But
if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so
that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for
the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not
the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of
condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed
in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect,
by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was
glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have
such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail
over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end
of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day
remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which
vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the
vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail
shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the
Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass
the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory,
even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 KJV
There is a Transforming Glory available to the saint of God
through the Spirit of God!
There is a glory
available to the saints of God that the Israelites did not experience.
Theirs was the
ministration of death. Ours is the ministration of the Spirit!
Theirs was the
ministration of condemnation. Ours is the ministration of righteousness.
That which they had was
done away, it faded! Ours remain steadfast and enduring!
That was reflected glory
but ours is a radiating, excelling glory!
There is a change that
comes as we behold the glory of The Lord. From glory to glory!
Face Time with God
brings transformation into His likeness and the revelation of His glory.
Peter reminds us that we are called unto glory!
Grace
and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our
Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain
unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to
glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:2-4 KJV
This glory was manifested in the Son!
God,
who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers
by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he
hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being
the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding
all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins,
sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:1-3 KJV
This
beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his
glory; and his disciples believed on him. John 2:11 KJV
John writes: And the Word was made 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. John 1:14 KJV
It's that glory which once crowned man!
But
one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of
him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower
than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over
the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.
For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put
under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus,
who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned
with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every
man. 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. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified
are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church
will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again,
Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the
children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part
of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of
death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all
their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:6-15 KJV
When
I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which
thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of
man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the
angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Psalms 8:3-5 KJV
Man lost that glory through disobedience to the Word of God!
And
the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they
sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice
of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his
wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the
garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was
naked; and I hid myself. Genesis 3:7-10 KJV
The moment their eyes
were opened is the moment they were also blinded!
Their eyes were opened
to themselves, and the physical, but were blinded to God and spiritual things.
They became more aware
of themselves, and less aware of God.
They looked out for
themselves and hid themselves from God.
The new found revelation
found them exposed, and had them hiding from God.
Carnal man avoids the
presence of God, and is uncomfortable in the presence of God.
Carnal man offers all
excuses for staying away from the presence of The Lord.
Carnal man remains
unyielding in the presence of God.
Carnal man consistently justifies
his actions by selfish reasoning and fleshly feelings.
Pleasantness, goodness
and essential for life become logical explanations for doing your own thing.
And when the
woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the
eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof,
and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Genesis 3:6 KJV
Pleasantness, goodness and essential for life
become logical explanations for doing your own thing.
For all
that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:16 KJV
Self justification
brings blindness to the Word of God.
Continual looking at the
forbidden, and continual gazing on that which God forbids, make it seems
reasonable, justified and acceptable.
Hearts become darkened
when minds reason in the fleshly realm.
Over the years man has
become extremely clever and cunning in covering up his shame and nakedness! The
sophisticated covering-up by modern man however, is just as flimsy as the
emergency quick-fix fig leaves fitted on by Adam and Eve. Despite all the facade
carnal man remains at enmity with God!
For
they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that
are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is
death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind
is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed
can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in
the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now
if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:5-9 KJV
However as children of
God, we have God's Spirit dwelling in us! Therefore we have the capacity to
please God! If we would allow the Spirit
to have His way, we will be changed from glory to glory! I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to
this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
KJV
As we personally pursue His presence we will behold
His glory!
Under the Old Covenant Ark
represented the presence and glory of God. The Israelites were instructed to
follow the Ark only when it was moved at God's command. Similarly we come into
God's presence, not only to worship Him, but to follow where He leads! Jesus'
glory is the glory of the Only begotten of the Father. When we worship Him we
should be prepared to follow in the direction He leads. We should not take it
upon ourselves to go where we feel like going. When we move in mere form and ritual, without His presence,
the enemy will call our bluff! Israel thought they could control God's glory by
moving with the ark into battle, but were dreadfully disappointed and
devastatingly defeated.
And
the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and
there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also,
Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. And it came to
pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat
backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was
an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. And his daughter
in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she
heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and
her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon
her. And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her,
Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she
regard it. And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from
Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her
husband. And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is
taken. 1 Samuel 4:17-22 KJV
We do not use the ark as
a fetish, or object of good luck to achieve our own selfish and personal
desires. It will backfire on us! If we wish to please God, and desire to remain
in His Presence we should follow His
ways!
