LET’S GLORIFY THE WORD OF GOD
Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, Dec. 19, 1999, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
LET’S GLORIFY THE WORD OF GOD
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:1
2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
Introduction: Of the prayer requests in the Bible, that one mentioned in our text for tonight is often overlooked. The first part of the prayer request was “that the word of the Lord may have free course.” There are always many hindrances to the preaching of the word of God. Sometimes the national or local laws of the land are a hindrance.
The second part of the prayer request is that the word of the Lord may “be glorified.” This is a horrible thought to the leftwing “fundamentalist” and the liberal, because it indicates that we should praise, lift up, and magnify the BIBLE! Horrors! To them, that is … BIBLIOLATRY!
Let me point out some ways that we can magnify the word of the Lord:
I. WE GLORIFY GOD’S WORD BY OUR REVERANCE FOR IT
Psalms 56:4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Psalms 56:10 In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
Why should we magnify and praise God’s word so highly? Not only because the Psalmist did, but also because GOD does!
Psalms 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
A. We show reverance by the way we stand for it
* Literally, in respect.
* Our church has a tradition of standing to our feet when the sermon text is announced.
* Also, in our conversations with others, we want to stand for the integrity of the word of God.
B. We show reverance by the way we study it
* Giving it preference. “Ain’t it amazing how much light dat de word of God do shine on da commentaries!”
* When we run into something that is hard to understand (2 Pet. 3:16), we don’t think God’s word is the problem; we think WE are the problem. We pray for light and keep studying!
* The Bible doesn’t need to be re-written; it needs to be re-read!
C. We show reverance by the way we show it to others
* Living it! – Luke 4:4
* By the way, Luke 4:4 in nearly all of the new “bibles” does not tell you what you are to live by, for half of the verse has been removed!
Let me praise God’s word a few minutes:
WHAT THE BIBLE IS TO ME, FROM A TO Z
By Pastor Michael D. O’Neal
A – The Answer (Prov. 22:20-21)
* The Almighty’s Book
* The AUTHORIZED Version!
* The Authority for all matters of faith and practice
B – The Book – Eureka! I’ve FOUND it!!!
C – The Commandment
* Clean (Jn. 15:3)
* Correct
D – The Declaration
* The Divider (Heb. 4:12)
E – Eternal (Isa. 40:8; 1 Pet. 1:23)
F – Fire (Jer. 20:9)
G – The Good Book, the guide Book, and the GOD Book!
H – The Hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces (Jer. 23:29)
I – The Inspired Book (2 Tim. 3:16)
* Inerrant
* Infallible
* Immutable
* Invincible
* Intact!
J – The Judgments of God
* The JESUS Book (Jn. 5:39)
K – The King’s word (Eccl. 8:4)
* The King James Bible
L – A Lamp unto my feet (Ps. 119:105)
* A Light unto my path (Ps. 119:105)
* Life (John 6:63)
* The Law
* The Lord’s Book
* The Love Letter from Heaven
M – The Message of the Lord
* Milk for the babes in Christ
* Meat for the mature in Christ
N – The NECESSARY Book (Luke 10:42 – Martha knew what was important as she sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word!)
O – The Oracles of God
P – The Precepts of God
* The Promises of God
* Pure (Prov. 30:5)
* Precious
* Preserved (Ps. 12:6-7)
* The Plumbline for building lives, homes, and churches!
Q – The Quick Book (Heb. 4:12), alive, well, and RUNNING very swiftly! (Ps. 147:15)
R – The Right Book (Ps. 119:128)
S – Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb (Ps. 19:10)
T – The TRUTH (Jn. 17:17)
U – Unique (like Goliath’s sword, there is none like that!)
* Unequaled
V – The Voice of God (To hear from heaven, READ YOUR BIBLE!)
* Very pure, which is why I love it! (Ps. 119:140)
W – Word of God (Luke 4:4)
* Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15)
X – The X-Ray Book, a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12)
Y – The Yonder Book – It came from heaven, it is settled in heaven, and it points the way TO heaven! (Ps. 119:89)
Z – The Zenith Book – Nothing matches it.
II. WE GLORIFY GOD’S WORD BY OUR RELIANCE UPON IT
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Many Calvinists believe that the Gentiles were ordained to eternal life and then believed the gospel. That’s foolishness. In the verse the Gentiles believed the gospel, were ordained to eternal life, and believed what God said about TURNING to the GENTILES. The way they glorified the word of the Lord was that they BELIEVED it, whether or not the Jews did!
IT GLORIFIES THE WORD OF GOD AS
A. We rely on its accuracy
B. We rely on its admonitions and instructions
C. We rely on its ability
* God’s word is powerful! (Heb. 4:12)
* The word of God can do the work of God!
* Let’s keep preaching it, practicing it, and passing it on!!!
III. WE GLORIFY GOD’S WORD BY OUR RECEPTION OF IT
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
A. We should want to receive it
* We should come to church prepared to listen
B. We should want to read it
C. We should want to research it
The Holy Bible and the TV Guide
On the table side by side,
The Holy Bible and the TV Guide.
One is well worn and cherished with pride,
But that one is not the Bible, it’s the TV Guide.
As the pages are turned what shall they see?
It doesn’t matter, just turn on the TV.
Then is the confusion started for they can’t all agree,
What they shall watch on that old TV.
So they refer to the Book in which they all confide,
But it’s not the Bible, it’s the TV Guide.
The Word of God is seldom read,
Maybe a verse or two just before bed.
Exhausted and sleepy, tired as can be,
Not from reading the Bible, but from watching TV.
Then back to the table, side by side,
The Holy Bible and the TV Guide.
No time for prayer, no time for the Word.
The plan of salvation is seldom heard.
Forgiveness of sin so full and free,
We find in the Bible and not on TV.
IV. WE GLORIFY GOD’S WORD BY OUR RESPONSE TO IT
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
WE SHOULD ALWAYS RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD!
That’s why we give an invitation at the close of EVERY service!
A. It causes us to rejoice
B. It causes us to have remorse
C. It causes us to review
D. It causes us to remember
E. It causes us to repent (change our minds)
F. It causes us to revamp
G. It causes us to be redirected
H. It causes us to be recharged
I. It causes us to be revived!
GLORIFY GOD’S WORD WITH ME!