His Divine Glory-Part 2: Brotherly Love

1. Virtue

2. Knowledge

3. Self-control

4. Steadfastness

5. Godliness

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The heart of man is a very special place. It’s the place where the thoughts of the soul’s mind and the feelings of the soul’s emotions mix together. The influencers are: the world, the flesh, the devil, or the Spirit of God. When we yield our will to these sources, we give permission for  something to take our heart and that thing becomes the object of our affection.

For the believer, the heart belongs to Jesus. Peter wrote:

1 Peter 3:15 KJV

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

The ESV says honor the Lord in your heart, but no, that’s not strong enough— sanctify the Lord in your heart! The heart belongs to Him. It’s His place, and He wants to speak to us this morning about our hearts and how we feel about others.

So the heart is the Lord’s place. It’s very special and it needs to be protected at all costs. If the heart is a house and regeneration of the Spirit is the renovation that allowed the Lord to move in, then the list that Peter instructed us to add are the furnishings, which will make our heart a comfortable place for the Lord to reside.

We have 2 left: brotherly kindness and Love

Brotherly Love

6. brotherly kindness/ affection- the love of the brethren, the Greek word…Philadelphia

Life is so busy and so hectic. We’re always running to the next place. There have been times in my Christian walk that I have felt anti-social, don’t want to be around people; worse, there have been times that I didn’t like church people. But according to the Book of Acts, Christianity has at its heart, the fellowship of the saints.

Acts 2:42

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

“But I don’t like people someone screams from the crowd!”

We have all been in that place, but it’s wrong. And anyone that thinks that fellowship with other Christians is always going to be smooth and not result in some conflict is delusional. It’s a family, have you never had conflict with your family? When Christianity is done properly, we don’t just look at others and their failures, we examine our own hearts to see what’s in there.

But that’s work, and I’m tired. Tell that to Jesus as He carries your death sentence up Calvary’s Hill.

A love for our brothers and sisters is a really big thing, as we will see from the scriptures.

And those are the two remaining furnishings brotherly love and God love

The Greek word for brotherly love or fondness is Philadelphia and is based off of two words philos and adelphos.

I mention the two different words that make up Philadelphia because the first word Phileo describes a love of great fondness and affection. One of the characteristics of Biblical Christianity is that there is care, concern, affection, LOVE for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

This Greek word Phileo makes a very familiar Bible story more interesting in the Greek than in English.

In the story that I’m referring to, Jesus has died on the cross and resurrected. During this same time frame Peter has fulfilled the prophecy of our Lord and has denied Him three times before the rooster crew. Now, he says, “I go fishing” Jesus is broiling fish on the beach and He cries out, “Do you have any fish?”

“No”

“Cast on the other side”

And the same thing happens that happened in the beginning. They have more fish than they can handle. He meets them in the end the same way He met them at the beginning. They were fishing for fish and He told them to follow Him and they would be fishers of men, and now, Peter’s failure has driven him to a place where he is running from the Lord and not fishing for men but has instead gone back to his previous life.

With the catch of fish, he realizes it’s Jesus. With his heart filled with joy, he rips off his outer garment and jumps into the sea and swims to shore. Once on shore, Jesus begins to speak as He is broiling the fish.

He asks Peter, “Simon Peter do you love me more than these?”

Whether He means the fish or the other disciples isn’t important. What’s important for this message are the words that are being used for love in this conversation, because these two words cover the last two things that the Lord through Peter is instructing us to supplement to our faith. These two words are Phileo and Agape.

We already defined Phileo. It’s defined by kindness, fondness and affection, and it’s where we build the word Philos- Adelphos, Philadelphia, brotherly love.

Agape- it is the God kind of love, a love that it is

sacrificial and recognizes the value of the object being loved.

1. So again, He asks Peter, “Simon Peter do you love (Agape) me more than these?”

“You know I phileo you Lord”

2. “Peter do you agape me?”

“You know I phileo you Lord!”

3. “Peter do you phileo me?”

“Do you really Peter? Do you really even phileo me? Do you care about me? Do you love me? Do you love me like a brother even? Because what I need you to do is to agape me. I need you to love me sacrificially and feed my sheep. I need you to understand the object of your love the way that I understand you as the object of my love—I laid my life down for you.”

7. Agape- a sacrificial love that recognizes the value of the object being loved.

The love of God is sacrificial. The love of God has attributed a value to the souls of humanity. The value He has attributed is the life and sacrifice of Jesus. “Peter do you agape me?”

The thought of these two words made me think of The prodigal son parable (Explain the story LK 15:16). It was already on my mind because I recently read it, but it’s a story of a Father’s love, but it’s also a story that contains two brothers; unfortunately, there is no Agape nor even any Phileo from one brother to the next.

