When the Glory Falls!

In the forty plus years that I have come into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, I have experienced many great services. There were times when I felt like I was in a service that I hoped would never end, that we would all be translated into heaven where the glory that I felt would go on forever. It is at those times that I know that I really can leave this earth when its’ time and joyfully enter into the eternal presence of the Lord where there will be continual praising and worshipping God! Now I have to admit that though this has not been my experience at every service, the ones where I felt it have kept me pressing for more – and yet how do you receive God’s glory? What makes the glory fall? The unmistakable presence of God among His people – worship that makes your heart leap for joy – love that exudes from breast to breast – intimacy with the Father and kinship among the brethren – we all want it, but most of us don’t have a clue as to how to get it!

One of my favorite scriptures in all the Bible is found is 2 Peter 1:3:

3According 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:

The Father Himself has not only give us ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS – but HE has also CALLED US TO GLORY AND VIRTUE! He gives and He equips! I always say to new believers, “you can’t lose with the One I use (Jesus!).”
God has not only put us on a winning team, He has given us a winning strategy to keep on winning!

If we keep on reading in 2 Thessalonians 2: 13-17, we find that this “glory” is an expected part of the salvation packet:

13-14Meanwhile, we’ve got our hands full continually thanking God for you, our good friends—so loved by God! God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God’s original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth. This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ.
15-17So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech. (MSG)

Some additional thoughts to meditate on concerning the glory can be found in Ephesians 1:17-19 (KJV):

17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

If just these scriptures are God’s Will for us, (and there are many, many more) – than why don’t we experience the “glory” more? What is holding us back? More on that – tomorrow…

Maria