In this message we begin our series on “Who Is The God Of The Bible?”  What an enormously important topic!  If there is anything we need to know in life, it is who is God. Join us for this first message in which we discover why God does everything.

Teaching Notes:

The God Of The Bible Does Everything For His Own Glory!

Intro: Reason for Name of Series. Most people worship a god of their own imagination. Create a God in their mind that they want to exist, then worship that God. Not the True and Living God. Not the God revealed in the Bible. We want to know who the God of the Bible is, so we can worship Him!

On June 16, 1948, A.W. Tozer picked up his pen and wrote: “In this hour of all-but-universal darkness one cheering gleam appears: within the fold of conservative Christianity there are to be found increasing numbers of persons whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself. They are eager for spiritual realities and will not be put off with words, nor will they be content with correct “interpretations” of truth. They are athirst for God, and they will not be satisfied till they have drunk deep at the Fountain of Living Water…It is not mere words that nourish the soul, but god Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth. The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.”

1) The development of your spiritual life is dependent upon your knowledge of God: 2Pet.1:2-3; 3:18. Jn.17:3.

2) Great men of God are preoccupied with knowing God: Moses (Ex.33:18 “I pray You, show me Your glory!”; Paul (Phil.3:10 “that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings”);

3) A vital knowledge of the True and Living God of Scripture is the greatest goal of any Christian’s life!

To know God we must understand why God does what He does. 1) Before time began, God could either create or not create. Under no compulsion to do either. Why did He create? 2) Once created, could protect Adam & Eve from falling into sin. Why did He allow them to sin? 3) Once man had fallen, God could either let all perish, or provide salvation. Why did He provide way of salvation? 4) God could have saved every person. Why did He choose to save a portion?

God delights to glorify Himself! God is uppermost in His own affections! God loves Himself and His glory supremely! Westminster Shorter Catechism: what is the chief end of man? “chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” What is the chief end of God? “chief end of God is to glorify Himself and enjoy Himself forever!”
Would you agree if we could find 1 thing God pursues in everything He does, would know His heart? Sometimes we focus on just a few verses. This time take different approach. Can so focus on 1 bush, that miss entire forest. Today want you to see entire forest. Going to do survey of entire Bible on this subject.

1. Biblical Proof Of This Truth:

The Exodus Out of Egypt

Ex.9:16 “”But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth.” Why did God multiply His mighty acts into 10 plagues instead of making short work of Pharoah & army in 1 swift catastrophe? God’s purpose of Exodus – make a worldwide reputation for Himself to demonstrate His incredible power on behalf of chosen people w/ aim that His reputation be declard throughout whole world.

Ex.14:4,17 “Thus I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” And they did so… As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.” Why did God harden Pharoah’s heart to chase after Jews? So that others would honor Him and own up to His glory and confess He is only Lord of universe.

Ps.106:7-8 “Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make His power known.”

Is.63:11-12 “Then His people remembered the days of old, of Moses. Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit in the midst of them, who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, Who divided the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name” God was seeking to make for Himself an everlasting reputation!

The Wilderness Wandering

Ezek.20:18-22 “”I said to their children in the wilderness, `Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. `I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and observe them. `Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.´ “But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness. “But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.”

God’s Refusal to Abandon His People When they Sinned

1Sam.12:19-22 “And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.” And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for Himself.” People sinned greatly in asking for a king; no undoing that sin or its painful consequences. Yet shouldn’t fear. Why? God’s unswerving commitment to His own name. Rock bottom foundation of our forgiveness & fearlessness & joy is God’s commitment to glorify His name! God possessed Israel in such a way that what happened to them reflected upon His name. His name at stake in their destiny. Thus, won’t abandon them!

Deliverance in the Time of the Kings

2 Kings 19:34 “For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.” After death of Solomon, kingdom of Israel divided into Northern & Southern kingdoms. Hezekiah was king of southern kingdom – Judah. In late 700’s B.C., Assyrians, led by Sennacherib, came against Judah. Hezekiah prayed for deliverance. Why did God defend the city to save it? For His own sake! To magnify His own name & glorify Himself!

