怎樣才能為上帝的榮耀而活
詩篇50:23 凡以感謝獻上為祭的，便是榮耀我；那按正路而行的，我必使他得著我的救恩。
詩篇51:12 求你使我仍得救恩之樂，賜我樂意的靈扶持我。
撒母耳記下12:26-31 約押攻取亞捫人的京城拉巴。約押打發使者去見大衛說：「我攻打拉巴，取其水城。現在你要聚集其餘的軍兵來，安營圍攻這城，恐怕我取了這城，人就以我的名叫這城。」於是大衛聚集眾軍，往拉巴去攻城，就取了這城，奪了亞捫人之王所戴的金冠冕，其上的金子重一他連得，又嵌著寶石。人將這冠冕戴在大衛頭上。大衛從城裡奪了許多財物，將城裡的人拉出來放在鋸下，或鐵耙下，或鐵斧下，或叫他經過磚窯，大衛待亞捫各城的居民都是如此。其後，大衛和眾軍都回耶路撒冷去了。
約翰福音14:13 你們奉我的名無論求什麼，我必成就，叫父因兒子得榮耀。
約翰福音15:8-11 你們多結果子，我父就因此得榮耀，你們也就是我的門徒了。我愛你們，正如父愛我一樣；你們要常在我的愛裡。你們若遵守我的命令，就常在我的愛裡，正如我遵守了我父的命令，常在祂的愛裡。這些事我已經對你們說了，是要叫我的喜樂存在你們心裡，並叫你們的喜樂可以滿足。
哥林多後書4:15 凡事都是為你們，好叫恩惠因人多越發加增，感謝格外顯多，以致榮耀歸與 神。
腓立比書4:11 我並不是因缺乏說這話，我無論在什麼景況都可以知足，這是我已經學會了。
歌羅西書1:10 好叫你們行事為人對得起主，凡事蒙祂喜悅，在一切善事上結果子，漸漸地多知道 神。
帖撒羅尼迦前書4:17 以後我們這活著還存留的人，必和他們一同被提到雲裡，在空中與主相遇。這樣，我們就要和主永遠同在。
帖撒羅尼迦後書3:1 弟兄們，我還有話說，請你們為我們禱告，好叫主的道理快快行開，得著榮耀，正如在你們中間一樣。
約翰一書1:9 我們若認自己的罪， 神是信實的、是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義。
親愛的弟兄姊妹們，人要怎樣做才能榮耀上帝？沒有什麼問題能比這個問題更實際、更有意義的了。對於所有男人和女人來說---所有生在世上的人，生命的至高目的就是榮耀上帝，這也是生命的全部。榮耀上帝是基督徒生命的終極結果。基督徒的靈命達到成熟，就是完完全全專心於、專注於上帝，乃至完全浸沒在祂的威嚴和榮耀中。
在這裡，我想給基督徒榮耀上帝提出一些切實可行的建議：
• 【認罪悔改】。認罪悔改就是榮耀上帝，因為如果你為自己的罪找諸多理由，那你就是在免除自己的責任，責怪上帝讓你陷入困境。亞當的例子就說明了這一點。當上帝找到亞當，亞當為自己犯罪開脫的理由是什麼呢？「你所賜給我、與我同居的女人，她把那樹上的果子給我，我就吃了。」（創世紀3:12）亞當實際是在說：「上帝，都是你做的好事。如果你不將這個女人賜給我，就不會發生這樣的事情了。」
這樣做就是在責怪上帝，把罪過推給上帝。可是，當我們犯罪時，上帝是沒有錯的。這樣做，是意指上帝在某種程度上要對玷汙自己的聖潔負上一定的責任。所以，那些試圖暗中為自己開脫絕對罪責的人，是嚴重抵擋上帝的榮耀。
約翰一書1:9說，我們若認自己的罪， 神是信實的、是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義。希臘文「認罪悔改」是homologeo，意為陳明同一事件。認罪悔改意味著認同上帝，認定罪是我們的錯，並且改過。這樣做就是榮耀上帝。我們不必苦苦哀求上帝寬恕我們，上帝是信實的、是公義的，當我們對祂作出這等認同時，祂很快會寬恕我們。
• 【結果實】。在約翰福音15:8，主耶穌告訴門徒：「你們多結果子，我父就因此得榮耀。」這是為什麼？因為這麼一來，世人就可以通過你的生命，看到一個被聖靈充滿的生命。這也是我們來世界的目的，就是透過我們基督徒的生命，將上帝顯明給世人。
歌羅西書1:10 好叫你們行事為人對得起主，凡事蒙祂喜悅，在一切善事上結果子，漸漸地多知道 神。
• 【將讚美歸與上帝】。詩篇50:23說，凡以感謝獻上為祭的，便是榮耀我。讚美上帝的其中一個方法，就是事事向祂感恩。在撒母耳記下12:26-31中，當約押贏取拉巴，奪了敵人的冠冕時，他差人去找大衛，好將冠冕呈給大衛。基督徒應該如何對待自己的主人，這就是一個好例子。你在生命中所贏取的勝利不要戴在自己頭上，要將冠冕歸回上帝，因為是上帝為你贏得了勝利。
• 【感到知足】。我們可能對自己和處境不滿意。可是，那造我們的是誰呢？是上帝。上帝承諾，祂會供應我們所需的一切。當我們感到知足時，就是認定上帝在我們生命中的主權，這便是將榮耀歸給祂。如果我們不滿意，就等同於在質疑上帝的智慧，這就不是榮耀上帝。
保羅見證道：「我無論在什麼景況都可以知足，這是我已經學會了。」（腓立比4:11）保羅確信，上帝使用萬事---缺乏亦是富足、安舒亦是痛苦，為了使他得益處、使上帝得榮耀（羅馬書8:28）保羅不是說：「儘管我痛苦，我還是將榮耀歸給上帝。」他是說：「因這一切事，我將榮耀歸給上帝。」
基督徒無論因什麼原因（工作、配偶、資財等等）而感到不滿意，就是對上帝的美善作了糟糕的見證。我們將上帝看作什麼呢？祂真是至高無上的嗎？祂真的可以信賴嗎？榮耀上帝，意味著我們用絕對的知足來讚美祂，懂得我們現今所擁有的一切都是出於上帝對我們的美意。
