about them, about this park. 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:48.319 Maybe it's just want to be the best in your family or something or even to have a park on the wall at church 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:54.699 or just simply ensuring that I am remembered. 00:07:57.579 --> 00:08:02.279 We live life to make our name great, to make it remembered. 00:08:02.279 --> 00:08:10.959 My kids won't give a rip about those photos or the moment that I, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:15.239 they won't even know who he is by the time they grow up. 00:08:15.479 --> 00:08:22.919 Our mission statement says that we exist for a different purpose than making ourselves great and famous. 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:29.100 St. Paul's exists to know Jesus, to treasure Jesus, to represent Jesus for God's glory, 00:08:29.180 --> 00:08:34.259 to make his name great and for the joy of all people. 00:08:34.539 --> 00:08:40.560 We exist to make much of Jesus in order that we might make much of God. 00:08:41.700 --> 00:08:43.320 And that's what I want to look at today. 00:08:43.860 --> 00:08:46.320 What it means to exist for God's glory. 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:52.160 In Isaiah 6, which Wendy just read out to us, if you've got your Bibles, I'd love you to open up there, Isaiah 6. 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:57.000 What we notice, first of all, is that God is not like us. 00:08:57.400 --> 00:09:00.040 He is, in fact, worthy of fame. 00:09:00.340 --> 00:09:04.100 He is, in fact, worthy of glory and honor and praise. 00:09:04.620 --> 00:09:11.060 There are at least seven glimpses of God in these first four verses of Isaiah 6. 00:09:11.059 --> 00:09:14.179 Firstly, we notice that God is alive. 00:09:14.959 --> 00:09:16.199 In the year, it says, 00:09:16.459 --> 00:09:28.779 That is, King Uzziah, the most powerful man in the world at that time, has just died, but God lives on. 00:09:29.419 --> 00:09:30.779 Psalm 90, verse 2 says, 00:09:30.779 --> 00:09:44.179 God was the living God when this universe banged into existence. 00:09:44.419 --> 00:09:48.339 He was the living God when the Great Wall of China was built. 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:54.059 He was the living God in 1966 when Time magazine put on its title page, 00:09:54.059 --> 00:09:55.319 God is dead. 00:09:56.659 --> 00:10:01.659 He will be living 10 trillion ages from now. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:08.359 There is not a single head of state currently ruling in the world who will still be doing that in 90 years' time. 00:10:08.359 --> 00:10:19.459 In a brief 120 years, this planet will be populated by more than 10 billion brand new people who currently do not exist. 00:10:19.460 --> 00:10:26.940 All of us alive today will vanish and be gone, just like Uzziah, but not God. 00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:34.620 He never had a beginning and therefore depends on nothing for his existence. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:38.620 He always has and always will be alive. 00:10:38.800 --> 00:10:40.740 Secondly, we notice that God is authoritative. 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:41.840 Verse 2, 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:46.300 When he saw the law, he saw him seated on a throne. 00:10:46.299 --> 00:10:51.839 You see, no vision of heaven, goes throughout the Bible, will ever, 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:58.079 you ever catch a glimpse of God plowing a field or cutting the grass or shining shoes or loading a truck 00:10:58.079 --> 00:11:00.299 or filling out papers and reports. 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:04.179 He sits and he sits on a throne. 00:11:05.199 --> 00:11:08.159 All is at peace and all is in control. 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:12.719 The throne is his right to rule that which he has made. 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:17.200 You see, we do not give God authority over our lives. 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:20.340 He has it whether we like it or not. 00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:23.879 Few things are more humbling. 00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:29.139 Few things give us that sense of raw majesty 00:11:29.139 --> 00:11:35.899 as the truth that God is utterly, totally authoritative. 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:41.639 After him, there is no other court of appeal. 00:11:43.980 --> 00:11:46.759 Thirdly, we see that God is all-powerful. 00:11:47.299 --> 00:11:50.620 The throne of his authority is not just one amongst many. 00:11:51.179 --> 00:11:54.840 He doesn't hold the bench with a bunch of other like-minded people. 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:57.000 His throne is high and exalted. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:12:03.299 The throne that is God's throne is higher than every other throne 00:12:03.299 --> 00:12:08.259 and it signifies God's superior power to exercise his authority. 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:14.360 That means that no opposing authority can nullify the decrees of God. 00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:19.740 What he purposes, he always accomplishes. 00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:24.419 As God says a little bit further in Isaiah 46, verse 10, he says, 00:12:24.580 --> 00:12:29.180 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:35.460 I say, my purpose will stand and I will do all that I please. 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:40.159 Or again, in Daniel chapter 4, speaking about God, says, 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:45.560 he does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. 00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:54.839 You see, to be gripped by the all-powerful sovereignty of God 00:12:54.839 --> 00:12:59.459 is either marvelous because he is for you 00:12:59.459 --> 00:13:05.119 or it is terrifying because he is against you. 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:10.459 Indifference, to sit here and to be indifferent 00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:16.860 to his all-encompassing power and sovereignty 00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:20.980 simply means that you just have not seen it. 00:13:24.340 --> 00:13:26.379 The sovereign authority, the living God, 00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:31.259 is a refuge full of joy and power for those who are his 00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:33.480 and it's terrifying for those who are not. 00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:36.740 Fourthly, we see that God is magnificent. 00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:40.000 I saw the Lord seated on the throne, highly exalted, 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:42.899 and the train of his robe filled the temple. 00:13:43.680 --> 00:13:47.580 The best image I have of this one is back in 1981 00:13:47.580 --> 00:13:50.460 when Diana, Princess of Wales, married, 00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:53.259 or Diana married Prince Charles, became the Princess of Wales. 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:57.220 And I remember as a little kid, 00:13:57.639 --> 00:13:59.379 I might have been 11 or something like that, 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:04.259 staying up to the wee hours to see this on TV. 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:06.059 I had no idea what we were doing. 