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Glorify

Words of Faith Final

Glorify

Words of Faith 2-22-2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

www.faithfellowshipweb.com

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Ephesians 3

[20] Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

 

      Above all that Paul prayed for the believers, he prayed that God may be glorified.  We often stop at the first line of these verses and get excited.  It is really wonderful to think that God can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us.  That is, well, pretty cool, don't you think?  I don't know about you, but I can ask for a lot.  I can imagine even more.  God is really big, isn't He?

     But Paul's prayer here is actually that God would be glorified in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations, forever and ever.  That is another enormous truth.  This is not a "name it and claim it" verse.  This is not some self-absorbed little proof text about how my God can do anything I want and even more than I can imagine.  This is about God being the focus of everything and Him being glorified.

    We have studied the Peacemaker study by Ken Sande in our church. It is a wonderful study that I commend to all Christian who interact with people (i.e., all Christians.)  This scriptural tool hangs on four Gs, which are easy to remember and are all principles from Scripture— 1) Glorify God.  2) Get the log out of your own eye.  3) Gently restore. 4) Go and be reconciled. 

    All four of these engagements are vital, but the first is foundational. Our first and overarching perspective in all things is to glorify God.  We forget that sometimes.  Even when doing a righteous of peacemaking and reconciliation, which would seem to be fine goals in and of themselves, our larger goal is always to glorify God. Paul put it this way in writing to the Corinthian church:  So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

      Frankly, it does not matter a wit if you negotiated peace in the Middle East as long as you did it to glorify yourself.

     This reframes everything.  We might ask some of these questions as we think, talk, act and do. Does this action glorify God? Are my words glorifying to God?  Do my thoughts glorify God? (okay.)  

     Does what I eat or drink glorify God? (ouch!)

     Do the things that I watch or listen to glorify God?  Do the conversations that I have glorify God?  Does the gossip that I would never repeat but eagerly listen to glorify God? (gone to meddling.)  

     Does the way that I think about things, objects, and possessions glorify God?  Does the way that I think about money glorify God?  Does the way that I do my job glorify God? Does the way that I spend money glorify God?  Do the priorities in my life glorify God?  (got really quiet in here)

    Do my relationships glorify God?  Does the way that I think about people glorify God?  Does my temper glorify God? Does the way that I spend my time glorify God?  Does the way that I respect people glorify God? 

    Does the way that I treat public spaces glorify God?  Does the way that I treat the gathering of God's people glorify God?  Does the way that I honor leaders glorify God? Does the way that I talk about politics glorify God? Does the way that I honor my family glorify God?  Does the way I treat God glorify God? Does the way that I treat myself glorify God?

     I hope you got through all that.  Not easy to write.  Not easy to read.  Not easy to practice. Easier to delete.  But, would that glorify God?

    The big question.  If some of my behaviors, attitudes, and thoughts don't glorify God, then how much do I really believe that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us?

 

    Father, forgive me if I have treated You like a "name it and claim it god."  I am sorry.  I know that You can do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within me.  Forgive me for the choices I have made that do not reflect that trust and faith.  Forgive me for the choices I have made, thoughts I have entertained, words that I have said that have not glorified You. Help me to glorify You according to the power that is at work within me.  In Jesus' Name.

 

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2010, 2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.