Ian Johnson April 2006 www.papelim.org.nz
1 Peter 4: 13-14
13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
“For the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you”
It’s an established fact, The Spirit of God and the Spirit of Glory rest on you! Many times we don’t see the manifestation of it because our eyes are focused on this present suffering.
But Peter declares “REJOICE” not because of the suffering, but because Glory is about to be revealed.
I love the story of the African American preacher speaking on Good Friday saying
“Yes it’s Friday and Christ suffered on the cross, but Sunday’s a coming and he will surely raise us up!”
ROMANS 8:11
11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you.
The Glory of the New Covenant 1 CORINTHIANS 3:7-18
7 That old system of law etched in stone led to death, yet it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8 Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory when the Holy Spirit is giving life? 9 If the old covenant, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new covenant, which makes us right with God! 10 In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new covenant. 11 So if the old covenant, which has been set aside, was full of glory, then the new covenant, which remains forever, has far greater glory.
12 Since this new covenant gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory fading away. 14 But the people’s minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.
16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. 17 Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. 18 And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect* the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.
We are called to reflect the Glory of the Lord as we allow the Spirit of the Lord to work within us!
Many have seen the transforming power of the risen Christ in a measure, but there is much more! More Glory yet to be revealed
Church can become very one dimensional in the Spirit, focusing on healing or deliverance, some focus totally on counsel or on the gifts of the Spirit, all these things are good and very much part of God’s plan but they are only part of the bigger picture. God is multi-dimensional and His Church is meant to reflect this.
I can’t doubt the things the Spirit of the Lord has worked in my life over the years. The transforming power of the risen Christ..
I have seen and experienced amazing healings, Salvation so rich and free, I have seen visions and been given dreams. I have heard the audible voice of the Lord, Seen signs in the sky and in the earth. I have seen manifestations of His Spirit and signs and wonders following the preaching of the word, and yet I know that there is a glory coming that will bring transformation not just to individuals but to entire nations!
This transforming Glory is such that it will reveal the seven Spirits of God as seen by John in the book of Revelation, and release HIM into the Earth. The whole purpose of Jesus coming was to save us of course, but also to restore the relationship that God had with Man and the Earth as seen in Genesis with Adam. “The Lord walked with Adam in the cool of the day”
REV 1:4
4 This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit* before his throne; 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the commander of all the rulers of the world.
REV 4:5
5 And from the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven lampstands with burning flames. They are the seven spirits* of God.
The sevenfold Spirit of God mentioned in Revelation are described in full in the book of Isaiah Chapter 11.
ISAIAH 11:1-2
There ashall come forth a 1Rod from the 2stem of bJesse, And ca Branch shall 3grow out of his roots. 2 dThe Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
He is:
1) The Spirit of the Lord. YWAH
2) The Spirit of Wisdom
3) The Spirit of understanding
4) The Spirit of Counsel
5) The Spirit of Might (or Power)
6) The Spirit of Knowledge
7) The Spirit of the fear of the Lord.
So in the Release of Glory we see The Sevenfold Spirit of the Lord released.
When He comes He bursts into History and transforms as He did in Acts 2. This is the very Spirit of YWAH and all the attributes of the Godhead are manifest in His appearing.
Holiness is released into the Earth and where there is holiness there is transformation, Transformation is a hall mark of Glory.
The thing that strikes me about the true holiness of God manifest is that all who see it fall down and worship. There are no words that can be spoken, no programs that can emulate it, No men who can present it, The Holiness of God and the Sprit of the Lord bring true worship. The type that falls down and is lost for words!
There is always creativity in the air when the Spirit of the Lord is present. Genesis through to Revelation is marked by the Spirit of the Lord we shouldn’t be surprised when creativity is released in the Glory. He has never stopped creating and he loves to reveal the throne room and all the creative wonders found there, to all who seek Him
The Spirit of Wisdom is released when the Glory is revealed. Men crave wisdom but very few possess it! The Glory which is His manifest presence revealed unlocks wisdom. As it says in Colossians 2
2 My goal is that they will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have full confidence because they have complete understanding of God’s secret plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
I watch in wonder as people go from place to place seeking the wisdom of God, but few seek to be intimate with Jesus and to tap into the glory that releases true wisdom. There is a move amongst the Church to proclaim human wisdom and we pat ourselves on the back and say “Such wise teaching” but we don’t experience the ALL wisdom that is found only in Jesus We would be better taking a year to stare into the heart of Jesus than to study in the finest Bible college if we are to truly experience this Glory. This type of wisdom is what will transform cities and nations! Its what men crave for but are unable to find. What inspired Peter to stand up on the day of Pentecost and speak forth wisdom? It was of course the Spirit of Wisdom as revealed in Jesus!
