Sustaining Exceeding Glory 1

SUSTAINING EXCEEDING GLORY

LEVITICUS 6:12-13

‘And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereon, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt-offering in order upon it, and shall burn thereon the fat of the peace-offerings.’ Fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually; it shall not go out.’

The encounter with the God of glory makes the difference in the life of a man. When the shekinah glory is revealed to a person , it brings total transformation. Saul encountered the God of glory on his way to Damascus, his name was changed and the passion for life shifted in the right direction. When prophet Elisha who was a rich farmer met with the God of glory, he ended his farming career and discovered his true identity and purpose – the prophet of God.

Sustain – means to keep from falling or from going off or dying. We must guard our light from the destructive wind blowing across in this perilous time. To encourage the brightness of the light or glory in us, we must keep doing the following:

DEAL WITH PRIDE AND ITS APPEARANCES: Proverbs 16:18 ‘Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall’.

Pride can be in the mind or already displayed outwardly. Pride is a destroyer and has rendered many Christians frustrated and without purpose. It separates us from God and can ruin a person. Pride still remains one major qualification to enrol in Satan’s school of ministry. Hear what Lucifer said in Isaiah 14:14, ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ Pride made men of old desire and work towards what I call ‘a foolish coup’, in Genesis 11:3-4, ‘And they said one to another, Come, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, Come, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.’ Men began a fruitless journey to reach the throne of heaven in other to overthrow the government of God and establish the human government opposing the will of God. They attack the total will of God for man and God who remains the Almighty scattered their plans.

DON’T BE SLOTHFUL: Romans 12:11 ‘in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord’.

Being a Christian and a person of faith is not a license to be lady in business, prayer, word and evangelism and among others. Do not be lazy in any way – keep yourself active, aflame and let your zeal keep firing as you serve the Lord. Serve like you have never served. Discover more areas to serve the Lord, knowing that the reward is with the Master- Jesus Christ waiting at the field of our assignments. Reject to be possessed or influenced by the Spirit of Gehazi – 2 kings 5:15-27. Prophet Elijah had a servant that could not succeed him, this was because of wrong attitude and not because he lacked anointing.

FOLLOW THE PATH OF SUCCESS: Hebrews 13:7 ‘Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.’, Hebrews 6:12 ‘that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.’

There are those whom God has placed in our lives as a life compass – to enable us get to our desired expectations so we have to follow them, whether in ministry and business etc. We are to imitate the faith that worked for our Christian parents who ran this race successfully. If their kind of faith worked, then when you imitate it, it will definitely work because it is a success pattern. As a minister that desires the grace of God on your spiritual parent, never be in a hurry to rush out from the man. No man can actually empty himself by one touch on your head – it calls for followership. Follow to receive the best of the gift upon your life. There is always the spirit that leads every leader. Humble yourself.

BE FULL OF FAITH: Ephesians 6:16 ‘withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one’, Hebrews 11:1 ‘Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.’

Faith is a shield – if you want it to work for you, you must carry it about like a shield because that is what it is. To protect yourself from destruction and give you victory daily you have to be full of faith. When you drop your faith, discouragement sets in. Faith does not fail if applied as led by God. The glory of God is sustained by faith in the Lord, the journey might look strenuous sometimes but keep your faith strong by the renewal of your mind with the word of God - this baptizes with the Spirit of faith that commands possibilities. Alleluia