An important thing for God-Glory

An important thing for God- Glory (Apr 2017)

When we get loaded with Life’s journey, we tell ourselves that the world is not the place we think it is. When nothing is happening in our life except for the burdens and the constant pressures. When everyone with you have raced ahead in life , you are still , where you have been. You are under the mercy of others. What was Moses social status when he met Pharoah after his 40 yrs in desert. ! Almost nothing ,lest someone may at least introduce him as a shepherd. Tomorrow is the greatest ignorance that torments everyone due to the reason of not knowing what is to happen .Therefore today is spend more to make tomorrow secure in every possible manner . Waves of torment keep appearing

All for His Glory.

Life wasn’t meant to revolve around you? Or if I said that you were created for something infinitely greater than your own personal self-satisfaction.

“From beginning to end, the Scriptures reveal that the foremost desire of God’s heart is not our salvation but rather the Glory of His own name. God’s glory is what drives the universe; it is why everything exists.”
God didn’t destroy Israel in the desert for the glory of His name (Ezekiel 20:5-9).

God saves men for the glory of His name (Psalm 106:8).

God hardened Pharaoh’s heart for the glory of His name (Exodus 14:4, 8).

God instituted the monarchy for the glory of His name (1 Samuel 12:19-23).

God inspired the building of the Temple for the glory of His name (1 Kings 8).

God strengthened Israel for the glory of His name (2 Samuel 7:23).

God didn’t destroy Israel for the glory of His name (Isaiah 48:9-11).

God decided to destroy the wicked Israelites for the glory of His name (Mal 2:2).

God sent Jesus to earth for the glory of His name (John 7:18; 17:4).

God planned the crucifixion for the glory of His name (John 12:27-28).

God saves us for the glory of His name (Ephesians 1:3-6).

God calls Christians to live for the glory of His name (Mat 5:16; 1 Cor 10:31; 1 Pet 4:11).

God will send Jesus to return for the glory of His name (2 Thess 1:9-10). God will consummate all things for the glory of His name (Revelation 21:23).

There were two brothers, well known around town for their crooked business dealings and underworld connections. They were a mean and cold-blooded as you could imagine. One day one of the brothers died, and the surviving brother wanted to give his dead brother a funeral fit for a king. He called the funeral home and made all the arrangements, then he called the town’s minister and made him an offer, as they say, he couldn’t refuse. He said, "I’ll give you $10,000 to put that new roof on the church if, in eulogizing my brother, you call him a saint."

The minister agreed. The whole town turned out for the funeral, and the minister began: "The man you see in the coffin was a vile and debauched individual. He was a liar, a thief, a deceiver, a manipulator, a reprobate, and a hedonist. He destroyed the fortunes, careers, and lives of countless people in this city, some of whom are here today. This man did every dirty, rotten thing you can think of. But compared to his brother, he was a saint"

Notice a dead body was even demand of glory . Every man seeks for his own glory. Why not then Glory be an important aspect for God

Natural man is not able to see God’s glory, Why?

Rom3: 23 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The glory of God was therefore man’s clothing before the fall. In other words, Adam’s whole being was gloriously radiant.(Ps 8:5 and crowned him with glory and honor.)

What is Glory? What are effects of God’s Glory ? Its not just a heavy light flashing in all beauty & greatness . (Kavod in OT - weightiness , heaviness, power, position. Doxa in NT - appears, high opinion we have on observing God)

Glory could be the highest good, strongest passion, ultimate motivation.

What is the chief end of man. Isa 43: 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Its is who God is, intrinsic, fullness, - all his attributes. Ps 8:1 “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!You have set your glory above the heavens.” Glory is important for God.

The message could be said in a single sentence. The definition for effect of God’s glory from the word would sum up to:-

Gods Glory is the light of the knowledge and wisdom revealed emanating from faith, consequent to suffering , creating a change in our relationship with God & others that whatever we do, in word or deed, small or big , always transforming, unveiling and increasing us to the image of Jesus Christ.

Remember in Ex32, Moses was frustrated with the people because of their idle worship. All that he was working for ,was shattered by their sinful mind. Try to imagine the state of mind of Moses. When life is in turmoil and everything seems to break apart . The people you trusted and close have betrayed you . Your own brother has not been trustworthy. And even God says , Depart or else I may consume them. All of us have gone through that situation in life. Its is the situation in which we lose all goodness & our own identity or name . Moses had to go through lot of situations, red sea, pharaoh and endless toil to reach so far . He lost meaning about the whole situation from this act and attitude of the people .A state of loneliness of mind, tired, stressed and depressed . Moses was deprived , robbed of all goodness and his own name .

