BEING PASSIONATE FOR GOD’S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES
The Glory Of God
If you read your Bible today – there is a very interesting passage about the presence of God.
I want you to go to Exodus 40:33-38.
Exod 40:34-38
34 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
36 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys.
37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up.
38 For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
(NKJ)
Moses had just been given detailed information on the building of the temple. Every thing was matriculously spoken to him by God. Then it was finished.
It was now time to enter the temple.
When the work of the temple was finished – they couldn’t enter the temple because a cloud (God’s glory) filled the temple.
Go with me to 2 Chronicles 5:11-14. We will see another passage that talks about the glory of God…
2 Chr 5:11-14
11 And it came to pass when the priests came out of the Most Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without keeping to their divisions),
12 and the Levites who were the singers, all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets--
13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever," that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud,
14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.
(NKJ)
One more passage… Exodus 33:1-33 (especially v.18)
In all these passages… you will see a common thread… notice the use of God’s “glory.”
Things took place when God’s glory was around.
God promises us that He will encircle us with His glory ? from the north, south, east, and the west.
Tonight I would like to share about the glory of God is our lives and how God desires for us to have more of His glory in our lives.
There are three things I would like to talk about:
1? The Meaning of God’s Glory
2? The Mention of God’s Glory in the Bible
3? The Manifestation of God’s glory in our lives today (or how… God wants to make His presence known in our lives today.)
I. MEANING
Two words help define the glory of God:
1? (Heb. Phaeim) ? presence of God, face(s) of God. This speaks of an intimacy with God.
Moses said in Exodus 33:15 ? "If your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here."
The plurality here could refer to the Trinity or the attributes of God.
2 ( Heb. Kabowd) - - "glory or weight.
Exo 40:34 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (NKJV)
Exodus 33:18/ 2 Chronicles 5:14
Romans 3:23 ? "All have sinned and have come short of (deficient) of God’s glory."
God is basically saying "I will bring my presence among you and my weight will be upon you. It will stamp upon you.
It is that which comes into our midst with such a force that it makes a mark upon everyone in that place."
So... glory has to do with countenance, sustenance, power, weight.
II. THE MENTION OF GLORY IN THE BIBLE AS A CONCEPT
1. Adam and Eve were clothed in the glory.
They did not know what their garments were made of.
Sin revealed their nakedness.
Romans 3:23 ? "For all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God."
2. God’s glory was then in the temple (tabernacle) –
God made a covenant with His people that His glory would rest there.
The priest fell under the power (weight) of God’s glory.
This was the first step to restoration after the fall of man. Man was looking for some way to remove that feeling of weight? less?ness.
God’s promise ? "I will dwell in your midst."
3. Isaiah 4:5?6
Isa 4:5 then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering.
Isa 4:6 And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.
This was a prophecy that whenever we meet in an assembly together that God’s glory would be prevalent.
4. Isaiah 60:1-7
Prophecy concerning the church age – V.1 "Arise, shine for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you."
5. John 1:14
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (NKJV)
6. Acts 2:4
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (NKJV)
? ?? ???????? ????This section will helThis glory spilled out to the church - A sign ? tongues of flames rested upon them. This was a token manifestation of God’s glory.
Now…We know the gift of glory is upon us. We know the grace of glory is with us. But to walk in obedience to glory is often another thing.
The increase of God’s glory in us can only be by the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit to free us from bondages we carry ? (flesh, fear, failure, success, the past, etc.)
This is elaborated in II Corinthians 3:4?11
2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (NKJV)
p SermonCent“Transformed” ? gr. metamorphis ? concept of a Catepillar and butterfly. There is an ongoing transformation taking place in us.
2 Cor 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
2 Cor 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (NKJV)
“glory” – gr. doxa – “splendor/ bright”
Back to Exodus 33. There are three key words:
1. v.5 ? "Obstinate ? (stiff?necked)
2. v.7 ? "Sought"
3. v.13 ? "Show" (know)
(These three words outline the pathway to glory)
Read vv.3?6 ? Basically it is saying here that God is calling us from the unworthy.
We know the word worthy relates to "worship" in the Bible. It also has to do with "weight."
Gr. ? oxios ? background has to do with the sustenance of a coin. (Coins that were minted without the technology of today. In those days just the handling of coins could wear it thin."
When a person would buy something ? their coins would be weighed and given their worth. Often they would be worth less because of their weight but not worthless (with no value).
The idea of glory is a reinvestment of our nature or being, with the intended worth that God wants for us.
To be refilled with glory does not require that you have a major sin in your life. Often times it is just the wear and tear of life which causes a thinness to come in.
God is calling us from anything that is unworthy (that which is not up to the full potential God has for our lives.)
God is calling us to Him to come away from everything that is shallow and shabby in comparison. God is calling us to come and be renewed.
Our problem is not walking in God’s glory or even not having a passion for it but failing to perceive where thinness has come in.
Many things crop up in our lives that are unworthy to God. The only way back to worthiness is to kneel in His presence and first confess that which is unworthy.
Look at vv. 5?6 ? We need to continually strip ourselves. Let us say "Search me and try my thoughts and see if there be any wicked ways in me."
We must be clothed again in renewal ? carefulness in speech, discipline, conduct, entertainment, speech, etc.
Vv. 7?11 ? An invitation to seek God’s glory (What takes place here is a very tender thing.
Notice that the tabernacle was outside the camp. It used to be inside. It was place outside as an invitation to all who were interested to go to the tent.
It was an invitation to come out to God’s glory. This speaks of DESIRE.
When people come from God’s glory there is a shinning as with Moses ? Exodus 34:29.
This invitation and response leads to an intimacy with God and His workings ? v. 13 ? "Show me Thy ways."
Do you have a desire to know God? To know His ways Do you want to line up with His will?
Notice that Moses is the first student of the glory to say "Show me Thy Glory."
Adam wore the glory of God and walked in it. Abraham followed and feared the glory. Jacob encountered the glory of as he wrestled all night with an angel.
All these men were in touch with the glory of God but it is only Moses who sought after the glory. He had a passion for it ? v.15. "If your presence won’t go with us we won’t go any further."
It is only in this sense that we will go from "glory to glory."
III. Manifestation of God’s Glory ? 33:20?23
Ephesians 5:27 ? "That He might present it (the church) to Himself , a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish."
Colossians 1:27 ? "...Christ in you is the hope of Glory..."