And while I see that Father running as fast as his body can carry him to a lost son that was found, I also see in the distance, a brother, with his arms crossed and his brow furrowed and he is softly speaking to one of the servants as he gets the update on what is happening.

And then I’m reminded of the whole reason Jesus even told the story of the prodigal son…

Luke 15:1-2

1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

I believe as we read the gospels and see the Pharisees who were filled with envy, jealousy and even hate compared to Jesus who is filled with sacrificial love, we have to search our hearts and make sure that we are allowing the Holy Spirit to form Jesus in us and not allowing the remnants of our old man to remain and grow in us.

They murmured

Murmur

There is discontent, there is a grudge, there are feelings of ill will and frustration wrapped up in a murmur, and it’s described as a secret displeasure that is not openly avowed.

That’s not good because that is allowing the feelings of displeasure towards the brother or sister to gain strength and power and fester and turn into something that it wasn’t originally.

Throughout my years, I have observed an interesting thing. Even as a young boy, I have seen this and remember it well. That even the suggestion of hate causes people to rise in defense and say, “I don’t hate anyone.”

And while we say, “We don’t hate!” I wonder if we recorded our murmuring sessions and played them back if we would feel the same way about what was in our hearts after we heard a play back of what came out of our mouths?

I can’t shake those words Jesus spoke a couple Wednesdays ago when He addressed the Pharisees:

Matthew 12:33-37

33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

And I think of love vs hate and Biblical encouragement vs murmuring, and I think about brotherly love, and even more… Agape love…a love that is sacrificial, a love that understands the value of the object being loved.

1. John 13:34

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

2. John 13:35

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

3. 1 John 4:20-21

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Detest-to hate; dislike extremely:

Do you phileo me Peter? I mean, I hear what you’re saying, but what you’re saying now is not the same as what you said then when you denied me 3 different times and even cursed once in reference to your denial towards me. What was that Peter, because I taught you and others that what proceeds out of the mouth reveals the abundance of the heart. I mean, I realized you were being pressured, but isn’t that always when the truth comes out? How you really feel is revealed when you speak in those times when your self is being pressured or threatened. Just like it was for Jesus, “Nevertheless, not my will but your will be done.”

Really digging into the heart—who is my neighbor—who is my brother? LK 10:29

4. Matthew 5:43-48

Love Your Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

5. 1 John 2:10

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

6. 1 John 3:23-24

23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

7. 1 John 4:7-8

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

8. 1 John 4:8-10

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

**1 John 4:11

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

9. 1 John 4:12

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

10. 1 John 5:1-2

1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

In all these cases, a variant of the word agape is used to describe the love that God expects us to have towards our fellow brothers and sisters. It’s a love that recognizes the value of the object being love. This kind of love has to start with us recognizing how much the Lord loves them and we allow His love to motivate us, so that we can love them with His heart. That is the fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

…LOVE, AGAPE LOVE!

2 Peter 1:8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Confirm your calling/ make sure. The thought here is proof. It’s guarantee that you’ve been saved, the Holy Spirit lives in you. This is one of the receipts of the purchase that He is looking for.

You’re a new creation and the Holy Spirit lives in you and now it’s time to work with Him and let Him live through you, make sure that you are purposefully working with the Holy Spirit and seeing these things in your life.

Richly provided/ abundantly

the reward shall be furnished to us. Richly, indicating the fulness of future blessedness. Professor Salmond said that this is the reverse of 'saved, yet so as by fire' (I Cor. 3:15)."

His Divine Glory

2 Peter 1

NASB-a faith like ours

Ephesians 4:5 there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God

Greeting ESV

1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Confirm Your Calling and Election

The seal is the down payment (Eph 1:13)

With the arrival, all moral and spiritual effort to let Him have His way will make the happy day

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.

13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Christ's Glory and the Prophetic Word

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Work backwards

As long as I am in this body, I have to stir you up… wake you up, agitate you to arouse your mind to remember these things…

We were with Him and we saw it with our own eyes

Peter was on the mount of transfiguration with Him. I mean by this time, he had seen people healed, raised from the dead, demons cast out. He, Himself had been commissioned with authority over demons and to heal the sick. But he references this moment and states “we were with Him when He received honor and glory from God. We heard the voice of majesty from heaven. We heard the voice with our own ears, we were eyewitnesses, and this confirms the prophetic words of the past, and you would do well to listen.

What we saw was the glory of God shine out of Him

We want you to experience what we experienced— hold onto to truth until the day star/morning star rises in your heart, and when it does, you will know it did!

Add to your faith KJV, ESV make every effort to supplement to your faith.