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:10.720 And when it came on, I remember the women in the room going, 00:14:10.939 --> 00:14:13.939 as she got out of the carriage and walked up 00:14:13.939 --> 00:14:16.559 and the train of her wedding dress just kept coming 00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:18.779 and coming and coming and it was like eight metres long 00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:19.240 and then going, 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:20.919 what? 00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:25.139 You know, for me it was no big deal, 00:14:25.319 --> 00:14:26.799 but it seemed to cover, 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:27.819 and you look at the images of it, 00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:29.860 it seemed to cover the steps of St Paul's Cathedral. 00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:34.620 What would it mean if the train of her robe just kept coming 00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:37.419 and it filled the aisles and it covered the seats 00:14:37.419 --> 00:14:39.419 and the choir loft and the pulpit 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:42.700 and it was all made out of one fabric, 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:44.580 woven together into one piece? 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:46.399 What would that mean? 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:49.539 It would mean a little bit more than... 00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:56.579 That God's robe fills the entire heavenly temple 00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:59.899 means that God is incomparable in splendour. 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:06.099 The fullness of God's splendour shows itself in millions of ways. 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:10.939 The magnificence spills over in excessive beauty 00:15:10.940 --> 00:15:17.780 as God the creator expresses himself in what he has made. 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:22.320 We see it in the wonder of creation all through this universe, 00:15:22.420 --> 00:15:25.280 from the tiniest of atoms to the depths of the oceans 00:15:25.280 --> 00:15:27.900 to the furthest reaches of the universe. 00:15:28.560 --> 00:15:33.560 It all displays his splendour, his character. 00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:39.060 Fifthly, God is revered. 00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:43.019 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings, 00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:45.119 with two wings they covered their faces, 00:15:45.239 --> 00:15:46.259 with two they covered their feet, 00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:47.319 with two they were flying. 00:15:47.739 --> 00:15:54.199 Now no one actually knows what these strange six-winged creatures are 00:15:54.199 --> 00:15:56.679 with feet and eyes and they've obviously got intelligence. 00:15:57.259 --> 00:16:00.079 One thing is for sure, given the grandeur of the scene 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:04.920 and the power of the angelic hosts, 00:16:04.920 --> 00:16:08.800 we had best not picture fat little babies 00:16:08.800 --> 00:16:12.200 with wings fluttering around the head of God. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:15.800 That's not the picture of angels in the Bible. 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:18.480 According to verse 4, 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:21.539 when one of these creatures speaks, 00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:26.080 the foundations of the temple shake. 00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:32.039 And Jason could not turn this microphone up enough right now 00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:34.019 in order for me to shake this building. 00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:41.299 There are no puny or silly creatures in heaven, 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:42.819 only magnificent ones. 00:16:43.079 --> 00:16:44.079 And the point is this, 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:47.179 even these creatures, 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:49.939 as magnificent as they are, 00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:53.159 not even they look upon the Lord, 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:55.199 nor do they feel worthy 00:16:55.199 --> 00:16:58.059 even to leave their feet exposed in his presence. 00:16:58.059 --> 00:17:00.339 As good and as great as they are, 00:17:00.599 --> 00:17:04.460 as untainted by human sin as they are, 00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:07.440 they revere their maker with great humility. 00:17:08.779 --> 00:17:10.579 So just think of that 00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:13.019 in terms of escalation of scale. 00:17:13.139 --> 00:17:14.980 See, one of these creatures appeared to us. 00:17:15.379 --> 00:17:16.899 What they generally do, 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:18.220 according to the Bible, 00:17:18.379 --> 00:17:20.679 is one of the first things they say is fear not 00:17:20.679 --> 00:17:22.519 when they appear to a human being. 00:17:22.659 --> 00:17:24.139 Because that's exactly what you do 00:17:24.139 --> 00:17:26.240 if one of these things appeared to you. 00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:27.599 You would fear. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:29.539 You would think you were going to be dead. 00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:34.159 And yet even they hide in holy fear and reverence 00:17:34.159 --> 00:17:36.099 before this God. 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:39.599 The sixth thing we find is that God is holy. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:42.459 And they were calling to one another, 00:17:42.659 --> 00:17:45.419 holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty. 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:47.799 The whole earth is full of his glory. 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:52.279 The possibilities of language 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:55.539 to carry the meaning of God actually run out. 00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:59.099 The word holy carries us to the brink. 00:17:59.099 --> 00:18:00.879 And from there on, 00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:05.960 the experience of God is beyond articulation. 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:08.980 And the reason I say that 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:11.519 is that every effort to define 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:15.819 what the holiness of God actually means 00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:19.680 just winds up with you saying that 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:23.660 God is holy means that God is God. 00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:28.900 The meaning of the word holy is to cut or separate. 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:34.019 A holy thing is cut off or separated from common use. 00:18:35.060 --> 00:18:37.019 Earthly things and persons are holy 00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:38.880 as they are distinct from the world 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:40.880 and they are devoted to God. 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:44.960 But what happens if this definition is applied to God himself? 00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:48.540 From what can you separate God 00:18:48.540 --> 00:18:50.540 in order to make him holy? 00:18:51.780 --> 00:18:54.600 The very godness of God means that he is in fact 00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:58.180 already separated from all that is not God. 00:19:01.120 --> 00:19:02.340 He exists. