GIVE GLORY TO GOD

LUKE 17:11-37 GIVE GLORY TO GOD The final journey of the Lord Jesus Christ to Jerusalem, led Him to many places on the way where there were needs He alone could meet. Drawing near to a village, ten men drawn together as outcasts from society because of the disease of leprosy, called to Him from a distance with a clear understanding of who Jesus was. The impact of the Lord on those men must have come from what they had observed in others who had come near to Him. We may never know the impact our faith in Christ had on others during our lifetime. Nine of them perhaps were Jews who were willing to associate with a Samaritan because of a problem common to them all. Sin is the great common denominator of all humanity. It doesn't make any difference where we find ourselves in the world. We all have been afflicted with the same fallen nature and there is only one remedy for that problem - the grace of God.

The Lord Jesus did not always deal with the same problems people have in the same way. In this case He did not touch the lepers who had called out to Him from a distance. He called back to them to go show themselves to the priest. Another time the healing of leprosy took place before the Lord sent the leper to the priest. This time He sent them on their way to the priest first. This in itself testified to their faith in Him and the truth of His words. On the way to the priest they were healed of their leprosy. However, physical healing is not an assurance of saving faith. Nine had faith in His words; the Samaritan had faith in the Lord personally. Faith in Christ alone saves. Ten were cleansed from leprosy. Only one was also cleansed from sin. To recognize God for who He is and what He has done is a way to glorify God. To acknowledge God as the Giver of every good and perfect gift is to glorify God. To honor Him and demonstrate His Person and worth in our bodies and spirits is to glorify God. To live godly lives in times of persecution and following Christ against the tide of public opinion, glorifies God. Those who glorify God are in the minority, but it does not change the responsibility and blessing associated with giving God glory.

The kingdom of God does not come when those watching with critical eyes motivated by hostility toward God, are seeking to see it. They are those television news anchors and other public figures who look at believers in Christ alone for salvation with hostility and scorn. Others we know and live among have an antagonistic attitude toward the Bible and those who seek to live for the Lord. They do not like it, when Christians do not share in the modern smooth Christianity, they enjoy that leaves following Christ out of their teaching and practice. Such a hostile attitude will never allow them to come to where they can identify the kingdom of God and say it is here. The Pharisees did not believe the King of the kingdom of God was among them. They had rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. People today resist the striving of the Holy Spirit and evidence of God that is easy to discern when one "returns to give God glory." There is no use looking at religious groups or movements for evidence of the kingdom of God. That evidence is seen in the hearts and lives of those people in our world who love the Lord Jesus Christ and still want to give glory to God.

Counterfeit Christs and false reports have been and are still great deceptions to the world. Such false displays of ignorance should never be given credence by those who know the Lord Jesus. When the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed at the end of the tribulation, it will be very obvious to the whole world. The Lord told His disciples of His coming rejection. That would precede the time when in His glory, He will be revealed to the whole world. When this happens the Son of Man will be revealed quickly and break in on the affairs of life of every person. Not everybody will be waiting and ready for Him to come. He will have been hidden from the eyes of men, but like in the days of Noah when he warned of coming judgment or when judgment fell on Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord will appear like a flash of lightning. In judgment some will be taken away at night, others in the morning and others at noon. This revelation of the Son of Man will be known by the whole world. Those remaining behind will go into the blessings of the millennium when Christ comes to reign. Those who are taken will go into unmistakable judgment. The ones "who endure to the end will be saved." Those who live now for what they can get and are only concerned with themselves and ignore the future, are examples of those who will be left out of the kingdom of God. The signs of the end are like birds circling over a dead carcass. The carrion birds will have full and plenty when the Lord returns in power and great glory. Let us commit ourselves to give glory to God now.

To give God glory now is a response we can pass on - Both for who He is and also for what He has done. There is no question or challenge that can honestly be raised, To negate the positive truth, "God is greatly to be praised."

We give God glory for who He is when our eyes behold creation. The evidence of supreme intelligence and power is in every nation. Glory, the display of excellence, is seen in every view - Whether atoms or galaxies, there is that which He foreknew.

We give God glory when we see a new-born before our eyes. Our amazed eyes behold His life-giving power; our ears hear their cries. Watching the development of life amaze each and every one. To the person in whom faith begins to dawn, God reveals to them His Son.

We give God glory when faith springs forth and new birth takes place. There is evidence in changed lives that God has saved them by His grace. Now that person and their life take on a new direction. There are those things easily observed that accompany God's salvation.

We give glory to God when the words we use bring darkened souls some light. The proof of reality is there for all, shining like a candle in the night. A cleansed-leper who returns to give thanks, gives God the glory He deserves. Faithful servants who stay at their work give glory to the One they are called to serve.

We give glory to God in life or in death when His name and Person we revere. In the eternal day to come, we will realize better the value of our life here. When the Lord of glory comes in power to righteously rule and reign - We will better know the value of what we have done in Jesus' name.

"Our Father in heaven; Thy name and Person is to be honored here this day. May anything of value done this day by Thy servant, bring glory to Thee. May the thoughts, words and deeds done in the hours ahead, in some way honor Thee. May Thy servant bring glory to Thee in life and death, in good times and bad, in the beauty of day or in the despair of night. May it all be done in the name, and for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."

LUKE 18: NEEDS MET BY THE SON OF MAN. FAITH – given when the need is urgent. [v.1-8] RIGHTEOUSNESS – given but not earned by the selfishness of man. [v.9-12] MERCY – given by grace alone when the heart is broken. [v.13] JUSTIFIED – given when the soul is contrite soul is humbled. [v.14] BLESSING – given to those helpless ones who needed Him. [v.15-17] ETERNAL LIFE – a gift given from God when it is not deserved. [v.18-27] SIGHT – given when the call is to the right Person. [v.31-43]

v.1-8. Persistent faith. v.9-14. Genuine faith. v.15-17. Child-like faith. v.18-27. Lack of faith. v.28-34. Reward of faith. v.35-43. Saving faith.

v.1-8. The Lord’s coming is still in view with all the difficulties of adversity. God intends to continue communicating with Him. To begin to pray is one thing, to continue is quite another. The Lord pressed the subject of prayer as much or more than any other subject. There is liberty to pray and make our requests known. There is the duty to pray because God commands it. There is the constant necessity to pray.

There is the season to pray – always: the morning and evening sacrifices indicate on- going. There are advantages to prayer: God always hears. Fervent prayer, constant prayer, persistent prayer leads to successful prayer. v.8. When He comes, there will be comparatively few who do not faint.

v.15-17. Child-like faith: our attitude should be to bring any and all to Christ, not just the adults. Children need the grace of God as well as we do. There may be discouragement and resistance from those who should help. Many we may overlook who the Savior calls. Let nothing be done to hinder children, for they are as welcome as anyone else. Children are sanctified by believing parents. Children don’t feel they deserve anything from God. They just accept the blessings in simple faith.