God's own self-exaltation is not megalomania , because , unlike our self-exaltation , god's self-exaltation draws attention to what gives greatest and longest joy , namely himself . And listen to this a couple more . He says it's crucial that we show it is right for God to be God-centered and not man-centered . Many people are happy to let God exist if God will make man the highest value in the universe . But it is crucial to say that God is the most valuable being in the universe . We are quite secondary , and since God is the ultimate value in the universe , it is only right and fitting that he be honest about that , that he tell us so and that , for our own good , he seek our love and admiration . And then one more For us to be righteous , we must love God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength . For God to be righteous , he too must love Himself with all His heart , mind , soul and strength . Otherwise he would be an idolater . He would be giving supreme devotion to something that does not have supreme value . Upbeat music playing in the background . Poison Tester a poem . I'm Poison Tester , taster . True , I'm here to taste your food for you , because you could die in a half a minute if there's one drop of poison in it , that lemonade to quench your thirst . You'd better let me taste it first . It's okay , but these boys and berries I'll make sure they're not poison berries . No , they're safe , but the burger might be deadly . No , it's all right . And now I'll test your hot fudge Sunday . Let's hope it's not dead by Monday . It's okay , seems okay , but the poison could be in the very last bite , so leave it for me . Well , it's all safe and my job is through . See how I risk my life for you . Shell Silverstein , shell , silverstein Ray . I mean , you always seem confused , but why , especially now ?
Speaker 3Very confused . I don't know what that was about .
Speaker 1Ray , I thought you would love that poem .
Speaker 3It was beautiful what was it about ?
Speaker 1It was about a person who was a poison tester . Oh , poison tester To see things someone to eating all their food .
Speaker 2That's the guy who wrote the light in the attic , where the sidewalk ends , and the giving tree .
Speaker 1Okay , right , I'll try this one on you Pay close attention . Okay , I'm trying to my robot , or my robot that was short . It's a robot , a poem . I told my robot to do my bit in . He yawned and said you must be kidding . I told my robot to cook me a stew , he said I got better things to do . I told my robot to sweep my shack he said you want me to strain my back ? I told my robot to answer my phone . He said I must make some calls of my own . I told my robot to brew me some tea , he said why don't you make tea for me ? I told my robot to boil me an egg . He said first let me hear you bag . I told my robot , there's a song you can play me . He said how much are you gonna pay me ? So I sold my robot because I never knew exactly who belonged to who .
Speaker 3Hmm , that was like a guy with a bad wife .
Speaker 1Ha , ha ha . There goes our audience , do you guys ?
Speaker 3read a lot of poetry .
Speaker 1That was by Shel Silverstein , by the way , it was . Yeah , ray , don't you like Shel Silverstein ? Yeah , mom , the light in the attic .
Speaker 3Yeah . Rose is a red violets are blue . Some palms rhyme , some don't . Ha ha ha , that's the end of it .
Speaker 2Do you guys read a lot of poetry ? Is that a part of your I ?
Speaker 3love poetry . Julia , your daughter , is brilliant at poetry .
Speaker 1Yeah , that's why I read these , because she's been reading this to her students .
Speaker 3Oh , she is .
Speaker 1And she loves it .
Speaker 3When they're read by Julia , they would sound great , I'm sure .
Speaker 1Okay , I'll put you on the spot Ray a freestyle poem . As quick as you can , my God . Mark a freestyle poem as quick as you can .
Speaker 4I have a buddy . His name is Emile Annette Knight . When it's not shining bright , he doesn't like to write , he sends email . Now , ease , you have a question for you , not freestyle .
Speaker 1You've had that for years .
Speaker 4Lies ? Of course I do . Do you still write poems or bookworms or any kind ? It's been a while but why don't you ?
Speaker 3get back into it . You're very good at it , Easey , Thank you . You did the whole book of Acts , so half the third of the book of Acts in poem , didn't you ? Thank you and Matthew with the book of Matthew .
Speaker 1Yeah , I should . I need to make time .
Speaker 4Yeah To rhyme .
Speaker 3Ha ha , ha Wow wow , all right friends .
Speaker 1here's the comment .
Speaker 3Hey , why don't you make your last words in rhyme ? Ha , ha , ha , I should .
Speaker 1Goodbye , I'm gonna die . Answer the prayer that worked , that's it . Those are gonna be my words the other way around .
Speaker 3it should be .
Speaker 1Yeah , I'm gonna die , goodbye . Yeah , all right , france , here's a comment . And then sigh , and then why , and then cry .
Speaker 4All stars yawning , that's true , all right .
Speaker 1This is from Alliem CD 2.7 , must listen . One of my favorite podcasts . These men rightly divide the word and apply it to our daily lives . Enjoyable , encouraging and solid biblical truth . Thank you , living Wonders . Thank you , alliem CD 27, . Very , very encouraging . This podcast is brought to you by Tough Questions . Apologetics Made Simple . This is a DVD or MP4 downloadable course where we answer tough questions . Mark , why do you like apologetics ?