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:06.260 He exists in a different way than we exist. 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:11.879 We, his creatures, exist in dependent, 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:17.079 derived, finite, fragile ways. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:22.879 But our creator exists in an eternal, 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:26.599 self-sustaining, necessary way. 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:34.440 Necessary in the sense that God does not have it in him 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:37.080 to go out of existence. 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:42.320 In the same way that we do not have it in us 00:19:42.320 --> 00:19:45.960 to keep living on forever. 00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:52.400 We necessarily age and die 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:56.660 because it is our present nature in order to do that. 00:19:56.660 --> 00:20:00.820 And God necessarily continues forever 00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:03.559 unchanged in his being. 00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:09.580 The God of the Bible needs no support system. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:13.120 God is one of a kind. 00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:15.059 In that sense, he is utterly holy. 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:18.059 But then you have said no more than he is God. 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:20.500 God has life in himself 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:24.140 and he draws his unending energy from himself. 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:28.640 He is the absolute reality beyond which 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:31.820 there is only just simply more of God. 00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.819 God is not holy. 00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:43.319 He is not holy because he keeps the rules. 00:20:43.399 --> 00:20:44.339 He wrote the rules. 00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:48.439 He is not holy because he keeps the law. 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:50.799 The law is holy because it reveals him. 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:53.039 God is absolute. 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:55.920 Everything else is derived from him. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:00.359 In the end, God is holy in that he is God 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:01.599 and he's not us. 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:04.519 He is incomparable. 00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:10.039 His holiness determines all that he is and that he does 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:12.879 and is determined by no one. 00:21:13.139 --> 00:21:14.659 You can call it his majesty. 00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:16.160 You can call it his divinity. 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:17.640 You can call it his greatness. 00:21:18.040 --> 00:21:19.560 You can call it his value. 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:24.420 In the end, language runs out. 00:21:27.540 --> 00:21:30.680 There may be yet to know, more to know of God, 00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:33.100 but it is beyond words. 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:35.500 And so as Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 20 says, 00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:50.960 There is a seventh and a final thing about God 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:53.180 and that is that God is glorious. 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:56.500 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. 00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:59.400 The whole earth is full of his glory. 00:21:59.400 --> 00:22:06.620 And I've been wrestling with this bit all week 00:22:06.620 --> 00:22:10.640 and Sam communicates it in 30 seconds. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:14.560 Thank you for that. 00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:16.960 I'll take a little bit longer. 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:23.160 God's glory is the revealing of his holiness. 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:30.000 God is glorious means that God's holiness 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:33.360 has gone public. 00:22:35.860 --> 00:22:39.300 That is, his divine being, his character, 00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:41.759 who he is, has gone public. 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:44.720 Unless he reveals who he is, 00:22:44.800 --> 00:22:46.360 unless he reveals himself, 00:22:46.820 --> 00:22:49.220 we cannot see him for who he is. 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:51.600 But when he does, 00:22:52.600 --> 00:22:54.900 we see glory. 00:22:58.059 --> 00:23:00.420 And there's only one response to glory. 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.839 Leviticus 10 verse 3, 00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:03.420 God says, 00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:05.240 Among those who approach me, 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:09.000 I will show myself holy. 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:14.220 That is, I will reveal my character, my being. 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:18.200 I will go public. 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:22.140 In the sight of all people, 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:24.700 I will be honored. 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:28.360 Or another word for honored is glorified. 00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:32.079 When God reveals his glory to his creatures, 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:36.839 the response of his creatures is to glorify God. 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:39.700 To give glory to God. 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:42.920 That is what we were created and redeemed for. 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:44.720 What it means to glorify God 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:46.600 is in fact to respond to his glory. 00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:52.439 We cannot glorify God without engaging with his glory. 00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:56.799 You see, God wants to be praised for his praiseworthiness 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:59.379 and exalted for his greatness and his goodness. 00:23:59.899 --> 00:24:03.299 He wants to be appreciated for who and what he is. 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:11.559 But the glory that is his goal is in fact a two-sided thing, 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:13.940 a two-stage relationship. 