Midst of this ,Moses cries out for the most important thing for God , the most important thing for God :-

Ex 33:18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’

( God assures ,”I am going to give you goodness and identity. Its no more about your name, its my name)

And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

Ex 34: 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands,[a] forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. 9 And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.” ( Why did God say that ? Jer 9:23-24)

Effect of the Glory Is a Change in Our Relationship With the Lord & the Glory ! Glory is what God is . Soon as God revealed himself with Moses, he was getting down to his knees. When God’s glory is revealed, Moses could see that God was revealing the past, present & future(Ex 34:6-7, the one who was, who is & who will come). Beholding this , he could find peace ,rest and all confidence. He was proclaiming all the attributes and goodness of God. Worship was an outcome of this revelation . (Rev4: 8, we see the angels worshipping God continuously day and night. They were worshipping every moment , day and night because of the glorious thing God was planning ahead.) Gods glory highlights our fallen glory and then it shows us favour. It reveals how exactly we are going to be that glorious dream product that God has destined. But, in short, I will say this: worship cannot be learned! It's a spontaneous outbreak -- the act of a heart that's been overwhelmed by a revelation of God's glory and his incredible love for us. Its the first time mentioned about Moses worshipping God , knees bend,head on the ground. Revelation of God's glory is an integral part of worship. Moses was so convinced about himself , his role & purpose after this Glory experience. God’s Glory reveals - who we are for him.

Seeing the Glory Of God Is a Change in Our Relationships With Others. Moses was tired and angry with the people. This knowledge of his glory carried him through to a place of total rest. It made Moses more compassionate towards the people. God vindicated me on all sides. Beloved, once you have this revelation of God's glory, you need never again fear he'll correct you in anger. God’s Glory converts our attitude about stiff necked people to that of glorious inheritance.

Once he reveals to you his glory -- his kindness, goodness, grace and mercy -- his patience will not endure your misrepresenting his glory to others. Later on Moses had misrepresented that glory to Israel. We find another illustration of this in one of Jesus' parables. He speaks of a servant who was forgiven a great debt by his master. The master showed this man incredible kindness, grace and forgiveness. Yet no sooner was the servant forgiven than he found a man who owed him a small debt -- and he began choking the debtor until he paid up. The very one who had experienced great love and forgiveness showed no mercy in return! Jesus is saying in this parable, "You're misrepresenting the love of the father! He has given you a touch of his incredible glory, through his kindness and the forgiveness of your sins. Yet, now that you've seen his glory, you're misrepresenting it to the world!"

Beloved, because God’s glory is on you, there is a weightiness about you. People don’t know why, but their spirits are lifted when they are in your presence. There is something about you that impacts them even if they have only been with you for a short while. When you talk, they listen because there is substance in what you say.

2 . Gods Glory upholds the universe by the word of his power. It conquers everything .Gods Glory is his radiance of his Holiness and all his attributes .

Heb 1 : 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

John17: 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,. The glory lost was regained through Christ.

What is the measure of His riches of Glory ?

Its like something which doesn’t decrease unlike the riches of this earth. People share their riches and as they share it decreases their pocket . Gods glory is ever increasing.(Phi 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.)

What are his riches of his glory? Why does God insists so much importance of this Glory?

Col 1: 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[f] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. The eternal plan , purpose and design of each one of us is positioned in Jesus . All things are hold together in Christ , who is the glory of God. All our life, purposes and destiny is hold together in Christ . That is why Glory is colossally important for God.

As we were praying for Joshua , my son , one of these days, God’s glory was revealed through his word. His word of power. Sobha had received a word before his ear surgery in 2016, Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

We took this word for him at that time. Recently as he was going through a ear issue. The same word alsoenlightened me from glory to glory . Moses means the one who was drawn by the water. Joshua is same as Yeshua- savior. You remember what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3. ‘Need to be born in the spirit .’ This revelation of the word was glory of the word revealed ,which gave me all the peace and reconfirmation. This word was not just for my son Joshua but for all others . Meditating on the glory of God’s word releases power. Holy spirit always reveals the Glory of Jesus through the word. Can we see Jesus in all the scripture…. Try to see Jesus through the scripture, Glory will be revealed.

3. Seeing the Glory of God Is A Change in Countenance! A person's countenance is the outward expression of what is in his heart. But later, when the revelation of God's glory was made real to him, it changed Moses' very look! Paul is saying, "I have within me much more than some doctrine somebody thought up, more than just a head knowledge of Christ. I have a revelation of who Christ is -- a revelation of his grace, mercy and love. And this revelation has become the very source of all I am and I do. It's the very essence of my life!" The countenance which becomes more and more like that of Jesus! Countenance not just in physical but in wisdom & knowledge of our inner man. (Gal1: 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born,[d] and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone)

Forgetting self is replaced by the thrill of living a new lifewith God, directed by God with specific surety that experiences the presence ofGod always. We become ambassadors of Christ.