• 【按照上帝的旨意禱告】。主耶穌說：「你們奉我的名無論求什麼，我必成就，叫父因兒子得榮耀。」（約翰福音14:13）耶穌之名表示著祂的全能和祂的聖潔，奉祂的名禱告，意思是按照祂的品性和旨意禱告。上帝喜悅在回應禱告中，顯明祂的榮耀。這就是為何祂吩咐我們要禱告，祂由此向我們顯明祂的偉大，我們也透過禱告給祂應得的讚美。
• 【宣告上帝的話語】。保羅寫道：「弟兄們，我還有話說，請你們為我們禱告，好叫主的道理快快行開，得著榮耀，正如在你們中間一樣。」（帖撒羅尼迦後書3:1）上帝的話語是怎樣透過基督徒得到榮耀呢？是因為基督徒們聽從了上帝的話語，也相信了。他們信靠基督而得以重生，這就使上帝得到了榮耀。
上帝的話語清楚、精準地顯示，永遠都要將榮耀歸於祂。每次主日學校的老師給一班孩子上聖經課、每次研經聚會的帶領者在某人的客廳開啟上帝的話語、每次父親與家人坐在一起談論上帝的教導，這些都是在榮耀上帝。我們認識並懂得上帝的話語，這就是榮耀上帝。
• 【帶領別人歸向基督】。當有人得贖時，上帝也得到榮耀。當撒旦的監牢被破除，人們從惡魔的權勢下得到釋放時，上帝就得到了榮耀。人從他們的罪惡中得救，這就為上帝帶來了榮耀。所以，轉變信仰歸向上帝的人越多，對上帝的感恩也就越多，所以能同唱「哈利路亞」的人就會多而又多！（哥林多後書4:15 凡事都是為你們，好叫恩惠因人多越發加增，感謝格外顯多，以致榮耀歸與 神）
【如何享有上帝的祝福】
當我們為了上帝的榮耀而活時，上帝就會賜給我們勢不可擋的喜樂作為回應。你可能會說：「哦，我的命苦，毫無喜樂可言。」如果這是你正經歷的，那能否讓我給你建議一個答案？就是開始活出一個榮耀上帝的生命。
喜樂不一定是讓悲傷、氣餒、痛苦、失敗走開，而是基督徒經歷到靈上的喜樂，甚至在一切不幸之中亦是懷抱喜樂。事實上，罪的最終作為就是竊取基督徒的喜樂。當我們的喜樂開始消失時，確定的跡象就是：罪或不信漸漸滲入到我們的生命。我們這時能做什麼呢？跪在上帝的跟前，承認我們生命中的罪並且悔改。我們需要與大衛一同禱告：「求你使我仍得救恩之樂，賜我樂意的靈扶持我。」（詩篇51:12）我們降服於聖靈，然後我們的喜樂就回來了。
主耶穌在約翰福音15:11裡說，祂希望祂的喜樂常在我們裡面（這些事我已經對你們說了，是要叫我的喜樂存在你們心裡，並叫你們的喜樂可以滿足）。可能聖經裡最大的應許，就是帖撒羅尼迦前書4:17：「以後我們這活著還存留的人，必和他們一同被提到雲裡，在空中與主相遇。這樣，我們就要和主永遠同在。」
How to Live for GOD’s Glory
Psalm 50:23 「He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God」 ;
Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit;
2 Samuel 12:26aNow Joab fought against bRabbah of the sons of Ammon and captured the royal city. 27 Joab sent messengers to David and said, 「I have fought against Rabbah, I have even captured the city of waters. 28 「Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and camp against the city and capture it, or I will capture the city myself and it will be named after me.」 29 So David gathered all the people and went to Rabbah, fought against it and captured it. 30 Then he took the crown of 1their king from his head; and its weight was a talent of gold, and in it2was a precious stone; and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city in great amounts. 31 He also brought out the people who were in it, and set them under saws, sharp iron instruments, and iron axes, and made them pass through the brickkiln. And thus he did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