Speaker 4Well , I mean , evangelism naturally brings us into the realm of apologetics , where we give an answer , you know , for the questions . Yeah so . Not that I like it , but I like to see that Christianity is intelligent .
Speaker 1Yeah so what are apologetics Doesn't mean going around apologizing
, right .
Speaker 2Absolutely not . Scripture tells us to always be ready to give a defense for your faith , for what you believe in , and apologetics helps us navigate those waters . It gives us clear direction on how to have conversations with people , and I love what Mark just said . I think it's absolutely true . For some reason right now there's this narrative that to have faith , to be a Christian , is to be anti-intellectual . But that couldn't be further from the truth . As a matter of fact , some of the most intellectual people in history and in our present day are Christians , and I think , oh , and then there's exceptions , and I think apologetics helps us have those kinds of talks with people .
Speaker 1Amen . So , friends , make sure to check it out . Tough questions . Apologetics Made Simple Again . You can get it in DVD or MP4 downloadable format . And by the way , a little FYI Apologetics Baskords is skitegolo pop .
Speaker 2So much for anti-intelligence .
Speaker 1No , because if someone asks you , you have to be able to defend that . That's what it is . All right , friends , make sure to check it out , along with the Living Waters mug and the evidence study Bible , all at livingwaterscom . Getting better and better , oscar . All right , friends , this is it the grand finale , and what a place to end on what we've been doing . As those of you who listen regularly know , the what Is the Gospel series , where we went back in time to some things we recorded ages ago that most of you have never heard Today , we end the series on the most appropriate place . This is the glory of God .
Speaker 2Welcome back , guys , to what Is the Gospel . This is part eight , our final session . The glory of God , I'm excited to be here with us . We've got EZ , the Fresh Prince of Lebanon .
Speaker 1Yo happy bee Na na , na , na na .
Speaker 2We have with us Ray Comfort , the kiwi that likes to eat seaweed . Yep right and Mark Spence , get off the fence .
Speaker 1That's the work on that one along . That's not going to be me just now .
Speaker 2Welcome back , guys . Good to have you . You didn't need to tell us that we knew it wasn't premeditated .
Speaker 1Hopefully it wasn't premeditated . Good to be back . You know , it's amazing to think that we're at this juncture and yet , from my perspective , we've saved , I think , the most important for last , and what a way to cap it off .
Speaker 2Yeah , we've hit the climax of the mountain and this is why we're doing what we're doing , yeah as I started studying these notes , preparing my notes , it's like all the first seven sessions are just coming to a climax right here . You know a crescendo , so let's jump right into it . The first question for us today what is the glory of God ? He's ?
Speaker 1he's , all of us open our mouths at the same time . Well , let me say this as a disclaimer I'm going to be quoting John Piper a lot , okay , I mean , you know , when it comes to Christian leaders , oftentimes everyone has their niche and when I think John Piper , I think the glory of God . You know , that's the heartbeat to his ministry , and so he and he's got a lot of good stuff to say . I mean , you know , just in preparing and studying , I really couldn't find anything or any quotes that were much better than the quotes that Piper , you know , had . Sorry for Charles . Well , actually I started with Spurgeon , but I'm going to skip to Piper to set the stage . But but I love this . This is what Piper said
. He said the word glory is more like the word beauty than the word basketball , and , as I thought about that , you know it's difficult to define the glory of God . But but I like that . You know , when you say basketball , you can begin to use terms , right , I mean everyone can . When you say basketball , people can immediately think all right , okay , it's something spherical , it's made out of leather . Stick a needle into it , you pump it , it bounces . You could take it and throw it through the circular thing called a rim . You know I mean you can understand . But when I say the word beauty it's more abstract . You know it's harder to nail down , but I think he distilled it and then he said this . He said the glory of God is the holiness of God made manifest . The glory of God is the infinite beauty and greatness of his manifold perfection .
Speaker 3Well , thanks for joining us today .
Speaker 1We have nothing else to add , but I love that . You know . The glory of God is a holiness of God made manifest . The glory of God is the infinite beauty and greatness of his manifold perfections , the perfections of God which cannot be compared in every aspect and every facet put on display and demonstrated in connection with his infinite beauty and greatness . Oh man just gives me the chills to even say it .
Speaker 4No , god's glory is a big deal in scripture , you know . Therefore , it's a big deal to us here at Living Waters . I think that we need to really start with that in mind . You know , easy's talking about John Piper and Desiring God is not just John Piper , it's just a . It's a whole bunch of Writers and speakers and people with that same Directional focus , and that is the glory of God . Right , and they , they went on to say that God is in a class by himself . He has infinite perfections , infinite greatness and infinite Worth , and the glory of God is the infinite beauty and greatness of God's manifold Perfections . God created this world for one reason and that is for his glory , to glorify Himself , which does not mean , as easy said here , to to make it glorious . But we have not been created to make God glorious or to beautify , right that that article that you read . It goes on to say how to beautify means to make something plain beautiful . God does not need to be made beautiful , he is beautiful , he is Glorious . And we're gonna finish off this time together discussing how is God the most glorified ? How do we get to that place ? And it's we'll give you a little glimpse into that . It's at the cross . It's what happens supremely with the death of the king of kings , and when we recognize that and God's Cross is placed on display , god is the most glorified Amongst his people one thing that fascinates me , and always has , is the way human beings express Glee and joy .
