Receive the glory! by James Lantz
Perhaps you, like me, grew up hearing that God does not share His glory with anyone. It certainly is true that God does not accept those who worship other gods. The very first commandment says we are not to have any other gods before Him. Judges 10:13&14 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. The prophet Isaiah makes it real plain that God will not share His glory with another god. Isaiah 42:8 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. We (the church) are a part of God’s glory and He will not share us with another. (Isaiah 43:7 & 1 Cor. 11:7 & Eph. 1:18 1 John 2:15) The New testament teaches that being a friend of the world (Bablyonian system) is to be an enemy of God.
God’s plan has always been for His man to share in His glory, ruling and reigning under His authority! Heb. 2:7&8 Thou madest him a little (while) 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. The glory of God can only rest on a righteous person. It was because of sin that the glory departed from Adam and Eve. Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Enoch was gloriously translated! Noah received a glorious word that he and his family would be spared if they would build the ark. Abraham and Sarah experienced the glory of God in Sarah’s pregnancy at ninety years of age. Moses released the glory of God with his rod. The people of God saw Moses face shining after he came from the presence of the God on the mountain.
Greater glory is for this present ministration of the Spirit!
The glory of God was manifested in David’s life in overcoming the Lord’s enemies and bringing him into his God ordained place as the king of Israel. Again and again the glory of God would protect, empower, heal, enlighten, and deliver God’s people who trusted Him. It was because of righteousness that God was able to bring His glory back upon His man. The old covenant saints were counted righteous through faith in what Christ was about to do for them. God counted it as done the moment Jesus committed to becoming our sacrifice for sin. However, they did have to wait until Christ was raised from the dead before they could be baptized into the body of Christ. As soon as Jesus offered himself up as the sacrificial lamb and met God’s demands for justice by suffering three days and nights in hell, God raised him from the dead. Jesus took the keys of hell and death and proceeded to Abraham’s bosom to lead the old covenant saints on up to heaven. (Luke 16:23 & Eph. 4:8) 1 Pet. 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. God has chosen to share His glory with His family who have covenanted with Him through the Lordship of Jesus Christ! The glory that Adam lost has been restored through Jesus Christ, the second Adam. John 17:22&23 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.The man, Christ Jesus, wants you to receive his glory!
The glory of God includes God’s manifested presence, God’s manifested goodness, and God’s manifested power! God gave a list of things that He wanted Moses , Aaron, and His people to do and then He would manifest Himself to all of them at the door of the tabernacle. Lev. 9:23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. Salvation, Baptism in the the Holy Ghost, healing, protection, abundance, and every promise of God is ours through Christ because of God’s goodness. For us to receive the life of God and be made a new creature in Christ is awesome. It is God’s glory upon us that makes us vessels of mercy prepared unto good works. Healing is a manifestation of God’s goodness. Jesus touched Peter’s mother in law’s hand and the fever left her. Every believer is authorized to lay hands on the sick just like Jesus did. Mark 16:17&18 And these signs shall follow them that believe . . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Laban’s sons referred to Jacob’s new found wealth as him taking their father’s glory. Gen. 31:1 And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory. that was
Jacob prospered greatly when he received God’s wisdom!
our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory. Jesus spoke of Solomon’s wisdom and wealth as being glorious. Mt. 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Yes, being rich is a manifestation of glory! God wants all of his children to have abundance! (Acts 4:34 & 1 Tim. 6:17&18) 2 Cor. 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: Motives and the condition of our heart, our thoughts, words, seeking first the kingdom of God, and our sowing are major ingredients to our prosperity! God manifest His power for His people and for those who need to hear about Him! God raised Pharaoh to a position of great political power knowing that he would not yield to His authority so that the whole world would hear about His great power. Ex. 9:16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. Jesus referred to raising Lazarus from the dead as seeing the glory of God. John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? God is looking for a people who believe Him! God inhabits the praises of His people! Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness! People who walk by how they feel refuse to praise God until they feel better. We who walk by faith step out in faith praising and singing praises to God. Paul and Silas walked and lived the Spirit filled life. When they were thrown into prison for casting a demon out of a girl they knew what to do. They were beaten with many stripes and their feet were in stocks but they began to praise God and the power (glory) of God showed up. Acts 16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. You can actually praise and thank God in faith and receive deliverance from any problem! 1 Cor. 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Receive the glory of God!
