Preached by Andrew Smellie, 1/14/2007
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Giving God The Glory He Deserves - Outline

Most people will do whatever it takes to build their own glory. But what are you doing to bring glory to God?

Matthew 19:27-30
- Do you believe the promises of God? His promises are awesome.
- What are you not willing to give up for God? See Luke 14:33. Must give it all up for God. We must be willing to do anything for God.

- There may come a time that you tire of building for God. What will you do to avoid lukewarmness? Return to God the glory he deserves.

Luke 14:28-33 Cost of being a disciple
- Do you have the faith to build to the finish?
- Is your church really focused on God?
- The mindset we need to have is to..

• continue to count the cost every day to follow Jesus and
• zealously build for God.

- Do you have the same heart to follow God as when you came out of the waters of baptism? We must be examples to the world.

Ezra 1:1-4 (539 BC)
- We are rebuilding the spiritual temple of God.

Ezra 2:68-79
- We are rebuilding a rescue center to save people from slavery to sin.
- Make sure you never stop building for God.

Ezra 3:1-6
- God’s people crank to build for God at first.

Ezra 3:7-13
- People praise God.

Ezra 4
- People opposed them. Work stops. What caused the people to stop? A letter. For fifteen years the work stopped. Examine what stops you from building.

What do we need to do to be successful in rebuilding for God?

1) Weight out your priorities and give God your best.

Haggai 1:1-11 (520 BC)
- Honor God by not neglecting God’s house while you build up your own house. People were not focused on God’s house because they were more focused on their own houses: their paneled houses (v. 3).
- If we don’t give God our best, he can take away the blessings (v. 10).

2) Obey God’s word by being courageous.

Haggai 1:12-15
- Do you fear the world more than God? Then you’ll end up obeying the world and not God.

- Fear the Lord and trust in his plan. Is your spirit stirred up to be courageous.

3) Respect the past but look forward to the future.

Haggai 2:1-9
- Be strong and work. God’s spirit is with his people. Do not fear (v.6).
- Leave the past alone. Look forward to what God will do in the future. If you really trust God, trust God’s plan.

4) Kill the sin that corrupts your life.

Haggai 2:11-23 Blessings for defiled people
- Give careful thought to how you build. Understand that sin is deep and corrupting. If there is unrepentant sin in your life, you need to change. Every member of God’s church needs to be sold-out for God.

The four points spell out WORK. Let’s work for God.

Through being united with Jesus, we become like the signet ring of God. (v. 23).

This will give God glory.

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