Monday, July 16, 2012

The Glory of God: Sunday Night Live July 8, 2012 I


In many cases we really do not think about the Glory of God, it may be a passing thought but not one we ponder on.  In fact some may even picture the Glory of God being a cloud, but that is not the case.  Then cloud or mist only covered up the Glory of God, because man could not look upon and live.  Moses never saw God in His full glory for we read in Exodus 33:12-22 that when God did allow Moses to see His glory it was only from the Back.  For Moses could not see Gods face our His full Glory, for it would be too much and he would die.  We also read in Exodus 40:34, “34 Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glorious presence of the Lord filled it. 35 Moses was no longer able to enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the Tabernacle was filled with the awesome glory of the Lord.”  So what about others that we read about seeing God, such as Isaiah and John the answer is simple they were in spirit.
For God’s glory is all-consuming and all powerful.  We read in second Chronicles chapter seven verses one through three, “When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.  And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.  When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.” They had no other response but fall to the ground and worship the all-powerful God for His glory had entered into their presence. For Israel Had built the Tabernacle and the Temple to the Ark of the Convenient, which represented the Glory of God, as we read their where times that the Glory of God, filled the tabernacle and temple. 
If we look at this and realize that the temple was meant to not only glorify God but also house His Glory this has a huge impact in how we live our live.  For in second Corinthians 6:16 tells us “For we are the temple of the living God.”  Wow that small part of scripture says a lot, we are part of the temple of God now.  I suggest that you stop and read Second Corinthians 6:14-7:1.  The question now becomes are we truly allowing the Glory of God live in us, are we living lives that allow His light to shine?  For we are to share God’s glory with those around, we are to allow God to shine through us in all we do.  Paul describes God’s glory to Timothy saying, “For at the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of kings and Lord of lords.  He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him”(1st Timothy 6:15-16).  The writer of Hebrews (verses 25-29) says, “See to it that you obey God, the one who is speaking to you. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, how terrible our danger if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!  When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.”*This means that the things on earth will be shaken, so that only eternal things will be left.
 Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.”  Are we truly allowing God to consume us with His glory?  I find myself asking that very question about my on life, am I truly letting the all-powerful God take control, am I putting all my trust in Him?

It was through the Cross that God prepared us to be able to be a living temple, without the cross we would not be able to forgiven. In his book Fear Of The Lord John Bevere tells us, “It is because of the cross that the Holy Spirit is able to live in us.  Jesus, the Lamb of God, hung on the cross, shedding every drop of His innocent, royal blood for us. Once this was done, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Luke 23:45). God moved out! God's glory would never again be revealed in a building made with hands. Soon His glory would be revealed in the temple He had always longed to dwell in.”  Are we living as though the Glory of God is with us?

JOHN BEVERE. Fear Of The Lord (p. 8). Kindle Edition.

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