We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The preamble to the Constitution is the mission statement of our Federal Union, our government. This study is not going to waste time in discussing the debate on how far from its mission our government has strayed, however, the preamble is a perfect example of my point. Every organization, group or club has a purpose, a reason for being, a mission. The mission statement is not a detailed description on how to do anything, it is the purpose, the why, for its being and proper focus of all its activities. A mission statement does not have to be of great length, one short sentence or phrase will do. Upon the establishing of a mission follows the forming of the bylaws, regulations and methods of operation that govern the body, prescribing and proscribing its bounds in order to set the extent and limits to its functions in meeting its mission.
The physical Church on earth is an organization, it has a mission, a purpose for being. Establishing the Church is not something God had to do, it is part of his plan and it was designed to fulfill a purpose, its mission. It is, or ought to be, obvious that a majority of the New Testament is a framework of commandments and instruction to guide, direct and limit the saints walk to fulfill that mission.
1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
To many of God’s people are enjoying their liberty in Christ without regard for our responsibility to stay on mission. All things may be lawful for us as “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus”, however, all things are not expedient to nor do all things edify others to stay on mission.
Assuming that we want to be on mission to serve our God and Saviour, Lets look at what our mission is and the functions that advance it.
Our mission is to glorify God
1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Isaiah 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, …
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Psalms 22:23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
Romans 15:6-7 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
We have a clear uncomplicated mission statement: glorify God. There is therefore no difficulty is comprehending what our objectives in life are suppose to be.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Let us look into God’s word and see if we can find what it is that glorifies him.
Praising God glorifies him
Psalms 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: …
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Revelation 19:5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
But, what is praise?
- v. tr. praised, prais-ing, praises.
- To express warm approbation of, commendation for, or admiration for.
- To extol or exalt; worship.
Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Giving thanks glorifies God
1 Timothy 4:3-4 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
We are given eating and drinking as examples of when we ought to be glorifying God. These of course are about the lowest most common actions man engages in. If we are to glorify God doing the lowly actions of our life we are to Glorify him in all our actions.
How are we glorifying God while involved in these activities. The giving of thanks for our daily bread testifies of God’s care and control of all things. It testifies that he brings forth the increase of the earth and all that is involved in the raising of crops, the weather, i.e., rains, drought etc.; the economy, your job and ability to procure sustenance. Not to give God thanks is to deny all of this. It is the more to his glory when in public; at restaurants, at work. To do so is to glorify God, not to do so, to be embarrassed, is to fear and glorify those whom you have given deference, those whom you seem to fear or desire to please more than God: men.
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Having a joyful song of praise on your tongue and in your heart glorifies God. How else is God glorified in us?
Judges 5:3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.
Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Our salvation glorifies God
Psalms 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.
Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Being strong in faith glorifies God
Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
Repentance gives glory to God
Revelation 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
You can easily involve yourself in endless debates on what is repentance. Repentance is no more than recognizing and admitting God’s existence and his power and authority in creation; to confess that you have violated his law and are guilty before him, this is repentance, doing so glorifies God. Our calling upon God in times of need glorifies him. So many of us in times of trouble attempt to extricate ourselves by our own power, in our own way. We will call upon doctors, call upon lawyers, and who knows what else before we will call upon God. Yet, God is glorified when we call upon him, put our trust and our hope in him.
Psalms 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Our good works and charity glorifies or cause others to glorify God
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
2 Corinthians 9:13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Philippians 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
However, there is a catch to good works glorifying God. That is, God has to be given the credit. Too many saints think that just by setting an example, not drinking, not running around, supporting the family, etc. presents a testimony for Christ. No, not if you refuse to open your mouth and confess him as the reason you live as you do. Not to confess him before man merely glorifies yourself. “Old Joe there, now he’s a great guy, give you the shirt off his back”; as opposed to, “That’s some God old Joe’s always talking about, for him to trust in and sacrificing so much to help others.” See any difference?
Suffering for Christ glorifies God
1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Our mission as the Church and members in particular is to glorify God. This is an important precept and should be the guiding principle in all that we do as individuals or as an assembly of believers.
- Our mission is to glorify God
- Praising Him glorifies God
- Giving thanks glorifies God
- Our salvation glorifies God
- Being strong in faith glorifies God
- Repentance gives glory to God
- Our good works and charity glorifies God
- Suffering for Christ glorifies God
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