00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:19.500 It is this process of to-ing and fro-ing 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:23.319 where God reveals his glory to people and to angels 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:26.619 in a free and radically generous way. 00:24:26.619 --> 00:24:29.299 And at the same time, 00:24:29.639 --> 00:24:35.759 there is a response of adoration on the part of people and of angels 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:40.839 where they give glory to God out of gratitude for what they have seen 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:43.419 and what they have received from him. 00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:52.220 The glory of God is received by us. 00:24:53.880 --> 00:24:57.220 And so the way to glorify God is to be engaging with God. 00:24:57.320 --> 00:25:00.900 You cannot glorify him without engaging with his glory. 00:25:01.560 --> 00:25:07.779 God's glory showing requires glory giving. 00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:13.240 And this is the heart of the true fulfillment of God's creatures. 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:16.599 It brings joy to people as it does to God. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:21.079 Notice Isaiah's response in seeing God's glory in verse 5. 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:23.440 Woe to me! 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:26.180 I cried, I am ruined, 00:25:26.879 --> 00:25:28.819 for I am a man of unclean lips 00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:31.680 and I live among a people of unclean lips. 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:34.019 And my eyes have seen the King, 00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:35.660 the Lord Almighty. 00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:39.680 You see, Isaiah responds appropriately 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:42.120 to seeing the magnificence and the perfection 00:25:42.120 --> 00:25:43.460 and the splendor of God. 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:47.240 He understands himself. 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:51.300 He understands that he is not God. 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:55.880 He sees his limitation, 00:25:56.580 --> 00:25:57.920 his finiteness, 00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.980 his unworthiness, 00:25:59.120 --> 00:25:59.759 his failure, 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:02.620 his lack of praiseworthiness. 00:26:02.619 --> 00:26:06.979 He understands his true self, 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.899 that he in fact is not worthy 00:26:08.899 --> 00:26:11.000 of the praise and the honor 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:13.279 and the fame of the nations. 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:17.700 In seeing God, 00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:19.220 he sees himself. 00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:20.579 He is humbled 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:22.420 and he confesses his sin. 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.879 And what's God's reaction? 00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:26.039 One of the seraphs comes to Isaiah 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:26.460 and says, 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:27.839 he places a colon, 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:29.799 he's from the altar in the temple, 00:26:29.899 --> 00:26:30.839 places a colon in his lips 00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:31.119 and he says, 00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:32.759 your guilt is taken away 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:34.779 and your sin is atoned for. 00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:37.279 At least one major purpose 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:40.019 in God revealing his glory 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:43.720 is for us to experience 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:45.460 his compassion and his mercy 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:46.379 and his forgiveness. 00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:51.019 Now, the New Testament writers 00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:52.779 proclaim that the public display 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:56.779 of God's nature and character 00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:58.099 and power and purpose 00:26:58.099 --> 00:27:00.439 is now open to view 00:27:00.439 --> 00:27:03.119 in the person and the role 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:05.399 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.319 In fact, 00:27:08.679 --> 00:27:10.579 John chapter 12, verse 41 00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:12.799 is pretty explicit. 00:27:14.179 --> 00:27:16.539 John chapter 12, verse 41 says this, 00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:19.000 Isaiah said this 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:22.599 because he saw Jesus' glory 00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:25.139 and spoke about him. 00:27:25.140 --> 00:27:30.759 What John 12 is saying 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:33.680 is that what Isaiah saw 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:35.460 in Isaiah 6 00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:39.100 was in fact the enthroned Jesus Christ. 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:45.980 Jesus is the one who radiates, 00:27:46.140 --> 00:27:47.620 reflects, mirrors, displays 00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:49.200 the character and purpose 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:50.080 and power of God 00:27:50.080 --> 00:27:51.280 and the magnificence 00:27:51.280 --> 00:27:53.560 of what went public in Jesus 00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:55.159 was the plan and the work 00:27:55.159 --> 00:27:58.379 and grace whereby he saved sinners. 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.799 And so as a church, 00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:03.599 we want to make much, 00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:06.019 much of Jesus. 00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.819 To know Jesus, 00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:09.720 to treasure Jesus, 00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:11.039 to represent Jesus 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:13.619 is in fact to bring glory to God. 00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:18.079 Now it probably shocks us 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:18.659 to think 00:28:18.659 --> 00:28:20.719 that God's goal 00:28:20.719 --> 00:28:22.599 is in fact 00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:23.759 his glory. 00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.759 His goal 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.799 is to make much 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.459 of himself. 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:30.219 Probably shocks us 00:28:30.219 --> 00:28:30.459 to that 00:28:30.459 --> 00:28:31.519 because if I stood up here 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.119 and I said, 00:28:32.939 --> 00:28:34.159 well my goal in life 00:28:34.159 --> 00:28:35.219 is to make much 00:28:35.219 --> 00:28:36.179 of Steve Jeffery. 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:37.039 In fact, 00:28:37.159 --> 00:28:37.699 your goal 00:28:37.699 --> 00:28:38.379 is to make much 00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.139 of Steve Jeffery. 00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:41.219 At that point, 00:28:41.699 --> 00:28:42.539 you would go, 00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:43.240 right, 00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:43.839 time to look 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.639 for another church. 