John 14:13「Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 15:8「My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so1bprove to be Mydisciples. 9 「Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 「If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as bI have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 「These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
2 Corinthians 4:15For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
Colossians 1:10so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
How does a person glorify GOD? No question is more practical or more significant. The supreme purpose in life for any man or woman—for anyone who has ever been born into this world—is to glorify GOD. That is what living is all about. Glorifying GOD is the end result of the Christian life. Spiritual maturity is simply concentrating and focusing on the person of GOD until we are caught up in HIS majesty and HIS glory.
I would like to suggest some practical ways for the Christian to glorify GOD:
• 【Confess Your Sins】. Confession of sin glorifies GOD because if you excuse your sin, you absolve yourself of responsibility and blame GOD for letting you get into a mess. Adam illustrates this. When GOD confronted him, what was his excuse? 「The woman whom YOU gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate」 (Genesis 3:12). He was practically saying, 「You did it, GOD. If YOU hadn’t given me this woman, none of this would ever have happened.」
To do that is to blame GOD and thus to assign guilt to HIM. But GOD is never at fault when we sin. Implying that HE is somehow responsible maligns HIS holiness. So those who try to sneak out from under the absolute responsibility for their own sin commit a grievous sin against the glory of GOD.
First John 1:9 says, 「If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.」 The Greek word for 「confess」 is homologeo, meaning 「to say the same thing.」 To confess means to agree with GOD that sin is all our fault and to repent. That act glorifies GOD. We don’t have to beg GOD for forgiveness. HE is faithful and just to forgive as soon as we agree with HIM.
• 【Bear Fruit】. In John 15:8 Jesus told the disciples, 「MY FATHER is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit.」 Why? Because then the world can see in you the results of a Spirit-filled life. That is what we are here for—to put GOD on display to the world.