2 Kings 20:5-6 “Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, `Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”

The Exile and Promised Restoration

Isaiah 48:8-11 “You have not heard, you have not known. Even from long ago your ear has not been open, because I knew that you would deal very treacherously; and you have been called a rebel from birth. For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, and for My praise I restrain it for you, In order not to cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.” In 587 B.C. Jerusalem fell to invading Babylonians. Looks like God may be through with His people Israel. But what about His holy name which He has been so jealous over?

Ezek.36:22-23 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, `Thus says the Lord GOD, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.”

Ezek.39:25 “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name.”

The Testimony of the Prophets

Isaiah 43:6-7 “I will say to the north, `Give them up!´ And to the south, `Do not hold them back.´ Bring My sons from afar And My daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”

Isaiah 43:21 “The people whom I formed for Myself will declare My praise.”

Isaiah 60:21 “Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified.” Why will God make His people righteous, given them the land forever, and plant them? That he might be glorified.

Jeremiah 13:11 “For as the waistband clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of Judah cling to Me,´ declares the LORD, `that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise and for glory”

Jeremiah 33:8-9 “I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me and by which they have transgressed against Me. `It will be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good that I do for them, and they will fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it.´

The Testimony of Jesus Christ

John 12:27-28 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, `Father, save Me from this hour´? But for this purpose I came to this hour. “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” Why did Jesus come into world? To die for sinners to save them. But why? So that Father will be glorified.

The Testimony of the Apostles of Christ

Acts 15:14 “Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name.”

Romans 1:5 “Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake” Why did God give grace to some to be apostles? So that might bring about obedience of faith among all Gentiles. But why? For His name’s sake!

Romans 11:36 “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” Why were all things brought into being? Bring glory to God! God planned all (from), brought all to pass (through); did all for His glory (to Him). All things by the plan of God, through the power of God, to the praise of God.

1 Corinthians 8:5-6 “For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”

2 Corinthians 4:15 “For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.” Why does God cause His grace to spread to more and more people? That giving of thanks may abound to glory of God!

Ephesians 1:6,12,14 “to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved… to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory… who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” Why did God choose, predestine, adopt, redeem, give an inheritance, seal with Spirit? For praise of His glory!

Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

2 Thessalonians 1:10 “when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed — for our testimony to you was believed.” What is God’s aim in 2nd Coming of Christ? For Christ to be glorified in His saints & marveled at among all who have believed.

Hebrews 2:10 “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.”

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”

1 John 2:12 “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.”

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”H

2. Vindication Of This Truth:

Objection – this sounds like God is egotistical. Wants all creation to exalt Him. What is essence of righteousness? To value what is supremely valuable. If I were to live to make most money I could would be sinful. If I were to live for God that would be righteous. Why? Cuz am esteeming what is supremely valuable. But what is supremely valuable? God! God must love Himself infinitely in order to be truly righteous! Anything else is idolatry! He must love and delight in His beauty and perfection above all things. That’s why He takes pleasure in displaying His glory in all the universe!

3. Application of This Truth:

1) To The Way You Pray:

How did holy, God-centered men pray? How do you pray?

Ps.25:11 “For Thy names’ sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.”

Ps.79:9 “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name; and deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Thy name’s sake.”

Daniel 9:19 “O Lord hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Thine own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name.”

Joshua 7:8-9 “O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies? For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what wilt Thou do for Thy great name?”

2) To The Way You Live:

If glory of God is what God passionately pursues in all He does; this ought to be our passion in all we do!

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

1 Peter 4:11 “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

This ought to be our 1 supreme passion! Yes want our children to turn out right, prosper in business, serve in church. But why? That in all things God might be glorified! We aren’t acting as we ought when we are moved by any other motive. Let this ambition fire your soul! Let it be the foundation of every enterprise upon which you enter.