God's
Glory Upon Us
When we speak of the glory of the Lord, the phrase means the
majesty, power and honor of God. God displays His power and shows himself to be
a covenant keeping faithful God. He delivered His people from bondage when they
were under captivity in Babylon; and He sent the Messiah to accomplish the
deliverance of His people in later days. All nations would discern the evidence
of His power and glory. Through Jesus Christ, the whole world would see the
glory of God upon us.
We will
begin our study in the old
testament book of Isaiah.
Even every
one that is called by my name:
for I have created him for my
glory, I have formed him; yea, I
have made him. (Isaiah 43:7).
God is calling out to
those who call on the name of
the Lord and claim Him as their
God. He is the God who created
them for His glory. (Worshipful
praise, honor, great beauty and
splendor).
Arise, shine; for thy light is
come, and the glory of the
Lord is risen upon thee.
(Isaiah 60:1).
Get up and let
your light shine for all to see.
The glory of the Lord is risen
to shine on you. Who is our
light? (John 8:12, 12:46), Jesus
Christ who came into this world,
in that anyone who would follow
Him, would walk in that "light
of glory" and never again live
in darkness.
Now we are going to
jump to the new testament where the people were given a sign of God's glory upon
us. Here they are going to embrace the Pentecostal experience.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (Acts
2:2). As the believers met together that day, there was a sound like a
roaring wind that filled the house where they were meeting. "The Holy Spirit."
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of
fire, and it sat upon each of them. (Acts 2:3). Then what looked like
flames of fire from many directions appeared and settled on their heads. Again,
the glorified splendor of God in His great brightness and luster was exposed to
all those who were present. Not an unknown tongue, but a tongue that everyone
understood in their own dialect.
Lets take a look
at the book of Romans and see
how we can share in God's glory
through the help of the Holy
Spirit.
The Spirit itself beareth
witness with our spirit, that we
are the children of God. (Romans
8:16). This "Holy Spirit"
speaks to us deep into our
hearts and confirms that we are
really children of God.
And if
children, then heirs; heirs of
God, and joint-heirs with
Christ; if so be that we suffer
with him, that we may be also
glorified together. (Romans
8:17). Now we come to a
condition. Since we are God's
children, we can also share His
treasures. Everything God gives
to His Son Jesus is now ours
too. However, now here comes the
condition. If we are to share
His glory, we must also share
His sufferings so that we can be
glorified together. So, what is
this suffering? Are we to suffer
as Christ did at the
crucifixion? Not at all... "We
could probably never handle
that." But, as true Christians
you are going to suffer a little
in this world. People will mock
you at times and make fun of
your Christian beliefs. Many
will try to take advantage of
you, or make up stories and
gossip about you for being a
believer etc. But you can handle
it, just keep your eyes on the
spiritual side of things, and
the Lord will always be with
you.
For I
reckon that the sufferings of
this present time are not worthy
to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us.
(Romans 8:18). What little
we may suffer now is nothing
compared to the glory God will
give us later.
Now in the book of 2
Corinthians, Paul would best explain how we as believers reflect God's glory:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as
by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18). In other words, we as
Christians do not need to hide our face; we are to be like mirrors that brightly
reflect the glory of the Lord. As the Spirit (Holy Spirit), of the Lord works
within us, we become more and more like Him who's glory is upon us.
Therefore seeing we have this
ministry, as we have received
mercy, we faint not. (2
Corinthians 4:1).
It is God Himself
that has given us this work of
spreading "The Good News" to
others, so we should never give
up. "He is always with us,
especially when we are doing His
work." It makes His day.
But have renounced the hidden
things of dishonesty, not
walking in craftiness, nor
handling the word of God
deceitfully; but by
manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to every
man's conscience in the sight of
God.
(2 Corinthians 4:2).
i.e.,
we do not try to trick people
into believing with a bunch of
side shows and fancy rituals. We
teach the Word straight on as it
is written, and never try to get
people to believe that the bible
teaches what it doesn't. (False
teachings and traditions of
men). We stand in the presence
of God as we speak, so we tell
the truth. "Remember that
judgment begins at the pulpit."
But if our gospel be hid, it is
hid to them that are lost.
(2 Corinthians 4:3).
If what we teach
is hidden to anyone, it is
hidden from the ones who have
been deceived, and on the road
to eternal death.
In whom the god of this world
hath blinded the minds of them
which believe not, lest the
light of the glorious gospel of
Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them.
(2 Corinthians 4:4).
Satan, the god of
this world, is the one who has
deceived and made them blind to
the truth. He is the one who has
made them unable to see the
"glorious light" of the Gospel
that is shinning upon them, or
the awesome message we preach as
Christians about the "glory of
Christ," who is God.
For we preach not ourselves, but
Christ Jesus the Lord; and
ourselves your servants for
Jesus' sake.
(2 Corinthians 4:5).
We as Christians
do not go around and preach
about ourselves, but about the
glory of Jesus Christ as Lord
and Savior. All we should say
about ourselves is that we are
His servants because of what He
has done for us.
For God,
who commanded the light to shine
out of darkness, hath shined in
our hearts, to give the light of
the knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Jesus Christ.
(2 Corinthians 4:6). It
was God who said, "Let there be
light in the darkness." This has
made us understand that that it
is the brightness of His glory
that is seen in the face of
Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:7). We as Christians hold this precious treasure in our perishable earthly body. Everyone should see that this glorious power within us must be from God and is not our own. "Again, God's glory upon us."
Not lets turn to the book of Ephesians.
Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in
my prayers. (Ephesians 1:16). Paul constantly
prayed for the brethren.
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of him. (Ephesians 1:17). When you
acknowledge God through His Word, the wisdom of His truth will be opened to you.
The eyes of your understanding being
enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the
riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:18).
Your heart will be flooded with light, even to see something of the
future He has called you to share. God has been made rich because we who are
Christ's have been given to Him.
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by
faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love. (Ephesians 3:17). Dwell
in your mind through faith. If you have no faith; your prayers will never be
answered.
May be able to comprehend with all saints
what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height. (Ephesians 3:18).
Able to comprehend how great His love really is towards us.
And to know the love of Christ, which
passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
(Ephesians 3:19). Come to know the true love of Christ, and
pass His knowledge to others. One will never forget a seed of truth you planted when they
come to Christ.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh
in us. (Ephesians 3:20). His mighty power at work within us
is able to do far more than we can ever imagine.
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ
Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:21).
Eternal friendship and glory because of His master plan of
salvation for the church through Jesus Christ.
Now to end our study lets go to the book of
Philippians. But my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19). This
same God will supply all our needs from His glorious riches through Jesus
Christ. As stated in (Amos 8), the famine in the end times is not for bread, but
for hearing the truth in God's Word.
As stated
in the old testament.
Be thou
exalted, O God, above the
heavens; let thy glory be above
all the earth. (Psalm 57:5).
Be exalted Lord, above
the highest heavens; and let the
glory of the Lord be upon us and
above the whole world.
The "Glory
of the Lord" shall endure
forever. (Psalm 104:31).
Praise God!
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Bart
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