Speaker 3You can put a kitten in front of a little baby that can hardly set up and you'll clap his hands and , intuitively , his claps , his hands and Glee . And you can look at a football stadium of 80,000 people in it and they watch a Sporting caro do something wonderful that pleases them . They want to glorify him . They'll clap their hands and Glee , and I don't know if you've ever been in a sporting stadium and heard the roar of a crowd and felt their Atmosphere . There's nothing like it , and that's why people leave the comfort of a 60 inch flat screen TV with air conditioning and Surround sound and go and pack themselves in a freezing stadium like frozen sardines . It's because of that atmosphere get . And the first time I ever heard it , I couldn't help but think around the throne what that's going to be like . It's just gonna just be breathtaking . You cannot express what it would be like to be in the very presence of God . And I was just thinking . And it's so true , the glory of God is a very hard thing to define . In a sense , the glory of God is his essence , is very presence , but in different portions of scripture we see it manifest , like you mentioned before , in the cross God is most glorified . Jesus said to those that were standing around Lazarus , four days dead Lazarus , didn't I tell you you're gonna see the glory of God . God manifests his glory in different ways . The shepherds are washing their socks at night Sorry , watching your flocks at night . The glory of God was manifest , and so God manifests his presence in different ways . I've been saying to people , as I she the gospel , and if you've looked at the Sun at noonday , they've studied it , and they say no , no . I said we don't , because it'll blind you and a matter of seconds if you stare at it . And I said but there is a time we can look at the Sun , and that's in a sunrise , and it's glorious , it's breathtaking , it's beauty is just awesome . But we must never forget that when we look at that Sun , same Sun that's so beautiful and glorious and attractive , if we found to the face of that Sun , we'd be fried , we'd be consumed in a nanosecond . So God became blown . The reason we can look at the raising Sun is because we're looking at through the lowly atmosphere . That's what makes it possible for us to see it . God came down so we could look at his glorious attributes of gentleness and kindness and love and Mercy in Christ . But we must never forget that the lion is coming as the lamb is coming back . As a lion , he's coming in flaming fire and if we fall into his presence we would be annihilated in a nanosecond . Forgive me for going on , but I'll just share this thought ?
Speaker 1Oh , and this is awesome .
Speaker 3Moses said God , let me see your glory . I want to see the sunrise , I want to not close , and God says you can't see me and live . God says I'll tell you what I'll do , I'll let my goodness pass you by . I didn't say glory , he said goodness . And the way to understand that , that kind of mystery , is why God's talking about goodness . When Moses , I want to see you glory is . Think of a judge in a court of law has before him a Criminal that is tied up , raped three teenagers and then slit their throats . And as the judge judge reads his crime to him , he smiles and glee . That judge is going to be furious , he's gonna grit his teeth and he cannot wait to bring that gavel down and wrath and his wrath won't be in direct proportion to his goodness . If he's a good judge , that gavel will come down to wrath . If he's a , if he's not a good judge , he won't be wrath filled and he shouldn't even be seated as a judge . God's wrath is in direct proportion to his goodness and if Moses had stood in the goodness of God , that wrath would have fallen upon him in a second . So God's is all hygi and a cleft , a cleft of a rock , and that's a type of our salvation . The only way we can stand in the presence of God is to be pure of heart . Jesus had blessed of pure and up , for they shall see God and God and his grace as Hiddenness and a cleft of the rock , rock of ages . Cleft for me . Let me hide myself in there . And so the glory of God is manifest in different ways , but we're gonna stand before that very essence of his glory and we're able to do it because we're gonna be sheltered in the rock of ages .
