Don't Steal God's Glory

Acts 12:22-23

And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!" Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give Glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

John Lennon (Singer): Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine said: "Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him." (1966). Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.

Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil): During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency. Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.

Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet): During A show in Canecio (Rio de Janeiro), while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said: "God, that's for you." He died at the age of 32 of LUNG CANCER in a horrible manner.

The man who built the Titanic: After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone he said: "Not even God can sink it" The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic.

It’s a dangerous thing when we start thinking that we are little gods when there is only one true and living God. There is a danger in having too big of an Ego. Because when you think more highly of yourself than you ought to your Ego takes over. Ego stands for Edging God Out.

It’s not just the cockiness of a Kanye West or the bravado of a Jay Z who calls him self Jay Hova that can get you in trouble with God, but its when we allow our God complex to start eclipsing God’s glory and giving him the credit that can lead us to an early death.

Herod was an evil king who had executed James, one of the apostles and he had his sights on Peter. The only reason he didn’t kill Peter is that an Angel came and led him out of Prison. Herod murdered 19 guards that were guarding Peter. He was a notorious leader but the thing that caused God to kill him was that he stole God’s Glory.

He gave a speech and the people were shouting, “the voice of a god and not a man!” Herod didn’t stop them no did he correct them and God sent an Angel to strike him down. Wow. There are two contrasts here; when Peter healed people and they started worshipping him, he would stop them and say, “No I’m just a servant of the Lord.” God sent an angel to rescue him from prison. Herod falls in love with people calling him a god, God sends an angel to strike him down. Either you are giving God the Glory and living, or you are taking the glory for yourself and you are dying.

It’s dangerous being a leader, preacher, President, entertainer, who is up before people and you are gifted because when the people try to lift you up as an idol there is a danger that you fall in love with your own voice and with the shouts of the people and God has to take you out of the way.

John Maxwell warns us to avoid the Character flaws and demise of Herod by:

1. Search for the cracks. Look at the major areas of your life. Identify where you’re weak or have taken shortcuts.

2. Look for patterns. Do any weaknesses remain? Patterns can help you diagnose character flaws.

3. Face the Music. Character repair begins when you face your flaws and apologize to those you’ve wronged.

4. Stay teachable and rebuild. Once you face your past, create a plan to build inward strength.

Dear God don’t let me fall in love with my own voice. I am not a god. You are the one and only God. You are God alone. I am only able to do what I do because of your Sprit that lives in me. Thank you for using me.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.