How amazing it is that we forget that the God who is all Knowing and is the Alpha & Omega has within Him all wisdom. In this Glory there are wonders of wisdom yet to be unlocked and released into the Earth.
How many of us look Blankley into the sky and say Ï don’t understand” The Glory of the Sevenfold Spirit of God brings understanding.
This understanding is many fold also. It is an understanding of the nature of God. An understanding of the Word. An understanding of the times and seasons. An understanding of the Body of Christ and our calling. But it is also an understanding of others around us, released by this Glory. Unity brings an understanding of the importance of others in the Body.
I long for the day when the Apostolic model revealed by the Lord is again restored. When there is understanding between ministries. The Prophet accepts the call of the Evangelist and the Pastor the Teacher all flow and function accepting with understanding that each has a major role to play in maturing the body. One cannot exist without the other. This level of understanding releases a command of blessing (Psalm 133). One unusual sign we have seen is the oil that ran down the walls in the hall where 14 Pastors came to an agreement, or if you like an understanding of unity, The Spirit of understanding released a blessing into that meeting that caused a Physical manifestation. You will never convince me from that Day that unity is not important. May He release the Spirit of understanding over you as well today!
The world skips from one thing to another in order to find answers, but we have the Spirit of Counsel. There is a measure of counsel coming in the Glory that hasn’t been seen since the time of Jesus. I love the way the Bible says things like “They were astounded at His teaching” or “They marvelled at His wisdom seeing as though he was only 12 years old”.
We were recently challenged by a group of Clairvoyants who met at a hall near us; Many flocked to hear a word of counsel from the “Other side” the truth is that the Spirit of counsel has the full counsel of God. What more could we want. The world is hungry for a release of this glory! The release is coming, where men will call out show me your God!
To may the Church is seen as a powerless organisation but in reality the Spirit of Might is being released upon the Church in greater measure as we seek him. I love the Power demonstrations of the Holy Spirit, but they are not just for my pleasure, more they are a release of Glory for harvest. The Spirit of Might has parted the Red Sea, destroyed the wall of Jericho, delivered the Hebrews in the fiery furnace, saved Daniel from the Lions jaws, opened the prison doors for Paul and Silas, Calmed the sea. Healed the sick, delivered the oppressed and overcome the Devil at Calvary. Why is it that so many religious people want to believe that the Spirit of might has now gone on Holiday? He still wants to shake the Prison, scatter the enemy, heal the sick and raise the dead. In recent revivals the wind of the Spirit of Might has entered the building and shaken the religious made set out of town! Oh for a release of this glory in New Zealand.
With a release of the Sevenfold Spirit of God comes a fresh wave of revelation, every move of God releases revelation, why? Because the Spirit of Knowledge brings a wave of revelation. Martin Luther saw a release of Justification, The Anabaptists released Baptism by immersion. Wesley saw a move of Holiness in the streets. The Welsh revival & Azusa Street saw baptism of the Holy Spirit. Toronto saw the Fathers heart and a new wave of Glory brings with it fresh Manna from heaven, don’t limit God or put Him in a doctrinal box but seek a release of the Spirit of Knowledge.
Many of the recent Glory meetings we have seen have released the Spirit of the fear of the Lord Transformation doesn’t come without a healthy fear of God! In a meeting we were in at Helensvale Queensland last year, a young boy was caught up into a heavenly vision. When He returned he had a word for 3 people straight from the throne room of God. Where the Spirit of the fear of the Lord is released from. I want to tell you that this measure of Glory brings instant change and fear. The word fear can also be translated “Terror” or dread. When Pentecost came it says and the fear of the Lord descended upon the people and they cried, brothers what must we do to be saved!
The truth is, if we continue in our single dimensional approach we won’t see transformation, but if we release the Glory of God through the Sevenfold Spirit of God, (multi-dimensional) Transformation will come. The problem for the Church is that a manifestation of the multi-dimensional Glory of God blows our programs to bits. When God is in Charge the action is more than mans control can handle.
We need to make a choice! Do we want to continue Church and business as usual or do we want to risk a release of the Sevenfold Spirit of the Living God. If we want transformation we have no choice! Only the Glory of God brings transformation!
Remember the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you” He will move in transformation Glory if we give him room to move. The Church in New Zealand has hardly touched the edges of this multi-dimensional glory of God. There are manifestations in part in many places in our nation, but we are yet to see a full blown nation changing glory filled revival of the Sevenfold Spirit of God!
Our cry in this nation “Send us your Glory Lord”