Speaker 1That's so powerful . Ray , I'm so glad you highlighted Exodus 33 and and the goodness of God . You know , spurgeon just to kind of the piggyback on that Spurgeon highlighted that too and he said when he talked about God's glory , he said an aspect of it is his goodness , but in connection with that from Exodus 33 , it's his sovereign goodness . I mean , listen to this it says . And he said please show me your glory . This is Moses . Then he said I will make all my goodness pass before you and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you . Then he says I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and I will have compassion on whom I will have . Compassion is Goodness , and his sovereignty are a massive aspect of his glory . You know just a couple of things that I think are important for us to remember too . You know , I think the greatest glimpse , from an earthly perspective , of God's glory is what we see in Isaiah 6 , 1 through 3 , and that in the year that you , zaya , king , you , zaya , died , I saw the Lord sitting on a throne , high and lifted up in the train of his robe , filled the temple Above us to Sarah , from . Each one had six wings , with two he covered his face , with two he covered his feet and with two he flew . One cried to another and said holy , holy , holy is the Lord of hosts , the whole earth is full of his Glory . And it's interesting because you would have expected him to say holy , holy , holy , holy is Lord , god of mighty . The whole earth is full of his holiness . And he says his glory because , again , it's interrelated to his perfection in his holiness . And and one more thing , I know we're going on here , oscar , but I mean , this is why this topic is just so but we cannot make the mistake of ever thinking that God is indifferent or passive about his requirement to be glorified by us . Again , as Mark highlighted as well , we don't add anything to God , we're just shining a light on the greatness of his glory . But remember , with that , nadab and Abihu , and Leviticus 10 , 1 through 3 , it says then , nadab and Abihu , the sons of Aaron , each took his censor and put fire in it , put incense on it and offered profane fire before the Lord , which he had not commanded them . So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them and they died before the Lord . And Moses said to Aaron this is what the Lord spoke , saying by those who come near me I must be regarded as holy and before all the people I must be glorified . We'll talk more about why we glorify God and what that all means , but it's important to remember that .
Speaker 2Yeah , I have nothing to add , but , yes , an amen . That was excellent by all three of you . One thing that stood out to me , ray , is what you said regarding watching a football game or a basketball game on television versus experiencing it . God's glory is not just something we will observe , it will consume us , it will be a full experience . The difference is watching a hurricane on TV versus flying through it in an airplane , right Like there's one observation and there's another one , that it's a full blown experience and the glory of God is something that we will experience the fullness of his glory . On to the next question God demands to be glorified . Is he a megalomaniac for demanding that ?
Speaker 3If I could say this in the eyes of the world
. I'm sure they think he is , because they're understanding us dark and alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that's in him , and they can't understand that as Christians we want to glorify God , we want to give Him praise . And so when you become a Christian and your understanding is open , when you look at the sky , you don't see a sky , you see the glory of God , the heavens to clear the glory of God . And I must look like an idiot sometimes , like yesterday I was walking around looking at the clouds . While I was walking I was even filming , as at a local college , because I was just an awe . Every stroke of his pen or his brush is seen in the clouds , and then the sun shining . And so when you become a Christian , the trees are raising their arms and praise to God , the birds are singing his praise in the mornings and everything you look at , from fruits to babies to birds flying , all scream of the glory of God , because we know he's the maker , he created the DNA , and so it takes our breath away . But the ungodly says they're Romans one . They refuse to give Him glory . They don't glorify Him as God . They know Him as God , and so secularism exalts a man and diminishes God , and so I can understand why the ungodly in their darkness would see God as being a megalomaniac , because he says to be glorified . It's only right that a painter receives praise for his painting , and it's only right that a creator receives praise for his creation .
Speaker 4To the ungodly . Everything about God is profane . The blessings of God are profane . Everything , every gift , every beautiful act of God , everything that he's ever done , is disgusting to a non-believer . They just don't see it . They are blind to the gift giver , and this is why they worship the gifts Instead of the gift giver . They worship the creation instead of the creator .
Speaker 2I think one of the challenges for a lot of people is that we live with a long , endless list of people , of men , of leaders , of presidents , of world leaders , who are megalomaniacs , who demand our glory . And when a man demands our glory , it drains from us because he is not glorious . So when someone demands glory , it sucks people dry of joy , right , because they want for themselves , they consume , they take . But God , he does not demand glory because he wants to be glorious . God demands glory because he is glorious and we were made to glorify Him . The Westminster Catechism , one of my favorite ones . The opening one is what is the chief end of man ? It's like asking what is the purpose ? What's your life purpose ? Why are you here ? Right , that question that everyone asked . And the answer is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever . It is in the very nature of who we are to want to glorify Him and when we glorify Him it brings us joy . And I think we know this . I think even the secular mind knows this , because every year billions of dollars are spent on going on vacations to go see things that are bigger and more beautiful than your own selves . No one gets up in the morning , looks in the mirror and is impressed with what they see right . Excuse me , easy , easy .
Speaker 4Well , on the other hand , no pictures in Easy's office , just mirrors .
Speaker 2On the other hand , when you stand at the foot of Mount Everest , when you are in the presence with your toes hanging off the Grand Canyon , you are in awe . It is a wonderful and amazing thing , and it's our heart desiring to want and glorify something bigger than us . It is in our nature to glorify God , and when we do it , it fills us with joy , because it's what we were made to do and you can see that so often in rock musicians .
Speaker 3The hands are raised , the voices are calling for praise for that person because they play the guitar and drop to their knees and slid across that . It's just . They want to give them glory and praise and honor . And yet man wasn't made for that . The guy goes home , goes to sleep , wakes up in the morning alone and empty . In that sense , glory and praise is for God , because he's omnipresent and he's worthy of praise . Thou art worthy to receive glory and honor and power .
Speaker 1You know again I'm going to quote Piper and these things are so rich they're worthy of meditation .
Speaker 3And his name is applicable . He's a Piper that we follow . That's a glory .