It’s important that we understand that you can’t add to your faith anything to make you more righteous. I think that this is extremely important because this is exactly what caused the problems in Galatia, which scholars call Galatianism. Essentially, it’s a self- performance based Christianity that changes the object of faith from Christ to self. The object becomes self doing or knowing instead of clinging in faith to what He did. People will put faith in their faith, faith in their confession, faith in their church attendance, Bible reading, prayer, fasting to make them right with God, but this is a form of legalism. And this needs to be said because this is very common in the lives of God’s people. With the fall, man shifted from God consciousness to good consciousness, from God consciousness to self consciousness, so now instead of man focusing on God’s goodness, he focuses on his goodness and confuses that with God’s truth. While God is good, not all that seems good is God. I point this out especially in this message, because if I don’t people may confuse what’s being said here.

…to provide beyond the need, to supply more than generously.

Verse 1 talks about their faith.

The idea is that the believer has been born again. They have received the gospel and faith as an action word has brought them into the faith, a new thing, a new state of being, a new life, a new creation. It’s a new life with a description… it’s a faith with an equal standing as the Apostle’s.

The NASB says, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours… What’s their faith like? The faith that they were born into was a life changing, new creation faith that with time and correction led to a life where their will was swallowed up in their Master’s will. Where they died and Christ lived through them. Where they overcame Satan through the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony and they did not love their own lives even unto death (Revelation 12:11).

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that  pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence

4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire

Partaker- koinonos a partner, sharer, in anything

…to provide beyond the need, to supply more than generously.

1. Virtue- behavior showing high moral standards (AM) moral goodness in thought and action, praise

1 Peter 2:9 KJV

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:

The word praises in this verse is the same word in the Greek that is translated as virtue. We give praise, glory and honor to God when we, through the power of God, through the sharing of His nature, made possible because of what Christ did for us and our relationship with Him are powered to live a life separated from the world and through it give Him glory.

2. Knowledge- gnosis, scientific, intelligence, regarding Christianity knowledge about the religion

The English word knowledge is used 5 times in the first 8 verses, so it’s pretty clear that knowledge is important to the Christian faith.

1 Corinthians 8:1-3 ESV

Food Offered to Idols

1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

Knowledge- epignosis epi= above, upon or in addition to. It’s extra knowledge with a sprinkle of experience.

I can tell you about Christian faith, and you can learn about Christian faith, but in order to really learn Christian faith, you have to live and experience Christian faith.

3. Self-control- the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, esp. his sensual appetites

Galatians 5:22-23 KJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

So, temperance or self control is a fruit of the Spirit, basically that means that it’s His fruit produced in you and it’s reflected out of you; yet, the very way that self is included means that self has to partner in the process, as a matter of fact, the very thought of what Peter is saying in all of this is that, it is us, through the Spirit, that are supplying these things to our faith. In these instances, we are consciously working with the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to work in us and through us.

2 Corinthians 13:14 AMP

The grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the presence and fellowship (the communion and sharing together, and participation) in the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (so be it).

James 4:7 KJV

Col 3:10

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

Col 3:10

Ezek 36:25-27

4. Steadfastness- the quality of being resolutely unwavering and firm /endurance- hupomonae/ under remain.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we learn how to remain under the trial of life in a God honoring way, so that the fires of purification brought on through the trials of life can have their way:

You know everything and can’t get along with anyone, and there are patterns in your life:

1. You switch spouses every couple years

2. You switch jobs every couple years

3. You switch churches every couple years

The point that I am trying to make is that if a vessel is going to be refined in a fire it has to stay in the furnace, and if a branch is going to be pruned it has to stay still.

Jesus endured the persecution during his ministry. I believe He was hurt when people left when He said, “You must eat my flesh and drink my blood,” because He knew that meant the greatest act of love that the earth would ever see was Him offering His life for the sins of the world and so many didn’t want that food, they wanted the food that filled their own bellies that started this whole John chapter to begin with. I think of the Apostle Paul a lot. He’s writing 2 Timothy in a dark, cold and wet dungeon in Rome called the Mamertine prison, and he writes, “

2 Timothy 4:10-11

10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

I laid in my bed crying as I looked, again at the words of Paul. What an amazing journey of a life. How amazing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the vessel that remains under and yields to the correction of the Holy Spirit.

5. Godliness- reverent, respectful and devout towards godly things

There is a reverence and respect towards the house of God, the presence of God, the word of God. It is a reverence and respect that needs to start within the walls of this church and leave with me as I live my life out there.

1. The church and His presence- fellowship vs worship. There is a time and place for everything

2. Once I leave here, the people out there will not understand godliness. If I am in a group of men that are talking about women in a certain kind of way, men do it all the time, locker room talk, but it’s not godly. I don’t know what women call it, but they do it too, maybe powder room talk? My point is this— when I’m faced with this situation, I have a choice: I can join in with them and possibly come up,with a clever comment that will make them laugh and be seen as cool in the eyes of man, or I can be pious, reverent, godly as I remember that my God in heaven is looking down on me and that He purchased me with the blood of His Son, and that He has been longsuffering with me and gracious to me, and that with, His grace, I have the woofer that I need to live this life in a way that it brings Him pleasure.

