The doctrine of glorifying God, Part 6, John 15:8

Title: The doctrine of glorifying God, Part 6, John 15:8.

 

The first and most important aspect of the believer glorifying God.

 

1. Growing to spiritual maturity by means of the mystery doctrine and the filling of the HS whereby the believer produces fruit glorifies God.

 

What follows would all necessarily fall under this category since everything that I will subsequently document all occur by means of spiritual growth.

 

a. Believing the promises of God gives glory to God, ROM 4:20,

 

Application of faith to the promises of God is the function of the faith rest drill, problem solving device #3.

 

Faith rest drill: PSD #3.

1. Claim a promise and mix it with faith

2. Apply a doctrine that supports the promise

3. Rest in God’s virtue and faithfulness [tranquility].

 

Doctrines that support God’s promises all center around His character. A promise is a good as the One who can be trusted.

 

Doctrines that support promises:

Essence of God

Plan of God

A fortiori

Grace orientation - the policy of God

Supreme Court of Heaven (advocacy of Christ)

Dispensationalism

 

By applying faith to what God has promised through His word and provided by means of His grace you accomplish the first stage of the faith rest technique, 2Cor 5:7.

 

2 Cor 5:7

for we walk by faith, not by sight [your lifestyle becomes one of faith in God’s word].

 

The second stage of the FRD is to apply a doctrine concerning God’s character and then enter into His rest, HEB 4:10.

 

HEB 4:1 Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.

 

HEB 4:2For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

 

 

 

 

HEB 4:3For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said [PSA 95:11],

"As I swore in My wrath,

They shall not enter My rest [Land of Canaan],"

although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

 

When did God complete His work in HEB 4:3? He completed it from the foundation of the world so there is nothing to add to it.

 

In eternity past, God provided in grace everything the believer needs in human history to handle adversity, including the faith rest drill.

 

HEB 4:4For He has thus said somewhere concerning the seventh day, "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works";

 

HEB 4:5and again in this passage, "They shall not enter My rest."

 

HEB 4:6Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,

 

HEB 4:7He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,

"Today if you hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts."

 

HEB 4:8For if Joshua had given them rest [conquering the land didn’t end the adversity], He would not have spoken of another day after that.

 

HEB 4:9There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God [God must continue to fight for us and we rest behind Him].

 

HEB 4:10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.

 

HEB 4:11Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience.

 

So what if you think you are weak in faith? Would you try a short cut like the disciples once did?

 

Luke 17:5

And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

 

Believer’s who never grow up spiritually always want the quick fix. They want God to make everything better without any change in their attitude towards doctrine.

 

 

 

The Lord responded that they only needed the faith of a mustard seed. The mustard seed is tiny, but over time it grows into the biggest tree in the garden. So the Lord points to the slow growth of the disciple by means of hearing.

 

ROM 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

 

That’s why the writer of Hebrews follows a plea to live in the rest that God provides with one of the greatest descriptions of the word of God. 

 

HEB 4:12For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

 

2 Tim 3:16-17

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

 

HEB 4:13And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

 

 

b. The Law of Expediency glorifies God, 1 Cor 10:31.

 

The law of expediency, directed primarily toward the unbeliever. The Christian must often refrain from doing certain things not because they are wrong but because they prevent the unbeliever from seeing the true issue of salvation, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Believers have a Law of Liberty where we are able to do whatever we desire as we do not deem it sin. As a believer priest you make these determinations yourself, knowing that you are responsible for unknown sins. However, the Law of Expediency supersedes the Law of Liberty when non-essentials of life might hinder the communication of the Gospel. Obviously there has to be a certain degree of selflessness in the believer to obey this law.

 

Expediency deals with evangelism and the individual’s testimony toward the unbeliever. The unbeliever often superimposes certain standards on the believer, standards which are nonsensical. He expects the believer to comply and exemplify these standards regardless of their spiritual connotation. Therefore the Christian must often refrain from doing certain things not because they are wrong but because they prevent the unbeliever from seeing the true issue of salvation, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This law is expressed in 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; 10:23.

 

1 Cor 10:23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

 

1 Cor 10:24Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.

 

1 Cor 10:25Eat anything that is sold in the meat market, without asking questions for conscience' sake;

 

1 Cor 10:26for the earth is the Lord's, and all it contains.

 

1 Cor 10:27If one of the unbelievers invites you, and you wish to go, eat anything that is set before you, without asking questions for conscience' sake.

 

1 Cor 10:28But if anyone should say to you, "This is meat sacrificed to idols," do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience' sake;

 

1 Cor 10:29I mean not your own conscience, but the other man's; for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience?

 

1 Cor 10:30If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?

 

1 Cor 10:31Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

 

1 Cor 10:32Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;

 

1 Cor 10:33just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

 

c. Singing to God with thankfulness under the correct motivation glorifies God, 2 Chron 5:13.

 

This was at the dedication to Solomon’s temple.

 

2 Chron 5:13

in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the Lord saying,"He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting," then the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud,

 

Ps 66:1 Shout joyfully to God, all the earth [Millennium];

 

Ps 66:2Sing the glory of His name;

Make His praise glorious.

 

Ps 66:3Say to God, "How awesome are Thy works!

Because of the greatness of Thy power Thine enemies will give feigned obedience to Thee.

 

 

 

Ps 66:4"All the earth will worship Thee,

And will sing praises to Thee;

They will sing praises to Thy name."

 

Acts 16:25

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

 

d. Dying grace glorifies God, John 21:19.