Speaker 1Listen to this God's own self-exaltation is not megalomania , because , unlike our self-exaltation , God's self-exaltation draws attention to what gives greatest and longest joy , namely himself . And listen to this a couple more . He says it's crucial that we show it is right for God to be God-centered and not man-centered . Many people are happy to let God exist if God will make man the highest value in the universe . But it is crucial to say that God is the most valuable being in the universe . We are quite secondary , and since God is the ultimate value in the universe , it is only right and fitting that he be honest about that , that he tell us so and that , for our own good , he seek our love and admiration . And then one more For us to be righteous , we must love God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength . For God to be righteous , he too must love Himself with all His heart , mind , soul and strength . Otherwise he would be an idolater . He would be giving supreme devotion to something that does not have supreme value . Oh man .
Speaker 4I love that and to kind of build off of that , there's a text in Isaiah that talks about why God created the children of Israel for Himself , why he chose them . And in Isaiah 43 , the universe six , it says bring my sons from afar , my daughters from the end of the earth , everyone who is called by my name , whom I created for my glory , whom I formed and made you know . There are billions , if not trillions , of things that we do not know , but we know supremely the most important reason each one of those things exists . We know why every leaf exists , why every blade of grass , why every sunset . We know why they exist and it is for the glory of God . So there's billions of things we don't know , but we know why they exist . They exist to bring glory to God . And back to the question here . I asked Alexa in my house . I said Alexa , are you a feminist ? And she said yes , I am a feminist . This is the culture in which we live , where never before have we seen within our generation of people that are trying to raise up , raise their fist at God and try to put women in a place where perhaps they don't belong , or men in a place where they don't belong . Listen , God is no respecter of persons , and when you begin to think that , hey , is God a megalomaniacal ? The answer is ridiculous . Look at the way Jesus treated women . Jesus , unlike any other guru , any other prophet , any other individual . He treated women with respect . Consider this for just a moment . He welcomed women to sit under his teaching . People didn't do that in that time . And here's Jesus welcoming women to do so . He was a man who he healed women oppressed by demons and diseases . He was a man who called upon his disciples to admire the generosity of an impoverished widow . Or we see in John , chapter four . It says that Jesus had to go out of his way to meet the woman at the well where the disciples come along and go oh , what's going on here ? All right , give him something to eat . And he says I have meat to eat . You know not of and what ? Talking about God with a woman , with a female ? He included women when he traveled through cities and villages proclaiming the gospel . He was a man who commissioned a group of women as the first witnesses to the resurrection . Jesus was inclusive in this area , but know this that there is a headship , and when we confuse the headship , we confuse roles of both men and women , even children . There are rules that exist , and they exist for a very good purpose .
Speaker 3And I just got to mention here just further what you're saying , how the scriptures exalt the role of women and I would even even notice that the aunt is in a female gender . Go to the aunt , you slug it and consider her ways and be wise . That wisdom is in a feminine gender .
Speaker 4The church that is referred to as the bride of Christ , which brings glory to God .
Speaker 1Well , yeah , and again , it's so true , right ? If God did not give himself supreme glory , then he would be an idolater , Because he'd be giving glory to something that didn't have supreme value like he did and I love how Piper summed it up I mean , in the midst of all , that it is best for us , as God's creation , to give him glory . That's when we receive the most joy and are the most complete as as people .
Speaker 2Next question so we understand that God is glorious and we understand that he calls us to glorify him , that we bring , we receive joy when we glorify God . So that leads to this question how do we glorify God ?
Speaker 1You know , I have a family vision statement . I can't remember if I shared it in one of these sessions or not , but this is so crucial that I wanted my children to grow up understanding it and I wanted them to pass it on to success of a generation . So I crafted this , I memorized it , my wife memorized it , our children memorized it , and here's how it goes . You have the tattoo on your forehead about it Of course I mean you gotta do it , but here it is to gladly and passionately glorify God in every thought , affection , word and deed , while constantly enjoying him as our greatest pleasure and most precious treasure . And that's based on 1 Corinthians , 10 , 31 . Therefore , whether you eat or drink or whatever you do , do all to the glory of God . And you know Jesus obviously told us to think in that way Matthew 5 , 16, . Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven . In a nutshell , it's to live in such a way and harmony and in keeping with that holy , good , perfect nature of God that as you live in such a way and connection with him , as his son or daughter , you're shining the light on the greatness of his glory . You're bringing attention to it through the way that you live .
Speaker 2The Westminster Catechism again answers this question for us . How do we glorify God ? By loving him and obeying his commands and laws , and I love the value they put on scripture through the answer to that question . And a part of glorifying God , a part of loving him , is putting his worth on display for all to see , not only in our evangelism but in our lives in general . People ought to be able to see how glorious God is through the way we interact with the world , because when we begin to believe , as Ray pointed out , the trees are singing his glory , that our work place is a place for him to be glorified , that our homes are a place for him to be glorified , then we begin to glorify him . People get to see God more clearly displayed through our lives , through both our words and our deeds .
