“The Church in Glory”
By
District Elder M.L. Maughmer, Jr
The third phase of the metamorphosis of the church is the final phase in our series and that phase is “The Church in Glory”. We must remember that the church goes through three distinct phases.
1.) The Church in the mind of God (Embryotic Phase)
2.) The Church in the World (Maturation Phase)
3.) The Church in Glory (Destiny)
The third phase – The Church in Glory is an awesome picture that when thought upon in the minds of each individual will produce exceeding great joy down in the depths of ones soul.
The Church in Glory as we stated is Destiny. DESTINY: a predetermined and expected end or result the Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”.
Contrary to popular belief your destiny is not to be a super star, it is not to be a millionaire, it is not to be famous and have prestige, these are blessings and rewards that qualify in part as life more abundantly, but not destiny because destiny is the expected end God has for you, which is the eternal purpose.
As you will recall from the first lesson, The Church in the mind of God, we stated that the beginning of anything started in the mind of the creator. We used the example If you were to make a cake or build a bench before you get the box or the wood you have decided in your mind what you wanted and the purpose that you wanted it for. The beginning started in your mind, everything else is steps in the process to bring what started in your mind into fruition. Therefore, WATCH THIS, I have in my mind decided what I want, how I was going to have what I wanted, the steps to get that which I wanted, and the purpose I wanted it for. Therefore the beginning is literally in the mind of the creator. Since the mind is the beginning of the process and the purpose is decided in the mind before the steps in the process start then the church was in the mind of God before the foundation of the world. Once that which I thought out in my mind is brought into fruition (complete) it has reached that which it was intended for it to be. Therefore the church in Glory literally is that which has reached what God had originally thought in His mind before the foundation of the world.
The Bible says in 1st Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him”. We can only imagine what lies ahead for the church in glory, but what we are only able to imagine is what God had in mind for the church.
The word “Glory” according to the dictionary is praise, honor, or distinction extended by common consent, worshipful praise, and thanksgiving, something that secures praise or renown, a distinguished quality or asset, a state of great gratification or exaltation, a height of prosperity or achievement.
The distinguished quality is the character that separated the church in the world from all other forms of perpetrated truth and caused the church to be effective in the world while working for the eternal purpose of God.
The church in Glory is the fulfillment of the eternal purpose of God. Ephesians 3:11 says “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Hebrews 2:10 says “For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” 1st John 3:8 says “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil”.
This purpose is carried out by the church in the world. It is what was in the mind of God for the church before the foundation of the world. Remember the Church in the mind of God is to be an unstoppable force that razes hell, preaches the gospel to the poor; heals the brokenhearted, preaches deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised to reconcile man back into a proper relationship with God bringing many sons unto glory not to judge the world yet and condemn them for the Bible says “not imputing their trespasses unto them” but bring into a proper reconciled relationship.
Once the church has fulfilled the eternal purpose of God it receives it reward. Paul said 2Ti 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing”. The only ones that love His appearing is the church.
The church in this final phase experiences a wonderful metamorphosis before it is truly in glory.
Remember METAMORPHOSES: is a change of physical form, structure, or substance especially by supernatural means, a striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances, a marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of something.
1st Corinthians 15:52-55 says “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we (The Church) shall be changed (metamorphosis). For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory”. 1Jo 3:2 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is”.
We shall be like him: this is glorified.
Once we have (the church) has been glorified after it fulfills the eternal purpose of God. The church will then enter glory.
What exactly is the church in glory? The church in glory is those that had been reconciled back into a proper relationship with God, had their sins forgiven, and washed in the blood of the lamb. They have been filled with the Holy Ghost, they have fought a good fight, kept the faith, received their crown of righteousness from the Lord the righteous judge. Now they are in a state of great gratification or exaltation, a height of prosperity or achievement in the presence of the Lord where there is the fullness of joy.
Because they have fulfilled the eternal purpose of God, they have gone through the metamorphosis from being in the mind of God, through being effective in the world, and now have obtained glory, they tell the angels, which day and night cry Holy, Holy, Holy to step back, they open their mouths and begin to give the sacrifice of praise and sign a song the angels are not able to sing, “Redeemed my soul has been redeemed”.
SUMMARY: In the beginning, which is in the mind of God, He had a purpose for mankind, which was to give Him glory on earth and have his will be done here as it was in heaven. God knew that man would fall breaking that relationship between God and man. He knew that the only way for man to be reconciled back into a proper relationship with Him was going to be through the pure blood of Jesus Christ. God knew because He is omniscient that He would have a church and commission them with the purpose of reconciling man back to Him through Jesus Christ.
He revealed His plan and purpose to the disciples at Caesarea Philippi, commissioned them at Bethany (Luke 24:50) and started the church on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem (Acts 2). Although the disciple have died and gone on into glory the work of the Church continues still today.
God intended for the church to be effective in the world and to illuminate the way back into a proper relationship with Him, which is bring many sons unto glory.
Once the church has fulfilled the eternal purpose of God and man has had the opportunity to chose rather or not they will serve the Lord. God will bring to fruition that which He had in His mind before the foundation of the world.
District Elder Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
Assistant Pastor
O.G.C.O.G.I.C
Boanerge Ministries.
www.boanergeministries.com