Colossians 1:10So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the LORD, to please HIM in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of GOD;
• 【Give Praise to GOD】. Psalm 50:23 says, 「He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honours ME.」 Praise honours GOD. One way to praise GOD is to give HIM credit for everything. In 2 Samuel 12:26-31, when Joab won the victory against Rabbah and got possession of the enemy’s crown, he sent for David so he could present the crown to him. This is a good illustration of how the Christian should act toward the MASTER. You win a victory in your life, but you don’t wear the crown. You give it to the LORD, who has won the victory for you.
• 【Be Content】. We may be discontented about ourselves and about our circumstances. But who made us? GOD. And HE promises to supply all our needs. When we are content, we acknowledge GOD’s sovereignty in our lives, and that gives HIM glory. If we are discontented, it’s the same as questioning GOD’s wisdom. That doesn’t glorify HIM.
Paul testified, 「I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am」 (Philippians 4:11). Paul was confident that GOD would use all things—poverty as well as abundance, comfort as well as pain—for Paul’s good and GOD’s glory (Romans 8:28). He didn’t say, 「I』ll give GOD glory in spite of my pain.」 He said, 「I will give GOD glory because of it.」
A Christian who is discontented for any reason—job, spouse, finances—is a terrible testimony about the goodness of our GOD. What kind of GOD do we have? Is HE really sovereign? Can HE really be trusted? Glorifying GOD means that we praise HIM with absolute contentment, knowing that our lot is GOD’s plan for us now.
• 【Pray According to GOD’s Will】. JESUS said, 「Whatever you ask in MY name, that will I do, so that the FATHER may be glorified in the SON」 (John 14:13). JESUS』 name signifies all that HE is and all that HE would want. Praying in HIS name means praying in accordance with HIS character and HIS will. And GOD delights to reveal HIS glory in answered prayer. That is why HE commands us to pray—so HE can show us HIS greatness and we can give HIM the praise HE’s worthy to receive.
• 【Proclaim GOD’s WORD】. Paul wrote, 「Brethren, pray for us that the WORD of the LORD will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you」 (2 Thessalonians 3:1). How was the WORD glorified through those believers? Because they heard it and believed. They trusted CHRIST and were born again—and GOD got the glory.
Presenting the WORD clearly and accurately always gives HIM glory. Every time a Sunday school teacher teaches a class of kids, every time a Bible study leader opens the WORD in someone’s living room, every time a father sits down with his family and starts talking about the WORD of GOD, GOD is glorified. We honour HIM by making HIS WORD known and understood.
• 【Lead Others to CHRIST】. GOD also gets glory when people are redeemed. HE is glorified when Satan’s prison is broken open and men and women are turned loose from the power of the evil one. People are saved from their sins in order to give GOD glory. So the more people who get converted, the more thanksgiving is going on, and the more there are in the choir singing, 「Hallelujah!」 (2 Corinthians 4:15For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of GOD...)
【How to Enjoy GOD’s Blessings】
When we live to glorify GOD, HE responds by giving us overwhelming joy. 「Well,」 you say, 「I have a tough life. I just don’t have any joy.」 If that’s what you are experiencing may I suggest an answer? Start living a life that’s glorifying GOD.
Joy does not necessarily always make sorrow, discouragement, pain, and failure go away, but Christians can experience supernatural joy even in the midst of those things. In fact sin is ultimately the only thing that can steal Christians』 joy. When our joy begins to fade, it is a sure sign of encroaching sin or unbelief. What can we do in times like that? Get down on our knees and confess the sin in our lives. We need to pray with David, 「Restore to me the joy of YOUR salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.」 (Psalm51:12). Then we yield to the HOLY SPIRIT, and joy returns.
JESUS desires that HIS joy remain in us in John 15:11(「These things I have spoken to you so that MY joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.)Perhaps the greatest promise in all the Bible is 1 Thessalonians 4:17: 「Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air, and so we shall always be with the LORD.」