Speaker 4Another great tragedy of the universe that , though we were created to bring glory to God , we fall short of that purpose and we exchange the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man , especially the one in the mirror , that we are infatuated with that man in the mirror . And one of the greatest tragedies , one of the greatest things that ever created , was the mirror . The mirror , though it's supposed to reflect mankind , and we are mirrors of God . We are image bearers of God . All sin is birthed with the premise that the man in the mirror is supreme . But we gotta be reminded that when God created the world , he did not create the world out of any need or weakness or any deficiency . He created out of fullness and strength and complete sufficiency . So we don't glorify God by improving his glory but , as John Piper says , but by seeing and savoring and showing his glory to others . Right , so he created people in order to put on display his glory . This is why we exist . He wanted to display his glory , knowing that as we gaze upon his glory , we become worshipers in spirit and in truth . So the question is asked why did he create a world like this world , a fallen world , a world that has succumbed to sickness and , as Ray says , death , disease and dandruff . You know , why would he create a world that is so at odds with the glory of God ? Why would he permit and guide and sustain such a world ? And here's the answer For the praise of the glory of the grace of God , displayed supremely in the cross of Jesus Christ . Everything , all throughout history , the silence between the old and the New Testament , the giving of the law , the breaking of the law , culminates to one single point in history , and that is the cross . Man's sinfulness , displayed at the cross but overshadowed by the glory of God , demonstrated in the grace of God , god's unmerited favor to the infinitely ill deserving right . So we glorify God by accepting his free pardon from sin and its consequences , which is found solely in Jesus Christ .
I just wanna point out how different this mindset and worldview is from what we hear in the world every single day . We talked about this in the fall of man . Today , the false gospel of culture is expressive individualism and again , I said this before , but we hear it in almost every single movie , in television , show and book . It's look within , in song , look inside yourself . Find your true happiness , find your greatest worth inside your own self . Cast away what other people tell you you are . You are your own maker , you are your own author , right ? But the problem is , the more and more our culture believes this lie , the more suicide becomes an epidemic . Depression and anxiety becomes an issue . Right , we have spiritual anxiety because we keep looking inside of ourselves and we have no power to define us . Now , the good news is that we don't have to define ourselves . God has already defined us and the author of our lives and salvation can get at us , give us a greater meaning and definition to who we are than we could ever give ourselves . So it's a reprieve . It's casting off the burden of having to self author your identity and trusting God with your identity and finding him glorious .
Speaker 3Talking about ways we can glorify God , I think one of the greatest ways we can glorify God is to be true witnesses of his character . In Minneapolis in 1990 , northwest Airlines had three pilots that flew drunk the whole three of them and there were sent government prison sentences and the judge at the sentencing said they had breached the faith of the public . They had betrayed the public and the airlines by being drunk . So how much more should we be sober when we proclaim the gospel , because it reflects God's character . And so much of today's preaching doesn't glorify God because they don't mention sin or righteousness or judgment . They forsake many of the attributes of God's character and paint him as a divine butler , and that doesn't bring glory to God , it brings glory to man . So when we get up and preach the gospel , I just think Lazarus when he was raised from the dead . They saw the glory of God . How much more in Christ rising from the dead does that bring glory to God ? And we have to be true and faithful witnesses and preach with fear and trembling .
Speaker 1And to springboard off of that . I know Ray's gonna like this , and of course it's from Spurgeon . He said our great object of glorifying God is to be mainly achieved by the winning of souls soul winner himself . But a couple of things here I think are important to highlight . Thomas Watson said glorifying God consists in four things One , appreciation , two , adoration , three , affection or subjection . This is the yearly rent we pay to the crown of heaven . And that well put . And then you know , spurgeon nailed it . Spurgeon , you ever heard him ? He's a tapestry . Nailed it . You will never glory in God till , first of all , god has killed your glorying in yourself . Microp Boom , but yeah , that's it . I mean you can't . And as I read earlier too , man's longing truly is that he would be at the center of the universe and he would be glorified . And as long as that's man's outlook and perspective , he's never going to glorify .
Speaker 3God , I speak for all of us . Aren't we pathetic as human beings that we glory in ourselves ?
Speaker 4I'm more pathetic than you are , you know we walk past in more reflection in a window .
Speaker 3We never see ourselves in truth . We're just puffed up in our own vanity and mind . So , becoming a Christian , we receive a spirit of a sound mind , and I like to think the whole world is insane until you come to Christ and then you see things in truth .
Speaker 2The next question we have on the table is Scripture says that we too will be glorified . What does that mean ? Here we are talking about the glory of God God being the only one worthy of glory and then Scripture says that we're going to be glorified . What does it mean by that ?
Speaker 3I think we're going to receive glorified bodies , but I think mine will remain the same . I can't think of any improvements .
Speaker 1Six foot six with a hairy chest . How long have you been saying that for Every time you preach that message and get to that part . I just can't wait . God's going to give me glorified bodies . Six foot six with a hairy chest .
Speaker 4Thunders applause from the people listening .