6. brotherly kindness/ affection- the love of the brethren, the Greek word…Philadelphia

This word is based off of two words philos and adelphos.

To make reference to this word Philadelphia, there is a word for love in the Greek that is similar to this: Phileo, it’s the prefix for Philadelphia and describes a love of great fondness and affection. This wording brings us to a familiar story in scripture.

Jesus has died on the cross and resurrected. During this same time frame Peter has fulfilled the prophecy of our Lord and has denied Him three times before the rooster crew. Now, he says, “I go fishing” Jesus is broiling fish on the beach and He cries out, “Do you have any fish?”

“No”

“Cast on the other side”

And the same thing happens that happened in the beginning. They have more fish than they can handle. He meets them in the end the same way He met them at the beginning. They were fishing for fish and He told them to follow Him and they would be fishers of men, and now, Peter’s failure has driven him to a place where he is running from the Lord and not fishing for men but has instead gone back to his previous life.

With the catch of fish, he realizes it’s Jesus. With his heart filled with joy, he rips off his outer garment and jumps into the sea and swims to shore. Once on shore, Jesus begins to speak as He is broiling the fish.

He asks Peter, “Simon Peter do you love me more than these?”

Whether He means the fish or the other disciples isn’t important. What’s important for this message is the word that He is using for love, because it’s directly related to the word love that I just read to you from John and 1st John, it’s related to the word for love used in the gospel of John and 1st John. That word is from the God love of Agape. The best way to define that word is that Agape- is the God kind of love, further description is that it is a sacrificial type of love that recognizes the value of the object being loved.

The love of God is sacrificial. The love of God has attributed a value to the souls of humanity. The value He has attributed is the life and sacrifice of Jesus. “Peter do you agape me?”

“You know I phileo you Lord”

“Peter do you agape me?”

“You know I phileo you Lord!”

“Peter do you phileo me?”

“Do you really Peter? Do you really even phileo me? Do you care about me? Do you love me? Do you love me like a brother even? Because what I need you to do is to agape me. I need you to love me sacrificially and feed my sheep. I need you to understand the object of your love the way that I understand you as the object of my love when I laid my life down for you.”

To contrast the idea of brother affection with the love of God. Let’s look at some verses out of the gospel of John and the 1st John letter:

John 13:34

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 13:35

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1 John 2:10

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

1 John 3:23-24

23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1 John 4:7-8

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 4:8-10

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 4:11

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

1 John 4:12

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

1 John 4:20-21

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1 John 5:1-2

1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

In all these cases, a variant of the word agape is used to describe the love that God expects us to have towards our fellow brothers and sisters. It’s a love that recognizes the value of the object being love. This does not refer necessarily to how much you love them in your heart. Instead, the idea is that you and I recognize how much the Lord loves them and we allow His love to motivate us, so that we can love them with His heart. That is the fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

And that brings us to the last thing that we are called on to supply in generous measure to our faith…LOVE, AGAPE LOVE!

7. Agape

The Glory of God: Satan Wants to Steal It

The Glory of God

Last week, the message was about how Adam lost his connection to the glory of God and felt fearful and naked because of the fall. But we also learned that God’s glory is closely associated with light and splendor. Through the progression of God’s plan, He has brought His glory closer to man. Through Jesus, a portion of His glory is in us now (Jn 17:22) and a future promise of more to come. Through this process we are being metamorphed, changed from glory to glory, looking more like Jesus and less like us. There were 3 places where the word metamorphosis was used: (1). Matthew 17:2 Jesus was transfigured before them. His face shined as the sun and His clothing became white before them. (2). 2 Corinthians 3:18– we behold as in a glass His glory and are being changed from glory to glory. The closer we get to Jesus, the closer we get to His glory.

(3). Romans 12:1

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.

• Present- to place a person or thing at one's disposal— present and accounted for sir

Jesus, the Word, who was God, became man, and laid down His life as a sacrifice for sinful man. He paid the penalty for our sin. Exposure and faith in this truth resulted in a new creation. Now, , it’s our reasonable service to present ourselves and make ourselves  available to His work. That doesn’t mean that you have to keep the nursery, clean the church or help w/ children’s ministry… most ministry for the Lord is needed out there. Put Jesus in us and then bring Him out there.

Romans 12:2

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.

• How much time is spent watching regular tv?

• How much time is spent listening to secular music?

• How much time is spent in carnal conversation?

• How much time is spent in God’s word?

• How much time is spent in God’s presence?’