00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:47.879 Because it's 00:28:47.879 --> 00:28:48.460 just pure 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:49.500 ego driven. 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.559 No one 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.659 can say 00:28:53.659 --> 00:28:54.420 you exist 00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:55.319 for my glory 00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:58.420 except God. 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:02.319 But 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:04.759 unlike God 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.819 where I would say 00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:06.579 you exist 00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:07.079 for my glory, 00:29:07.139 --> 00:29:08.200 it's about my ego. 00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:10.879 To exist 00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:12.040 for God's glory 00:29:12.040 --> 00:29:12.840 and for God 00:29:12.840 --> 00:29:13.240 to exist 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:14.180 for his glory 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:16.480 does not 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.120 point to 00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:18.220 divine ego 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:20.720 but is the 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:21.300 very foundation 00:29:21.300 --> 00:29:21.760 of his love 00:29:21.760 --> 00:29:22.240 for us. 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:25.880 God 00:29:25.880 --> 00:29:26.280 doing 00:29:26.280 --> 00:29:26.880 everything 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:27.960 for his glory 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:29.280 is the 00:29:29.280 --> 00:29:29.820 foundation 00:29:29.820 --> 00:29:30.580 of his 00:29:30.580 --> 00:29:31.400 love for us. 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:31.820 Listen to what 00:29:31.820 --> 00:29:32.520 the Bible says. 00:29:33.060 --> 00:29:34.280 Let me just ask 00:29:34.280 --> 00:29:34.980 a few questions 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.460 and I'll look at 00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.000 some Bible passages. 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:36.780 Why did God 00:29:36.780 --> 00:29:37.540 forgive our sins 00:29:37.540 --> 00:29:38.140 and make us 00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:38.720 his children 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.400 through Jesus? 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.240 According to 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:42.039 Ephesians 1 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:43.299 that the glory 00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:44.839 of his grace 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:46.600 might be praised. 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.140 Why did God 00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:48.740 create a people 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.400 for himself? 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:50.880 According to God 00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:52.140 in Isaiah 43 00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:54.019 I created them 00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:55.299 for my glory. 00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:57.319 Why did God 00:29:57.319 --> 00:29:58.319 spare 00:29:58.319 --> 00:29:59.839 rebellious Israel 00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:00.600 in the wilderness 00:30:00.600 --> 00:30:01.519 and finally 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.079 bring them 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:03.279 into the promised land? 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:04.460 According to God 00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:05.600 in Ezekiel 20 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:06.719 I acted 00:30:06.719 --> 00:30:07.500 for the sake 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:08.500 of my name 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.139 that it 00:30:09.139 --> 00:30:09.740 should not 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.579 be profaned 00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:11.279 in the sight 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.099 of the nations. 00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:13.759 And according 00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:14.799 to Isaiah 66 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:15.819 the reason 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.419 why God 00:30:16.419 --> 00:30:17.240 sends messengers 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:18.159 out to tell 00:30:18.159 --> 00:30:19.139 the far reaches 00:30:19.139 --> 00:30:19.819 of the world 00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:20.939 about his fame 00:30:20.939 --> 00:30:22.199 and his glory 00:30:22.199 --> 00:30:23.199 is that those 00:30:23.199 --> 00:30:23.779 people might 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:24.359 be gathered 00:30:24.359 --> 00:30:25.000 to him 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.759 and verse 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.899 22 says 00:30:26.899 --> 00:30:27.740 as the new 00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:28.039 heavens 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:28.459 and the new 00:30:28.459 --> 00:30:28.740 earth 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.279 that I make 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.679 will endure 00:30:29.679 --> 00:30:30.399 before me 00:30:30.399 --> 00:30:31.959 so will 00:30:31.959 --> 00:30:32.879 your name 00:30:32.879 --> 00:30:33.599 and your 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:34.219 descendants 00:30:34.219 --> 00:30:34.859 endure 00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:35.539 forever 00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:37.259 go to the 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:37.879 far reach 00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:38.459 of the earth 00:30:38.459 --> 00:30:38.979 declare 00:30:38.979 --> 00:30:39.959 my name 00:30:39.959 --> 00:30:40.259 declare 00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:41.139 my fame 00:30:41.139 --> 00:30:41.459 declare 00:30:41.459 --> 00:30:42.439 my glory 00:30:42.439 --> 00:30:43.079 that you 00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:43.500 might be 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.139 gathered to 00:30:44.139 --> 00:30:44.459 me 00:30:44.459 --> 00:30:45.240 so that I 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:45.639 will make 00:30:45.639 --> 00:30:46.240 your name 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:46.559 great 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:46.959 forever. 