As Stewards, How can we increase in glory to glory ?( remember the definition we stated earlier)

Moses Glory was Fading . "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). Christ in us is hope of Glory .Col 1:27

2Cor 3: 7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.16 But when one[c] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord[d] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[e] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[f] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Ministry of death is ministry of curse & separation. Death in OT is separation from God. Ministry of new covenant is Life and righteousness and including all others. The new way is the Holy Spirit, which brings forgiveness and eternal life. In the old covenant, everyone appears condemned, quite often the message is about how sinful you are. In the new cov.. the approach is different. Some people say we don’t see glory in our ministry and they blame the people for it. Paul addresses everyone as ‘saints’ .The glory of OC is temporary as the glory on Moses face. The word says the ministry of Spirit is the one with permanent glory which has boldness and courage to say that you are made righteous. Which also has the courage to say that I am no different from you . I am equally sinful as you are and proclaim like Paul that, ‘ I am chief of sinners.’ You are welcome into the kingdom , because if I can be here, so can you!!!There were certain group of people called Corinthians who were denying life after death, Paul’s approach as a new covenant minister is remarkable. To answer their query , Paul had to relate himself to them ,” 1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

When you look in a mirror, what do you see? Of course, you see yourself. But God does not want you to see yourself in the natural. You may be sick, weak, broke and depressed, yet God wants you to see yourself the way He sees you—healed, strong, favored and whole because Christ is in you. (Colossians 1:27)

God wants you to behold as in a mirror the glory of His Son who is in you by His Spirit. As you do this, His Word says that you are being transformed from glory to glory—sick to healed, loser to winner!

The world may say to you, “It can’t be that easy. You can’t be transformed just by beholding the glory of Jesus. No, you must do something about you. If you don’t put in effort, nothing will happen. If you don’t start making changes, nothing will change.”

But the world will never understand that as you are beholding the glory of the Lord, who is the successful one in you, you are being transformed from a failure to a success. And this is not accomplished by any effort of yours to get ahead in life, but by the Spirit of the Lord! (Zechariah 4:6)

As you behold the glory of the Lord who is the healthy one in your sick body, you are transformed from sickness to health. And this is not accomplished by any effort of yours to keep fit and eat well, !

My friend, what can be easier than beholding the beauty of the Son? So stop focusing on yourself and your efforts. Look away from these things and begin to behold the glory of Jesus who is in you right now, and you will begin to behold the miracles that you need!

God wants us to have the sense that we are praiseworthy, honorable and glorious because of His constant good opinion( Doxa) of us!

John 1: 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[d] from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hag2: 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’”

4.Every small or big thing done for the glory of God is never lost .

We had Elizabeth Elliot here a number of years ago and you remember her husband was killed along with four others in Ecuador I think it was, but I remember she spent two years working on a language, trying to break it down into writing with an informant. This is a laborious process, and in those days there were no computers, no Xerox machines, no duplication. Somebody stole the suitcase with all of her work. It had to be done all over again from point zero. Somebody said, “Weren’t you angry at God?” and she said, “No, it was lost to us, but it wasn’t lost to God. That was my worship to God for two years. I was worshiping. I did that for Jesus and if He wants the suitcase stolen, He can have it stolen, but what I did for Him lasts.”

What you do in the Sunday school classes that you teach that you have long ago forgotten about, the blessings that you have said to people as you have encouraged them and you can’t remember that you even said it, all those things, the Bible says, that God takes care of our works and keeps them and remembers them if they are done , even though this isn’t what you were born for, even though it seems as if your aptitude is in one direction and your work in another, . It’s all about God and not about you.

1 Corinthians 10:31. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the .”

Ephesians 6:5: “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service (that is, working only when somebody is watching), as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.”

Col 3 :17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Suffering is the forerunner of God’s Glory.

1Pet 4: 13 But rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the [b] and of God rests upon you.

Heb2:10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Rom 8: 17. 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.

When do we achieve the fullness of Glory?

Col 3 :4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

How does Gods glory work in us ?

God’s Gloryis shone and worked out through the Holy Spirit. It strengthens our inner man with power , faith ,love & to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.

Eph 3: 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

How long does it work ?

Ep 3: 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus , forever and ever. Amen.

Isa 60 : 1 Arise, shine, for your light has come,and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;but the Lord will arise upon you,and his glory will be seen upon you.