Glorifying God Through Spiritual Sight and His Word

In our journey to understand why we should focus so intently on the Bible, we begin with the foundational truth that God calls each of us to glorify Him. This glorification is achieved by knowing Him accurately, enjoying Him intensely, and reflecting Him consistently in our actions. This is the essence of our existence, as stated in Isaiah 43 and 1 Corinthians 10:31. We are created for His glory, and everything we do should be to that end.

To glorify God, we must first see His glory. This seeing is not merely physical but involves the eyes of our hearts, as Paul describes in Ephesians 1. Many see Jesus but do not perceive His glory because their spiritual eyes are blinded. The new birth is essential for this spiritual sight. As God commanded light to shine out of darkness in creation, He shines in our hearts to reveal the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. This transformation is the new birth, making us spiritually alive and capable of seeing Christ as supremely glorious.

The new birth is intricately linked to the Word of God. We are born again through the living and abiding Word, as stated in 1 Peter. The Holy Spirit works in tandem with the Word, not apart from it. This is why the proclamation of the gospel is crucial; it is the means by which the Spirit opens blind eyes to see the glory of Christ.

Meeting God and seeing His glory happens through His Word. As God revealed Himself to Samuel by His Word, so He reveals Himself to us today. This encounter with God is not limited to personal study but extends to the proclamation and application of His Word in our lives. Therefore, we must devote ourselves to the careful and thoughtful reading of Scripture, as it is through this engagement that we perceive the insights into the mystery of Christ.

In summary, our focus on the Bible is driven by the desire to know, enjoy, and reflect God's glory. This is achieved through the new birth, the Word of God, and the Spirit's work, leading us to a deeper relationship with God and a life that glorifies Him.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Glorifying God Through Knowing, Enjoying, and Reflecting: Our primary purpose is to glorify God by knowing Him accurately, enjoying Him intensely, and reflecting Him consistently in our actions. This is the essence of our existence, as we are created for His glory. [00:31]
• 2. Seeing God's Glory Requires Spiritual Sight: To truly know and enjoy God's glory, we must see it with the eyes of our hearts. This spiritual sight is essential, as many see Jesus but do not perceive His glory due to spiritual blindness. [05:25]
• 3. The New Birth as the Key to Spiritual Sight: The new birth is crucial for spiritual sight, as it transforms us from spiritual death to life. This transformation allows us to see Christ as supremely glorious and is achieved through the work of the Holy Spirit. [09:23]
• 4. The Word of God as the Means of New Birth: The new birth is intricately linked to the Word of God. The Holy Spirit works through the proclamation of the gospel to open blind eyes to see the glory of Christ. This highlights the importance of engaging with Scripture. [11:09]
• 5. Meeting God Through His Word: God reveals Himself through His Word, and it is through careful and thoughtful reading of Scripture that we encounter Him. This engagement with the Word leads to a deeper relationship with God and a life that glorifies Him. [16:16]
  ** [16:16]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:11] - God's Call to Glorify Him
• [00:53] - Knowing, Enjoying, and Reflecting God
• [02:06] - Biblical Foundation for Glorifying God
• [03:19] - The Importance of Truth in Glorifying God
• [04:08] - Enjoying God's Glory
• [05:11] - Seeing God's Glory
• [06:19] - The Eyes of the Heart
• [07:25] - Spiritual Blindness and Glory
• [08:26] - The Necessity of Seeing Glory
• [09:23] - The New Birth and Spiritual Sight
• [10:37] - The Role of the Word in New Birth
• [12:12] - The Gospel and the Holy Spirit
• [13:15] - Human Agency in God's Work
• [15:57] - Meeting God Through His Word
• [18:09] - The Inspiration of Scripture
• [19:26] - Summary of the Six Steps

1. Isaiah 43:6-7 - "Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
2. 1 Corinthians 10:31 - "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
3. Ephesians 1:18 - "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people."

1. According to Isaiah 43:6-7, for what purpose were we created? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on glorifying God? [02:06]
2. In 1 Corinthians 10:31, what does Paul suggest about the scope of activities that should be done for the glory of God? How does this relate to the sermon’s call to reflect God in our actions? [02:35]
3. What does Ephesians 1:18 suggest about the role of the "eyes of your heart"? How does this concept of spiritual sight relate to the sermon’s discussion on seeing God's glory? [05:58]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between the new birth and spiritual sight? What role does the Holy Spirit play in this process? [09:23]

1. How does the sermon explain the connection between knowing God accurately and glorifying Him? Why is accurate knowledge of God essential for glorification? [00:31]
2. The sermon mentions that many see Jesus but do not perceive His glory due to spiritual blindness. What might this spiritual blindness look like in a modern context? [05:42]
3. How does the sermon describe the process of the new birth? What is the significance of the Holy Spirit working through the Word of God in this process? [11:09]
4. According to the sermon, why is engaging with Scripture crucial for encountering God and seeing His glory? How does this engagement lead to a deeper relationship with God? [16:16]

1. Reflect on your daily activities. Are there areas where you struggle to do everything for the glory of God, as suggested in 1 Corinthians 10:31? How can you change your approach to these activities? [02:35]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of spiritual sight. What practices can you incorporate into your life to ensure that the "eyes of your heart" are open to seeing God's glory? [05:58]
3. Consider your current understanding of God. Are there aspects of His character or actions that you feel you need to know more accurately? How can you seek this knowledge? [00:31]
4. The sermon highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in the new birth. How can you be more open to the Spirit’s work in your life, especially in understanding and applying Scripture? [11:09]
5. Think about your engagement with the Bible. Are there specific ways you can deepen your study and application of Scripture to encounter God more fully? [16:16]
6. The sermon suggests that seeing God's glory requires both internal transformation and external engagement with the Word. How can you balance these two aspects in your spiritual journey? [10:37]
7. Reflect on a recent situation where you had the opportunity to reflect God's glory in your actions. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in the future to better reflect Him? [00:31]