Date:   11/06/05

Text:   Revelation 4:11, 5:9-14

Title:   Soli Deo Gloria

Theme: Since God alone is to receive all the glory, therefore we are to glorify Him in all areas of life.

Introduction:

  You finished your project presentation in your class and everyone clapped their hands and the teacher said, “Great job”. Or at the end of a recital, you received a standing ovation with shouts of encore. You are in a baseball match; your team trailing 4-3. It is the bottom of the 9 th inning, with 2 out and one person on base. It's your turn to bat. You step up to the plate and soon you are behind by 2 strikes. The entire field is dead silent. You wait and here is the pitch; you swing the bat with all your might and the ball just keep going, going and going and it's adios. You are the hero, the best. These are the ‘wow' moments in life; when you look the best, the greatest.

  Just several weeks ago, when our home team Astros won the playoffs over the Cardinals, the entire city was in the “World Series fever”. That was the crowing moment for the Astros. Or in a wedding, you see the bride, wearing the stunning gown with a long train, walking down the aisle. Everyone would be saying, ‘Doesn't she look beautiful!”. It is her supreme moment. Or as a parent, you see your child graduating from college giving the valedictorian speech. You are so proud of him. With tears streaming down your eyes, at that moment, your child is the best, the greatest among all the others.

  These are the moments when we look great, majestic and splendid. We are the center of attention. For a brief moment, we are #1, all the glory is on us. We are being glorified.

  The scripture lessons (Revelations 5:9) we read earlier are descriptions of what happens in heaven. The angels, the saints from every tribe, language, people and nation are worshipping God. They recognize God's greatness, honor, power, majesty, wisdom and glory. And then in Rev 21:23, we learn that in heaven, God's glory, his greatest, his best, is fully manifested and recognized.

  What is the difference between human glory and God's glory? The beauty of the bride lasted only several hours. The honor you received at the recital, the glory of winning the game lasted only a moment. Our glory is short-lived. When God looks good, the glory is on Him. And His glory lasts forever. Moreover, we learn from the scriptures that God alone is to be glorified. He alone is to receive all the glory because he is the creator, all powerful, wise, loving, holy, and all majestic. For this reason, our sermon title is: Soli Deo Gloria; Glory To God Alone. Psalm 115:1, “ 1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,….” God says in Isaiah 42:8, “ 8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other,…” God alone is to be glorified.

  The entire creation joins in saying; in Psalm 19:1, “ The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork, …” Not only this, the scripture is full of examples of how imperfect people like us give glory to God and declare his glory.

  Being created by God and in his image, we're meant to glorify God and to reflect his glory. We are to look like him and make him look #1. The 1 st question in the church's catechism is: what is the chief end of man? Answer: the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. It is our duty and privilege and pleasure to glorify our creator.

  In any anniversary celebration, it is so easy for us to parade all the accomplishments we have done. We thank God for all the pastors that had served here, the churches we planted and the number of people baptized. We can also choose to launch different great projects that we will accomplish in the next 5, 10 or 25 years. Instead, the church council, agreed to make “All Glory to God” as our theme for this 30 th Anniversary celebration. We want to return to the very basics of our existence, both individually and as a community of the redeemed: Glory To God Alone. We exist to bring glory to God and God alone.

  However, because we are sinners, we often don't know how to glorify God. Sometimes we failed miserably and brought great shame to God. T he Bible tells us how we can glorify God and to make him look great; how we can reflect God's glory in our lives. Now, let's take a look at some of the biblical teachings instructing us on how we can, like a mirror, reflect God's glory. When others see us, that they see God.

1.   God is most glorified when the community of the redeemed worships Him.

  Psalm 29:1, “ 1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength ” From this and the narrative in Revelation, we learn that the community of the redeemed, people from all nations, tribes and languages gather together to glorify God by worshipping Him. When we regularly, on a weekly basis, gather here to worship God with other believers, we are honoring and glorifying him. We have not come here to observe what is going on; but instead, to actively participate in every aspect of the worship. We sing praises to God, pray to him, listen and respond to his words. When we as a community are totally involved in the worship, we glorify God and cause others to recognize God's greatness, honor, power, wisdom and majesty.

  When I visit different churches, I notice there are those that only sing contemporary short songs, and then there are those more traditional or a blend. Even in our church, our English service and Chinese service differ in style. Recently, I realized that there is no one church or single service or style that can fully make God look the best, or do justice to fully glorify God. Instead, it is through the sum of all different styles that we catch a glimpse of what it is to glorify God.

