05.06. Who's Gonna Get the Glory- Paul

Who’s Gonna Get the Glory- Paul 2 Corinthians 11:22-30 & Galatians 6:14

J. S. Bach said, "All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul’s refreshment; where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a devilish hub-bub."

He headed his compositions: "J. J." "Jesus Juva" which means "Jesus help me." He ended them "S. D. G." "Soli Dei gratia" which means "To God alone the praise."

Kingdom Conflict, J. Stowell, Victor, 1985, pp. 77ff

There is an old Jewish legend which says that, after God had created the world, He called the angels to Him and asked them what they thought of it; and one of them said, "One thing is lacking: the sound of praise to the Creator." So God created music, and it was heard in the whisper of the wind, and in the song of the birds; and to man also was given the gift of song. And all down the ages this gift of song has indeed proved a blessing to multitudes of souls. —Maritime Baptist In life we make many decisions. Who are we going to marry, if and where are we going to school. Are we going to by that house or not? As Christians we make many decisions as well. Which church will we attend, what class will we become a part of? Who will get the glory of anything that we accomplish? Our hero today is a man who lived his life at full throttle for the glory of God. He would write to the Galatians in Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

    Notice what would be his claim to glory, if he had been inclined to glory in himself. 2 Corinthians 11:22-30 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

    The apostle Paul was one who had the scars to prove his loyalty and had the wounds that showed his commitment. Who did he seek to get the glory in his life? Today our hero gives us a great example of God getting the glory.

I- What is the Purpose of Our Lives?

"A man once walked by a building site and saw three stone masons side by side, sweating over their work in the hot sun. He asked the first, "What are you doing?"

"Laying bricks" came the reply.

He asked the second stone mason, "And what are you doing?"

"Building a wall" came the reply.

Then he asked the third mason, "And what is it you are doing?"

"I am raising a great cathedral."

    Paul clearly understood that the purpose of his life was to bring glory to the Lord Jesus. Many of us may seek to bring glory to ourselves. I read was a man named St. Francis de Sales said that I found humorous when it come to men taking glory not theirs.

St. Francis de Sales said, "Some men become proud and insolent because they ride a fine horse, wear a feather in their hat or are dressed in a fine suit of clothes. Who does not see the folly of this? If there be any glory in such things, the glory belongs to the horse, the bird and the tailor.

Let’s look at some of the things that are mentioned in our text and how they related to Paul’s life to see that indeed, even when he had opportunity he never surrendered to the flesh and claimed the glory due God for himself. Paul testified about an affliction that God allowed him to have, many think it was an eye problem, that the reason was so he would glorify God. 2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. He realized that his weakness caused him to rely on God. 2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

II- Beaten to Death with Rods:

    2 Corinthians 11:25 "Thrice was I beaten with rods" We find the events for this recorded in Acts 16:22 ff. Paul arrived at a town called Lystra and there a lady by the name of Lydia is converted. A girl possessed by demons is healed by Paul and the ensuing ruckus lead to a beating. Acts 16:22-24 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

Little did they know that awaiting them in prison was a man we know only as the Philippian jailor. Notice what takes place next with Paul. He is in prison for doing nothing wrong. There was an earthquake but no prisoners escaped. The jailor comes in and this gives Paul a chance to witness. Acts 16:30-31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Who was going to get the glory? The Lord Jesus.

III- Stoned For Not Stealing the Glory:

    Look at the next event in our hero’s life. Acts 14:8-15 "And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: 9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

    The events that follow led to the stoning of Paul. Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

    What is the lesson here? Paul could have said that he was a god and claimed the glory. He refused to do this. He was willing to take the stoning to give God glory. May we not claim the glory due to God out of our lives.

IV- Shipwrecked and Snake Bitten:

    One more illustration out of the life of Paul. We find it in Acts 27. Paul is in route as a prisoner to Rome. Acts 27:41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

    No one is harmed and all survived the shipwreck. Acts 27:44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

    Now they are on an island. Notice now the events.

Acts 28:1-6 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

    Paul was accused of being guilty when he was not. How would he handle this? He trusted God. He survived a snake bite and God used him to heal the sick on the island.

    When he could again have taken the glory of God he chose to not do it.

Don’t Thank Me In a concert in Chicago, Harry Lauder, Scottish singer and songwriter, sang to an overflowing audience. At the conclusion, the audience stood en masse, and applauded uproariously. After the applause subsided, the audience said in unison, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

Showing splendid humility, Lauder replied, "Don’t thank me! Thank the good God who put the songs in my heart!"

V- Gave Himself For Others:

    2 Corinthians 11:28 "the care of all the churches." Paul felt the weight that comes with giving himself for others.

Fred Craddock, in an address to ministers, caught the practical implications of consecration. "To give my life for Christ appears glorious," he said. "To pour myself out for others ... to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom,I’ll do it. I’m ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory. "We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking $l,000 bill and laying it on the table,’Here’s my life, Lord. I’m giving it all.’ But the reality for most of us is that he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $l,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Listen to the neighbor kid’s troubles instead of saying, ’Get lost.’ Go to a committee meeting. Give a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home.

Usually giving our life to Christ isn’t glorious. It’s done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at a time. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory; it’s harder to live the Christian life little by little over the long haul." - Darryl Bell Source unknown

    Are you willing to give yourself for others 25 cents at a time? Who’s gonna get the glory?