And
David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which
belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth
between the cherubims, whose name is called on it. And they carried the ark of
God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the
cart. And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with
singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with
cymbals, and with trumpets. And when they came unto the threshingfloor of
Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. And the
anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put
his hand to the ark: and there he died before God. And David was displeased,
because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called
Perezuzza to this day. And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall
I bring the ark of God home to me? 1 Chronicles 13:6-12 KJV
In 1 Samuel 6:7-21 KJV
the Philistines sent the ark back to Israel on a cart. We should not imitate
the Philistines, so we do not carry the ark of God on ox-drawn carts like the
philistines. We carry the Ark of God in the way God directed. The weight of His glory must rest on the
shoulders of His priests, not borne by manmade contrivances, or worldly devices,
or human inventions.
And
David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of
God, and pitched for it a tent. Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of
God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and
to minister unto him for ever. And David gathered all Israel together to
Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had
prepared for it. And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites: Of
the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty: Of
the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty:
Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty:
Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred: Of
the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore: Of the sons of
Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve. And David
called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah,
and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, And said unto them, Ye are the
chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your
brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place
that I have prepared for it. For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD
our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.
So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the
LORD God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon
their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the
word of the LORD. 1 Chronicles 15:1-15 KJV
We are a nation of
priests. We have been recreated in His image, to bear His glory.
But
ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but
are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained
mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10 KJV
John
to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him
which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which
are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and
the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto
him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made
us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:4-6 KJV
Our instruments, and forms, and rituals,
and song lists, and orders of service, and homiletics do not bear His glory,
and are just the means to an end, not the end itself! We must be prepared to
drop everything when His Glory appears. We must be ready to follow His Glory,
for it is His service, His Church, His people and He is Sovereign! Disconnected
leadership occurs when we persist in following our own order of worship and
service, after God shows up to lead us. Disconnected leadership feels a sense
of security in planned programs, and fear what may seem like being off track.
However it is not really off track, but more often it is that we are stuck in a
rut. The longer we move in the rut, the deeper it becomes, and the harder it is
to get out. How serious it is to consider things
pertaining to the Lord. God has not changed! We are saved by His grace, but we
should not presume too much! In worshiping God, we should be willing and prepared to step out
of the boat when He commands us to!
The Westminster Catechism
first question is: What is the chief and highest end of man? And the
answer given is: Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to
enjoy him forever.
Christ is in us, the
hope of glory! As we allow the well to spring up within us, His glory is
revealed. We do not need to walk around with
buckets when the well is inside us. We do not have to walk around with buckets
looking for a well to get our daily or weekly fix! There is a well which requires that you let
down a bucket and then wind it up to draw out some water. That takes effort and
requires work. There is another type of well where the water just springs up,
and keeps on flowing. The well in us is like that artesian well...don't cap it!
And
Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and
thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I
know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I
pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I
may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this
nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I
will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me,
carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people
have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall
we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face
of the earth. And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou
hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And
he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my
goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before
thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on
whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall
no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and
thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth
by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my
hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my
back parts: but my face shall not be seen. Exodus 33:12-23 KJV
Moses asked God to show
him two things. His way and His glory. Moses wanted to know God's way in order
to know Him!
Someone said "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but
expecting different results." Sometimes we fail to understand or
appreciate that we need to get off our personal beaten track in order to
experience the presence of God. We need to turn aside from our usual routine if
we expect to hear from God. Moses discovered this.
Now
Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he
led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God,
even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire
out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with
fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and
see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he
turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and
said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. Exodus 3:1-4 KJV
People are in barred cells, locked
up in jails of spiritual origin. We need to set them free. How do we do that?
By taking sticks and other objects and poking them in the cells? By constantly
yelling at them for being locked up? Or do we set them free by breaking open
the prisons so that they can go free? How do we break open spiritual prisons?
The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel
to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance
to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them
that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18-19 KJV
Like Tim Hughes sings:
There must be more than this
O breath of God, come breath within
There must be more than this
Spirit of God we wait for You
Fill us anew we pray
Fill us anew we pray
Chorus:
Consuming fire Fan into flame
A passion for Your name
Spirit of God Fall in this place
Lord have Your way
Lord have Your way
With us
Come like a rushing wind
Clothe us with power from on high
Now set the captives free
Leave us abandoned to Your praise
Lord let Your glory fall
Lord let Your glory fall
© Tim Hughes
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