God has given us a portion of His glory, and it’s a treasure—it’s a precious thing. He expects us to treat it that way— like it’s a precious treasure. His presence can be practiced. Because He died you can step into His glory (illustration of Niya’s story-man w/sword). Prayer, worship, intimacy are ways we can access and practice His presence. But if we esteem God’s glory as a common thing and prefer over His presence, activities the world has to offer, we will experience a minimal portion of God’s glory/presence on this side and that will affect our reward in eternity. He has given us a portion now, and as we submit to His will, we are being changed from glory to glory and there is more to come for God’s people and there is more for all of creation in the ages to come:

Habakkuk 2:14

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11:9

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

These scriptures promise that there is a new day coming when the glory and knowledge of God will fill the earth. By now, most true believers are hyper aware that the earth is filled with darkness and if you start talking to people about the Lord, you quickly realize that there is very little knowledge about God in the hearts of most people—many times even in the church. Nevertheless, God promised that believers would receive a glorified body, and He promises in His word that the world will be filled with His glory.

Even though the days grow darker, our lights will burn brighter. There is a world of Adam’s out there. A world of people who have only been born once and are separated from God’s presence. They’re naked, without His glory, hurting and sick: physically, spiritually and emotionally and the Jesus in you can heal them— will you be made whole.

The same way that Satan stole Adam’s glory, he wants to steal every human’s opportunity to regain the glory of God through faith in Jesus and His sacrifice. He wants to steal that opportunity from your family, your friends, your co workers. It’s what he does:

John 10:10-11

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Satan can try to steal it from them, but the mystery of hope can be unlocked in our hearts and released out of us and into them and they can regain the glory that was lost in the first Adam but regained in the last Adam—Jesus.

Colossians 1:27

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The thief steals through deception. Paul warned in the second letter to the Corinthians that Satan was going to try to deceive not only the world but also the church:

2 Corinthians 11:12-15

12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Satan’s workers transform themselves to deceive, just as he transforms himself to deceive. The word is not the same as metamorphosis in the Greek but it can take on the same meaning as to be transfigured, so he disguises himself in order to bring deception.

And that was Paul’s concern that God’s people would lose their purity, just as Eve lost her purity, because Satan, in his subtlety would present himself as an angel of light and present a different Jesus with a different spirit and that people would receive an altogether different gospel that they would think was right, but it wasn’t right:

2 Corinthians 11:2-4

2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

What we must understand is that Satan is well acquainted with the glory of God. As we spoke last week, I mentioned that the cherubim were closely associated with the glory of God, well Satan, before he fell was the anointed cherub that covered. God prepared a mercy seat on earth with cherubim that covered the place where God promised His presence would dwell and God explains that the earthly tabernacle instructions were given to Moses based off the heavenly instructions:

Heavenly tabernacle blueprints

Hebrews 8:4-5   4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”

But I guess being the Cherubim that covered that sacred spot in heaven wasn’t good enough for Satan. He wanted his own glory. Let’s look at a couple of those scriptures, but as we do, let’s remember that he was so close to God, it’s hard to believe he didn’t radiate God’s glory, and by wanting to steal God’s glory, he lost access to the glory of God, and now posing as something he’s not, he transforms himself as an angel of light, because just as he stole Adam and Eve’s glory, he also wants to steal our opportunity to regain the glory of God in our lives. Remember— He can only offer a Counterfeit

Ezekiel 28:2

Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

Ezekiel 28:12-17

12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

Isaiah 14:12-15

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

He destroyed his position and access to God’s glory by demanding his own and rebelling against God’s will. Through His subtlety and deception, he has caused man to follow in his footsteps. Ephesians 6 explains to us that he has a hierarchy of evil, which is made up of various levels of fallen angels and demonic spirits and through their combined efforts, they have been able to deceive and weaken the nations. They have been able to cause the leaders of nations to spread their deception on earth and attempt to steal God’s glory from the human race, but God will not be mocked. He has a remnant. He has always had a remnant. He has a people and to them, He speaks and reveals His glory and they accept, and they cultivate and they spread that glory—unless they are deceived and then they’re at risk of losing the glory.

The glory leaves the temple

Ezekiel 10:15-19

15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar. 16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them. 17 When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them. 18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. 19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

When you read this passage, in context with Ezekiel 8, you realize that God’s people were finally able to offend Him enough that He departed and took His glory with Him. They had embraced an image of jealousy, some form of idolatrous practice that they allowed into their temple and thought that they could just allow that to coexist with God’s glory, but God is not going to continue to remain in an unclean environment. He is patient, He is kind, He is loving and longsuffering. Trust me. I know, but don’t put Him to the test church. It’s not wisdom.

Psalms 24

A PSALM OF DAVID.