2.   God is most glorified when the community of the redeemed brings the gospel message to others.

    Look again at the Revelation passage. Who is there giving God his glory? The angels and saints from every tribe, language, people and nation. How did they get there? Because someone obeyed Jesus' great commission; “ "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…….” John Piper wrote, “The glory of God is demonstrated in the gladness of people who have come to know Christ as savior.” It's through the sharing and proclamation of the gospel message that individuals come to know Christ. By preaching and teaching the good news, God's goodness, majesty, honor, power will be recognized by people from all nations, language and tribe. This is how God is glorified.

  As a church it is our pleasure, privilege and duty to share the gospel message to those in this city. In recent years, God has brought people from every tribe, language, nation to Houston . Many of them have gathered in different apartment complexes. Instead of traveling thousands of miles, we can bring the gospel message by car. Some of us are already involved in the Mark 6 ministry. There are other complexes where we can partner with other churches to reach out to those residents. We are also planning to partner with CEF to share the gospel message with children in Houston through after school Bible clubs.

  Not only this, we can also bring the gospel message to those who live thousands of miles away. Not just to the Chinese but to individuals of all tribes, languages and nations. I think of one Chinese Mission organization whose objective is to share the gospel with the non Chinese in SE Asia . When the community of the redeemed shares the gospel message, this is when God is glorified.

3.    God is most glorified when the community of the redeemed does good works.

  John 15: 8, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.….”. When his followers bear much fruit, the Father in Heaven is glorified. To bear fruit means doing good works. In Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” When we do good works, we make God look good; God is being glorified.

  Good works means anything that is good. It can be sharing a toy, a game, candies or cookie with our friends. It can mean obeying dad and mom. Befriending a student who has just transferred to your school from New Orleans . Good works mean helping someone with financial, spiritual and emotional needs. This year, our world has certainly seen one too many natural disasters: Tsunami, Katrina, Rita and the earth quake in Pakistan . Yes, we may be a little tired of giving and helping, but it is the right and good thing to do. When others see our good works, God is glorified.

4.   God is most glorified when the community of the redeemed obeys his commandments.

John 15:10, “ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.” The Father in heaven is also glorified when his followers keep his commandments. Jesus is talking about primacy of God's spoken word, the scriptures. In scripture alone, God revealed to us his redemption plan for his creation. In scripture alone, we find the ultimate standard for our faith and conduct.

  When we believe in ‘Scripture Alone', we will be faithful students of the word. We read and study the word individually, and we come to SS to study the Word with other believers. When we study and obey his word, when we memorize Bible verses in Awana, God looks good; God is glorified.

5.   God is most glorified when the community of the redeemed is transformed into Christ-likeness.

2 Corinth 3:18, “ 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” This verse tells us that the Holy Spirit changes us from one degree of glory to another, making us more and more like Jesus Christ. This is how God's glory is being reflected through us. When we become more like Christ, this is how we make him look good, that others will speak well of Him.

  What does it mean to be like Christ? Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” To be like Christ means with the help of the Holy Spirit we learn to be gentle, humble, and develop the fruit of the spirit: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. When people see us, do they see Jesus in us? Do they see a gentle, peaceful, joyful, kind person? Or do they see an angry, impatient person? When we look like Jesus, God looks good in us. This is how God is glorified.

Conclusion:

  You remember those wow moments in life? Winning top honors at school and in our profession? Or you're listed in Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in this country. There are many people who spend their entire lives pursuing such wow moments in life; to seek such honor and glory. But do you know what happens when they finally achieved such honor and glory? Many of them can tell you there is a sense of emptiness. You know why? Because such glory and honor belongs to God, and God alone.

  When we celebrate the 35 th , 40 th or 50 th anniversary, what will be some of the yardstick we use to measure our ministry? Projects and growth are certainly important. We probably will have another time line prepared. There will be some new names and some names missing; ministries and or building projects started and completed; churches planted here and outside Houston . However, under girding all these is that eternal truth: Glory to God Alone.

  However, as sinful people, we'll never be able to fully glorify God while we live on earth. Sometimes we have failed miserably, and we need to repent and ask God for forgiveness. Do we think God really needs us to glorify him, to make him look good? Certainly not. He is that glory in its fullest extend. His glory and His being cannot be separated. During these past 30 years, we at HCC have truly witnessed how He works through us, above us and even against us, to bring glory to himself. For glory can only belong to this creator God, to Him alone.

  While we are here on earth, every day, every year and every decade we live, individually and as a community, we are to glorify God more than yesterday, last week, last month, last year and last 10 years. God's glory is to be more and more evident in my life, in your life, and in this church.

  With the help of the Holy Spirit, we strive to glorify God and to reflect his glory in all we do. And we also look forward to that day, when we will join the heavenly crowd, with saints from all tribes, languages, peoples and nations to glorify God in the most perfect and complete manner. When God will receive the full glory that is due Him. Everything we do here is a rehearsal for that glorious day!!!