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:51.059 His glory 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:54.740 his pursuit 00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:55.699 of his glory 00:30:55.699 --> 00:30:56.240 is the very 00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:56.779 foundation 00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:57.299 of his love 00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:57.839 for us. 00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:02.019 Live for 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.459 the glory 00:31:02.459 --> 00:31:03.119 of God 00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:04.399 live for 00:31:04.399 --> 00:31:04.839 his glory 00:31:04.839 --> 00:31:05.279 for his 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:05.739 fame 00:31:05.739 --> 00:31:06.539 and he 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:07.099 will make 00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:07.799 your name 00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:08.439 endure 00:31:08.439 --> 00:31:09.579 forever. 00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:11.739 God's 00:31:11.739 --> 00:31:11.979 commitment 00:31:11.979 --> 00:31:12.279 to his 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:12.539 glory 00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:13.359 means love 00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:13.959 and life 00:31:13.959 --> 00:31:15.479 and forgiveness 00:31:15.479 --> 00:31:16.299 and eternal 00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:17.279 fame for those 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:17.759 who live for 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.339 his glory. 00:31:18.739 --> 00:31:19.279 His commitment 00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:19.979 to his glory 00:31:19.979 --> 00:31:20.379 is the 00:31:20.379 --> 00:31:20.979 foundation of 00:31:20.979 --> 00:31:21.259 his love 00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:21.699 for us. 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:22.399 It's not 00:31:22.399 --> 00:31:23.079 about divine 00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:23.399 ego. 00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:26.019 And that's 00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:27.739 why you 00:31:27.739 --> 00:31:28.539 read passages 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.559 that Wendy 00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:30.079 read out to 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.479 us in 1 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:31.339 Corinthians 10 00:31:31.339 --> 00:31:32.279 where the 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:32.880 apostle Paul 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.440 says do 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:34.579 everything 00:31:34.579 --> 00:31:35.720 for the 00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:36.279 glory of 00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:36.720 God. 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:37.759 And whatever 00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:38.420 you, so 00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:38.680 whether you 00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:39.240 eat or 00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:39.539 drink, 00:31:39.620 --> 00:31:40.279 whatever you 00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:40.720 do, do 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:41.400 it all 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:41.860 for the 00:31:41.860 --> 00:31:42.339 glory of 00:31:42.339 --> 00:31:42.579 God. 00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:42.779 Do 00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.420 everything 00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:43.779 for the 00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:44.180 glory of 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:44.500 God. 00:31:44.819 --> 00:31:45.339 When you're 00:31:45.339 --> 00:31:46.019 eating your 00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:48.400 cheese and 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:48.940 bickies and 00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:49.480 drinking your 00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.180 diet coke, 00:31:50.380 --> 00:31:51.380 do it all 00:31:51.380 --> 00:31:51.839 for the 00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:52.460 glory of 00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:52.940 God. 00:31:54.360 --> 00:31:55.079 Not for 00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:55.539 personal 00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.880 benefit, for 00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:58.160 personal advancement, 00:31:58.160 --> 00:31:58.740 for personal 00:31:58.740 --> 00:32:00.000 promotion, for 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:01.259 personal glory, 00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:02.460 personal satisfaction, 00:32:03.040 --> 00:32:03.860 but for God's 00:32:03.860 --> 00:32:04.140 glory. 00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:05.000 And it does 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.580 actually come 00:32:05.580 --> 00:32:06.019 down to the 00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:06.519 nitty-gritty, 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:07.380 even to 00:32:07.380 --> 00:32:07.920 eating and 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:08.259 drinking. 00:32:09.580 --> 00:32:10.120 That is, 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:12.279 God's glory is 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:14.220 all-encompassing 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:15.240 of our lives. 00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:16.860 Jesus is not 00:32:16.860 --> 00:32:17.259 just for 00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:17.720 Sundays. 00:32:20.620 --> 00:32:21.200 Relationship 00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:21.519 with him 00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:21.880 touches 00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:22.680 everything, 00:32:22.900 --> 00:32:23.800 everything in 00:32:23.800 --> 00:32:24.880 our life for 00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:26.220 those whose 00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:27.360 glory has been 00:32:27.360 --> 00:32:27.920 revealed. 00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:29.180 is, in 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:29.759 fact, a 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.920 God moment, 00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:31.759 not a 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.220 Steve 00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:32.500 Jeffrey 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:32.900 moment. 00:32:33.040 --> 00:32:33.400 It's a 00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:34.040 God moment. 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:35.120 Everything is 00:32:35.120 --> 00:32:35.580 an opportunity 00:32:35.580 --> 00:32:36.460 to engage 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:37.019 with God, 00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:37.960 to worship 00:32:37.960 --> 00:32:38.920 God, to 00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:39.860 glorify God, 00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:40.340 to honour 00:32:40.340 --> 00:32:40.840 God. 00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:42.900 24-7, every 00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:44.259 decision is 00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:44.900 either I'm 00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.300 going to make 00:32:45.300 --> 00:32:46.279 much of me, 00:32:46.640 --> 00:32:46.900 or I'm 00:32:46.900 --> 00:32:47.240 going to make 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:47.900 much of 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.240 God. 00:32:54.820 --> 00:32:55.540 Now, I'm 00:32:55.540 --> 00:32:56.040 convinced 00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:57.659 convinced that 00:32:57.659 --> 00:32:59.319 for us to 00:32:59.319 --> 00:33:00.519 effectively bring 00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:01.259 glory to 00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:04.200 God, it 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:04.700 has to be 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:05.240 much more 00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:07.059 about certain 00:33:07.059 --> 00:33:07.619 external 00:33:07.619 --> 00:33:08.359 behaviours. 