To God Be the Glory In the Church
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.

Sermon Summary: The Lord's Church has the great privilege of being an instrument revealing God's glory on this earth.

Ephesians 3:20-21 ...[21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

•• A profound privilege! — the Church is to be an instrument to bring glory to God.

• Not just now, but “for ever and ever” revealing the glory of God.

• The Church is not an afterthought to God.

•• So how can it happen that “to Him [there will] be glory in the church”? How can the Church bring glory to God?

John 15:8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

(1) “Bear much fruit” —

•• (1a) The fruit of the Spirit, demonstrating a changed life, brings glory to God.

•• (1b) The fruit of others won or touched for the Lord likewise glorifies God.

2 Corinthians 3:18, KJV But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

(2) Becoming more and more like Jesus —

•• “changed into [His] image”

•• Increasingly, every day, without taking a break

•• “from glory to glory” — never be satisfied if you are not growing in Christlikeness.

2 Corinthians 3:7-9 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, [8] will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? [9] If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!

(3) “the [glorious] ministry of the Spirit”! —

•• Book-of-Acts, Pentecostal ministry was glorious! God's glory was manifested in the Spirit-filled ministry of His Church.

•• Sick healed, dead raised, thousands saved...

•• Don’t quit coveting earnestly the spiritual gifts.

•• The Church’s glorious, Spirit-filled ministry will bring glory to God.

John 2:11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

(4) Specifically, miraculous ministry glorifies the God of the miraculous.

•• Jesus said to believers: “The works that I do shall [you] do also, and greater...”

•• As the Lord’s church begins to move more in the miraculous, God will be glorified by it.

•• Remember, “...to [God] be glory in the church.”

John 17:4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

(5) God is glorified by finished work.

•• Seeing the completion of His earthly life and ministry approaching, Jesus said, “Now glorify me...”

•• If God has spoken to you, fulfill what He has called you to do, and thereby glorify God.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Romans 8:18-19 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. [19] The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.

•• One reason you serve Jesus is that you have read the Scriptures and have “seen His glory.”

(6) His glory is to be revealed in us. And the world is waiting to see that glory be revealed in the sons of God.

•• Never lose sight of becoming that holy, spotless, radiant Church without blemish. The Bride of Christ! The glory of God will be seen in His Church-Bride.

1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

(7) The motive of glorifying God can lift “whatever you do” to a spiritual level pleasing to God.

•• Even seemingly mundane things like eating and drinking can be done for God's glory.

Summary: The Church glorifies God by:

1. Bearing much fruit

2. Becoming more and more like Jesus

3. By ministry in and of the Spirit

4. By walking in the miraculous

5. By finishing each task God gives us

6. By allowing His glory to be revealed to the world in us

7. By committing “whatever you do” to glorifying God

Preached at South Valley Church, Phoenix, Oregon, October 18, 2005
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