Shew Us Thy Glory
Exodus 33: 12-18
Glory belongs to God (Isaiah 42:8) As light to the sun; water to the sea; heat to the desert; cold to the arctic; clouds to the sky; and stars to the night sky.
In the Old Testament God's glory was likened to:
Shekinah Glory
Fire by night
Cloud by day
Rainbow to Ezekiel
Cloud over the canvas city
In the New Testament God's glory is likened to:
The revelation of God (Christ)
Baptism of the Holy Ghost
God has always intended to have an intimate relationship with his creation. Sin has separated man from his maker. There have been constant provisions made however for divine reconciliation.
On a national level, the stand our nation and others have taken against Israel will sever the covenant with God for mercy. Also the ratification of such perversion as same sex marriage, partial birth abortion, removal of prayer from school, removal of Christ from school, court rooms, and the White House will have the same negative effect. (Psalms 9:17)
Glory has been appropriated by God for men. There are no denominational barriers with God's glory. Some denominations have traded the fresh anointing of heaven for the foul air of formalism. (Matthew 5:9 & 27:51)
Materialism is choking the life out of the church of the living God. The church has become and enterprise that generates multiplied millions of dollars annually. Feeding the poor, clothing the naked, and erecting majestic cathedrals housing only the glory of the local bishop. Devoid of fire from heaven, bread of life, and power with God. Church is being used as a tax write off and no longer a time of communion with God. (Luke 16:13 & Mark 7:6)
Gods departing glory did not hasten to leave the people.
He left the temple
He stopped at the gate
He left the city and went to the mountain
He departs to Heaven
God allowed his glory to linger for spans of time in each of these places. God will never hasten to leave his people. It is the presence of continued and unrepeated sin that will grieve the spirit of God into departure. Contrary to the idea that God is flighty and is always leaving his people; he is always seeking desperately for repentance and reasons to stay.
In the process of time there arose another generation that knew not God. Along with this thought we must remember that this is not the generation that grieved and offended God. They didn't backslide! The generation that is rising to church leadership in America is not the one responsible for backsliding; contrariwise they are the ones the will experience the re visitation of God's divine Glory.
God has always given each generation their own revival. The time is now for youth to go after the the Glory.
God's glory has resided in numerous places. The house of Dagon, the house of Obededum, and the most Holy place of the temple. Though God's glory has had a revolving residency, it has never once been homeless. At the point that priest, households, denominations, and nations became disqualified to house the glory; God always had another home waiting in the wings.
In the old testament the Ark of the Covenant was the actual house for God's Glory. Inside was the following things:
Pot of Manna- this signified the daily presence of Gods provision in times of need
Aaron's Rod- this signified that lives no matter how broken could be fruitful in God's kingdom.
Ten Commandments- this signified God's enduring law as well as his mercy. This was the second set of tables because sin destroyed the first set.
In the new testemant God destroyed the temple thus moving the seat or house of his glory to the temple of our body. Our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Ghost. When the veil of the temple was rent by the finger of God, it exposed over one thousand years of hypocrisy. Priest only going through the motinos. No ark, no sacrifice, no mercy seat, and no glory. God is looking diligently for a church or individual heart that will be pleased to house his glory.
The process of losing God's glory is a painful one. The results of a lost glory or a misplaced glory has far reaching results. Ichabod bore the shame and reproach of sins he didn't commit for a lifetime. If the modern day church age allows the glory to be lost we may not have enough time to retrieve it.
At some point between Ezekiels vision and my generation the glory has been lost. As with the priest who were living under the cover of robes of righteousness and covering gross hypocrisy, many today have a form of Godliness but are denying the power thereof. (I Timothy 3:5)
Before the marriage of Christ to the church there will be another visitation. In the last days they that know God will be strong and do exploits. God is going to send a man to recount his worthies before the end. (Nahum 2:5) God allowed me to know by a vision that he would revisit the churches to allow young people a chance to receive his Glory. His soon return to this earth is going to unite him with a glorious church. (Ephesians 5:27)
In the light of the things mentioned earlier, we should be made aware of the sad state of our nation, world, churches, and ourselves. But good news remains to the people of God. The prophet Joel wrote 2:1-22 of the time we are now in. It speaks of darkness and gloominess. The prophet encourages the people to pray and seek God again. He instructs them to sanctify themselves, fast, and weep between the porch and alter. He said “Who knows if he will return and leave a blessing behind him”.
What a joy to know the answer to the musing of the prophet. Exodus 33:19 gives us the assurance as well as Joel and the prophet Haggai in 2:9 of his writing. Solomon saw a bride come from the wilderness leaning on her beloved. That leaning was not from weakness on the part of the bride but a closeness that was forged in the very brightness of God's divine glory. The true church will be at her most beautiful state at the time of the rapture and marriage to her beloved Jesus.
I am sure beyond a doubt that God is and will continue to visit all who desire his Glory. He will reveal himself to us until our mortal capacity to experience glory is so overcharged that we are raptured into His eternal Glory. To abide in his light and majesty for eternity. It is the divine plan of God to allow everyone to receive his glory and to include everyone in in this event
Moses request to God to shew him his glory was taken serious by God. In the passage we started with, God answers Moses by saying “I WILL” six times. What an amazing foundation for a promise when the I AM says I WILL!! Every hungry heart shall be filled. Every longing soul will be rewarded. If this present generation will depart from sin and sanctify themselves, God will pour out the fullness of his glory on them.
Will you allow your life to be the lightening rod that channels God's glory to the world you live in? He seeks not a temple made with hands but rather a heart prepared by His Holiness to instill his Glory in.
