Northland Bible Church
Monday, March 08, 2021
Winning Alaska's Capital City for Christ

Back to Questions

Is the Bible truly God's Word?
Do you have eternal life?
Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?
Who is Jesus Christ?
Does God exist?
Did God create evil?
What is a Christian?
Why should I become a Christian?
How can I become a Christian?
Are you ready to become a Christian?
I have just put my faith in what?
Going to Heaven - how can I guarantee my eternal destination?
How can I become more like Jesus Christ?
What does the Bible teach about the Trinity?
Do Christians have to obey the Old Testament Law? 
What is the Great Commision?
What does the Bible say about knowing God's will?
How can I overcome sin in my Christian life?
What does the Bible say about Christian tithing?
Is it good to have close friends with unbelievers?
Why does God allow us to go through trials and tribulations?
How Can I experience joy in my Christian life?
Does the Bible instruct us to forgive and forget?
I have sinned. Do I need to be baptized again?
What is Biblical separation?
 What is a Christian missionary?
What are the pros and cons of short-term missions?
What does it mean to be a man of God?
What does it mean to be a woman of God?
Why is praising God important?
What does it mean to glorify God?
What is biblical stewardship?
Is it important for a Christian to have daily devotions?
What if I don't feel saved?
What are some of the signs of genuine saving faith?
What is the gift of speaking in tongues?
Is it a sin for a Christian to drink Alcohol?
What does the Bible say about premarital sex?
What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?
What does the Bible say about abortion?

What does it mean to glorify God?



The question that comes to mind is if God has all the glory, which He does, how then do we “give Him” glory? How can we give God something which is His in the first place? The key is found in
1 Chronicles 16:28-29, “Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength, ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.” In this verse, we see two actions on our part that make up the action of glorifying God. First, we “ascribe” or give glory to Him because it is His due. No one else deserves the praise and worship that we give to glorify Him. Isaiah 42:8 confirms this: "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.” Second, we are to “bring an offering” to God as part of the worship that glorifies Him. What is the offering we bring to God to glorify Him?

The offering we bring to God as we come before Him in the splendor or beauty of His holiness involves agreement, obedience, submission, and rehearsing His attributes or extolling Him. Glorifying God begins with agreeing with everything He says, especially about Himself. In
Isaiah 42:5, God declares, “I am the Lord God. I created the heavens like an open tent above. I made the earth and everything that grows on it. I am the source of life for all who live on this earth, so listen to what I say.” Because of who He is, holy and perfect and true, His proclamations and statutes are holy and perfect and true (Psalm 19:7), and we glorify Him by listening to and agreeing with them. God’s Word, the Bible, is His Word to us, all that we need for life in Him. Listening to and agreeing with Him, though, will not glorify Him unless we also submit to Him and obey the commands contained in His Word. “But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts” (Psalm 103:17-18). Jesus reiterated the idea that glorifying and loving God are one and the same in John 14:15: “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”

We also glorify God by rehearsing His attributes and His deeds. Stephen, in his final sermon before he was killed for his faith, retold the story of God’s dealings with Israel from the time Abraham left his country in obedience to God’s command, all the way to the coming of Christ, the “Righteous One,” whom Israel betrayed and murdered. When we tell of God’s work in our lives, how He saved us from sin, and the marvelous works He does in our hearts and minds every day, we glorify Him before others. Even though others don’t always want to hear our glorifying God, He is more than pleased by it. The crowd who heard Stephen hated what he said, covering their ears and rushing at him to stone him. “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (
Acts 7:55).

To glorify God is to extol His attributes—His holiness, faithfulness, mercy, grace, love, majesty, sovereignty, power, and omniscience, to name a few—rehearsing them over and over in our minds and telling others about the singular nature of the salvation only He offers.