Speaker 3I don't know why they're laughing . I'm not joking .
Speaker 4You know , the key passage here is Romans 8 , 29 to 30 . This is those whom he foreknew , he also predestined , to be conformed into the image of his son in order that he might be the first born among many brothers . And those whom he predestined , he also called . And those whom he called , he also justified . And those whom he justified he also glorified . And glorified refers back to the conforming to the image of his son . God did not intend his son to have an ugly bride .
Speaker 1I like that . Yeah , you know , also in connection with that , mark 2 , corinthians 4 , 16 through 17, . Therefore , we do not lose heart , even though our outer man is perishing , yet the inward man is being renewed day by day for our light affliction , which is but for a moment , is working for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory , and that's that day when , as Ray said , we're going to be resurrected and we're going to receive a glorified body and be restored . Sam Storms put it well . He said , when we refer to the believer's ultimate glorification , we're speaking of the transformation of our whole being body , soul , spirit , will , mind and affections in which sin is eradicated and we are made like Jesus . Well , it's well put .
Speaker 2So two things . One , first , he gives us a new , glorious body . The earth is groaning and waiting for God to come back and make things right . We receive new bodies in that . And the second thing is he gives us an inward beauty that is rooted in his holiness . So to sum it up , what Piper says is when God glorifies us , he shares his own glory with us . He gives us a new and glorious body and he imparts the inward beauty of holiness partially in this life and fully when we come into the presence of the Lord . My visual that I get from that is you're freezing cold and you walk out . You feel the warmth of the sun . And not only do you feel the warmth of the sun , but it changes the warmth of your own body . You get a piece of the warmth and heat of the sun . In that same way , you receive a bit of glory . There's glory in and through you . And now for our last question really is to summarize . We've done this eight sessions now , starting with who is God and ending with the glory of God . We kind of like we bookend that intentionally . It's been amazing to go through and to dive deep into each various aspects of the gospel . What is it to you guys that stood out , either highlights for you , or what do you hope you know ? Eight sessions about eight hours worth of material . What do you hope people glean from our time together ?
Speaker 3Just to summarize what we've talked about in reference to what you're asking we must never remove the glory of God from his holiness , as we've seen . In the same way , it's like trying to remove the heat from the sun . That my hope is , that each of us get stirred more because we've talked about to reach out to the lost
. My heart grieves beyond words the horror of hell's existence . You know , we tend to think how could God create hell ? Because he's good . We've seen the goodness of God . I see that justice is done . But then there are some that might say well , god is love . Surely that love will make sure this couldn't be such a place as hell . But when it comes to a judge in a court of law , the judge has to set aside his love . When he judges the criminal in front of him , he can't say well , this is a celebrity , I love this guy's music , I'm going to purve it justice because of him . He sets aside his love . And even judges or sad jurors , don't become emotional about the judgment You're going to make . Set aside your affection for this person and be objective . And God has no respect for persons . And the time will come when he sets aside his love and mercy and puts on his hand of wrath and sees that justice is done . And this is why we see Lady Justice , and it's not just in America . We have Lady Justice as a blind woman holding a sword and scales that's worldwide . You can find country after country . Use that to depict justice , and justice is blind . Just make sure that justice is done . The sword is the wrath and the scales are justice itself . And so there's a great and terrible day of the Lord coming that should make each of us tremble . We're going to have eternity to worship God , but such a short time here to warn sinister flee from wrath is to come , warning every man and may present every man perfect . So my harsh desire is that these sessions we've done don't just tickle ears but they motivate feet .
Speaker 1You know , ray , and everyone here , this recent sickness that hit us all was just so intense and crazy . And on one of those days when I was sick , ray , I remember I texted you and I was in so much misery . In fact , I don't remember ever being so sick in my life . I just don't remember ever being so sick . I just don't remember ever being so sick . I texted you and I said right , I've never felt this miserable . I had these little miniature atomic explosions happening in my throat . Every time I would swallow through the night , which was about every minute , and I just didn't know how I was gonna get through the night . A couple of times I honestly craved death . I thought , lord , if you could just take me right now because it was so intense . And then I thought what is this ? It's a sore throat . You imagine the horrible diseases that so many people have . And then my mind extrapolated and I really really began to think about hell . Because we easily forget . We walk around , there's so much entertainment , people are living their wicked lives or having fun , and it's just easy to just put it out of your mind and forget . But hell is real and the lake of fire and to which , obviously , hell will be thrown where people are now in that holding place . It's coming and we need to remember that and be passionate about it . And I had written to you and I told you , ray , I'm just so horrified about hell . I wanna preach like never before and you reverberated that . But we need to remember that and I would say my encouragement to those listening . My hope is that they'll take the orthodoxy they've heard and they'll turn it into orthopraxy , which means that they will live out these truths , they'll integrate them and mesh them into their lives and become not merely hearers but doers of the word . That's when the power is gonna be released and people are gonna be impacted , lives are gonna be changed and God's gonna be glorified .
