Living in a post-modern society brings some very interesting challenges to many American Christians while also quickly becoming an issue in other countries. Inadvertently and often unnoticeable, too many Christians have taken up the thinking, habits, and communication verbiage of those who do not believe in any god or religious teachings.
As Christians, we are called to speak as the "oracles of God", to "acknowledge Him in all things," "to glorify Christ alone", and to "witness the Light to a dying world." However, in modern culture, it has become more important to praise men rather than God, praise talent, effort, and accomplishments, more than uplifting our appreciation for these things by giving God all the glory.
In the chart below are some examples that you and I hear every day. They testify to the lack of respect for Almighty God. Since it is from the heart that the mouth speaks, these examples testify to the lack of relationship with the One who holds the Universe in His hands. They testify to the lack of fellowship with the Spirit & a Spirit-filled heart because the Spirit ONLY glorifies Christ. (Romans 1:4; 2 Corinthians 3:3)
2 Corinthians 13:14 (Philippians 2:1 also)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
1 Peter 4:14
If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
Hebrews 13:21
quip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:11
Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
This chart is made up of some exemplary statements that you have heard, both in the world and in the church. Unfortunately, it also displays how much the culture of the world has crept into our thinking and the way we communicate with the world and with other Christians. It grieves the Spirit when glory is not given to Christ (John 16:8,14). If we are full of the Spirit, then we will glorify Christ alone.
1 Corinthians 1:31
that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 10:17
But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
Event
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What an Atheist Might Say
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What a Professed Believer HAS said
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What a Spirit-filled Disciple Might
Say
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Saying Good-Bye
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Bye, Have Fun!
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Bye, Have Fun!
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May God keep you and direct
your path.
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Performance of a child
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You were awesome! Great job! I
am sooooo PROUD of you.
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You were awesome! Great job! !
I am sooooo PROUD of you.
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God be praised for your talent
and performance.
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Performance of athletes
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Wow! You all held it together
and came through as outstanding winners!
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Wow! You all held it together
and came through as outstanding winners!
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God has blessed you with the ability
to outperform all others. This is only one way that God has blessed you. Give
Him praise and honor for all things that He so generously has given you.
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Visiting a Religious Event
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Man, you people sure can sing!
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Excellent singing! Great
worship service. Friendly congregation. Excellent speaker. I really enjoyed
myself.
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Christ has blessed me this day
by working through you to encourage me.
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Near Accident
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OH! You were soooo LUCKY. You
need to purchase a lottery ticket with that luck!
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OH! You were soooo LUCKY. You
need to purchase a lottery ticket with that luck!
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I praise God for sparing you
from such a dangerous accident.
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Service Project
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Hey, that was great what you
did today. I appreciate all your help and dedication.
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Hey, that was great what you
did today. I appreciate all your help and dedication.
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It is wonderful that you have taken
on the heart of a servant. Your actions
exemplify your dedication to God.
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Award Ceremony
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Congratulations on your award
and excellent accomplishment.
|
Congratulations on your award
and excellent accomplishment.
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The Spirit of Christ has
honored you with strength to accomplish this award. It is valuable only if
you use it to bring honor to the Him.
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Conclusion of an “organizational”
meeting
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We are looking for new
members. We have some very dedicated member and some great programs we think
you will enjoy.
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We would like for you to
become a part of our vibrant church. We are dedicated to serving our
community. We have some great teachers and programs that we think you and
your family will enjoy. We are friendly and willing to make you welcome.
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Because of the grace of God,
we have a vibrant fellowship of Spirit-led Christians who desire that you and
your family come to know the joy of serving God here through the power of His
Spirit.
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Hopefully, we have not left our first love and turned our hearts into witnesses for the human endeavor instead of testifying at every opportunity for the glory of Him who makes all things new. When we speak like the world and have a heart filled with carnal praise for human endeavors, the results will be devoid of the power of God.
God inhabits in the praises of His people! (Ps 22:3)
His power reigns in praise from His church. Our work is often futile and fruitless because we leave Him out of our everyday speech, planning, priorities, and business.
Psalms 47:1
Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
Our praises become meaningless when they are only sung during 1 hour a week in the assembly of believers. Our witness is tainted and our lights are hidden under bushels.
Psalms 35:18
I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many nations.
Psalms 66:8
Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard,
Psalms 67:3, 5
Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.
Psalms 108:3
I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Giving honor to man, talent, giftedness, fortune, luck, and human accomplishments is what the world does. This is not what a Disciple of the Most High God is commanded to do. God hates pride, but we continually insist on building up each other's pride and even our children's pride by praising their accomplishments without any reference to the God who made it all possible. Building up a person's pride sets them on a path away from their Creator. Why would we do such a thing? We do it because it has become a part of our culture and we have been overtaken by that culture.
Romans 11:36
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Acts 12:21-23 (Remember Herod's pride? God struck Him dead!)
21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22 And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.
Galatians 6:14
14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
How many songs do we sing that speak of glorying only the Lord? Yet, we have not trained our hearts and minds to speak daily in a way that will help others learn. From our speech, others should learn who to trust, learn who is King, learn who is the giver of all good things, learn who to humble themselves to, and learn who is Lord, King, and Savior.
In the same way, our children should find their identity in Him. They should see themselves not merely as musicians, dancers, athletes, or academics. They should see themselves as children of the King, blessed by God's grace in all things, in whom Christ dwells and from whom they draw all their talent, strength, and even their very breath. They should learn to give Him glory through their gentle, humble words & love for others.
HERE are some examples of how our spiritual fathers gave glory to Christ in their accomplishments, situations, and for their talents:
1 Timothy 1:12
And I thank Christ Jesus, our Lord, who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
NOTICE: Paul did not say, I feel lucky for being in ministry!
2 Corinthians 7:6
Nevertheless, God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,
NOTICE: Paul did not say, "Thank you Titus for comforting us"
Romans 1:8
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
NOTICE: Paul did not say, "You guys are awesome!"
1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
NOTICE: Paul did not say, "We were victorious!"
Ephesians 5:20
giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Thessalonians 5:18
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
NOTICE: There are sooooooo many examples in the New Testament of how a Spirit-filled disciple expresses praise & thanksgiving for the glory of Christ. It is impracticable to reprint them all here. But as we read through scripture, may we become more sensitive to how we are directed to always give glory to the ONE for whom all things were made. May the eyes of our hearts be opened to the praise and thanksgiving of God in Christ.
May the Spirit of God manifest Himself in our thoughts, in our words, and in our sacrifice of praise among those who live in a darkened world. May we stop speaking like atheists & heathens and start speaking like people who have a deep abiding relationship with the Lord.
Some Further Resources:
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