1 The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

The Glory 1

Glory— The glory of the Lord is directly associated with God’s presence. When God’s glory and presence enters the natural realm, it affects the atmosphere, it affects people, it changes situations and circumstances. [Leviticus 9:6-7] God’s presence in the New Testament saints is directly related to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the believers acceptance of that sacrifice.

Colossians 1:10-14

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet [qualified] to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered [to rescue] us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [to transpose, transfer, remove from one place to another] us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption [deliverance or release by payment] through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

The glory of God is associated with the splendor and brightness of God. In the Old Testament, the glory was physical and very dramatic. Today, it can be that way also in that healings and miracles are associated with the glory of God.  The glory is associated with His presence, and when it is released into the atmosphere, it is felt and changes things, even if it’s not as dramatic as a true miracle, when His presence is released, His glory is released, and when His glory is released, it has an affect in the natural realm and it affects the people that are around it.

In the Old Testament,  it often took the form of a cloud, sometimes it was associated with fire (Ezekiel’s Cherubim had fire in the midst). Simply stated the glory of God is the presence of the Lord, and where the presence of the Lord is there freedom, liberty, power. When a person spends time in the presence of God and is affected by the glory of God, they begin to emanate the glory of God. His presence flows from them into others. All sorts of miracles of transformation show up when the glory shows up.

WHAT WAS REMOVED FROM ADAM TO MAKE HIM REALIZE THAT HE WAS NAKED?? Can’t explicitly prove that Adam was clothed in God’s glory, but let’s work backwards a little bit in the scriptures related to God’s glory and see if we can make a case for the fact that God’s intent is that man would be a carrier of His glory.

Because: Numbers 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Revelation 21:22-23. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

John 1:4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 1:5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Other translations say: overcome it. Darkness can’t understand it to lay hold of it, so it can’t overcome or defeat it

John 1:8. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

That men might believe through Him vs 7 and that they might become the sons of God vs 12

Philippians 3:21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

The glorified body

1 Corinthians 15:35-58 NASB

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?”

The glorified body: We are being conformed into His image through sanctification. We will be changed into His image through glorification.

36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; 37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

The sun, having its own splendor and glory given to it by God, releases its glory into the atmosphere. Then the moon receives the glory of the sun and reflects it outwardly so that it’s glory can be seen, but anyone that knows what’s really up understands that the moon is a reflection of the sun.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body;

43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;

Vision of privilege and promotion

44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

He releases His life, He releases His glory into us

46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.

People who either are not saved or are led by the flesh instead of the Spirit will act like sinful earthlings; whereas, those saved and led by the Spirit, will act like Jesus, because He was always led by the Spirit, and the scripture says that we’re heavenly beings, even now, in that we are seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).

49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

But, there’s more heavenly glory to come. He’s not done with us. The inheritance will be fulfilled in eternal glory.

50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Exodus 34:29-35 NASB

Moses’ Face Shines

29 It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. 30 So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers in the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he commanded them to do everything that the LORD had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

Exodus 34:33 KJV

And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.

34 But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, 35 the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone. So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him.

Exodus 34:10-14

10 And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee. 11 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

God’s glory will not remain forever in a location of wickedness. He is merciful and longsuffering, but He won’t stay there forever—Ezekiel 8:3-6;10:18.

The land/ earth is polluted with sin and darkness, which is the opposite of the glory of God. When Satan has his way with humanity, he is able to do the opposite on earth from God’s original intent. This is only temporary. God is looking for Joshua’s and Caleb’s. He is looking for Naboth’s to hold fast to His promises. In the current time frame that we are living in, this is how He fills the earth with His glory.

Because: Numbers 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: 13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: 14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

The land is filled with corruption, it is defiled, it bears the image of sin. God wants it eradicated. His people aren’t supposed to join them. His people carry the glory of God for heaven’s sake!

2 Corinthians 3:7-13

7 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: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13 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:

2 Corinthians 3:13 NASB

and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.

2 Corinthians 3:14-18

14 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. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

μεταμορφόω

18 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.

This word in the Greek Metamorphoo is where we get the word metamorphosis. The idea of metamorphosis- a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means_ New Oxford American dictionary. The caterpillar has butterfly DNA in it. Christian has Jesus DNA in them. The caterpillar dies in a cocoon. Christian dies with Jesus on the cross and is buried in the tomb. The caterpillar comes back to life as a butterfly. The Christian resurrects to newness of life, but this is just a partial,down payment. We are being changed from glory to glory into the same image as our Lord. Do you understand this. You’re not a Mormon. You’re not going to ascend into being a god. You’re going to metamorph into a fuller resemblance of the image and likeness and glory of Jesus who is the express image of God’s person and glory (Hebrews 1:3).

Matthew 17:1-3

1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

μεταμορφόω

2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

We see this in Jesus. As the deity “Godness” in Him transfigured or “metamorphed”

3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Romans 12:1-2

1 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.