Speaker 4You know , I tell my kids all the time and every card I write to them when there's a birthday , every Christmas card , everything I always write inside there pick up the pace , pick up the pace . Life is quick . Time is falling away from us , it's fleeing us . My kids were just saying Dad , I can't believe that it's already this upcoming month , I can't believe it's this time of the year , I can't believe this year is already passing . Yes , this is the reality of the life in which we live . I still feel like I'm a 19 year old man trapped in this 45 year old body . I still remember saying my ABCs for the first time . I remember exactly where I was at . I remember how I was walking in my brother's room . It seems as if it was yesterday . And the great takeaway for me is to just simply realize life is quick , it's not about you , so you can get over yourself . Look to Christ , who is our hope . We were created to know God and to make Him known .
Speaker 2I have at least 12 things that I hope people get from this . Now . For me , it's the same thing that I think about as I prepare a sermon One . I want people to see the gospel as grand . I don't want people to think that the gospel is simply the front door that gets you into Christianity . I want them to see the gospel in all aspects of their lives , every single day , through all things , through their marriage , through their childbearing , through their proclamation of the gospel , through the way that they work all of it . I want people to fall in love with their Bibles . You guys did such a great job bringing scripture into this conversation . It would be a shame if people just walked away going . I want to hear more of those four guys . I hope people walk away going . Man , I want to read my Bible more . This stuff is in scripture . I want to read that you know . And last , which falls right in a place with where we're at today , I want it . I hope that people see God as glorious , to see Him as magnificent and to allow that to inform the way that they plan their days and go about the rest of their lives .
Speaker 1It's been such a joy for me to be bathed in truth with you all . We know so many of these truths in our hearts and minds , but to be washed by them again and again and to hear other brothers talk , and I think really this is a microcosm of what fellowship is , and my hope is that those who have been listening to this what challenged themselves and asked themselves do they fellowship like this over the word of God ? Because it's sharper than any two-edged sword and that's when it begins to survey the intents of our hearts and work in us , convict us , shine light on us , and so my encouragement would be fellowship over the word with your kids , with your husband wife , with your friends , and let it do its work .
Speaker 4Amen , I think that's the way God designed the community . I mean , that's Quenonia right there . When you can gather together with one subject at hand , you study , I study . Let's get together and let's just talk about this and you walk away refreshed and watered .
Speaker 2Well , thank you , guys , for your contributions . Thank you to our partners who faithfully support and pray for living waters . It's because of you that we were able to inspire and equip Christians all around the world to fulfill the Great Commission . We hope these eight series have been a blessing to you and again , thank you for listening . God bless .
Speaker 1You know glory related to God is so important but it's so often made so light of like when you hear to the televangelist preachers glory . Why do they do that , ray ?
Speaker 3It's just muscle memory . They don't really mean it by the sound of it . Yeah , Glory , I was once preaching on the subject of hell and someone called it hallelujah . Right in the middle of it I said no , no , no , no , not at the right time .
Speaker 1Oh you know , yeah , when people get in that automatic rat amen amen , amen yeah yeah , you ugly stupid people amen . Can you take back ?
Speaker 2I think the glory of God is such an often forgotten about aspect of our worship . I think we forget about it in our prayers and in our daily devotions and the way that we present the gospel , and I think I don't remember if we go over this in this episode . And so , in case not , I am so fascinated by the fact that Paul in Romans , chapter three , says that Jesus dies not for your sins but for the glory of God . He says that he dies to show that God's name is just and justifier that he would not pass over other sins . In other words , the chief issue for Paul on Jesus , the chief issue for Paul and sin is how could a God so glorious pass over sin ? Jesus's death is there to display the glory of God in his forgiveness .
Speaker 1Isn't that amazing , oh I love it , yeah , and Mark the key in making sure the next generation understands that , because it seems to really be a lost sort of urgency for people to live for God's glory .
Speaker 4Yeah , if you're not living for God's glory , you're living for your own glory , and your glory will diminish very , very soon . No , Amen .
Speaker 1All right , friends . We hope you're inspired and encouraged and stirred up . Love the Lord , friends . Love the Lord . If you are planning on loving him for all eternity , become good at it now . All right , there you have it . Don't forget the tough questions . Apologetics made simple course . Dvd and MP4 , download the format Living Waters Mug the evidence , study Bible , livingwaterscom Remember to comment podcast livingwaterscom and also , on whatever platform you listen on , subscribe . Tell others about the podcast , as Mark and Ray hit each other and get violent . Why are you being violent , ray ?
Speaker 3You're gonna give the website and Moscos pulled the microphone from us . I was gonna do the dot com . I was gonna do the dot com .
Speaker 1Yeah , so thank you for joining us friends . Oh wait , all livingwaterscom . I detected an Indian accent in there . Ray , thank you for joining us friends . We'll see you here next time on the Living Waters podcast . The ultimate , ultimate , ultimate , ultimate cure for insomnia . That might have been my favorite one .
Speaker 2Rrrrr , lights off .