“We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
(I remind you the Sermon Nuggets came from a sermon I preached at Stanchfield Baptist a number of years ago. The principles can be applied wherever you attend.)
All Paul’s labors are for one purpose to glorify the name of Jesus. Do you see the purpose mentioned? All of our experiences are to point to the glory of Jesus. This is done as Jesus gives grace to do it. The purpose of his life, your life, my life is to glorify Jesus. Pray that God will give us the power to that end.
As I was thinking about this passage this week. I prayed, “Lord how does my lack of faith hinder your work and hinder your glory? Lord, how does the lack of faith at church hinder what you want to do, even though your power is there ready to be unleashed?”
One of our members loaned me a book, A Community Transplanted by Robert Ostergren, printed by University of Wisconsin. It was about the history of Isanti county immigration. I jumped to the section about Stanchfield township. What surprised me was the influence that the Swedish Baptists in Stanchfield (the church I pastored for 28 years) had because of their faith. I found it remarkable that in a secular book the Baptists made history making Stanchfield different than the rest of the Isanti County churches. There was comment made that the Stanchfield Baptists Swedes were not like the rest. The Stanchfield Baptist Church similarly developed peripheral meeting houses in Cambridge, Springvale and Maple Ridge townships. Many of the early settlers didn't greet people with "Hello, how are you", but rather asked them if they were saved? The persecution of the Baptists in Sweden caused a faith to grow and a desire to see Jesus glorified that made the church affect the community 156 years ago. That is a profound history. Persecution that showed God's judgement was right. By His grace we enjoy the spiritual benefits of the sufferings of our church founders.
Application: What type of example do we leave for those who follow us, which ever church you are presently attending? Are you praying for one another? Are you working to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven you? Are you seeking our own will or submitting yourselves to the fellowship? Are you seeking to be Biblically based in truth and deeds? Are you willing to use your Spiritual gifts together in cooperation with one another? Are you allowing Jesus to be honored and glorified in your daily life? If not, are you willing to confess and start over with Jesus in the driver’s seat?
Paul knows there will be tough times. He has been there himself. He praised them for their perseverance, reminded them of God's justice, and prayed for God's power to accomplish His purposes in their lives.
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Prayer: Lord, may Your glory be seen in us and find us faithful.