μεταμορφόω

2 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.

Paul exhorts Christians

Moses, in God’s presence radiated God’s glory— Adam used to walk in God’s presence and I believe that he emanated God’s glory and that’s why he knew he was naked after the glory left.

Jesus transfigured in front of His disciples and Moses is there

John 17:21-24

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

You have God in you. You have God’s glory in you! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to release some of this out there. 🎼 Day and night, night and day, let incense arise…

Because: Numbers 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

I might be coming to your neighborhood soon.

23 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. 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Romans 12:1-2

1 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.

__________________________________________________________________________________  μεταμορφόω

2 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.

You are a Vehicle for the Glory of God!

Numbers 13:23-14:21

Numbers 14:21

but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD

Numbers 14:6-10

6 Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; 7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.” 10 But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the glory of the LORD appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel.

I titled my message: You are a vehicle for the glory of God! Originally, I was going to title it: God couldn’t do it, because Christian wouldn’t let Him. Then I struggled with the title. I couldn’t figure out why the struggle, was it because it was too negative and God didn’t want me to be negative? Then, I realized, no it wasn’t that. The reason why is because it simply wasn’t true. The truth was that God promised He would fill the earth with His glory, and the way that He is doing it is by using His people to bring his glory where He asks them to bring it. But it is also true that He could not do it through the 10, because they would not let Him, so with that said, which one will we be?

Will Christian let God work through Him?

When we face something that looks impossible, we need to remember that God’s work is performing the impossible. Christian’s work is believing God to do the impossible.

I can only imagine the chaos and confusion that was going on at that time. Fear had stricken the majority and confusion had gotten the best of the 10 spies, there was no turning back for these guys. Their faith was destroyed! They saw the enemy and gave up. Joshua and Caleb tried to speak godly truth, but it just made them more angry. They wanted to stone them.

• hatred,

• variance

• wrath

• strife

• seditions

Troubles sometimes arise in our lives like a sudden storm on open water, and there are other times that there are chronic problems in our lives that never seem to go away. And whether it’s acute or chronic, there is danger that the believer will not keep his part of the agreement for the circumstance, and his part is to trust, believe, surrender and act in faith.

As I was praying and thinking about the tactics of the enemy: fear and chaos are tools Satan uses to bring doubt and unbelief. These feelings can quickly spread amongst God’s people like they did in the story. The purpose of the enemy is to focus the eyes of God’s people on the problem instead of God’s power and without even realizing it unbelief takes root and faith  erodes.

We can be certain God watches over His people:

Psalms 121:5-8 NASB

5 The LORD is your keeper;

The LORD is your shade on your right hand.

6 The sun will not smite you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will protect you from all evil;

He will keep your soul.

8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in

From this time forth and forever.

Psalms 33:18-20 NASB

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,

On those who hope for His lovingkindness,

19 To deliver their soul from death

And to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the LORD;

He is our help and our shield.

In prayer, God reminded how, His presence is poised and ready to move in chaos

…without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep…

• without form- waste; a desolation. A place of chaos

• void- ruin, waste, emptiness

…And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

As I prayed, I also heard: “Haman’s gallows”

Haman built a 75 ft high execution device to kill Mordecai because he refused to worship anything but God.

3:14…A copy of the edict to be issued as law in every province..3:15…Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews…the city of Susa was in confusion…

In the end, God turned the whole plan around and Haman was executed on his own device. When it looks like the devil is winning child of God, we must remember that God is faithful to deliver! God is planning to turn the whole situation around. His job is to deliver and our job is to believe, surrender and pray!

Believe and trust God… Job 39:11  “Will you trust him because his  strength is great And leave your labor to him?

Surrender… Surrender your will to God’s will—James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Make self subordinate, bring self under subjection to the will of God

Pray- 2 Kings 6:17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha—you’re not alone child of God, it  might feel like it sometimes, just pray, “open my eyes Lord”

Seek the face of God, call on His name and put Him in the battle. But it’s getting worse! That means it’s time to press in, not retreat. But the more I seek God, it seems worse. You’re in an ongoing battle for your faith— Satan wants to make you quit and walk away.

In the end, anything that can be shaken will be shaken.

Hebrews 12:25-29

25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

There is true Christianity and there is something else, that something else will be shaken and will not remain, the something else will lead you to focus on yourself and your best life now, and then, there is Jesus! True Christianity will always result in the magnification of Jesus,

But I just want to go to a church where all my girlfriends are like me and we sip coffee and get our toenails done together. Hold on, I thought of something. That’s not a bad idea.