00:33:09.319 --> 00:33:09.819 That is, it's 00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:10.420 possible for you 00:33:10.420 --> 00:33:11.940 next week to 00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:12.539 sign a pledge 00:33:12.539 --> 00:33:13.059 card and not 00:33:13.059 --> 00:33:13.700 glorify God. 00:33:15.379 --> 00:33:16.259 It's possible 00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:17.039 for you to not 00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:17.539 sign a pledge 00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.119 card and also 00:33:18.119 --> 00:33:18.899 not glorify God. 00:33:18.900 --> 00:33:25.280 to glorify God 00:33:25.280 --> 00:33:25.940 is so much 00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:26.360 more than 00:33:26.360 --> 00:33:27.500 just external 00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:29.080 behaviours. 00:33:29.540 --> 00:33:30.000 Internal 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.940 motivations 00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:34.780 are, in 00:33:34.780 --> 00:33:35.080 order to 00:33:35.080 --> 00:33:35.740 glorify God, 00:33:35.860 --> 00:33:36.860 are absolutely 00:33:36.860 --> 00:33:37.960 essential. 00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:40.620 If we're not 00:33:40.620 --> 00:33:42.019 careful, we 00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:42.740 can get settled 00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.540 into a pattern 00:33:43.540 --> 00:33:44.180 of dutiful 00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:44.700 behaviour, 00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:46.580 where I read 00:33:46.579 --> 00:33:47.019 the Bible, 00:33:48.139 --> 00:33:50.139 I pray, 00:33:50.639 --> 00:33:51.220 I attend 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:51.839 church, I'm 00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:52.299 part of a 00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:52.899 small group, 00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:53.519 I give some 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:53.919 money to 00:33:53.919 --> 00:33:54.439 church, 00:33:55.759 --> 00:34:00.740 but I 00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:01.099 don't give 00:34:01.099 --> 00:34:01.579 praise to 00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:02.339 God when I 00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:02.839 go to bed at 00:34:02.839 --> 00:34:03.119 night and 00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:03.460 thank you for 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:03.859 the day I've 00:34:03.859 --> 00:34:05.919 had, where I 00:34:05.919 --> 00:34:06.740 can go and 00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:07.559 purchase a 00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:08.179 motor vehicle 00:34:08.179 --> 00:34:09.619 and not even 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.699 pray about the 00:34:10.699 --> 00:34:12.299 issue, ask 00:34:12.299 --> 00:34:12.840 what God 00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:13.619 might have in 00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:14.500 that, where 00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:16.639 I can build 00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:17.599 a church 00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:19.239 building for 00:34:19.239 --> 00:34:20.400 my fame and 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:20.800 not for 00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:21.320 God's. 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.760 That is, what 00:34:24.760 --> 00:34:25.460 can happen is, 00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:25.940 we can tick 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:26.719 certain boxes and 00:34:26.719 --> 00:34:27.239 our relationship 00:34:27.239 --> 00:34:28.420 with God is 00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:29.119 all about duty, 00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:30.159 obligation and 00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:30.539 loyalty. 00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:32.139 When we are 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:33.039 settled into 00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:34.000 that position, 00:34:34.679 --> 00:34:35.840 we may even 00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:36.679 fulfil our 00:34:36.679 --> 00:34:37.920 duty at great 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:39.300 personal cost. 00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:41.219 We may even 00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:43.139 give more and 00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:44.579 sacrifice much. 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:47.059 What is 00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:49.239 missing is 00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:50.819 the affections. 00:34:52.259 --> 00:34:53.179 Rather than 00:34:53.179 --> 00:34:54.879 requiring dutiful 00:34:54.879 --> 00:34:56.239 obedience in 00:34:56.239 --> 00:34:57.159 doing everything 00:34:57.159 --> 00:34:57.960 for his glory, 00:34:58.299 --> 00:34:59.719 God is actually 00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:01.000 interested in 00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:02.259 us seeing 00:35:02.259 --> 00:35:03.519 his glory and 00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:04.539 being moved 00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:05.579 by his glory 00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:06.859 from our 00:35:06.859 --> 00:35:07.319 hearts. 00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:08.739 He wants us 00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:09.279 to love him 00:35:09.279 --> 00:35:09.779 according to 00:35:09.779 --> 00:35:10.779 Deuteronomy 6. 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.739 He wants us to 00:35:11.739 --> 00:35:12.659 light ourselves in 00:35:12.659 --> 00:35:13.139 him according 00:35:13.139 --> 00:35:14.059 to Psalm 37. 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:15.099 He wants us 00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:15.899 to worship him 00:35:15.899 --> 00:35:16.659 with gladness 00:35:16.659 --> 00:35:17.179 according to 00:35:17.179 --> 00:35:17.839 Psalm 100. 00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:19.039 In fact, he 00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:19.759 condemns 00:35:19.759 --> 00:35:21.119 dutiful obedience 00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:21.639 where there is 00:35:21.639 --> 00:35:22.599 no gladness and 00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:23.440 no joy in him 00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:24.399 in Deuteronomy 00:35:24.399 --> 00:35:24.980 28. 