Dear Saints who pray:
Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3
In the last two lessons, we have learned that all of the preparations that God has made in our lives are for this special season on earth just prior to the tribulation.
The Church will function at its rightful place in the fullness of authority and power before we are called up.
Your years of study, hearing and obeying have this result: being changed into His image from glory to glory. Why? So that He might present the church to Himself as the Glorious Church. Ephesians 5:27
What is a glorious church full of? Glory!
What is glory? Look in the mirror!
"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."
2 Corinthians 3:18
"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27
"And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him." Exodus 34:35
"… and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory…" Romans 9:23
"…but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord…"
Numbers 14:21
Citizens of Heaven
Do we have something to do with The Church being transformed into His glory or is it automatic just because we are born again?
We absolutely have something to do with it! How can light shine through dirty vessels?
Paul gave us this instruction:
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
"looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
"who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." Titus 2:11-14
The Glory vs. Ichabod
I can still remember the feeling I had the first time I read the tragic story of Eli, his two sons and his daughter-in-law:
"Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her.
"And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, 'Do not fear, for you have borne a son.' But she did not answer, nor did she regard it.
"Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, 'The glory has departed from Israel!' because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
"And she said, 'The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.'"
1 Samuel 4:19-22. Read chapters 4 through 7.
Definition of Ichabod: there is no glory; inglorious
It was devastating to Israel to have known God’s Presence and then to have that glory removed. We see that what happened to Israel also happened personally to Eli and to his family. But really, the removal of the ark of the Lord was an illustration of what had already been taking place in the hearts of God's people as they went after other gods to worship them. 1 Samuel 7:3
Although we are living in an appointed time for the outpouring of God’s Spirit through a Glorious Church, we are also living in times where the strong lure of worldliness and sin are not only corrupting the lost but also trapping uncommitted Christians into a dangerous web of deception and destruction.
The thief is out to steal God’s glory, Saints. When Adam lost the glory in the garden, he was left unclothed, vulnerable and in terrible fear. We cannot play around with things that steal “who we are in Christ” anymore. Make a renewed commitment to the Lord to seek Him more. One very good habit is to begin your day, before doing anything else, praying in the Spirit for even just 15 minutes.
Chart your course by engaging your mouth and your spirit to the Holy Spirit.
The Glorious Church is being separated for glory and about to exhibit her Savior to the world in a profound way. But like Jesus said, not all who call me Lord, Lord shall enter the Kingdom.
"Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" Matthew 7:21-23
The Glorious Church is holy and without blemish.
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-17
Tragically, when we see whole denominations change doctrine to line up with sinful ways and philosophies “look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." Luke 21:28
"Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (From the parable of the Tares—Matthew 13:43.)
What are we to do Lord? Be about our Father’s business!
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
"and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen." Matthew 28:19-20
Pray for your state:
The Church—The Lost—Elected Leaders
Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3
In the last two lessons, we have learned that all of the preparations that God has made in our lives are for this special season on earth just prior to the tribulation.
The Church will function at its rightful place in the fullness of authority and power before we are called up.
Your years of study, hearing and obeying have this result: being changed into His image from glory to glory. Why? So that He might present the church to Himself as the Glorious Church. Ephesians 5:27
What is a glorious church full of? Glory!
What is glory? Look in the mirror!
"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."
2 Corinthians 3:18
"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27
"And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him." Exodus 34:35
"… and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory…" Romans 9:23
"…but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord…"
Numbers 14:21
Citizens of Heaven
Do we have something to do with The Church being transformed into His glory or is it automatic just because we are born again?
We absolutely have something to do with it! How can light shine through dirty vessels?
Paul gave us this instruction:
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
"looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
"who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." Titus 2:11-14
The Glory vs. Ichabod
I can still remember the feeling I had the first time I read the tragic story of Eli, his two sons and his daughter-in-law:
"Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her.
"And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, 'Do not fear, for you have borne a son.' But she did not answer, nor did she regard it.
"Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, 'The glory has departed from Israel!' because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
"And she said, 'The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.'"
1 Samuel 4:19-22. Read chapters 4 through 7.
Definition of Ichabod: there is no glory; inglorious
It was devastating to Israel to have known God’s Presence and then to have that glory removed. We see that what happened to Israel also happened personally to Eli and to his family. But really, the removal of the ark of the Lord was an illustration of what had already been taking place in the hearts of God's people as they went after other gods to worship them. 1 Samuel 7:3
Although we are living in an appointed time for the outpouring of God’s Spirit through a Glorious Church, we are also living in times where the strong lure of worldliness and sin are not only corrupting the lost but also trapping uncommitted Christians into a dangerous web of deception and destruction.
The thief is out to steal God’s glory, Saints. When Adam lost the glory in the garden, he was left unclothed, vulnerable and in terrible fear. We cannot play around with things that steal “who we are in Christ” anymore. Make a renewed commitment to the Lord to seek Him more. One very good habit is to begin your day, before doing anything else, praying in the Spirit for even just 15 minutes.
Chart your course by engaging your mouth and your spirit to the Holy Spirit.
The Glorious Church is being separated for glory and about to exhibit her Savior to the world in a profound way. But like Jesus said, not all who call me Lord, Lord shall enter the Kingdom.
"Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" Matthew 7:21-23
The Glorious Church is holy and without blemish.
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-17
Tragically, when we see whole denominations change doctrine to line up with sinful ways and philosophies “look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." Luke 21:28
"Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (From the parable of the Tares—Matthew 13:43.)
What are we to do Lord? Be about our Father’s business!
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
"and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen." Matthew 28:19-20
Pray for your state:
The Church—The Lost—Elected Leaders