There is nothing wrong with you and your girlfriends sipping coffee and getting your nails done, as a matter of fact, could you do me a favor and try to arrange something like that for the ladies that would be interesting, but do me one favor when y’all go, we can add verses to the song. “Jesus on the mountain, Jesus in the streets, Jesus with our coffee and while they do our feet, Jesus for my family. I speak the Holy name Jesus!

Jesus when you pick up your kid from school speak Jesus, but they’re going to think that I’m weird. They won’t think that you’re weird if you’re filled with the Holy Spirit and when you say His name, it sounds like honey dripping off your lips. No! They will want what you  want, or they will think your weird then, and when they lie in bed at night, they will toss and turn as the Lord reminds them of your words and He speaks Jesus to their hearts.

Jesus on the mountains. Jesus in the streets. Jesus in the darkness over every enemy. I speak the holy name Jeeessus. Your name is power!

Unbelief will cause death to the promise

Hebrews 3:17-19

17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Carcasses- a member of a body, particularly the more external and prominent members esp. the feet a dead body, corpse, in as much as the members of a corpse are loose and fall apart—the scattered corpses like individual members that didn’t make it, but it represented a whole portion of the congregation

Jacob wrestled with God

Genesis 32:24-25

24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

Chaos, Esau was around the corner…the story says that God could not prevail. The mind asks what kind of God can’t win a wrestling match with a man? It’s not that He can’t. He will not transgress man’s free will.  Jacob refused to give in, and the word says that when God saw that He could not prevail, he touched him in his hip. It’s not that God can’t out wrestle a man. And if you choose to refuse to surrender, at some point, He’s going to allow something to touch you to the point that you will give in to Him.

Paul said that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood; instead we wrestle against spirits It’s not always spirits that we’re wrestling, many times, it’s our own will and our own flesh

Galatians 5:24

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Luke 9:23

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

I love Caleb

Numbers 13:30

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.”

Doesn’t that sound like the voice of faith? The HOLY spirit speaking to the child of God and encouraging him to trust and put his eyes on Jesus, to move forward with the plan, instead of looking at the problems, look to the solution.

The Lord has been telling me in prayer I want my Son magnified. I want the name of Jesus preached. I want to pour out my Spirit and move in the lives of my people, and I want this church exalting HIM. I have a hard time believing that He doesn’t want that from every church. I have a hard time believing that he doesn’t want to speak to every Pastor and tell him the same thing, but I’m not them, I’m me and all I know is that this is what a he’s telling me.

The voice of unbelief, is a voice that displeases God

God is asking His people to carry His glory into the land and the  question is… will He find someone faithful to do what He is asking? Will people have the fortitude, the tenacity, the sticktoitiveness to finish the race? Not without the help of the Holy Spirit they won’t, but even with His help, if they want their own will rather than the Lord’s will they won’t endure, because part of learning God’s will requires a willingness to let the cross have its way, a willingness to let self and self desires go

Numbers 14:19-24

Moses: 19 “Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness, just as You also have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”

The LORD Pardons and Rebukes

Yahweh: 22 Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, 23 shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. 24 But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.

Sometimes the battle looks too fierce, the enemy seems too big, the chaos and confusion starts to wear us down and for a moment, we wonder if we will make it. Some points that we should be made aware of:

1. God made promises in the past v23

2. People who refuse His voice, will not see the promises

3. When people don’t listen, he takes it personal spurn-treat w contempt

A dream – the glory of the Lord is in the earth, it is going deep into the mud deep into the earth, The glory is moving through the depths of the earth, in and out of the earth and it’s breaking up the earth. It’s breaking up the fallow ground!

A Vision, a man on an old plow. He’s plowing the earth. He seems alone to the eye. He seems weak, he seems feeble and small, he plows with an old plow, I can’t see the animals, there are no animals, there is something else that cannot be seen pulling the plow.

It doesn’t look like much to the physical eye, but the same one that is pulling the plow is the same one that is releasing his glory into the earth, and breaking up the fallow ground!

Don’t take your hand off the plow child of God! Then the seed starts flying, the seed is raining in the air and falling onto the broken ground, entering into the broken ground. The Spirit is plowing hearts, the Spirit is breaking the fallow ground, in the breaking, ugly is revealed, confusion, chaos, irritation, it’s because it’s within the heart, within the heart, things are being exposed: your heart, my heart. Its being exposed, so it can be moved out of the way, wrong intentions, wrong thoughts, God wants them gone!

And then the seed enters the plowed earth, and what looked like gallows for the hanging, for my hanging, for the church’s hanging is suddenly turned into a victory. For a while, the chaos and confusion looked momentarily looked like an opportunity for Satan to prevail, it was an opportunity allowed by me, says the lord for you to trust me. Trust me, child of God, trust me, Church, let me cleanse you deeply, let me reach into the depths of the soil of your heart include you in preparation for your personal harvest, so I can use you in my harvest!

Let my glory, fill the Earth!!