00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:28.239 So picture a 00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:30.099 husband bringing 00:35:30.099 --> 00:35:31.219 flowers to his 00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:32.440 wife on their 00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:33.039 anniversary. 00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.119 Must remember to 00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:34.460 do that. 00:35:36.319 --> 00:35:37.379 And she is 00:35:37.379 --> 00:35:38.779 overjoyed and 00:35:38.779 --> 00:35:39.579 she thanks him 00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:40.099 for it. 00:35:40.099 --> 00:35:44.259 And in that 00:35:44.259 --> 00:35:44.719 moment, he 00:35:44.719 --> 00:35:45.079 says, don't 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:45.639 mention it. 00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:47.239 It's my duty. 00:35:48.679 --> 00:35:49.460 Even though I 00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:50.099 didn't really want 00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:51.739 to do it, I 00:35:51.739 --> 00:35:52.599 sacrificed my 00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:53.219 money and my 00:35:53.219 --> 00:35:53.940 time and I 00:35:53.940 --> 00:35:54.420 bought these 00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:55.199 flowers for you. 00:35:55.259 --> 00:35:55.779 It's just what 00:35:55.779 --> 00:35:56.460 I've got to do. 00:36:00.860 --> 00:36:02.059 I think I know 00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:02.759 how Nat would 00:36:02.759 --> 00:36:03.319 respond. 00:36:05.079 --> 00:36:06.239 It would be an 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:07.159 insult to her 00:36:07.159 --> 00:36:08.360 honor and the 00:36:08.360 --> 00:36:08.960 relationship. 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:10.320 She is honored 00:36:10.320 --> 00:36:11.300 when the husband 00:36:11.300 --> 00:36:12.680 sacrifices and 00:36:12.680 --> 00:36:13.940 gives because it 00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:15.099 is his delight to 00:36:15.099 --> 00:36:15.620 do so. 00:36:18.160 --> 00:36:19.280 And so here's 00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:19.760 the thing. 00:36:20.320 --> 00:36:21.400 If we are doing 00:36:21.400 --> 00:36:22.640 everything for the 00:36:22.640 --> 00:36:24.019 glory of God as 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:25.800 a church out of a 00:36:25.800 --> 00:36:27.440 sense of duty and 00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:28.440 because it is a 00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:29.300 great personal 00:36:29.300 --> 00:36:30.559 sacrifice for us to 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:34.599 do it, then it 00:36:34.599 --> 00:36:35.260 reveals what we 00:36:35.260 --> 00:36:35.820 really treasure. 00:36:35.820 --> 00:36:38.740 And it's not 00:36:38.740 --> 00:36:39.180 Jesus. 00:36:43.640 --> 00:36:45.059 If it is a 00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:46.140 great sacrifice 00:36:46.140 --> 00:36:47.120 for us to do 00:36:47.120 --> 00:36:48.320 everything for the 00:36:48.320 --> 00:36:49.960 glory of God, it 00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:51.000 shows us what we 00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:52.539 truly value more 00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:53.980 than God and it 00:36:53.980 --> 00:36:55.460 tends to be us and 00:36:55.460 --> 00:36:57.460 our fame, our 00:36:57.460 --> 00:36:58.220 name. 00:36:58.219 --> 00:37:01.000 God is 00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:01.439 our greatest 00:37:01.439 --> 00:37:01.959 treasure. 00:37:01.959 --> 00:37:02.980 When he is our 00:37:02.980 --> 00:37:03.000 greatest treasure, then 00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:04.279 choosing him over 00:37:04.279 --> 00:37:05.959 lesser things is not 00:37:05.959 --> 00:37:06.919 even a sacrifice. 00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:09.599 When we delight in 00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:10.719 his power and his 00:37:10.719 --> 00:37:12.019 perfection, his 00:37:12.019 --> 00:37:12.799 beauty, his 00:37:12.799 --> 00:37:14.559 mercy, our service 00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:15.959 of him will glorify 00:37:16.679 --> 00:37:17.099 him. 00:37:18.359 --> 00:37:19.000 God is 00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:21.959 dishonored when 00:37:23.219 --> 00:37:24.279 all of our service 00:37:24.279 --> 00:37:25.699 of him is but a 00:37:25.699 --> 00:37:25.980 duty. 00:37:25.980 --> 00:37:27.639 God desires that 00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:29.079 we see him, that 00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:30.860 we savor his 00:37:30.860 --> 00:37:32.340 mercy, his 00:37:32.340 --> 00:37:33.340 forgiveness, his 00:37:33.340 --> 00:37:34.800 acceptance and 00:37:34.800 --> 00:37:36.000 serve him with all 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:37.360 of our lives, with 00:37:37.360 --> 00:37:38.400 joy and with 00:37:38.400 --> 00:37:39.079 gladness. 00:37:39.500 --> 00:37:40.559 And so I, if you 00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:41.219 haven't connected 00:37:41.219 --> 00:37:42.079 this, I have 00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:43.579 deliberately connected 00:37:43.579 --> 00:37:46.099 God's glory and the 00:37:46.099 --> 00:37:47.980 joy of all people in 00:37:47.980 --> 00:37:48.880 our mission statement. 00:37:49.219 --> 00:37:50.159 They go together. 00:37:50.159 --> 00:37:52.159 God's glory and 00:37:52.159 --> 00:37:54.159 God's glory and 00:37:54.159 --> 00:37:54.899 you and I were 00:37:54.899 --> 00:37:55.500 made for the 00:37:55.500 --> 00:37:56.719 express purpose to 00:37:56.719 --> 00:37:58.239 glorify God at all 00:37:58.239 --> 00:37:59.119 times, in all places, 00:37:59.179 --> 00:38:00.159 in every circumstances. 00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:01.839 Our deepest joy and 00:38:01.839 --> 00:38:02.839 our most profound 00:38:02.839 --> 00:38:04.679 happiness is that our 00:38:04.679 --> 00:38:06.000 creator has revealed 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:07.599 himself to us in the 00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:08.679 Lord Jesus Christ. 00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:09.819 And what he has 00:38:09.819 --> 00:38:11.259 revealed to us is that 00:38:11.259 --> 00:38:12.699 he loves us, that he 00:38:12.699 --> 00:38:14.139 wants to know us, that 00:38:14.139 --> 00:38:14.980 he has given himself 00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:16.399 for us, that he has 00:38:16.399 --> 00:38:17.940 given us a name and a 00:38:17.940 --> 00:38:19.199 status that will in 00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:21.259 fact live on for all 00:38:21.259 --> 00:38:22.519 eternity as he will 00:38:22.519 --> 00:38:23.159 live on for all 00:38:23.159 --> 00:38:23.519 eternity. 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:27.739 And that hope and 00:38:27.739 --> 00:38:28.899 that revelation and 00:38:28.899 --> 00:38:30.159 that status means that 00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:31.719 we get to live for his 00:38:31.719 --> 00:38:33.199 glory and we get to 00:38:33.199 --> 00:38:34.439 participate in his 00:38:34.439 --> 00:38:37.199 glory now that we're 00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:39.619 finally able to do 00:38:39.619 --> 00:38:41.500 the thing for what we 00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:44.519 were made to make God 00:38:44.519 --> 00:38:46.679 look great in 00:38:46.679 --> 00:38:47.779 everything that we do.